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2017 Campaign Chairs
Mayor wants his Greek city to remember its Jewish past page A12
inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles
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Double adult Bat Mitzvah
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reAl eSTATe 9 iconic sites that celebrate American Jewish history Section 2
7 Elie Wiesel books that show his influence page A4
SpONSOreD By The BeNJAMiN AND ANNA e. WieSMAN FAMily eNDOWMeNT FuND
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Pictured clockwise from the bottom left: Cory, Brian, Jaime, Jordan and Taylor Nogg. ANNeTTe vAN De kAMp-WrighT The Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Editor of the Jewish Press Campaign kicks off on Sept. 1, 2016, and t’s the big question that gets asked the Campaign Team is delighted to anevery year before the Jewish Federation nounce that Jaime and Brian Nogg have of Omaha starts its Annual Campaign, agreed to take the helm. and this year is no different: Who are To Brian, that means making time for our our Campaign Chairs? Which lay lead- community: See 2017 Campaign Chairs page A2 ers are ready to step up and lead the way?
Courts Matter Coalition of Nebraska
BeCky BreNNer for NCJW-Omaha Section On June 27, the U.S. Senate voted 90-0 to confirm judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., to the federal bench in the District of Nebraska to fill an emergency vacancy. The Courts Matter Coalition of Nebraska, a collection of Nebraska organizations united in efforts to ensure a functioning federal judiciary, praised the move, which brought to end one of the nation’s 30 federally recognized judicial emergencies, where cases have piled up to a critical level because the court is functioning below capacity. “We are pleased that this vacancy is filled so that the District of Nebraska is fully staffed and can better
Nebraska State Supreme Court chambers manage their overloaded docket,” said Carol Bloch, of coalition member National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha. “However, more than 80 judicial vacancies still remain throughout the country -- including on the U.S. Supreme Court. There are still 29 judicial emergencies, and 20 federal judicial nominations continue to languish on the Senate floor despite the support of their home state senators.” “The Senate must work to ensure that this country’s independent judiciary can function properly,” said
Rebecca Gonzalez of Nebraska Appleseed. “We urge Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse and their colleagues to do their job to ensure all Americans can have their day in court. Before senators leave for a seven-week break on July 15, we call on the Senate to consider all pending nominees, including the U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland, so the Federal judiciary can fully function.” Court vacancies continue to hamstring the justice system at many levels because See Courts Matter Coalition page A3
Ozzie NOgg When Sophie Ambrose Friedlander and Alice Weiss became adult B’Not Mitzvah at Beth El Synagogue during Shabbat morning services on June 11, they joined a growing number of men and women who have observed this rite of passage not at the age of thirteen, but later in life. During the last decade, the practice of an adult marking a Bar or Bat Mitzvah has become increasingly popular in both Reform and Conservative congregations.
Sophie Ambrose Friedlander
Alice Weiss
“Over the past decade, adult Jewish education has gone through a revival where adults are seeking out ways for Judaism to speak to them and not just to their children,” said Beth El’s Rabbi Steven Abraham. “Our adult B’nai and B’not Mitzvah classes, led by Hazzan Michael Krausman, have been a vital link for many of our adult congregants to greater fulfillment and participation in our community. It was an honor learning with Alice and Sophie, seeing them every week in synagogue and watching them meet their goal. However, the greatest joy was seeing them at Beth El after their special day. Our community is a better place because of their continued presence.” Sophie’s parents chose to raise their three daughters without exposure to formal religion, instead allowing them to find their own paths. “I didn’t connect with Judaism until graduate school,” Sophie said, “so I didn’t have a chance to go through the Bat Mitzvah education and ceremony at the age of thirteen. Although I’m grateful that my parents allowed me and my sisters to make our own independent choices, I’ve felt like I had a lot of catching up to do in my Jewish life, both in terms of my education and other experiences. When my son was born, I was reminded that one day I would need to See Double Bat Mitzvah page A3