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Tessa Veksler To Speak At Annual Campaign Kick-Off Jay Katelman Joins P2G Management Team Page 4

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ELLIE NOVAK JFO Senior Director of Development he Jewish Federation of Omaha will welcome Tessa Veksler as the f e a t u r e d speaker for its 2027 Annual Campaign Community KickOff Event on Monday, Oct. 12. Veksler, a public speaker, content creator and Jewish advocate, has become an international voice for Jewish pride, college campus leadership, and the fight against antisemitism. A 2024 graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, she served as student body president during a period of intense pressure on Jewish students following the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. Ms. Veksler’s experience at UCSB drew national attention and is featured in the documentary October 8, which examines the rise of antisemitism on American

Omaha Press Club Honors Lee Polikov On Thursday, July 30, Omaha native Lee Polikov was honored as the 187th Face on the Barroom Floor. The evening began with a reception, followed by dinner and the customary “roast.”

T The Untested Cookbook Page 5

campuses and in public life after October 7. Since graduating, Veksler has continued to travel the country speaking about resilience, advocacy and the responsibility of Jewish communities to support the next generation of leaders. Born in the San Francisco Bay Area to See Campaign page 2

Time to “Book” Your Stay at the Golden Hotel Page 12

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home: A Legacy We Proudly Carry Forward, Part 2 LYNN BATTEN JFO Content Coordinator/Gallery Manager

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As we prepare to open the new addition to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, we will be running a series of articles reflecting on our community’s history of senior care. To help us fully understand the significance of where we are today, this series will look back at the journey that brought us here and the previous generations who

made this moment possible. Special thanks to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society archives and Jewish Press archives for providing source materials for this article. Part one of this series can be found in the Aug. 7 edition of the Jewish Press. Part 2: 1950 - 2000 After its opening in 1948, demand for the Dr. Philip Sher

Home for the Aged continued. By the 1950’s the national popularity of nursing home facilities was surging, thanks in part to new government grants. Residents of the Dr. Sher Home were now being housed in the medical quarters - an area meant exclusively for treatment of the sick. In 1956, the Sher Home announced a See RBJH page 3

Lee Polikov

Lee Polikov has been a key player in Sarpy County for more than five decades, serving the past 27 years as Sarpy County attorney. Prior to becoming Sarpy County Attorney, Polikov was recruited by Sarpy County Sheriff Pat Thomas to become his chief deputy in 1973 and held this post for 26 years. Roasters for the event included two past Faces on the Barroom Floor and an OPC Hall of Fame member. Bob Batt, retired executive vice president, Nebraska Furniture Mart (Face No. 124, 2010), served as Emcee. Other roasters were Jeff Davis, retired sheriff, Sarpy County; Jay Lerner, president and founder, The Lerner Company; Rose Ann Shannon, retired news director, KETV (member of the OPC Hall of Fame); Martie Cordaro, president, Omaha Storm Chasers (Face No. 179, 2024); and Gil Cohen, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Omaha Magazine. Polikov, who is retiring at the end of this year, has been a driving force in helping Sarpy County become the state’s fastest growing county. In his 53 years at Sarpy County, the county has more than tripled its population going from 70,000 in 1973 to more than 212,000 today. In 2011, the Omaha Storm Chasers opened Werner Park in Sarpy County, thanks in large part to the work of Polikov who was one of the key negotiators in See Lee Polikov page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026

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Lee Polikov

professional support recognized as an integral force in support of mental Continued from page 1 staff members provide health services for those who encounter the criminal helping Sarpy County become the investigative, ad- justice system, an effort that ultimately helps reduce rethe home for the minor league ministrative and opera- cidivism. squad. tional foundation that Polikov has served more than 20 years as a voting Polikov is a 1966 graduate of allows the office to member of the National District Attorneys Association Westside High School. He earned serve the county with in Washington, D.C., including his undergraduate and law degrees a three-year term as vice presiat the University of Nebraska-Lindent. He also served two terms coln. A military veteran, Polikov is a as president of the Nebraska graduate of UNL’s Reserve Officers’ County Attorneys Association, Training Corps (ROTC) program for representing prosecutors the U.S. Army. His eight-year military across the state and guiding commitment included serving six legislative, criminal-justice, years in the U.S. Public Health Service Lee Polikov with his wife of 50 years, Terry and professional initiatives Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve. Calek. Credit: Keeler-Christen Photo that strengthened Nebraska’s Throughout his career, Polikov has justice system. efficiency, profesbeen recognized for his innovation, leadership, and a One of the accomsteadfast commitment to ethical, community-focused sionalism and inplishments Polikov is most prosecution, including pioneering Nebraska’s first court- tegrity. In 2022, Polikov proud of is serving on the house facility dog program to support victims and witwas honored by the committee that made the nesses during the justice process. He built a reputation County for hiring good people, keeping them, and letting them Sarpy Roasters pose with Lee Polikov and his Face on the Bar- Omaha National Cemetery excel, while bringing fairness, steadiness, and institu- Chamber of Comroom Floor caricature (left-right) - Jay Lerner, Rose Ann possible in Sarpy County. He Shannon, Gil Cohen, Bob Batt, Lee Polikov, Jeff Davis and continues to serve as a longmerce as the Elected Official tional memory to the office. time board member of the As Sarpy County attorney, Polikov leads one of Ne- of the Year, a public recogni- Martie Cordaro. Credit: Keeler-Christen Photo braska’s most comprehensive and professionally staffed tion for his work in making a meaningful difference in Midlands Community Foundation, an organization that county attorney offices. The office includes 26 attorneys the community through his involvement in innovative supports philanthropic, educational, and communitywho staff 10 courtrooms and specialize in the prosecu- initiatives, including Teen Court, Alcohol Diversion, driven programs that benefit Sarpy and Cass Counties tion of felony and misdemeanor cases, juvenile justice Mental Health Diversion, Wellness Court, Werner Park and the surrounding region. matters, and child support enforcement. More than 50 and the Sarpy County Wastewater Agency. He also was

Campaign

and Israelis are by the rest of the world,” Veksler said. Continued from page 1 While still in Israel, Veksler began following student parents who emigrated from the former Soviet Union, Veksler grew up in a Russian-speaking, largely secular government conversations at UCSB, including a BDS Jewish home. Her connection to Jewish life and Israel resolution brought before the student government. She deepened as a teenager, particularly after her first trip stayed online for a 12-hour meeting, listening from afar to Israel with the National Council of Synagogue Youth, and using her allotted time to speak. “In those 12 an Orthodox Union hours, I had program designed two minutes to for public-school speak, and I students, during talked about the summer behow I’d just tween her junior been through and senior years of this war, and high school. how incorrect “It was my first they were, and time in Israel, I was how they comthere for a month, pletely misunand my perspective derstood Israel shifted completely,” and they didn’t Veksler said in a prereally undervious interview. “I stand what emerged much more Zionistic. I be- This image of US college student Tessa Veksler prompted filmmaker Wendy Sachs to they were talking about, and came observant. I make October 8 (supplied) how ridiculous they were, sitting there halfway across started keeping Shabbat. I felt like I found my place within the world, in the comfort of their own homes, with so the modern Orthodox community.” That growing sense of identity soon became leader- much to say,” she said. “That was my first look at what the conversation was ship. Veksler founded the first Jewish student union at like on campus, and also my first real understanding of her high school, then deferred her acceptance to the University of California, Santa Barbara, to spend a gap what student government was like.” When Veksler returned to California for in-person year in Israel at Bar-Ilan University. study at UCSB, where she majored in political science Because her first year of UCSB coursework was remote during the pandemic, she was able to spend two semes- and communication, student government became an ters in Israel while taking classes online. That year, unexpected path for service and leadership. “I thought that student government was for popular which coincided with the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas, became a defining part of her education kids, and that really was not me in high school,” she said. and strengthened her commitment to Israel and Jewish “I was a theater kid. I was not the student government type.” public life. That changed when UCSB’s student body president, “In May 2021, there was a war between Israel and Hamas, and that war made me feel like I really understood who was Israeli, hired Veksler to work in her office. what it’s like to be Israeli, and how misunderstood Israel “Within a few weeks of working for the student body

president, I said to my friends, ‘I want to be the student body president by the time I graduate.’” She later ran for student senate and won, then ran for student body president and won that election as well. At the same time, she led a student group that supported Israel and remained active in Jewish leadership and the broader campus community. In May 2023, Veksler was elected student body president, representing more than 24,000 students. When students returned from summer break, October 7 happened a week later. For several months, Veksler said she did not speak extensively in public. Then, in February, she posted a photo of herself in front of a sign inside UCSB’s Multicultural Center that read, “Zionist not allowed.” The post went viral and brought new attention to the hostility Jewish and Zionist students were facing on campus. Veksler’s public support for Israel and the Jewish community made her a target of harassment and a recall effort. She remained in office and became an increasingly visible advocate for Jewish students confronting hostility on campus. “I can understand how some people can see what I did as extraordinary or heroic or courageous,” she said. “For me, though, in the moment, it wasn’t heroism or bravery. For me, in the moment, I was in survival mode. I was in a state of mind where, especially after I went public, I thought about the message. What is the legacy that I want to leave?” Her answer was to keep speaking. Veksler has said that she felt a responsibility not only to defend herself, but to model courage and purpose for other Jewish students and families watching from across the country. “I knew that at that point, when I had already made the situation public, that there were going to be Jewish people who were looking up to me to see what I was going to do, and I wasn’t going to allow people to see someone who was threatened as a Jew be complicit in these people’s demands,” she said. “I felt I owed it to my community to do the right thing and to set a positive example, See Campaign page 3

The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026 | 3

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RBJH

Continued from page 1 campaign for a new, $60,000 wing. Eight additional rooms and a porch were added. 1961 saw further expansion. The families of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cherniak donated funds for a new wing. Known as the Cherniak-Chapman Pavilion, it had 12 private rooms. An additional gift from Mr. and Mrs. Hymie Milder also helped extend the services available at Sher. Over the next few decades, specialized senior care and assisted living facilities became commonplace. The creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 made healthcare more readily available to seniors. Stronger government regulations on nursing home care bolstered consumer confidence and further strengthened demand. Quality care for the elderly remained a top propriety for the Jewish Federation of Omaha. In 1980, the Federation announced a plan for a new Center for the Aging. The Sher Home, now over 30 years old, needed to evolve. Federation President, Joe Kirshenbaum, announced Harlan Noddle and Isadore Tretiak as co-chairmen of the Center for the Aging project. Members of the Steering Committee included Leonard (Buddy) Goldstein and Nancy Greenberg. The goal was to build a new facility at a central location that included a skilled nursing facility for up to 80 residents

and a 52-unit apartment building for the well-elderly. Both were to be built on the same campus the Omaha Jewish Community Center had moved to in 1974. The Sher Home would be sold upon completion of the new building. Mary Fellman, past president of the Federation, said the focus was on present and future needs. “The Dr. Sher Home has served us well but no longer meets all the standards of care for today. During the past 25 years, older people became younger in spirit … their need to fill leisure hours is more obvious.” Fellman also referenced a demographic survey showing 20 percent of the Jewish community was over the age of 60. In 1981, the Federation approved plans as presented by the project committee and architect Roger Schutte. Authorization was given to launch a $3.6 million dollar campaign, including an endowment. Meanwhile, 64 years after her arrival in America, the great success of Nebraska Furniture Mart put Rose Blumkin and her family in the position to make a substantial gift to the collective Jewish community. The family pledged $1 million to the project. It was the single largest philanthropic gift ever made to the Jewish Federation of Omaha. "I came from Russia without any money to a wonderful country, and I was lucky enough, to make a success,” Mrs. B said in an interview with the Jewish Press in 1981. “I respect elderly people... I want elderly people to be treated right. So, I want to give my love to the elderly people especially those who have no one to care for them… Let people think before they die to do the best they can for others while they are still alive… A new home for the elderly will be like adding life to their years. They deserve a place to live in comfort and dignity, and having the Home with the JCC will be like reuniting the Jewish family — all the generations will be coming home." Upon this remarkable gift, the JFO Board unanimously

approved the naming of the nursing home as "The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home". Additional gifts followed. The campaign goal was increased to $4.35 million, and the contract was given to Hawkins Construction Company. Groundbreaking for the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (RBJH) was held on September 9th, 1981. Over 400 people attended. Rose Blumkin, along with key members of the campaign, had the honor of "turning the earth." Nancy Noddle and Maxine Kirshenbaum were chairmen of the reception. Individuals from the Bureau for the Aging and LOVE (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly) were hosts. Joe Kirshenbaum, Federation President said, "It is the inner strength of a community which determines how well it meets the challenges that confront it. Your total concern, support and participation have made this community stronger. Together we had a job to do. Together we did the job. Indeed, it makes one proud to be a part of the Omaha Jewish Community." RBJH opened in November of 1982 with the mission of “providing Jewish seniors the necessary and appropriate programs and services to enhance the quality, comfort, and dignity of their lives.” The new facility had 50 rooms. The average cost for maintaining a resident was around $49 a day. By 1987, the community struggled with RBJH waitlists of over 50 people. Then Don Klein, president of the Bureau for the Aging, began a study on the need for increasing capacity. The study found that, to meet future demand and sustain viability for the next 15-20 years, RBJH would need to expand. The Blumkin Family donated $500,000 to support the expansion. The Ike Friedman family also donated $50,000. By the summer of 1988, a $1.9 million / 25,000 sq. ft. addition to RBJH was approved. Gary Goldstein was appointed as architect. The 22-bed expansion would bring capacity to 117. A new entrance, offices, and kosher kitchens were included. Previously, RBJH had used the kitchen and meeting rooms within the JCC to meet their needs. Groundbreaking took place in the spring of 1989. The expansion was completed by the fall of 1990. Following a national trend focused on personalized care, new occupants of RBJH were able to customize their rooms with one of three furniture styles and a color selection of blue or peach. The expanded dining rooms also allowed resident families to make reservations and dine with relatives on Friday nights.

Campaign

Continued from page 2 and to focus on a mission that was much bigger than myself.” Veksler now works in public relations in New York City while continuing to speak nationally about antisemitism, Israel advocacy, Jewish identity and the power of showing up for one another. Her message is especially timely for communities, like Omaha, seeking to strengthen Jewish life, deepen engagement and invest in the future. The Annual Campaign Community Kick-Off Event is an opportunity for the Omaha Jewish community to come together in support of the Federation’s work locally, in Israel, and around the world. Veksler’s message will inspire us to reflect on what it means to lead with Jewish pride, how communities can support students and young adults, and why collective responsibility remains central to Jewish life. 2027 Annual Campaign Co-Chair Samantha Sullivan is eager to extend that sense of responsibility with our community. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be raised in a family that has always led by example through their dedication to the Jewish community,” Samantha said. “Their commitment has inspired me to carry that legacy forward through my own engagement and leadership. I’m excited to see our community continue to grow & evolve

as the next generation brings new perspectives while honoring the traditions that have brought us together.” Veksler also speaks about the generational differences that shape Jewish courage. Her parents left the Soviet Union when fighting back against antisemitism was not an option. Initially, they hoped she would step away from public confrontation. Veksler has said their experience helped her understand both their concern and her own responsibility today. “When I speak to parents, I tell them that when your children go to college, you have to have faith that you raised them to the best of your ability,” she said. “And I always say that your kids are more remarkable than you give them credit for being,” Veksler said. That message, she has said, is not limited to students. “A lot of young people are becoming frontline Jewish warriors on their campuses and in their workplaces,” Veksler said. Ms. Veksler’s message has also been inspirational to recent Elkhorn High School graduate Adria Tipp, daughter of past Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Sonia and Alan Tipp. Now a rising junior at the University of Kansas, Ms. Tipp heard Veksler speak in Washington D.C. at an Israel on Campus Coalition summit in 2025. “Tessa was so inspirational. After watching her in the move Oct. 8, I was even more excited to listen to her

words of encouragement and feel her strength in person. I was grateful to carry some of her wisdom back to my own campus.” Adria said. “I admired her ability to speak out and make a profound difference, especially in a world when being quiet and just accepting noise is a lot easier.” “You can either rise to the challenge and let it shape you, or you can let it break you,” Veksler has said. “It shaped me. I am very proud of the way I was able to handle it, and how I try to continue it now in my professional life.” The Jewish Federation of Omaha invites community members to hear Veksler’s story and help launch the 2027 Annual Campaign on Monday, Oct. 12. The event will be held at the Tenaska Center, at 1115 Dodge Street in downtown Omaha. Event chairs include Jamie and Troy Meyerson, Jennifer and Scott Meyerson, and Heidi and Scott Schneiderman. Additional event details will be shared by the Federation in the coming weeks and registration will open in mid-August. For questions about the event or the Annual Campaign, please contact Ellie Novak, Senior Director of Development at enov ak@jewishomah.org or 402.334.6443.

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Jay Katelman joins P2G Management Team

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The Partnership2Gether (P2G) Management Team recently welcomed a brand-new member: our own Jay Katelman, JFO Director of Community Development. At last month’s Council of Communities meetings in Indianapolis, he succeeded Amy Fouts (Louisville, KY) as her three-year term concluded. Jay’s professional role includes overseeing our community’s Israel & Overseas Committee and serving as the community’s P2G point person, so this is a natural step. “Attending the Council of Communities meeting in Indianapolis this year was an incredibly valuable experience.,” Jay said. “Arriving early to review the budget and discuss topics such as programming and the decisionmaking process gave me a much deeper understanding of how the organization operates. The meeting was exceptionally well organized, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. Omaha can look forward to engaging and impactful programming both locally, in Israel, and through virtual offerings.” In his new role, he will have the opportunity to help shape the future of P2G by contributing to key decisions involving the budget, programming, leadership, and other strategic priorities. “I see this as an opportunity to help move P2G forward,” he added, “strengthen its impact, and support its continued growth for years to come.” P2G has been an invaluable partner to the Omaha community for nearly 30 years. Some community members have been involved since its inception and continue to participate today. In fact, one of those longtime participants is helping organize Partnership’s 30th anniversary celebration next year.

“What I value most about P2G,” Jay said. “are the meaningful connections it creates. Whether we are hosting a delegation in Omaha, traveling to the Western Galilee as part of a delegation to Israel, or collaborating virtually on a shared program, the program fosters a powerful sense of peoplehood and connection that keeps participants engaged year after year. These relationships extend far beyond a single event or program. People don't simply meet, exchange thanks, and move on — they build lasting bonds, and many of those relationships become as close as family. Every opportunity we have to invest in P2G is one we embrace because we have witnessed its impact firsthand. Time and again, we see the difference it makes—not only within the Omaha community, but across the entire P2G network.” For Jay, P2G has become much more than just another aspect of his job. Over the years, it has become a true passion project. He has had the privilege of meeting incredible people who he is proud to call friends. It has provided countless opportunities for learning, professional growth, and leadership, but what he enjoys most is bringing people together around a shared purpose. “One of the greatest gifts is the sense of belonging it creates,” Jay said. “Whether I am hosting delegations in Omaha, visiting Israel, or accompanying our teens on their Israel experience, I know we have a place to go and people who welcome us like family. I also know the same feeling is shared when we welcome delegations to Omaha. That mutual sense of connection, hospitality, and home is truly special, and it reflects the lasting relationships that the program continues to foster across our communities. I look forward to helping cultivate that next generation of leaders, so Partnership2Gether continues to thrive for the next 30 years and beyond.”

Herzl’s Final Wish

THEIA CHATELLE JTA JERUSALEM — When World Zionist Organization officials working with the Israeli Foreign Ministry opened the grave of Theodor Herzl’s grandfather on July 29 in Zemun, Serbia, they found it empty. Shimon Leib Herzl was not buried beneath his tombstone. So they kept digging to the side of his wife Rivka’s grave and found his remains there, according to Yizhar Hess, the WZO’s acting chairman, who was present at the exhumation. On the afternoon of August 5, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in attendance, Herzl’s grandparents were reinterred on Mount Herzl.

“The long journey of the Herzl family, from foreign soil to the soil of Zion, ends here today on Mount Herzl,” Netanyahu said. “The vision has arisen and become reality. Zionism has won.” The reburial came 77 years to the Hebrew date after Herzl himself was laid to rest on the Jerusalem hillside that bears his name. The Knesset had voted on Aug. 10, 1949, to bring his remains from Vienna in one of its first acts. The WZO says the ceremony completes the last unfulfilled clause of Herzl’s 1903 will, which instructed that his body be transferred to the Land of Israel along with the coffins of his father, his sister Pauline and several close relatives. “Having a chapter of his will that was not fulfilled is something that needed to be fixed,” Hess said. Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com.

PAM MONSKY JCRC Assistant Director Two years ago, JCRC conducted a community survey to better understand the ways in which you engage with the JCRC, and the issues that matter most to you and Omaha's Jewish community. Our world has changed since 2024, and mid-term elections are just around the corner. Now is the time to check back in with you to determine how those changes impact how you engage with the JCRC and feel about Israel, civil rights, and local issues. The survey takes only 5-7 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and data will be collected, analyzed and summarized by New Sky Consultants. In addition, you can enter to win one of four $75 gift cards! The survey will be open until mid-September with results available in October 2026. We want to hear from you! Take 5 minutes to let your opinion be heard! Go to jewishomaha.org and click on the Community Survey card or scan the QR code.

JCRC Hosts Voter Registration Event

PAM MONSKY JCRC Assistant Director Are you voter ready? Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center members and guests will have the opportunity to register to vote in the 2026 midterm elections on Sunday, Aug. 23 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the JCC main entrance and at Member Services. The League of Women Voters Omaha Chapter and the JCRC will have volunteers on hand to help people register to vote and to check their voter registration status. Voters should re-register to vote every time they move, change their name or want to change their party affiliation. You can also check your voter status and register to vote at sos.nebraska.gov/elections/registeringvote.

See full digital issues: omahajewishpress.com/eedition

The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026 | 5

The Untested Cookbook NICE SPICE RICE Linda “Lovely” Gordman

Ingredients: 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 onion (peeled and chopped) 2 garlic cloves (minced) 3 cups brown or white rice (cooked) 1/2 tsp. turmeric 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. Chinese ﬁve spice powder 8 oz. fresh or frozen peas 1 tbsp. soy sauce salt and pepper (to taste) Directions: Cook the rice in the cooker or stove top. Heat the oil and gently fry the onion for 3 minutes. Add garlic and spices and cook for another 3 minutes. Add the rice, spices and peas and cook for a short time so that peas are still ﬁrm. If you have a rice cooker this completed dish can be returned to the cooker and kept warm with the lid closed for hours. Credit: “Fried Rice” by 7Belle7, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. / [A 17% crop was made to the original image]

“If we didn’t have to eat, we’d all be rich.” Yiddish folk saying

TAMALE PIE Nancy Rips Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef 1 pkg. Williams chili seasonings 1 can tomato soup 1 can tamales, cut into slices 1 small can of corn, drained Crushed Fritos (optional)

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brown hamburger and drain well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Put into a casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Top with crushed Fritos.

Credit: “Tamale pie close-up” by Michelle Tribe, used under CC BY 2.0

CINNAMON APPLE CAKE Harriet Singer Ingredients: 1 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup margarine 1 tsp. vanilla 6 oz. low fat cream cheese 2 large eggs 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 2 tsp. cinnamon 3 cups peeled and chopped apple pieces 1 1/2 cups all-purpose ﬂour Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, vanilla, and cream cheese on medium speed for 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients and add to the cream mixture. Combine remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle 1/2 over apples. Stir the apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 8" springform pan coated with spray. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon mixture on top. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

6 | The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026

TOGETHER TUESDAY

Summer fun at Shwayder Camp!

The Hands Behind the Mission in the Chabad kitchen

SP O TLIGHT PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

RBJH Residents went on a wild adventure with Wildlife Encounters

RBJH RBJH Residents are enjoying getting to know Cadee, the Jacobson Leadership Intern.

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026 | 7

Will’s Bookshelf

AWE! It’s Everywhere, the title of Chana Stiefel’s newest book, stands for an Awesome Wondrous Empowering Emotion. The book is masterfully illustrated by Susan Gal. This breathtaking journey takes you to the Grand Canyon and the deepest reaches of the sea. It invites you to share moments of giving and to feel the joy of family and community. Time to ask our Creative Director, Will Fischer, what he thinks. What is this book about? With a title like Awe! It’s Everywhere!, there’s not too much mystery about the book’s subject. It aims for what it says on the tin. But there is an impressive amount of ambition in the execution. The illustrations try and evoke moments of awe from the natural and urban worlds through color, layout, and scale, and they do an amazing job. I haven’t been this impressed by this kind of targeted illustration in a while. Who is it meant for? It’s meant for very young readers – preschool to early grade school, I should say. But it would make good reading (or at least viewing) for art students too. There are valuable lessons here in selling scale with limited space. What do you as a 30-something like about it? I can remember reading books as a kid that tried to describe or evoke feelings of kindness, curiosity, repentance, play, and even grief. But I don’t recall that I’ve ever seen a picture book, as a child or as an adult, that tried to describe and evoke awe. If nothing else, I appreciate the originality, but as I said above, the illustrations are remarkable. Do you think young children will love it? Why? Absolutely I think kids would love it! The youngest readers might not be able to fully grasp and internalize “awe” as a clearly defined concept, but I think they’ll intuitively feel it through the artwork.

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Swing Into the Best Jewish Weekend of the Year! MUSHKA TENENBAUM Chabad of Nebraska

Ever wondered what it's like to spend an unforgettable weekend with thousands of Jewish teens from around the world in New York City? Come learn all about the CTeen International Shabbaton — the ultimate winter experience filled with inspiration, incredible friendships, exciting events, and memories you'll be talking about long after it's over. Join us for an evening at Topgolf where we'll: • Hear all about the NYC Shabbaton • Answer all your questions • Hang out with old friends and make new Jewish friends • Play some Topgolf and have a great time!

Sunday, Aug. 30, 7–8:30 p.m. at Topgolf Omaha Bring your Yid bestie! RSVP: Text "Top Golf with a side of Shabbaton" to 402.215.5240 or message us on Instagram @CTeen_Omaha. This winter, NYC is calling. Come find out why the CTeen Shabbaton is an experience thousands of Jewish teens look forward to every year.

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8 | The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026

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David Finkelstein President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Will Fischer Creative Director Claire Endelman Sales Director Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Sam Kricsfeld Digital support Mary Bachteler Accounting Jewish Press Advisory Board David Finkelstein, President; Margie Gutnik, Ex-Officio; Toby Dresdner, Andrea Erlich, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Avery Lubin, Sara Rips, Seth Schuchman, Stewart Winograd and Bob Yaffe. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the JFO are:: Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE), Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS), Jewish Press, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (RBJH), Jewish Family Service (JFS), Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center (JCC). Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial E-mail editorial material and photos to: jpress@jewishomaha.org and avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: wfischer@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes signed Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026 | 9

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Advisory Board, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

Border Control ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor By now, you’ve likely seen the images of the roughly 60,000 Moroccans crossing the border into Spanish territory on July 31. They “swam and crossed on foot into Ceuta, a small Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa that borders Morocco,” Shira Li Bartov wrote. It looked like mayhem, 88 people died, and most of the migrants had gone home by August 2. To be clear, Ceuta is a Spanish territory on the North African coast-it’s considered occupied land by Morocco. There is a second one, also held by Spain, called Melilla. Most news outlets were vague about what exactly caused the border breakdown. No worries, the internet always has an answer: it was the Jews. “A global conspiracy of Jews working to destroy European societies from within through Muslim migration,” to be precise. Others claimed it was revenge orchestrated by Israel, to punish the Spanish government for not being nice to the Knesset. The Antisemitism Research Center analyzed 173 posts from 119 influencer accounts that racked up a total 57.5 million views. The thing that still surprises me is the speed at which antisemitic tropes are spread. It’s a lot, 57.5 million views. Granted, not every pair of eyeballs means another antisemite-no one agrees automatically with every post they see, but still. Why does crazy spread so fast? I would love to see the analytics. Conspiracies about us are of course not new.

However, I remember a time when they were somewhat stagnant. You know, blood in the matzah, killing of Christian children, the banks, the movie industry. The big international cabal that pulls the strings behind the scenes. Blah, blah, blah, same old. But in recent decades, those theories seem to grow and expand in new and fantastical ways. You can draw a fairly straight line from blood libel to the accusations of genocide and trafficking, and the current noise surrounding AIPAC is tied to the fact that we’re supposedly in charge of all the money. The Epstein stories fit existing tropes-especially nasty territory since Epstein himself was definitely guilty beyond doubt. But: the tempo at which lies and misinformation follow current events in real time is truly mindboggling. And I can’t remember: have we always been accused of controlling the weather? Is it just the tornadoes, or does it include all natural disasters? How about earthquakes, or mudslides? How busy, exactly, are we in our spare time? So many questions. Some people go online and push back, post counterarguments to the crazy accusations to Facebook and Instagram. I think that’s a waste

of time, because the people who spread these conspiracies are not bringing any rational ideas to the table. Conspiracies are, by definition, a members-only affair. Take flat earthers, for instance. It’s not an easy one to defend; the amount of evidence proving the earth is, in fact, an actual globe is overwhelming. Believing the earth is flat anyway makes them feel like they’re part of an exclusive club. “Knowing” something most people don’t, convincing yourself that makes you special and smarter than others, it may seem attractive. I am convinced, though, that most job interviews don’t end well if the candidate brings up their planetchallenged beliefs. The problem with antisemitism is that it’s lost that exclusivity. Anyone can join these days. You don’t have to hide your views; you can be loud and proud and accuse the Jews of all sorts of things without immediately becoming an outcast. Antisemitism, it’s trending big time. Everyone is doing it. It could be the driver in the next lane, it could be other shoppers at the supermarket, it can be the receptionist at the doctor’s office. And perhaps that makes me as paranoid as the ones starting conspiracies in the first place.

with this history,” particularly as Holocaust survivors are gradually dying off. But it is not just students that need to know. Everyone must be educated about the Holocaust and must learn “to do something with this history.” Furthermore, this must be done on an ongoing basis as memory can be short-lived. Hence my role as an active second generation speaker relating my mother’s survival through the Holocaust. Since Oct. 7, 2023, there has been a frightening worldwide explosion of antisemitism, antiJudaism, and hatred of Israel. The attacks against Jews and Israel occur in multiple ways,

case then, not uncommonly this is promoted by individuals and institutions in power. The current situation is far more dangerous than in the past as it is not confined to an area such as Europe, but is world-wide, amplified by technology that can instantaneously disseminate hate. It is startling that even in the United States where Jews once felt safe, Jews now find themselves unsafe. However, we must face this current reality. When I went to Auschwitz in November 2023, I took a photograph of a large bold display in Block 11 quoting Hans Frank, then the

verbal, political, institutional and physical. This is eerily similar to events in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s as the Nazis and other fascist groups rose to power. These developments now unfortunately find expression from a diverse array of individuals, groups, institutions, political entities/alliances, and nations and governments, not just the fascist far-right of the 20th century. As was the

Governor General in Nazi Occupied Poland that reads as follows: “JEWS ARE A RACE THAT MUST BE TOTALLY EXTERMINATED”. The current reality of worldwide attacks against Jews and Israel has at its core the very same mindset. Hence the need for everyone “to know what happened, but we also want them to do something with this history”.

Facing reality I applaud The Jewish Press for publishing The Power of Place by Heidi Heilbrunn in the July 31, 2026 issue, documenting Jane Nesbit’s recent trip to Holocaust memorial sites in Lithuania, Poland, and the Netherlands. STEVEN WEES This article quotes Jane Guest Editoral stating: “At the end of the day we want the students to know what happened, but we also want them to do something

Images from Jane Nesbitt’s recent trip. Clockwise from top left: the old Jewish cemetery at Seoluva; The tracks to Auschwitz; the Zaliakalnis,the largest as well as one of the oldest Jewish Cemeteries in Lithuania. Credit: Ethan Roberts Photography.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. with our guest, flutist, Dr. Christine Erlander Beard and Jim Fried. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our board members: David Alloy, Renee Corcoran, Rick Katelman, Gail Kenkel, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon, Sissy Silber and Jenn Tompkins. Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Cantor Gil Ezring. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Kiddush sponsored by The Henry & Dorothy Riekes Beth El Endowment Fund and Margo & Steve Riekes following services; Havdalah, 9 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: USY Adventureland Trip; Morning Minyan, 9 a.m. Zoom Only — Summer Schedule; Mincha/ Ma'ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. MONDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m. at Beth El and Zoom; Mincha/Ma'ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. TUESDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Board of Trustees Meeting, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Back to BESTT Water Wars, 6 p.m. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m. at Beth El and Zoom; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom; Speaker Dr. Ari Kohen, “Fascist Legacies: Far Right Ideologies Then and Now,” 6 p.m. FRIDAY-Aug. 21: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream. SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Shabbat Morning Services and Bar Mitzvah of Micah Christensen, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Havdalah, 8:50 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL FRIDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:35 a.m.; Book of Remembrance Due, 5 p.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:07 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 7:05 p.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 8:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:09 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 9:35 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. MONDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. TUESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:35 a.m.; Smichat Chaver Men's Class, 7:10 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.;

Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:35 a.m.; Character Development, 1:30 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. THURSDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. FRIDAY-Aug. 21: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 7:35 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:57 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 6:55 p.m.; Mincha, 7:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:57 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE Join classes via Zoom. Go to ochabad.com/academy. For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m. go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 8:06 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:07 p.m. SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m.; Sunday Pod, 9:30 a.m., at Chabad, text 'Sunday Pod' to 402.215.5240 to register. MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6-8 p.m. with David Cohen. TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Aramaic Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with David Cohen. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with David Cohen. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Aug. 21: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m. go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 7:56 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:56 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Services led by Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options. FRIDAY: Federation Shabbat Service, 6-8 p.m. led by Rabbi Sendrow at Enclosed shelter at Bethany Park, 66th & VIne; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:08 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI followed by a Kiddush Lunch; Torah Study, 12:15 p.m. on Parashat Shoftim led by Rabbi Sendrow at TI; Family Potluck and Game Night, 6 p.m. at SST.

Bring a dish to share for the potluck beginning at 6 p.m. Games are available to play, but feel free to bring one of your favorites! Games begin at 7 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:09 p.m. SUNDAY: First Day of LJCS — Parent Meeting, 9:30 a.m.–noon; Men's Bike and Coffee Club, 10:45 a.m. The Mill Coffee & Bistro at Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Dr #1350, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at alb ertw801@gmail.com; We can do this - Feed the Children, 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Belmont Community Center. Questions? Susie at 402.570.4922 or Aimee Hyten (SST Lead) 240.475.0747; Jewish Book Club, 1:30–3 p.m. For more information, please contact Deborah Swearingen at devra60@gmail.com. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group, 12:15 p.m. at Horisun Hospice, 8055 O St #300, Lincoln. We meet in the conference room. Bring your own lunch and beverage. For more information, contact Albert Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com; First day of Hebrew Classes, 4:30–6 p.m.; SST Board Meeting, 7–9 p.m. at SST. FRIDAY-Aug. 21: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:307:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Sendrow at SST followed by an Oneg; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:58 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI followed by a Kiddush Lunch; Torah Study, 12:15 p.m. on Parashat Ki Teitzei led by Rabbi Sendrow at TI; Havdalah, 8:57 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander. FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Village Walking Group, 9 a.m.; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. SUNDAY: YLP Faculty Training, 9:30 a.m.; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 1 p.m. TUESDAY: Life and Philosophy of Abraham Joshua Heschel, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Bienstock; Mah Jongg Made Easy, 1:30 p.m. In-Person; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; YLP Faculty Training, 4 p.m. FRIDAY-Aug. 21: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Village Walking Group, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. InPerson & Zoom. SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

From the archives: August 12, 1926 ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor One hundred years ago, the Jewish Press announced the hiring of Dr. Samuel Gerson as the new director of the Jewish Community Center. Dr. Gerson came from Pittsburgh, where he worked as “head of settlement houses.” His actual title at the JCC was “superintendent,” and he succeeded William R. Blumenthal. Blumenthal, in turn, left to become director of the Cleveland JCC. Dr Gerson was once a dentist. During the war

he was field representative of the Jewish Welfare Board. He was a co-worker with Harry O. and Arthur L. Palmer, Omaha attorneys, at Hale House of Boston, founded by Edward Everett Hale. He is a cousin of Mrs. George Neuhaus. A.Z.A. official arrives in Omaha Philip M. Klutsnick (sp), past Aleph Godol of the Aleph Zadik arrived in Omaha Wednesday afternoon to assume his new duties as assistant secretary of the A.Z.A. order. Klutsnick, who lives in Kansas City, Mo., has been attending the University of Nebraska for the past year. While working here in Omaha, he will enroll at Creighton University. Dr. Gaster received by King of Roumania Bucharest—Dr. Moses Gaster, well known Anglo-Jewish scholar who was born in Romania,

was received by King Ferdinand upon his arrival here. An invitation extended to Dr. Gaster to attend the meetings of the Roumanian Academy was refused by him as a protest against the antisemitic policy of the Academy. It was stated that since the Academy is in existence, no Jewish scholar has ever been elected to membership, although leading Romanian philologists are all Jews.

TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at www.omaha jewishpress.com/site/forms/. Deadlines are normally nine days prior to publication, on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

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The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026 | 11

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Camp Gan Israel launches “Camp All Year”

MUSHKA TENENBAUM Chabad of Nebraska Campers and their families are still celebrating an unforgettable summer at Camp Gan Israel, “the greatest camp in the universe.” This year, camp completely leveled up, and we are so grateful for the most precious ten days filled with friendship, Jewish pride, excitement and memories that will last a lifetime. Waiting until June 28, 2027, to experience that camp feeling again is simply too long. That is why Camp Gan Israel is introducing Camp All Year, a new series of monthly events designed to keep the camp spirit alive throughout the year. The season kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m. with an action-packed Rosh Hashanah experience. Campers will grab an official team cap, customize their player gear and compete in the Simanim Playoffs before heading to the Challah Pro Shop to create a championship-worthy round challah. Players will also join the Official Team Draft, earn a special patch, choose their “MVP Move” for the year ahead, learn the sounds of the shofar and create an All-Star Walkout as they kick off Season 5787 in true Opening Day style. The stadium is packed, the crowd is roaring and the

Over 60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

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For more information, call

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Follow us on Instagram: new season is about to begin. Lace up and get in the game! Because of the extraspecial gear and activities planned, advance registration is required. These programs are open to all past, current and future Camp Gan Israelites. Admission is $5 per child, or families may register for all 10 events for just $36. Register at OChabad.com/Club.

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12 | The Jewish Press | August 14, 2026

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Michael Staenberg Collection Featured at The Epsten Gallery During Summer of Champions

HOPE HOWE Village Shalom As part of a sports-filled summer highlighted by athletes and fans of international soccer and the JCC Maccabi Games, The Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom invites the community to continue celebrating the spirit of competition through Champions of Form: The Art of Athletics. Through this exhibit, Village Shalom's Summer of Champions continues by recognizing a different kind of champion: philanthropist, collector, and community leader Michael Staenberg, who has shared sportsthemed works from his personal collection, focusing on expression through creativity, movement, determination, and the human spirit. What makes this exhibition especially meaningful is that every piece on display from the Michael Staenberg Collection is available for purchase, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Village Shalom. It's a rare opportunity to acquire art while directly supporting Village Shalom's mission of providing outstanding care, services, and programs for older adults. Michael Staenberg has spent his career building businesses, supporting nonprofit organizations, and giving

back to the Jewish community. Along the way, he developed a passion for collecting art — not to keep it behind closed doors, but to share it with others. He believes art belongs in places where people gather, heal, learn, and connect.

“My hope is the art I choose to share brings joy or peace or, at the very least, just makes people think,” Staenberg says. The exhibit began earlier this summer, and has been enjoyed by residents and visitors, including over 100 Maccabi athletes who came to Village Shalom

for their volunteer project. Later this month, The Epsten Gallery will host a private reception with Michael Staenberg, generously hosted by Robert Epsten. Guests will hear about the stories behind the collection, and about Staenberg’s belief that art should be accessible to everyone. Selected works from the Michael Staenberg Collection are also on display at The J, and around Metcalf 103, the shopping center managed by The Staenberg Group, allowing the community to experience different pieces from Staenberg’s private collection. The Epsten Gallery is located inside Village Shalom, 5500 W. 123rd Street in Overland Park, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Through Champions of Form: The Art of Athletics, Staenberg continues his longstanding commitment to sharing art, inspiring conversation, and giving back. Visitors are encouraged to experience the exhibition before it closes on August 30 — and to consider taking home a piece of the collection while helping support Village Shalom's mission of serving older adults with dignity, compassion, and excellence.

Time to “Book” Your Stay at the Golden Hotel

SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist The Kaplan Book Group takes a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with the return to the Golden Hotel - perhaps the last resort in the once famous Catskills vacation scene. How many of us spent summer vacations at one of the Catskills or at least heard about the resorts and their extravagant entertainment and dining offerings during its heyday? Author Elyssa Friedland takes us on one last vacation in her novel Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. The JFO hosted Elyssa in 2019 for a Jewish Book Event luncheon where she discussed her novel The Floating Feldmans. She left us amused and excited for her next complex family dynamics book. For nearly sixty years the Goldman and Weingold families have co-owned and operated the Golden Hotel located in Windsor, New York. Now. times are hard and the families face the difficult decision of whether to close and sell to a casino franchise, or to continue to operate the hotel. The Golden is not the premier resort it once was and is badly outdated and in need of major re-

pairs and upgrades. Times have changed and families in general don’t frequent such elaborate summer resorts as they once did. The two families and their extended families are meeting at the Golden, maybe for one last time, to decide the Golden Hotel’s future. The three generations of the Goldman family are Benny (who has recently died), wife Louise, daughter Aimee, her husband Dr. Roger Glasser, and grandchildren Maddie, Scott, and Zachary. The three generations of the Weingold family are Amos, wife Fanny, twin sons Peter and Brian, and grandchildren Phoebe and Michael. Hoping that it would give Brian a sense of direction in his life, Benny and Amos urged Brian to begin working at the Golden after his di-

vorce. Brian has been running the day-to-day operations of the Golden Hotel since Benny and Amos retired and it was necessary for a second-generation family member to step up to ensure the Golden’s family management. As can be expected, there is much family drama and secrets within both the Goldman and Weingold families. There are also some shared dramas that exist between Aimee and Brian, Maddie and Zachary, and Louise and Fanny. One of the invested parties involved in the future of the Golden’s voting has ulterior motives for wanting the sale — Aimee’s husband Roger is being investigated and is facing arrest for illegally writing prescriptions and supplying drugs. He needs his wife’s share of the money to pay for his lawyer and legal fees. Will the Golden Hotel survive all the drama and pressure facing the Goldman-Weingold families? Come find out. We hope you can join us Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. when the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for its monthly meeting at the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center to discuss Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. The Dorothy Kaplan book discussion group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. Both in person or via Zoom. New members are always welcome. The Group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For information about the group and to join in the discussion, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@jewishomaha.org.