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Spirit of Federation
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Nancy Rips Larry Kelberg
gABBy BLAir Staff Writer, Jewish Press he Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation Award is annually presented to those who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to build and strengthen the Omaha Jewish community. The Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce that Nancy Rips and Larry Kelberg are this year’s recipients of the Spirit of Federation Award. Please join us in honoring them at the Annual Meeting Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater. Known and admired throughout the community, Nancy Rips has repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary personal commitment and leadership in cultivating community engagement. She is a dedicated volunteer and an enthusiastic participant, taking part in programming and projects at every local synagogue and throughout our JFO campus. Upon finding out that she was one of this year’s award recipients, Rips was humbled. “It was a combination of being stunned and honored. When I think of people I admire who have received this award before me: Joanie Jacobson, Howard Kooper, Margo Riekes, Bob Belgrade, Howard Epstein... I feel privileged to be recognized. These are people, See Spirit of Federation: nancy rips page 3
Annette vAn de kAmpwright Editor, Jewish Press ur Jewish Federation of Omaha campus has long benefited from Larry Kelberg’s keen intelligence, hard work and humility. He is a long-time volunteer and on many occasions has provided expertise in a variety of areas. He has been involved with the campus insurance task force, has been a member of the JFO Audit Committee and has assisted both formally and informally in the areas of Human Resources and Benefits. In recent years, he has worked tirelessly on the campus improvement project, helping to develop the new aquatics center. Because he has given so many hours to benefit our community and to get the job done (and certainly not for the accolades), he will receive the Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation Award during the JFO Award Show and Annual Meeting, June 3 at 7 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center Theater. “You know, I tried to turn this down,” Larry said when asked about the upcoming honor. “I feel committed to make the world better, leave it in better shape, because over the years I’ve learned from Howard Kooper and Tom Fellman to ‘try to figure out how to say yes all the time.’ See Spirit of Federation: Larry kelberg page 2
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No Place for Hate end of year rally
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pAm mOnSky Community Development Liaison, ADL-CRC Seventy-five students from area high schools, middle schools and elementary schools celebrated at the ADL-CRC Plains States Region No Place for Hate® initiative end of the school year rally at Goodwill Benson Gardens recently. For over sixteen years, the ADL’s No Place for Hate® initiative has been recognizing schools for their contributions in creating safe and inclusive school environments through school-wide activities that help to reduce bullying, name-calling and other expressions of bias.
Bret Anderson, center, with his students
Thirty-nine schools representing Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas participated in the No Place for Hate® movement this year which has inspired over 2,000 schools, nationwide, to combat hate and increase the appreciation for the richness that diversity brings. During the rally, highlights of the
schools’ No Place for Hate® activities were presented and students took part in small-group programming to discuss everyday issues of bias that many of them face. New to the rally this year was the presentation of the “Fighting Hate for Good” award presented to a community member, educator or stakeholder in education who
is a social justice warrior that embodies the principle concepts of No Place for Hate. This year’s recipient is Bret Anderson, retiring principal at Wilson Focus School. Wilson Focus School originally started as the Underwood Hills Focus School and represents the spirit of the learning community with three districts collaborating and being open to all 11 districts. According to Mr. Anderson, “Joining the ADL as a partner was a no-brainer since our concept was to be accepting of all and develop a school that represented the large diversity of our population. The idea was to be a model for what schools can do. We became a “No Place for Hate” school in 2008 and have been going strong since. We have incorporated the pledge into our Lion pledge and being NPFH is engrained into the school. “ This year, the Bucky and Caryl Greenberg No Place for Hate® Scholarship went to two deserving young women. Bucky Greenberg was a committed member of the ADL-CRC board for over 50 years. His generous donation has made it possible to See no place For hate page 4