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OAYO honors Aviva Segall Profiles in Service Page 6

Bob’s Israel Journal: Part 3 Page 7

Our next Community Theater performance is... Page 10

Aviva’s passion for music and mentorship ABIGAIL C.K. LILL has left an unforgettable mark on countless OAYO Marketing & Media Manager For a quarter of a century, Aviva Segall has young musicians. Under her guidance, been a key part of the Omaha Area Youth OAYO has not only refined the technical Orchestras (OAYO), shaping young musi- skills of its members but also instilled in cians into accomthem an appreciaplished performers tion for the power and nurturing a of music. Through love for music rehearsals and perwithin the commuformances, Aviva nity. As her rehas inspired young markable 25-year musicians to strive for excellence and journey with OAYO embrace the joy of draws to a close, an evening of celebramusical expression. tion awaits on Aviva’s final conApril 21. This precert on April 21 cedes a captivating promises to be a annual side-by-by touching collaboperformance fearation between turing the Omaha OAYO and the Symphony OrchesOmaha Symphony tra and the OAYO Orchestra. The Aviva Segall Youth Symphony. performance and Aviva’s tenure with OAYO commenced in gathering for Aviva and her achievements, the fall of 1999, marked by her steadfast past and present, will allow OAYO families commitment to cultivating musical talent and alumni to come together to honor Aviva and fostering an environment of growth and and her passion for music. friendships. Her leadership has raised OAYO For more information about tickets for the to prominence, making it a cornerstone of performance and to learn more about musical education and enrichment in the Aviva’s time with OAYO, please visit Omaha area. www.OAYO.org.

Camp JYE BI 2024: Get ready for fun!

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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MARY SUE GROSSMAN “It’s such fun,” “I love spending time with my friends,” “I got to use a hammer,” “The water slide was awesome,” were just some of the comments from campers last summer who attended Beth Israel Synagogue’s Camp JYE BI. Since the start of the camp, its popularity has grown each year. This summer, it expands to a month-long camp, and the fun and learning will expand as well. Scheduled for July 126, the official camp hours will be 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. with early drop-off from 8:30-9 a.m. and extended care available from 1:30-4 p.m. Advertised to include sports, water activities, campouts, art, learning, cooking,

Archery practice time

dancing, and more, the fun is open to kindergarten through 8th grade, based on ages for the 2024-2025 school year. Ilana Ester Geiger, sister of Rabbi Mordechai Geiger, will be head coun-

selor for the camp and she is thrilled and excited to be part of the experience. Ilana, who teaches first grade in a Jewish day school in Los Angeles, See Camp JYE page 2

Volunteers of the Year ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce our Awards Night & Annual Meeting, which this year will be held at 6:30 pm on June 3rd in the Alan J. Levine TheaterIt is a privilege to honor those in our community who give tirelessly and selflessly to make our Jewish community the best it can be. Presenting the 2023 Volunteers of the Year: Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Volunteer of the Year is Richard Heyman. Richard is a JFO Governing Board member and the current chair of its governance committee. He has guided the JFO through bylaw changes that have enhanced the CEO structure and has advised on the delegation of authority policy. In addition, Richard recommended board changes across all agencies and navigated those changes with both volunteers and staff. He made recommendations to the JFO Governing Board on how to become a better board for our community and acted as a trusted advisor to both the JFO Board Chair and the CEO. Richard also reviewed the processes that are currently in place, and made recommendations on how to improve them. The JFO Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year is Steven Bloch. Steve began serving on The Foundation board in the 1996-1997 fiscal year – that’s 28 years of service and counting! Steve served as President of The Foundation from 2003 to 2009, overseeing the distribution of over $36 million, primarily within the Omaha Jewish community. Despite a significant market downturn, measurable increases in investment assets were achieved during his tenure. During his first two years as Board President, Steve was instrumental in establishing The Foundation as a separate supporting foundation entity, benefitting the Jewish Federation of Omaha, where formerly it had been a committee of the Federation. This was See Volunteers page 4