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SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

CAMP SHEMESH Jews and the Pig Page 2

Feldman Family Grant LINDA POLLARD JFO Foundation Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer The 2024 Albert and Eleanor Feldman Family Israel Foundation grant was awarded to the Jewish Federation of Omaha for Community Shaliach Expenses. The grant will help to pay for the basic living expenses of Omaha’s Shaliach.

One-third of non-Jewish students are hostile to Jews or Israel, Brandeis U study finds Page 7

Mika Mizrahi

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor hile J-Camp brought hundreds of kids to our Staenberg Kooper Fellman campus, another amazing activity-filled program took place elsewhere on

JCRC to conduct Community Survey Page 10

our grounds. The Early Learning Center hosted Camp Shemesh, a summer camp designed for our youngest members, including cabins, a camp flag, and a big bear in the lobby. A fake one, of course. “We wanted our summer to feel different from regular school days,” Assistant Director See Camp Shemish page 2

Final snapshots from Israel

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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Mk Gilad Kariv with ACC Leadership

CANTOR JOANNA ALEXANDER This is the third and final part in a series from Cantor Alexander’s trip to Israel in July. Please see past editions of the Jewish Press for the first and second parts. SNAPSHOT: MEMBER OF KNESSET GILAD KARIV - JULY 8, 2024 On July 8, 2024, we joined the many people who take Mondays to go and

lobby at Kenesset. As a group of Reform Cantors from around the country, we were able to arrange to meet with a member of Kenesset, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the only Reform Rabbi ever to hold a Kenesset seat. MK Kariv is a member of the Democratic party ( formerly Labor). He is left-wing, and spent his earlier Rabbinic and Lawyer career at the Israel See Snapshots from Israel page 3

For 20 years the Omaha Jewish community has participated in the Shaliach program. The community has benefited greatly over the years from a diverse group of young men and women who have shared their talents and knowledge with Omaha. The shlichim have created greater connections between Omaha and Israel. For the people who may never visit Israel, the Shaliach offers first-hand knowledge of Israel, its people, food and culture. Currently the Federation has a Shlicha, Mika Mizrahi, who will be starting her second year in Omaha this September. The award, which helps to pay for the Shaliach’s living expenses, includes apartment rent, vehicle lease, gas, phone and Wi-Fi. By doing so, other funds are freed up for on-going and additional programming to be offered to the Jewish community. Increased programming would include additional and expanded programming around the Jewish holidays. The end objective is to grow the Shaliach’s community involvement and bring more people into the Jewish community, with higher participation and satisfaction among Omaha’s Jewish population. Jay Katelman, Corporate Development Leader, said, “We are so very thankful for the Feldman Foundation for continuing to support our community Shaliach. The grant helps cover many needs, and frees up our Shaliach to focus on providing more programing and community events that help connect Jewish Omaha to Israel.” See Felman Family Grant page 3