xt7mpg1hn20q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7mpg1hn20q/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 1997-04 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Central Kentucky Jewish Federation Inc  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, April 1997 text image Shalom, April 1997 1997 1997-04 2025 true xt7mpg1hn20q section xt7mpg1hn20q  

 

cxtfxar

“I”

Newspaper of the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation

Shalom

cmeF

Y

 

April 1997

Adar II/Nisan 5757

 

Major Gifts speaker inspires 9.85%
card-for-card campaign increase

by Linda D. Eizenstat

As I write this article, my
husband Joel is in a state of
panic. He’s in this state because
he leaves in two days for Kiev
and Israel for a meeting of
Federation executives. Joel says
he has “two million things that
HAVE to get done before he
leaves. "

So when he turned to me,
breathed a heavy sigh, and asked
me to do him afavor, (being the
sympathetic wife that I am), natu~
rally 1 said “yes!" This is how I
have come to be the author of this

i

'irtir .r tun: ’l at n mu! 2". Mai.

  
  

my Wong Point, butt e‘msagese " " " "

will hopefitlly be clear, even if the
writer’s memory is not.

hirty-five mem-
bers of the central
Kentucky Jewish

community gathered at the
Greenbriar Golf and Country
Club on Sunday, March 2.
Tomas Milch H., CKJF President,
was Master of Ceremonies. The
sumptuous dinner was preceded
by the presentation of awards.
Ellie Goldman, Nancy Hoffman,
Michael Ades, and Abe Levine
were honored for their tireless
efforts and dedication on behalf
of the UJA/Federation Annual

  

John Loftus, speaker at
the 1997 CKJF Major
Gifts Event
Campaign. Following dinner,
Tomas introduced our speaker.

The speaker was an Irish
Catholic gentleman by the name
of John Loftus. Your response
was probably the same as mine
when I first learned that he would
be our guest speaker: “Just what
could a good Irish Catholic boy
possibly have to say that might
relate to a room full of Jews?”
Was I ever in for a surprise!

Mr. Loftus worked as a
prosecutor with the Justice
Department’s Nazi War Crimes
Unit during the Carter and
Reagan administrations. He dis-
covered top secret documents

 

    

 

 

CKJF
340 Romany Road
Lexington, KY 40502

 

Address Correction Requested

 

NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LOUISVILLE, KY
PERMIT NO. 1735

 

 

 

 

revealing that the Nazis he had
been assigned to prosecute were
working for NATO intelligence.
He resigned from the Justice
Department and exposed the
shocking Nazi scandal on an
Emmy Award winning segment
of 60 Minutes.

During the last ten years
he has been an international advi-
sor on Nazi prosecution, authored
several books including The
Belarus Secret and The Unholy
Trinity (which tells the history of
how the Vatican helped Nazi
smuggling networks to penetrate

western intelligence). His latest 1

But: Th» Set-mt ‘tth

 
      

Wm‘fsaiafma“ "

Israel was set up for the Iran-
Contra affair by George Bush.

Loftus began his talk by
outlining this information and
explaining how he came to be
privy to it. While I was shocked
by his revelations, I was also wor-
ried that this was going to be one
long plug for his literary works. I
was not convinced that this man
could possibly have any idea
what it means to be Jewish or
what impact all of this has on the
everyday life of Jews all over the
world today. It’s one thing to
find out some information and
feel an obligation to relay it to the
world, it’s another thing, all
together, to be a part of it.

Then Mr. Loftus began
to relate a tale of a Jewish gentle-
men (Sam) who lived in the vi]-
lage of Belarus, a small Jewish
community bordering Russia,
during the time of World War II.
The Nazis virtually wiped out the
entire town. The few Jews that
were not killed were taken to con-
centration or labor camps.

Continued on page 6...
See Major Gifts

 

Donna Sullivan is Camp Shalom
Director for 1997

“I am honored
to have the
opportunity to be
involved in this
experience as
Director for our
children and am
looking forward
to a fun and safe
summer: ”

 

 

Donna Sullivan

Story on page 11

 

 

 

 

l
x, r.';1-

 

UJA/Federation Shabbat slated

”w ,,,. N” _ 11.. — . -

'5... 2 . . »

ib’y’IoeIi Eizenstat.

he United Jewish Appeal is, without a doubt, the greatest

humanitarian movement in Jewish history. It is the UJA,
through our local Central Kentucky Jewish Federation, that has
assumed the responsibility for aiding Jews the world over. It is the
means through which we channel our funds and our efforts for the
entire Jewish people.

In addition to helping the people of Israel and sustaining Jews
in need in such countries as the former Yugoslavia and the former
Soviet Union, UJA has made possible the resettlement of large num—
bers of Soviet and Ethiopian Jews in Israel. The refugees aided by
monies raised by the UJA/Federation Campaign number in the mil-
lions. In Israel alone, UJA/Federation has helped to settle over
530,000 Jews during the past five years.

It is appropriate, therefore, to set aside one Shabbat each year
to call attention to the fine work of the UJA/Federation and to empha-
size our own responsibilities as Jews to support the UJA/Federation
Campaign in any way we can. Our UJA/Federation Shabbat occurs on
April 18-19, 1997.

Special services will be held at Temple Adath Israel and
Ohavay Zion Synagogue on UJA/Federation Shabbat to honor the
work of the United Jewish Appeal. The services will include special
prayers on behalf of our community. Please join with us.

 

 

Passover
begins as sundown, April 21

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

  

 

In This Issue:

Feature Stories:

 

In Memoriam: Albert
Shanker ......... 5

Rosh Chodesh ....7
Campaign ........ 6
Camp Shalom . . . .11
Leisure Club ..... 18

Financial Advisor . .9

COMMUNITY

MILESTONES

 

 

Mazel Tov to:

Jonathan Kaplan, son of
David & Chela Kaplan and
Joe Davis, son of
Greg & Kathleen Davis for
winning the Fayette county
Science Fair in their divisions.

Condolences to:

Dale Brichta on the death of her

 

Sue Ezrine on the death of her
father, Emanuel Sprei.

Melvin Levy on the death of his
mother, Liz Levy.

Joel & Karen Corwin on the
death of Joel’s father,
Arnold Corwin,
February 12, 1997.

David & Chela Kaplan and
Paul & Carol Kaplan on the
death of David’s & Paul’s cousin,
Larry Collier, March 5, 1997.

 

 

studies scholarship

 

he Central
Kentucky Jewish
Federation is a

fund raising institution first and
foremost. The programming,

knew all the reasons why it is
necessary for all Jews in the
Diaspora to provide funds for
Israel and Jews in need world

 

The
President’s

Spot

by Tomas Milch H.

 

I urge all to read Mr.
Loftus’ books: The Belarus
Secret, Unholy Trinity, and The
Secret War Against the Jews.
Some of it is heavy going, but
you will learn how and why your
financial and moral support of

l . h 1 h‘ d t‘ 1 ff ts Jews and the Jewish State of
A 50' grandmother, Ana Brooks. SC oars ips, e uca tom 6 or ’ Israel are part of your own sur-
Ask IFS 8 social work, resettlement efforts-~ vival as Jews-~whether in the
""""" all would cease quickly if the . .
. . . Diaspora or in Israel.
fund raismg failed. Two years
Calendar ........ 19 . _ . _ ago when I undertook the respon- Mr. Loftus, with
Ed't _ l 4 lndlana UnlverSIty Offers JEWlSh Sibility of President I thought I painstaking scholarship, exPoses
l OI'Ia ..........

how the vital interests of the
Western democracies were per—
ceived by their governments dur-
ing and after the Holocaust, even

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hadassah ........ 14 The Robert A. and Sandra S. Boms Jewish Studies Program at wide. I was disabused of that into the present, as separate from
Indiana University is pleased to announce the 1998-99 Irving M. thought recently. and, sometimes, at odds with the
Havurah ........ 14 Glazer Student Scholarship competition. This $2,500 scholarship will Jews. Read his works...1earn why .j
be awarded to an incoming freshman committed to pursuing a BA. or 0" .Sunday, March 2’ we must continue to support each J
Iewish Education 12 certificate in Jewish Studies at Indiana University during the 1998—99 your Federation hosted‘a notable other. '
‘ - year. The application deadline for the 1998-99 academic year is speaker for ‘33 MapLGIfQflQL .. . .a.,+.a.m.w.z....___..__.
January 15. 1998, It 19 truly unfortunate that the 0H», [1“. m.“ “WC,“ h“!
OZS ........ 14.- & 15 ; speaker. Mr, John J. Loitus, could weeks the Campaign Committee ’ (
For more information about the Irving M. Glazer Scholarship, not address all of us in central of your Central Kentucky Jewish 1
President’s Spot _ , ,2 or the Jewish Studies Program, please contact the Robert A. and Kentucky. Mr. Loftus, born to a Federation will continue its fund (
Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program, Indiana University, Boston Irish Catholic family, raising work. Join us! It is joy 1
TAI ........ 16 & 17 Goodbody Hall 308’ Bloomington, “47405. made clear [0 all who attended ous work! Support us! It is all i
_ E—mail at c1ipsonw@indiana.edu, or visit the web page at tetgvfigt’ Yzyelfizsoriufliec‘ffaiin: that sepfarfites us “131m the (fiust 3
Torah Pomons - ' - '3 http://www.indiana.edu/~jsp/, or phone (812) 855—0453. u ng g g bins. 0 . istory r. L0 tus ‘
ing separately. descnbes in his books. (
t
t
r
I
Shalom 6
Published ten times annually by the c
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation, Inc. a
CKJF SCHOLARSHIPS 8: CAMPERSHIPS t
340 Romany Road, Lexington, KY 40502 \
606 268-0672 ‘ Fax 606 268-0775 . . . . .
( ) ( ) Appllcations are now avallable for camperships and scholarships ;
April 1997 - Volume IV, Issue 7 (Jewish camps and Israel study) at the CKIF office:
Tomas Milch, H., President 340 Romany Road ' Lexington, KY 40502 f
. . . e
Joel Eizenstat, Executive Director For mformatlon phone. (606) 268'0672 f
Holly Barnhill, Editor & Advertising Manager ,4
Michael Adelstein &Eve1yn Dantzic Geller, Editorial Board THE DEADLINE for APPLICATIONS is I
Mollye Schwab, Jewish Family Services i:
Kim Slaton, Program Director APRIL 15, 1997 b
n
The appearance of any advertising in this publication does not represent a kashruth endorsement on S
the pan of CKJF or any other agency or organization. Shalom is supported by the advertisements
appearing in the paper. a
c
h

 

 

 

 

n ...Sha/om...Apri/ 1997

 

 sun-l.

 

RABBI ERIC R. SmoN

TORAH COMMENTARY

 

 

 

April 5, Shmini
Shabbat HaHodesh
Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47

This portion begins with the
eighth day of the ceremony in
which Aaron and his sons are
consecrated to serve in the
Tabernacle. At the height of the
ceremony, Aaron's oldest sons
Nadav and Abihu make an unau-
thorized offering and are immedi-
ately consumed by fire. Aaron is
not allowed to publicly mourn
and so the people mourn on his
behalf. Aaron and his sons are
forbidden from drinking before
going into the Tabernacle. which
led the Rabbis to infer that his

two sons were drunk.
xv mu 7 w .

out. Permitted land animals must
have split hooves and chew its
cud, permitted sea creatures must
have fins and scales and a specif-
ic list of 20 non-kosher birds is
given. People have mistakenly
assumed that these rules were
originally created for health rea-
sons. This is based on the idea
that pork was forbidden due to
trichinosis. Had this been the
case, why forbid most land ani-
mals simply to keep people from
eating pork? Food taboos are
common among many peoples
and are usually unrelated to
health. That most Americans
would never consider eating dogs
or cats has nothing to do with
health considerations.

A special section (maftir)
from Exodus 12:1-20 which
explains the preparation for the
first Passover.

April 12, Tazria
Leviticus 12:1-13:59

This portion deals with
issues of ritual purity. One could
be rendered ritually unfit by com-
ing in contact with many things,
such as body fluids, blood, dead
animals or having certain skin
conditions. This meant that one
had to undergo purification rituals

after a certain period of time. The
word metzorah is mistakenly
translated as leprosy. The Torah
refers to metzorah as not only
something that manifests itself as
a skin condition, but also appears
on cloth and on the walls of ones
homes.

Based on the story of
Miriam who is punished for
spreading tales about Moses and
his wife, the Rabbis concluded
that metzorah was a Divine pun-
ishment for slander that existed
during the time when the Temple
stood. The Rabbis noted that the
metzorah first afflicted the slan-
ders’ clothing, home and finally
his/her body. This was meant to
convince the slanderer to repent.
An object with a metzomh had to
be destroyed. a person with me!-
mmh had to leave the city. Some
haw suggested this was :1 medical
,‘. t\. t: ! Loci:

'liL'\ ilwttv

entirely covered from head to foot
is pure and can return to the city.
If some healthy skin appears, the
person is declared impure and
must leave the city. According to
the Rabbis the slanderer left the
city to contemplate the nature of
his/her sin. One who was totally
covered with metzorah was
beyond help and need not be
forced to live outside the city.
The reappearance of healthy skin
suggested that the nature of the
sin was entering his/her con-
sciousness, and needed to be sent
out of the city.

April 19, Metzorah
Leviticus 14:1-15:

This portion continues
with a discussion of sources of
ritual impurity and cleansing ritu-
als. Like most rituals, there were
various sacrifices associated with
the process of cleansing. Many
modern Jews find this material
foreign or distasteful. It is a
challenge to find relevance in this
material. How much easier is it
to discuss the Patriarchal and
Matriarchal narratives of Genesis,
the drama of Exodus or even the
laws concerning ethics and
morals. To dismiss these text
dealing with impurity and purity

I -5 brcapyri ,

seems not unnatural.

Traditionally, Jewish educa-
tion began with the book of
Leviticus, the very book which
describes sacrificial rituals, purity
and impurity. My guess is that
this is the case because Rabbis,
even though they did not under-
satnd much of the material, felt
that this was the revealed way for
us to reach toward the Divine.
Clues to how we are to do the
same are contained within these
obtuse texts. Studying this mater-
ial takes effort and willingness to
graple with cultural ideas we no
longer comprehend.

APRIL 22, FIRST DAY
PESACH

Exodus 12:21-51

Maftir Numbers 28:16-25

The first Pesach, the
tenth plague and the Exodus from
Egypt,

ND)

..-7

is}: ;
Leviticus 22: 26-23: 44
Maftir Numbers 28:16-25

Laws dealing with puri-
ty and the Pilgrim festivals
(Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot) and
the High Holydays (Rosh
HaShana & Yom Kippur).

April 26, Shabbat Pesach
Exodus 33:12-34:26
Maftir Numbers 28:19-25

For Shabbat Pesach we
read of Moses' request to G-d to
"show me Your glory." G—d tells
Moses he will be placed in the
cleft of a rock. G—d will cover his
face with G-d's hand while G-d
passes by and Moses will see the
back of G-d.

This passage is, of course,
never understood literally. Yet
what does it mean? Mystical
experiences are difficult to inter-
pret, since they are highly person-
al. Moses‘ request follows the sin
of the molten calf. Moses is disil-
lusioned, seeking some assurance
that there is purpose to what he
has given his life. In spite of all
that the people have seen, they
are unable to have faith in G-d.
When we look at the world today,

Continued on page 4....
see Torah

 

 

** 3:“ - - Win. '1 '5- -

 

' L

  
 

 

 

 

CEIter the tlambé incident,
I decided to skip his stomach
and go straight ‘
for his heart.

it

0’

  

.)
C)et it take out order from us

and watch how fast he eats it up. a“ 2

IMPERIAL FLOWERS & GIFTS
(606) 233-7486
Toll Free (800) 888-7486

 

IFNOT Now, WHEN?

SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE CERTAIN, BUT
WE IUST DON’T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAPPEN.

Planning for the certainties in life is something many
people don't think they need to worry about ”right now”.
With the unexpected loss of a loved one, a heavy
burden is imposed on those left behind. Since nobody
knows what will come tomorrow, we recommend
pre-arranging ”right now’.’

1 I uire

40.; N'a‘iFR'e tat ‘ '

  
  

w some... ma" " '

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833 West Main St. ' 255-5522 ' Sunday & Holidays 278—2915 or 263-4662

  

 

 

 

r

 

CKJF has two seats for
the game on

Payment: to CKJF for the tickets
must be an amount equal to or less
than the face value of the tickets
purchased. Proceeds for the
tickets will he applied to the cost
of printing Shalom.

 

 

For information call CKJFi

 

 

 

 

 

(606) 268-0672
Shalom...April 1997...

 

 

 

  
 

  

Tomas Milch H.
Vice President~lnvestments

Prudential Securities incorporated

Prudential Securities @

Lexington Financial Center, Suite 2900
250 West Main Street, Lexrngton, KY 40507
606 23370321 KY 800 998—8766 Nat'l 800 354-9066

 

 

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[E

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cowweu.
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An independently Owned and Operated Member oi Coldwell Banker Residential Attiliates inc

 

 

EDITORIAL

 

TORA H...continued from page 3

we see so many problems that are
insurmountable. It is only with
the faith that something better lies
ahead for all humanity that we are
able to continue.

Moses is then told to make a
second set of tablets and to once
again ascend Mount Sinai.
Among other things, G—d tells
Moses to observe the Passover
and the Shabbat.

April 28, 7th day Passover
Exodus 13:17 - 15:26
Maftir Numbers 28:19-25

The people set out on
their journey and the first thing
mentioned is that G-d must lead
the Israelites away from danger
because at the first sight of war
they will flee back to Egypt. The
last thing Moses must do before
leaving Egypt is to take the bones
of Joseph to be buried in Canaan.

By day they were pre-
ceded by a pillar of clouds, by

night by a pillar of fire. G—d
causes Pharaoh to reconsider and
pursue the Israelites with his
army. Moses reassures the fright—
ened people that all will be well.
Moses lifts up his staff over the
waters of the Sea of Reeds and a
strong wind causes them to part.
The people pass through safely
while Pharaoh’s army is drowned.

The people sing a song of
praise, one verse of which, the Mi
chamocha, is included in our
Morning and Evening service.
Miriam and the women also sing
a special song ofthanks.

Three days journey from
the Sea of Reeds the people com-
plain about the undrinkable water
which they have found and com-
plain. G-d shows Moses a tree
which he throws into the water,
and it becomes sweet. Having
seen the miracle at the Sea of
Reeds has no lasting effect on the
Israelites. Clearly a people who

need miracles in order to believe,
only believe as long as there are
miracles.

April 29, 8th day Passover
Deuteronomy 15:19 - 16:17

The reading for this day
begins with the law of dedicating
the first born cattle to G—d. The
laws of the three pilgrim festivals
(regalim) are spelled out. The
people are to come to the place
chosen by G—d and celebrate. The
laws of Passover are spelled out,
i.e. eat the paschal lamb on the
first night, eat matzah for seven
days and eat no leaven.

Forty-nine days, seven
weeks are counted beginning the
second night of Passover after
which the festival of Shavuot
(weeks) is observed. A two day
observance which is to be cele-
brated with the less fortunate.
Sukkot (tabemacles) is celebrated
in the fall.

 

ditorial

 

Too

High

Pri

C 6

 

 

Nov. 14 - 19, 1997

 

 

 

by Holly Barnhill

$5 billion has always
seemed an absolutely extraordi-
nary amount of money. Until
now. That’s the amount of
money the Swiss government has
pledged for a fund to reimburse
Holocaust victims and their fami—
lies.

Why does this amount
seem so trite to me now? Because
$5 billion divided by six million
victims equals a mere $833 per
life. Think about that. $833 for
each man, woman, and child torn
from their families, stripped of
their possessions and self-esteem,
and then torturously murdered.

Alright, so there is no
amount of money equal to the
value of one life, let alone six
million, but at least the Swiss are
attempting to reconcile their ill
gotten riches. Why then will my
heart not allow me to applaud this
gesture?

The old adage, “A day
late and a dollar short” never
seemed more applicable. Instead

of a day late, this retribution
comes 50 years after the fact.
Why was this fund not established
after the war, when it would have
done the most good?

The answer is simple,
nobody made the Swiss, or any so
called neutral country, give back
anything. Only now, under pres-
sure from the World Jewish
Congress and the scrutiny of the
eyes of the world have the Swiss
made any attempt for retribution.

In fact, when first faced
with the accusations of laundering
Nazi money and hoarding the
deposits of Jews, the Swiss plead-
ed innocent and offered only a
few million in compensation.

That sum rose to about
70 million almost overnight when
a researcher for the World Jewish
Congress examined the Safehaven
Papers stored at the National
Archives near Washington, DC.

In one document alone,
the researcher was able to account
for about $20 million deposited
by Jews in Swiss banks for safe-

keeping during the war. The
researcher had been tipped to look
for 13 boxes. If one document
yielded $20 million, what inde-
scribable amount would all the
documents world wide total?

According to US News
and World Report (March l7
issue), “Some Safehaven docu—
ments were known to scholars for
years. But most were never
examined." Why were they never
examined? If scholars knew
about the papers, surely govern-
ments of many nations were also
aware.

Were it not for a select
few——from Edgar Bronfman, head
of the World Jewish Congress, to
Union Bank of Switzerland secu—
rity guard Christoph Meili, the
world might still have its head
buried in the sand. Meili saved
important documents about his
bank’s dealings with Germany
during the l940’s from the shred—
ding machine. He took these
papers to a Swiss Jewish organi—
zation, which in turn, gave them

to the police (Time, February 24
issue).

When Jews say, “Never
Again!” it should apply not only
to the Holocaust, but to anyone
and everything that profited from
the misery of its victims. Math
has never been my strong subject,
but $5 billion doesn’t begin to
balance the losses.

Please send
Letters to the Editor:
CKJF
340 Romany Road
Lexington, KY 40502

All letters must be signed and
include your phone number.
Please limit letters to 200 words.
Shalom reserves the right to edit
submitted letters for content,
clarity and brevity.

 

 

n ...Sha/om...Apri/1997

 

 

 

 

   

lI‘C

FEATURE

 

 

ost of us know
the names of
many of

today’s prominent Jewish-

Americans: Betty Freidan,
Arthur Miller, ltzhak Perlman,
Barbra Streisand, Ruth Bader
Ginsburg, Robert Rubin, Philip
Roth, Woody Allen, Saul Bellow-
-one could go on and on. Among
this or any other list should be the
name of Albert Shanker.

The full page obituary in
the Monday, February 24, 1997
New York Times was headlined:
“Albert Shanker, 68, Combative
Leader Who Transformed
Teacher‘s Union. Dies."

Shanker may indeed be best
known for his influence on the
New York public school system.
As head of the 85,000 member
U.F.T., the New York City
teacher's union during the city’s
school decentralization turmoil in
the late ‘605, Mr. Shanker called a
strike that closed 85% of the
city‘s 900 largest schools.

The issue was one of
principle involving discrimina-
tion, mainly against the many
Jewish teachers. Mr. Shanker
protested about “pushing a guy
out of a principalship because
he’s white. Taking a bunch of
teachers and calling them all sorts
of anti~Semitic names and threat—
ening to kill their kids or their
husbands or wives. Somebody
has to stand up to this."

For calling the strike,
Mr. Shanker spent 15 days in jail.
And for years afterwards he was
blamed for tarnishing his union’s
reputation and increasing the ten-
sion between whites and blacks.
But he gained his point.
Teachers’ jobs became protected
under a law passed by the State
Legislature.

In Memoriam:
Albert Shanker, 1928-1997

by Michael E. Adelstein

But Mr. Shanker is bet-
ter known throughout the country
for his later activities. As head of
the 900,000 member American
Federation of Teachers. he was its
most forceful and articulate
spokesperson. However, he was
far more than the head of the
nation’s second most powerful
union (the NEA is first). He was
a leading national educator, called
“a towering figure” by education-
al authority Theodore Sizer.

Born in New York City
to Russian immigrant parents, Mr.
Shanker was raised in a Catholic
neighborhood, where as just
about the only Jew, he was often
beaten. Then he graduated from
the University of Illinois, where
he was also exposed to anti-
Semitism. After doing post-grad-
uate work at Columbia
University. he taught mathematics
in the New York City schools.

rience and from his lifelong work
with teachers and leading educa-
tors, he developed a core of ideas
to make public schools better for
children.

e explained his
devotion to
these schools:

“Public education is the glue that
has held this country
together...The schools brought
together children of different
races, languages, religions, and
cultures and gave them a common
language and a sense of common
purpose...Whenever problems
connected with school reform
seem especially tough, I think
about this. I think about what
public'education gave me--a kid
who couldn’t even speak English
when I entered the first grade. I
think about what it has given me
and countless numbers of other
kids like me. And I know that
keeping public education together
is worth whatever effort it takes."

For public education,
Mr. Shanker advocated higher
educational standards, a national
competency test for teachers (but
unlike the expensive, easy test

ry.” “-9 . ear

taken by education college
seniors now), strict discipline, pay
increments based on teacher qual-
ity, and more rigorous high
school graduation requirements.

Many readers, like me,
will miss Mr. Shanker’s weekly
column in the “Week in Review”
section of the Sunday New York
Times. It appeared as an adver-
tisement, sponsored by the AFT.
In it, he would write about educa-
tional issues, perhaps summariz-
ing and commenting on new
books, articles, and experiments
dealing with education, or
advancing his own ideas about
current fads and follies, such as
social promotions and building
self-esteem in all students.

shall miss Mr.
IShanker’s columns

and his many appear—

ances (in TV. But 1 am not the

columnist, added a separate para-
graph to a recent column to salute
Mr. Shanker and speak of the ter-
rible loss to the children and par—
ents of this nation.

Also President Clinton
summed up his tribute to Mr.
Shanker by stating that “he chal-
lenged the nation’s teachers and
schools to provide our children
with the very best education pos-
sible and made a crusade out of
the need for educational stan-
dards."

Perhaps we can best do
justice to the life of Albert
Shanker by remembering and try-
ing to uphold the tenth point in
his Bill of Rights and
Responsibilities for Learning:

“All students and school
staff have a right to be supported
by parents, the community, public
officials and business in their
efforts to uphold high standards
of conduct and achievement.”

 

    

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continued from page 1

Sam was one of the few who survived the initial slaughter, but
his entire family died at the hands of the Nazis. He eventually man-
aged to escape from the camp and gathered together a band of Jews to
fight the Nazi invasion. This small group of freedom fighters was
responsible for saving many lives during the war. Sam eventually
married one of the women whom he helped save from the Nazis. After
the war he moved to the United States to start a new life, settling in
New Jersey.

When Mr. Loftus began his quest to prosecute war criminals
he made the decision to try to locate the Nazi in command of the forces
that killed thousands of Jews in Belarus. Loftus actually found thei
commander alive and thought it would be great to also find Sam as thei

key witness to the crimes committed. However, numerous attempts to

locate Sam proved fruitless. Two weeks before he was scheduled to '

appear in court, the Nazi leader died peacefully in his sleep from old
age.

Then the subject of the talk changed. A British government
official contacted the US. during the Cold War era with a plan to relo-
cate many “freedom fighters” at various strategic locations around the
world, just in case we actually did go to war with Russia (the
Communist threati). Placing the ex-freedom fighters in top govern-
ment positions would be even better because then we would have qual—
ified people in powerful places who could act quickly to aid our demo-
cratic cause. .

Unbeknownst to many, the British official was a Russian dou-
ble agent, and the “freedom fighters” were actually Nazi war criminals.
Under the guise of preserving democratic freedom these people were
given new identities and passports and sent to live in countries like the
US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and other South American countries.

As I was trying to figure out how these two stories fit togeth-
er, Loftus continued with the story of Sam. It turns out that Sam was

indeed still alive and found to be living in Florida. Although the Nazi ,

leader had died, Loftus decided to visit Sam and get as much informa-
tion as he could on other war criminals.

The two quickly became friends and Sam and his wife “adopt-
ed” Loftus’ daughter. Many more visits occurred, along with
exchanges of gifts and regular telephone calls. Sam related the story of
his time during the war, losing his family, and of coming to live finally
in the land of freedom, a land where he could live without fear of per-
secutions and death.

What Sam did not know was that during his many years of
living in New Jersey he had lived literally only a few miles away from
a community composed mainly of those relocated Nazi war criminals--
the community where the Nazi commander at Belarus was found.
What irony.

Sam has since passed away, but as Loftus concluded his tale

‘th ' fh' f' d hi 'th th' t 0 d'na