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MAY 8, 2026 | 2 1 IYA R 578 6 | VO L. 1 06 | NO. 2 9 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 8, 8:10 P.M.
Community Service Award
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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor n April of 2025, UNL Hillel and the Jewish Community Relations Council hosted the event “Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate” on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln. The purpose: to spread awareness of antisemitism and other forms of hate in an engaging way. The JCRC will receive the Jewish Federation of Omaha Community Service Award during our Annual Meeting, which will be held Thursday June 4. Free bagels with cream cheese were given away, along with information about UNL Hillel and JCRC, including ways to report incidents. Over the course of the event, more than 250 students and faculty interacted with the Hillel students and JCRC to learn about each organization’s mission and to sign a digital pledge to fight antisemitism and other forms of bias on campus. The flyers distributed said: “As UNL students, we have the power to lead by example. Let’s challenge harmful narratives and amplify voices that need to be heard. Every small act of kindness, every open conversation, every stand against hate counts. We are stronger when we unite, celebrate diversity, and reject all forms of hate. Together, we can build a college community where everyone belongs.” “This program is an expression of Jewish values in action,” Sharon Brodkey, JCRC executive director, said. “It embodies the Jewish principles of tikkun olam and kehillah, translating deeply held religious and cultural commitments into concrete campus engagement.” “The bagels and cream cheese are a nod to a food that is iconic in Jewish life and broadly recognized as part of Jewish cultural heritage,” JCRC Assistant Director Pam Monsky added. “For Jewish students, seeing their culture
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celebrated in a public space is itself meaningful. For non-Jewish students, it offered a warm, low-stakes introduction to Jewish community.” In partnering with JCRC, the program connected UNL's Jewish students to a wider network of community support, advocacy, and resources reinforcing the bonds between campus Jewish life and the broader Jewish community in Nebraska. "Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate" is a program that is greater than the sum of its parts. It was creative in design, successful in execution, distinctive in approach, and deeply rooted in Jewish values and community purpose. UNL Hillel and JCRC have demonstrated that meaningful change on campus begins with showing up, meeting people where they are, and inviting them into a shared commitment to a more just and inclusive community. The engagement did not stop at awareness. Every participant was invited to sign a digital pledge to actively combat antisemitism and bias-converting passive awareness into personal commitment. This pledge-based model reflects best practices in behavior change research, which shows that public commitments significantly increase follow-through on stated intentions. The program also succeeded in its secondary goal of introducing both UNL Hillel and JCRC to members of the campus community, who may have been unfamiliar with either organization, building a broader base of allies and potential future participants.The event was sponsored by the Lazier L. and Harriet B. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth, and was so successful, it was back for a repeat performance in April of 2026. “Spread Cream Cheese” stands out as a genuinely inventive approach to a serious subject,” Pam Monsky said. “By using food, specifically bagels and See Community Service Award page 3
2026 Sokolof merit scholarships DIANE WALKER JFO Foundation Scholarship & Grants Manager The community is invited to join us on Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the Staenberg Omaha JCC to honor some of our best and brightest young adults – the 2026 Sokolof award winners! In 2004, the late Phil Sokolof left a generous bequest that established two lasting legacies: the Phil & Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund and the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Appreciation Fund. Through these endowments, we proudly present the Phil & Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Merit Scholarships, the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund Scholarships, and the Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher of the Year award, all of which recognize outstanding students and educators. These honors celebrate individuals who exemplify excellence in achievement, academic performance, community involvement, and personal character. Each year, we are inspired by the extraordinary caliber of applicants and this year we continue this tradition of distinction. It is with great pleasure that the Sokolof Committee announces the 2026 Sokolof Scholarship Awards. Graduating high school seniors for their college freshman year, the recipients are Joshua Shapiro and Ruby Stoller; for health care recipients, Julia Patterson and Benjamin Wilczewski. Benjamin Brodkey and Jonah Payne are the recipients of the music award. Eileen Clignett is this year’s Outstanding Jewish Teacher. In addition, the Sokolof Awards Committee made the decision to provide an additional Award of Special Merit this year to Hazzan Michael Krausman. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 award. JOSHUA SHAPIRO
Joshua Shapiro will graduate from Central High School in May 2026, ranked second in a class of 547, summa cum laude. He will be attending Yale University - drawn See Sokolof page 2