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AUG UST 2 5 , 2 02 3 | 8 E LUL 578 3 | VO L. 1 03 | NO. 43 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 7:49 P.M.
Racial Stamina
Meet the staff: Michelle Johnson ASHTON KAY For almost five years, Michelle Johnson has been the Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign and Data Coordinator. She is responsible for specific management tasks of the Annual Campaign, such as keeping track of pledges. That means “a lot of spreadsheets and a lot of lists,” she said.
Check out the Kripke-Veret Collection Page 2
Reminder: United We Walk Page 4 Clockwise from bottom left: Cindy Goldberg, Gail Kenkel, Joseph Pinson, Sally Kaplan, Nolan Bald, Jennifer Glazer, Charles Shapiro, Berta Ackerson, Ellen Platt, and Cat King. Credit Cat King CAT KING
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omething happens when people sit around a table together and talk about difficult things with candor, curiosity, and compassion. Information is synthesized into meaning; feelings are identified and processed; hearts are opened; connections are made. Good food and laughter enhance the experience. Last March, one such group concluded an
‘Persecution of Jews is educationally significant’ Page 12
8-week course on Building Racial Stamina hosted by Temple Israel, and this October we will gather again with a new cohort. As one of the facilitators of this course, I’d like to tell you what it’s about and share with you some thoughts from those who gathered around the table with me last time. The first thing we learn is that “racial stamina is the ability to engage in conversations and work that further racial justice, See Racial Stamina page 3
Brandeis memories
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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JAY KATELMAN JFO Director of Community Development On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Jewish Business Leaders welcomed Ted Baer and Steve Seline. They delivered the Brandeis story, including nostalgic anecdotes, to a captivated audience. A short film gave some background about the Brandeis family and the business. Steve spoke about his years representing the family as their attorney and friend. Both speakers discussed the different stores, expansion, and the eventual sale of Brandeis in 1987. Steve told us
Ted Baer, left, Steve Seline, Jay Katelman and Alex Epstein
some amazing stories about those people involved in the decision to sell. Alex Epstein, EVP of OMNE Partners, said: “The Brandeis story is iconic for many reasons. It was fascinating to learn about how the retail brand shifted from decade to decade. It was an honor to have Ted Baer and Steve Seline present, as they both --individually and as part of Brandeis-- have
impacted Greater Omaha for decades. Brandeis was a large conglomerate that morphed into many different family-led businesses after Younkers acquired them. Omaha may never see a business that transcended real estate and culture as much as Brandeis, as it was a one-stop shop for everything from travel, insurance, accessories, to jewelry, and clothes.” See Brandeis memories page 3
Michelle Johnson
It’s likely you already know plenty about what Michelle does here; you’ve probably seen it. I’m sure you want to know more about her than just her job. “My husband, Chris, is a hotel manager,” Michelle said. “My oldest daughter is Andrea. She works for Sherwin Williams as an assistant manager. She has a son, Sawyer, who is almost seven. My other daughter Marissa, who lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is an ER nurse. She has a little girl who is almost five months old, named Bergen.” Michelle’s family also includes ten-year-old wheaten terrier Calli. “My daughters were extremely upset with my husband and me, because as soon as they both moved out of the house, we got a dog. They always wanted a dog but we were always so busy. Calli was born on my birthday, and is a bit of a terror.” Michelle is from Omaha, and went to Omaha Central High School. She then attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education, followed with a master’s in education. Michelle had a full career in music education at Omaha Public Schools, spent 16 years as an instrumental Music teacher and finished her career as Supervisor of Instrumental Music. “I was with OPS for 32 years before retiring,” she said. “I don’t think most people knew that.” Michelle has played both the piano and the flute since kindergarten and 5th grade respectively. See Michelle Johnson page 3