Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA December 21, 2012 7 Tevet 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 14
Brandon Thomas Scholarship
Next Week The Jewish Press will
by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation is pleased to announce that Robert and Ellen Gordman have established the Brandon Thomas Vocational Scholarship Fund. The endowment fund was created in memory of the Gordman’s late grandson, Brandon Thomas, who passed away in 2010. “Bob and Elly approached us about setting up this new endowment in support of scholarships,” explained Marty Ricks, Foundation Executive Director. “Their generosity will make an important difference for high school graduates who want to pursue a vocational trade rather than attend a traditional college or university.” Income from the scholarship fund will be used for annual scholarships for one or more Jewish high school graduates who wish to pursue a career in a vocational trade and have indicated an interest in the trade by working and/or volunteering in the field prior to beginning their formal training. “Vocational trade” means skilled work typically requiring formal technical training specific to a particular job or career as distinguished from unskilled work or from what
not publish for December 28.
This Week
Hanukkah at Tifereth Israel Page 11
The 2012 Jewish year in review Page 15
On the road, 2012 Page 20
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
Next Month The Food Guide See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
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Tips from Dr. Ruth by MAXINE DOVERE (JNS.org) Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the Holocaust survivor turned internationally known sex educator, gave an interview with JNS.org. Now 84 years old, she reviewed her best tips for senior living -- including cultivating relationships with adult children and grandchildren, finding a partner (and enjoying life without one), and being practical when it comes to finances. Bob Gordman, Brandon Thomas and Elly Gordman might generally be described as a profession or business. A scholarship can be used for tuition, books and other related expenses for a student living at home and participating in a vocational program in Omaha. Housing expenses can also be covered for a student attending a vocational program outside of Omaha. Brandon Thomas participated in the culinary arts program at Metropolitan Community College. This is just one example of the type of vocational program for which the scholarships may be granted.
“We wanted to do something for the Jewish community and memorialize Brandon, so we decided to create this scholarship,” explained Elly Gordman. “This fills an important need since not all high school graduates go on to college. There are many scholarships in Omaha’s Jewish community, but they are geared toward college students. And we wanted to do something that reflected Brandon’s interests and abilities. Brandon had this drive to become a chef and we became increasingly aware that some kids Continued on page 2
Jewish Book Month celebrations by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, Center for Jewish Life Events for Omaha’s 39th year of celebrating Jewish Book Month included happenings for those of all ages. Events kicked off with the Jewish Book Month Luncheon on Nov. 28, featuring author Janna Yeshanova. Using her engaging personality, Janna shared her story of leaving the former Soviet Union and making a new life in the U.S. Laughter was heard throughout her presentation, as she told about her wide range of experiences. The luncheon was generously sponsored by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Endowment Fund. Next up was the Jewish Book Month Children’s Event held on Saturday evening, Dec. 8. What better way to celebrate the first night of Chanukah than with over 200 members of the Jewish community at the Omaha Children’s Museum! The museum was hopping with children, parents and grandparents all enjoying a night of fun, candles, dreidels, story telling, crafts and, of course, food. The event also included the re-
Living life to the fullest:
Zoë Berman and Linda Rosenfeld enjoy the face painting launching of P.J. Library, a program that provides free Jewish books for children ages 6 months through 8 years. As families left, the refrain heard repeatedly was “This has to become an annual event!” The Children’s Event was made possible through the generosity of the Ann Goldstein Memorial Fund. Omaha Jewish authors were the spotlight of the final Jewish Book Month event on Sunday, Dec. 9. The Omaha Jewish Author Showcase provided the perfect venue for the diverse
personalities and widespread talent of Omaha’s own to shine. Authors Brian Bogdanoff, Steve Caplan, Tony Endelman, Steve Fischer, Milton Kleinberg, Simon Noel, Ozzie Nogg and Nancy Rips, along with editor Sandra Wendel, shared stories about their literary experiences. Serving as emcee, Nancy Rips commented the presentations moved from “Midrash to Las Vegas, UNMC to the Omaha Police Department and everything in between.” Continued on page 2
Dr. Ruth Westheimer Credit: Maxine Dovere Born Karola Ruth Siegel in Frankfurt, Germany, the woman now known as “Dr. Ruth” saw her father arrested by Nazis and said a final goodbye to her mother as she boarded a Kindertransport rescue train to Switzerland. By 17, she was in the British mandate of Palestine on a kibbutz, and, later in Jerusalem, the diminutive teenager became a sniper for the Haganah forces. A bombing on the night of her 20th birthday left her badly wounded, but she recovered and went on to study at Paris’s Sorbonne, as well as the New School and Columbia University (for a doctorate in education) in New York. Three marriages (two brief ones, followed by the last to Manfred Westheimer for more than 30 years), two children (Miriam and Joel), and a selfdesigned and determined persona later, the octogenarian found herself in a theater in Western Massachusetts, watching an on-stage portrayal of her life. “I had to pinch myself a few times to realize that I was in the audience and not on stage,” Dr. Ruth Westheimer said in an interview with JNS.org. A self-created, resilient survivor, Dr. Ruth became an internationally known sex educator at a time when many consider retirement. Dr. Ruth’s essential focus is living as fully as possible. “People have to be active, to do things,” she said. “Do a new activity every single day. Take a course, go to a concert, make sure to keep a relationship with a neighbor -- to schmooze a little, not just to cry Continued on page 2