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Scholar in Residence: Yahala Lachmish Temple Israel hosts camp visitors Page 4

20th Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival: Not just for foodies Page 5

Momentum Israel trips Pages 6 & 7

Reflections from NATA

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

lical trope and sessions on Jewish HAZZAN MICHAEL KRAUSMAN liturgical poems.” Beth El Synagogue Yahala explained what led her to he Omaha Jewish become one of the very few community is in for Mizrachi (Middle Eastern) Cantors. an uplifting cultural, “My first experience as a Hazzan spiritual and musical was quite coincidental. It was a very experience during the uplifting experience, and that was weekend of Dec. 2-4. Beth El Synawhen I realized I wanted to be a part gogue is so excited to announce of a community. I joined one straight that this year’s Musical Scholar In away, though it took a few years for Residence will be Yahala Lachmish. me to deeply understand and emAccording to the website of the brace my place as a prayer leader. Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, From the minute I started practic“Yahala Lachmish is a musician, ing as a Cantor, it was just a matter Cantor, Paytanit, [liturgical poet] of time for everything to fall in place and Singer. She holds a B.A. in comand for other roads to open and position from the Jerusalem Acadmerge. Within a few months I found emy of Music and accompanies the Sephardic track of the Ashira my voice in Mizrachi prayer, and I Tehilot program for musicians and realized that prayer for me takes cantors at the Schechter Institute. many forms – whether in a synaYahala Lachmish Yahala has been performing for 25 gogue or on stage. Ever since I have years as a solo artist, in various ensembles (such as Tandu felt that this is the main road of my journey in life – building and Voca Shabbat) as well as orchestras. She is the musical bridges between people through love, music and prayer.” director and conductor for the National Singing CommuniYahala will participate in services and teach at Beth El on ties organization in Israel (Kehilot Sharot) and teaches Bib- See Yahala Lachmish page 3

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NATE SHAPIRO Executive Director, Temple Israel From Nov. 5-9, I had the privilege of attending the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA)’s annual conference in Clearwater Florida. This was my first time attending the conference in person, and it was an incredible experience. The conference included an inspirational keynote address, The Art of Asking Better Questions; How The Right Questions Lead To More Efficient and Effective Outcomes, from dynamic Executive Coach, Professor, 3x Best Selling Author, and Radio Host, Alonzo Kelly. This address provided some concrete strategies for effective leadership, such as neurolinguistic programming to communicating effectively. I attended breakout sessions that addressed practical aspects of my po-

Follow the data

Nate Shapiro

sition as Temple Israel’s Executive Director, such as Using the Reform Movement’s Market Place tools, to potentially save money for the congregation. I attended another session, Maximizing Your Staffing Structure, to ensure organizational alignment and efficiency, which gave me a tool for analyzing how we might evaluate positions and tasks to create a more organized hierarchy. I also attended sessions entitled: What the Torah can teach us about leading change and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries in a Culture of Yes! In addition to breakout sessions, See NATA reflections page 2

JEFF ZACHARIA Scrolling through Facebook, I was intrigued to read Rabbi Steven Abraham’s Kol Nidre sermon about what we need to do to prevent Omaha from becoming like the other, nearby Jewish communities that have all but faded away. If you know me, we’ve probably had this conversation! Are we building a Jewish community that our children will want to live in as adults? Are we instilling in our children what is needed for them to become the next generation of community leaders? Are we providing the opportunities for our chil-

dren to engage Jewishly (and joyfully) with their peers and their community? As a current Federation board member and the immediate past president at Friedel Jewish Academy, I’ve become more and more focused on how we can work together to answer these questions and to grow Jewish Omaha. Vibrant Jewish communities emphasize education and youth programming, starting with babies and continuing through the teen years. The data is clear that having a thriving Jewish day school is a necessary component. See Follow the data page 2