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The Jewish Press AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA | WWW. JE WISHOMAHA.ORG
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2 0 2 0 SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
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Anne and Arthur Grossman Scholarship Fund Something uplifting: Shul music Page 3
LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer, JFO Foundation nne and Art Grossman shared a deep love and commitment to Omaha’s Jewish community. This love was demonstrated during their lifetimes through their numerous volunteer activities, not only in the Jewish community, but in the greater Omaha community as well. They wanted their support of the Jewish community to continue after they were gone, and therefore established a Charitable Remainder Trust. The Omaha Jewish community was the beneficiary of the Grossmans’ thoughtful and generous estate planning. The proceeds of this trust created the Anne and Arthur Grossman Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. The fund will provide scholarships to enable Jewish high school students in the Omaha metropolitan area to travel to Israel on trips sponsored by the Federation, Omaha synagogues, or Jewish youth organizations. Anne and Arthur’s son, Dr. Ron Grossman said, “Aliyah, to see the land of our ancestors, is something my parents would have wished for all Jewish children.” In addition to raising her four children, Anne kept busy with work and volunteer activities. See Grossman Scholarship Fund page 3
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History storytelling provides positive engagement Page 5
The forgotten history of Jews in the alcohol industry Page 12
Kosher memories
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Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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Cantor Fettman
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor One small silver lining of the situation we’re in is that many people have taken advantage of the extra time at home to go through accumulated paperwork, photos and other stuff. A few weeks ago, I received an envelope from Donald Gerber. “Dear Annette,” the note began, “I hope all is well with you and your family! I recently was going through my things (I’m sure like so many peo-
ple who are stuck at home) and ran across these amazing pictures of Cantor Fettman...” The photos are from 1984 or 1985 and show Cantor Fettman kashering Don’s kitchen. “I’m struck by the joy that comes through on his face,” Don wrote, “and how happy he was to be helping another young Jewish family kashering their house.” Of course, I picked up the phone; I had to know more. See Kosher memories page 2
Anne and Arthur Grossman
Book Club features Susan Paley JOANIE JACOBSON Fasten your seat belts. The Miriam Initiative’s Coast-ToCoast Book Club is headed for Atlanta, home of former Omahan Susan Paley, who will take women in the Omaha Jewish community and beyond on a literary adventure they’ll long remember. They will be exploring the award-winning book Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 7-8 p.m. CDT on Zoom. “Susan’s love of books is contagious,” said close friend Sibby Wolfson, “and hearing her talk about them is always a joy. Every time we discuss a book, I learn from her, happily, and so will the women who join us on Aug. 11.” A project of Beth El Synagogue, the Coast-To-Coast Book Club encourages women in the Omaha Jewish community to invite their mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins and girlfriends across the country to join them online. “Last time, we had over 60 women from 14 states participate,” said Robby Erlich, Engagement Coordinator at Beth El. “We’re very excited to have Susan live-streaming from Atlanta and the book sounds like a great read.”
Paley describes Before We Were Yours as “an inconceivable story hiding in plain sight in U.S. history.” Based on a tragic true story, it’s been a best seller for years and has attracted readers of all kinds of books. “Now that we’ve moved, I want so much to learn about old Atlanta and the South,” Paley explained — “who were the people, what did they feel, what was life like? I’m trying to make sense of the huge and obvious Southern issues through See Book Club page 2