A N AG E N C Y O F T H E J E W I S H F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A H A
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MAY 1 2 , 2 02 3 | 2 1 IYA R 578 3 | VO L. 1 03 | NO. 2 9 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 12, 8:14 P.M.
Jewish Camp Reunion
Malashock Award for Professional Excellence Snow in August? Page 2
Margie Utesch
Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration Pages 6 & 7
Jewish institutions awaken to climate crisis Page 12
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor he Jody & Neal Malashock Award for Professional Excellence is presented annually to a professional in the Omaha Jewish community who has shown exemplary professional performance in advancing the mission of the organization. The honoree is selected by the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors. This year’s recipient is Director of Marketing Margie Utesch, who started her career here in April of 2003, when she was hired as the Publicity Director for the JCC. In 2011, her title later changed to Director of Marketing. “My job has changed over the years,” she said. “Initially I was charged with improving the level of design and production of all JCC marketing materials. Several years later, the JFO Central Service initiative positioned the marketing staff as a department with professional services available to the entire campus. Since then, it has provided graphic
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design, email communications, digital marketing, website management, video, photography, and print production services. The one thing that has been a constant in the Marketing department over the years is my co-workers’ fun, friendly, and creative personalities!” Margie is married to Brad; together the couple have two children: Ed (18) and Julia (14), as well as a dog named Max. Open one of our newspapers, and more often than not there are advertisements and announcements designed by Margie. Those big banners you see at events, the postcards that come in the mail, our letterhead and business cards, the inserts reminding us to show up and the thank you notes that come after donating? Chances are, Margie had something to do with it. Even if she didn’t personally create what you are holding in your hands, it comes from her department, where she supervises an equally capable staff. When asked, she said she doesn’t remember what she wanted to be at age six, but “I See Malashock Award page 2
2023 Sokolof Merit Scholarships
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
DIANE WALKER JFO Foundation Fund & Scholarship Administrator Please join us on Sunday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the Staenberg Omaha JCC to honor some of our community’s best and brightest – the 2023 Sokolof award winners! In 2004, the late Phil Sokolof left a bequest to create the Phil & Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund and the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Appreciation Fund. These funds provide for the Phil & Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll
Ainsley Meyerson
Lauren Dolson
Julia Edelstein
Brianna Sadofsky
Ilana McNamara
Emily Woods
Merit Scholarships and the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund Scholarships to honor exceptional students and teachers. Recipients of these awards epitomize the scholarship cri-
teria of achievement, scholastic performance, community service, and overall good character. Each year, the applicants are stellar. See Sokolof Scholarships page 3
AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS JFO Foundation Executive Director If you’re a Jewish summer camp alum with fond memories of Sabra, Ramah, Hertzl, Moshava, Beber, Young Judah, Esther K. Newman, JCC camp (or your own personal favorite), then “this fun’s for you!” You can re-live those indelible days at the 2023 Summer Camp Reunion hosted by The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation on Thursday, June 8, at Sonny’s in Aksarben Village from 6-8 p.m.
What’s your fondest memory of Jewish summer camp? For many of us, boarding a school bus during the summer meant drinking bug juice, plenty of bug spray, jumping in a lake, care packages from parents or grandparents, horseback riding, camp songs, hiking in the woods or sneaking out of your cabin at midnight. Note: There are two major differences between Jewish summer camp and a Jewish camp reunion: No curfew and an upgraded beverage selection including beer, wine and mixed drinks or flavored sparkling water. Join other happy campers for a bonfire, mini s’mores kits, corn hole, ping pong and an all-Inclusive Camp Sing-A-Long (songbook included). The 2023 Summer Camp Reunion is fun for free. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to assist families sending their children to Jewish summer camp. So, if you are a die-hard summer camper who wants to re-live your glory days — or a converted homesick camper who found “the light” — or a first-timer who didn’t want to go to camp at all and ended up not wanting to go home, party with other alums at Sonny’s in Aksarben Village on June 8. See Camp Reunion page 3