Samuel Bak Museum Lecture Series
ined them in their work.
HILARY NATHER-DETISCH
During the months of September through November, the Samuel Bak Museum Learning Center will offer several lectures. These lectures are free to the public and are presented on a variety of topics that relate to the current Museum exhibition After the Storm: Identity & Repair
On Sept. 26 at 6 p.m., we offer Renaissance Fantasies in Contemporary Art, presented by Dr. Katie Anania, Assistant Professor at UNL, who specializes in modern and contemporary art of the Americas. She will discuss why Samuel Bak chose to emulate the work of Albrecht Dürer one of the most renowned artists of the German Renaissance. Moving between the present and the past, this talk will touch on some key fantasies that Renaissance culture offered including the promise of a more humane, enlightened world and discuss how those artists critiqued, subverted, or reimag-
On Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., Britny Cordera presents Comics, Poetry, and Self-Care: Creative Expression for Well-being Cordera is a poet, writer, journalist, and alum of the UNO Religious Studies program. She will lead a Pearl Blizek Lecture on Religion and Art via workshop in which participants will create four-panel comic poems that explore the therapeutic potential of poetry and drawing. Participants will learn how to integrate self-care into the creative process and reflect on their emotions and personal journey.
On Nov. 7 at 6 p.m., it’s time for Pointed Hats, Hooked Noses and Straggly Beards: The Jews in Medieval Art, presented by Dr. Martina Saltamacchia, Associate Professor of Medieval History & Director of Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UNO. She will explore how Jews were transformed in medieval art from figures of ancient wisdom into hostile enemies to fear. What See Samuel Bak Museum Lecture Series page 2
MARK KIRCHHOFF
JFO Community Engagement and Education
The 22nd Annual Omaha Film Festival will take place on Oct. 27, 28, 29, and 30 at the Staenberg Omaha JCC in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater. Show times each evening will be 6 p.m. Each film will have its community host who will also facilitate a discussion following
the screening. Theater passes are available by using the QR code on page 3, or by visiting jewishom aha.org, clicking on “Our Priorities,” and following the drop-down menu to the Film Festival. You’ll find bargain prices. A 4-ticket pass is $15; an 8-ticket pass is $25. Passes may be used in any combination of showings and persons. Tickets are also available at the door for $5. We’ve discovered that this year’s festival is both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing and a curse? It is a blessing that our film distributors have offered so many high-quality films for consideration. It is a curse to be limited to only four films from the 114 initial considerations – 66 of which made it to the “for serious consideration” spreadsheet. From those 66, 22 See Jewish Film Festival page 2
SHIRLY BANNER
JFO Library Specialist
YOUNG ADULT: Iconic Jewish Women by Elisa Aliza Levin
The inspiring life stories of 59 remarkable Jewish women from past and present come together to create the perfect gift for young girls on the brink of their teenage years as well as the adults in their lives.
Over the course of history, Jewish women have served as leaders, changemakers, teachers, scholars, and revolutionaries. Their actions have made the world what it is today; their stories model for us how much can be accomplished when one has the vision
and determination to pursue a dream.
With Iconic Jewish Women, girls will set off on a powerful journey to become part of the world of Jewish women. They will learn about steadfast Golda Meir, brilliant Rita Levi-Montalcini, incisive Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dedicated Queen Esther, fearless Sarah Aaronsohn, and many more inspiring Jewish women who rose up and changed the world around them—and be encouraged to engage with their legacies in concrete ways.
Focusing on the deeply meaningful occasion of a Jewish girl’s bat See
page 3
Samuel Bak
Continued from page 1
were presented to a volunteer community member group that provided its recommendations. Fourteen films rose to a level high enough for final consideration. The following four outstanding films made the lineup for 2024.
Oct. 27, Shared Legacies: The African American - Jewish Civil Rights Alliance [English, 1 hr. 37 min., hosted by Marty Shukert for the Klutznik Fund at Creighton University underwriting this film.]
Common Cause was founded in the turbulent ‘60s Civil Rights era, as Jewish leaders backed Dr. King’s efforts at racial equality and harmony. Yet, the relationship has frayed in recent years, as a once mighty bond of support and respect has seemingly faded, been forgotten or ignored. Pivotal events come alive through a treasure trove of archival materials, narrated by eyewitnesses, activists, Holocaust survivors, and leaders of the movement, including prominent Atlantans such as Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., members of the King family, and many others.
Jewish Film Festival
Oct. 28, Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story [Comedy, English, 1 hr. 33 min., hosted by Sarah Abrahamson.]
When a beautiful, tall, aging Hollywood star and a short, funny Jew-
ish man try online dating, it's a disaster. But when they randomly meet at a bird store (what are the chances?), he is immediately smitten, but she not so much. As he pursues the woman of his dreams, his charm, sense of humor, and multiple impressions win her over in their heartwarming (almost completely true) love story.
Oct. 29, Running on Sand [Drama, Hebrew and English with English subtitles, 1 hr. 44 min., hosted by Ilana Linthicum and Francisco Guzman Jimenez.]
Aumari, a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel, is about to be deported back to his home country. After a spontaneous escape attempt at the airport, he is mistaken for a Nigerian striker (soccer player), who is scheduled to arrive at the same time. Aumari seizes the opportunity and benefits for his change of identity as the new key acquisition for the team of ‘Maccabi Netanya’. Despite the absence of any soccer talent, Aumari is able to coverup and heal the divisions of his struggling team, while a tender romantic bond with the unconventional daughter of the team owner is growing.
Oct. 30 Avenue of the Giants [Docudrama, English, 1 hr. 42 min., hosted by Gloria Kaslow.]
For over 50 years, Holocaust survivor Herbert Heller, now a toy store
See Film Festival page 3
Samuel Bak Museum Lecture Series
Continued from page 1 was the effect of these portrayals on contemporary society, and their lasting impact throughout Western history?
Lastly, on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m., Dr. Amy Millicent Morris presents Style and Meaning: Conversing with the Old Masters. Dr. Morris is the Director of the School of the Arts at UNO. She will explore Bak's artistic relationship to Old Masters, such as Dürer and Michelangelo, and will reference Bak's own reflections on these borrowings and the degree to which he creates new meaning or engages in artistic rivalry.
The Samuel Bak Museum and Learning Center is located at 2289 S. 67th Street. For more information and to RSVP, please scan the QR code, visit bak.unomaha.edu or call 402.554.6100. Exhibition programming is generously sponsored by the Douglas County Dedicated Service Community Involvement, the Sherwood Foundation, Omaha Steaks, Valmont, Mutual of Omaha and an anonymous donor.
It’s time to check back in with community members to determine how changes since our 2022 survey may impact the way we feel about current issues of civil rights and social justice.
•The survey takes 5-7 minutes or less to complete.
•Responses are anonymous and data will be collected, analyzed and summarized by New Sky Consultants.
•Preliminary results will be presented to the community in mid-October.
•Full report projected to be completed and published before December 31, 2024.
UNO Human Rights Week
ANGELA BROWN
2024 UNO Human Rights Week is Sept. 23-27 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Programming includes topics such as human rights protection in the Middle East and North Africa, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a focus on Latin America, and the 2024 Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights. The Goldstein Lecture features Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University, Samuel Moyn, J.D., Ph.D. who will speak on the topic of humanitarian law. Additional events include tours at the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, which showcases the art of celebrated artist and Holocaust survivor, Samuel Bak. Events include:
(multiple dates, Sept. 2024)
• Human Rights Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa: Promises and Perils (Sept. 19)
• Latin American Contributions to Human Rights Law, from 1948 to Now (Sept. 26)
• Humanitarian Law: Reducing Brutality in War Since the War on Terror (Sept. 26)
• Tours at the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
Kripke-Veret
Continued from page 1
mitzvah, author Aliza Lavie crafts an uplifting experience to connect girls to their heritage and spark a generation of heroines.
ADULT:
The Other Family Doctor by Karen Fine
A tribute to our furry, feathery, scaley, and wet family members, All
Creatures Great and Small meets Being Mortal in this compelling memoir of one woman’s dream to become a veterinarian.
Karen Fine always knew that she wanted to be a vet and wasn’t going to let anything stop her: not her allergy to cats, and not the fact that in the ‘80s veterinary medicine was still a mostly male profession. Inspired by her grandfather, a compassionate doctor who made house calls to all his (human) patients, Dr. Fine persevered, and brought her Oupa’s principles into her own practice, which emphasizes the need to understand her patients’ stories to provide the best possible care.
UNO Human Rights Week is a series of events at the end of every September that educates the community about human rights concerns and highlights the work of scholars, students, and community organizers that promote human rights. It began with founding of the Goldstein Center for Human Rights through the generosity of Shirley and Leonard Goldstein’s children: Don Goldstein, Kathy Goldstein-Helm, and Gail Raznick. It is organized by the Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights. This year, it is co-sponsored by: UNO Goldstein Center for Human Rights, the Office of Latino and Latin American Studies (OLLAS), and the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
All events are free and open to the public; most require registration. Details and registration information can be found on the Goldstein Center event page.
For questions and more information, please contact the Goldstein Center for Human Rights at goldsteincenter@unomaha.edu
Lucy resolves to do her bit to hasten the end of the war. When her coworkers learn she is a footballer’s wife, they invite her to join the arsenal ladies’ football club, the Thornshire Canaries. The Canaries soon acquire an unexpected fan in the boss’s wife, Helen Purcell, who is deeply troubled by reports that Danger Building workers suffer from serious, unexplained illnesses. One common symptom, the lurid yellow hue of their skin, earns them the nickname “canary girls.” Suspecting a connection between the canary girls’ maladies and the chemicals they handle, Helen joins the arsenal administration as their staunchest, though often unappreciated, advocate.
And in The Other Family Doctor, Dr. Fine shares all these touching, joyful, heartbreaking, and life-affirming tales that make up her career as a vet. There’s:
• The feral cat who becomes a creature out of a fable when he puts his trust in a young vet to heal his injured paw
• The pot-bellied pig who grows too big to fit in the car but remains a cherished part of her family
• The surprising colony of perfectly behaved ferrets
• The beloved aging pet who gives her people the gift of accompanying them on one final family vacation
• The dog who saves his owner’s life in a most unexpected way Woven into Dr. Fine’s story are, of course, also the stories of her own pets: the birds, cats, and dogs who have taught her the most valuable lessons—how caring for the animals in our lives can teach us to better care for ourselves, especially when life seems precarious.
Canary Girls by Jennifer
Chiaverini
Early in the Great War, men left Britain’s factories in droves to enlist. Struggling to keep up production, arsenals hired women to build the weapons the military urgently needed. “Be the Girl Behind the Man Behind the Gun,” the recruitment posters beckoned.
Thousands of women—cooks, maids, shopgirls, and housewives—answered their nation’s call. These “munitionettes” worked grueling shifts often seven days a week, handling TNT and other explosives with little protective gear.
Among them is nineteen-year-old former housemaid April Tipton. Impressed by her friend Marjorie’s descriptions of higher wages, plentiful meals, and comfortable lodgings, she takes a job at Thornshire Arsenal near London, filling shells in the Danger Building—difficult, dangerous, and absolutely essential work.
Joining them is Lucy Dempsey, wife of Daniel Dempsey, Olympic gold medalist and star forward of Tottenham Hotspur. With Daniel away serving in the Footballers’ Battalion,
Film Festival
Continued from page 2
The football pitch is the one place where class distinctions and fears for their men fall away. As the war grinds on and tragedy takes its toll, the Canary Girls persist despite the dangers, proud to serve, determined to outlive the war and rejoice in victory and peace.
owner, concealed his wartime memories - even from his family. But as illness looms, he befriends Abbe, a teen grappling with her own buried anguish, inspiring him to open up. By sharing their individual struggles, a path to mutual empathy unfolds, offering newfound purpose and solace. Heartfelt performances, traversing haunting historical flashbacks and the serene redwood forests, movingly capture the unbreakable human spirit, offering hope in dark times and unexpected places. Based on a true story.
Join your host after each film for a brief period to reflect, debrief, and discuss. Each one of these films is sure to stimulate thoughts and emotions. Mark your calendars now! Your admission comes with a free bag of Vic’s Popcorn and a bottle of water to enhance your movie-going experience. You may direct questions about the Omaha Jewish Film Festival to Mark Kirchhoff, 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@ jewishomaha.org
The festival is generously sponsored by the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: Ruth Frisch & Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund; the Kenneth Ray Tretiak Memorial Fund; the Foundation IMPACT Grant; the Special Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and the Klutznik Creighton Custodial Fund. Further support by the B’nai B’rith Henry Monsky Lodge.
Dueling ceremonies: The fight over memorializing October 7th
Already on October 31, 2023, the Knesset took up the matter of memorializing the terrible events of Oct. 7th. According to the proposal submitted by seven Knesset Members from across the political spectrum, the 24th of the Hebrew month of Tishrei would be designated as a national memorial day (i.e., two days after the historical day, which occurred on Simchat Torah). When one recalls that this was weeks before any hostage deal and just four days into the Gazan war’s major phase, the timing of the proposal seems preposterous. To me, it speaks of the traumatization of the whole country in light of the devastation wrought by Hamas; or, as Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy puts it: “People don’t want to look reality straight in the face, they would rather focus on the ceremony.”
On March 17, the government of Israel formally adopted the 24th of Tishrei (or the 25th, should the 24th fall out on a Sabbath, as is the case this year) as the day for memorializing the civilians murdered by Hamas and for the soldiers killed in “Iron Swords” (the unofficial name for the war; it should be noted here in passing that there is an official State process for the naming of wars and significant military operations). It was also decided that for this year only, due to the significance of the “secular” day in the nation’s consciousness, the national memorial ceremony will take place on Oct. 7th.
Many Israelis, especially those from the areas that were targeted by Hamas, have been critical of the government’s persistence in focusing on memorializing Oct. 7th. For example, a spokesperson for Kibbutz Be’eri said: “We demand that the government deal with lives that can be saved, the lives of the abductees who are in Gaza, and not with the lives of people who were abandoned and left to die.” And when, on Aug. 18, responsibility for the State’s ceremony was given to Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, the controversy became, to use Israeli media terminology, a “storm.” Regev, from Netanyahu’s Likud party, is known for her absolute and aggressive loyalty
to Netanyahu (she is relentlessly satirized about this on Israel’s equivalent of Saturday Night Live). The government seemed prepared for this criticism, because on the same day that Regev’s appointment was announced, it was also announced that the ceremony would take place without a live audience-thereby avoiding any possible protesters.
The government was pummeled with criticism concerning the appointment of Regev. The father of one of the men killed while defending Kibbutz Be’eri spoke for many when he said: “Miri Regev is disqualified from being anything or any representative figure of one kind or another, and certainly not for the events of Oct. 7th. She simply can’t. She is part of the system that screwed up and she cannot be in charge. It would be like putting a pig in charge of kashrut.”
Out of this storm, there grew a demand for an alternative ceremony to the government’s.Organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the alternative ceremony is set for 7:10 p.m. on the night of Oct. 7th (the government’s is to be broadcast at 9 p.m.) at Park Yarkon in Tel Aviv. The crowdfunding page to support this ceremony, which will “tell the true story of October 7th and give the proper respect to all those who were affected by the horrific disaster that befell us,” has raised well more than its targeted funding goal, and tens of thousands of Israelis are expected to attend.
I will close here with the words of Iris Haim, whose son Yotam was abducted and mistakenly killed in December by IDF forces. Over the last 9 months, Iris has captured the hearts of many Israelis, as she has refused to speak ill of anyone and has urged national cohesion. Iris is deeply troubled by the controversy over the ceremonies; she says: I feel bad about this ‘storm.’ Maybe we should be directing our energy to more strengthening places.” She added concerning the alternative ceremony: “If people want to go to it, that’s fine; but let it not be against someone else. That’s what’s most important to me.”
Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., made aliyah with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Jane Ross, and their five children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra, and Elie, all of whom are veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@gmail.com.
Karen Carnow Greenberg and Tom Rifkin Art Show
HOWARD KUTLER
Karen Anne Greenberg Carnow and Tom Rifkin are former residents of Omaha who have long since moved away. Karen lives in Surprise, AZ and Tom lives in Minneapolis. On Sept. 29, both will be in Omaha for an art show to display their work for one month in the Eisenberg Gallery at the JCC. Karen left Omaha after graduating from Westside High School to attend Arizona State University. Karen’s career began as a specialneeds art educator and continued for 30 years as an art teacher. The artwork that Karen will have on display represents the many layers of her life which feature growing up Jewish in Omaha. In 2021 she created Dog Doodler, an art project where she creates bespoke pet portraits for living animals and those
IN THE NEWS
Braille Music for free
Greenblatt & Seay are proud to announce that Braille versions of six of our “Tunes for Two” books are now part of the music collection of the Music Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, a division of the Library of Congress. The National Library Service allows blind and print-disabled patrons in the United States or American citizens living abroad to borrow Braille, recorded, and large print books and music free of charge. The available titles are:
* Crooked Tunes for Two
* Gow Family Scottish Fiddle Tunes for Two
* Hungarian Fiddle Tunes for Two
who have gone over the rainbow bridge. Karen also created a pre-school art program at Temple Chai Synagogue in Phoenix. Tom Rifkin’s artistic talents did not surface until eleven years ago following his professional career as a marketing specialist. Tom said his ability to create art is inspired by his curious nature to discover and experiment with new techniques. Tom’s first piece of art he sold was on display at the Café Meow which operates as a coffee house and cat rescue mission. That experience helped build his confidence to make art ranging from eclectic style, abstract, woodworking and Judaica. Everyone is encouraged to come meet the artists for the first time or renew an old friendship when they are back in Omaha on Sept. 29 at the JCC Eisenberg Gallery.
* Skinner Tunes for Two
* Ukrainian Fiddle Tunes for Two
* Welsh Fiddle Tunes for Two
We’ve been told that these books have filled a gap in the library’s collection for players looking for non-classical music that is playable by musicians at the beginner and intermediate levels.
My sincere thanks to our fiddling colleague, Stephanie, who got this started. Thanks go to the Braille Production Department at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington, WY, and the inmates who donated their time and talent to produce these books in Braille.
TEDDY WEINBERGER
Visit Friedel during the Community Open House
SARA KOHEN
Director of Advancement, Friedel Jewish Academy
“Ever since Friedel opened its new middle school last year, people keep asking when they can come and see it,” says Beth Cohen, Friedel Jewish Academy’s Head of School. While we’ve given a number of private tours,” she says, “there are still a lot of people who haven’t been able to come in yet.”
On Monday, Sept. 23, adults in the community are invited to come see both the new middle school and Friedel’s elementary school (founded in 1964!). Group tours will be available in both the morning and the afternoon. A limited number of private tours are also available, by request.
To learn more information and reserve your spot, contact Sara Kohen, Friedel’s Director of Advancement, at sko hen@fjaomaha.com
ORGANIZATIONS
B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS
The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com
Kripke-Veret Book Display
CLAIRE DU LANEY
Criss Library Archives and Special Collections Outreach
Archivist
UNO Criss Library Archives and Special Collections curates monthly displays, composed of books from the Kripke-Veret Collection of the Jewish Federation of Omaha throughout 2024. During September, we are highlighting books about art within the collection.
The KVCJF has numerous books about art, as well as art folios and art prints. Some of the art explores themes of the Holocaust, including books by Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak, while others examine Yiddish film, medieval wax seals, and Near Eastern art. Explore new and familiar depictions of art through drawings, paintings, woodcuts, medieval wax seals and more within the pages of these books. The collection items on display are listed below. There are many more art books in the collection than can be displayed in a single case and we invite you to visit the Archives and Special Collections department to learn more.
lection is the largest donation of books ever to be received by UNO Criss Library Archives and Special Collections.
The cases are available to view on the first floor of Criss Library Monday-Thursday 7a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m, Saturday 9 a.m. -5 p.m., and Sunday noon-10 p.m.. Archives and Special Collections is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. –5 p.m. You can find KVCJF books in the library catalog.
BOOK LIST:
• Archives of Ancient Jewish Art
• Medieval Jewish Seals from Europe
• Art in Palestine
• Bridge of Light: Yiddish Film Between Two Worlds
• The Forger’s Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century
• The living Witness: Art in the Concentration Camps and Ghettos
• Painting a People: Maurycy Gottlieb and Jewish Art
• Last Traces; the Lost Art of Auschwitz
The University of Nebraska at Omaha Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library became the home to the Kripke-Veret Collection in 2020. The books, donated by the Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO), contain a hallmark selection of primarily scholarly Jewish works. With an estimated 36,500 volumes, the special col-
• Told & Foretold: the Cup in the Art of Samuel Bak
• Woodcuts
• Goddesses and Trees, New Moon and Yahweh: Ancient Near Eastern Art and the Hebrew Bible
Children’s book recommendation: The Sea Hides a Seahorse
From writer Sara T. Behrman and illustrator Melanie Mikecz comes The Sea Hides a Seahorse, a delightful picture book about the enchanting world of seahorses. Each page tells slightly older readers about Seahorse habits, but also hides seahorses for young (almost) readers to find. It’s an underwater journey, that includes a wealth of information about seahorses as well as practical ways to support their protection and conservation.
Sara T. Behrman is a children’s book author, technical writer and former librarian. Melanie Mikecz specializes in a mixed-media style that blends digital and traditional media. Seahorses are among the ocean’s most fascinating creatures, yet several species are classified as endangered or vulnerable. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of The Sea Hides a Seahorse will be donated to relevant causes.
Rabbi Hillel said
“If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
These words remind us that though self-interest is our right, we also have a duty to care for others. Today.
For over a century, Jewish Family Service of Omaha has focused on providing crucial aid to individuals, couples and families facing challenges in their lives. Between July 2023 and June 2024 our efforts have been sustained by the following contributors who chose to balance their own needs with the needs of others.
Grants
Herbert Goldsten Trust
Lazier L. & Harriet B. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth
Murray H. & Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation
Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation
Simon Family Funding for JFS
Sokolof Foundation
Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
The Chesed Fund (formerly Murray H. & Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation)
The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
The Phillip & Terri Schrager Supporting Foundation
Endowments
Arthur L. & Betsy Davidson Emergency Assistance Endowment Fund for JFO
Craig Saylan Memorial Endowment Fund
Edith & Paul Goldstein Endowment
Friedman JFS Financial Assistance Fund
Harry & Fannie Stock Rothkop/ Theodore Rothkop
Jake & Mary Wine Fund
Jerome & Frances Milder Endowment
JFS Campaign Custodial Fund
Lieberman Family of Scottsbluff, NE Endowment for Special Needs Population
Lieberman Family of Scottsbluff, NE Endowment for Special Needs Population
Lippett Family Endowment Fund
Louis Friedman New American
Mickey (Sturm) Stern Memorial Endowment Fund
Nancy Noddle JFS Financial Assistance Fund
Nathan and Rose Lillian Fine JFS Tzedakah Endowment Fund
Paul & Joy Grossman Family Endowment
Paul Alperson Endowment
Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund
Perlmeter Family Jewish Family Service Assistance Fund
Richard ‘Pete’ Lee Memorial Fund
Robert Sturm JFS Housing Assistance Endowment Fund
Rosalie & Milton Saylan Endowment
Ruth & Bernard Raskin Endowment
Ruth & Otmar Liebenstein JFS Financial Assistance Endowment Fund
Sam and Rosaline Epstein Senior Outreach Fund
Steven Bloch President’s Fund
Yachad Endowment Fund
Custodial Fund
JFS Discretionary Fund
Kutler Dental Fund
Mark & Sophie Sturm Immigrant Fund
Octogenarian Needy Widows Fund
Parsow and Simons Families Special Needs Community Fund
Life and Legacy
Beatrice Karp LIFE & LEGACY Fund for Jewish Family Service
Bruce Meyers LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund
Denise Silverman LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund
Gary & Barbara Goldstein Endowment Fund for JFO
Gary & Barbara Goldstein
LIFE & LEGACY End. Fund
JFS Campaign Legacy Fund
JFS Endowment
Steve & Thelma Lustgarten Endowment Fund
Friends Campaign
Arnold Ban
Scott W. Burger
Marvin Bittner
Anne Cohen
David & Marlene Cohen
Pamela Cohn
Judith & A. Justin Cooper
Maria Del Carmen Soltis
Teresa & Jeff Drelicharz
Jodi & Gary Epstein
Marti Finkel Poulos
Norma Fried
Jamie & Ted Friedland
Cindy & Morris Friedman
Amy & Sandford Friedman
Friends Campaign (cont.)
Darlene Golbitz
Andi & Donald Goldstein
Jan & Howard Goldstein
Mary Sue Grossman
Margie & Bruce Gutnik
Abby Haber
Jonathan Herskovitz
Bonnie Horwich
Joanie & Richard Jacobson
Debbi & Larry Josephson
Helen Kaplan
Robert Kaplan
Gloria & Howard Kaslow
Harriet “Sissy” Katelman Silber
Helen & Les Kay
Joseph Kirshenbaum
Alice & Harold Kosowsky
Betty & Jack Kozlen
Deborah Kricsfeld
Janie Kulakofsky
Abigail & Adam Kutler
Doris Lubman
H. Scott Lustgarten
Tina & Joe Meyers
Lois Milder
Sharee & Murray Newman
Allan Noddle
Patty & Steve Nogg
Helen Novak
Sandy & Jeff Passer
Helga Patterson
Linda & Bruce Potash
Shayna & Matt Ray
Iris & Marty Ricks
Caryn & Gary Rifkin
Nancy Rips
Marti Rosen-Atherton & John Atherton
Margo Rosen & Paul Landow
Friends Campaign (cont.)
Barbara Rothenberg
Jeffrey Schweid
Sherry & Larry Shapiro
Suzy & Norman Sheldon
Claudia Sherman
Patty & Michael Sherman
Linda & Howard Shrier
Yosef Seigel
Susan Silverman
Kim Simon
Carolyn Stern
H.B. Stern
Marty Tichauer & Bruce Meyers
Heather Topil
Annette van de Kamp-Wright & Jeremy Wright
Gail A. Veitzer
Nancy & Philip Wolf
Deborah & Eugene Zweiback
Rosie Zwieback & Mace Hack
Teen Tzedek
Marley Atlas
Alexander Campos
Tyler Epstein
Jonah Katz
Zachary Kazor
Brady Meyerson
Eva Phillips
Juliette Boehm Smith
Contributions and Tribute Cards
Beth El Synagogue
B’nai Israel Synagogue
B’nai B’rith Henry Monsky Lodge
Broadmoor Development
Carol & Steven Bloch
Sandy & Sherman Brodkey
Contributions and Tribute Cards (cont.)
Sylvia Cohn
Jason Epsenhart
Carrie & Cory Epstein
Bobbie & Robert Epstein
Susan & Stanley Eisenhammer
Rosie Friedland
Robert Friedman
Andi & Donald Goldstein
Shirley Goodman
National Indemnity Company
Helping Hands
Joanie & Richard Jacobson
Sheryn & Arnold Joffe
Sander Kasin
Maxine & Joseph Kirshenbaum
Milton Kleinberg
Gail Kohll
Sharon & Howard Kooper
Howard Kutler
Barbara Levitan
Trenton Magid
Linda & Harold Mann
Tina & Joe Meyers
Linda & Alan Muskin
Phyllis & Robert Newman
Sandy Nogg
Eden & Allen Ostravich
Fefe & Al Bloch Passer
Vicki Perlmeter
Julie & Eric Phillip
Marcia Pitlor
Gwen & Ray Pred
Caryn & Gary Rifkin
Judith Roffman
Debbie Salomon
Sherry & Larry Shapiro
Patty & Michael Sherman
Contributions and Tribute Cards (cont.)
Kathy Simon
Dorothy Spizman
Cindy & John Tully
Joye & Steve Wees
Nora & Barry Zoob
In-Kind Donations
Bagel Bin
Beth El Synagogue
Beth Israel Synagogue
Broadmoor Development
Millie Campbell
Debbie Denenberg
Omaha Chapter Dignity Grows
Early Learning Center Classrooms
Joanie & Richard Jacobson
Gary Javitch
Ashley Jones
Linda Pollard
Jan Roos
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Saint John’s Lutheran Church
Marsha & Steve Senft
Amy Shivvers
Temple Israel Synagogue
T.O. Haas
Diane Walker
*OfBlessedMemory
SP O TLIGHT
PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS
SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org
Right: The ELC red cart meets up with Cooper the Corgi.
Above: RBJH Cornhuskers - Annual Corn Shucking Party Residents shucked 18 1/2 dozen ears of corn from a local farmer’s market to give to staff to say thank you with a sweet corn gesture. For an added treat, the kitchen cooked the ears for Residents to enjoy for their hard work and drenched the ears in butter, along with a sampling of the homegrown watermelon. It’s a bit corny but lots of fun!
Below: Enjoying an endless summer at the Early Learning Center.
Above and below: RBJH got into the Husker spirit with a tailgate party, grilled hotdogs, and lots of pep!
Lion of Judah event Top left: Sharon Kirshenbaum presenting the Kipnis-Wilson award to Nancy Schlessinger; middle left: Susan Norton, left, Jennifer Glazer, and Katherine Finnegan; and bottom left: Nancy Schlessinger with Gail Veitzer.
Above: Lincoln musicians Ash Sharp, left, Stateleigh Holmes and Scott Severin performing a community concert in honor of the South Street Temple’s building centennial. Credit: Jessica Elsener
Below: The Kutler boys show their pride at Beth El Sunday School.
Voices
The Jewish Press
(Founded in 1920)
David Finkelstein
President
Annette van de Kamp-Wright
Editor
Richard Busse
Creative Director
Claire Endelman
Sales Director
Lori Kooper-Schwarz
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Melanie Schwarz
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Sam Kricsfeld
Digital support
Mary Bachteler
Accounting
Jewish Press Board
David Finkelstein, President; Margie Gutnik, Ex-Officio; Helen Epstein, Andrea Erlich, Ally Freeman, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Chuck Lucoff, Larry Ring, Melissa Schrago, Suzy Sheldon and Stewart Winograd.
The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
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The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.
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Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.
The Prettiest Girl
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor
In September of 1934, the Omaha Jewish Press reprinted a short article from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Complications When Prettiest Girl Non-Aryan, the headline read.
In advance of judges crowning one of 18 girls “Miss Europe,” the German ambassador whose name we won’t mention, declared he wouldn’t be attending, because the German contestant was “not a pure Aryan.” The woman in question was Miss Emma Kant, grand-niece of the philosopher Immanuel Kant. Her full name? Maria Magdalena Kant. But, apparently, she had some Jewish blood. There are a few thoughts going through my head when I read stories like these, ranging from “I hope she won,” (she didn’t) to “Why would anyone want to be Miss Europe?” Most of all, the notion that the public didn’t know what was happening in the 1920s and ‘30s is disproven again and again by most newspapers from that period. Because this story was not an outlier. For decades, at least the Jewish papers were filled with news about Jews being outcast. They were pushed out of hospitals, universities, neighborhoods. They lost their jobs, their livelihoods, their homes and their synagogues, inch by inch. This was not a fast process. I think we often approach the period of 1938-1945 as something of a stand-alone, isolated time. In truth, it was much more than that. So, if the Jewish community knew what was happening, why would the nonJews pretend not to?
And then my mind automatically returns to
today.
What will future generations think when they look back on the current events? Are we in a similar situation where we are sounding the alarm, but no one wants to hear it?
While I was mulling this over, I was attending a virtual conference for the American Jewish Press Association. There was much talk about our purpose. Questions about how and what we report and why we write what we write, especially in the current chaotic climate, were front and center. The world is on fire, but for many American Jewish papers, 80% of content is still hyper local. Local news, after all, helps build community.
Of course, things have changed since 1934. Those news stories about what was happening in Europe, Omaha’s Jews probably only learned about it through the Jewish Press. They didn’t have social media, television, internet. Nowadays, even though we want to keep you informed, we’re also just as likely to hold back on printing news of antisemitism. You’re getting that in plenty of other places already, we imagine, and we can use our limited space to tell you more about what’s happening in our own Jewish backyard. I’d much rather tell you about the Omaha Jewish Film Festi-
val than share the story of a thwarted terror attack in Brooklyn.
I know why the 1934 Press editor printed that story about the prettiest girl. But I also know that the overall mission of the Jewish Press at the time was to connect us as a community. That hasn’t changed in the 90 years since.
Finding that balance between what’s really important to know on a national and international level, versus what we all want and need to know about Jewish Omaha, is not always easy.
Los Angeles Jewish News editor David Suissa said he thinks of his readers as “a very large Shabbat table.”
It’s a good metaphor; we all have different hunger levels and while some of us have enough after one appetizer, others go back for seconds even during dessert. It’s up to the host to make sure there is something for everyone’s needs.
Sometimes that means we tell you about pretty girls who are shunned by politicians for not being Aryan enough. Sometimes it means an excess of QR codes so you can RSVP for all the local happenings. Always, it means we continue to do our best to tell the story of Jewish Omaha, and help sustain our sense of community.
Music is my passion. Jewish artists are my role models.
ALINEA KIRSHENBAUM
This article was produced as part of JTA’s Teen Journalism Fellowship, a program that works with Jewish teens around the world to report on issues that affect their lives | JTA
In the summer of 2023, I joined over 70,000 other Swifties crammed into Lumen Field for The Eras Tour Night 2 in Seattle, Washington. For months, we had anticipated Taylor Swift’s record-breaking, three-and-a-half-hour concert, which famously broke Ticketmaster and became one of the biggest pop-culture events of 2023. Although I was elated to see my longtime idol hit the stage, Taylor wasn’t the only reason I was there.
In Seattle, the openers for The Eras Tour were not only phenomenal musicians but also Jewish. At the time, seeing Gracie Abrams and Haim perform and knowing we shared an identity was certainly meaningful, but the magnitude of what that would mean to me later as an aspiring songwriter was not realized until months later.
Following the attacks by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza, being a Jewish teenager felt political without even bringing up politics. During classroom discussions in my school with a class size of 55, where I am one of two Jewish students in my grade, I pretended not to notice stares during current events updates that touched on the war in Gaza.
Regardless of my opinions on the war, I could feel assumptions in every glance and comment from my peers despite my having no association with Israel whatsoever. I have never even been to Israel and neither have my parents.
I realized that if I couldn’t control others’ assumptions, then I could control my relationship with my Jewish identity. As a songwriter, I turned to writing music and listening, specifically to Jewish artists.
My love for Gracie Abrams and Haim — three Jewish sisters from Los Angeles — has remained. Abrams’ “The Secret of Us” is an emotionally riveting album that reads as poetry. Haim’s “Women in Music Part III” is the perfect summer album with a cover that features all three sisters in Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles. The self-titled album “Bleachers” (led by Jack Antonoff) came out in March and was
immediately on repeat. Ben Platt’s Americana album “Honeymind” was as sweet as the title suggests and was 10 times better when he performed it live at Benaroya Hall. I even listened to the Jewish artists of my dad’s childhood, primarily Simon and Garfunkel.
These artists’ songs include bits and pieces that hint at their Jewish identities. The song Jesus Is Dead by Bleachers features a bold title that certainly could ruffle some feathers. Voices of Old People by Simon and Garfunkel — which introduces their song Old Friends — features conversations between older Jewish friends recorded by Art Garfunkel. Haim’s song Summer Girl references a popular Jewish summer camp song, where “walk beside me and be my friend, and together we will walk in the path of Hashem” becomes “Walk beside me, not behind me/ Feel my unconditional love.”
That being said, hearing more secular songs from Jewish artists is just as, if not more, impactful. Even when these artists don’t sing about Jewish topics, their music serves as a “bridge over troubled water,” so to speak. The very fact that Jewish artists proudly romanticize and muse about topics outside of their identity while simultaneously existing
As a Swiftie who is used to deciphering Taylor Swift lyrics, I live for diving into references made by Jewish artists that hint at their identity. This heightened interest and connection to Jewish lyricism inspired me to write a song about my Jewish experience.
For the first time, I was able to write a song that’s satirical yet discusses a serious topic: the way Jewish teenage girls are portrayed in media. I titled it “Jewish American Princess” and poked fun at stereotypes with lines like:
I’m your Jewish American Princess Certified damsel in distress
I don’t care about your rules
Because my daddy’s got a pool
These artists are incredibly impactful to me as a Jewish teenager aspiring to become a performing artist someday. I had previously thought that since Jews are a minority, singing about Jewish topics wouldn’t be as popular as songs with secular themes. These Jewish musicians are the exact role models I need when striving to achieve my career goals while staying proud of my identity, a balance that often seems daunting.
within it humanizes the Jewish experience outside of the political landscape. With the American election season underway, the need for this perspective in music increases.
Since this realization, I now embrace my identity on my terms more than ever before. I proudly wear the Stand Up To Jewish Hate blue square on my tote bag wherever I go. My family recently hung a mezuzah outside our door, a tradition we had not participated in growing up. This outward symbol of Jewish identity felt important for my interfaith family because it serves as a reminder that being Jewish means whatever you want it to mean. I cherish every family holiday gathering and realize it’s a privilege to partake in tradition with the people I love and care about.
Music is healing regardless, but Jewish musicians remind me that music from a shared identity can act as a mirror into my life, which is something I should take pride in.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Gracie Abrams performing as the opening act during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at Lumen Field, Seattle WA, Jul. 23, 2023. Credit: Alinea Kirshenbaum
Synagogues
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766
712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980
402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org
BETH ISRAEL
SYNAGOGUE
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154
402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
CHABAD HOUSE
An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646
402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:
B’NAI JESHURUN
South Street Temple
Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797
402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
OFFUTT AIR
FORCE BASE
Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123
402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206
402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:
TIFERETH ISRAEL
Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker, Leonard Greenspoon on Humor in the Bible. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, MaryBeth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.
IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of Max Gordon 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:55 p.m. Zoom only.
SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; A Journey Through the Shabbat Siddur, 10:30 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman; Hands-On Judaism, 11:15 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman.
MONDAY: Women’s Book Group, 2 p.m.
TUESDAY: Mishneh Torah, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham.
WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m.
THURSDAY: Miriam’s Women’s Night Out, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY-Sept. 27: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Our Shabbat Tables — Fiesta Night, 7 p.m. at Beth El.
SATURDAY-Sept. 28: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Selichot 8 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:06 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class 10:45 a.m.; Tehillim, 5:55 p.m. at the Zivs; Soulful Torah, 6:05 p.m. with Rabbi Geiger; Mincha 6:50 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 7:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:03 p.m.
SUNDAY: Shacharit 9 a.m.; Kinyan 9:40 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.
MONDAY: Nach Yomi 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:10 p.m.
TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Kinyan, 6:35 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.
THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Kinyan, 6:35 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.; Parsha Class, 7:20
p.m.
FRIDAY-Sept. 27: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 6:54 p.m.
SATURDAY-Sept. 28: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class 10:45 a.m.; Tehillim, 5:35 p.m. at the Zivs; Soulful Torah, 5:55 p.m. with Rabbi Geiger; Mincha, 6:40 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 7:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:51 p.m.
Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.
FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: Ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Omaha Young Professionals Shabbat Dinner; Candlelighting, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shacharit 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:03 p.m.
SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Shacharit, 99:30 a.m., Video Presentation, 9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.
MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Translating Words of Prayer, 7 p.m. with David Cohen.
TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Translating Words of Prayer, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.
WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.
THURSDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Introduction to Alaphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 10 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY-Sept. 27: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: Ochaba d.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:53 p.m.
SATURDAY-Sept. 21: Shacharit 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:50 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL
Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex, 7-8 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:08 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Alex, 9:30-11 a.m. at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Ki Tavo via Zoom; Improv: Occasionally Hilarious, 7 p.m. at SST; Havdalah, 8:05 p.m.
SUNDAY: SST Gardening, 8:30-10 a.m.; LJCS
From the archives: August 28, 1924
Many Favor New Plan of New Year Greetings
Omaha Jewry is responding generously to the suggestion of the Jewish Press to publish their New Year Greeting Cards in the final page of our big New Year’s issue.
This custom is now established in all the large cities, especially in the east. The local Jewish newspapers in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and many other cities have become the good-will and greeting messengers for the Jewish Folk in their respective communities.
The innovation, now an established custom, is meeting with popular approval in Omaha, too, because citizens here also realize its many advantages over the old style of card-sending.
By printing your New Year Greetings in our special page you save time and money and do not forget anyone.
“I am heartily in favor of sending my New Year’s
Greetings through the Jewish Press,” said Rabbi J.M. Charlon. “It is being endorsed by many Jewish people in their respective communities and should be endorsed by all in Omaha.”
“I have used this means of extending my New Year’s Greetings since the first Rosh Hashanah issue of the Jewish Press,” said Mr. R. Kulakofsky. “I believe it is a very good way of extending New Year Greetings.”
“The New Year Greeting page of the Jewish Press is very interesting. It relieves one of forgetting a friend,” said Mr. A. Herzberg.
If you desire to take advantage of our special offer to print your New Year Greetings in our special page for $2.00, fill out the coupon in this paper and mail immediately.
Rabbi Schneerson on way from Soviet Russia to America Riga. | JTA
Classes, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at SST; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com; Adult Ed Exploring High Holy Days #2, noon with Rabbi Alex at TI; Pre-Rosh Hashanah Community Apple Picking Get Together, 2-4 p.m. at Picnic Hill Orchard, 10500 Yankee Hill Rd, Lincoln; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. at TI. Anyone interested in playing or learning how to play can text Miriam at 402.470.2393. If there are enough interested people; we’ll play in the Social Hall.
TUESDAY: Ladies' Lunch 1 p.m. at The Green Gateau. If you'd like more information or would like to be added to the group please contact at oohhm mm.barb@gmail.com.
WEDNESDAY: LJCS Hebrew School (Grades 3-7), 4:30-6 p.m. at SST.
THURSDAY: High Holidays Choir Rehearsal, 7-8:30 p.m. If you are interested in singing with the choir please contact our Music Director, Steven Kaup by email at MusicDirector@southstreettemple.org
FRIDAY-Sept. 27: Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:56 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex, 7-8 p.m. at SST.
SATURDAY-Sept. 21: Shabbat Morning Service with Rabbi Alex, 9:30-11 a.m. at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech via Zoom; Havdalah Service, 7 p.m. at SST; S'lichot Service, 7:30 p.m. at SST; Havdalah, 7:53 p.m.
FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.
In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander
FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Village Walking Group, 10 a.m. In-Person; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Classic Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SATURDAY: Torah Study 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SUNDAY: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Temple Israel Welcomes OSRUI, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Coffee and Conversations, 10 a.m. In-Person; Kol Rina Rehearsal, noon In-Person.
TUESDAY: Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6 p.m. In-Person.
WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m.; Grades 3-6, 4:30 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew High: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. In-Person.
THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff and Rabbi Azriel — In-Person & Zoom; Building Racial Stamina Cohort 4, 7 p.m. InPerson,
FRIDAY-Sept. 27: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Village Walking Group, 10 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY-Sept. 28: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom; S’lichot — Film & Discussion: Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel, 7 p.m. In-Person; S'lichot Service, 8:30 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneerson, a grandson of the famous Rabbi Schmaryah Naach Schneerson, arrived here enroute to New York.
His grandfather was the Rabbi in Bobruisk, White Russia, during a period of 35 years. When he died a year ago high tribute was paid to his memory by the entire population. Even the Communist President of Bobruisk, Jakumovitz, who is opposed to religion, urged the entire community to pay its respects to the dead Rabbi.
Sinai Desert once required 40 years, now crossed in four hours Jerusalem. | JTA
The Sinai desert, the crossing of which it took the Jews forty years in their exodus from Egypt to Palestine, was for the first time in history crossed August 21 in no greater length of time than four hours by automobile. The crossing was accomplished by Colonel Shbab and Mr. Dale in a Ford motor car.
B’NAI ISRAEL
BETH EL
BETH ISRAEL
CHABAD HOUSE
Life cycles
Did You Know...
MARVIN KOHLL
Marvin Kohll passed away Aug. 16 in Omaha at age 93. Services were held at Beth Israel Synagogue with burial following at Temple Israel Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leona and Louis J. Kohll, his beloved wife, Sandra, his son, Louis H. Kohll, and his brother, Jerry.
He is survived by sons, Justin (Sara), and David (Janet), all of Omaha; daughter, Sarah (Rabbi Nosson) Meretsky of State College, PA; daughter-in-law, Ivy Kohll; 21 grandchildren; sister-inlaw, Gail Kohll; nieces, nephews and friends.
Marvin is a graduate of Omaha Central High School and the University of Nebraska’s School of Pharmacy. At age 27, he was left in charge of the family’s business, Kohll’s Pharmacy, after his father died suddenly. Kohll’s is now a fourth-generation business.
During the Korean War, Marvin was stationed in Germany working for an army hospital. Just as a wise sage taught, Marvin “said little and did much.” When not working, our patient patriarch enjoyed golfing with friends and family, a smooth drink on the rocks, the occasional cigar and relaxing in his favorite chair. Memorials may be made to Chabad of Penn State, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or Beth Israel Synagogue.
1. It’s traditional to eat a fruit you haven’t eaten for a long time on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.
2. Apples and honey (and pomegranates) aren’t the only symbolic foods traditionally enjoyed on Rosh Hashanah. Other foods traditionally eaten to symbolize wishes for prosperity and health in the new year include dates, string beans, beets, pumpkins, leeks — and even fish heads.
3. Rosh Hashanah liturgy has inspired at least two rock songs.
Avinu Malkeinu, the prayer that means Our Father, Our King, inspired Mogwai, a Scottish post-rock-trio, to write a 20-minute epic song My Father, My King. The song, which borrows the prayer’s traditional melody, is alternately soft and beautiful and loud and raging. More famously, Leonard Cohen’s Who By Fire draws on the Unetanah Tokef, which many consider the most important prayer in the High Holiday liturgy.
4. Tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews make a pilgrimage to Ukraine for an annual Rosh Hashanah gathering known as a “kibbutz.”
Source: myjewishlearning.com
ANNOUNCEMENT
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Shabbat light
NINA GLICK
UNL Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management
For as long as I can remember, Shabbat dinner was the highlight of my week. Every Friday night, I would go to my grandma’s house where I’d be able to spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We’d eat, play games, and reflect on our week. These dinners were especially meaningful to me when I was in high school. For nine years, I had attended a Jewish day school, but when I started at my public high school, I learned to cherish Shabbat dinner, as it allowed me to connect with my Jewish identity for a few hours each week.
As meaningful as Shabbat with my family was, my sleepaway camp provided me with a different kind of appreciation for Shabbat. Every week we would dress up in our nicer clothes, and sing songs to welcome Shabbat. We’d enjoy chicken, potatoes, and matzah ball soup, and we’d end the night with a song session. For every camper, Shabbat was the highlight of their week, some of my very best memories are from Shabbat at my camp.
Given my deep appreciation for Shabbat dinners, it was very important to me that I chose a college that would allow me to meet other Jewish people and celebrate Shabbat with them.
I came to UNL having not known anyone. I was super eager to find a Jewish community to connect with. I had heard that the UNL Hillel worked closely with the Omaha Chabad, and I got very excited. My Grandma lived right next to the Chabad at the University of Chicago, and my family has become very close with the family who runs it. I’ve grown up loving Chabad, so the thought of being able to attend Shabbat dinners at Chabad made me very happy.
When I went to Shabbat dinner after my first week of school, I instantly felt at home. I was able to connect with other Jewish students on campus, and despite being in a new
October 7th
Marking One Year
We invite you to attend a special commemoration honoring the victims of the October 7th attacks and the strength and resilience of the Israeli people. Together we will stand in solidarity and look toward a brighter future.
place with all new people, I was provided a sense of familiarity and comfort. I look forward to participating in future Shabbat dinners through Chabad, and I consider myself so lucky to have found a community of passionate and proud Jews. Special thanks to our sponsors who helped make Shabbat in Lincoln possible at the most exquisite location and provided delicacies to remember.
This week begins the first Sinai scholars cohort in Omaha - one of 176 chapters, in eight countries taught in four languages across the globe. Many Omahans have or will take this course over their time at college. Students will discover a panorama of Jewish study covering eight big ideas, loads of hands-on learning and no subject taboo. They will arm themselves with fresh perspectives on Jewish and contemporary issues, for campus.
The students who complete all coursework, tikkun olam project and the Shabbat experience received a cash stipend and are invited to a five star retreat in August. Learn more at mysinaischolars.com
Before the semester ends, plan to participate in the Sukkot celebration, Pegisha experience, Latke truck and chicken matzah ball soup for your soul. Chabad on campus is here for every student as a home away from home.
Commemoration
Monday, October 7, 2024 7:30 PM
