January 23, 2026

Tzedek Teens visit Shelter

HEIDI HEILBRUNN NEEDLEMAN

JFO Assistant Director, Community Engagement and Education

Twenty-one middle and high-school volunteers visited the Stephen Center on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, as part of the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Tzedek Teens program. The experience began with a guided tour of the facility, including the Pettigrew Emergency Shelter.

Stephen Center Experience Officer Beth Robbins, who led the tour, shared her personal journey, along with powerful stories of individuals served by the Stephen Center. She also spoke candidly about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, including struggles with substance abuse and the path toward treatment and recovery.

The teens walked through The Pettigrew Emergency Shelter, a 24-hour facility that includes 32 beds for men, 32 See Tzedek Teens page 2

Crohn's Foundation honors Marcus A Time for Trees

Howard K. Marcus was recently named 2025 Volunteer Champion at

the Night of Champions Gala held by the Nebraska/Iowa Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Howard, a Crohn’s patient for nearly 40 years, has volunteered with the Foundation since 2004.

Retired KETV News Anchor Rob McCartney emceed the event and spoke about Howard's many years of volunteer service.

“Howard Marcus and I have been friends and fellow journalists for See Marcus page 3

MARY SUE GROSSMAN for Beth Israel

Synagogue

Celebrating Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees, always seems a bit odd while in the depths of winter in Omaha. Despite the short days and cold, Beth Israel always finds a way to mark this special Jewish holiday and this year is no exception. On Sunday, Feb. 1, Beth Israel’s Tu B’Shevat Celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Avery Luben and Renee Zacharia.

The evening will begin with a Tu B’Shevat seder. “The seder will feature the seven species of Israel, learning about the importance of each and indulging in these tasty treats,” shares Rabbi Eitan Ziv. “While four cups of wine are also included, this seder is considerably shorter than the one during Pesach,” he adds with a smile.

Dinner will be served after the seder with two activities available following the meal. A wine tasting

will be offered for adults while children and adults can participate in decorating flowerpots and then adding plants to those creations.

“We are grateful to be receiving a grant from the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund for this year’s event,” shared Rabbi Eitan. Since its establishment in 1901, KKL-JNF has been developing the Land of Israel, strengthening the See Trees page 3

the QR code below to fill out the Incident Reporting Form

Tzedek Teens

Continued from page 1 beds for women, and five family rooms. They also visited the shelter’s permanent supportive housing, where they were able to see firsthand how families live and ask thoughtful questions.

Opened in 2015, it provides access to three meals a day, hygiene items, clothing, computer labs, bus tickets and on-campus healthcare. These services empower clients to set and achieve personal goals, offering a path towards a brighter future.

After the tour, the teens went right to work. They grabbed rags and disinfected the dining room following the lunch service, refilled napkin dispensers, and organized and straightened up the dining room's library.

The teens then paired up and sat at tables with shelter residents, playing games of the residents’ choosing. Some played Jenga with a woman who had arrived at the Stephen Center just over a week earlier, chatting and laughing together. Another group played UNO with participants in the HERO Program, a substance abuse treatment program—one of the players was only a few years older than the volunteers themselves.

Meanwhile, the other teens created inspirational notes with the residents. While crafting, teens and residents chatted about many topics, building connections through conversation and creativity. The next Tzedek Project will take place in collaboration with BBYO on Sunday, April 19th. Teens will be volunteering with Rose Blumkin Jewish Home residents, as well as supporting a local animal rescue.

Tzedek Teens, a program through The Jewish Federation of Omaha, empowers Jewish youth to give back to the

Omaha community by donating time and money to causes important to them. During Tzedek projects, students can earn service-learning hours as they volunteer in the greater Omaha community.

All Jewish youth are also eligible for a Tzedek Account, a fund through the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

Families can open an account with a minimum initial deposit of $125, the funds are immediately triple matched by the Foundation to equal a $500 balance. Each spring, Tzedek Teens facilitators meet with participating teens to help them decide where to give their funds. The tzedakah is then donated to any non-profit organization they choose to support. Families with teens can enroll in Tzedek Teens and start an account by visiting www.jewishomaha.org and navigating to Jewish Youth and Families. For more information, please contact Naomi Fox at nfox@jewishomaha.org

There’s still time! 2026 scholarship support

DIANE WALKER

JFO Foundation Scholarship & Grants Manager

Thanks to the generosity of our community, a variety of funding sources are available to Omaha’s Jewish families to help with the financial burden of Jewish sleepaway camp, JCC summer camp, the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center, Friedel Jewish Academy, Israel, and youth group activities. Assistance is also available for undergraduate, graduate, vocational, technical, professional or yeshiva studies and reduced JCC memberships.

The 2026 Scholarship and Grants booklet and applications are available on the Jewish Federation of Omaha website →Our Priorities → Scholarships and Grants.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. This change was implemented to help alleviate some difficulties with J Camp registration. The completed scholarship application essentially serves as J Camp registration, ensuring scholarship families can secure the spots they need.

The Kaiman Family Camp Grant is back for summer 2026! An amazing gift from the family of Howard Kaiman, of blessed memory, these grants provide funds to summer campers - $1,200 for Jewish sleepaway camp or $250 for day camp. Awards are capped at 96 Jewish sleepaway and 100 day campers. This program can be used in conjunction with the JFO’s Jewish Experience Grant program for 2026. Additional details and the application are available on the JFO website →Our Priorities → Scholarships and Grants → Grant Programs.

Experience Grants, funded by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, are available to any Omaha Jewish family meeting the program requirements, regardless of the family’s financial situation.

Jewish Experience Grants provide up to $2,000 for Jewish children in the metro area to attend residential summer camp. Grants are paid over two years with no more than $1,000 per summer.

Israel Experience Grants provide up to $1,500 to students in grades nine–12 or young adults aged 18–26 for an Israel

peer program. An additional stipend of $1,000 is provided for the bi-annual community teen trip to Israel. Scholarships, awarded by the Financial Aid Committee of the JFO, are funded by many endowments established through the JFO Foundation, outside entities, and through the JFO’s Annual Campaign. Scholarships are available for JCC summer camp, residential Jewish summer camp, Israel peer programs, Friedel Jewish Academy, the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center, and youth group programs. Jewish students who are residents of the Omaha metropolitan area can apply for scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, vocational, technical, professional or yeshiva studies programs. While most scholarships are based on financial need, some college scholarships are merit-based.

Additional Opportunities: There are also several scholarship programs outlined in the 2026 Scholarship and Grants booklet which are outside the realm of the Financial Aid Committee. These include the Sokolof Honor Roll scholarships, the Fellman/Kooper scholarships, the Leon Fellman, DDS and A.A. & Ethel Yossem scholarships for Creighton University and the Bennet G. Hornstein Endowment Fund. Sources for additional information on these scholarships are included in the booklet.

Omaha’s Jewish families are encouraged to take advantage of these funding opportunities. All financial information is kept completely confidential. For any questions, please reach out to Diane Walker at either dwalker@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6551.

Being a Good Ancestor: Living Will Workshop in February

As part of the Being a Good Ancestor series, community members are invited to participate in a two-part workshop focused on creating an enduring legacy through values-based planning and Jewish tradition.

The Ethical and Living Will Workshop, taught by Rabbi Deana Berezin of Temple Israel, will take place on Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at Temple Israel. These sessions will offer a supportive and thoughtful space to explore how our decisions today can provide clarity, comfort, and direction for loved ones in the future.

Participants will learn how to create a meaningful ethical will, a personal document that preserves your values, memories, and life lessons for future generations of family and friends. The workshop will also explore living wills through

the lens of Jewish texts and traditions, offering guidance on compassionate and informed end-of-life decision-making. These sessions provide practical tools and meaningful perspective for anyone looking to plan with intention and care. No prior preparation is needed, just bring your questions and an open mind.

This workshop is free to attend, and light snacks and coffee will be served.

Registration is required. To register, scan the QR code or call 402.334.6424.

The End of Fall Semester at Hillel

ABIGAIL COREN

The end of the fall semester was meaningful and fun for Hillel at UNL. November was our month to attend the theater. We had the privilege of cheering on our own Mariah Lieberman who shined as Crystal, one of the skid row trio, in Little Shop of Horrors performed at TADA in Lincoln’s Haymarket. The group had a wonderful time watching her on stage during this musical. We also received a special invitation from the Lincoln Community Playhouse to watch the dress rehearsal performance of The Diary of Anne Frank. An exhibit was on display from the Anne Frank House that explained the family’s life prior to their hiding and world events that led to the Holocaust. The cast gave an emotional and engaging performance. It was an honor for Hillel to be invited to witness such a meaningful interpretation of this play.

Hillel also chose to participate in a project called The Global Healing Blanket in partnership with Mental Health IsReal (MHI), an organization that provides mental health resources to Jewish communities addressing trauma and anxiety to increase healing and resiliency. Hillel received 20 blank quilt squares for students to paint in unity with other Jews around the world. Students expressed their own hope, joy, support, and healing in their artwork and created pieces to be proud of. The quilt squares will be returned to the organizer of this project where they will be stitched together into a blanket to be presented to the people of Israel on Yom Ha’Atzma’ut 2026 as “a symbol that we are stitched together, no matter where we are and we are ALWAYS by their side.” www.mentalhealthisreal.com.

Another true highlight of November was the Friendsgiving dinner Hillel hosted with the Lutheran Center as an interfaith

Marcus

Continued from page 1 years,” McCartney said. “We’ve done Press Club shows together – the guy’s got a great voice. I’ve seen some of his camera work – the guy’s got a great eye. But it’s when I see him step up repeatedly to help in the fight against Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis that I really know Howard’s got a great heart – the heart of a volunteer,” he continued. “He does pretty much whatever needs to be done; from photography to being the emcee, Howard says yes. That’s because he knows our cause – his cause – needs guys like him if we hope to find a cure.”

Jason Anderson, executive director of the Foundation's Nebraska/Iowa chapter, has seen the impact of Howard's volunteer efforts. “I was so excited that we were able to honor Howard as our 2025 Volunteer Champion,” he said. “Howard has been active in the IBD Community for many years, and he is a constant voice of hope for those dealing with these chronic illnesses.”

This year’s Night of Champions Gala raised more than $570,000, which was the highest total ever raised at this annual event.

McCartney concluded his remarks by saying, “We are a better organization because of Howard’s commitment and his drive. And that’s why I know my friend, Howard Marcus, is a true champion.”

bridge building opportunity. The Kosher Kitchen made a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal for the students. After the icebreakers were concluded, everyone sat together talking and laughing, finding more commonality than difference among the groups. Students were having so much fun together that they lost track of time and stayed until the Multicultural Center was closing for the night. New friends were made, current friendships were deepened, and a new tradition of Friendsgiving was created. Hillel was honored to help host Sharaka on campus with the Harris Center for Judaic Studies and the JCRC. We would like to extend a big thank you to Sharon Brodkey and Dr. Ari Kohen for making sure students were able to attend and participate in this important discussion panel. Students and community members were invited to a pre-discussion dinner with an Israeli/Mediterranean-themed meal and were able to stay afterwards to make meaningful connections with the panel speakers. The conversation focused on peace-building opportunities that have taken place since the signing of the Abraham Accords. We look forward to participating in additional collaborative programs with the Harris Center and the JCRC.

The semester concluded with a Hanukkah party featuring latkes, donuts, and dreidels. Shaliach Itay joined us for the festivities and provided wooden dreidels for students to decorate. People played, ate, and talked for hours enjoying each other’s company. As a final goodbye to the semester, students got together to eat “breakfast for dinner” during the last week of classes to take a break from studying for finals. Plans for winter break were discussed, activities for spring semester were developed, and bellies were filled. Overall, it was a successful conclusion to fall 2025.

Trees

Continued from page 1 bond between the Jewish people and its homeland. Land development for a sustainable future, providing environmental education, ensuring a thriving Negev and Galilee, and preserving Israel’s natural and cultural heritage are some of the organization’s activities.

For additional information on the Tu B’Shevat event or any other Beth Israel happenings, please check the synagogue website at orthodoxomaha.org or call the office at 402.556.6288. Additionally, if you want to learn more about Tu B’Shevat a quick Google search will provide a wealth of options from which one can choose or check with Rabbi Eitan or Rabbi Geiger for recommendations. It may be winter in Omaha but this is a great time to focus on the upcoming beauty of spring to appreciate the earth.

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 ORGANIZATIONS

Adam Yale Joins First Manhattan

JUSTIN DECHIARIO

First Manhattan, a $36B+ independently owned investment advisory firm, today announced that Adam Yale has joined as Portfolio Manager, Adam began his professional career in Omaha more than 25 years ago.

He has more than two decades of experience managing client portfolios, with a focus on long-term investment in high-quality businesses. He most recently served as Partner and Portfolio Manager at Lawson Kroeker Investment Management in Omaha. Prior to that, he spent more than 16 years as Principal of Red Cedar Capital.

Mr. Yale’s return reflects a shared heritage rooted in Omaha. First Manhattan has long-standing ties to the city through the close personal friendship and business relationship between the Firm’s founder, David “Sandy” Gottesman, and Warren Buffett. That legacy also runs through Mr. Yale’s own family history. His grandfather, Ike Friedman, acquired Borsheims with his father in 1947, helping the family business grow before it became part of Berkshire Hathaway in 1989.

“Adam is a thoughtful stock picker with an ownership mindset and deep commitment to his clients,” said Zachary Wydra, Chief Executive Officer at First Manhattan. “We continue to build First Manhattan with the goal of serving clients exceptionally and being the best home for investors who prioritize independence, rigor, and conviction. Adam’s return reflects that alignment and reinforces First Manhattan’s culture and goals.”

“Returning to First Manhattan is truly a homecoming,” said Mr. Yale. “The firm’s culture, disciplined investing, and unwavering respect for clients has always resonated with me. I’m excited to continue serving clients from Omaha while being part of a firm whose approach closely aligns with my own.”

Through First Manhattan, Mr. Yale and the clients he serves will have access to the firm’s in-house research, integrated wealth planning capabilities, independent trust company, and robust operating platform. These resources will allow him to expand the scope and depth of service he provides to his substantial base of long-standing client relationships.

Mr. Yale has long been active in the Omaha community, where civic involvement has been central to his professional and personal life. He has served on the Board of Education of Westside Community Schools since 2016 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Nebraska Methodist Health System and Chairman of its Investment Committee. Mr. Yale holds a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.

Writing workshop

‘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 Thursdays: Jan. 29, Feb. 26, March 26 and 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.

JEWISH

SUSHI | JAPANESE | CHINESE

OMAHA

WEST MAPLE | 3655 N. 129th St. | 402.933.0091

OLD MARKET | 1308 Jackson St. | 402.933.5168

MILLARD | 17664 Welch Pl. | 402.702.8800

LINCOLN

HAYMARKET LINCOLN | 601 R St. #100 | 402.261.9388

SOUTH LINCOLN | 5730 Hicote Dr. | 402.318.5188

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Lo Ta’amod: Agnes Keleti and the refusal to withdraw

SETH SCHUCHMAN

Lo Ta’amod appears in the Torah as a prohibition against standing idly by in the face of harm. Jewish tradition has long understood it as a warning about silence and delay, not only overt wrongdoing. Antisemitism has taken shape in laws, institutions, and in the everyday decisions that allow harm to endure. Jewish history also records moments when Jews and allies alike recognized what was at stake and chose to act, not because success was assured, but because remaining silent was not acceptable. This article is part of an ongoing series examining those moments.

Agnes Keleti entered my work while I was researching an ongoing series on Jewish stories in sports. Her story was more than moving from survival to triumph. It was a record of repeated decisions to remain present, decisions that reflected an ongoing refusal to step aside when withdrawal would have been easier.

Keleti was born in Budapest in 1921 into a Hungarian Jewish family at a moment when Jewish participation in public life was increasingly contested but not yet extinguished. As a young woman, she trained seriously in gymnastics and rose to an elite level. Sport at that level required institutional access and permission to compete. That permission was revoked when Hungary aligned with Nazi Germany. Jews were barred from athletic clubs and competitions through administrative enforcement. Registrations were canceled. Memberships were revoked. Careers ended quietly. This form of antisemitism functioned through rules and compliance, but its effect was total exclusion from public life.

specialization, and short careers. Keleti was not extending a typical career. She was competing, and winning, well beyond the sport’s accepted limits.

Winning in this context was not incidental. These medals placed a Jewish woman at the center of international attention less than a decade after Europe had attempted to remove Jews entirely from public view. This was not symbolic visibility. It was undeniable presence. Excellence here functioned as refusal. It declared that Jewish life would not remain marginal, cautious, or hidden.

The timing of her final Olympics sharpened this reality. The 1956 Games coincided with the Hungarian Revolution. While Keleti competed abroad, Soviet forces entered Budapest and

crushed the uprising. For Hungarian athletes, the Games became a moment of reckoning. Returning home meant returning to repression.

What followed was the systematic narrowing of her Jewish existence. During the Holocaust, Keleti survived by obtaining false identity papers and living under assumed names. She worked as a domestic servant to avoid deportation, a position that offered cover but little security. Each day required calculation: where to go, whom to trust, how to avoid attention. Discovery meant death. Her father and other members of her family were murdered at Auschwitz. These losses shaped the conditions under which every later choice was made.

Here, Lo Ta’amod operates in its most immediate sense. The commandment does not only prohibit indifference to the suffering of others. It also rejects paralysis in the face of danger. Standing idly by can mean waiting for permission that never comes or for circumstances that only worsen. Keleti did not wait. She acted within narrow and unstable constraints.

After the war, a different test emerged. Europe was physically damaged and morally unresolved. Many survivors chose anonymity, distance from public life, or quiet rebuilding. These were understandable responses. Keleti chose something more exposed. She chose to return to competition.

That decision itself reflected Lo Ta’amod. Returning to elite sport meant refusing the expectation that Jews should remain invisible after catastrophe. It meant reentering public institutions that had recently enforced exclusion without resistance. It meant placing herself once again under judgment rather than stepping aside.

Her Olympic record is extraordinary not only for its scale, but for what it represented. At the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Keleti won four medals. At the 1956 Games in Melbourne, she won six more, including four gold medals. In total, she earned ten Olympic medals, five gold, three silver, and two bronze, making her one of the most decorated female gymnasts in Olympic history.

What is often understated is how unusual this achievement was given her age. She returned to gymnastics at a time when most elite competitors, particularly women, had already retired. Keleti was 31 in Helsinki and 35 in Melbourne. Most of her competitors were in their late teens or early twenties. Gymnastics, then as now, was structured around youth, early

Keleti chose not to return. She ultimately immigrated to Israel. She chose participation in the unfinished work of building Jewish life elsewhere. In Israel, Keleti assumed a different form of responsibility. She became a coach, teacher, and organizer, helping to establish the foundations of the country’s gymnastics program. She trained athletes, set expectations, and insisted on seriousness in a field that could easily have been treated as marginal. This phase of her life reflected the same moral compass that shaped her earlier decisions. She did not treat her success as a conclusion. She converted that experience into responsibility.

Keleti also resisted being defined solely by survival. She refused to let her past determine the limits of her future. In interviews, she spoke more readily about discipline, training, and effort than about trauma. She remained focused on what could still be built.

Agnes Keleti lived to be 103 years old, passing away in early 2025. Over the course of her life, Lo Ta’amod took different forms: survival under threat, public participation after exclusion, and institutional building over time. At no point did she treat action as optional.

Lo ta’amod al dam re’echa is often read as a commandment for moments of immediate crisis. Agnes Keleti’s life reminds us that it is also a long obligation. It extends beyond survival to presence, and beyond achievement to responsibility. She did not stand idly by. She returned, she competed, she won, and she built, long after history suggested that withdrawal would have been easier.

Not every act of courage occurred on a national stage or resulted in a published book. Many took place closer to home, in workplaces, schools, civic institutions, and community settings.

As this series continues, we invite members of the community to share stories, documents, photographs, and artifacts that reflect how individuals confronted antisemitism or stood with others when it mattered. Preserving these histories helps ensure that future generations understand not only what our community faced, but how it responded. This series is a collaboration between The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) and the Jewish Press. For questions and or more information about the NJHS, please contact executive director Jane Rips at jrips@jewishomaha.org, or visit the website at nebraskajhs.com

Chabad Young Professionals

XANDRA JAVIER

Chabad Staff Writer

Chabad Young Professionals has quickly become one of the most vibrant and meaningful spaces for young Jewish adults in the greater Omaha community. More than a social group, CYP is creating a culture of belonging, warmth, and purpose, offering young professionals a place to connect with one another, celebrate Jewish life, and feel truly at home.

At the heart of CYP is a commitment to creating experiences that are welcoming, thoughtful, and inclusive. Whether through festive holiday celebrations, Shabbat dinners, or casual gatherings, each event is intentionally designed to bring people together in a way that feels genuine and uplifting.

Kayla Symmonds captured that feeling after a recent event, sharing, “Thanks! I really loved the Chanukah party and meeting more new people in the community. Super excited to do more events.”

That excitement is echoed by many who attend CYP gatherings for the first time. For those who may feel hesitant about walking into a room where they don’t yet know anyone, the atmosphere is intentionally warm and inviting. As Britney O’Neil put it simply, “That it was a fun time and don’t worry about not knowing anyone, we’ll introduce you.”

One of CYP’s greatest strengths is its attention to the individual. Programs are crafted with care, ensuring that participants feel seen and included. A powerful example of this was a fully gluten-free First Friday Shabbat dinner, thoughtfully planned to make Shabbat accessible to those with dietary restrictions.

Brooklyn Armstrong shared how meaningful that experience was, “Having celiac disease is all about living life normally while ensuring that every bite I eat will keep me healthy. Shabbat foods tend to have a lot of gluten, so unless I cook in my own kitchen with gluten free ingredients, I don’t get to enjoy traditional Shabbat often. When Mushka had the idea to have a Gluten Free First Friday Shabbat Dinner, I beamed with excitement! Showing others how easy it is to adapt loved recipes to be safe for Celiacs brings me such comfort. I loved every moment of Shabbat Dinner because I had incredible company, food, and conversations with not one worry about what was safe to eat.”

Jewish life can thrive outside the major Jewish cities if we commit to building these spaces together.”

He added, “Rabbi Eli and Mushka are such fun and engaging hosts. They show genuine interest in each person who walks through their doors. Last Shabbat was full of life and simcha. It showed me our community has come such a long way engaging young Jews. Jewish Omaha should be proud the next generation is being impacted and shaped by Jewishly meaningful experiences like this.”

That level of care doesn’t just create great events, it inspires people to engage more deeply. Ben White reflected on the ripple effect of that effort, saying, “Of course! I love how it brings the community together, the fact that someone is willing to put in that amount of effort makes us all want to do more for both the community and our own spiritual lives.”

CYP’s impact is felt not only by local participants but also by those who spend time in larger Jewish cities. Aaron Newman, who lives in New York, offered a powerful perspective when returning home to Omaha, “Thanks so much for having me! Living in New York, you can easily take spending Shabbat dinners with a community of young people for granted. When I come back home to Omaha, I feel so grateful that young Jews from across denominations will create that community and come celebrate Shabbat together. It reminds me that young

anchors of stability and hope, reminding young adults that they are not navigating life’s challenges alone.

This Shabbat in New York, that global impact will be especially visible as over 1,000 CYP participants converge at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters for a transformative weekend of connection and reflection. It is a time to check in, recharge, and gain the spiritual superpower needed to carry us through the next segment of the journey.

Andrew Taylon highlighted another key element of CYP’s success: its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds while fostering authentic connection, “First Friday dinners offer a wonderful chance to meet other young Jewish professionals in a relaxed environment to build genuine connections while sharing a phenomenal meal. The combination of stimulating conversations and friendships formed with people you might not otherwise meet really helps to build a sense of belonging. The dinners have a wide range of people in terms of how each individual chooses to practice Judaism, but everyone is always welcome. Rabbi Eli and Mushka help each person feel a closer connection to G-d due to their ability to involve everyone and incorporate traditional Jewish rituals in a remarkably warm and inviting setting.”

What is happening in Omaha is part of a powerful global story. At Chabad centers throughout the world, young people are finding comfort, support, understanding, and meaning during this tumultuous time. Through their connection with Chabad, many are finding mentorship, a shoulder to lean on, and a renewed sense of purpose. These spaces have become

Fellman/Kooper Scholarships

The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust has announced the availability of scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. The scholarships will be based on financial needs of students pursuing their post-secondary education. This scholarship has a fouryear cap and is limited to undergraduate studies only. Graduate programs are not included.

Bruce, son of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, was a 1982 graduate of Westside High School. He was active in BBYO and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of Chaim Weizmann AZA. He attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and was participating in the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea at the time of his death in 1984.

who are pursuing their post-secondary education. This scholarship has a four-year cap and is limited to undergraduate studies only. Graduate programs are not included.

The Robert H. & Dorothy G. Kooper Charitable Foundation Trust has announced the availability of scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. It will be based on financial need for Jewish students with ties to the Omaha community

Robert Kooper had a long history of service to the Jewish community. He was elected B’nai B’rith president in 1929; headed Beth El Synagogue in 1941; was president of Highland Country Club in 1951; and was President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha 1958-1960. He died in 1961.

Mrs. Kooper was a strong supporter and worked with the Jewish Federation and Beth El Sisterhood. She passed away in May, 1995. Applications may be obtained by contacting Jan Roos at Broadmoor 402.384.6471 or jroos@broadmoor.cc) or downloaded from the Jewish Federation of Omaha website, click on Our Priorities, then Scholarships and Grants, then Additional Scholarship Opportunities. The application packet must be received by Ms. Roos in the Broadmoor office no later than March 2, 2026.

Now is the moment to step forward. Chabad Young Professionals is more than a series of events. It is a growing movement built by people who care deeply about Jewish life, community, and the future we are creating together.

We invite you not only to join CYP, but to take a leadership role within it. Help shape programs, welcome newcomers, host, plan, dream, and build. Leadership in CYP means having a hand in creating meaningful Jewish experiences that strengthen our community, uplift our city, and ripple far beyond Omaha.

None of this happens in a vacuum. We extend our deepest thanks to Chabad and to all of our community partners, supporters, and donors whose generosity, encouragement, and belief in this mission make it all possible. Your support, financial and otherwise, is the foundation that allows CYP to grow, thrive, and reach more young people with warmth, purpose, and meaning.

This does not happen from nothing. It happens because people choose to invest, to show up, and to believe in the power of Jewish life lived together.

You are not just supporting Jewish life. You are creating Jewish now and Jewish future. It’s in our hands. Let’s go.

Did you know...

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish :Press Editor

In the American South, it’s customary to eat black eyed peas on New Year’s as a symbol of good luck. This echoes Sephardi Jewish traditions of eating beans on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as a symbol of good fortune; some historians have speculated that the custom was brought to the United States by Sephardi Jews.

The famous New Year’s Eve Times Square ball-drop was the brainchild of a Jewish businessman, Adolph S. Ochs. He was the child of Jewish immigrants from Germany, and entered the newspaper business when he was eleven years old working as an office boy for the Knoxville Chronicle.

He bought the New York Times in 1896, and began hosting a fireworks display to increase publicity. In 1907, the city refused him a permit, at which point he commissioned an enormous ball covered with light bulbs to lower at midnight. It was customary at the time for merchant seamen to mark the hour by lowering an enormous ball that could be seen far out at sea; Och’s ball was simply a larger and more festive twist on this maritime tradition.

Och’s tradition has continued; the ball used today weighs nearly 12,000 pounds and is 12 feet in diameter.

(Source: Aish.com)

Teen Trip to Israel

On Dec. 22, 2025, 17 teens and chaperones finally took off for Israel. Like the last trip, this one was worth the wait. We arrived late (not too late for Aroma) on the 23rd and met our guide. The very first day was filled with adventure, sadness, and reflection.

As we did three years before, the teens were able to go to an archaeological dig site in Beit Guvrin National Park. When we walked into the site, it was amazing to see just how much deeper the dig site was compared to our last visit. Everyone got to digging, and we quickly found out that if Itay hadn’t become our shaliach, he would have been coveted in archaeological circles. He found many pieces and almost a fully intact pot. After our share of digging and sifting, we went through an already dug-out cave where we had to maneuver through tight spaces.

Afterwards, we traveled to Sderot for lunch and a difficult afternoon visiting and reflecting at sites of the Oct. 7 terror attacks. We visited the location where the Sderot police station once stood, now a memorial. We then went to a lookout point where, just over the highway, Gaza was visible.

It was there that Itay stood with us and shared his story of being deployed on Oct. 7, 2023, and being sent to this very region. He hadn’t returned since, and the composure he showed while explaining his time in Sderot to the teens was truly extraordinary.

He looked over his shoulder and pointed to a structure—one I had seen before in pictures. It was an unfinished house where Itay and his soldiers were stationed in the days following October 7th. To Itay’s surprise, it was exactly as it had been when they left: no improvements, just the same empty concrete shell they occupied while searching for terrorists years before.

pering Station, which brought a sense of pride and hope. What began with two brothers helping soldiers who were wounded or traveling to and from battle has turned into a one-stop shop for soldiers seeking a meal, new socks, or a place to decompress before returning home. It became a free shop of sorts. Anything you needed, you could ask for—and it was all completely free. Listening to one of the brothers, Dror, speak was inspiring.

We ended the day with a dinner fit for kings, hosted by Eitan

and placed notes in the wall for the very first time.

We returned the following day after visiting Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl National Military Cemetery. Then we welcomed Shabbat at the Western Wall. If you’ve never been there on a Friday night, you haven’t experienced something truly magical. Thousands gathered for prayer, singing, and dancing. In that moment, the person next to you is no longer a stranger but a friend. We danced—and danced some more—myself terribly, I might add. We then walked back to the hotel for Shabbat. The next day was filled with morning services and much-needed rest. Mika, our previous shlicha, even made an appearance to spend time with the teens and joined us for our night out on Ben Yehuda Street. Unfortunately, the next day due to rain and flooding, we were unable to make it to Masada. However, we were able to find a safe route to the Dead Sea. It was an unbelievable experience for the teens to float and cover themselves in Dead Sea mud. Afterwards, as we came up from the beach to clean off, I was reunited with the second love of my life— my wife knows—Pistachio the camel. Pistachio was exactly as remembered: same sunglasses, golden fur, and majestic smile, now featuring two protruding teeth as part of Pistachio’s patented grin. It was really special to reunite with the same camel the last group met three years ago. Until next time, Pistachio! The following day was rainy, but we made the most of it.

Next, we went to the site of the Nova Festival. Now a memorial, it was shocking to see the individual tributes to those who lost their lives simply trying to enjoy time with friends and family. What struck us most was the sheer scale of loss and the shock and horror many experienced in their final moments before being murdered. This was the toughest site to visit. Afterwards, we stopped at the Shuva Junction Soldier Pam-

We visited Caesarea to see the ancient ruins of King Herod’s port city and then enjoyed an amazing lunch hosted by an Ethiopian immigrant. After feeding all of us, she shared her powerful story of coming “home” to Israel—walking for 30 days to Sudan in hopes of eventually reaching Israel. It was one of those stories you never forget.

After lunch, we met our Partnership friends at Kibbutz Yassor, where families with teens our teens’ age hosted our group for dinner and welcomed them into their homes for a night of hospitality. The next day, Partnership arranged an incredible schedule for us. We visited the Ofek School in Kibbutz Evron, where we met Israeli high school students who led icebreakers and gave tours of their school. We then toured the Rosh Hanikra Grottos, an absolutely stunning experience with waves crashing against the rocks and breathtaking views. Later, we went to Kibbutz Liman and painted a bomb shel-

ter. The teens were even allowed to decorate it with handprints, names, and, of course, a Nebraska “N” to share our Big Red pride with the community. We then returned to the Partnership House overlooking the Mediterranean Sea for lunch.

For dessert, Mika and her father brought gelato and ice cream from his shop.

A special shout-out to Shiri from our Partnership2Gether community for organizing these activities, as well as to Ory for being there with us. We then boarded the bus and headed to Tel Aviv.

Our first day in Tel Aviv began with a walk along the Independence Trail, learning about the founding of both Israel and the city itself. We then visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where we learned about Israel’s achievements in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. Do you still use a USB drive or rely on the Waze app for directions? Both are Israeli innovations.

After lunch at the vibrant Sarona Market, we traveled to Itay’s hometown of Holon to visit Save a Child’s Heart, an organization that provides free, life-saving cardiac surgery to children from Africa and across the Middle East. We learned about their mission and even spent time playing with the children and their families.

One of the final group activities was a “Silent Disco.” Wearing headphones, we danced through the streets of Tel Aviv. It

was a bit awkward at first, but within minutes we were singing and dancing together. People joined in, and we shared joy with strangers along the way. It was the perfect ending to our journey. We concluded with a large group dinner, where Itay’s father surprised us all with Star of David necklaces. We ate far too much food and reflected together on the experience.

This was the trip of a lifetime, and I hope it stays with and motivates our teens for years to come. While this article focuses on the places we visited, it was the people and the sense of camaraderie that made it special. Teens from different synagogues, schools, and backgrounds—some of whom barely knew each other before—now feel like family. Watching those connections form is my favorite part of the trip. I’m already looking forward to 2027.

This special journey was made possible by our very generous donors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, and our local synagogues. A heartfelt thank you to the Herbert Goldsten Trust, the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, the Albert & Eleanor Feldman Family Israel Foundation, the Milton S. & Connie N. Livingston Foundation, Anything Grants, and the Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

FRIEDEL

BETH ISRAEL

Voices

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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. Agencies of the JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

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The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

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Consequences

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish

Press Editor

The organizers of Adelaide Writer’s Week, an Australian literary festival, recently removed one participant from their planned line-up. Palestinian Australian author, lawyer and activist Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited because her presence “would not be culturally sensitive” in light of what happened at Bondi Beach, the organizers said. Of course, there was immediate backlash.

Eventually, over 180 writers pulled out in protest, the entire board resigned and the festival was canceled. Apologies to Abdel-Fattah followed, although that wasn’t enough, because the former board members only apologized for how the decision was conveyed, not for the decision itself.

Of course, no event should exclude anyone just because they are Palestinian. That’s nonsense. But Dr. Abdel-Fattah isn’t exactly innocent in what happened here.

This is what she wrote on December 17, a mere three days after the attack:

“Now is the time to insist on principles, not abandon them. To see through the shameful and dangerous political exploitation of the murder of 16 people by Zionists, white supremacists, the far right to advance their racist, violent, and oppressive agendas.”

In her mind, the biggest problem with the Bondi attack isn’t the death of 16 innocents; it’s that these deaths could be abused by Zionists to make life hard for Palestinians. Since October 7, she’s been quite outspoken about her disdain for Israel; so is it really so odd that she would be asked to bow out,

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.

considering what motivated the attack on Hanukkah?

Why does wanting a better outcome for Palestinians make people feel antisemitism is ok? How does killing Australian Jews at Bondi Beach equal making things better for people in Gaza? And why are people like Dr. Abdel-Fattah (or those who boycotted the festival on her behalf) so surprised when there are consequences to the words they say?

She wasn’t disinvited because she is Palestinian, not even because she is a Palestinian activist. She was disinvited because she has proven, with her words, she is an antisemite. To her, the word “Zionist” is a slur, plain and simple. And so the organizers made the right call-but saying that out loud is not a popular opinion, apparently.

The Adelaide WW is not a Jewish festival; organizers perhaps didn’t realize they were stepping in a quagmire. Any Jewish professional could have told them; stand up for Jews, especially if they are victims of a terror attack, and you’ll get canceled in turn. It’s kind of a micro-version of what happened after Oct. 7. While actual Hamas terrorists were still murdering Israelis, the keyboard warriors in other countries were already busy blaming Israel, changing the language, making sure everyone knew Palestinians were the underdog. Israel deserved it, they wrote.

Sometimes I want to know: why do people hate Israel so much? Are they still under the impression they are talking about a real country with real people,

This will be sanctuary again.

RABBI LEX ROFEBERG JTA

For two years, Jackson, Mississippi, was my home. It was the first place I lived after college, when I worked as an education fellow at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute for Southern Jewish Life. The city’s sole synagogue, Beth Israel, was the first synagogue I ever joined.

The first time I walked in the building for Friday night services, I had an invitation within 15 minutes to go with a crew of a dozen people to Jason’s Deli for dinner afterwards. It sent a message that was reaffirmed and reaffirmed, over and over — “community” is not a nonsense term at Beth Israel Congregation, thrown around carelessly. It is lived and embodied.

This community, when I lived there, had a small but very vibrant Talmud study every week. We took great joy in the fact that people probably would be surprised that, on a weekday during lunch, a bunch of nerds were arguing over Bava Kamma (a tractate of the Talmud) in a library in central Mississippi.

In fact, the library space — which was destroyed by arson on Saturday morning — was the heartbeat of my connection to the place.

I was usually in the library, specifically, twice a week — once for the weekly Talmud study and then once for services, bagels and Torah study on Saturday morning. The services were also held in the library and not the main sanctuary.

We never got through more than eight to 10 verses or so of the Torah portion because the backand-forth questions and commentary among attendees — some professional Jewish educators, some folks just beginning their process of conversion to Judaism, and everyone in between — were so deep.

I called the custom of the service “Conservaform” or “Reformative” because it combined Reform and Conservative movement melodies and practices. The participants of it understood that, as the only prayer space in Jackson (or anywhere nearby) for

Shabbat morning, it needed to be a mixture of things to meet a variety of people’s practices — its flow and structure was a testament to the care that people in this community took to make all in their community feel welcomed.

Still, the Saturday morning service utilized “Mishkan T’filah,” the Reform movement’s prayer book. And when I used the book to lead services in that space, I always had the community pause when we reached Psalm 150. I asked them to notice that the literal shape of the Hebrew text, on the page, was jarringly similar to the state of Mississippi in which we were davening.

or is it a manufactured hatred, something to pass the time, something to bond over? It’s all quite bizarre.

Of course there is a larger problem, where Jewish authors can’t comfortably go to just any writing festival anywhere, for fear of being subjected to antisemitism. The number of times I’ve personally seen pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist sentiments spring up in formerly safe spaces is uncanny. Yes, right here in Omaha. These days one can’t even go to a poetry reading without first having to check the presenter’s online presence, just in case. It makes me want to hole up in the J and not go anywhere else. Having one festival, even if it is on the other side of the planet, address this as an issue is somewhat gratifying. Never mind the backlash. Somebody somewhere found that antisemitism has no place at a literary festival. That’s something.

And just for the record: anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Full stop.

tion we are praying from — just to smile and hold this incredible community in my heart. I hold great hope that this beautiful sacred space,

This was without a doubt not some intentional choice by the creators of the prayer book, but it felt like an invitation to feel the text of our liturgy calling out specifically to the magic of our space, a congregation in Jackson, Mississippi. A space where we would often pack the library to its capacity, where we would, as the psalm suggests, connect to sacredness via many kinds of musical instruments and modalities of prayer.”

I haven’t lived in Jackson in just over 10 years. But I think about it every time I’m using “Mishkan T’filah” — and I regularly turn to that page of the prayer book even when it’s nowhere near the sec-

Beth Israel’s library, will be back and as beautiful as ever. It hurts very, very deeply that the books we studied from — always multiple translations of the Torah portion so we could argue over which one was best — are no longer. That Torah scrolls I chanted from are destroyed as well. But I have no doubt that this community, which inaugurated my adult life and taught me so much about how to be Jewish and human, will emerge stronger than ever.

Rabbi Lex Rofeberg is the Senior Jewish

cator for Judaism Unbound.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company,

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, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker, Cpt Jessica Wagner. 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: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:10 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Adult

B’nai Mitzvah, 9:30 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman.

TUESDAY: Sefer HaMiddot, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. Zoom Only.

FRIDAY-Jan. 30: Pre-Neg & Tot Shabbat, 5:30 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY-Jan. 31: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Mah Jongg Shabbat, 1 p.m. with Eadie Tsabari; Havdalah, 6:15 p.m. Zoom Only; USY Staycation (Grades 9-12), Jan. 31-Feb.1.

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

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 5:12 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.; Mincha 5 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos 5:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:15 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 5:20 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 5:20 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 5:20 p.m.; Smichat Chaver Men’s Class,

7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY-Jan. 30: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 5:20 p.m.

SATURDAY-Jan. 31: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class 10:45 a.m.; Mincha 5:10 p.m.; Kids Activity/ Laws of Shabbos, 5:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:23 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, 4:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 5:11 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 6:14 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.; 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-Jan. 23: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 4:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 5:11 p.m.

SATURDAY-Jan. 24: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 6:14 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: Shabbat Candlelighting, 5:15 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Bo via Zoom; Havdalah, 6:18 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 ques-

Sisters honor their parents

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS

JFO Foundation Executive Director

During the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation’s 4Q Endowment Incentive, sisters Sherry and Beth Kaiman established an endowment in memory of their parents, named the Jerome and Sylvia Kaiman Memorial Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Endowment. Their connection to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (RBJH) is deeply personal. After a cancer diagnosis and simultaneous femur surgery in 2010, Sylvia came to RBJH for physical therapy and nursing care and returned there periodically over the next four years. In 2023, Jerome (known to family and friends as “Jerry”) entered the Home for care as well, also starting with a need for physical therapy.

What left a lasting impression was the remarkable continuity of care. The same compassionate staff members who supported Sylvia more than a decade earlier were still there caring for Jerry. That consistency, kindness, and unparalleled dedication profoundly impacted both sisters, who wanted to ensure direct appreciation to the staff through the annual RBJH holiday gift card fund. Sherry shared, “Amy, thank you for your thoughtfulness and for working with us. We are grateful for the options presented for our parents’ gift, which

tions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com

WEDNESDAY: Ladies Lunch, 12:30 p.m. at Ollie & Hobbes Craft Kitchen-Lincoln, 2940 Pine Lake Rd STE A, Lincoln. Locations are decided upon at each lunch for the following month. For more information, please email Barbara Barron at oohhmmm.barb@ gmail.com; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m.

FRIDAY-Jan. 30: Shabbat Candlelighting, 5:24 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST.

SATURDAY-Jan. 31: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Beshalach via Zoom; Havdalah, 6:26 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.; Shabbat Mishpacha Service, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom; Grade 7 Lock In, 6 p.m. In-Person.

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; Temple Tots, 10:45 a.m. In-Person.

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

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; Grades 36, 4:30 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew CHAI: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. In-Person.

FRIDAY-Jan. 30: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m.; Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-Dec. 31: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

SUBMIT OBITUARIES TO THE JEWISH PRESS:

Email the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; or online at online at www.omahajewishpress.com /site/forms/

Jerome and Sylvia Kaiman in 1962. Jerome and Sylvia Kaiman in 1998.

will now become an endowment benefiting the RBJH staff—one that would have pleased our parents. In addition, thank you for helping Beth and me take the initial steps toward establishing a future endowment to support Jewish Family Service.”

A heartfelt thank you to over 40 donors who par-

ticipated in this year’s Endowment Incentive Program. Your generosity ensures that meaningful stories—like the Kaiman family’s—continue shaping the future of our community. If you are interested in a legacy gift for a loved one, please visit jfo foundation.org or call 402.334.6466.

ISAAC DAVIDSON

Life Cycles

Isaac Davidson passed away on Jan. 8, 2026, in Omaha, at the age of 69. A graveside service was held on Jan. 11, 2026, at Beth El Cemetery, 84th and L Street, Omaha.

Isaac was a loving husband and a devoted father of two sons and grandfather to two grandsons and a granddaughter. His unwavering commitment to his family was evident in every aspect of his life. He provided strength and support through all seasons, creating a home filled with conviction and care.

Issac was born on August 9, 1956, in Minsk, Belarus. Isaac immigrated to the United States in 1980 with his wife and young son. His journey reflected a life of courage and determination, embracing new beginnings while holding close the values and traditions of his heritage.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.

DAVID GOODMAN

David Goodman passed away on Jan. 2, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV. Services were held at Beth Israel Synagogue on Jan. 7, 2026 in Omaha, NE followed by burial in Council Bluffs, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Eva Goodman; his sister, Arliss Goodman; brother, Jerome (Mickey) Goodman.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Goodman; daughter, Devra (Gordon) Foster; son, Douglas (Lori) Goodman; son, Bob (Sharon) Spitzer; son, David Spitzer and daughter Cathy (Joe) Gluck; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Beth Israel Synagogue in Omaha, Young Israel Aish in Las Vegas, B’nai Israel Synagogue in Council Bluffs, or organization of your choice.

HARRIETT WOLF

Harriett Wolf (née Ohsman), a woman of remarkable strength, intellect, and devotion to family, passed away on Jan. 5, 2026, at the age of 94. The family is planning private funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be planned for a later date. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Joe Ohsman; her sisters, Rozanne, Janet, and Leona; her first hus-

band, Bill Kushner; her second husband, Aaron Wolf; and her daughters, Karen Wolf and Joanne Wolf (aka Jaqueline Andrade).

Her legacy lives on through her children: Daniel, Philip (Nancy), Andrea, and Adam (Kelly); grandchildren: Hannah (Mike), Alex (Bobo), Kevin (Audrey), Amanda (Aaron), Nathan (Wanling), Rachel (Beau), Noah, and Miriam; and great-grandchildren: Talia, Nora, Yonatan, and Noa.

Harriett was born on June 19, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the third of four girls. Harriett’s life was a testament to the power of resilience and the enduring nature of love.

Harriett was a proud Iowan who valued education deeply. She attended Sophie Newcomb College before returning to her roots at the University of Iowa. Her passion for helping others led her to a career as an elementary school teacher, a role she cherished and a testament to her lifelong patience and care.

In 1950, Harriett married Bill Kushner. Their young life together was tragically cut short when Bill died in a U.S. Navy aviation accident in 1953. Left as a young widow with her infant daughter, Karen, Harriett navigated profound grief with a grace that would become her trademark.

In 1958, Harriett found love again with Aaron Wolf. Their marriage was more than a union of two people; it was the beautiful merging of two families. With a mother’s true heart, Harriett adopted Aaron’s children—Joanne, Daniel, and Philip—(and Aaron adopted Karen) treating them as her own from the very start. Together, Harriett and Aaron completed their family with the births of Andrea and Adam.

Harriett believed in the importance of being an active citizen. Throughout her life, she dedicated her time to the League of Women Voters and served on the Northbrook Public Library Board. In her later years at Sedgebrook Independent Living Community, she continued her leadership as a member of the Residents Advisory Committee. Most recently, she lived in Omaha at Heritage at Legacy Assisted Living and Memory Care. Memorials may be made to Beth Israel Synagogue in Omaha or to the organization of your choice.

Fears elevated over Iran

PHILISSA CRAMER

JTA

Several European carriers canceled flights to Tel Aviv on Wednesday January 14 as turmoil over a potential U.S. strike on Iran roiled the skies and elevated fears in Israel.

President Donald Trump had threatened for days to intervene in Iran if the government proceeds with plans to execute protesters who have staged weeks of demonstrations against the autocratic religious regime there.

Thousands of protesters have been killed in the streets, according to both government and opposition sources, and Tehran had planned a first execution of a protester arrested during the demonstrations on Thursday Jan. 15.

That execution was postponed amid sharp pressure from the United States, as signs piled up that Trump may plan to go forward with a military option against Iran. U.S. planes have moved within the region, several countries including the United States have urged nonessential personnel to leave the region and Iran briefly closed its airspace on the night of January. 14.

On Jan. 15, reports emerged that Gulf states had talked Trump out of an imminent attack. But the uncertainty — and the recollection that Trump had appeared to waffle before striking Iran last year — has escalated fears in Israel, which is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s sworn enemy.

Iran and Israel fought a deadly 12-day war last year. This time, Israel and Iran have reportedly exchanged assurances, via Russia, that they would not strike each other first, but Iranian officials have said they could attack Israel alongside U.S. targets if Trump strikes Iran.

Daily life in Israel has not been interrupted, but Israelis are on high alert for a potential rehash of last year, when Iranian missiles sent them running to safe rooms multiple times and killed dozens of people.

So far, Lufthansa canceled some flights, then announced that it would revamp its schedule to prevent its employees from being in Israel overnight, when any Iranian retaliation is seen as more likely.

A flight from New York was delayed on January 14 while its carrier reportedly changed its route, igniting fears that the tensions had moved into a new phase. And some travelers have opted not to press on with their Israel trips, fearing being stuck in the country if conditions deteriorate.

At the same time, Israelis and Jews around the world, including tens of thousands of Persian Jews who fled following the ascendance of the Islamic Republic in 1979, are rooting for the protesters and against the regime. A demonstration in solidar-

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ity with Iranian protestors took place in Israel's central city of Holon on Jan. 14.

The American Jewish Committee issued a statement Late on Jan. 14 in support of the protesters.

“The international community has a moral responsibility to act in solidarity with the Iranian people and to advance a safer region and a more peaceful Middle East,” the organization said.

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The Kripke-Veret Collection News

SHIRLY BANNER

JFO Library Specialist

Young Adult:

Rise of the Spider by Michael P. Spradlin 1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he’s old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf’s father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory. Rolf doesn’t trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf’s friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with

their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further. When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?

Adult:

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar sophomore — one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she’s Jewish, or that her real first name is Miriam. Pretending to be a Gentile has made life easier—as Anne, she no longer suffers the snubs, snide remarks, and daily restrictions Jews face. She enjoys her college life of teas, latenight conversations, and mixers. She turns a blind eye to the casual anti-Semitism that flourishes among her friends and classmates — after all, it's no longer directed at her.

But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish — and seems not to care that she’s an outcast among the other students. Knowing that her growing closeness with Delia would be social suicide if it were discovered, Anne keeps their friendship quiet. Delia seems to understand — until a cruelty on Anne’s part drives them apart and sends them scattering to other corners of the world, alone and together.

The Righteous by Ronald R. Balson

By the end of 1943, nearly all of Europe’s Jewish population had fled, been deported, captured, or killed by Hitler. Only Hungary, and its almost 900,000 Jews, remained free from Hitler’s subjugation. They lived under government edicts and restrictions but without fear of harm.

That changed in March 1944, after the Nazi defeat at Stalingrad, as an avaricious Hitler conquered Hungary and declared his plan for mass

extermination of the Jewish people. With the notorious Adolf Eichmann supervising the process, Nazis began rounding up Hungary’s Jewish population.

In this dramatic new novel, The Righteous, Theresa Weissbach, a professor at the University of Michigan, hasn’t heard from her parents in Budapest for over a year. Her best friend, Julia Powers, recently awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for her OSS service in occupied Holland, joins with her to locate and rescue Theresa’s family. While there, they become involved in a much larger cause, trying to save as many people as they can. Theresa’s father, a leader of the Budapest Jewish community, accompanies them in a desperate effort to rescue their people. Working alongside the newly formed US War Refugee Board, diplomats from neutral nations, and leaders of underground rescue organizations, Julia and Theresa forge relationships with Swiss Vice Consul Carl Lutz and Swedish businessman, Raoul Wallenberg. Their skills and connections in the complex networks of public and secret diplomacy enable Julia, Theresa, and others to take enormous risks in an effort to save thousands of innocent lives.

Authentic, suspenseful, and deeply moving, The Righteous continues Ronald H. Balson’s fictional exploration of World War II and the heroic actions of those who resisted Hitler’s Master Plan.