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For the love of a father The Dr. Jay Parsow Youth Basketball Scholarship Fund Iran: Visit to the Axis of Evil and its Jews Page 4
Motherless Brooklyn finds friends in Kaplan Book Group Page 5
LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation ay Parsow was a Renaissance man. He was a physician, gardener, environmentalist, athlete and volunteer. He loved participating in life, whether by fishing, river rafting, bicycling, horseback riding, swimming, basketball, and volunteering. He was a cherished friend, a son, a brother, a husband and, most of all, a father to sons Aaron and Charles. In January 2001, at 46 years of age, Jay died suddenly from a massive coronary attack while playing basketball at the JCC. Aaron stated his father died “playing the sport he loved.” He left behind his wife, Margo, and sons Aaron and Charles. The void that was left could never be filled, but Jay’s family chose to honor the man they deeply cherished by establishing the Dr. Jay
The Parsow family Jay and Margo with sons Aaron and Charles
Parsow Youth Basketball Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation in May 2001. This fund provides assistance for JCC mem-
Warning my son about racism Page 12
RBJH Staff and Residents feel community’s love
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GABBY BLAIR Staff writer, Jewish Press Friends and family of Rose Blumkin Jewish Home residents have come up with creative ways to show their appreciation for RBJH staff during this trying time. Unable to receive visitors or volunteers since March has been a
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
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challenge for residents, families, friends and staff, alike. For months now, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home staff have been working around the clock ensuring that Residents receive not only the best care possible, but are coordinating window visits, drive-by parades, a pen pal program and much more. Staff have also turned to Zoom and other technologies to facilitate a wide range of virtual activity opportunities from FaceTime visits with loved ones to entertainment. According to Maggie Conti, Activities Director, RBJH staff feel and appreciate the love and support from the community. “Generous community donors, See Community’s love page 2
bers under the age of 18 who need financial assistance in order to participate in the JCC’s basketball program. See For the love of a father page 3
Friedel: Connecting the unconnected
SARA KOHEN Director of Advancement Friedel Jewish Academy Friedel Jewish Academy received $4,500 from the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge’s (JEIC) 2020 Ignition Grant Program to support its recently launched program “Connecting the Unconnected,” a partnership of five Jewish day schools from small Jewish communities. JEIC Ignition Grants jumpstart new or developing out-of-thebox programs that improve Jewish education in day schools. Beth Cohen, the Head of School, explains, “This program is a collab-
orative learning experience bringing together sixth through eighth grade students at five Jewish day schools in small Jewish communities (the “Alliance”) to apply Jewish texts, Jewish history, and Jewish values to real-world issues... through classroom instruction, virtual learning spaces, and real-world learning expeditions. In this program, students connect with students from other schools in Birmingham, AL, Greensboro, SC, Rochester, NY, and Woodbridge, CT around the topics of history, Jewish texts and values, social justice, advocacy, and Israel. See Friedel page 3