Vol. LXXXIV No. 13 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 84 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Dennis DePorte Joins Temple Staff as Executive Director by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Dues Equalization Committee which he chaired for Temple Israel Communications Coordinator three years. Later he became a member of the Gary Kaplan, president of Temple Israel’s Board of Executive Committee and was elected treasurer and Trustees, announced that Dennis DePorte, a longtime then vice president. Last year, he served on the volunteer and lay leader at Temple, Executive Committee as a presidential has been named the new executive appointment. director. He assumed the position on DePorte was also a member of several Nov. 29. search committees including the ones Kaplan pointed out DePorte’s “deep that hired Cantor Wendy Shermet and commitment to Temple” and his previous to her, Cantor Jennifer Blum. In “strong knowledge of our mission and addition to co-chairing Temple’s Annual operations. Dennis brings a unique Golf Outing, DePorte spearheaded the combination of business and voluncongregation’s popular Deli Night. He teer experience to the job,” stated gave his assurance that Temple would Kaplan. DePorte’s “customer service continue to host a Deli Night despite his background and years of Men’s Club change in occupation. leadership will be the basis of his However, he was slated to be the next service to the membership. His many president of the Board of Trustees and years as treasurer and leader of the now, as executive director, he has Budget and Dues Committees will be resigned from the board. A nominating a big help to both the board and committee will convene to select next Dennis DePorte staff.” year’s president, according to Kaplan. A member of Temple since 1976, DePorte believes “Sometimes, you see an opportunity and watch it go the depth of his knowledge of the history and inner by,” DePorte explained. But the more he thought about workings of Temple as well as his passion for Temple the position of executive director along with his will serve him well in his new position. Director of involvement at Temple, this was “an opportunity I didmarketing and sales at Ak-Sar-Ben Beef Company since n’t want to let pass by,” he said. 1984, DePorte added, that in a business sense, he feels As treasurer and Dues Equalization Committee chairqualified to manage and run the physical property of man, DePorte worked directly with former Executive the synagogue. Director Dorothy Spizman who served in the position With strengths in strategic marketing, business plan- for 20 years. ning and organizational leadership, DePorte has expe“I hope to continue the great traditions of Temple Israel rience in assessing diverse challenges while developing and help it flourish whether at our present location or in and leading action plans. He also worked for a new facility and to share my passion with the staff and Pennsylvania Life after attending the University of the membership,” he said. He expressed his intention “to Nebraska at Lincoln. be greatly involved” in working with the planning comIn 1988, DePorte began a three-year stint as president mittee as it progresses in its quest for a new building. He of Temple’s Men’s Club. During that period, he reacti- pointed out that he would want to “keep everything runvated the group. Following that, he was elected to the ning smoothly as the plans move forward, because the Board of Trustees. At the same time, he served on the internal mechanisms still have to run.”
20 Kislev, 5765 December 3, 2004
Shiputznick Teens to Repair the World …One Job at a Time by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director Look out world…here we come! In an effort to develop an appreciation for the meaning and practice of tzedakah within our Jewish youth, Jewish teens from all Jewish youth groups in Omaha have formed a volunteer group, “Shiputznick.” Our goal is for Jewish teens to participate in community service projects in the Jewish community as well as the Omaha community at large. Shiputznick means “repairman” in Hebrew, and ultimately, that’s who we are, as we work together to follow the principles of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. Shiputznick began with five teen committee members, who represented each of the four Jewish youth groups in Omaha. They are: Alyson Friedman, Avi Katzman, Seth Rich, Sarah Spooner, and David Trubnikov. Each of these teens has recruited a few more teens to help with our upcoming projects, and what started with only five has within the past few weeks increased to almost 20 participants. Shiputznick’s first project is this Sunday, Dec. 5, as over 15 teens have committed to help Jewish Family Service wrap Hanukkah presents for Project Dreidel. Teens have signed up to help in shifts throughout the day and are excited to know that their efforts will put a smile on the face of a child less fortunate than they are. The following Sunday, Dec. 12, a few more teens are celebrating Hanukkah with Yachad, a social/religious program associated with the National Conference of Synagogue Youth. Continued on page 3
A Notebook of Needs by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Editor’s Note: The story you are about to read is true, and used with permission. The names and some details have been changed to protect the subject’s privacy. Welcome to the second installment of The Project Dreidel Chronicles. Over the next three weeks, you will be introduced to a few of the Omaha area Jews who have been helped by Jewish Family Service. The people featured in these stories have graciously agreed to share intimate details of their lives with the community in order to increase awareness of the programs and services offered by Jewish Family Service that have made such a tremendous difference in their quality of Jewish life. Your gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign supports Jewish Family Service as well as the rest of our Centers of Excellence: the ADL/CRC, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services and Jewish Senior Services. Your gift to the Federation Campaign is what allows us to take care of each other in Omaha, Israel and 60 other countries around the world.
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
Despite our best efforts, our community needs continue to outpace contributions to the Omaha Federat i o n Annual C a m paign. Your increased Campaign gift ensures that every member of the Omaha Jewish community will have access to professional and compassionate help in a Jewish environment. People who come to Jewish Family Service have a wide variety of needs. Some need emergency assistance. Some need help accessing state or community services. Some of them just need some canned food to supplement their meals. The following snapshots are taken from actual requests over the last few months
and highlight some of the specific programs and services provided by Jewish Family Service. • Oscar is an elderly cancer patient confined to a wheelchair. From his apartment at the Livingston Plaza, Oscar wheels over to the Jewish Family Service office every couple of weeks and gets some canned fruit and vegetables and various kosher food items from the Food Pantry to supplement the food he gets from Meals-On-Wheels. Jewish Family Service has made restocking their food pantry a priority. Many people on fixed incomes come to the JFS food pantry to pick up kosher, canned and non-perishable food items and some just stop by for a can of soup to
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get through the day. Social Security benefits only go so far and when there are health issues, some people may need to choose between buying medication or food. Local grocery stores have been generous and have been donating kosher foods. In addition, a Jewish Family Service Food Drive is being held now until Dec. 30. Donations can be brought to the barrels at the Jewish Community Center. • When Jerry changed jobs recently, he discovered that the medical benefits plan offered by his new employer included a pre-existing condition clause that didn’t cover the multiple medical problems he and his wife have. Facing a $1,000 bill for monthly prescriptions, Jerry contacted Jewish Family Service for help. Accessing her vast resources, Director Becki Brenner contacted Hope Medical Outreach, a healthcare provider for underand un-insured people. Working with the Continued on page 2
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