June 5, 2026 by Jewish Press

A N AG E N C Y O F T H E J E W I S H F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A H A

The Jewish Press WWW.O M A H A J E W I S H P R E SS .CO M

INSIDE

WWW. J E W I S H O M A H A .O R G

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

Celebrating Jewish Heritage HEIDI HEILBRUNN JCRC Communications and Program Manager Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Jewish achievements and contributions, foster pride within the Jewish community, and create opportunities for the public to learn about Jewish history and culture. Those achievements were highlighted Tuesday, May 19, when Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. spoke at a reception recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. The event was hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council Omaha ( JCRC), the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, and the Jewish Federation of Omaha. More than 60 people attended, including senators, community leaders, and other dignitaries. The JCRC said sharing these stories helps build understanding and strengthen the broader community; a message Mayor Ewing echoed during his remarks. “We are one Omaha,” said Mayor See Jewish Heritage page 2

Rediscovering Federation Presidents: Robert H. Kooper (1958-1960) Page 3

Jewish Psychics and Wonder Rabbis Page 7

100+ International Chevra Kadisha Leaders Unite Page 12

Inclusive Sports at the J

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles

6 9 10 11

SCOTT SHINBARA Director of Theater, Special Events & Rentals If you have ever attended a Circle Theatre Performance at the J (most recently Disney’s The Descendants) you have seen the amazing power of community partnerships coming together to create inclusive, adaptive opportunities for our community. The Staenberg Omaha JCC is excited to announce what is simply called an “Inclusive Sports Afternoon” with new community partners The Violet Hour Foundation and Play it Forward. The event on June 14 will have various stations for participants age 8-19 to try out different sports like volleyball, basketball, soccer, and an obstacle course. The event is free, but space is limited! We know this is just the beginning of this programming, and hope you can see the size and scope of what we grow! Attendance is free, but registration is required. To register, visit jccomaha.org. The Violet Foundation w a s started by Anna and Violet ( for whom it is named) Palubecki

in 2025 to support teens and adults with autism. The best description comes from the organization itself: The Violet Hour is the time of day when the sky turns into blues and purples marking transition from day to evening. It is a fleeting time of beauty seen in transition. In some cultures, it is seen as sacred and time for reflection and creativity. As high needs autistic children get older, their services, opportunities, and resources change or become not appropriate. So, with reflection and a whole lot of creativity we are looking to change that with my daughter, Violet, as our inspiration. Play it Forward is a non-profit organization started in 2022 by Peter Walls, Kyle Jurgens, and Will Pope as a way for kids to come and try out different sports in a fun non-competitive environment. Part of its structure is to give high school athletes a chance to assume leadership roles and build better community. After hosting several successful events, they

observed there were kids who were overwhelmed by the loud and sometimes chaotic nature of youth sports. They set out to include new programming where children with different needs can be full participants to great success. They also incorporate something they call

“be kind time,” where high school coaches take time away from the physicality of sports to talk about what it means to support one another and be kind to each other and themselves. For more information on any of the community partners discussed above check out: The Circle Theater – circletheateromaha.org The Violet Hour Foundation – violethourfoundation. org Play it Forward - playitforwardne.org