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MAY 2 3 , 2 02 5 | 2 5 IYA R 578 5 | VO L. 1 05 | NO. 31 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 23, 8: 25 P.M.
Young Leadership Award ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor
Sara Cowan Kinus in Boise Page 5
Saluting the class of 2025 Page 6
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Additions to the Kripke-Veret Collection Page 12
HE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA is proud to honor Sara Cowan as the recipient of the 2024 Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Young Leadership Award. This award is given annually to honor a young woman who has demonstrated personal commitment, dedicated involvement, and exemplary leadership qualities in rendering service to both the Jewish and general community. The Federation, Foundation, Agencies, Jewish organizations, and synagogues are invited to nominate candidates. Recipients are provided with a stipend to participate in the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly or Young Leadership Conference. Nominated by Temple Israel, Sara
is a passionate educator, social justice advocate, and community leader. She serves as the vocal music teacher and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Central High School, where she inspires students with her talent, compassion, and dedication. Her excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including Central High’s Teacher of the Year and the Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence Award. At Temple Israel,” Rabbi Deanna Berezin said, “Sara has taken on a variety of leadership roles. In 2020, she became the co-Chair of our Racial Justice Initiative, helping to create a vision and goals for our community's learning around discrimination, bias, and systemic racism. Soon after, she joined Temple Israel's Board of Trustees as our Social Justice Chair, guiding our congregation in engaging in a wide variety of tikkun olam opportunities, and helping to bring the leaders of our various programs together to be in conversation with one another. In the fall of 2022, when it became clear that Reproductive Rights would be a major issue in the upcoming Nebraska Legislative session, Sara became one of our cochairs for Temple's Reproductive Rights Task Force, leading our community in education and advocacy opportunities around the Jewish See Sarah Cowan page 3
Idan Zaccai
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HE JEWISH FEDERATION OF
OMAHA is proud to announce Idan Zaccai as the recipient of the 2024 Bruce Fellman Memorial Young Leadership Award. This honor is presented annually to a young man who has demonstrated personal commitment, dedicated involvement, and exemplary leadership qualities in rendering service to both the Jewish and general communities. Nominees are submitted by local Jewish organizations, synagogues, and agencies, and recipients receive a stipend to participate in the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly or Young Leadership Conference. Idan arrived in Omaha after escalating violence made it unsafe to remain in Israel. Despite the upheaval, he immediately immersed himself in community life. Married to Esther and father to Omri and Jordan, as well as stepfather to Jonah, Talia, and Elianna, Idan brought with him a deep sense of purpose and connection. His ties to Omaha predate recent events, and upon his return, he quickly stepped into leadership roles. He helped organize a post-October 7th concert for our Partnership region and identified a need for greater youth engagement. In response, he developed a survey for the Jewish Community Relations Council to better connect with Jewish middle and high
school students. He also co-created an online tool for reporting antisemitism, specifically designed for young people. Idan is a passionate advocate for Jewish representation in schools, working to address recurring challenges such as the scheduling of major events — like prom, standardized testing, and final exams — on Jewish holidays. These conflicts often force Jewish students to choose between observing their faith and participating fully in school life. Idan collaborates with school administrators and community leaders to raise awareness and promote more inclusive planning that respects religious observances. He is also deeply involved in the Student to Student program, a powerful initiative that empowers Jewish teens to speak authentically about See Idan Zaccai page 2
KEISER STOMS SCHOLARSHIP
REGULARS8
Spotlight Voices Synagogues
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DIANE WALKER JFO Foundation Fund & Scholarship Administrator The Financial Aid Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce Ryan Kugler has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the David Keiser and Lillian Keiser Stoms Foundation Education Endowment Fund for Academic Excellence Scholarship. The only merit-based scholarship granted by the Financial Aid Committee, this award is given in recognition of ex-
ceptional academic achievement and serving recipients.” a demonstrated commitment to the Ryan will graduate from Westside Omaha Jewish community. Mary Sue High School where he has distinGrossman, chair of the Figuished himself academically by taking on more nancial Aid Committee than a dozen chalshared “In my many lenging AP courses years of working over a wide range with the Federaof subjects. His tion’s scholarship program dedication and first as a properseverance fessional and have awarded him numerous now as a volhonors, includunteer, we continue to see a ing graduating high caliber of Summa Cum academic perLaude, being formance coupled named a National Merit Scholarship Comwith involvement in mended Student Jewish activities Ryan Kugler and achieving of the graduating seniors. Seeing their many accom- AP Scholar of Distinction. Ryan’s plishments provides me with a teachers have described him as being wonderful feeling about the future. driven, engaged, and eager to make Ryan is one more in a long line of de- the most of every opportunity.
Ryan also serves as the President of Westside’s DECA program – the largest DECA chapter in Nebraska. In this role, he oversees the coordination of fundraisers, meetings, social events, and competitions. Ryan counts this involvement as particularly valuable as DECA’s combination of real-world experiences challenged him both academically and socially. In addition to academics, Ryan has also been a resolute member of Westside’s cross country and track team throughout his high school career. He is a two-year team captain and leads by example, earning the respect of his teammates and helping guide the team to a historic victory as they captured their first-ever Boys Metro Championship title this past year. Within the Jewish community, Ryan is a committed leader in BBYO. As Vice President of Recruitment, he was instrumental in increasing See Keiser Stoms page 7