Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Introducing the JCC Dream Team
September 16, 2011 17 Elul 5771 Vol. 91 | No. 1
This Week
Social protest tents are being removed in Tel Aviv and Holon Page 3
Golems are big in children’s literature Page 8
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP Jewish Press Editor It has been an exciting year for the Jewish Community Center. The recent addition of Executive Director Aaron Rosenfeld was an important step in the changes on our campus. As part of the reorganization, the JCC leadership has assembled a vibrant upper management team for its various departments. Esther Katz, Director of Cultural Arts, was trained at The Professional Children’s School in Philadelphia, PA. She has also studied at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Koresh Dance, University of the Arts, The JCC Dream Team are back row: Laura Wine, left, Kathy McGauvran, and Esther and Temple University where front row: Brian Henson, left, and Ed Heller. she was on a dance scholarship. Her ballet training includes Omaha. Esther taught in the OPS 1991. He played in four Kansas State both the Cecchetti & Vagonova Special Education Program before High School Championships taking methods. Her modern dance back- starting as the Dance Director at the 4th, 2nd and State Champs twice. ground is in Graham, Anthony, and J in 2006. She has been teaching here Brian comes from a family of wellHorton. Esther was a member of for the past seven years. She and versed athletes; his father is a sucmany independent dance companies husband Philip have two children, cessful high school coach in Kansas and his brother, a college and NBA in Philadelphia. She demonstrated Jonah, four, and Talia, 10 months. Brian Henson, Director of Sports player, now coaches at UNLV. for Philadanco company classes and Recreation, played college basBasketball is a passion of his and he under Pat Thomas and taught ballet ketball at Kansas State University is thrilled to be a part of the JCC and modern dance at The and was voted Mr. Kansas Basketball basketball program. Brian is marProfessional Children’s School for and McDonald’s All-American in ried to Theresa; their children are seven years before moving to
Nebraska Holocaust Memorial the focus of JFL campers’ tzedakah Project A new soul comes of age: Yael Naim Page 9
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
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by MARY BORT to volunteer at the Nebraska Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund Holocaust Memorial located at When the Jewish Federation of Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln. “The Lincoln (JFL) awards camp scholarships to youth in the Lincoln area, the goal is to provide them with a fun and meaningful experience, and keep them involved in Jewish life during the summer. This year, as part of the JFL’s camp scholarship program, campers were asked to give back to the Jewish community by participating in a tzedakah project. Volunteers Karsyn Shkolnick, Mark Shkolnick, Alex According to John Murray, Tziporah Hamicksburg, and Illyana Mosow, JFL Board Hamicksburg clean the Star of Remembrance sculpmember and Youth ture. Scholarship Chair, arrangements were made for youth tzedakah project was the culmination of the kids’ camping experience,” he said. “We thought we’d organize a project that would be important to them, and the memorial seemed like the perfect choice. The campers weren’t required to volunteer at the memorial, but it was an opportunity open to all of them.” The memorial’s volunteer Managing Director, Gary Hill, coordinated with Mosow for the Continued on page 3
Isaac, 13 and Isabel, 10. Laura Wine, Director of Youth and Family Programs has been with the JCC Youth Services Department for 21 years. During that time, she has held the position of counselor, assistant director, specialty camp director, and Kidz Inn Coordinator. She has been the Youth Services Director since 1999. In addition, she is also an Instructor for the American Red Cross. Laura plans and implements youth programs for K6th Grade, including school breaks, Kidz Inn after care, birthday parties, babysitters’ courses and overnights. She will be supervising BBYO and Katz; teen programming as well as Fit N Sit. Laura met her husband Bryan while they were both camp counselors at the J. They have two children: Andrew, 12, and Elizabeth, who is 10. Ed Heller, Director of JCC Health and Fitness has been part of the JCC staff for 11 years. His education background includes a B.S. degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Iowa State University. He also carries Continued on page 2
Annual Campaign: Change is in the air by SHERRIE SAAG Development Associate, Jewish Federation of Omaha Change may be the word of the moment at the Jewish Federation of Omaha but, one thing will stay the same. The Annual Campaign
Omaha to act in support of others. According to Norm Sheldon, Campaign Co-Chair, The Annual Campaign is what makes our community run. “The first element is to understand that together, we must assume ownership of our
Federation Annual Campaign Co-Chairs Ellie Batt and Norm Sheldon will remain as our preeminent fundraising vehicle; allowing us to meet our local needs while helping Jews all around the world. This year, it is all about inspiring and advancing our changing Jewish community. The campaign’s theme, “Doing a World of Good” is more than a marketing tagline. It carries the message that together, we care for those in need here in Omaha, in Israel, and around the world. We nurture and sustain Jewish identity and engage Jews in
community and the responsibility to ensure its continuity, and we do this in two ways: with our dollars and with our time.” “The change on campus is palpable. Where once we just imagined it, now you can feel it and see it,” said Jody Malashock, Jewish Federation of Omaha President. Malashock is, of course, referring to the structural reorganization that created a CEO/CFO model, improved use of facilities, and Continued on page 2