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
The Jewish Press WWW.O M A H A J E W I S H P R E SS .CO M
INSIDE
|
WWW. J E W I S H O M A H A .O R G
SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
J ULY 1 2 , 2 024 | 6 TAMMUZ 5784 | VO L. 1 04 | NO. 37 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, JU LY 12, 8: 38 P.M.
A Special Birthday Celebration
Save the Date for Campus Connection Page 2
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor orraine Greenspan Levin was born in Omaha, April 19, 1924. You read that right: this past April, she celebrated her 100th birthday. She did so in the company of her children Steve, Chuck (Lynn), Mike and Sharon (Nels), who, along with their mom, all reside in Minnesota. Lorraine is the daughter of Abe and Malvina Greenspan; her mother’s maiden name was Newman. “There were eight Newman siblings,” she said, “who moved from Hungary to Omaha. Their names were Lena Newman Somberg, Andrew Newman, Ethel Newman Berkowitz, Freda Newman Chernis Schwartz, Rose Newman Lipp, Julius Newman, Malvina Newman Greenspan and Berta Newman Stern. Malvina and Berta were the last to arrive, and as far as we know, they came sometime between 1903 and 1908.” The Newman parents had died young, and all eight siblings were raised by grandparents and aunts and uncles before making the trek to the United States. Lorraine grew up in the Dundee neighborhood. She attended Dundee School and Central High School; the Greenspans belonged to Temple Israel, where Lorraine was confirmed. At Dundee School, she was a member of the roller-skating club. “I used to skate the eight blocks to school!” she said. “My time at Central was very exciting. I still remember the cheer!” See My Forever Home page 2
L B’nai Israel Monthly Speaker Series Page 5
Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation Highlights Page 7
Lorraine Levin
Kaplan Book Group reads Goodnight Nobody
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
6 8 10 11
NAOMI FOX JFO Assistant Director of Engagement and Education In Intro to Judaism, offered at the Jewish Federation of Omaha, learners are encouraged to ask questions, interact with others, consider multiple perspectives, and discover what is meaningful in Judaism. We’ll explore Jewish holidays and life-cycle ceremonies, beliefs, values, prayer, Jewish texts, Israel and the American Jewish experience. Intro to Judaism includes opportunities to experience Jewish locations in Omaha, including synagogues and
the Jewish Community Center. You can learn from professionals who deal with a variety of areas related to the religion. The course will culminate with a panel discussion with the community’s rabbis and clergy who will each provide a perspective on Judaism through the lens of their respective congregations. This 12-session, sequential course is suited for interfaith couples, those raising Jewish children, individuals considering conversion, and anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Jewish life, no matter faith tradition, cultural background or religious upbringing. Classes meet mostly on Thursday evenings at the Jewish Federation of Omaha beginning Sept. 12. This fall, instructor Jill Idelman will lead the learning journey for eager students. With a robust professional background in adult education and Jewish education within a local synagogue, Jill brings ideal expertise to the See Intro to Judaism page 3
SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist On July 18 at 1 p.m. the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for their monthly meeting. Group members have the choice of meeting either in person in the Benjamin & Anna Wiesman Reception Room in the Staenberg Jewish Community Center or via Zoom. This month they will be discussing Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. The Kaplan Books Group is quite familiar with Weiner’s works having read her novel The Next Best Thing and having watched the movie based on her novel In Her Shoes. New participants are always welcome.
Kate Klein feels like a fish out of water when she and her husband and three children relocate from Manhattan to the small Connecticut town of Upchurch. The other “super mommies” and their children are p er fe ctly groomed and dressed in designer outfits and fed homemade organic snacks as they congregate at the local playground. Kate, on the other hand, wears oversized comfortable clothes and feeds pre-packaged meals and sugary snacks to her four-year-old daughter and twin three-year-old sons. Nothing Kate See Kaplan Book Group page 3