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
SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
N OV E M B E R 1 4 , 2 025 | 2 3 CH E S H VA N | VO L. 1 06 | NO. 05 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 4:46 P.M.
Standing with Israel JCRC hosts PEW Page 7
The Untested Cookbook Page 8
Governor Pillen visits the Nova Music Festival site LAURA STRIMPLE AND ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT overnor Jim Pillen recently returned from a four-day trade and solidarity mission to Israel. It was the governor’s first trip to Israel, and quite an emotional experience, he said.
G
The state’s delegation promoted Nebraska’s beef exports to Israel, including kosher meat, advocated for Nebraska-
built defense technologies, initiated strategic partnerships between Nebraska and Israeli institutions and engaged with a number of Israeli tech companies already doing business in Nebraska. The delegation also saw firsthand how America’s alliance with Israel was critical in the latter’s defensive fights against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran since the barbaric attacks of October 7, 2023. “The significance of agriculture in Israel surprised and See Standing with Israel page 2
The Kaplan Book Group Is On Fire Page 12
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles
6 9 10 11
RBJH Named Best of Omaha
Attending the World Zionist Congress
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Omaha Magazine annually presents the Best of Omaha contest, and for the
NANCY COREN One hundred twenty-eight years after Theodore Herzl convened the first World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, the 39th World Zionist Congress was convened in Jerusalem this week. This year the World Zionist Congress consisted of representatives from 43 countries, with the largest contingencies coming from the United States and Israel. Other countries with significant representation included: France, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay. There were also seven first-time participating nations represented which included: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Serbia, and Uganda. As a member of Hadassah Israel, I attended the opening session of the three-day Congress along with Hadassah members from the United States. Being in a large auditorium with nearly 2000 other indi-
second time, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is named Best of Omaha in the nursing home category. You will notice the sticker proudly displayed in the window at the Home’s front entrance! In addition, the American Healthcare Association gave the RBJH a five-outof-five star rating as of July, 2025. “We were honored and excited to learn that we were recently voted Best of Omaha 2026 in the Nursing Home category,” RBJH Executive Director Chris Ulven said. “It is a testament to the compassionate and loving care provided by our See Best of Omaha page 3
viduals who outwardly expressed their commitment to the future of the Jewish people, their ties to the State of Israel, and their desire to strengthen relationships between varying communities of Jews living in the Diaspora was invigorating. The individuals who shared these common values spoke a multiplicity See Zionist Congress page 3