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N OV E M B E R 5 , 2 02 1 | 1 KIS LE V 578 2 | VO L. 1 02 | NO. 4 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, N OVEMBER 5 , 5 : 5 6 P.M.
Freida Rothman’s jewelry tells beautiful stories
Emotional wellness in a world gone mad Page 2
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor n Monday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., the community is invited to Temple Israel to meet jewelry designer Frieda Rothman. The event is co-sponsored by Beth El’s Miriam Initiative, Women of Beth Israel, Women of Chabad, the Institute for Holocaust Education, The Jewish Press, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the National Council of Jewish Women and Temple Israel. “The entire event came about because my friend, Karen Ryan, represents Freida Rothman in the Omaha area,” Susie Roffman said. “Freida expressed interest in coming to Omaha, specifically because she wanted to meet our community of Jewish women, and I was Karen’s connection.” Freida is from Brooklyn- the city that inspires her art. She also draws inspirations from her grandparents, who were all Holocaust survivors. “Freida’s designs honor strength and resiliency through contemporary pieces that reflect her native Brooklyn,” her website reads. “She only sees the beauty in this city as it symbolizes a second chance for her family; for Freida, the urban expanse is replete with tradition and heritage.” She is a second-generation jeweler, “a mother of four and an entrepreneur striving to remind every woman of her See Freida Rothman page 3
O What’s up, L.O.V.E.? Page 5
Freida Rothman
Blending Witchcraft and Jewish folklore Page 12
The 19th Annual Jewish Film Festival with a bonus
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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MARK KIRCHHOFF JFO Community Engagement and Education The 19th Annual Jewish Film Festival returns to the Staenberg Omaha JCC with the screening of four films carefully chosen by our local film selection committee. Community members worked their way through dozens of trailers and screeners to submit their recommendations. The series begins on Nov. 20 with two films screened on Saturdays and two screened on Mondays. This year there is even more – something never offered in the 18 previous festivals. Menemsha Films, a foremost provider of films for our festivals over the years, has partnered with Chai Flicks and Jewish commu-
nities across the country, to host their first annual “Hanukkah Film Festival.” New films will be released each of the eight consecutive nights beginning Nov. 28 – 11 films in all – to be viewed in the comfort of your own home. The Omaha festival opens on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater in the Staenberg Jewish Community Center on See Jewish Film Festival page 3
Super Monday
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign is well underway. Over 65 volunteers have been busy making phone calls and talking to potential donors. Now, we are ready for Super Monday! Please join us Nov. 15 to support the Federation’s 2022 Annual Campaign. Super Monday is chaired by Terri and Dick Zacharia and Sonia and Alan Tipp. A large group of community volunteers, including members of BBYO, will gather in the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the JFO to participate in a two-hour calling event. From 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., we will have dinner and socialize. On the menu we have pizza, salad and
brownies. We will provide training for the volunteer callers, after which it is time to get on the phone! Volunteers will be calling donors asking them for their 2022 pledge and calling donors who have already donated to thank them for pledging. They will write thank you notes, write notes asking for new pledges and help out with food and clean-up. Super Monday in the past was known as ‘Super Sunday,’ and it has a long history. Back in the day, this intense volunteer-driven push was held on Super Bowl Sunday, because everyone would be at home for the big game. Potential donors would answer the phone, because even though they didn’t have caller I.D., they knew what to expect. In Jewish communities around the See Super Monday page 2
