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MAY 5 , 2 02 3 | 1 4 IYA R 578 3 | VO L. 1 03 | NO. 2 8 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 5 , 8: 07 P.M.
Community Service Award
Cantor’s Concert HAZZAN MICHAEL KRAUSMAN Beth El Synagogue Rick Recht is one of the most influential and celebrated Jewish artists and leaders of our time. He will be the featured artist at Beth El Synagogue’s upcoming Cantor’s Concert live and in the beautiful, newly renovated sanctuary on Sunday, May 21 at 4 p.m.
RBJH says Thank You! Page 3
The Women of the Intel Mafia Page 4
Welcome to the Matzo Factory; we’ll meet again! Page 12
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor e rarely have the opportunity to hold a mirror up to ourselves and see how our own actions matter. This past February, “Clean Speech Nebraska” allowed all who participated to do this every day for 30 days. Clean Speech Nebraska, an initiative of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) was nominated for the annual Jewish Federation of Omaha Community Service Award. Clean Speech Nebraska
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was a community-wide, month-long campaign to clean up our conversations, one word at a time. By encouraging mindfulness and personal awareness, we can create a more peaceful and respectful world, where our communities are united and connected. Presented by the Jewish Community Relation Council (JCRC), Clean Speech Nebraska presented a month of videos featuring community members, and a workbook focused on being mindful of how we speak to each other when we disagree. Daily lessons were inspired by Jewish values. See Community Service Award page 3
Woman of Valor: Joanie Lehr
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Ed. Note: During Passover, we featured women in our community who have made a difference. Going forward, we continue this as a more permanent feature in the Jewish Press. Joanie Lehr has made the pages of the Jewish Press more than once. In her 1960 engagement announcement, she was called ‘Miss Joan,’ daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred S. Mayer, planning a wedding to Martin J. Lehr, son of
Joanie Lehr
Mrs. Sarah Lehr. In true 1960s fashion, her mother’s maiden name and first name were not included; back then it was common to refer to married women by their husband’s name only. By those rules, Joanie should have been known as ‘Mrs. Martin Lehr.’ That, however, was not the case: Joanie very much made a name for herself. By 1977, she was elected as Temple Israel’s first woman presi-
dent—the same year that Temple hired its first woman cantor. Then-head Rabbi Sidney Brooks said: “I don’t follow the logic of my traditional brethren. I think we live in a world where women are asserting themselves—politically, economically and certainly spiritually.” By the time Joanie assumed the board presidency, she had already been the president of the Temple Sisterhood, a member of Hadassah, the NCJW, and taught Sunday school for more than 15 years. “I was born to volunteer,” she said. “I’ve always looked for ways to help, at the synagogue, but also at the Jewish Federation and at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, and I continue to do so to this day. Nowadays, I spend my time knitting for charity.” Before she became president, she filled the roles of treasurer and vicepresident. It was not unexpected: “I told them when I joined the board,” Joanie said, “I would only do so if they See Woman of Valor page 2
Rick Recht
Recht’s official website notes: “Rick’s innovations in Jewish music, media, and leadership training have had a profound impact on the fabric of Jewish life. Recht is the national celebrity spokesman for PJ Library and the founder and Executive Director of Songleader Boot Camp – a premiere national leadership training conference. Recht is the founder and Executive Director of Jewish Rock Radio and JKids Radio, the first high-caliber, 24/7 international Jewish music radio networks. He also serves as Artist in Residence at United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri. Rick Recht has 13 top selling Jewish albums, including his latest hit album, Here I Am.” As in the past, proceeds from the concert will go to benefit the Seth Rich Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund which enables students to attend Jewish summer camps of every denomination. Jewish summer camping is fertile ground that nurtures and develops Jewish spirt, identity and commitment. Purchasing a ticket or sponsoring this event not only will provide you with an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment but is an investment in our future communal leadership. It is most appropriate that this effort is presented in memory of Seth Rich. Seth Rich was part of our Beth El family. He attended Camp Ramah in Wisconsin for six years, participated in the Ramah Seminar in Israel and served as a staff member at Ramah Wisconsin for two years. Seth also attended Camp Sabra for one year. He was an outstanding example of how attending Jewish summer camps can benefit the individual, our communities, and the entire country. See Cantor’s Concert page 3