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The Joy of Israel ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor t was 12 years ago when Israeli tour guide Shachar Gal met Bob Goldberg, who at the time had just started as CEO at the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth. They have been good friends ever since. The relationship between guide and tourist can be a special one; it is often much more than a temporary meeting in a far-away place. It’s especially true when that tour guide is Israeli, and when that tourist comes back to Israel again and again- as is often the case with Jewish community groups. In late February, Shachar visited a number of Jewish-American communities for a marketing trip. “Tourism has changed since October 7 and is hurting,” he said. “For many communities it’s challenging to schedule trips, because we don’t know what the future holds. However, the relationships I’ve built as a guide over the years have real staying power. In addition to Omaha, I aim to visit friends in Iowa, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orange County, Minneapolis, New York, and Boca.” While he planned to make all those visits in two weeks, life - again - interfered; the war with Iran began, the Omaha trip was delayed to October 2026, and Shachar See Joy of Israel page 2

Our Story: Immigration Page 4

Joan Micklin Silver Page 8

A note from Jerusalem

Recent additions to the Kripke-Veret Collection Page 12

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles

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NANCY COREN Six days ago, in Yerushalyim, we woke up to a message on our phones that Israel would be entering an ac-

tive period of war with Iran. It was a warning designed to make us aware that instructions from the Home Front Command could be changing at any moment. And change they did. Until this morning, we were under strict regulations to stay close to our safe rooms or near public shelters. Schools and synagogues were closed. Hospitals went into emergency mode by going underground. Only essential workers were to report to work. Since that time, sirens have alerted us when a missile or barrage of missiles has See note from Jerusalem page 3

Dolls For Democracy Collection at RBJH MAGGIE CONTI RBJH Director of Activities and Volunteer Services Years ago, when I worked with The Young Energetic Senior group (the YES Club), many seniors participated in a beautiful educational program called Dolls for Democracy. The program left a lasting impression on me. It celebrated remarkable humanitarians whose lives embodied democracy, diversity, and tolerance. Each doll was delicately handcrafted, filled with detail and care, and unforgettable to all who encountered them. Shane Kotok reached out to me, as we worked together at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home for years. She shared that she had a collection of Dolls for Democracy stored away and wanted them to find a meaningful home. She remembered how much I was inspired by them. It felt bashert, meant to be. At that very time, a perfect display case became available on Main Street at RBJH, waiting to showcase something

special. I felt the dolls were screaming to be seen again. I connected with the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, and Executive Director Jane Rips immediately embraced the vision and helped with the signage. Soon after, Linda Novak reached out with questions about the many dolls that were once part of our local B’nai B’rith Women’s chapter. Like us, she wondered what had become of them. We are now turning to our community for help in locating these treasured figures. Linda hopes to restart the Dolls for Democracy program so that a new generation can once again be inspired by the lives they represent. In the 1950s, the B’nai B'rith Women’s organization in Kansas City, Missouri, created a program they called Dolls for Democracy. The idea was to create a series of dolls representing noted humanitarians to educate children about democracy, diversity, and tolerance. The Kansas City B'nai B’rith See Dolls for Democracy page 3