Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 September 1979 — Page 1

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Published at 6U N Park. Indianapolis 46204 Second class postage paid at Indianapolis USPS 262-180 Send form 3579 to Indianapolis address SHALOM ...TODAY IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1979

VOLUME XLV, NUMBER 54

Productive First Meeting Of Jewish And Black Leaders

Year In Review Changes In Rabbis, Cantors, Educators Mark Year Passed

Six Jewish and lour black leaders met last week at the first series of meetings designed to improve joint relations in the community and pronounced the meeting productive. The leaders dealt with the historic ties between Jews and blacks and the events surrounding Andrew Young’s resignation. Jewish leaders involved were Rabbi Jon Stein of Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, Rabbi Dennis Sasso of Beth-El Zedeck. G1 a d y s N i s e m b a u m . president of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Reuben Shevitz, chair man of the JCRC Urban Affairs Committee and Ernest Heppner, chairman of the An-ti-Defamation League. The group tried to sensitize themselves to each other’s

Mendel Riser of “South Bend has been chosen the Indiana Jewish Man of the Year.” A lifelong resident of the South Bend area. Riser has served the community in numerous positions over the years and has left his mark of distinction. According to Rabbi Allen Kuperman of Sinai Synagogue of South Bend, Mendal Riser “is a man of decades, rather than a man of one particular year.” “MENDEL EOLLOWS the tradition of his parents and family in devoting his time and skill and energy to Jewish causes. More than Jewish causes, Mendel has given of himself for Jewish people. He makes time for everyone —- important and less important. Rabbi or layman. With all of this Mendel has retained his warm and human feelings,” said Rabbi Kuperman. Riser has held various positions in the Jewish Welfare Fund Campaigns, in-

hiaiuiy and American experience. Both groups of leaders agreed to keep in contact with each other and to speak with each other if clarification was needed from any media reports. Although they didn't resolve any differences around the interpretation of the events surrounding Andrew Young’s resignation or the role of the PLO, the group agreed to disagree amicably. Future meetings will be held to broaden the base of participation between both communities. The next meeting’s date will be set at the end of the week. “This was a good and positive first step,” said Rabbi Stein. “We learned from each other and obtained a greater appreciation of each other’s sensitivities and feelings.”

MENDEL RISER ...Special empathy lor all people

eluding that of chairman in 1970. A past president of the Jewish Community Council, he also served as a member of the Sinai Synagogue and United South Bend Hebrew School Boards. He is a member of the national Board of Directors of the Joint Distribution Committee and a delegate to the Jewish Agency Assembly in Jerusalem, as well as a member of the National (ContinuedOn Next Page)

Changes in top personnel in the city’s congregations and other institutions marked the Jewish year just over. Leading the changes were the election of Rabbi Jonathan Stein as senior rabbi of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. Other leading appointments were Rabbi Peter Schweitzer as assistant to Rabbi Stein, Janice Lowenstein as cantor of the congregation, Ira M. Schnall as cantor of B’nai Torah, and new superintendents of the JEA and the Hebrew Academy. They are Dr. Uri Koren, succeeding Gidon Goren, at the JEA and Rabbi Joel Green succeeding Cantor Edwin Epstein at B’nai Torah The other top appointment was the election of Michael Blain as executive director of the Israel Bond office, succeeding Irving Moschel. Indianapolis also enjoyed a successful year in fundraising Necrology

The Jewish year just passed took a toil of some of the community’s most prominent leaders, including businessmen and physicians. Liebert I. Mossier, 74, community leader, died on Jan. 27. He held all the top roles in the Jewish Welfare Federation for many years. Jerome Leviton. 64, a past president of Jewish Family and Children’s Services died on Oct. 3. Dr. Melvin Lichtenberg, family physician, died on Dec. 4 and Dr. Irving S. Rosenbaum, pediatrician and community leader died on Feb. 11. The deaths during the year in chronological order are: October Jerome Leviton, 64, a past

as the Jewish Welfare Fund chalked up its second best year since 1967 with a total of over $2.5 million. Events of the year in chronological order follow: September Theodore Bikel gave a concert at North Central High School as part of the community’s 30th anniversary celebration for Israel under the sponsorship of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Abba Eban, former Ambassador to the United Nations, spoke at Indiana University in Bloomington. Over $2 million was raised at the Israel Bond Dinner of State. Guest speaker was Benjamin Abileah, Minister of Information for Israel. Irwin Katz was honored at the dinner. Jennie Friedman was honored by Congregation B’nai Torah for being “mashgich” for 22 years at the synagogue.

president of JFCS, died on Oct. 3. Gertrude Kline Dee, 77, died on Oct. 5. Fred Morris Horwitz, 56, died on Oct. 5. Mrs. Naomi Cohen. 60, died in Oregon on Oct. 10. Portia D. Rosner, 75, died on Oct. 11. Morris Safrin, 76, died on Oct. 12. Blanche B. Moss, 87. died on Oct. 14. Isadore Berger, 79. died on Oct. 15. Mary Levine, 78, died on Oct. 15. H. Harold Soshnick, of Shelbyville, 56, died on Oct. 21. Lillian Selig, 64. died on Oct. 25. Ruth S. Goldberg, 86, died on Oct. 26.

Indiana Jewish students held a conference oh W’orld Jewry at Union Camp Institute in Zionsville. “Portrait of a People,” a televised lecture series on the writings and writers of the Jewish people, was offered at the Jewish Educational Association. Meyer Ruchman of Fort Wayne was named chairman of the Fort Wayne 1978 campaign for the State of Israel Bonds. A record enrollment was set at the Hebrew Academy. October Lawrence Greenwald was chosen as one of four winners of the B’nai B’rith Label A. Katz Award for outstanding service in the field of young leadership. Mrs. Michael Maurer, Mrs. Abe Kulwin, Mrs. Phillip Bercovitz, Mrs. Robert Caresky, Mrs. Marshall Seidman, Mrs. (Continued On Page 6)

Dr. Fred A Sondermann. died in Colorado Springs, on Oct. 26. Joseph S. Simkin, 62, died on Oct. 26. Riska Nurell. 2, died on Oct. 27. Lakie L. Landy, 63, died on Oct. 30. Sol Megeff, 74, died on Oct. 31. November Mrs. John H. Wolf died on Nov. 3. Max Schrier, 83, died on Nov. 7. Mollie Hochman Caplin, 93, died on Nov. 10. Robert Schwab, 59, died on Nov. 14. Isadore Mark, 66, died on Nov. 14. (Continued On Page6)

Jewish Man Of The Year

Year Takes Toll Of Leaders, Headed By Liebert Mossier

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