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THE JFNA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A Mini Simchat Torah in December? Yes - And You’re Invited! Page 4

Former hostages Evyatar David, left, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Noa Argamani, Avinatan Or speak at the General Assembly

A Sentimental Journey Pages 5 & 7

SHARON BRODKEY JCRC Executive Director n Nov. 16, 11 members of the Omaha Jewish community arrived in Washington DC for the General Assembly of Jewish Federations of North America. This annual event draws thousands of Jewish professionals and lay leaders to study, schmooze and exchange ideas.

“The General Assembly has been a centerpiece in the annual calendar of the Jewish community in North America for nearly 100 years,” says Jewish Federations of North America Executive Vice President Shira Hutt. “In the shadow of the momentous events of the past two years, this year’s General Assembly, with dozens of sessions, jam-packed main-stage events, networking, and critical conversations, See General Assembly page 2

Will’s Bookshelf Page 8

Tzedek Teens

REGULARS

HEIDI HEILBRUNN NEEDLEMAN

Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles

JFO Assistant Director, Community Engagement and Education Tzedek Teens will be lending a

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hand and spreading kindness with clients of the Stephen Center’s Pettigrew Emergency Shelter on Sunday, Jan. 4 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The volunteer group made up of local Jewish teens, will learn about the facility, help clean up and spend time interacting with shelter residents. The Stephen Center, which is comprised of many facets including The Pettigrew Emergency Shelter, has been a vital resource for Omaha’s homeless and low-income individuals for over forty years. Originally serving only men, the Center has See Tzedek Teens page 2

Rediscovering Federation Presidents William L. Holzman 1925–1928 1931–1941 MARTY RICKS NJHS Advisory Board Member A Master Merchant Who Wove Civic and Jewish Leadership Together As Omaha’s Jewish community continued to grow in the early decades of the twentieth century, William L. Holzman brought both business acumen and a deep commitment to Jewish life. When he arrived in 1911, he carried with him not only a merchant’s instinct but a sense of purpose that would define his years of leadership. Born in New York City in 1873, Holzman began

working at age fifteen as an errand boy for a clothing manufacturer earning four dollars a week. By twenty-two, he had become assistant to the general manager of manufacturing. He learned every aspect of the trade, from design and production to sales, a foundation that would shape his career See William Holzman page 3