April 17, 2026

The Jewish Press

Karen Ross: Love at first sight

Volunteers of the Year

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.

Every 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

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Karen Ross

Continued from page 1 paint to do exactly what I needed it to do,” she said.

“It just didn’t land where I needed it to. I began to watch a lot of YouTube videos, and discovered encaustic painting. I didn’t know what it was, but as soon as I saw it, things clicked. It was love at first sight. It’s a modern twist on an ancient medium, and I really love that.”

She works on raw wood, and the wax is made by combining eight parts of filtered beeswax and one to two parts resin.

“The medium is clear, and then I color it with pigment. I had to become knowledgeable about what does, and what does not work, so there is a lot of experimentation involved. The pigment comes from oil paints. You also-and this is important-need a very good ventilation system!”

In her previous house, ventilation became an issue.

“I had a small studio with only one window, so back then, without proper ventilation, I often felt like I had smoked an entire pack of cigarettes. I started working in the garage for better ventilation instead, but Chicago gets very cold in the winter months, and I kept blowing fuses. It was a bit of a comedy of errors.”

During that time, Karen went through a divorce, and her art journey became both cathartic and therapeutic.

“Fast forward to meeting my second husband-we blended our family and began looking for a new place to live. We eventually built our house, including a studio with lots of windows and a great ventilation system. Another plus: as much electrical power as possible. It’s an absolutely magical place.”

Karen’s husband has been nothing but supportive, she said, and told her to go bigger.

“So today, I am embracing working on much larger pieces.”

She doesn’t plan her paintings out ahead of time, but creates organically. Maybe there is a certain color palette or vibe she’s after, but unless she creates one of her word paintings, she doesn’t always envision the work until it actually begins to take shape.

tensive outpatient program with the idea of leading an art project to assist existing programming, she witnessed something remarkable: during that first session, many teens who had been quiet for months became their most verbal and expressive while making and discussing their art. Its mission: “Art Impact Project enhances emotional wellness through creative expression. We believe that art-making is one of the most powerful untapped sources of intervention available, especially at a time when access to mental health care is extremely limited and the need has never been higher.Our programming is specifically curated for each population we serve, from middle school students to senior citizens. We offer over 100 specifically designed projects with clear objectives such as increasing positive self-awareness, building confidence, and promoting empathy for others.” Today the reach of AIP goes all over the county from schools to community centers, halfway houses, juvenile detention centers and veteran centers.

“After I started volunteering with AIP,” Karen said, “they asked me to join their board and help fundraise. It’s a marriage of mental health and art.”

We work directly with law enforcement, Secure Communities Network, and the Anti-Defamation League.

If you see something, say something.

For the past two years, she has been involved with Art Impact Project. AIP is a non-profit organization that was founded by a Lake Forest (IL) mother, Vickie Marasco, in 2014, after witnessing firsthand how art-making could help adolescents in drug and alcohol treatment. After approaching a local in-

A note from Jerusalem

NANCY COREN

We have passed the one-month marker in this current war with Iran (which now includes Hezbollah and the Houthis as well) and there is a sense that perhaps we will be experiencing the effects of our “neighbors” trying to kill us on a daily basis for at least another month. In addition to the rockets reigning down on us, rain has also been falling (which is somewhat unusual for this time of year). Although rain is welcomed, ballistic missiles are not. The connection between the two is somewhat eerie. When it rains here and in Iran, it is easier for the IRCG to launch rockets without being detected far in advance. So, a rainy day seems to portend more sirens here and ballistic missiles being sent our way.

This April, Karen has a solo show at The Gallery in Lake Forest from April 1-June 30. The opening reception is April 16 from 5-7 p.m. In a full circle moment, Vickie, the founder of AIP, is also the co-curator of Karen’s one-woman show. If you can’t make it to Chicago, you can check out her beautiful work at karenrossart.com, or you can find her on Instagram @karenross4

could finally be expressed and dispelled. Each person mentioned how important it was for them to come out of their solitude to connect with others. Fortunately, we went through the evening without a siren and each guest was home safely before there was a midnight missile attack.

Last Friday seemed to play out that way. Every one and a half hours-two hours we had to head to our safe room throughout the daylight hours. Fortunately, we had done most of our cooking for Shabbat on Thursday! We had also set up our apartment to welcome 25 guests who are part of a larger group that Charlie and I established just prior to Rosh Hashanah. (That group is now recognized as a new Masorti congregation in Jerusalem.) Being concerned about having such a large number assembled in our salon, I had arranged for a neighbor’s safe room to be available to us in addition to our safe room. The first thing we did upon sitting down at three long tables to daven together, was to go over the protocols for what would happen if we received an alert. Each side of the room was assigned to proceed to a specific safe room. Other than the two of us, each of our guests was single. Many had been isolated during the week and were craving human contact beyond Zoom. The need for community was never more apparent than that evening. We prayed, sang, learned Torah, conversed, laughed, and ate together. It was as if the thoughts of the weight of the morning and afternoon

Prior to guests arriving on Shabbat

Here in Jerusalem, we are fortunate. We do have advanced warning about incoming missiles. My friends who live only a few kilometers from the Lebanese border are not as fortunate. They have had no advanced warnings. We have alerts telling us of launches sent from Iran and the need to be by a shelter, followed approximately five minutes later by a code red siren that indicates we have 90 seconds to be in that shelter. This week, that fiveminute warning was indeed appreciated. As we were shopping for groceries in the shuk, the alert blared on our phones and we knew we could seek shelter in an underground parking lot less than two blocks away. As we entered it, others were also heading underground with us, with their phones in their hands as well. We all remained underground together, strangers with one thing in mind, remaining calm and focused on staying safe. When the all-clear sounded, we went back outside and believe it or not, back to the shuk to finish our shopping! We were not alone in that response. We Israelis I suppose have learned to try to make life as normal as possible in between alerts and sirens. Does that mean life is normal? Absolutely not. We hope for a day when isolation is not normal, when we do not have to be hyper-vigilant about the routes we take when going shopping or to the health clinic lest we be caught off guard by a siren. We hope for a day when having guests join us to welcome in the Shabbat will not require us to go over safety protocols before beginning our davening. And we hope for a day when our children will not think that this is normal.

Wishing everyone a chag Pesach kasher v’sameach.

Volunteers of the Year

Continued from page 1

Willesden Lane, the Anne Frank Traveling Exhibit, and Search for Humanity, ensuring Holocaust education was meaningful and personal.

Beyond the classroom, Kati helped develop teacher in-services and lessons that strengthened Holocaust education statewide. She now serves as Director of Education at the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has been recognized nationally as a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow. Across every role, Kati brings humility, rigor, and deep moral commitment to educating future generations.

Jewish Community Relations Council: Dr. Ari Kohen

The Jewish Community Relations Council honors Dr. Ari Kohen for extraordinary advocacy rooted in scholarship, moral clarity, and lived Jewish values. A professor of political science, Kripke Chair of Judaic Studies, and Director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Dr. Kohen has generously shared his expertise and leadership with JCRC and the Federation family.

Following Oct. 7, 2023, his guidance proved especially meaningful as campus tensions intensified. Through thoughtful diplomacy with students, faculty, university leadership, and community partners, Dr. Kohen helped strengthen relationships when care and clarity were essential. His activism— deeply informed by Jewish ritual observance—models principled leadership at a critical moment.

Jewish Family Service: David & Carol Alloy

At Jewish Family Service, David and Carol Alloy exemplify volunteerism grounded in empathy and dignity. Over the past year, they devoted countless hours to organizing, shopping for, and coordinating grocery deliveries for the JFS food bank, carefully selecting nutritious items to meet real needs.

Equally important is their advocacy. The Alloys consistently speak out about food insecurity and encourage others to get involved, reminding the community that caring for vulnerable neighbors is a shared responsibility. Through quiet dedication and compassion, David and Carol have made a tangible difference in the lives of many families.

Jewish Press & Nebraska Jewish Historical Society: Marty Ricks

The Jewish Press and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society jointly honor Marty Ricks for exceptional initiative and dedication to preserving Jewish Omaha’s story. Serving on the NJHS Advisory Board, Marty undertook—entirely on his own initiative—the ambitious project of researching and writing comprehensive histories of every past president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

The work has required extensive archival research and persistence, particularly when tracing early leaders with limited records. Marty’s writing now lives in print and online, preserving leadership legacies that might otherwise fade and creating

Writing workshop

a lasting resource for the community.

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home: Stan Edelstein

For nearly ten years, Stan Edelstein has brought warmth, reverence, and joy to residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Twice each month, he leads Shabbat services in the Simon Chapel, creating sacred space rooted in welcome and tradition. Stan’s presence became especially meaningful after the isolation of the COVID 19 pandemic, when in person services were deeply missed. He arrives early to greet residents, assist with tallitot and yarmulkes, and offers gentle conversation that transforms each service into a communal experience. His reliability and kindness have made Shabbat a cherished constant for residents and staff alike.

Staenberg Omaha JCC: Brooklyn Armstrong, Robert Osborne, Jordan Raffel & Josh Sullivan

The Staenberg Omaha JCC honors Brooklyn Armstrong, Robert Osborne, Jordan Raffel & Josh Sullivan, four emerging leaders whose dedication to youth engagement ensures Jewish continuity.

Brooklyn Armstrong, a BBYO advisor and Next Gen leader, brings energy and authenticity to strengthening pathways for young Jewish adults.

Robert Osborne, a fourth generation Omaha native and union electrician, serves as an advisor to AZA Mother Chapter #1, mentoring Jewish teens as they navigate life after b’nai mitzvah.

Jordan Raffel, a former Robert & Ellen Gordman Jewish Teen Leadership Award recipient, continues giving back to BBYO after holding multiple chapter and council wide leadership roles.

Josh Sullivan, a University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate, advises BBYO while serving on Federation committees, inspired by a family legacy of service.

Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation: Donald Goldstein

For the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, Donald Goldstein exemplifies leadership through humility, consistency, and stewardship. A Foundation board member since 2002, Don has served as Vice Chair, long-standing Secretary, and a member of the Executive Committee.

Through the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, Don and his family have distributed nearly $3.5 million to Jewish organizations, synagogues, medical research, human rights initiatives, and education. Signature community spaces—including the Goldstein Family Aquatic Center—reflect that generosity. Known affectionately as the Foundation’s most regular visitor, Don’s quiet leadership has left an enduring impact on Jewish Omaha.

Taken together, the 2026 Volunteers of the Year reflect the extraordinary breadth and depth of service that defines Jewish Omaha. Their leadership reminds us that a strong Jewish community is built — day by day — by people who show up with purpose, care, and heart.

‘Write With Us,’ our small and intimate writing workshop (no need to be nervous) continues in the winter and early spring. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for the following Thursday, April 30 from 5-7 p.m. in the Noshery at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Register by contacting Jessi at jtaylor@jewishomaha.org or Annette at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org. There is no cost to attend, although donations are always welcome.

If you have wanted to write your family’s story, that great American novel, or you have always wanted to try your hand at poetry, join us! Maybe you are already an accomplished writer, but you would benefit from being in a room with other writers. Perhaps you have convinced yourself you can’t write at all, but would love to try. Everyone, from absolute beginner to professional, is welcome to attend. We will provide the kosher snacks and the writing prompts.

Chief Impact Officer Announcement

We are thrilled to announce that Stacy Feldman will assume the role of Chief Impact Officer, beginning April 27.

Stacy brings two decades of corporate and non-profit leadership experience, where she made her mark as a datadriven innovator, brand strategist, and community builder.

Stacy’s passion for Jewish community led her to the Jewish Federation of the Heart of New Jersey as Director of Community Impact, where she oversaw allocations, engagement, and strategic marketing initiatives.

Most recently, Stacy has served as our Impact Data Manager where she has worked with our Agency leaders to establish Key Performance Indicators to help us build a system that measures impact for us to make more informed decisions. Her deep commitment to our community and our mission makes her the right person at the right time for this role.

“I am so excited to expand Stacy’s role, and I know that her leadership will allow us to respect our precious resources and expand meaningful Jewish experience opportunities to our community members,” said Bob Goldberg, CEO.

In this newly created role, Stacy will lead our efforts to become more data-driven and intentional in how we activate both human and financial resources in pursuit of our purpose of caring for and about one another. She will work closely with our Executive leadership, board, and Agency leadership teams to ensure our work continues to drive meaningful, lasting change.

“Stacy brings a remarkable track record of leadership and mission-driven innovation. We are confident that her experience and vision as Chief Impact Officer will greatly strengthen our Executive Team and help drive the Federation’s continued growth and success,” says Ron Feldman, Chair of the Board of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Phil Malcom, COO, added: “Over the last year I've had the opportunity to see firsthand how Stacy's unique blend of relational leadership, execution of strategy, and aptitude for data analysis contribute to making us a more cohesive, strategic, and intentional organization. She is going to do amazing work in this role, and we are fortunate to have her leading this initiative in this moment of continued growth across the campus.”

Please join us in giving Stacy a warm welcome to her new role. You can reach her at sfeldman@jewishomaha.org

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Standing on their shoulders: Rediscovering Federation Presidents Hyman Ferer

(1951–1953)

MARTY RICKS

NJHS Board Member

Every so often, a story reminds us that leadership is not just about titles. It is about stepping forward when it matters most. Hyman Ferer lived that kind of life. He was born in 1902 to Aaron and Chile Ferer. His father came from Russia and, like many immigrants, was searching for opportunity. The family made its way west and, when their money ran out in Omaha, they stayed and built a life there.

From those beginnings grew Aaron Ferer and Sons, a scrap metal business that became a major presence in the Midwest. Hyman eventually took over the company and later passed it on to his son Harvey, and then to a fourth generation. For many of us, the business was a familiar sight along Abbott Drive. Today, that same ground is home to the Gallup Organization.

But Hyman’s story is not just about business success. His real impact was in the way he showed up for the Jewish community.

He chaired the Federation Philanthropies Campaign in 1945 and led budget efforts in 1948 and 1949. He was active in synagogue life across the community and supported causes both locally and nationally, including Brandeis University.

Then came World War II, when his work took on a different kind of importance.

Scrap metal was essential to the war effort. Steel mills depended on it, and the need was urgent. As head of Aaron Ferer and Sons, Hyman played a role that reached far beyond Omaha. He served on the U.S. War Production Board’s advisory committee on iron and steel scrap and helped push collection efforts at a critical time.

Nebraska exceeded its quota, reaching more than 111 percent. His company earned recognition for its contributions. One observer later said it plainly. People like Hyman Ferer helped win World War II.

That same sense of responsibility carried into his time as Federation president from 1951 to 1953.

These were not easy years. The State of Israel was still new, and the needs were urgent. In 1951, Hyman shared a telegram from the United Jewish Appeal requesting emergency funds for food and housing as winter approached.

Omaha responded. Significant funds were raised, and Hyman personally delivered a major contribution at a national UJA gathering. It is a powerful image. A leader from Omaha helping connect this community to the future of Israel.

At home, the work continued. The Federation supported the Jewish Press, navigated challenges like the polio outbreak affecting JCC programs, and marked milestones such as the JCC’s 25th anniversary.

There are also small moments that bring his story to life. As a young man, Hyman survived a chaotic trolley accident in downtown Omaha. Later, he and his wife Anne traveled widely, while Anne became known for her deep involvement in many of Omaha’s civic and charitable institutions.

On a personal note, my own father had a scrap yard in Missouri Valley and did business with Aaron Ferer and Sons during the war and after. He always spoke highly of Hyman and Harvey. That kind of respect tells you something about a person.

Thank you to former Omaha World Herald columnist Michael Kelly, whose help in uncovering these stories and details added meaningfully to this article.

Hyman Ferer died in 1960 at the age of 58. In remembering him, the community noted that he had been given its highest responsibility, serving as president of the Federation, and that he carried it out with dedication and care.

His story feels familiar in the best way. An immigrant family that built something lasting. A business that mattered in a moment of national need. A leader who gave his time and energy to his community and his people.

We look back and see more than history. We see responsibility, carried forward. And we are reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

From the archives: Local Sports

This is a reprint from the April 15, 1926 edition of the Jewish Press.

Did you know that? Central High School defeated North High School 4 to 2 in the first game of the season, Tuesday nite at Fontenelle Park. Two Jewish lads were in the lineup of the purple and white nine. Dave Bleicher, the veteran catcher, caught the hooks and curves of Bill Lily while Elmer Greenberg (Peanuts) cavorted in the outer garden. Bleicher was up to bat twice getting one hit, a screeching single thru shot stop bringing in Cox for the first score of the game. Bleicher also received a donation from the pitcher in the form of a base on balls. Elmer, too, was the recipient of a free trip to first, another gift from the polar pitcher. He, however, did not improve his batting average, striking out once and on his third and last effort, letting a sacrifice fly, advancing the proceeding batter. Turner, the ace of the outfield, was prevented from appearing in the initial game due to a sudden illness.

Tech High played the South High Packers at Athletic Park. Johnny Rosenblatt was the only Jewish boy to get in the game. Johnny wore the colors of Tech High. He was up to bat twice but failed to get a hit.

Track practice is now under way at all the local high schools and both universities. Bud Levin and Sol Yaffe are still working out at Central High.

Benny Block and Nathan Marcus are promising men in the shot and discus events at Tech High. Isadore Weiner is making a strong bid for distance honors. The Tech men have only been out a short time and this Saturday will meet Abraham Lincoln High School of Council Bluffs in a dual meet.

Marcus Krasne is still toying around with the shot and discus at Creighton University. Sam Kaufman, the freshman sensation, will take a fling at track within a few days, as soon as spring football is over.

The Jewish Community baseball team will take the field this Sunday afternoon against the St. Francis Club in the Gate City League. The game will start promptly at one thirty o’clock at Riverview Park.

The following men are on the squad. Capt. Louis Somberg, Sam Kaufman, Leo Konecky, Dave Bleicher, Joe Turner, Elmer Greenberg, Lester Giventer, Isadore Schriebman, Aaron Weitz, Leo Weitz, John Swartz, John Rosenblatt, Bob Cooper, Al Handler. The team is being managed by Nathan Green.

Arthur Swartz, the former Tech High School and YMHA amateur baseball player, is going great guns with the Omaha Burch Rods in the Western League. Art has been getting the largest assignments for the catching department. Swartz as yet has played errorless ball and has hit safely in every game of the pre-season trip.

UPCOMING SPECIALS AT STAR DELI

Star Deli dishes up (among other delights) overstuffed corn beef, pastrami and smoked turkey sandwiches, matzah ball soup, salad platters, Dr. Brown’s Assorted Sodas, plus toothsome desserts and sometime-specials like Prime Rib, Chicken Pot Pie, Smoked Brisket and Chili with Corn Bread. We also sell delectable glatt Kosher meats by the pound. The Deli welcomes everyone in the Jewish community and the larger Omaha area community to join us for lunch.

Friday April 17 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Smoked Brisket

Friday May 1 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Braised Chicken Quarters

Friday May 15 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Friday June 4 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Pulled Chicken BBQ Sliders

Friday June 19 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dairy Deli (TBA)

Friday July 17 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Schnitzel

For more information about Star Catering or to preorder take-out from the Kosher Deli at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, please email Jennifer Addison at jaddison@rbjh.com

Will’s Bookshelf: A Time to Hide

The Jewish Press Creative Director Will Fischer, thanks to our maintenance department, is the proud owner of a book shelf. That makes him a great person to ask about new Jewish books, which are regularly sent to us by publishers.

This week, he’s reading A Time to Hide by Marion Seidemann Fredman, which tells the story of her parents, Grete and Julius. The author combines photographs, artwork and documents to tell her parents’ story of survival-and her own birth- in hiding in the Netherlands during WWII. The end result is a robust story, spread out like a collage.

Thinking of the subject matter, was this an easier read because it is a picture-heavy book?

In some ways, yes; a picture book is necessarily an exercise in brevity on the prose, so A Time to Hide wasn’t ever going to dwell on the details of the Holocaust. On the other hand, seeing photos of people who the author’s parents would never see again after the war, or illustrations of members of the Dutch underground who didn’t survive, can hit harder than a block of text might.

What is the main message of this book?

I don’t know that I took this as a capital M “message” book, even with the subject matter being the Holocaust; it’s more a sharing of the author’s parents’ experience. But there is a strong message to be had in this quote from a doctor attending a frightened pregnant woman:

“Bringing a new Jewish life into the world is the greatest act of resistance against what the Nazis are doing. It is also the only hope for your people.”

Who are the intended audience?

Children, about grade-school age I’d say.

Very soon, we will no longer have survivors left. Will this book help the rest of us, Jew and non-Jew, tell the story?

One can only hope; media saturation in the digital age sometimes seems to drive out any history older than the last five minutes. But the book has a unique and eclectic blend of visual elements as its illustrations and solid prose, and it should catch the interest of at least some kids and help move them to learn more about the story.

What new fact(s) did you learn?

It had never occurred to me what the logistics of medical care would be like for people in hiding. All the details needed to get a pregnant woman to a makeshift hospital were an eyeopener, and conveyed well in very few words.

ORGANIZATIONS

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

Mazel moments

Mazel Moments continued during the month of March! Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home participated in British Theme Week, enjoying a jolly good time from start to finish. They savored fish and chips with a pint at a pub, while listening to British fiddle playing, and delighted in music from the British Invasion of the 1960s with Kyle Knapp. A UNL music professor, Randall Snyder, gave an engaging talk on the Beatles and their significance to music, while films and documentaries added to the week’s enjoyment. The festivities wrapped up with a lively game of London BINGO. Special thanks to the generosity of the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation for helping make the whole affair such a cracking success.

Our Story: Immigration, Part 3

RABBI

DEANA BEREZIN

Temple Israel

In February 2026, Temple Israel’s Rabbi Berezin took a small group of congregants on an immigration trip. Below is part three of her account of the experience.

Shalom Friends,

Today, our group traveled to Nogales, to bear witness to the realities of the United States-Mexico border. It was a day filled with conversations, and hearing from the people on the ground what life is like in the borderlands. And it was also a day where we could see and experience, for ourselves, what borders and boundaries mean; a day where we could stand next to the border wall, where we could feel the gravel and sand beneath our shoes and practice radical empathy, wondering what it would feel like to stand in the shoes of another.

We began with a guided border walk with a retired Border Patrol officer, named Chris Montoya. He shared his passion for service, for helping people, and for protecting the communities he serves. As we spoke about the responsibilities and the moral complexities of serving as a Border Patrol officer, Chris offered beautiful metaphors that helped us to think about the dissonance between what we’d heard from him and what we’re seeing on the news. Chris believes his role is that of a guardian — to put himself between his community and the people who could do them harm. Others, however, see themselves as warriors. If you are a warrior,

Chris said, then everyone is an enemy; if you are a guardian, you encounter adversaries. As always, framing is everything.

And yet, it was hard to walk along a 30 foot tall steel border, fitted with coil after coil of razor wire. Harder still to see some of those coils laden with flowers where someone has died from trying to cross, and to hear the laughter of children at recess on the other side.

From the border, we went to Arivaca to meet with a humanitarian aid organization that provides crisis relief for migrants on the borderlands. Arivaca is home to one of the deadliest areas to cross the border, and as they encounter migrants, who they prefer to call travelers, they provide emergency kits that include everything from clothing to first aid kits to life saving salt rehydration packets and water.

After, we walked through the desert. As our feet touched walked the same ground and found our way through prickly shrubbery and felt the intensity of the sun on our faces, we were given a powerful glimpse of the harsh realities that migrants face when they cross the border. The elements in the desert are harsh, and at times, lethal. In the winter, it is freezing and the wind is brutal. In summer, tempera-

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

PARENTS & SENIORS

We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation Class pages on May 22, 2026. To be included, fill out the form below or send us an email with the student’s name, parents names, high school they are attending, the college they will be attending and photo to: jpress@jewishomaha.org by May 12, 2026.

tures surpass 100 degrees with nowhere to turn for shade or shelter. As we walked, Joseph found what looked like a makeshift campsite— blankets laid under the sparse shrubbery where migrants attempted to sleep or find shelter, and abandoned for reasons we will never know. The desert is lethal, and people perish in the crossing every day. And yet, people risk these known dangers for a chance at safety and security for their families. We left Arivaca quiet and contemplative, filled with questions, emotional turmoil, and deep sadness. But today was one of the most

important pieces of the trip. We needed to bear witness through proximity. The moral complexities are profound and living in the discomfort that sometimes comes with bearing witness is challenging to sit with. And so it feels to us that Shabbat came just when we needed her. We need the grounding of Shabbat. We need the spaciousness that Shabbat provides and the hope that she brings. And so even though in so many ways, we have felt helpless amidst the enormity of the challenges and the pain and the suffering that we’re seeing, we reach for hope.

Voices

The Jewish Press

(Founded in 1920)

David Finkelstein

President

Annette van de Kamp-Wright

Editor

Will Fischer

Creative Director

Claire Endelman

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Jewish Press Advisory Board

David Finkelstein, President; Margie Gutnik, Ex-Officio; Joseph Abrahams, Helen Epstein, Andrea Erlich, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Chuck Lucoff, Sara Rips, Stewart Winograd and Bob Yaffe.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world.

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Editorial

E-mail editorial material and photos to: jpress@jewishomaha.org and avandekamp@jewishomaha.org ; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: wfischer@jewishomaha.org

Letters to the Editor Guidelines

The Jewish Press welcomes signed Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

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Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org

Unity

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish Press Editor

It’s been a harrowing few weeks, hasn’t it? Or months. Actually, scratch that; it’s been years of bad news following bad news. Our conversations are becoming so repetitive, it makes me positively lethargic. As I’m writing this, every news outlet is talking about the war with Iran and the potential ceasefire, and depending on their bias, they sound hopeful, desperate, angry or smug.

I’m a little tired of the word, “ceasefire.” What does it mean? Am I naïve to think it should include all parties laying down their weapons? Because that isn’t happening. For decades, terrorist organizations and fascist regimes have broken every single ceasefire, so why should this time be different? Does anyone actually expect the Iranian regime to abide by it? If you do, I have this bridge…

The disconnect between what’s happening in the world and what we do at home is mind-boggling. Because while we talk to our Israeli family and friends, while we worry about their safety and the ever-building trauma, we still have to live our daily lives. We have to go to work, cook for our families and shop for groceries. We have to sleep, wake up, renew our driver’s licenses and pay our taxes. We plan weddings and welcome babies, celebrate birthdays and attend Shabbat dinners. We observe holidays and yahrzeits, check our phones, make doctor’s appointments. How do we manage it?

I keep thinking about unity, because it is such a central concept to Judaism. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. It’s probably the

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Advisory Board, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

strongest weapon in our emotional arsenal, to stick by each other, to dive deep into community and not let go of each other.

Yom HaShoah, which we marked in the Alan J. Levine Theater this week, is easier when we are together. Remembering loved ones is easier when we don’t do it alone. Shopping is more fun when we have company, and the line at the DMV is less frustrating when we have someone to talk to. Work is easier when you do it with people you relate to, and when we decide to attend any event, we call our friends and see if they want to come along. Being solo, it’s not what we need right now.

It’s a victory — but to what end?

RABBA SARA HURWITZ

JTA

For more than a decade, I have watched and lived the unfolding story of women’s religious leadership in Orthodoxy. As the first woman ordained to serve in Orthodox clergy, and as someone who has spent years teaching and building an institution, Yeshivat Maharat, I have learned that change rarely arrives in dramatic moments. More often, it comes quietly through persistence, through courage, and through the refusal to accept that the boundaries of the past must define the future.

That is why the recent ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court allowing women to sit for the national rabbinical examinations feels so significant, and so deeply personal. For years, women in Israel committed themselves to rigorous Torah scholarship, mastering complex halachic material and serving their communities as teachers and spiritual leaders, yet were barred from even attempting the state rabbinate exams.

This is significant as the credential provides greater professional access and economic equity in the workforce. Yet women were banned, not because they lacked knowledge or dedication, but simply because they were women.

The court’s ruling that it is unlawful to exclude a group from access to national examinations on the basis of gender represents more than a legal milestone. It is a recognition of women’s Torah, women’s leadership and the evolving reality of religious life in our time. It affirms what many of us have known for years: women are not waiting to lead, they already are.

And yet, even as I welcome this moment, I find myself holding both hope and caution. My first hesitation is procedural. Since July, the Chief Rabbinate has stalled and has not administered any exams. Rather than allow women to take the test, apparently, the organization chose to admit no one. Even after formally opening registration, it continues to signal that obstacles remain. Access is being granted reluctantly, hedged with caveats.

In their public statement, the chief rabbis wrote: “The examinations administered by the Chief Rabbinate constitute a tremendous spiritual enterprise. With God’s help, we will stand firmly on

guard to ensure that only those who, according to halacha, are worthy to bear a certificate signed by the Chief Rabbinate will merit to receive one, and that those who are not worthy will not.”

The subtext is hard to miss. The question of women’s participation is framed not as administrative policy, but as a threat to the sanctity of Torah itself, as though women seeking to be tested on halacha must first overcome a presumption of unworthiness.

Which leads to my second hesitation: Women

are clamoring to play by the rules set by the Rabbanut to gain legitimacy. But do women need the Rabbanut’s tests to prove that they are worthy of serving Klal Yisrael?

There is no question that the exams carry financial and political ramifications. In Israel, Rabbanut certification affects salary scales, state funding and eligibility for certain rabbinic posts. Access to the exams is therefore not merely symbolic; it is tied to economic equity and professional legitimacy.

And yet, when I speak with colleagues in Israel who have long served as halachic authorities, teachers and spiritual leaders, I hear a more complex and layered reality. Some question whether entering the Rabbanut will meaningfully improve their professional or financial standing. More deeply, they worry about what it means to operate within the Rabbanut’s institutional boundaries, and become part of a centralized ruling authority that an increasing number of Israelis have chosen not to engage with. They fear that formal recognition may come at the cost of the very leadership they have spent years cultivating, a leadership

We can’t solve the crisis in the middle east. What we can do, is create more unity. That doesn’t just mean not holding grudges and the absence of arguments-it’s deeper than that. Being united does not mean we all agree on every single thing (you can still think my dress is ugly, I can still think your ring tone is dumb; we can even vote for different political candidates). Being united means we all acknowledge our community is important enough to rise above those big and small disagreements. We are Omaha Jews, and we are part of one community. Anything beyond that is accessory. That doesn’t mean it’s not important, but we, in having a wide variety of viewpoints, always have to remember that central truth: we are, before anything else, fundamentally the same. For those of you who reside in Lincoln or Palm Springs or Scottsdale or anywhere else, you are still part of our community. Community has the word “unity” built right in, so there we are.

The great part about community is, you can find it elsewhere too. I attended a Shavuos party at a Chabad house in Vista, California, once, and although I didn’t know anyone, I felt right at home. There is an audible click when we meet other Jews in new places. We carry community with us; it’s part of us, and so it can be activated anywhere-not just at home. There is a familiarity, call it Jewish geography, but we know each other on a deep level when we realize we meet a member of the tribe. Ultimately, we are all connected. And yes, the world outside us is at odds with that. But as long as we have each other, this too shall pass.

grounded in community trust, pastoral presence and lived Torah rather than state certification.

The Rabbanut exams test halachic knowledge, but so do semikha (ordination) exams administered outside the rabbinate’s system, including those of Yeshivat Maharat, Yeshiva University and Ohr Torah Stone. Mastery of halacha matters deeply. It is the backbone of rabbinic authority.

Yet, these halachic exams test only one dimension of rabbinic leadership. They do not test one’s ability to sit at a hospital bedside. They do not test how a rabbi guides a grieving family. They do not measure whether a teacher can open the doors of Torah to a searching soul. They do not assess leadership, pedagogy or pastoral wisdom.

Of course, the authority that comes with deep halachic knowledge can create credibility to do those things. But knowledge alone does not produce spiritual leadership. If anything, the contemporary rabbinate — male and female — would be strengthened by more intentional training in leadership development, pastoral care and pedagogy.

So I find myself holding two truths at once.

I am proud that women fought for access, proud that the legal barriers are cracking, proud that Maharat graduates are stepping forward to be counted, tested and recognized.

And I remain cautious.

Because systems that were never designed with women in mind cannot now be the final decider of their legitimacy within it. If women choose to sit for the Rabbanut exams, it must be because the certification serves their leadership and strengthens the communities they already guide, not because an institution presumes the power to retroactively validate decades of Torah, service and devotion.

If worthiness is defined only by mastery of texts, then the exams are sufficient. But if worthiness is measured by the courage to lead, the humility to listen, the wisdom to hold complexity and the sacred responsibility of walking with people through joy, loss and transformation, then women’s rabbinic leadership has already outgrown the narrow metrics of any centralized system.

The question is no longer whether women belong. The question is whether our institutions are ready to recognize what is already here.

Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766

712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL

SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154

402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646

402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:

B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple

Union for Reform Judaism

2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797

402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR

FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123

402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206

402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. with Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our other board members: David Alloy, Renee Corcoran, Rick Katelman, Gail Kenkel, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MINYAN SCHEDULE:

Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Six-String Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Our Shabbat Tables following services.

SATURDAY: Simcha Shabbat Service, 10 a.m at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:45 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m.; Cantor’s Concert with Soulfarm, 4 p.m.

MONDAY: The Bible With And Without Jesus 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Abraham & Pastor Johnson at St. Luke.

TUESDAY: Sefer HaMiddot, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT for Yom Ha’atzmaut (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m. at the JCC; Hebrew High for Yom Ha’atzmaut (Grades 8-12), 6:30 p.m. at the JCC

THURSDAY: The Bible With And Without Jesus 10:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Abraham & Pastor Johnson at St. Luke; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. Zoom Only.

FRIDAY-Apr. 24: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream

SATURDAY-Apr. 25: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12) 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:55 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom.

Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

FRIDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:49 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 6:55 p.m.; Mincha, 7:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/ Laws of Shabbos 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:51 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:50 p.m.

MONDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:50 p.m.

TUESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Yom HaZikaron Event 6:15 p.m.; Mincha/

Ma’ariv 7:50 p.m.; Smichat Chaver Men’s Class 8:50 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development 1:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m.

THURSDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:50 p.m.

FRIDAY-Apr. 24: Torah from Omaha, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:56 p.m.

SATURDAY-Apr. 25: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 7:05 p.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m.; Kids Activity/ Laws of Shabbos 8:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 9 p.m.

Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

Join classes via Zoom. Go to ochabad.com/academy. For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 7:48 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:51 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Translating Words of Prayer, 7 p.m. with David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Aramaic Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Apr. 24: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 7:56 p.m.

SATURDAY-Apr. 25: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:59 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST followed by an Oneg; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:50 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, 12:30 p.m. on Parashat Tazria-Metzora via Zoom; Family Potluck and Game Night, 6 p.m. at SST. Bring a dish to share

for the potluck beginning at 6 p.m. Games are available to play, but feel free to bring one of your favorites! Games begin at 7 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:53 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at Rock 'N' Joe Coffee, 5025 Lindberg St, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; We can do this - Feed the Children, 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Belmont Community Center. Questions? Susie at 402.570.4922 or Aimee Hyten (SST Lead) 240.475.0747; LJCS Conferences, noon; Jewish Book Club, 1:30–3 p.m. For more information, please contact Deborah Swearingen at devra60@gmail.com; Nebraska State Holocaust Commemoration, 2 p.m. at the State Capitol Rotunda.

WEDNESDAY: Offices Closed; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m.

FRIDAY-Apr. 24: Micah Muriello Bar Mitzvah and Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST followed by an Oneg; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:57 p.m.

SATURDAY-Apr. 25: Micah Muriello Bar Mitzvah and Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, 12:30 p.m. on Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim via Zoom; Havdalah, 9:01 p.m.

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander.

FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service with Grade 4, 6 p.m. InPerson & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SUNDAY: Grades PreK=7, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Coffee and Conversations with Board Members, 10 a.m. In-Person; Omaha Through HERstory: A Rosh Chodesh Event, 1 p.m. RSVP Required — In-Person.

TUESDAY: Mah Jongg Made Easy 1:30 p.m. In-Person.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m.; Grades 3-6, 4:30 p.m. In-Person & Zoom; Mah Jongg Made Easy 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew CHAI: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. InPerson.

THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff — In-Person & Zoom. FRIDAY-Apr. 24: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Tot Shabbat with Scholar-in-Residence, 5:45 p.m. RSVP Required — In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-Apr. 25: Torah Study: Kedoshim Papercutting Workshop, 9:15 a.m. RSVP Required — InPerson; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Make Your Own Golem, 6:15 p.m. RSVP Required — In-Person. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

Meyers Family Legacy of Laughter brings community together

ANNIE RIFKIN, MSW, PLMHP

JFS Therapist and Program Specialist

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., we invite you to Legacy of Laughter at the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue, located on the Omaha JCC Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus.

Bernie “Bobo” Meyers and Roie “Roro” Franklin Meyers knew how to live life to the fullest—surrounded by family, friends, and the constant hum of conversation and contagious laughter.

After building a successful family business, traveling the world, and throwing many legendary parties, they spent their final years in the quiet comfort of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home in Omaha—a warm place filled with close friends, caring people, and not nearly enough laughter.

Out of that experience, the Meyers Family Legacy of Laughter was created.

Twice a year, the Meyers family invites seniors living in retirement homes, along with their friends,

family, and the entire community, to a free comedy show. Each event begins with a reading from The Book of Bobo, followed by a talented comedian taking the stage. What follows is over an hour of joyful, shared laughter.

The series is dedicated to bringing the healing

power of humor to seniors—a wonderfully significant group of people who have earned the right to a good, long laugh.

This Mother’s Day, the tradition continues with a very special show for moms. Expect surprises for mom and free goodies for those who drove her crazy!

“This Mother’s Day, give her the laughter she’s earned.”

The event will feature Omaha’s original Yer Mom’s Comedy Show, with over 63 years of combined mothering experience. Comedians Kendra Karbowski, Patty Fanciullo, and Anneliese Wright will bring their humor to the stage, offering a relatable and lighthearted look at the ups and downs of motherhood.

The event is sponsored by the Meyers Family Legacy of Laughter Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Admission is free and open to the public.

At its heart, the mission is simple: to bring people together and keep the laughter going..

Life Cycles

IN MEMORIAM

MARSHALL B. KUSHNER

Funeral services were held at Beth El Cemetery on Tuesday, April 6, 2026, for Marshall B. Kushner, who died on April 2, 2026, at the age of 93.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara; parents, Dorothy and Max Kushner; brothers, Dwayne, Gerald, and Sheldon; and sister, Shirley Schaffer.

Marshall is survived by his children, Karen (Robert Weirich) Kushner, Jill (Mark) Belmont, Kimberly (Matthew) Placzek, and Timothy Kushner; grandchildren: Jessica (Cliff) Smolinsky, Lindsay (Michael Small) Belmont, Colin (Amanda) Belmont, Aaron (Monique) Placzek, Noah Placzek, Phoebe Placzek, Max Kushner, Eva Kushner, and Ben (Sinead Maguire) Weirich; and greatgrandchildren: Caden Smolinsky, Aria Smolinsky, Lila Small, Hudson Belmont, Harper Belmont, Brooks Placzek, Tate Placzek, and Roisin Maguire Weirich.

A Lincoln, Nebraska native, Marshall received a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska in 1954. Following graduation, he served in the Air Force for two-and-a-half years. After marrying Barbara and moving to Omaha, he purchased Commercial Lithographing Company (later renamed Commercial Printing Company), and led the business for the next 40 years, until his retirement. He was an astute businessman and a caring employer.

The Jewish community - in both Omaha and Israel -- was always close to Marshall's heart. His volunteer service within the Jewish Federation of Omaha included serving on various agency boards; leading the Young Men's Israel Mission in 1981 and the Homecoming Mission to Israel in 1996; chairing the annual campaign in 1982; and in 1985, leading local fundraising efforts for Operation Moses, which helped to airlift Ethiopian Jews from Sudan to Israel. A longtime member of Beth El Synagogue, he was chairman of the synagogue's school board from 1973-'74, and served as fundraising co-chairman to finance the construction of the current synagogue.

Marshall Kushner was a good man. Honorable, humble, kind. Dedicated to his family and forever devoted to Barbara, the love of his life. He was a witty man with an endless trove of humorous stories and jokes. A man who loved his buddies: his weekly breakfast group, his poker group of over 50 years, his pitch groups, and all those longtime friends near and dear to his heart.

He touched many and made a difference in this world. He will be forever missed, and his memory will always be a blessing.

BAT MITZVAH

NAVA SHYKEN

Nava Shyken, daughter of Rachel (Rivka) and Joey Shyken, will celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Etz Chaim Synagogue, in Jacksonville, FL.

Nava is a sixth-grade student at Torah Academy of Jacksonville.

Nava enjoys reading and making art projects.

She has three siblings and two cousins: Akiva, Atara, Dovid, cousin Aiden, and cousin Ami Meir (Mason).

Grandparents are Keva and Yafa Shyken of blessed memory, and Bruce and Jodi Kanner of Ocala, FL.

Great-grandparents are Gold Ray Kanner of Del Ray Beach, FL.

The RBJH needs your help

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is looking for yarn! We’ll gladly rehome your unused yarn for a special art project.

You can drop it off at the RBJH. Please email Assistant Activities Director, Christina at ccaniglia@rbjh.com with questions. Thank you!

Explosion at Israeli Restaurant, Munich

PHILISSA CRAMER

JTA

Explosions lightly damaged an Israeli restaurant in the German city of Munich early Friday, in what police there say may have been an antisemitic attack.

Footage from the scene of Eclipse Grillbar, which the police did not name, show broken windows, including one with a menorah behind it. No one was injured in the incident, which took place after the restaurant closed for the night.

The restaurant’s owners are Jewish and police are investigating whether the attack was motivated by antisemitism, they told the German news agency dpa.

The incident adds to a flurry of explosions, all causing minimal damage, at Jewish and Israeli sites across Europe since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, which watchdogs say may have triggered Iranian sleeper cells to act. The German government, which has long offered special support for Israel, has opposed the war.

Eclipse Grillbar bills itself as “the first authentic Israeli restaurant in Munich” and has operated in the city’s university district for nearly two decades. Its menu includes classic Israeli fare such as falafel and hummus as well as dishes familiar to Jews from the former Soviet Union, who make up the majority of Jews in Germany. Owner Ben Malenboym was born in Belarus and moved to Israel at 12 with his family in the late

1980s before landing in Munich as an adult.

“My restaurant inspires a desire to visit Israel, and I’m sure there are quite a few Germans who have decided to travel there someday,” Malenboym told Germany’s main Jewish newspaper in 2014. “Many have eaten hummus for the first time in their lives here. They seem to have enjoyed it. In any case, they keep coming back.”

Supporters of the restaurant are planning to rally outside the damaged building on Friday afternoon. “The attack was cowardly. And it was not only against a restaurant, but against what it stands for,” said Guy Katz, an Israeli professor at a Munich University who advocates against antisemitism, posted on Instagram.

Displaying a picture of Eclipse’s patched-up window, Katz added, “Antisemitism must have no place. Not here. Not today. Not at all.”

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Cantor’s Concert featuring Soulfarm News

STACIE METZ

Beth El Engagement Coordinator

Join us on Sunday, April 19 at 4 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue for a very special afternoon of music, community, and heartfelt reflection at this year’s Cantor’s Concert, featuring the dynamic and internationally celebrated band Soulfarm

Founded in Israel by Grammy Award winner C Lanzbom and lead singer Noah Solomon Chase, Soulfarm brings a vibrant and distinctive sound often described as New American music. Their performances blend rich melodic songwriting with progressive arrangements, infused with Mediterranean influences, captivating guitar work, and powerful rhythms. Together with Ben Antelis and Daniel Ori, Soulfarm creates an energetic and soulful live experience that is both uplifting and deeply moving. As noted by The New York Post, the band is “versatile, utilizing improvisation and world music.”

his own words, our Hazzan shares, “I am approaching this year’s Cantor’s concert with Soulfarm with mixed emotions. On one hand, I am so excited to host this amazing band that delightfully explores a breadth of Jewish musical styles. On the other hand, I am sad that this will

Over the years, Soulfarm has collaborated with renowned artists including Perry Farrell and Dispatch, and has opened for Bruce Hornsby, Shawn Colvin, The Wailers, and George Clinton. They have been featured on Fox 5 Good Day New York and have served as the main band for the MY9 Celebrates Israel Day Parade. Their extensive touring has brought their music to audiences across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Israel.

Education at the Bak Museum

On Jan. 27, 2026, middle school students from Bellevue Public Schools' High Ability Learners and Diversity Club visited the Museum in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. During their visit, students toured the Museum and participated in a number of activities to foster conversations about the artwork, artists, and themes of Justice and Hope. Students also had the opportunity to listen to Samuel Bak speak live about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and artist via an online event.

This year’s concert holds special meaning for our Beth El community. In

be my last concert presentation as Hazzan of Beth El Synagogue. I am deeply touched that the synagogue chose this particular occasion to bid farewell to me after 13 years of service to the Omaha Jewish community. Not only am I passionate about the importance of providing Jewish summer camp experiences to our youth, but also about exploring the vast variety of Jewish music with my Omaha community.”

This year’s concert is generously chaired by Mary and Joel Rich and Pam and Bruce Friedlander, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Seth Rich Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund, supporting meaningful Jewish camp experiences for our community’s youth.

This concert is not only an opportunity to experience extraordinary music, but also a chance to come together in appreciation and gratitude as we honor our Hazzan’s lasting impact on our community.

For tickets and more information, please visit www. bethel-omaha.org

Following the tour, students were invited to write a personal reflection on an artwork that resonated with them. To bring these perspectives to life, several students recorded their reflections, and they are available on display at the Museum now through June 28

“Looking at this artwork, we need equality, consideration, and kindness for one another, so we can keep the promise of never again for any genocide," one Bellevue student said.

Visit the exhibition today to experience these powerful stories for yourself!

In addition, there is still time to see the current exhibition, Justice and Hope, open until June 28

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center is a space where art is the gateway to a conversation on human rights, Holocaust education, and genocide. The Spring 2026 exhibition, Justice and Hope, explores how artists Samuel Bak, Dinh Q. Lê, Mladen Miljanović, Serge Nitegeka, and Maja Ruznic use intertwining personal narrative and historical facts to commemorate conflicts and denounce humanity’s inability to forgo violence. The exhibition poses questions on reconciliation and how we might learn from history to build better futures.