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South Street Temple bids Rabbi Lewis L’hitraot
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Eden Lewis and Jennifer Lewis, left, light the Shabbat Candles at the Shabbat service thanking Rabbi Craig Lewis, right, for his service to the South Street Temple and wishing the Lewis family well on their move to Tennessee. Credit: Stuart Lewis
Women’s philanthropic event Page 8
SaRaH KELEN n Friday evening, June 2, the sanctuary of Lincoln’s South Street Temple was full of people ready to welcome Shabbat but also to bid Rabbi Craig Lewis and his family a fond farewell as his
time as the rabbi of the Congregation B’nai Jeshurun comes to an end. In July, Rabbi Lewis will begin a new position as the Rabbi at Mizpah Congregation in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a community of 210 families. See Rabbi Lewis page 3
Visiting scholars discuss Luther and the Jews
inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles
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Pleased to meet you
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JCC Summer Camp Journal Page 5
Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting Pages 6+7
SPONSORED By THE BENJaMIN aND aNNa E. WIESMaN faMILy ENDOWMENT fuND
near the end of his life, OzzIE NOgg Luther wrote a vitriolic In commemoration of and influential pamphlet the 500th anniversary of against the Jews that, the Protestant Reformaamong other things, rection, the Kripke Center ommended burning synafor the Study of Religion gogues. There is surely and Society at Creighton some connection between University will sponsor a this 16th century docudialogue and discussion ment and the German that explores Martin Protestant - that is, Luther’s anti-Semitism within historical and conLutheran - support for Hitler’s anti-Jewish politemporary contexts. Professor Dean Bell Professor Peter Pettit cies. In recent years, alLuther and the Jews: ReSpertus Institute for Jewish Muhlenberg College most all Lutheran sponsibility and ReconciliLearning and Leadership churches have repudiated ation, is scheduled for Bell, PhD., Provost and Vice PresiLuther’s statement. Professors Bell Sunday, June 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. and Pettit will address Martin at Beth El Synagogue, co-sponsor of dent Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Luther’s relationship to the Jews, its the afternoon. Presenters are Dean Chicago; and The Rev. Peter A. Petimplications, and recent responses tit, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Re- from Lutheran communities. Their ligion Studies at Muhlenberg remarks will be followed by diaCollege in Allentown PA. Leonard logue and discussion with, and Greenspoon, Klutznick Chair in among, the audience.” Jewish Civilization at Creighton, According to Professor Bell, will moderate the session. “Martin Luther was a revolutionary “In general, people will know figure who helped to usher in resomething about the Reformation markable transformations in Euroand Martin Luther,” Greenspoon pean and global history. His said. “But they might wonder what writings about Jews and Judaism it has to do with the Jews. In short, See Visiting scholars page 4
EMMa HOCHfELDER Intern, Jewish Press My name is Emma Hochfelder. I grew up in a little bit of a combination of Kearney, Harlan, and Omaha. I lived in Kearney, Nebraska for the first nine years of my life with my mother, Joanna Hochfelder, and my brother, Benjamin, nine years my predecessor. When I was entering the fourth grade, my mother and I moved to Harlan, Iowa.
Emma Hochfelder
Harlan is a rural community in southwest Iowa whose population just reaches 5,000, and it became my home for the next nine years of my life. I graduated in May of 2016 from Harlan Community High School, where I participated in student council, mock trial and a slew of other extracurricular activities. After graduation, Omaha became the next chapter in my life. Luckily, we weren’t complete outsiders to the area. We have been members of Beth El Synagogue for years prior so we had a connection to Omaha already. I had my Bat Mitzvah at Beth El in 2012, even though I lived an hour away in Iowa at the time. Despite the division of the Missouri River, I was able to connect with the Omaha Jewish community growing up. A bit after the transition to Omaha it was time for me to begin my next academic move. In August of 2016, I began my first year of study at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Omaha and the entire midwest was no longer on my radar. I had all of New York City to discover. Once there, I immediately became heavily involved in the various opportunities I had at my fingertips. I served on the Undergraduate Student Senate, interned at a local daycare, participated in a Jewish Learning Fellowship, volunteered at a prison, worked too many jobs, enjoyed my classes, and explored the city. I was living the dream: a small town to the Big Apple in a New York minute. The unique learning structure of my college allowed further exploration while on campus. Sarah Lawrence has no majors and no general education requirements. I am able to take any classes I choose at any point in my academic career, researching and writing on any topic I desire. I plan to eventually study public policy and go to law school, but this year I focused on psychology, history, economics and writing. Growing up, I loved writing but it took a backseat in highschool so I could focus See Emma Hochfelder page 4