thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
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Speaking out about suicide
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anneTTe van de KaMP-WriGHT Editor, Jewish Press âMental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all.â - Bill Clinton n June of 2017, Jennifer Beth Kay, daughter of Helen and Les Kay ended her life. Itâs a difficult fact to come to terms with, not in the least for family and friends left behind. âItâs so hard to talk about,â says Helen. âOur experience is not necessarily similar to what other parents in this situation deal with; when it comes to mental health issues, it can be different for everyone. We donât have the answers, but we do feel it is important for people to know that help is available.â In December 2017, Helen and Les Kay initiated the Jennifer Beth Kay Memorial Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation to make that help available to community members who may not be in a position to pay for that help. Suicide and mental health counseling are See Suicide prevention page a2
Listen to the future Page a6
Bânai Israel welcomes Kitty Williams Page a8
Shaâarei Pruzdor students discover Omaha
Harissa Lamb Meatballs Page B8
inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles
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SPOnSOred By THe BenJaMin and anna e. WieSMan FaMiLy endOWMenT Fund
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Shaâarei Pruzdor arrives in Omaha Mary Sue GrOSSMan ture making a trek to Omaha. It is Executive Director, Beth Israel Synagogue likely the students, teachers and parOn Jan. 18, the students of Shaâarei ents felt these 26, 9th grade students Pruzdor, a yeshiva high school on were heading to a âthird world counLong Island, began a unique adven- tryâ with few amenities and certainly no Jewish life. Fortunately, they discovered their assumptions were far from reality. Discovering Omaha has a mikveh, an eruv, a Jewish day school, a Jewish nursing home, a weekly Jewish newspaper, a Jewish funeral home and a Jewish Community Center was a definite surprise. The smiles were broad when told local Krispy Kreme locations are kosher. And in response See Shaâarei Pruzdor page a3
Jewish Business Leaders
Harley Schrager and Todd Simon
anneTTe van de KaMP-WriGHT Editor, Jewish Press Jewish Business Leaders of Omaha brings together the Jewish business community to showcase the entrepreneurs, founders and change-makers in our community while creating opportunity to connect, teach and leverage each relationship. During its Jan. 18 meeting, Jewish Business Leaders welcomed Todd Simon from Omaha Steaks as the featured speaker. Attendees heard the in-
spiring story behind Omaha Steaksâ success, networked, and had the opportunity to ask Todd questions on business philosophy, trends and philanthropy. Harley Schrager, who will be the featured speaker at JBLâs next breakfast meeting, generously sponsored breakfast for those attending. Todd Simon is a fifth generation owner of the Omaha SteaksÂŽ group of companies, serving as Senior Vice President of See Jewish Business Leaders page a3