volume 1 edition 4 • Summer 2003
L Dor V Dor
from generation to generation • the newsletter of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
Honoring Our Elders
An Invitation to the
Annual Meeting of the
Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
Sunday, August 24, 2003
3:00 pm
JCC Theater
Special showing of oral history documentaries
Installation of new officers
presentation of special awards
The focus of this year's annual meeting is a project that has been
a work in progress for five years. Ben Nachman, extraordinary
volunteer, undertook this daunting program; video taping oral histories that impact through their memories, the wisdom of our respected
elder community. The list is impressive, including businessmen,
housewives, the well known and the ordinary majority of our Jewish
friends and neighbors.
This has been a labor of love and devotion for the purpose of
maintaining a library of videotapes of individuals answering questions pertaining to their lives. This library now contains about 120
tapes. Ben had been working with the renowned Steven Spielberg,
researching Shoah survivors in the Midwest. Mary Fellman approached him about doing the same research of Omaha Jewry. When
his work with Spielberg ended, he embarked on this new adventure.
The result, to date is a one hour long film that presents excerpts from
18 interviews.
Jean Carmichael, a professional audio-video film producer has
brought forth a remarkable work that NJHS plans to use as a catalyst
for promoting the Historical Society. It will be available for special
programs and community service groups of all denominations for the
sole purpose of educating the Omaha community about the depths of
Ben Nachman, historian and
producer of oral histories.
our heritage as preserved by the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.
This film will be shown at the
annual meeting on Sunday, August 24,
2003 at 3:00 pm in the JCC theater. At
this time we will also recognize our
valued volunteers and the installation of
officers and new board members. A
gallery reception will follow the meeting and we look forward to greeting our
members, friends and relatives of those
depicted in the film: Louise
Abrahamson, Ann and Jack Belmont,
Rose Blumkin, Wally Elkon, Mary
Fellman, Try Forbes, Lois Friedman,
Ike Friedman, Shirley Goldstein, Joe
Guss, Yale Halperin, Ilse Kahn, Joe
Kirshenbaum, Rabbi Meyer Kripke,
Bert Lewis, Ed Malashock, Yale
Richards, Ed Rosen, Stanley Silverman,
Norman Smeerin, Sally Venger and
Ernie Wintroub.
This publication is made possible
through the generous support of the
David and Rose Katzman Fund.
Oral History:
Lois Novitsky Friedman
As in past issues of our newsletter to our members, we have selected Lois Friedman's interview with
Debbie Cohen from July of 1989. This will be a
narrative taken out of the text as there was a volume
of information and we will attempt to highlight the
interview.
Lois was born in Omaha, Nebraska on June 30,
1923. Her parents were Sol Novitsky and Diana Gross
Novitsky who emigrated from Russia in the mid
1880's. "My grandfather, Sam Novitsky brought his
family to America in the mid 1880's and was President of the of Rushesha Shul which was located on
18th and Chicago Streets." (Now known as Beth
Israel.)- Lois has one younger sister, Gloria
Rosenbloom, Lois and Gloria lived in Omaha until
1935, when the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa,
where their dad and his brother Ben were in the cattle
business.
"Sioux City was one of the most wonderful communities to grow up in", says Lois, "Nobody cared if
you were rich or poor, nobody cared if you lived in the
biggest house or the smallest house, all they cared
about was if they liked you." Lois was introduced to
volunteerism when she met Dorothy Merlin Wagman
who was Sioux City's Federation Director. "She was
such an inspiration to all." The first office Lois held as
a volunteer was President of a girl's club called AWR.
It was a group that served meals at all Jewish functions. Lois continues, "I won the American Legion
Award for Excellence in American History and Rabbi
David Goldstein from Beth El Synagogue in Omaha
was our commencement speaker."
When Novitsky moved back to Omaha, the family
first were members of Beth El, however, the family
joined Temple and Lois was raised a Reformed Jew.
Lois attended the University of Illinois at Champaign
and pledged A.E. Phi Sorority. Before graduating
college, Lois decided to move back to Sioux City
where she worked as a secretary until after the war.
Lois met her husband, Lloyd at her sister Gloria's
wedding. While in Omaha for Aileen and Leo
Eisenstatt's wedding, Lois and Lloyd began to date.
Lois says, 'That was the beginning of a very quick
love affair, which was unusual for Lloyd, as he never
moved very fast in his whole life. We were married on
February 8, 1947 and moved to Omaha in March."
When they moved to Omaha, Lois began her
lifelong career of volunteering. She began with the
National Council of Jewish Women and has remained
active in that organization for many years. She has
served as corresponding secretary, treasurer, vice
president, and president. Lois also started the
Council's Thrift Shop and helped with many successful fund-raising events.
Lloyd and Lois have one son, Scott who is married
to Debra Annon from Cheyenne, Wyoming. They
have two daughters, Jennifer and Angela. Lois describes her granddaughters as the mostprecious things
she has.
"Sadie Kulakofsky was a very wonderful, outstanding woman, probably the most outstanding
Jewish woman that ever lived in Omaha." Lois goes
on the say, "I think Mary Fellman is an equal." Lois
has been involved and volunteered for many, many
organizations: Federation Board, Temple and NJHS.
"Without Mary Fellman, there would be no Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. Without Mary's
input and her talent, we would never be where we are
today. I don't care how much time I've given to
Council, the Jewish Federation, the Historical Society
or Temple, I've gotten so much more back than I ever
gave. I've made wonderful friends that I might never
(Lois Friedman Oral History continued)
have known because they are outside of my
social circle. If our grandparents or our
great-grandparents hadn't come here, who
knows where we would be today. You have to
do something, you have to give something of
yourself in order to live with yourself."
"Now, on Lloyd's side, his father and
mother came from Poland and settled in
Little Sioux. They were put on a train and
sent there as far as the train went, which was
Council Bluffs, Iowa, and he walked to Little
Sioux. We don't know why, but that is
where they settled." Lloyd's dad lived to be
one month short of his 102nd birthday.
"We'd always get together on Sundays,
either at my parents or at my grandmothers.
We had dinner together and then sat around
listening to the radio — we'd listen to Jack
Benny Fibber McGee and Molly and Fred
Allen. That was our entertainment — being
with family."
Lois was also involved in starting the
Senior Citizen's Club which is now called
Young Energetic Seniors. "I always say if
you want to work, you can. If you want to
give of yourself, they're always happy to
have you."
Nebraska Jewish
Historical Society
New Members - 2003
Michael & Sheryl Abramson
Marcel & Ilse Kahn
Ilene Pachman
From the President:
To the members of the
Nebraska Jewish Historical
Society, thank you for giving
me the opportunity to help
perpetuate, preserve and protect the memories of our Jewish
heritage here in Nebraska and Iowa. This has been not only
an awesome experience, but also has fulfilled my dream to
leave a legacy for future generations. My dream for the
future of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is that the
mission will continue to collect and preserve every Nebraska
and Iowa Jewish family's histories and treasures so that they
may be recorded and documented.
The NJHS has exciting plans for the future! We have, in
the past 20-plus years, expanded our horizons, and we have
built one of the largest memberships in the country, thanks to
the vision, futuristic dreams and hard work of our founders,
Mary Fellman and Oliver Pollak. They presented their dream
and many have worked hard (staff, board, volunteers) to
bring our NJHS into the 21st century. Also, I must include
my sincere thanks to our basic members, life members,
benefactors, patrons, sponsors, endowments, permanent
funds, and trusts for their faith in us. Yes, we are proud of our
growth, but we have much more to do to make sure the
NJHS will survive and thrive. Your continued support,
friendship and generosity are so important!
Louise Abrahamson, President
New Life Members
Marvin & Sandra Kohl!
Sheri & Steven Idelman
Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
Office Hours
2003 NJHS Membership Categories
Basic (one year) .............................. $25
Sponsor (one year) ......................... $50
Patron (one year) .......................... $100
Life Member ................................. $500
Benefactor ................................. $1,000
Mondays - Thursdays
....
10 am - 4 pm
E-mail: NJHS@ jewishomaha.org
Tribute Donations to the NJHS
The Morris and Mary Feilman Fund:
For Mary Feilman's birthday: Anne Rosenblatt,
Renee, Dan & Ashley Corcoran, Karen & Oliver
Pollak, Beth K. Smith, Mickey Stern, Fran & Jerry
Milder, Janet & Ernie Wintroub
In Memory of Max Bittner: J. Burnell Webman
Tribute Donations to the NJHS Fund:
Birthdays: Margie Somberg by Betsey & Allen Tully,
Margo Riekes by Karen & Oliver Pollak, Paul
Rifkin by Helen Rifkin; Al Sorkin by Adele
Hornstein; Harold (Bae) Epstein by Betty & Bus
Rubin; Lois Friedman by Shirley & Buddy
Goldstein, Sheila Rosen, Caryl & Bucky
Greenberg, the NJHS Board.
Recovery: Roz Friedman by Ruthie Nogg; Sheila
Rosen by Bev Gendler; Moe Handleman by
Adele Hornstein, Michael Hornstein; Elaine
Ginsburg by Helen Rifkin; Maurie Katzman,
Harvey Aronson by Shirley & Buddy Goldstein;
Bernie Altsuler by Etta & Bae Epstein.
Birth of Great Grandson of Gerry & Ira
Trachtenbarg: Helen Rifkin
Joe Kirshenbau,n
Rabbi Kripke
Ed Rosen
Ernie Wintmub
Thank you to Maxine Abramson Quinn by Helen
Rifkin.
In Memory of: Shirley Gorelick by Dorothy Kaplan,
Jack Duitch; Helen Tarnoff by Mike & Barbara
Mishael; Yale Richards by Sally & Bernie
Jonisch, Dottie Rosenblum; Dr & Mrs Jerome
Bleicher by Harold Siporin; Norman Batt by
Karen & Oliver Pollak; Yale Halperin by Vicki &
Monte Bergman; Milton Parker by Helen Rifkin,
Bob Belgrade; Edith Noddle by Bob Belgrade;
Helen Brodkey by Janie & Alan Kulakofsky; Ida
Forbes by Bob Belgrade.
In Memory of: Lou Orloff, Otmar Liebenstein,
Diana Rubin, Yale Richards, Freda Bleicher,
Lilly Joseph, Yale Halperin, Estelle Kominsky,
Ed Rosen, Dr. Jerome Bleicher, Edith Noddle,
Ceil Schwartz, Goldie Goldberg, Norman Batt,
Helen Brodkey, Janet Berek, Sidney Klopper,
Robert Cohn, Ida Forbes - the NJHS Board.
Packets of Tribute cards may be purchased six
for $25 at the NJHS office.
Yale Halperin
Included throughout this edition of our
newsletter are photos of some of the
people who have recorded oral histories.
2003-04 NJHS Officers
Enrichment Fund Underway
President: Helen Rifkin
Our campaign is now underway to raise funds for the Mary Fellman
Permanent Enrichment Fund. The following individuals have agreed to
be our leaders: Louise Abrahamson, Bob Belgrade, Shirley Goldstein,
Yale Gotsdiner, Sheldon Kushner, Max Neiden, Steve and Patty Nogg,
and Ben Wiesman.
Past-President: Louise Abrahamson
Some of our initial calls have given us encouragement, and with the
help of others, our goal will be met. If you would like to join our endeavor, please call Renee Ratner Corcoran at (402) 334-6442.
Board Members
Genealogy Club
Board member, Larry Roffman has expressed interest in the formation of a genealogy club open to NJHS members. Research is being
done to determine the procedures for beginning and continuing an
ongoing schedule of meetings.
Memories From the
Jewish Midwest
Memories of the
Jewish Midwest
For the first time in five years, the
NJHS has published a journal, "Memories
of the Jewish Midwest." This was made
possible through the generosity of the
Rose Blumkin Foundation in memory of
Sam Klein, a nephew of Mrs. Blumkin,
who died at the age of 19 in the service of
the United States during World War II.
Vice-president: Helen Epstein
Secretary: Rocky Stern
Treasurer: Bob Belgrade
Joanie Bernstein
Midge Bowers
Ron Brodkey
Tuffy Epstein
Mary Feilman
Lois Friedman
Caryl Greenberg
Kevee Kirshenbaum
Janie Kulakofsky
Sheldon Kushner
Linda Mann
Scott Meyerson
Ben Nachman
Max Neiden
Oliver Pollak
Caryn Rifkin
Larry Roffman
Judy Tully
Co-Founders:
Mary Feliman and
Oliver Pollak
Included are stories of other local men
and women who share their stories of this
memorable time in our history.
Oral Histories Chairman:
Ben Nachman
Office Staff:
Executive Director:
Renee Ratner Corcoran
Staff:
Kathy Weiner
Dottie Rosenblum
Newsletter Co-Editors:
Helen Rifkin and
Louise Abrahamson
Mary Fellinan
Yale Richards
Non-Profit Organization
United States
Postage Paid
Permit #1436
Omaha, NE
The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
333 South 132 Street
Omaha, NE 68154
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- --i-
Nebraska Jewish Historical Society
Use this form for tributes
For a donation of $5 or more, we will send an appropriate card on your behalf. Please make checks payable
to NJHS and mail to Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, 333 S. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 or packets of
Tribute cards may be purchased for the price of six for $25.
To: Name
Address
From: Name
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Enclosed: $______
In honor of
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EJ In memory of
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OR call the office at 334-6443 or 334-6442 from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and Friday
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