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Volunteers of the Year

Karen Ross:

JESSI TAYLOR JFO Executive Assistant Jewish Omaha is sustained not only by institutions, but by people — individuals who give their time, talent, and heart to ensure Jewish life remains vibrant across generations. This year, the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies proudly honor a remarkable group of volunteers whose leadership, compassion, and commitment reflect the very best of our community.

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

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press editor

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very so often, you see art that stops you in your tracks. We don’t always know why; it can be the emotion it evokes, a memory it inspires, and sometimes it simply speaks to us. Encaustic and mixed media artist Karen Schwalb Ross calls creating her artwork “The itch I need to scratch,” and she does that with passion. Karen is the daughter of Hannah and Nate Schwalb, takes care of a blended family with five kids, and lives with her husband Jay in Deerfield, Ill. In addition, she is also a licensed psychotherapist who created and manages a LISTSERV resource for Chicagoland psychotherapists in 2001 which currently has over 3,000 members. “Encaustic” comes from the Greek word, enkaustikos, which means “to burn in”. She mixes molten filtered beeswax with pigments and resin, which she then paints onto a wood substrate and fuses each layer with a blowtorch. It is a laborious and exact process that results in vibrant, textured work that is accompanied by a beeswax aroma-if you get really close. She previously experimented with collage, image transfer and decoupage, which

prepared her for working with the encaustic medium. Through exploration she has developed her signature techniques of layering, incising, and scraping to create further depth and texture. Pigment is used to color the wax, providing a rich palette to work on her preferred substrate of wood. Her work ranges from vibrant to earthy and explores layered images and moods, often with words or text in which the viewer can find meaning. Karen works in both minimal styles and more vibrant, louder ways; some of her work is wordbased, striped or in the form of patchwork, but it’s always multilayered. “The ability with encaustic to use textures and the different media you can combine is endless, and all the while I am still learning,” she said. “Every layer has to be melded to the previous one, so it’s a constant cycle of melting and adding, fusing and scraping.” She has exhibited her work at The Art Center Highland Park, the Evanston Art Center, Laughlin Gallery, and A.I.R. Gallery. Her paintings have found a home in many private residences throughout the country. She has been featured in Sheridan Road Magazine, JUF News, Deerfield Neighbors Magazine, and The North Shore Weekend News. “I did not plan this path,” she said. “I was always a creative kid, even when I was little and we’d visit the library, I would run straight to the art section. I would sit in my room and craft things. I’m sure my parents were a little disappointed I wasn’t reading more books!” Life happened, but the need to create was constantly in the background. In 2005, she began trying to create works for her own walls, “but I could never get the acrylic See Karen Ross page 2

These honorees will be recognized at the 2025–26 Awards Night & Annual Meeting, held Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. A kosher dessert reception will follow the program. Together, the 2026 Volunteers of the Year represent the full spectrum of Jewish communal life — from governance and education to caregiving, advocacy, history, and youth engagement. Their paths differ, but each is united by a deep sense of responsibility for the strength and future of Jewish Omaha. Jewish Federation of Omaha: Seth Schuchman The Jewish Federation of Omaha honors Seth Schuchman as its Volunteer of the Year for thoughtful, steady leadership that strengthens the Federation at its core. A member of the JFO Board of Directors, Seth serves on the HR & Compensation and Governance Committees, helping guide leadership development, organizational culture, and long term sustainability. Seth also serves as Chair of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and as a contributor to the Jewish Press, bridging governance, history, and storytelling in service of the broader Federation mission. Known for his collaborative approach and careful follow through, Seth exemplifies shared responsibility and helps ensure continuity between Jewish Omaha’s past and its future. Institute for Holocaust Education: Kati Larson For the Institute for Holocaust Education, Kati Larson has been a trusted leader and valued partner for many years. As a classroom educator, she consistently engaged her students in programs such as See Volunteers of the Year page 3