Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Teen Leadership Award
May 23, 2014 23 Iyar 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 36
This Week
National Nursing Home Week festivities Page 2
Beth El, Temple Israel join for Shavout celebration Page 5
A step toward gender equality? Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
Next Month Father’s Day See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
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by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Jewish Federation of Omaha Jewish philosopher Martin Buber wrote, “All education ‘worthy’ of the name is education of character.” Last spring, U.S. Navy Seal, Rhodes Scholar and CEO of Mission Continues, Eric Greitens used Buber’s words as the foundation of his commencement address at Tufts University. To those listening, he issued a unique challenge, meant especially for America’s millennial generation. “Consider sacrifice, serving one’s country, and living magnanimously. What kind of positive difference can I make in the lives of others? If you live each day to answer that question, you will live a life Aristotle considered, ‘greatness of soul.’” Our community’s high school graduates are about to embark on their own journeys of “greatness of soul” as they pursue higher education, careers and adult roles in society. This year, the Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to recognize Rachel Saag and Tyler Siegel with the Robert and Ellen Gordman Jewish Teen Leadership Award. Their positive difference as leaders
Rachel Saag
Tyler Siegel
in B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) has made an impact in our community. This year, Rachel served as Mid America Region (MAR) Council N’siah and Tyler as MAR Council Gadol. Both believe their involvement in BBYO has been an invaluable experience: providing them with leadership and mentoring skills and the ability to plan programs, recruit members and organize community service projects and fundraisers. As Ediar BBG and Mother Chapter, AZA #1 leaders, both Rachel and
Tyler emphasized membership recruitment and retention. Tyler recruited more than 26 teens to BBYO in the past two years. Rachel chaired a successful new member convention in 2012 and when, late in 2013, one chapter was struggling with significant drops in attendance, Rachel organized phone trees and an overnight Shabbat campout that gave girls personal attention and re-energized chapter activity. As sophomores, Rachel and Tyler brought back the vintage “Mr. AZA” fundraiser to the JCC campus.
Professional Excellence Award by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Jewish Federation of Omaha Jewish Family Service Assistance Coordinator Sandy Nogg has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Jody and Neal Malashock Award for Professional Excellence. The award, established three years ago, recognizes professional leadership and excellence in service to the community. She joins previous award winners Marty Ricks and Shane Kotok. Jewish Family Service (JFS) is so much more than the agency whose original mission was to provide assistance to those with financial difficulty. Today, it helps community members with a job or housing search, with substance abuse issues, mental illness and physical disabilities and even parenting skills. Clients are as young as 18 months and as old as 92. It takes a truly unique individual to be the first point of contact for those in need of JFS services, and for the past five years that person has been Sandy
Spoofing a beauty pageant, AZA members compete in talent and formal wear, all to raise money for chapter activities and BBYO in Israel. This year’s event takes place May 27 in the JCC Pavilion. Rachel and Tyler represented the Omaha Cornbelt Council with attendance at International Conventions and Executive Retreats. Locally, they participated in council executive meetings, met regularly with local chapter boards and ensured that AZA and B’nai Brith Girls remained strong throughout the school year. Rachel graduated last week from Elkhorn South High School where she was a member of varsity show choir, concert choir, and National Honor Society and performed in school plays and musicals. Through the program South American Sister Schools, she established a shared learning exchange at Elkhorn South with a school in Quito, Ecuador. Rachel traveled to Israel as part of the 2011 Maccabi Arts Fest and performed in Jerusalem. Her American History teacher wrote, “Rachel is an exceptional young woman with great integrity Continued on page 7
Partnership2GETHER performer charms audiences
Nogg. Karen Gustafson, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service, believes Nogg’s position to be invaluable to the success of JFS. “The families
Sandy Nogg Sandy works with trust her. They feel respected, understood and secure knowing their Jewish community is here to help them.” “Sandy is worth her weight in gold, and the many thank-you notes we receive from clients attest to her value to the agency and community.” While reviewing requests for financial aid is an important aspect of her job, Nogg has always emphasized a full spectrum of services for JFS clients. She keeps in regular contact with them and attends medical appointments, parent-teacher conferences, stocks the JFS Food Pantry, and even meets with county and state social service professionals Continued on page 2
David “Dudu” Cohen leads a band of enthusiastic Friedel students during the Partnership2GETHER/PJ Library event. by MARY SUE GROSSMAN medical, rehabilitative and educaProgram Coordinator tional organizations, visited Omaha The Center for Jewish Life through Partnership2GETHER. They drummed. They danced. David’s first performance - which They clapped. They laughed. They was unfortunately cut a bit short made silly noises. They acted like due to the stormy weather - feagorillas, lions and snakes. They tured a drum circle, giving attenchanted “dum dum dum.” Present- dees the opportunity to be an ing totally engaging performances, integral part of the show. From todDavid “Dudu” Cohen delighted a dler through adult, rhythms filled number of groups during his recent the room. The next morning, Dudu visit to Omaha, May 11-13. David, was at Friedel Jewish Academy geta producer and performer of musi- ting students and teachers alike up cal theater performance who also and moving during a lively 45teaches rhythmic lessons, world minute performance. In the music, drama and music therapy in Continued on page 2