November 4, 2022 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

The Jewish Press WWW.O M A H A J E W I S H P R E SS .CO M

INSIDE

WWW. J E W I S H O M A H A .O R G

Nebraska honors Jewish women

Monthly Speaker Series at B’nai Israel synagogue Page 5

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

JFS welcomes Dr. Hillary Rubesin ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Jewish Family Service is pleased to announce that Hillary Rubesin has joined the staff. As an Expressive Arts Therapist and a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, Hillary is trained to incorporate various art forms into mental health care and practices. This includes, but is not limited to, writing, visual arts, music, drama, movement and poetry.

NJHS lauded during its 40thanniversary celebration Page 6

Lt. Governor Mike Foley, left, Shani and Rabbi Mendel Katzman

Finding friends in Budapest Page 12

ANDY GREENBERG he word “observe” has so many different meanings and ways to use it. Examples include those who observe the rules of the road, religious practices and traditions and those who observe others. Then, there is the state of Nebraska, which recently signed proclamations observing Jewish Women’s Day in the city of Omaha and the State of Nebraska. A ceremony was held at the state capital.

Omaha’s very own Rebbetzin, Shani Katzman, who moved here nearly 40 years ago with her husband Chabad Rabbi Mendel Katzman, led the effort to get this accomplished. “The Jewish woman,” she said, “is often portrayed playing a supporting role. But since the dawn of time, women have been the foundation of the home and society. Within Judaism, women are entrusted with three foundational Mitzvot. These Mitzvot are symbolic of the 613 Mitzvot and emphasize the See Jewish Women’s Day page 3

A Lullaby for the Valley opens the Omaha Jewish Film Festival

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

7 8 10 11

MARK KIRCHHOFF JFO Community Engagement and Education He was captured by the painting - a majestic oak tree in a peaceful valley in Israel, gently washed in the light of the setting sun. He was in awe. He was drawn to the beauty and tranquility that captured that moment in time. Driving to the valley, experiencing the view first-hand, and meeting the artist was a given for him.

And so began the documentary film that was ten years in the making, and a friendship between artist Elie Shamir

and film maker Ben Shani that became woven into the fabric of each man. When their friendship began, neither of them had any idea that everything would change as the filming progressed, as an unforeseen danger threatened to rob Shamir of his talent. Walking that perilous tightrope underscores the fragility of life. This film, A Lullaby for the Valley, opens the 20th Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival on Nov. 8, 2022, in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater in the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center. Showing begins at 7 p.m. This historical documentary is in Hebrew with English subtitles and runs 75 minutes. This film captures the spirit of the festival theme, Views of the World Through Israeli Eyes. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance by going to jewishomaha.org and See Jewish Film Festival page 2

Dr. Hillary Rubesin

Originally from Philadelphia, Hillary received her master’s degree in expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, followed by her doctorate in expressive therapies, also from LU. “One of the most attractive components of expressive arts therapy,” Hillary said, “is that it is accessible to so many different people. I’ve worked in a nursing home for nuns as well as with teens at an alternative high school and also with very young children in preschool settings. I’ve worked with refugee populations from over 40 countries, with K-12 students who were referred by the school system and with adults who suffered from various forms of mental illness. There really is no age or population limit, which opens the door for collaborating with many different organizations and departments.” Hillary is married to Eric Shapiro; the two have a son, Max. She came to Omaha for a ‘long weekend on March 12, 2020,’ and, since timing is everything, she never left. Along with her new work at JFS, she also works in private practice in Omaha and teaches online courses at Lesley University. She volunteers internationally with both VOCES, an organization that brings this work to the U.S. Mexican border, and with First Aid of the Soul, which provides psychosocial support in Ukraine. Art therapy, Hillary explained, can have many uses. See Hillary Rubesin page 2