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O C TO B E R 1 6 , 2 02 0 | 2 8 TIS H RE I 578 1 | VO L. 1 01 | NO. 1 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 6: 23 P.M.
ART ON OUR WALLS
ADL-CRC Voter’s Corner: Last chance to register Page 3
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Educator Spotlight: Sandy Renken KAEL SAGHEER Education Coordinator, Institute for Holocaust Education
Sandy Renken graduated from UNK in 1990 with a degree in Education with endorsements in 7-12 social studies and 7-12 physical education. She earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane University in 2003. Her education career began at Adams Public Schools in Adams, NE, in August of 1993. She has been there ever since, although with consolidation came the name change to Freeman Public Schools. Her Holocaust education journey
Travels with Rich and Fran: Jordan, Lebanon and Syria Page 6
Michael Staenberg and Sara Jo Fischer at the Shwayder Camp Staenberg Center
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor hen Michael Staenberg initiated the renovation of our campus, it quickly became clear he doesn’t just focus on bricks and mortar; he considers the atmosphere he wants to create for those who use the building. When walls go up, are refinished and painted, they don’t stay unadorned. It has been inspiring to watch art appear around the building, first in the gym,
W Join us for a Virtual GA Page 16
then on the front of the JCC when artist Boris Bally traveled from his studio in Rhode Island to create the “Ripples” installation. Little did we know: it was only the tip of the iceberg. During the past 6 months, countless works of art have been installed, both indoors and outside of our building. It is high time the community gets to know a little more about not only the artists, but also the person who assists Michael in purchasing the art. Sara Jo Fischer is an art curator who See Art on our walls page 2
A Year Without Beth Israel’s Sisterhood Donor Luncheon
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Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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It was a full house for the 2017 Sisterhood Donor event
MARY SUE GROSSMAN In addition to the excitement, holiday services, and special events sur-
rounding the High Holidays, Beth Israel normally would also be in the midst of the excitement for Beth Israel Sisterhood’s Annual Sisterhood Donor event. Invitations would have been mailed and responses would already be arriving in the office. The numerous items for the silent auction would be accumulating. The menu would be finalized and creation of the table decorations would be underway. The style show models would be visiting the fashion provider and selecting what would be worn.
Beth Israel’s Sisterhood Donor has been a favorite community event for decades. Generations of women from the entire Jewish community have attended, first as young women and in later years arriving with adult daughters and granddaughters. Themes have been varied and added excitement to the day. It was “Project Runway” in 2007. “Fall, Fashions, Fun” was featured in 2012. In 2014, the focus was “Almost Paradise” followed by “All That Jazz” in 2015. “Girls Just Wanna See Sisterhood Luncheon page 3
Sandy Renken
began when she attended the Belfer I Conference in 2002. She was in awe of the museum staff and Teacher Fellows who shared their knowledge and it was then that she knew she wanted to learn more. She approached her principal and School Board about adding a new Holocaust and Genocide class and they were overwhelmingly supportive of the idea. In 2006, she applied for and was honored to be chosen as a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow. Because of that experience, she has changed the way she approaches not only Holocaust education but the manner in which she teaches all of her courses. While attending the Fellowship program, Sandy was made aware of an organization forming in Nebraska to promote Holocaust education throughout the state, the Nebraska Holocaust Education Consortium. At the first meeting, she met Beth Dotan, who was then the director of the IHE. Beth invited her to an Echoes and Reflections training that Beth was facilitating. Sandy has been a member of the Nebraska Holocaust Education Consortium and cooperating with the IHE ever since. As a USHMM Teacher Fellow, she has been fortunate to present at several conferences around the United States including the Belfer See Sandy Renken page 2