Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Sokolof Merit Scholarships
April 17, 2015 28 Nisan 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 31
This Week
Chamber Series Concert at Temple Israel Page 2
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Celebrating 50 years of Jewish Day School in Omaha Page 5
by SUZANNE SINGER has been working at Sokolof Scholarship Chair Cahoy’s Gymnastics, 2015 marks the 10th coaching classes ranging year that the Phil and from men’s gymnastics to Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll tumbling for 3-5 yearMerit Scholarships are olds. He has also taught being awarded. Phil at Premier Gymnastics. Sokolof, Omaha busiDuring all four years of nessman and philanthrohigh school, Sam has pist who died in 2004, been involved in BBYO, chose to honor two stuserving as Vice President Sam Lieb Elissa Wiener Amanda Bucher Amy Levinger dents for their freshman and then President of year in college and two students in Chaim Weizmann. Currently he is the health care field. In addition, to Council Vice President. He is also a honor his daughter Karen Sokolof member of USY and participates in Javitch, he created the Karen Sokolof Beth El’s Merit Scholarship program, Javitch Music Fund for students purwhich requires youth group particisuing a degree in music performance, pation, religious service attendance, composition or music education. He Hebrew High attendance, involvespecified that these $10,000 scholarment in yearly special projects and ships be based not on financial need, Jewish oriented community service but on the criteria most important to hours. Through his four years of high Arthur Masyuk Adeev Potash Ezra Potash him -- personal achievement, school, he has tutored Bar/Bat MitzOmaha World-Herald All Academic vah age children at Beth El on Saturscholastic performance, community community is invited to attend. Sam Lieb Team Nominee. He was a member of day mornings and helped students service and overall good character. Sam, a student at Burke High the Burke Science Club and com- learn prayers as well as organized Scholarship winners for their Freshman Year of College are Samuel Lieb School, has taken a heavy load of AP peted in the Quiz Bowl and Science Youth Services. and Elissa Wiener; in Health Care are and honors classes that have included Olympiad. As a senior, he is a Burke In his recommendations, Sam was Amanda Bucher and Amy Levinger; a full range of offerings from the Sci- Ambassador, a school group that praised for excelling in both academin Music are Arthur Masyuk and Ezra ence, Math, Foreign Language, His- welcomes new students, volunteers at ics and in the extra- curricular arena. and Adeev Potash, who are sharing tory, Economics and English school events, and contributes to a One of his teachers mentioned his inone scholarship. They will be honored departments. He is a Burke AP positive atmosphere at the school. terpersonal skills and leadership, sayAs a sophomore and junior he was ing, “Sam has taken the time to at a Community Reception on Tues- Scholar, a member of the National day, May 12 at 7 p.m. in the Rose Honor Society as well as the Spanish on the Burke Varsity pole vaulting ‘include and welcome’ a student who Blumkin Home Auditorium. The National Honor Society, and an team. Throughout high school, he Continued on page 3
Israeli ConsulGeneral’s visit Discover Israel by bike Page 7
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
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UNO’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. B.J. Reed, left; Consul-General of Israel to the Midwest, the Honorable Roey Gilad; UNO Chancellor, Dr. John Christensen; Schwalb Center Director, Dr. Moshe Gershovich; Director of Academic Affairs, Israeli Consulate to the Midwest, Ms. Stacy Rudd. by DR. MOSHE GERSHOVICH Director, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies On March 18, one day after the Israeli elections, the Consul-General of Israel to the Midwest, Roey Gilad, visited Omaha and participated in a series of events both in the Jewish community of Omaha and at UNO.
The Schwalb center for Israel and Jewish Studies hosted the Consul General, who was accompanied by the Consulate’s Director of Academic Affairs, Ms. Stacy Rudd. On Thursday morning, March 19, the Consul General visited the Modern Middle East class at UNO, taught by Dr. Moshe Gershovich. His presentation about the recent Israeli elections and U.S.-Israeli relations was followed by a lively Q&A session. At the end of the class, Gilad and Rudd joined the students for a group picture. The Consul General and Ms. Rudd met with UNO’s Chancellor. The meeting focused on ways to enhance cooperation between UNO and Israeli academic institutions. Continued on page 2
Welcoming Louri Sullivan by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPlege freshman, Samantha a sophoWRIGHT more in high school and Tommy is Louri Sullivan recently joined the in seventh grade. She is the daughJewish Federation of Omaha as the ter of Tom and Darlynn Fellman. newest member “I learned from of the Financial my parents that Resource Develphilanthropy is opment team. tremendously Her title: Direcimportant,” she tor of Commusays. “They emnity Impact and phasized givingSpecial projects. back to our “The position community. They was established,” always give me Louri says, “to good advice, and focus the FederaI always listen.” tion’s attention Steve Levinger, on the entire Senior DevelopJewish commument Director, nity. We must says: Louri Sullivan offer relevant “Louri underprogramming, create meaningful volunteer opportunities, and together we can build a stronger Jewish community. I think we all play a part in that.” Louri brings a love for the Omaha Jewish community, and looks forward to making a real difference. Originally from Omaha, she attended the University of Texas in Austin as a business marketing major. After working in the real estate business for many years, she made the switch to the nonprofit world and is excited to do so. She has four children: Rachel is a sophomore in college, Josh is a col-
stands what this community needs, and I am excited to work with her. She is very connected, not only within our Jewish community, but in the general community as well.” Prior to joining the JFO staff, she has been involved with Boys and Girls Club, Children’s Hospital, the Westside school system and the Pennie Z. Davis CDC. Marty Ricks has known Louri since he and his wife Iris moved back in 1998. In a roundabout (and typically Omaha) way, they are family: “My nephew, Scott Schneiderman, Continued on page 2