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The Seventh Day Mezuzot of Nebraska Page 2

SIMA DENENBERG The Untested Cookbook Page 5

he sun is setting. I look up at the sky and notice that I can see three stars, indicating that a new day has dawned and Shabbat has begun. Standing outside the doorway, I can smell the aroma of the challah my mother freshly baked. Challah is the special holiday bread that we believe dates back to Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. I hear so many familiar voices, weaving together like a prayer. I always look forward to Friday nights because I know no matter what, I will have a meaningful, fun night with my friends and family. It's not just my friends and family, but my community. The Jewish people keep their own calendar, and this year

is 5785. On our calendar, the date changes not at midnight, but at sundown. The concept is that man made time, but God made sunset to mark a new day. That's why our first festive meal of Shabbat is on Friday night, because for us, it is Saturday. Observance starts at sundown on Friday night and ends at nightfall on Saturday. Sundown is when three stars are visible in the sky. Shabbat originates in the biblical story of creation. God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh, setting it apart as the day of rest and reflection. Observing the Sabbath is one of the most important and widely observed See The Seventh Day page 3

Stronger Together: The 2026 Annual Campaign Pages 6 & 7

Being A Good Ancestor: Reflections and Invite

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles

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AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS JFO Foundation Executive Director On Sunday, Sept. 7, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation and the Foundation launched the “Being a

Good Ancestor” series in the Alan J. Levine Theater with Rabbi Steve Leder from Wilshire Boulevard Synagogue with more than 100 attending. Following his talk, guests gathered for a reception where the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One attendee reflected that the only thing missing was more young people hearing such a powerful and timely message. If we produced a bumper sticker, summarizing the event, Rabbi’s message to us is: YOU MATTER. Here are a few more key takeaways: See Reflections page 2

Beit Midrash begins in November HEIDI HEILBRUNN NEEDLEMAN JFO Assistant Director of Education and Engagement The Jewish Federation of Omaha’s monthly Beit Midrash returns this fall, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19, and continuing every third Wednesday through spring of 2026 from noon–1 p.m. at the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus. The program brings together community with clergy from Beth Israel Synagogue, Beth El Synagogue, Chabad of Nebraska and Temple Israel for open educational discussions over a light nosh. With topics chosen by each presenting clergy, the thoughtprovoking series encourages crossdenominational dialogue and promotes deeper understanding through meaningful study Last year the series, which drew

40-60 participants per session, offered a wide range of engaging discussions. Each member of clergy explored topics such as the art of respectful disagreement, showing how Jewish tradition fosters vigorous debate with civility, the richness of Jewish rituals and how they continue to shape diverse modern practice; and the relationship between Christian Evangelicals and Israel, viewed through historical and theological lenses. Participants also reflected on the Torah’s modern relevance, discovered the enduring See Beit Midrash page 2