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Fabulous at 40! Mel Brooks’ History of the World Part II Page 4

Boy Meets Voters: Ben Savage is running to replace Adam Schiff Page 5

A Jewish producer sees his family history in Netflix film Page 12

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS JFO Foundation Executive Director s the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation begins 2023, we’re excited to celebrate our 40th anniversary! The Foundation stands strong and proud today because of your “compassionate actions.” Your generosity provides social services, senior care, opportunities for our youth and so much more. Ef-

whose passion inspired a community and/or transformed an agency. We will engage in an intimate conversation with our panelists about the process of implementing positive communal change, the conflicts that may stand in the way, and the vehicles that may facilitate its creation. Panelists include: Lori Epstein, Gloria Kaslow, David Gilinsky and Todd Simon. For this program, we are partnering with the newly launched Young Omaha Emerg-

fective philanthropy, which we think of as strategic, long-term and ongoing financial support is what assures a future for the Omaha Jewish community. It’s only fitting that we say THANK YOU! To celebrate and honor the Foundation’s 40th Anniversary, we’re hosting a variety of events, programs, conversations and socials for all ages. We realize that to maintain a quality life in Omaha, it’s necessary to engage the next generation of philanthropists to carry on... “L’dor v’dor.” We’re calling the celebration Fabulous at 40! Everyone is invited to join in a year of celebration, information, storytelling and fun. On Tuesday, March 28 at 6 p.m. join us for From Passion to Action. In this session we will listen to the firsthand experiences of lay leaders (and professionals) who became empowered after learning of a profound need within the Jewish community, and

ing Leaders (YOEL). YOEL was created to ensure that Jewish Omaha continues to exist as a thriving and connected Jewish community now and in the future. YOEL provides today’s potential young future leaders with a stronger knowledge base about the Omaha Jewish community, the chance to dive deeper into their own personal leadership styles and attributes, and to connect with peers. “The Jewish Omaha Leadership Training (JOLT) program was a successful leadership development course. Alumni from the program continue to lead boards in the community and make a great impact. The Federation has brought the program back with Mike Siegel, president of the JFO Board of Directors and Stacy Feldman, impact leader at JFO. We are excited about the From Passion to Action session and thrilled See Fabulous at 40! page 3

LOVE letter

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

Thank you, thank you, thank YOU. Because of your continued support of LOVE (League Offering Volunteers to the Elderly) we have been able to make a meaningful impact for our seniors residing at the Blumkin Home. We’ve donated four large towel warmers, one for each neighborhood. We’ve celebrated with Residents at holidays and birthdays, and provided welcome bags for new Residents. This year, communication is our focus, and here’s why. Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s Activity Staff was recognized nationally by the LifeLoop committee for creating

a great environment in which our Residents live. This recognition was in large part because of your dona-

tions, which supported the on-going yearly LifeLoop subscription, four televisions and the technology infrastructure needed to support the LifeLoop system. LifeLoop helps communicate everyday activities, meals for the week, upcoming birthdays and highlights new residents. Not only does LifeLoop communicate within RBJH, it also shares information about each Resident’s activities with their respective families. Each week, a Resident’s family can refer to

LifeLoop on the internet or through its app and see which activities their loved one participated in, and which events were declined. We purchased the system the year before COVID changed our understanding of how vital communication would become for Residents. We have since donated three large iPads and rolling stands, connecting families, enabling communication and facilitating better outcomes during previously unexperienced isolation. Communication continues to draw our focus. Conference room communication is vital as we continue to protect Residents with telehealth options. Video conferencing, a new standard, creates less exposure to the current triple threats of influenza, RSV and COVID. RBJH staff are able to speak with discharging teams and facilitate family conferencing to streamline information and possible solutions. On May 7 we will Celebrate 50 Years of LOVE. We appreciate your See LOVE letter page 2

Providing mental health support to Ukraine HILLARY RUBESIN, PHD, LIMHP, REAT “Kate? Are you still there? Kate?” I smile warmly at the 81 faces filling the Zoom boxes in front of me. Inside, I am trying not to panic. Kate, our Ukrainian interpreter, is frozen on the screen. The lights in her apartment in Kiev have cut off completely.

Hillary Rubesin

Minutes before, I had started facilitating an online training for First Aid of the Soul (FAS; firstaidofthe soul.org)—a nonprofit dedicated to providing trauma-informed mental health support to people living in Ukraine. FAS formed a week after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since that point, over 400 mental health therapists from across the world have volunteered their time, providing online trainings, supervision sessions, direct counseling, and workshops to over 6500 Ukrainians to date. While internet connectivity often presents an issue, the Ukrainian participants continue to show up for free support week after week. I have been involved with FAS since its inception. The Executive Director, Nathalie Robelot, invited me to join the team based on our shared experience years prior working with refugees and immigrants resettled in North Carolina. I was also fortunate enough to travel with Nathalie to Ukraine in 2018 to visit her family and to offer Expressive Arts Therapy trainings to mental health professionals in Kiev. While I’ve provided therapy and trainings to people from over 40 countries worldwide since 2008, the work with FAS carries extra meaning for me, as my great-grandparents fled their homes in Ukraine and Russia following pogroms at the turn of the 20th century. When I began working at Jewish See Mental health support page 3