Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Friedel Speech Contest
March 28, 2014 26 Adar II 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 28
This Week
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN for Friedel Jewish Academy In 1948, Modern Woodmen of America, the nation’s third largest (based on assets) fraternal benefit society, developed a speech contest to offer young students an opportunity to develop skills in clear thinking and public speaking. Today, according to the organization’s website, the contest “is an important event in schools across the nation.” And since 1989, Friedel Jewish Academy has been participating in the speech contest. There are plaques on the wall in the school’s fifth/sixth grade classroom to signify the school’s involvement in the contest for the past 26 years. “It was my first year here,” said Denise Bennett, Friedel’s fifth and sixth grade general studies teacher, “and I jumped at the chance to participate. I think public speaking is an important talent to develop plus most of these students go on to have Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. This is great practice for those events.” Fourteen Friedel students including fifth graders Daniel Denenberg, Becca Denenberg, David Kay, Abby Kohll, Rachel Kricsfeld, Leora McNamara, Matan Shapiro, Gavin Smith, Almog Zinman, and sixth
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Among the speech contestants at Friedel Jewish Academy were Sara Aoki, left, Daniel Denenberg, and Rachel Kricsfeld with trophies and certificates awarded to them by the contest’s sponsor, Modern Woodmen of America. graders Rachel Aoki, Sarah Aoki, Zoe Berman, Destiny Howard, and Doron Margalit delivered their speeches on March 13 in a crowded school commons area filled with the student body, speakers’ parents, grandparents and other relatives, neighbors, and rabbis of the speakers. “An audience of 50 or so is plenty intimidating,” acknowledged Bennett who doesn’t want an audience’s size to be “too scary” for her speakers. This year’s speech contest theme, chosen by Modern Woodmen for fifth
through eighth graders, was “The importance of healthy living.” Topics in the past have “usually had some kind of historical or civic slant to them,” such as ‘My state,’ ‘A person who has overcome,’ ‘An important American landmark,’ and ‘An American invention,’” Bennett said. Speech length is three to five minutes, and students are not allowed to wear costumes, special clothes, or use visuals or props. Bennett requires her students to write and rehearse a speech, although she doesn’t force them to compete in
the contest. “The students do the writing themselves though they are free to get advice from classmates, parents, and me,” she explained. “We work together on revisions and making the speeches clear and smooth. Once the speeches are written, we do a lot of practice in front of each other here at school.” She announces the topic in the fall and advises her students to consider the possibilities. In January, she encourages the youngsters to begin writing. By February, “We officially begin, and they receive planning pages to help them organize. I give talks about how to effectively begin and end speeches and how to transition during a speech.” After working on the speeches for several weeks, the students focus on presenting the culmination of their work. Many of the students read their speeches or at least refer to them as they speak. Those who progress to district and state levels, however, must memorize their presentations. “Participants learn skills that will help with school projects, job interviews, and even careers,” according to Modern Woodmen. Students also gain new public speaking skills, finetune existing English skills, and enhance self-esteem. Continued on page 3
Smile for the camera Caring: Teresa Drelicharz Community Purim gallery Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memorium
Next Month The Passover Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
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by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator The word of the day will be ‘cheese!’ at Beth El on Sunday, April 6, as the synagogue holds its first ever Family Portrait Day. Families, couples and singles in the Jewish community are invited to participate in this special event, which kicks off fundraising efforts to build a new playground at the synagogue. Sponsored by Beth El’s Young Adult Committee, Family Portrait Day is being coordinated by chairmen Liz Beth El’s April 6 Family Portrait Day will raise Feldstern, Holly Weill, and funds for a proposed playground outside of the Caryn Scheer. synagogue. The event will be led by co-chairmen Preliminary plans for the Liz Feldstern, left, and Holly Weill, seen here at new play area, geared for the site of the anticipated play area. (Not picchildren from ages two to co-chairman Caryn Scheer.) tured: 12, call for it to be built on the north side of the synagogue, just and more. The entire area would be outside of the nursery. It is proposed fenced and shielded from the street. “The Family Portrait Day event that the equipment be composed of various heights and levels of activity; was chosen because we wanted to it would feature climbing appara- provide a service that families would tuses, slides, sensory panels, benches, find meaningful and practical,” Feldstern said. “Getting the whole family together for a professional photo session can be expensive and shleppy. The Family Portrait Day gives families the service at a reduced cost -thanks to our generous volunteer photographers-- and in a familiar and convenient setting.” She added that, “Family Portrait Day is for everyone: parents with children, extended families, couples. Continued on page 2
by OZZIE NOGG The Passover Seder features four sons, four glasses of wine, four questions. In this, and upcoming editions of the Jewish Press, we will ask our questions through the eyes of four Jewish Family Service professionals. And just as with the Haggadah, in the telling we will learn. This week, we focus on Teresa Drelicharz - and acts of caring. T e r e s a Drelicharz, MS, NCC, LIMHP, RPT., received her Master of Science degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and Registered Play Therapist. Teresa has been a staff member of JFS for almost thirteen years and was eager to tell the Jewish Family Service story from her perspective. Teresa, we know you work with the youngest children who come to the agency. What drew you to this demographic? My own playfulness. During my career development as a therapist,
Teresa Drelicharz I’ve learned that the earlier you can intervene in a child’s life, the more you can change and positively influence a healthy outcome. Children go through “critical periods” in their development and -- if you had no chance to work on prevention ahead of time -- the goal is to intervene during one of those critical periods and modify any disturbed behavior. Your credentials say you’re trained in Play Therapy. What does that mean? Continued on page 2