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

Promoting Empowerment in Our World PAM MONSKY JCRC Assistant Director he Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) recently hosted 130 tenth grade students from thirteen different metro area high schools for the 37th PEW, Promoting Empowerment in our World, a day-long workshop focusing on anti-bias training and introspection. For 37 years PEW has brought together students from different school districts, backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, races, and cultures for an intensive one-day interactive workshop deActors from RESPECT role play with a student signed to heighten students’ awareness of stereotyping in their own environment and utive Director Sharon Brodkey. Students are carefully selected by their teachers and guidenable them to recognize and overcome biases in themance counselors to participate in the workshop. The day selves and their peer group. The students, along with their school chaperones and 24 consists of small group activities designed to examine biases trained volunteer facilitators began the day at Temple Israel that exist within ourselves and throughout the community. with a breakfast and welcoming remarks from JCRC Exec- See Promoting Empowerment in Our World page 3

The Kaplan Book Group: Victim or Patsy Page 2

Polka Police Page 4

The Untested Cookbook Page 6

Appa’s Paws for Peace

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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MAGGIE CONTI RBJH Director of Activities and Volunteer Services The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and Friedel Jewish Academy have teamed up for an art and wellness program with HERE Mindfulness. This program was appropriately called “Appa’s Paws for Peace – A Mindful Journey with a Gentle Bernese.” Appa is the RBJH mascot, and dog belonging to Christina Caniglia, Assistant Activities Director. Christina brings Appa several times a week for pet therapy. We paid tribute to the animals in our lives by decorating paw print and doggy bone ornaments. This program provides a platform for participants to deepen their understanding of

Hakarat HaTov, a concept in Judaism that encourages gratitude and the recognition of life’s blessings, especially by honoring our pets. HERE Mindfulness (HERE for You, For Them) is a unique program in Omaha that promotes creative See Paws for Peace page 3

Goodbye to candle ware cleanup this Hanukkah

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Although this leap year our holidays are a little later than we’re used to, eventually Hanukkah will arrive on our doorstep. The sizzle of latkes, the anticipation of presents, chocolate coins and dreidel games, the delightful aroma of sufganyot: what’s not to love? The perfect holiday, if it weren’t for the wax we have to scrape off our Chanukkiahs every year. Or the spilled wax on the table when we

forget to put down tinfoil. “We’ve all spent countless hours cleaning out Shabbat candlesticks and Chanukkiah sockets,” Alan Tipp said. “It’s a universal frustration amongst Jews dating back 3000 years!” Enter Alan’s latest business venture, The Candleware Collective: “The idea of never ever having to clean your Menorah again, is now made possible with the invention of the Orli™ Candle Cup,” he said. Alan is a born-and-raised Omahan and See Candle ware cleanup page 2