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GROUNDBREAKING Community mourns Page 4

Introducing the June Gift Smart Donor-Advised Drive Page 6

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor he Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home cordially invite the community to join us for a groundbreaking ceremony, June 22 at 10:30 a.m. to the east of the RBJH. We will have signage on campus directing visitors on where to go. This will mark the beginning of the third phase, which means the expansion of approximately 30,000 square feet and the addition of over 30 rooms. This comes on the heels of phase one and two, which have officially been completed.

The first phase included a renovation of the existing RBJH footprint. During this phase, all common spaces, resident rooms, and support spaces were updated to modernize the facility. When selecting finishes for this phase, the current residents were consulted and an architectural firm specializing in skilled nursing facilities was hired to ensure that the space would be a pleasant and comfortable home for those in our care. In addition to updating finishes, this phase included a relocation of our nurse’s stations to ensure that staff are stationed closer to our residents and better able to assist them as needed. See Groundbreaking page 2

Egypt (1978) and (1984) Page 12

How to create a thriving Join us for Heartland Jewish presence on campus Pride 2025!

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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MICHAEL O’CONNOR In Jewish culture, kosher meals are more than just “nice to have” — they are crucial to religious observance, tradition, and community. Friday evening Shabbat dinners are the start of the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest outlined in the Torah — and the most important ritual observance in Judaism. You probably know this, Jewish students seek this, and we want to share these traditions with the larger community. Being a resource for events and holidays that involve meals makes the Kosher Kitchen key for Jewish students to maintain dietary practices

and cultural connections while pursuing their degree. The recently established Jewish Life Fund will enable the hiring of a staff member to supervise the kitchen and create programming for the university’s chapter of Hillel International. The Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies will also be able to offer more events (e.g. activities, speakers). Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the center See UNL Hillel page 3

MORGAN GRONINGER JCRC Program and Communications Manager JCRC Omaha proudly invites you to stand with us in celebration and solidarity at Heartland Pride 2025 on July 12, 2025. With our partners from Temple Israel, Beth El Synagogue, B’nai Israel Living History Synagogue, The Jewish Press, and the hardworking people who keep the JFO and JCC Campus humming every day, we honor our shared journey toward equality, visibility, and

community for all LGBTQIA+ individuals — in Omaha and beyond. This year’s Pride promises to be a joyful, meaningful, and inclusive experience for everyone. Whether you want to march with us in the Pride Parade, cheer from the watch party, or participate in our special Rise & Pride Shabbat service and breakfast, there’s a place for you. We welcome members of our community to share in this vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and human dignity. See Heartland Pride page 2