AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
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M AY 1 5 , 2 02 0 | 2 1 IYA R 578 0 | VO L. 1 00 | NO. 30 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, MAY 15, 8:18 P.M.
JFO Young Leadership Awards The Kaplan Book Group becomes close “knit”– but not too close Page 5
The Graduates: Saluting the Class of 2020 Page 8
Jess Cohn
Ari Kohen
GABBY BLAIR Staff Writer, Jewish Press he Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce that Jess Cohn and Ari Kohen have been selected as this year’s recipients of the The Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial and Bruce Fellman Memorial Young Leadership Awards, respectively.
Annually presented to one woman and one man in our community under age 45, these awards honor young leaders who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating personal commitment, dedicated involvement and exemplary leadership qualities in rendering service to the Jewish and general communities. Each honoree receives a stipend towards a leadership conference or See JFO Young Leadership page 2
T What COVID-19 is doing to conversions Page 16
A refresher and update: Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at UNL
REGULARS
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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DEAN LAMBERT Sigma Omicron Class of ‘82 In 2016, Sigma Alpha Mu returned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus following a 16-year absence. I am pleased to report that the Chapter is thriving and actively recruiting ambitious young men of good character to join an organization that I am confident will contribute to lifelong success. This confidence is rooted in my personal experience, as well as that of hundreds of alumni I have come to know, respect, and love since my days at UNL. After completing high school at Papillion-LaVista in 1981, my father retired from the U.S. Air Force. He
Sigma Omicron Chapter Execs and Committee Chairs
moved to the Chicago area with my mother and younger brother, where they embarked on family life without me. As a military brat, I was born in Germany and lived throughout the United States and Europe. Of all the places to be deposited, Nebraska was the last place I thought I’d call home. I recall being told, “If you want help paying for college, go to Nebraska, where you’ll have in-state tuition.” So,
I became a Husker. More importantly, I became a “Sammy,” a lifelong member of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Sigma Omicron chapter. Belonging to this fraternity has influenced my life journey in ways for which I am very grateful. I enjoy a rewarding professional career that evolved from being an entrepreneur to joining a large company’s executive See Sigma Alpha Mu page 9
Keiser-Stoms Scholarship DIANE WALKER Executive Assistant, JFO The Financial Aid Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce Harper Gordman was selected as the 2020 recipient of the David Keiser and Lillian Keiser Stoms Foundation Education Endowment Fund for Academic Excellence Scholarship. This is the only merit-based scholarship granted by the committee. While based strictly on scholarship, with high school grade point averages and SAT/ACT scores used as the primary measure, a prerequisite for consideration is that the recipient must demonstrate a commitment to the Jewish community.
Harper Gordman
Harper, the daughter of Danielle and Jeff Gordman, will graduate from Westside High School, 15th in her class of 455 students. While at Westside, she took a significant number of AP courses and was an AP Scholar with Honor and with Distinction. Harper earned a spot on the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, and Westside’s Distinguished Honor Roll. She was also in the varsity show choir and on varsity tennis team. Harper shared the best part of high school for her was participating in Westside show choir. “It has been an instrumental part of my life and has given me the best lifelong friendships,” she has said. This accomplished young lady is motivated by a love of learning. As she learns and progresses, she is motivated to continue to do so. In her free time, Harper loves to read, play with her dog, spend time with family and friends and go on adventures! Harper is committed to community service, co-founding the Young Jewish Giving Teen Foundation and serving on the YJG Volunteer Council. She has been an active volunteer with the American Heart Association and Heartland Family Services. When I asked about the accomplishment she was most proud of she shared raising $10,000 for a hospital in El Salvador that treats terminal cancer patients. As See Gordman page 2