Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Kotok receives prestigious professional award
April 5, 2013 25 Nisan 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 29
This Week
Celebrate Israel with Yom Ha’atzmaut concert Page 5
Blumkin Home Dog Show coming Page 6
by OZZIE NOGG At its recent annual conference in Los Angeles, the Association of Jewish Aging Services handed the 2013 Professional of the Year Award to the best possible candidate -- Shane Kotok, Director of Admissions and Community Outreach at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The honor recognizes ‘an outstanding AJAS professional who reflects the highest standards of professional knowledge and expertise, has shown exceptional leadership and is highly respected by the staff, residents and families served.’ That’s our Shane, all right. But there’s far more to Ms. Kotok than the words on the award, and her colleagues who nominated Shane for the honor speak of her in much more personal ways. Mike Silverman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, said, “I think all previous winners of the AJAS Professional of the Year Award have done wonderful things. They’ve created programs or policies or events, and have made a difference because of one achievement that set
them apart. Shane is different. She does everything. She’s the heart and soul of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and -- in addition to her official title -- she acts as an administrator, social worker, geriatric counselor, companion, confidant and, most importantly, family member. Shane is widely viewed as the ‘person at the Home’ to contact if a senior member of the Omaha Jewish community needs help. She responds at all hours -- day, night, weekends -but never complains. Shane gets it done. That’s it – plain and simple. If I were choosing staff for a new nursing
Shane Kotok home and wanted to make sure it was successful, Shane would be my first call. She has a Jewish heart and a Jew-
ish soul. She does her job with passion and compassion, and though our industry is complicated and constantly shifting, she remains focused on our mission – to make sure our seniors remain independent, safe, socially active and connected to the programs and services they need. This, above all else, is what Shane is about.” When speaking of Shane, Joanie Bernstein, a Past President of Jewish Social Services and recipient of the AJAS 2007 Trustee of the Year Award, said, “She leads with her heart and approaches each day with compassion and a listening ear that defines her as a person. Shane always says, ‘I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back.’ So that’s what she gives residents and their families. When we were renovating the RBJH, Shane designed her office to feel like a home -- two comfy chairs, a small table with flowers, and furniture reminiscent of one’s own Continued on page 2
Jump into the 2013 JCC Super Beth El’s Youth Scholarship Summer Camp Experience Concert a Triple Treat: by COREY KIRSHENBAUM Director of Youth, Camp and Family Programs at the JCC Summer is just around the corner and the JCC has a wide variety of
gram to keep your young ones busy this summer. We have several new programs we want to highlight. First, the JCC will be offering an Adaptive Day Camp
Rabbi Friedman to speak at Temple Israel Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
Next Month Mother’s Day See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
8 10 11 Waiting for the pool at the 2011 JCC Summer Camp. super Summer Camp programs designed to inspire your children to learn, explore, create and succeed. Whether you are looking for one week or 9 weeks, whether you have a 2 year old or an 8th grader, the JCC Summer Camp has a top quality pro-
for children with special needs. This program is designed for children who are on the high end of the Autism Spectrum and need an extra hand during the day. The Adaptive Day Camp will allow these children to participate in the general camp with their appropriate age group while under the supervision of the camp’s Special Needs Director. Since this program is new, we have only 4 spots available. So, call or email if you have any questions, otherwise, register your kids today for this special camping opportunity. This year, JCC Summer Camp is expanding to include 7th graders! That’s right. Over the past year, we Continued on page 2
A Comedian, a Choir and a Cantor! by JILL BELMONT ues in North America. He has been Beth El Publicity Coordinator featured on NPR’s The World, and The entire community is invited has served as the warm-up act for to Beth El on Sunday, April 28 for The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart and an entertaining Lewis Black. night of music C h a s n o f f ’s and laughs durcomedy is based ing A Comeon real Jewish dian, a Choir experiences, and a Cantor! such as his stint the synagogue’s on his dayannual Youth school basketScholarship ball team and Concert. The 7 his tour-of-duty p.m. event will in a combat unit star celebrated of the IDF. Aucomedian Joel diences across Chasnoff, Beth the spectrum of El’s cantor, HazJewish knowlzan Michael edge and obserKrausman, and vance find his a talented Beth humor intelliEl choir, whose gent, insightful Joel Chasnoff members inand – most imclude Lisa Lieb, Howard Marcus, portantly – hilarious. When he’s not Lisa Senal, Dacia Jabenis, Aliyah on tour, Chasnoff teaches stand-up Jabenis, Arnold (Tuffy) Epstein, comedy and humor writing at the Lou Wolfson, Marty Shukert, 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. Diane Baum, and accompanist In addition to performing, the Anna Mosenkis. Lori Kooper- Chicago native is also the author of Schwarz and Wayne Schwarz are The 188th Crybaby Brigade, a serioserving as the event’s chairmen. comic memoir about his year as a Chasnoff, 39, is a stand-up come- combat soldier in the Israeli Army. dian and writer who has performed A portion of the proceeds from his unique brand of smart, uplifting Chasnoff ’s performances and this Jewish humor around the world, book are donated to his foundation, including TV spots in the U.S. and Project Elijah, which distributes Israel, and at more than 1,000 ven- Continued on page 3