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J ULY 2 8, 2 02 3 | 1 0 AV 578 3 | VO L. 1 03 | NO. 39 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, JU LY 28, 8: 26 P.M.
Welcome, Nancy Schlessinger Meet the staff: Jay Katelman Page 3
New to the Kripke-Veret Collection Page 4
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor he Jewish Federation of Omaha board and staff welcome Nancy Schlessinger as the new JFO President. Nancy is married to Dr. Joel Schlessinger, and if their names sound familiar, there are many reasons for that, including the fact that they chaired the 2023 Campaign. Nancy grew up the youngest of four kids in St. Louis, where her parents belonged to a large, conservative synagogue, B’nai Amoona. “I loved it,” she said, “and my dad would always take me to Shabbat services. Due to all the candy I was given at services at B’nai Amoona by the congregants, I ended up with more than a few cavities while a young girl. I became very involved in USY and also attended Camp Herzl in Wisconsin for six years as a camper and an additional three years as a teenager on staff. I was on the Board of our local USY and loved all aspects of the Jewish life and being surrounded by the very strong Jewish community in St. Louis, as well as the cities in our USY region (which incidentally were, Omaha, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, Winnipeg and Denver). The St. Louis JCC also was an important part of my life growing up. In addition, my husband Joel and I met at a Jewish singles event at the Jewish Federation in St. Louis. We recently went back and visited the room where we met, which brought back good memories.” She always feels best when she’s physically active, she added, “so I love working out, whether it is by swimming laps (I swim a mile, several days/week), or with the Peloton. I was recently in NYC and went to the Peloton studio, where I was able to sign up for a live, in-person class with a favorite instructor. It was a great deal of fun - and really tough! Any time I am able to spend with my family is extremely impor-
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Nancy Schlessinger
tant to me and fills my heart until the next time (my kids live out of town). I spend a lot of time with our pug dog, Leo, and he brings so much joy into my day. If there is ever a time I’m a bit down or need help figuring out what to do, I go find Leo and we play tug of war with a favorite toy and he gets me on a good path!” See Nancy Schlessinger page 3
Vegetable home delivery Page 12
JCRC presents the next Community Conversation
The Jewish holiday of Tu B’Av
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycless
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Credit: Silar, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
PAM MONSKY Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Assistant Director Please join the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) on Thursday, Aug.10 at 7 p.m., in the Alan Levine Theater at the Staenberg Omaha JCC, for the next in the JCRC’s series of Community Conversations about compelling, current topics See JCRC presents page 3
On Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 67:30 p.m., Jewish Family Service will host a Tu B’av celebration in the JCC Noshery. Light snacks and wine, both red and white, will be served, Kosher options are included. “Since TuB’Av is considered the Jewish ‘Day of Love’, we’re inviting people to bring someone they love,” said JFS Interim Director Teresa Drelicharz. “It can be your spouse, another family member, a friend,
etc.” In addition, Dr. Hillary Rubesin will do an expressive arts project to recognize and celebrate loving relationships. Like the one between you and your best friend, you and your sister, or you and your neighbor, because there are many different kinds of love. So, what is this holiday all about, really? Our sages proclaimed the 15th of Av as “one of the two greatest See Tu B’Av page 2