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SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

Life & Legacy: Secure the future of Jewish Omaha Page 5

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The 2026 Annual Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign Kickoff event will be held Sunday Oct. 5, and we’re thrilled to welcome Academy Award-winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin as our keynote speaker, along with a special musical performance by Hashayara, a vibrant ensemble of Israeli musicians from the Galilee. The 2026 Campaign Cabinet Chairs are Sheri and Mike Abrahamson, Marissa and Brad Abrahamson, Jaime and Mike Mason, and Erin and Jacob Bearman. The Abrahamson family takes the lead, as additional lay leaders have taken on roles in the Campaign Cabinet. They are: Alex Epstein-Major Donors (men); Suzy Sheldon-Major Donors (women); Donald Gerber -Chazak/Chaverim); Pam Monsky

Geraldine Brooks Page 7

(Pomegranate); Corey and Carrie Epstein (Ben Gurion Society); Ally Freeman (Pearl Society); Candice and Dusty Friedman (Ambassador’s Circle); Bonnie Levinger, Jennifer Glazer and Eadie Tsabari (Campaign Kickoff); Erica Lucoff (Super Sunday); Jaime Mason (Hanukkah Extravaganza). Keynote speaker Marlee Matlin Matlin is known for her acting, and for her activism on behalf of deaf individuals in Hollywood and other industries. She has received both an Academy Award (the youngest to ever win ‘best actress’) and a Golden Globe, and has also been nominated for a British Academy Film Award and four Primetime Emmy Awards. And if you find yourself in Hollywood, you can find her star on the Walk of Fame, which she received in 2009. Her first role was that of Sarah Norman in the romantic See Campaign 2026 page 2

The Kris Lager Band: Meet Dan Stein Page 12

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Spotlight Voices Synagogues

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Honoring excellence and heart

The world of Estée Lauder

MAGGIE CONTI RBJH Director of Activities and Volunteer Services RBJH was proudly represented at this year’s Nebraska Health Care Association Awards Ceremony in Kearney, Nebraska. The event celebrated dedication, compassion, and extraordinary achievements in long-term care, and two members of the RBJH family stood out in remarkable ways. Lisa Nasim, RN, was honored with the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing Scholarship, recognizing her commitment to education and her outstanding service in long-term care. This prestigious award earned Lisa a

SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist On Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for their monthly meeting. This month the meeting is only in person in the Benjamin and Anna Wiesman Reception Room in the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center. They will be discussing Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renée Rosen based on the life of Estée Lauder. The woman, the myth, the legend is the “essence” of Renée Rosen’s

trip to Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to meet with Nebraska’s congressional delegates, a testament to her leadership and impact in the field. The most moving moment of the ceremony came when Resident George McHendry was named Nebraska Nursing Facility Association’s Resident of the Year. George, beloved for his dry wit and charming personality, brought the house to its feet with a standing ovation. Famous at RBJH for his running joke about needing a Starbucks, George was treated to his favorite coffee first thing on the way to the ceremony, a fitting start to his big day. George’s motto, “If you don’t ask, you don’t receive,” reflects the optimism that led him to fulfill a lifelong dream this spring: traveling to Kansas City to see his cherished Colorado Rockies play one more time. This unforgettable trip was made possible by the Dreamweaver Foundation and the dedicated RBJH staff who See Honoring Excellence page 3

novel based on cosmetics authority Estée Lauder. The book follows the lives of Estée and fictional character Gloria “Downing” Dowaziac. Rosen begins her historical fiction novel with author Lee Israel contacting Gloria Downing about the exposé she is writing on Estée Lauder. She hopes Gloria will provide her with some dirt on Estée she can use. This gives Gloria and the reader a chance to reminisce about Gloria and Estée’s c omplicat ed rel ationship and friendship together. Gloria’s family is well-to-do See Kaplan Book page 2