September 15, 2023 by Jewish Press

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

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Eunice Denenberg F E L L O W S H I P

strong grasp of Biblical HeDEBBIE DENENBERG he Denenberg brew. Her beloved teacher, family and Judah Wolfson, was her lifefriends are long role model. Since she proud to estabhad no Bat Mitzvah as a teen, lish the Eunice she decided — at fifty-eight — Denenberg (z”l) Fellowship at to study for an adult Bat Mitzthe Pardes Institute of Jewish vah at Beth El Synagogue. In Studies in Jerusalem. This her d’var Torah Mom said, scholarship will be awarded ‘Love of learning is a trait of annually to a local college the Jewish character and I begraduate, covering tuition lieve that the joy one derives and living expenses for the from accomplishing or learnPardes Year Program. Pardes ing something stems from a basic universal need to cultivates a life-long love of Jewish learning, the Jewish learn—a hunger almost.’” A people and Israel, inspiring few years later, Eunie went to Oxford, England, to study Yidstudents to engage in Jewish dish, a language she underlife as leaders, educators and stood from her parents. active participants. The Pardes was founded in 1972 $500,000 scholarship is 95% to attract English speaking funded with the remaining $25,000 intentionally reserved university students to the for community members who world of Jewish learning. It would like to be included in combines the spiritual serihonoring Eunice Denenberg. ousness of the yeshiva with “My mother knew the imthe intellectual openness of Eunice Denenberg the university. Debbie Denenportance of Jewish education,” said Eunie’s daughter, Debbie. “As a kid, mom attended berg attended Pardes in 1979. “My mom came to Israel to cheder [Hebrew school] every day after school and had a See Eunice Denenberg Fellowship page 3

Kaplan Book Group meets The Paris Library Page 3

Honey cake Page 7

Beth Israel welcomes Rabbi Mordechai and Ayelet Geiger Page 12

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SCOTT LITTKY Institute for Holocaust Education Executive Director Like many in our community, I used to assume that the Institute for Holocaust Education was already an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha since we have, for many years, received the same benefits as all other agencies. Last year right after the JFO annual meeting, Phil Malcom who was then the interim CEO, said to me, “you aren’t an agency?” As a re-

sult, the door was then opened for IHE to officially become an agency. At the July 2023 JFO Board meeting, it was approved, and now we are honored to announce that the Institute

Looking ahead BOB GOLDBERG Chief Executive Officer, JFO

for Holocaust Education is the newest agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha! According to Bob Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, “the IHE provides vital educational resources to our community, and it is a key component of our work as a Jewish Federation. I am grateful to the volunteers and professionals who have taken part in the IHE over the years, and I am proud to see the IHE become a See Newest agency page 3

It is my privilege and pleasure to officially announce that the 2024 Annual Campaign season is here. It is a privilege because this time of year motivates dozens of volunteers and our team of professionals to go the extra mile to keep this community healthy and vibrant. It is a pleasure because it means that we have events ahead of us where we will have fun, we will fundraise, and we will connect with each other. We do this to fulfill our purpose to care for one another. We are excited that the entire Tipp family has agreed to be this year’s Annual Campaign Chairs. And

while you will be hearing from them soon, let me say: thank you, thank you, thank you to Marilyn, Steve, Sonia, Alan, and Amy, for taking on this important responsibility, and doing it with gusto. Watching people step up and lead is inspiring to me, and seeing multiple generations of a family involve themselves in building community is extra special. When I think about the Annual Campaign and all it enables us to achieve, I think about how the generosity of this community has empowered my personal journey. Like so many others, I have benefited See Annual Campaign page 2