Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Chocolate wins big with This Week Community Service Award May 4, 2012 12 Iyar 5772 Vol. 92 | No. 33
Beth El’s Tot Shabbat programs offer special family fun Page 6
Cookbooks for Mother’s Day gifts Page 7
by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha Called a “dream event for those with a sweet tooth,” the National Council of Jewish Women’s (NCJW) Great Omaha Chocolate Festival is this year’s recipient of the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Community Service Award. Conceived, planned and executed by the Omaha section of NCJW, the Festival took place last September in the UNO Fieldhouse. The inaugural event drew over 2200 people and included chocolate-themed food and goodies available to sample, order and purchase. According to co-chairwoman Jan Fischer, the Festival was an affordable, fun, family event featuring chocolate in a myriad of delicious forms. “Children’s activities included making art with chocolate, and the Jewish teens helping out earned money for their respective youth groups.” Fischer added, “NCJW’s major focus is to work to improve the lives
Co-chairs Holly Weill, center left, and Jan Fischer, center right, flanked by assistant-chairs Sonia Tipp, left, and Melinda Graham, right. of those in need in our own community. The Festival raised about $10,000 with the proceeds going towards our many community projects including mini-grants for teachers’, Reading Pups, Women for
Partnership2Gether Concert kicks off Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, The Center for Jewish Education Over 200 people were launched into the spirit of celebration of Yom
It’s a crumbling and sodden mess at the Schindler factory site Page 12
Bein Hameytarin, a performing group which visited Omaha as part of Partnership2Gether. On Sunday, April 22, the story of Israel was shared through music and dance,
Career Advancement (WCA), and the Adopt-a-School program.” The event certainly excited and motivated an already active NCJW group. “We need to acknowledge the amazing work of Sonia Tipp and
Fundraising Co-Chair, Melinda Graham, as well as all of our members for their support. Sonia and Melinda secured 29 vendors, and our publicity campaign included print, television, Facebook and a banner strung across Dodge at 60th Street.” Over 100 volunteers made it all possible, including the attendance of at least 14 past section presidents. Vendors included Art Chicks, the Bread Oven, Candyopolis, the Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Peacock Boutique, the Cookie Company, Cordial Cherry, Janicek’s Cake Box, Le Quartier Baking Co., Pettit’s Pastry, Purjava Coffee, Rocket Fizz, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Trader Joes and many more. Private Chef Karin Waggoner of Hy-Vee offered samples of chocolate chili and Petit’s Bakery introduced a new line of baked goods. Garbo’s squeezed dollops of body chocolate soufflé into outstretched hands, the Lithuanian Bakery sampled two new tortes and co-sponsor Baker’s Continued on page 2
Friedel hosts fifth Tribute Dinner by OZZIE NOGG Friedel Academy’s fifth annual Tribute Celebration Dinner is set for Sunday, May 20, from 5:30
“Next year we’ll welcome over sixty students, and much of our success and impact on the Jewish community is due to the involve-
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
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This Month Senior Living See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
Joe Boin tells Lilah Eliash, Bein Maneytarin group member, about his experiences fighting in the Independence Day War. HaAtzmaut by the performance of
presented by six talented young adults, all from Akko, Israel. This special show was created for the communities in the Partnership 2Gether Central Consortium – a group of 14 U.S. cities of which Omaha is a part – and told the story of Israel, from its inception to the present day. The group also performed in Des Moines, Dallas and Austin. The group members - Nitzan Continued on page 2
FJA President Lloyd Roitstein surrounded by, clockwise: Daniel Rosenfeld, Gabby Witkowski, Phoenix Mavropoulos, Danny Denenberg, Yael Schuller and Brittney Clignett. p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue. Using the theme Look How We’ve Grown, the event honors Helen and Arnold “Tuffy” Epstein, Ron Giller and Debbie and Lloyd Roitstein. “Ten years ago, with our enrollment of 18 kids, Friedel was small but hopeful on the landscape of Omaha Jewish education,” said Debbie Denenberg, a dinner co-chair.
ment of our honorees.” According to Denenberg, “This group has given so much of themselves over the years. Helen as a valued hands-on teacher’s aid at Friedel and Tuffy as our volunteer music and instrumental instructor. Debbie Roitstein helped put together the Friedel database, and Lloyd is President of the Friedel Continued on page 2