Endowed by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Friedel’s special teachers
August 28, 2015 13 Elul 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 50
This Week
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN for Friedel Jewish Academy In addition to Friedel Jewish Academy’s four general studies teachers and two Jewish studies instructors, the school employs five special teachers. Their specialties range from library, physical education, music, resource and art. “Giving students the opportunity to gain experience in these specialty areas is so important to a well-rounded curriculum,” explained Friedel’s Head of School Beth Cohen. Tuesday is library day at Friedel, and Librarian Ashley Barrow sees every student that day. Beginning her sixth year at Friedel, Barrow’s goal is “to get a new book to every student as often as possible.” She also tests the children for reading proficiency and substitute teaches at the school when needed. “FJA is a tight community of people who care about education, children and family,” Barrow added. “It has been an amazing place to learn and grow with the students.” Deb Johnson has worked in the fitness industry for more than ten years and has “a passion for staying healthy,” she admits. “One of the most important accomplishments I could be rewarded with is to pass on to children a healthy lifestyle by way of activity and diet. It truly is a life
Teens get the right message Page 3
It’s time for the Blumkin Home County Fair Page 5
Band practice with Jim Misner commitment and, hopefully, my influence on the kids at an early age will stay with them for a lifetime. I want any kind of movement to be fun no matter what each child chooses,” she insisted. For the past four years, that’s what she’s been doing at Friedel. “In turn,” Johnson said, “being at Friedel has rewarded me with a new knowledge of the Jewish faith along with many new friends” for which she is “extremely thankful.” In addition to the program Johnson teaches, Friedel’s physical education curriculum includes weekly swimming taught by Jewish Com-
Fiber art that tells a story Ezra and Adeev Potash play Toast of the Old Market Page 11
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
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by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel An exhibit titled Sewing Stories, Fiber Art That Tells a Story by Heather G. Stoltz, is now on display in the Simon Community Court at Temple Israel. Ms. Stoltz is a fiber artist whose quilted wall hangings and fabric sculptures are inspired by social justice issues and Jewish texts. Stoltz, named as one of The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36″ for 2012, received a 2011 Manhattan Community Art
Funds grant for Temporary Shelter, her installation piece about homeless New Yorkers. Her work has been exhibited nationally and featured in Jewish Threads, Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project and several other publications. She was a Drisha Arts Fellow 2008‐2010 and was an Artist-‐inResidence at the 2008 National Havurah Committee Summer Institute. Heather lives in Westchester, NY with her husband Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman and their daughter Caroline. When asked to describe her artwork by the New Vilna Review, Ms. Stoltz said, “As a fiber artist, I create fabric sculptures and quilted wall hangings based on Jewish texts. When most people hear the word quilt, they think of a traditional bed quilt, but art quilts and fiber art have truly transformed this medium. The textures of the fabrics and dimensionality that can be achieved through different stitching methods Continued on page 3
munity Center lifeguards. A 45-year veteran of teaching band and orchestra in schools in Iowa and Nebraska, Jim Misner was practicing his tennis serve one day at the JCC when “50 kids came out for recess. A young man came over and said, ‘Sir, would you mind if I went on the other side of the net and threw your balls back to you?’” Misner thanked the youngster and accepted his offer. Soon there were 50 kids on the tennis court. Two teachers supervising the students learned that Misner taught music and, after apologizing for their
students upsetting his routine, asked Misner if he would be interested in teaching orchestra at Friedel. “Friedel and the kids needed me so it wasn’t a hard decision to help them out,” explained Misner, a published composer/arranger. This fall, he begins his third year of teaching instrumental music at Friedel three half-days a week. “Some of our young musicians are really talented, and all are a lot of fun. Many even practice! I believe every student should learn group discipline and have the chance to perform in front of the public.” A veteran of 34 years as a special education teacher with Omaha Public Schools, Sindie Katskee has also been an OPS and Friedel substitute teacher. She’s been teaching Sunday School -from Torah Tots to seventh graders -- at Beth El Synagogue for approximately 15 years. Two of her daughters are former Friedel students. Last year, Katskee began as Friedel’s resource teacher working part time with students in all grades who need extra help. “I love the small class sizes at Friedel and how everyone knows everyone. As the resource teacher, I have been able to share so much and learn from each of the teachers,” she pointed out. “I enjoy Continued on page 3
The Final Act! by GABBY BLAIR The third and final act of the 2015 JCC Backyard Concert Series wraps up with Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal this Sunday, Aug. 30 from 5-7 p.m. on the back lawn of the
Nashville Scene, Jazz Weekly and Blues Blast Magazine. Hoyer, the band’s sole song writer, has been often compared to a combination of great influences such as Otis Redding, Al Green, Curtis May-
Omaha JCC. A rising star in smooth funk-R&B-Soul, JHATS is a classic story of local band makes good. Lead man Hoyer has been described by the Omaha Reader and Gulf Coast News Today as “one of Lincoln-Omaha scenes’s finest song writers” whose “rich, soulful and distinctive vocals... and topnotch band, including a blazing horn section, definitely make this group worth a listen.” Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal have recently released their second album entitled Living by the Minute (Silver Street Records) that has received much acclaim from critics with the
field, and James Brown, and his band is on fire. Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal are currently touring the nation and Katz says, “We are certainly fortunate to have them booked for our final show of the series!” The JCC Backyard Concert Series is open to the public free of charge and desserts will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to bring camp chairs, blankets, and picnics, if they wish. Pets and alcohol are permitted. However, concert goers are asked to be considerate of others and to remember Continued on page 2