thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
this week
WWW.JEWISHOMAHA.ORG
SpoNSoRed by The beNjAMIN ANd ANNA e. WIeSMAN FAMIly eNdoWMeNT FuNd
Partnership delegation visits Omaha JU NE 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 | 1 1 SIV AN 5 7 7 6 | V O L . 9 6 | NO . 4 0 | c A Nd lelI g h TI Ng | FRID AY , JU NE 1 7 , 8 : 4 2 P. M.
Saying goodbye to Eliad and his family page 4
Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting pages 8+9
We can love Jerusalem as Jews without taunting its Muslims page 16
F
dick and Terri Zacharia with the delegation from Israel at henry doorly Zoo’s newly opened African grasslands exhibit.
NATe A. ShApIRo Director of Development, Jewish Federation of Omaha rom June 1 through June 6, Omaha was visited by a delegation of Israeli business leaders from Western Galilee region as part of the Partnership2Gether (P2G) platform. P2G exists to promote enduring and
meaningful partnerships between global Jewish communities and communities in Israel. The focus of this visit was to create business connections with our new Israeli friends, while demonstrating the crucial role of philanthropy in creating and maintaining a robust Jewish community. The participants came with a variety of business backgrounds ranging from zir-
Rabbi Azriel’s final sermon
Rabbi Aryeh Azriel during his last regular Friday night at Temple Israel Credit: Cassandra Hicks
inside Viewpoint Synagogues
12 14
by MIKe Kelly and ScoTT lITTKy On Friday, May 27, Temple Israel celebrated Rabbi Aryeh Azriel’s 28 years as Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Josh Brown and Cantor Wendy Shermet prepared an amaz-
ing final service. Joining them on the bima were six visiting clergy who had served the congregation during Rabbi Azriel’s tenure: Rabbi Debbi Stiel, Rabbi Craig Marantz, Rabbi Eric Linder, Cantor Karen Webber-Gilat, Hazzan Erik Contzius and Cantor Jennifer Blum Seeger. The service included beautiful vocal renditions by all four cantors and the Kol Rina Choir. In addition, each of the four Rabbis gave a D’var Torah that represented the profound effect on them of Rabbi Azriel’s teaching and leadership. The service culminated in a beautiful and moving ceremony in which See Final sermon page 2
conium injection mold production for dental equipment to polyurethane food packaging production to professional photography. Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO) staff facilitated meetings with area business people to explore possible areas of mutual benefit. Each Israeli had a unique itinerary with business See partnership delegation page 2
The unstoppable Manya Nogg
ANNeTTe vAN de KAMp-WRIghT Editor of the Jewish Press In her new book, Age is Just a Number, and Mine is Unlisted, Omahan Manya Nogg writes about her almost 70 years of working in film, television and on the stage. “My favorite aunt was a writer,” she says, “and I guess I wanted to follow in her footsteps.” It’s not her first foray into writing. She co-wrote a cookbook with daughter Sharon, and numerous magazine and newspaper articles as well as film and play scripts. “Age is just a Number came out last fall and is a memoir of my life. It focuses heavily on my work as a talent agent in the film and television industry. I think older Omahans in particular will be able to
relate to some of the things that happened here in the 1930s and 1940s. I also hope they will take the hint that you don’t have to stop having fun just because you are getting older. Read my book, and see if you can try some new things. Don’t stay in a rut; it’s boring down there.” Don’t let the focus of her book fool you; Manya has some great advice for the younger generation as well: “Find what is positive, make decent choices and try to be part of life without having to be part of ‘groups.’ Trying too hard to belong can lead to undesirable things.” When Manya was four years old, she nearly died from stomach problems. She spent three months in the hospital, and grew up an See Manya Nogg page 2