Vol. LXXXVI No. 1 Omaha, NE
Shlicha Joins JCC Staff; Replaces Uri Levin
In partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish Community Center is again hosting a year-round Israel shlicha (emissary): Zohar Winer, pictured above with the JCC’s previous shaliach, Uri Levin, who returns to Israel this month as a student at Tel Aviv University. Winer was born in Rishon LeZion, near Tel Aviv, and moved as a young child to Kibbutz Bet Hashita, located in the Jezreel valley, in the north of Israel. Zohar who served in the Israeli army for two years, taught new soldiers and gave presentations on political history of the Middle East and intelligence related topics. She also led a team of soldiers for nine months and was in charge of launching new projects such as introducing new software,methods of teaching new soldiers, and building cooperation between different teams in the unit. Zohar’s first weeks in Omaha have been packed with meeting new people, getting acclimated, and developing relationships throughout the community.
Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
22 Elul, 5766 September 15, 2006
Give a Child a Book Today... Create a Jewish Library Tomorrow by ANNE MUSKIN leadership of the Kripke Jewish Press Editorial Intern Institute is excited and ready “This program empowers for its fruition. They have the parent to be the teacher teamed up with the Harold of the child, because the parGrinspoon Foundation, ent is the most influential which has been successfully teacher of children.” participating in this program The program of which Dr. in Springfield, MA. Ron Wolfson speaks is a It is modeled after a promajor collaboration between gram called “Imagination the Dorothy and Myer S. Library,” started by none Kripke Institute for Jewish other than country singer Literacy, the Harold Dolly Parton. Imagination Grinspoon Foundation, the Library is currently in 266 Pennie Z. Davis Child communities nationwide, Center Development and distributed two million (CDC), and the PJ Library. books last year alone. (That’s PJ for pajama!) Omaha’s version will apply The premise is to offer specifically to the Jewish Corey Kirshenbaum, left, examines the Let’s Talk About Omaha’s Jewish families the community and information series written by the late Dorothy Kripke, wife of Rabbi Myer chance to build a Jewish is available through the S. Kripke, seated, who together launched this book project. library in their home. For a CDC. However, Corey flat fee of just $18 a year per child, a different Jewish Kirshenbaum Director of the CDC, noted that this is book or CD a month will be mailed directly to children, “for all families in the Omaha area.” The CDC is servfrom newborns to the age of five. Parents also will ing as the organizer and the connecting point with receive books and information to help guide them on Jewish families. this wonderful journey. “In Jewish education, it is so powerful when a parent “Omaha is only the third community in the country to has a good book, it becomes the script for them to help implement this,” Wolfson said. His excitement and enthu- teach,” Wolfson noted. An educator in his own right-siasm was contagious, as he rattled off the details of this Wolfson is the Fingerhut Professor of Jewish Studies at project. Wolfson, is the President of the Kripke Institute the University of Judaism, he and Kirshenbaum said this and said that the goal, developed in honor of Dorothy is a unique and influential idea for Omaha’s Jewish Kripke, is to find projects that enhance Jewish literacy. youth and families. The Institute formed last year to honor Dorothy’s memBy the time a child “graduates” from the CDC, he or ory. Some of her popular books--the Let’s Talk About... she will have the basis of a great Jewish age-appropriate series, for example, will be featured in this unique offering. library. And, that, says Kirshenbaum, “can be a memory This project was suggested two years ago, and the our kids will cherish forever and pass on to their children.”
Blumkin Home Resident Room Models Under Construction environment. by OZZIE NOGG “The institutional design Just two weeks into the construction process, it’s already clear that the model of the current facility interrooms at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home feres with the level of conwill offer far more than fresh wallpaper trol that our parents and grandparents deserve to and paint. “What we’re doing goes way beyond have over their lives,” said the cosmetic,” said Joanie Bernstein, Past Mike Silverman, Rose President of Jewish Senior Services. Blumkin Jewish Home “When the two resident room models are Executive Director. “The completed, they won’t resemble the orig- major improvements at the B l u m k i n inal rooms in any will way, and by the Jewish Senior Services Home have a positive end of the projan agency of the Jewish affect on the ect, every resiFederation of Omaha dent room in the residents’ perproudly invites you Blumkin Home sonal comfort, to celebrate a will have underprivacy, sense gone a complete, of independNew Beginning floor to ceiling ence and overfor the Rose Blumkin all quality of makeover. After all, if you move life. That’s of Jewish Home to somewhere prime imporlive, you want to Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. tance to us.” feel like it’s at the Jewish Community Center According to home--like you A gala reception will follow S i l v e r m a n , really live there.” every resident When the model rooms open for com- room will be fitted with munity viewing shortly after Yom Kippur, longer, lower windows so visitors will see changes that reflect the lat- those who are bedridden or est design trends in nursing homes in wheelchairs will be able to throughout the country. While function- enjoy a view of the outside. ality is key, special attention has been paid Each room will get new to creating a less institutional, more warm flooring, wall coverings, fur-
Inside Opinion Page see page 12
Photos from top: plans for “Phase A” of the “new” Blumkin Home include demolition and reconstruction of two model rooms. RBJH Director of Nursing Shelly Cash, left, Social Services Director Bert Benson, Hawkins Superintendent Tom Lindstrom, JSS/RBJH Executive Director Mike Silverman and Executive Assistant Phyllis Gentry inspect the work.
This Week: Rosh Hashanah Receipes: Page 6 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
UJC Leader to Address Omaha’s Young Leaders: Page 2
niture and enhanced lighting, and separate thermostats will allow residents to control the individual temperature in their rooms. Resident bathrooms, in addition to being enlarged so staff can more easily provide necessary assistance, will feature ceramic tile floors, ample counter space and cabinetry for personal items. “We’re touching everything in each room to ensure we provide the very best for our residents,” Silverman said. “The new Blumkin Home will be rich with amenities.” As Director of Community Outreach and Admissions at the RBJH, Shane Kotok watches the new construction with particular interest. “Residents and their families have come to expect more and more of the Blumkin Home staff and facility,” she said. “And we meet and exceed their expectations every day. But we need a building that more accurately reflects who we are--Omaha’s best and only choice for Jewish seniors who want, need and deserve an up-to-date ‘haimish’ atmosphere,” she explained. “We’ve talked about this and waited for so long and now it’s really happening. This truly is a ‘b’reshit’--a beginning--and it’s very exciting.” To talk about the many options available to the community in support of the new Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, please call Howard Kooper at 392.1800.
Coming New Week: New Year’s Issue Incumbent Congressman Talks About His Record: Page 4
Synagogues List High Holiday Programs, Schedule: Pages 7-8