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
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M AY 3 0, 2 025 | 03 S IVA N 578 5 | VO L. 1 05 | NO. 32 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 30, 8: 31 P.M.
HUMANITARIANS of the Year ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor he Jewish Fe d e ration of Omaha is delighted to announce Zoë, Carl, Margo and Steve Riekes as 2024 Humanitarians of the Year. Zoë, Carl, Margo and Steve Riekes have filled numerous roles in our community for many, many years. “Zoë, Margo, Carl and Steve embody what it means to be truly involved in community building,” JFO CEO Bob Goldberg said. “They not only show up as dedicated lay leaders in various roles, they show up to participate in the programming, much of which they helped build from the ground up. Zoë, Carl, Margo and Steve Riekes They are part of the very fabric of Jewish Omaha, and we are so grate- educational programming. “Around 1969, 70, there were zero educational programs for ful for their passion, love and dedication.” Since the early 1970s, Steve has been pas- adults,” he said. “No lectures, classes, prosionate about Jewish education, both for grams with any educational slant whatsohimself and in matters dealing with the Jew- ever. I felt we needed community-wide adult ish community. His dedication to Judaism is education. I used my position as President legendary as demonstrated by his decades of Cornhusker Lodge of B’nai B’rith to of commitment and generosity, especially to See Humanitarians of the Year page 3
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Remembering Bechor Pages 4 and 6
National Skilled Nursing Care Week at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Page 5
Heartbreak and healing on the shores of the Sea of Galilee Page 7
Shalom from Memphis, part I
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
8 9 10 11
SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
RABBI DEANA BEREZIN Ed. note: In April, a group from Temple Israel traveled to Tenessee, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for a Civil Rights trip. Below is Rabbi Berezin’s travel journal. Wednesday, April 23. I’m so delighted to have the opportunity to share a bit about what our group is learning and experiencing on our Civil Rights Trip these next few days! We have an incredible group of folks traveling together from Temple Israel, joining together with a group
from Congregation Shalom from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As many of you know, I took our Temple teens on this trip last year, and we had all had profoundly moving experiences as we learned about the history of our country. So I was thrilled when our adult learners were interested in taking this trip. We once again partnered
with our friends from Milwaukee, and with our tour company, Tzedek America, based in Los Angeles. Today, we started with some tone setting and foundational learning here in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, is the home to the See Shalom from Memphis page 2
Nick Newman STEVE RIEKES In the spring of 1969, a major “revolution” occurred in Omaha’s Jewish Community. A representative, democratic form of governance was restored to the Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO) - the legal and political structure by which Jewish communal interests are met.
Nick Newman
Regardless of the original democratic intent of the founders, the JFO had collapsed into an “oligarchy.” A majority of its board consisted of older and economically successful men. Although from time to time, a woman, a rabbi, or an institutional leader would also be chosen by the board to serve as a board member, they always were a distinct minority. While well intentioned, essentially, Jewish Omaha’s leadership was an “old boys” network. They voted for themselves and controlled the community. In 1969 this self-perpetuating leadership was completely shaken up by Calvin “Nick” Newman. Although he was only in his 40s, he was also a very successful business man and came from a prominent family. Nick discovered the original legal documents that enabled the JFO to be a non-profit corporation recognized by the State of Nebraska and entitled to the benefits that the state law provides. These documents provided that all of Omaha’s Jews were entitled to have a voice in the determination as to the persons who would serve on the JFO’s board of directors. Nick demanded that a meeting be called of the entire Jewish community, and the community responded. On the evening of April 30, 1969, a huge crowd filled the auditorium, lobbies, and hallways of the Jewish Community Center (JCC). There were many young people in attendance. They were full of enthusiasm. They wanted a change in the way things were run. They wanted their voices to be heard. Despite his relative youth, Nick could not be easily brushed aside. Nick had discovered the truth, and the truth prevailed. See Nick Newman page 3