Being a Good Ancestor
NAOMI FOX
JFO Director of Community Engagement and Education
On Sunday, Sept. 7, the Jewish Federation of Omaha is honored to welcome Rabbi Steve Leder—celebrated author, spiritual leader, and nationally recognized voice on living with meaning and purpose.
Rabbi Leder will speak at 4 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Theater at the Jewish Federation of Omaha, as the kickoff to a new year-long series called “Being a Good Ancestor”. The
Jewish History Tour
STACIE METZ
Beth El Engagement Coordinator
Beth El Synagogue, with the generous support of a Special Donor Advised Fund at The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, is thrilled to host a Jewish History Tour on Sunday, August 17, at 1 p.m. We hope you will join us for a three-hour bus tour starting at Beth El Synagogue and touring former Jewish synagogues, temples, cemeteries, and neighborhoods. We will get off the bus at B’nai Israel in Council Bluffs, walk through the syn-
agogue and tour the Living History Museum. Renee Ratner Corcoran, former Executive Director of Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, will be our tour guide.
Jewish history goes beyond the names and dates we find in our individual family tree, it’s about what makes us who we are. It’s about people who lived and breathed and walked the streets that we now walk; the people who established and built the strong Jewish community and institutions that serve us to this day. The more we discover about our past, the greater a connection we feel to See Jewish History Tour page 2
theme Being a Good Ancestor invites us to consider how our choices today can shape a more thoughtful and valuedriven future. A reception and book signing will follow, with books available for purchase.
Known for his deep spiritual insight and clear, compassionate communication, Rabbi Leder connects with audiences of all backgrounds on life’s most essential themes—how we love, how we grieve, and how we live with intention. His message is simple but powerful: “How we live See Good Ancestor page 3
Women in Auschwitz
MORGAN GRONINGER
Institute for Holocaust Education
Join the Institute for Holocaust Education and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Harris Center for Judaic Studies on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in the Wiesman Family Reception Room for Women in Auschwitz, presented by Dr. Sarah Cushman from Northwestern University.
In this talk, Cushman will discuss women’s existence in the most notorious Nazi camp – AuschwitzBirkenau. Three groups of women lived and worked in the camp. Women prisoners, including Jews, Romani women, political prisoners, and others, suffered and tried to survive in deadly conditions of starvation and forced labor. Some few found advantages in “privileged” work or as prisoner functionaries. These women often had some degree of power, which they used sometimes to help and sometimes to harm. Other women served the SS in Auschwitz as guards, communications experts, and nurses. Others accompanied their husbands to
the camp as helpmeets in the racial domination of Europe. We will explore these groups individually and in interaction with each other. Sarah Cushman is Director of the Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University and Senior Lecturer in the History Department. Cushman earned her PhD from Clark University in 2010. Her first book, Women in Auschwitz, is under contract with the University of Indiana Press. Cushman is co-editor of the just published Routledge Handbook to Auschwitz-Birkenau, See Women in Auschwitz page 2
Making a Difference: Honoring Helene News
MARY SUE GROSSMAN
Finding ways to make a difference is often the focus of individuals, groups, and organizations. Beth Israel Synagogue has been blessed with a long line of difference makers, dedicated volunteers involved with all aspects of the shul. Beth Israel’s 4th Annual Tribute Dinner will include honoring one of these volunteers, Helene Shrago, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The dinner will be held Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, during which Beth Israel will celebrate Rabbi Ari and Laura Dembitzer in addition to honoring Helene. Honorary chairs for the event are Michael and Melissa Shrago, Sharon Klibanow, David and Tzivia Dembitzer.
What has this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree done for Beth Israel? One needs to take a deep breath before sharing the list about Helene. Serving on the Beth Israel Board of Directors for many years, working with newbies in the Beth Israel kitchen, and shopping for groceries while always looking for the best deal is just a start. Next up is organizing menus for untold number of events including kiddushes, holiday luncheons, youth events, and casual dinners, preparing food, then dealing with the inevitable cleanup. A long-time co-chair of the Sisterhood Donor Luncheon, Helene was fearless in obtaining silent auction items and today, continues those efforts to secure ads for the tribute din-
ners. One of the first to welcome newcomers and always generous with her time and knowledge, Helene’s dedication to the synagogue is difficult to describe.
”When Bruce Potash asked my thoughts on this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, I immediately recommended Helene Shrago,” reports Rabbi Ari. ”When I think of someone who is always involved, always ready to help, and continually thinking of ways to make the shul better, Helene first comes to mind. Liora, Becca, Rabbi Mordechai and I see her in action, on a daily basis. Each one of us sees the time she devotes to our wonderful shul and are deeply appreciative of her efforts.”
The Tribute Dinner evening will begin with a social time at 5-5:30 p.m. with dinner and program at 5:45 p.m. Individual tickets are $136, patron tickets are $175, in addition to various Donor Scroll Donor levels. Ads from individuals, organizations, and businesses are also encouraged. Complete information is available at orthodoxomaha.org or in the weekly synagogue email. Event committee members include Bruce Potash, Helene Shrago, Bette Kozlen, Ron Giller, Howard Kutler, Debbie Roitstein, Nancy Wolf, Sarah Abrahamson, Karen Cohen, Rabbi Mordechai Geiger, and Mary Sue Grossman. Feel free to contact any member with questions or call 402.556.6288.
Jewish History Tour
Continued from page 1 our ancestors and the better we can understand the importance of preserving and building on the heritage of this community. Our Jewish community is made up of so many who did not grow up in Omaha – this is also an opportunity to open our eyes to why connecting to, preserving and strengthening our Jewish community is so important.
Renee shared, “I'm very happy to share some of the important and interesting locations that built our Jewish community. I'm also very excited to have B'nai Israel Synagogue and Living History Museum in Council Bluffs part of the tour. We have been working hard to make this little synagogue on Mynster Street a special place in our community.”
We are excited to open this up to the entire community, as it also affords the opportunity to build bridges of understanding between the Jewish and non-Jewish community. History is a powerful tool to build understanding.
We can’t wait! Register at www.bethel-omaha.org, or call Stacie at Beth El Synagogue at 402-492.8550.
Women in Auschwitz
Continued from page 1
co-editor in chief of Holocaust Studies: A Journal of Culture and History, and co-editor of the new series Cambridge Elements in Genocide Studies. Cushman served as Head of Educational Programming at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University from 2013-2016 and from 2007-2013, she was Director of Youth Education at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (New York). Cushman serves on the Executive Committee of the National Higher Education Leadership Consortium of Directors of Centers in Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies and is a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission.
Registration is requested and can be found by scanning the QR code (right).
Noah, Helene and Ethan Shrago
THE GREATEST CAMP IN THE UNIVERSE
MUSHKA TENENBAUM
Chabad of Nebraska
Part 3: Sawdust, Stories, and Squares of Connection
There’s something special about the smell of sawdust, the feel of real tools in your hands, and the joy of creating something from scratch. This summer at Camp Gan Israel, our campers got the rare opportunity to experience all three, thanks to a collaborative woodworking session with local artisan and beloved community member, Mr. Ron Feldman.
Ron taught the kids how to sand and shape wood — he also taught them patience, precision, and pride in craftsmanship.
Each camper created a unique square of wood, decorated and carved with their own artistic touch. These individual creations were joined together into one beautiful mosaic panel to be proudly displayed at Chabad — a symbol of unity, individuality, and Jewish camp spirit.
We were also honored to welcome Camp Gan Israel alum, Harper Gordman. Harper, who attended camp over 20 years ago, returned — not just to visit, but to volunteer. She shared memories from her childhood summers at CGI and reflected on how much those experiences shaped her iden-
Being a Good Ancestor
Continued from page 1 now shapes how we are remembered.”
Twice named by Newsweek as one of the ten most influential rabbis in America, Rabbi Leder served as the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles for over three decades and is now Rabbi Emeritus. His writing and teaching have reached a global audience through:
• Five bestselling books, including The Beauty of What Remains and For You When I Am Gone
• Appearances on NBC’s The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and NPR
• Contributions to TIME, USA Today, FoxNews.com, Woman’s Day, and more
Rabbi Leder helps people confront life's most profound questions with honesty, hope, and even a touch of humor— guiding us to live not just successfully, but meaningfully.
On Monday, Sept. 8, Rabbi Leder will also lead a special session for Omaha-area “caring professionals” including therapists, social workers, clergy, and others who support individuals and families through life transitions, grief, and personal growth. This private session will offer tools and reflec-
tity and values. ”I still remember the songs, the counselors, and the feeling of belonging,” Harper said. ”Now, watching these kids experience the same magic — it feels like coming full circle.”
Camper Highlights:
Rachel W (8): ”It’s my third time! I love all the activities — can we add ramen bowls next year, please? I’m bringing my friend Noah.”
tions rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern psychological insight.
Rabbi Leder’s visit launches a broader community series on Being a Good Ancestor with upcoming sessions through 2026, in collaboration with other community partners including Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, Chabad of Nebraska, Temple Israel, B’nai Israel Living History Synagogue, South Street Temple, and Congregation Tifereth Israel.
• Living Your Legacy: Creating a Meaningful Estate Plan, brought by the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
• “A Time to Talk” & “A Time to Act”: Guided workshops with facilitated discussions and actionable steps for legacy planning, decision making, and family discussion. Led by Jewish Family Service therapists and social workers.
• Writing an Ethical Will: two-part series, led by Rabbi Deana Berezin of Temple Israel
• Grief Workshop: led by Dr. Mary-Beth Muskin of B’nai Israel Living History Synagogue
Additional opportunities are in the process of being planned with our partners, details will be announced soon.
Registration for the Sept. 7 event is required and can be
Elijah G (7): ”Second summer! I loved pizza lunch and making the photo collages on the last day of camp!”
Arya (9): ”Everyone can have fun at camp. Pizza lunch is the best!”
Abraham (8): ”Lunch, slime-making, and capture the flag are my favorites. I’ll come back because it’s super fun.”
Camp Gan Israel makes being Jewish feel cool, joyful, and totally relevant.
So much learning happens here — about mitzvot, tradition, and values — without kids even realizing it. It’s where Jewish identity grows naturally, through friendship, fun, and meaningful experiences.
Want to help build something beautiful with us?
You can volunteer your time, share your skills, donate materials, sponsor a project, or just come cheer us on. Reach out to Mushka and discover how you can help shape the next generation — one joyful square at a time.
IN THE NEWS
The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska will be streaming three on line Playford English Country Dance Tunes Workshops for violins, violas, cellos, basses, mandolins, soprano recorder, and alto recorder.
We will explore tunes from our “Playford English Country Dance Tunes for Two.” This curated collection contains 37 tunes from the 1651 edition of Playford’s “The English Dancing Master” arranged for two players. The melodies are on the top stave, and the harmony/backup is on the bottom stave.
The Workshops will be on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Central Time, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m., Central Time, and Friday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Central Time.
Different tunes will be played at each session. There is limited enrollment, and pre-registration is required. The cost for each workshop is $15. The cost of each optional book is $15 (includes shipping if ordered with workshop registration).
For more information, and to register for the workshop: https://www.greenblattandseay.com/workshops_playford.shtml
done so below, or by calling 402.334.6424. We hope to see you at this powerful kickoff event, and throughout the Being a Good Ancestor series.
You can register for Being a Good Ancestor through the QR code below.
This program is generously supported by the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: The Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, The Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund, The CHESED Fund, Special Donor Advised Fund and the Ann Goldstein Education Fund.
We are deeply grateful to these donors for making Rabbi Leder’s visit as part of the “Being a Good Ancestor” series possible.
Changing your address?
Please give us the following information: Your name, old address and new address, and when you want the address change to go into effect.
Call 402.334.6558 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org
The Jewish Press
P2G UPDATE
TAMARA SCHUSTER
The 2025 P2G Council of Communities (COC) is our Partnership’s annual gathering of community executives, P2G professionals, and lay leaders. It’s where we review and solidify our P2G WG programs and budget for the 2026 year, and to connect and reconnect participants across our U.S., Budapest, and Israel communities. The Louisville JFED community were fantastic hosts.
We fit a LOT of work and community-building into just shy of three days together and we can’t wait until the next time we can all be together.
With a large group of our Israeli and Hungarian partners in the U.S. for the COC each year, we take the opportunity to deploy delegations to visit Consortium communities before or after the COC. These visits often include JFED meetings, presentations, social events, home hospitality, project proposals and/or collaborations, and city tours. This year, that included a visit to Omaha by Mayor Moshe Davidovitch, Keren Anderson Zeevi, and Ory Rosin.
“Having our Israeli visitors come to Omaha after the COC was truly a pleasure,” Jay Katelman said. “Mayor Davidovitch,
Writing workshop
‘Write With Us,’ our small and intimate writing workshop (no need to be nervous) continues in the fall. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for Thursdays Aug. 28, Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 from 5-7 p.m. in the Noshery at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Register by contacting Jessi at jtay lor@jewishomaha.org or Annette at avande kamp@jew ishomaha.org. There is no cost to attend, although donations are always welcome.
If you have wanted to write your family’s story, that great
Karen, and Ory’s visit was a way for our local community to meet them and learn about Partnership2Gether and the impact it has. They also shared insights about the reality in the region since Oct. 7. Moshe and Ory did a wonderful job talking to our community members and answering the many questions they had during the Lunch & Learn that was held on campus. We look forward to future Partnership2Gether visits and hope community members can reciprocate by visiting our Partnership region.”
We would also like you to save the date for the Partnership’s 2nd Commemoration of Oct. 7 on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 –via Zoom 9:30 a.m. CT. Please join us in solemn solidarity as our U.S., Budapest, and Western Galilee communities together mark two years and remember the tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023. This meaningful gathering will begin with Yizkor and candle lighting, voices from the Western Galilee in a special speakers’ panel, performing arts presentation, and we will close together as a P2G community with HaTikva. Registration link coming soon. For more information, please visit westerngalilee.org.il.
American novel, or you have always wanted to try your hand at poetry, join us!
Maybe you are already an accomplished writer, but you would benefit from being in a room with other writers. Perhaps you have convinced yourself you can’t write at all, but would love to try. Everyone, from absolute beginner to professional, is welcome to attend. We will provide the kosher snacks and the writing prompts.
Save the date: Chabad presents Elon Gold
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor
On Sept. 17, the Funny Bone Comedy Club will be the place to be, as Chabad hosts its Comedy Night with Elon Gold. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.; general admission tickets are $50 p.p. and can be purchased online at www.ochabad.com/ comedy
Elon Gold is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer and podcaster. He has appeared in numerous television shows and films, and had a comedy special on Netflix.
Come have a good time for a great cause, as this program supports Chabad’s programs and outreach. Stay tuned, as more information is coming soon!
From the Archives : Omaha Organizations
Reprinted from the Jewish Press of August 15, 1975. ORT FASHION SHOW
Fall Fashionation is the theme of the Aug. 26 Women’s American ORT fashion show, to be held at the Highland Country Club. The 12:30 p.m. lunch and show will feature fashions from Wolf Brothers and Joey’s Girls, as well as Youngtown fashions for the small ones.
Modeling in the show will be Mmes. Barry Bloch (Denise), Glenn Decker (Gloria), Thomas Kirshenbaum (Kate), Stuart Kutler (Sandy), Martin Meyers (Marcia), Leo Meyerson (Helen), Jerry Slusky (Harriet), Alan Soshnik (Bobbie) and Richard Zacharia (Terri).
Teddy Fellman, Amy Helfeld, Alison Kohl and David Leibowitz will sport fashions for the younger set.
A raffle is being held in conjunction with the fashion show, with the grand prize being a $75 gift certificate to Wolf Brothers, and eight other exciting prizes. The 50 cent tickets will be sold at the door.
The public is invited to attend. Cost of lunch and show is $4. Please make reservations with chairwoman Susie Silver-
man, Dale Moss or Donna Givner (phone numbers redacted). FUND UPDATE
The Omaha B’nai B’rith Disaster Fund has receieved two more contributions, according to Steven J. Riekes, B’nai B’rith District Six board member, bringing the total to over $4,600. On July 25. a generous donation was received from B’nai International, Riekes said, and another contribution was received on July 30 from the Metropolitan Detroit B’nai B’rith Council.
DEDICATIONS
A monument will be dedicated in memory of Louis H. Passer at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs. Rabbi Isaac Nadoff of Beth Israel will officiate.
JEWISH PRESS READERS
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Jewish geography encounter
1949-50 ZBT pledge class at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
BOB SUVALSKY
My dad, Marvin Suvalsky from Council Bluffs 1949-1950 ZBT pledge class picture from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Jerry Rosinsky was one of Marvin’s ZBT pledge brothers and he worked at the Meat department at Food City on 120th and Center.
His second wife, Charney, moved to Houston from Omaha a few years ago to be near her daughter and she lived at the Coronado.
I was referred to her son-in-law who is a Jewelry Appraiser here in Houston by a friend of mine.
When I mentioned that my favorite jewelry store was Borsheim’s in Omaha, he told me that his mother-in-law was from Omaha.
That’s when I connected the dots and started my search for this picture in my home.
I made a copy of this picture and framed it for Charney Rosinsky.
We spoke on the phone for over two hours, and I will be taking the picture to her on 8/11 when I meet her in person for lunch at her assisted living facility here in Houston. It truly is a small world!
ORGANIZATIONS
B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS
The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com
RBJH
RBJH celebrated summer with a festive Family BBQ. Chris Ulven, Executive Director, and family and board member Mark Sweet prepared hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone to enjoy. The event was generously sponsored by the Julius Froom and Phil & Minnie Freeman Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.
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
Sasha Denenberg is working with Mogen David Adom in Israel!
RBJH Residents can’t get enough of Yahtzee with Volunteer Extraordinaire Joe Meyers. Yahtzee: where yelling at dice somehow feels like a valid life strategy.
This Mezuzah case belongs to Felicia and Scott Littky.
“We were married in April of 1990,” Scott said. “During the summer of 1990, we traveled to Israel. I led the second community trip for high school students and Felicia was a member of the staff along with Alan Potash, of blessed memory.”
There was an Israeli artist whom Scott's parents were fond of, and the couple bought the mezuzah pictured here as a result of visiting the artist’s store in Jerusalem. The mezuzah is well-traveled over the last 35 years, having been on a door post in their house, first in Omaha, then in Ann Arbor, followed by Alexandria, VA and now back in Omaha.
“We still very much love this mezuzah,” they said, “and hope that we will have it up for another 35 years!”
Are you thinking about your own case? We would love to hear from you, and see what is divinely protecting your scroll and your home. We hope you will feel inspired, and are ready to share your story with us.
For additional questions, please email Naomi Fox at nfox@jewishomaha.org, Pam Monsky at pmonsky@jew ishomaha.org, Jane Nesbit at jnesbit@ihene.org or Annette van de Kamp-Wright at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org
Voices
The Jewish Press
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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, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press 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.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
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The Jewish Press welcomes 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.
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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.
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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
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT
Jewish Press Editor
“The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced,” Philissa Cramer recently wrote, “that it would donate proceeds associated with the Passover haggadah, which dates to the 14th century, “for the purpose of helping Palestine.” The museum specified that it was allocating funds both from the sale of a book about the haggadah as well as ticket sales to the gallery where it is displayed.
“In this way, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina provides support to the people of Palestine who are suffering from systematic, calculated and cold-blooded terror, directly by the state of Israel, and indirectly by all those who support and/or justify its shameless actions,” the museum said in a statement published on its website. The museum’s statement went on to charge Israel with committing a “genocide” in Gaza.” (JTA)
They are not the only ones. The word “genocide” is very much in fashion these days, and with it comes a sense of relief on the part of those uttering it. You can almost hear them think, finally, we can say it out loud: Israel is a bad, bad country. What is the function of calling what is happening by that name, and who benefits? Taken at face value, it simply means villifying a place (and a people!) many already have no love for. But when we dig deeper, there is a very specific reason for using this very specific word. Language does that: the words we choose betray our emotions; they show what we really feel underneath the displayed reasoning. I don’t care how many academically-
Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.
Why ‘beach reading’ is a joke on Jews like me Is it, or isn’t it?
ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL JTA
I’m reading a new novel by an Israeli author that has nothing to do with the war in Gaza, or any current crisis for that matter.
I can’t tell if I feel relieved or guilty. With a world in turmoil, how much permission can I give myself to tune out — if tuning out is even possible?
Iddo Gefen’s Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory is set in a village on the lip of a crater deep in the Negev Desert — far from the bright lights of Tel Aviv and even Beersheba. When the family matriarch invents a machine that creates custom rain clouds, her family sees a way out of their thwarted lives in an Israeli backwater. With the help of an eccentric local investor, they expand mom’s home workshop into a full-fledged R&D lab and attract the interest of a famous venture capitalist. The subplots include a missing hiker, a budding romance and even a touch of larceny.
The book is both a family drama and a gentle satire of Israel’s high-tech sector. One reviewer praised its “spirited whimsy.” And “although it’s not set far from the Gaza border,” as Haaretz notes in a profile of the author, the novel “unfolds far from war-related headlines.”
“Summer reading” is big business. One camp holds that the ideal “beach read” is fat and frothy, heavy on plot and action and light on whatever it is that makes a novel “literary.” Others like to take on an overlooked classic or a nonfiction doorstop. Either way, there is a sense that summer fare should take you out of the moment — the way summer itself promises a break from the routines of the rest of the year.
“We go away because we need to relax and recharge,” writes Daisy Buchanan, author of Read Yourself Happy. “A holiday is supposed to have health benefits. And reading might be the magical secret that ensures we feel those benefits. It’s one way to truly get away from it all.”
This summer I’ve tried to get away from it all, I really have. But the real world keeps finding me, like an aggressive mosquito, or worse, a persistent summer cold. My phone constantly buzzes with disturbing headlines out of Washington, and the TV delivers the latest bad news in Gaza. Summer reading feels less like a pleasant distraction than burying
sourced articles you write, or how well-argued you think your words are. In choosing to use the word “genocide,” you make a bigger statement about what motivates you.
Is what is happening in Gaza problematic? Absolutely. Is it Israel’s fault? Not entirely. But the question of whether Israel bears responsibility for any of it is not the real question. The real question is how the world can finally, ultimately, justify hating the Jews. In accusing Israel of genocide, that world can comfortably ignore any crimes committed by those who are supposedly on the receiving end. Being a victim of genocide makes a people blameless. It's the end-all argument against having to bear responsibility. And let’s please stop pretending that antiZionism isn’t antisemitism.
I can’t help it; I still believe that what Hamas did on Oct. 7 warranted a strong response. And the fact that that response is not perfect, well, does anyone have a better idea? What would a better response have looked like? What should Israel have done instead? Sit back, mourn the dead, forget about the hostages? The rest of the world made it pretty clear they didn’t care about what Hamas did. Before Israel responded, there were already accusation: “Israel had it coming,” “They asked for it,” and the ever-popular “Free Palestine.” Let’s face it, Israel would have never, ever won the PR war. And every time I see that word, “genocide,” I am reminded that while we
debate this, there are still 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are thought to be alive. And we cannot look away from the images of Evyatar David, even if we want to.
We are coming up on two years of this. Arguing with strangers online, losing friends, avoiding the topic or talking it to death, wearing our hearts on our sleeves or keeping our Jewishness quiet, feeling
like we are living in a twilight zone while simultaneously thinking this is all so familiar. Two years. And all that time, Evyatar has been in Gaza. By all means, call it a “genocide.”
But when you do, ask yourself: why do I really choose that word?
my head in the sand — and worse, an abdication of who I am supposed to be as a citizen and a Jew. Judaism itself seems to discourage the kind of escapism that summer reading is supposed to promise. “Every ritual, every command, every syllable of the Jewish story is a protest against escapism, resignation and the blind acceptance of fate,” wrote the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who I hope found a way to relax a little in the summers.
In the northern hemisphere, meanwhile, tradition drops a lengthy period of mourning right in the middle of the wet, hot summer. Tisha B’Av, the 25-hour fast commemorating the fall of the Temples and other historical calamities, starts this year on Aug. 2. It is preceded by a month-long series of increasing restrictions based on Jewish mourning customs.
This year, anyway, Tisha B’Av ritualizes what many Jewish are already feeling. Ask a Jewish friend how they’re feeling these days and you are likely to hear, “Personally? Not bad. Globally? Oy.” The domestic news seems like a nearly hourly call to outrage, while the crisis in Israel demands a caring person’s attention, whether it is the death toll in Gaza, the killing of Israeli soldiers or the continuing captivity of the hostages. It’s a time for action, not losing yourself in the pages of a thriller or a romance.
It turns out that Gefen has similar qualms: His book, after all, was first published in Hebrew in 2023, well before the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. “It’s a bit of a weird feeling being out in the world with a book that was published in the U.S. after Oct. 7, but in so many ways is not reflecting it,” he told me on Wednesday. “Honestly, I wouldn’t write the same book” during the war.
Gefen, who is also a doctoral student in cognitive neuroscience at Columbia University, feels remorse at times for living outside of Israel during the war. But that doesn’t mean he has been able to escape its impact. Last year’s anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia prompted him to write an essay for the Atlantic about his best friend, Maj. Sagi Golan, who was killed on Oct. 7 while defending Kibbutz Be’eri.
“When I see the words by any means necessary” written on a protester’s sign, wrote Gefen, “I think about Sagi: my best friend, whom I knew since sixth grade, the funniest and kindest person I have ever met.”
Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory also includes a coded tribute to his fallen friend: It is dedicated to “General Luciano Rodríguez Ancelotti II,” a character in the book created by another character in the book. It is also the name of a character that Gefen and his fallen friend Sagi invented in high school.
Gefen said he wanted to honor the playful side of his friend. “He was a brave soldier that defended people and lost his life for it, but he was also this very fun, funny guy who liked making jokes, and there was much more complexity to his humanity in many ways,” he said.
Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory is also a reminder of such complexity — that there are other Israeli stories to be told beyond war and strife. After talking to Gefen, who combines a gift for storytelling with a scientist’s interest in human emotions, I was almost ready to relax.
“People have a lot of guilt in the sense that you feel you can’t enjoy anything after everything that’s happening, because who are you to enjoy being in a cafe while there’s a horrible war,” said Gefen. “And yet sometimes, that’s the way of dealing with this horrible reality we’re facing now.
“And if that gives you the strength to come back and address these things, then sometimes one needs to — I don’t know — read a book that is not completely related to the topic.”
Andrew Silow-Carroll is editor at large of the New York Jewish Week and managing editor for Ideas for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Credit: JTA Illustration by Ilana Zahavy; Getty Images
An image of Evyatar David from a video released by Hamas is shown at a rally in Tel Aviv, Aug. 2, 2025. Credit: Ori Aviram/Middle East Images via AFP/Getty Images
On Monday my son was sworn into the IDF. I spent that afternoon protesting the Israeli government.
RABBI DANIEL GROPPER
JTA
On Monday, my son was inducted into the IDF. He started thinking about joining as a hayal boded, a “lone soldier” (someone who makes aliyah alone with the intention of serving) while in high school. After his friend was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova Festival, his decision became clear. The time was now. As a Zionist, a rabbi, and a father watching my son come into his own as an adult, I’m deeply proud of him. On the same day as my son was handed a rifle and a Bible and sworn in, I made my way down from Westchester County into Manhattan, to join hundreds of other concerned rabbis, American Jews, and Israeli Americans to protest outside the Israeli consulate. We called for Israel to let a surge of food and other aid into Gaza now, for the hostages to be released unconditionally and immediately, and for an end to the war. I had never spoken at a rally before, but when Rabbi Jill Jacobs of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights invited me, the time felt right.
This might seem odd. But in fact, it makes perfect sense to me that I was (and am) publicly criticizing the Israeli government when my son is serving in the IDF. My stake in the future of Israel as a democratic state with a moral army is greater than ever.
This week, we begin reading from the book of Deuteronomy. It is Moses’ swan song. In his final days, he imparts wisdom to the people of Israel. Yet it is a book of contradictions. Moses takes credit for things suggested to him in the Book of Exodus. And events that took place in Numbers are recalled differently than how they originally occurred. Things are not quite as they seem.
The same seems to be true in Gaza. Photos are shared without their full context; reports of Hamas stealing food are later revised by the IDF itself. In this blizzard of ideological fiction, how are any of us supposed to know what’s true? How are any of us to know what is the right thing to do?
Here is what we do know. There is hunger and starvation in Gaza. We need to state this loud and clear. We know that even when aid makes it in, it’s often only fit young men who have
any shot at fighting for it. The aid isn’t reaching many who need it. Too many have not eaten in days. Hospitals in Gaza say they have cut meals from three a day to one. I expect my son to uphold the concept of purity of arms that is at the heart of the IDF’s moral code. I pray that the words in the Torah, upholding the ideal that each person is made
b’tzelem elohim, in the image of God, will guide him. I pray that the most often quoted sections of Torah, to care for the powerless and to love your neighbor — all neighbors — remain forefront in his mind. Everyone, especially innocent victims caught in the crossfire of this quagmire now over 660 days long, deserves freedom from want and freedom from fear.
So standing outside the Israeli consulate in New York City, I called on the government of Israel to do all they could to avert a deterioration of the crisis. I called on the government of Israel to abandon the mistaken idea that withholding aid weakens Hamas. I called on Israel to do that which is counterintuitive: Flood Gaza with food. It’s the right move morally. It’s the right move strategically.
I spoke as a rabbi who loves Israel, who wants Israelis to be safe, and who desperately wants this war to end — a Jew who desperately wants the hostages home.
Finally, I spoke as a father, who wants my son, and everyone’s children, to be safe, which I know will only happen when there is a just peace and a long-term political solution that protects the human rights of everyone in that land, no matter their ethnic, religious or national origin.
This is my prayer for Israel, and for my son: Bring the hostages home. Surge aid into Gaza. End the war.
Achshav. Now.
Rabbi Daniel Gropper is the senior rabbi of Community Synagogue of Rye in Rye, New York, where he has served since 2003.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Nothing could have prepared me for the loneliness of a Jewish community divided
ALANA ZEITCHIK
JTA
The saddest day hit me like a knife in my chest. The images of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski’s tortured and starved bodies, images that evoke the ultimate incarnation of Jewish suffering, were the final twist.
Six people in my family were taken hostage on Oct. 7, and my cousin’s husband David Cunio and his brother Ariel Cunio are both still held in captivity. I was already overcome by grief after a series of heartbreaking moments in the past couple weeks. My grief does not have hard borders: My heart grieves for the children of Gaza whose emaciated bodies have haunted me over and over; I grieve for the six soldiers who died by suicide in the last month alone because of PTSD; and of course I grieve for my family’s agony that still has no end in sight.
But underneath, there is something deeper causing my soul so much unrest and I have been feeling like I need some answers.
As is customary, I spent Tisha B’Av reading Eicha, or the Book of Lamentations. It is critical that you first understand that I’ve never done this in my life. Until now I had never once given a thought to Tisha B’Av. I am a secular Jew, and despite my devout Yemenite Israeli grandparents on my mother’s side, my upbringing was something I call “Jewish-light” when it came to scripture or holy days like this one. Our doorways were all marked by mezuzahs, we lit Shabbat candles, celebrated High Holidays in synagogue and I had what I believe to be a chic havdalah service for my bat mitzvah, but that’s pretty much where the Jewish journey ended.
As I’m now finding out, Tisha B’Av is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day we grieve our destruction. It commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, along with a string of other disasters in Jewish history that somehow all fell on the same date. Basically it’s our day of collective Jewish grief. So I guess it’s not all that surprising that this day of supreme mourning happened to coincide with this particularly heartbreaking moment as if divine, like it has many times before (as I have just recently learned.)
Since I am a deeply spiritual seeker I like to look for words and metaphors to make sense of my pain, so I was called to turn towards the ancient poetry we read on this day. What I found was not just a story from the past, but one from the here and now. It opens:
Alas! Lonely sits the city
Once great with people!
She that was great among nations
Is become like a widow;
The princess among states
Is become a thrall.
Bitterly she weeps in the night,
Her cheek wet with tears.
There is none to comfort her
Of all her friends.
All her allies have betrayed her; They have become her foes.
Just before I discovered these opening verses for the first time, I had tearfully taken to Instagram with a desperate lament (pun intended) filled with anger directed at the polarized Jewish community for our failure to save the hostages and end the war. I think I was prepared to be abandoned by the Israeli government, but nothing could have prepared me for the loneliness of a Jewish community divided. Of course I have a lot of support in our community, but we lack the unity we had for most of my life. A unified, not uniform, community is the greatest strength of our peoplehood and we have destroyed it.
That is the grief that is crying out in Lamentations. Jerusalem, once vibrant, is imagined as a widow, abandoned and humiliated. But the grief isn’t only hers. It’s ours. It has become clear to me that by letting go of the stronghold on our communal bond, our internal allyship, we have become our own worst enemy.
we find a way to do something about it.
When I think about nearly every Jew I know, there is one thing we all have in common regardless of the political tribes we belong to — we love being Jewish and we don’t want to be anything else. This is where all of our discomfort comes from.
For most of us, we are born as Jews and we will die as Jews and we would not have it any other way. Isn’t that a beautiful
We are caught up in these rigid political and ideological camps that define and segregate us from one another as if we’ve shattered into multiple tribes again. I find myself calling out: Don’t you get that we are at war with ourselves? And we have to find a way to put the pieces back, perhaps to create something new, or we will not survive.
This breakdown of mine had been 22 months coming. I have been battling within our community far more than outside of it for a long time now. Israelis are divided, the Jewish Diaspora is divided, and the Diaspora and Israeli relationship is not working the way it used to. Deep in the pit of my stomach I know these fractures are the root of what is causing us so much grief, underneath the obvious.
Now I see that Tisha B’Av is a warning. It holds up a mirror to what happens when we turn on each other. According to Jewish tradition, the Second Temple wasn’t destroyed just because of the outside Roman empire — it fell because of something called sinat chinam, baseless hatred between Jews themselves.
As I kept reading the verses in Eicha, I discovered a haunting resonance with the pain and devastation we feel within our community now. Though written to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BCE, its themes of suffering, starvation, loss, abandonment, and moral reckoning feel tragically familiar. And in truth, it does not leave us with a happy ending. It doesn’t rush to comfort but instead asks us to feel into the anguish, to look deeply into the wounds we ourselves have created. It doesn’t tie things up with hope or redemption, but rather it dwells in the pain (something I am perhaps too good at doing myself). It asks us to witness the desolation of a city, a people, a soul — because only through witnessing will
thing worth saving? But only the collective recognition and acceptance of our interdependence will save us again. We have survived for thousands of years not because of the Torah or the Talmud, not because of our rituals or values alone, but because we are a people, and we must not give up on our peoplehood. That is what I believe is most holy.
The embattled state where we now find ourselves only happens when we stop seeing each other as part of the same whole. When we let bitterness and judgement become weapons and when we let politics become identity. When compassion becomes conditional. That’s the kind of destruction that doesn’t become headlines on the news, but it has hollowed us just the same. If there is a bright side to this very depressing time it is that destruction is also an opportunity. I will spare you the clichés, but believe me when I say this is a chance to ask ourselves: What are we fighting for? Who have we turned into strangers? And how will we find our way back?
This anguished day isn’t just about the mourning of our ancient Temple, because in truth we are the Temple now. Our community was once a sanctuary, and it can be again. Tisha B’Av is not only inviting us to mourn what we have lost, but more urgently it is asking us to ask how we might stop losing each other.
This piece first ran on Alana Zeitchik’s Substack, Articulate. Alana Zeitchik an Israeli-American advocate, speaker and writer living in Brooklyn. She is also the executive director of The Narrow Bridge Project.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, (1818). Artist Unknown. Credit: Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images
Rabbi Daniel Gropper speaks at a rally calling for aid to Gaza on July 28, 2025, in New York City. Credit: Harold Levine Photography
Synagogues
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
Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker. 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 other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, MaryBeth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.
IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MINYAN SCHEDULE:
Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Pre-Neg & Tot Shabbat, 5:30 p.m.; SixString Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services and Bar Mitzvah of Miles Sudbeck 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Havdalah, 9 p.m. Zoom Only
SUNDAY: Morning Minyan, 9 a.m. Zoom Only; Jewish History Tour, 1 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom followed by Memorial Service for Wendy Berenson.
MONDAY: Journey Through Grief 4 p.m. with Wendy Hill; Firearm Safety Course, 5:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Board of Trustees Meeting 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Back to BESTT Foam & Ice Cream Party, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY-Aug 22: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
SATURDAY-Aug. 22: Simcha Shabbat Services, 10
a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Kiddush sponsored by the Henry and Dorothy Riekes Beth El Endownment Fund and Steve and Margo Riekes; Havdalah, 8:45 p.m. Zoom Only
Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:06 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 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.; Community Musical Havdalah & Kumzitz with SEED 7:50 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 8:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:07 p.m.
SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Life After Death Series, 9:30 a.m.; Kids Pizza Bake & Learning with SEED, 3 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:10 p.m.
MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:10 p.m.
TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Teen Game Night with SEED, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv 8:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Wednesday Night Mishmor with SEED, 7:15 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:10 p.m.
THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/
Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m.
FRIDAY-Aug 22: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:55 p.m.
SATURDAY-Aug. 23: Shabbat Kollel, 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. with Rabbi Geiger; Mincha, 7:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:56 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
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, 8:04 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:05 p.m.
SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m.
MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Translating Words of Prayer, 7 p.m. with David Cohen.
TUESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Aramaic Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Translating Words of Prayer, 11 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.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; 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.; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon-1 p.m.; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY-Aug 15: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 8:04 p.m.
SATURDAY-Aug. 16: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:05 p.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL
Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.
FRIDAY: Deadline to order Etrog and Lulav Sets, 10 a.m.; Federation Shabbat Service with Dairy Potluck Dinner, 5:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at Antelope Park; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:06 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Service , 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study noon on Parashat Eikev; Potluck Dinner and Family Game Night, 6 p.m at SST. Please bring a dish to. share for Potluck. Games are available to play, but feel free to bring one of your favorites; Havdalah, 9:07 p.m.
SUNDAY: Temple Gardens Clean Up, 8:30–10 a.m. at SST; LJCS Classes, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at TI; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at The Mill Coffee &
Bistro, 2021 Transformation Dr #1350, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com; We can do this - Feed the Children, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Belmont Community Center; Jewish Book Club, 1:30–3 p.m. on Zoom and will discuss The Time Keepers by Alyson Richman. For more information, please contact Deborah Swearingen at: devra60@gmail.com
TUESDAY: Synagogue Offices Closed.
WEDNESDAY: Synagogue Offices Closed; Men’s Lunch Group, 12:15 p.m. at HoriSun, 8055 O St. #300. We meet every other Wednesday. Contact albertw 801@gmail.com to join and receive updates. Bring your own lunch and beverage; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m. at TI
FRIDAY-Aug 22: Erev Shabbat Torah Service, 6:307:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:56 p.m.
SATURDAY-Aug. 23: Shabbat Service , 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study noon on Parashat Re’eh; Havdalah, 8:55 p.m.
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.
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, 10 a.m. In-Person; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Rock Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. InPerson & Zoom
SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SUNDAY: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m.; Coffee and Conversations with Board Members, 10 a.m. In-Person; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 12:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6 p.m. In-Person.
WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; Grades 36, 4:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff — In-Person & Zoom; Cantor Sing Broadway and a little Jewish too!, 7:15 p.m. wtih Cantor Alexander — In-Person
FRIDAY-Aug 22: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Village Walking Group, 10 a.m. In-Person; Clasic Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom
SATURDAY-Aug. 23: 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.
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Jewish Federation of Omaha to Offer Free Community Training
LYNN BATTEN
JFO Content Coordinator/Gallery Manager
As a part of the Community Security Initiative, the Jewish Federation of Omaha will be offering a free class to the community on Thursday, Aug. 28 Threat Evaluation & Reporting Overview (TERO) Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Partnering organizations for this training include the Department of Homeland Security and the Nebraska State Patrol.
vention as it emphasizes community involvement.
“Community members often seek clarity, especially when it comes to the “See Something, Say Something" campaign. They want a better understanding of what they are supposed to be watching
A goal of this training is to raise community awareness on how to identify potential warning signs of targeted violence while also respecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. Acts of targeted violence include, but are not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces.
James Donahue, JFO Security Manager, believes TERO training plays a critical role in violence pre-
for and who to report it to. This class is a great first step in answering those questions,” he said. “Individuals planning to carry out acts of targeted violence will display observable behavior changes or make threats in advance. Learning how to identify these things and becoming familiar with preventative measures can have a huge impact. Being proactive is always better than having to be reactive.”
During this class, participants will learn about warning signs, where to seek assistance if warning signs are observed, and additional ideas on how to keep the community safe. Class is for awareness and informational purposes. It is not a formal training. The training is free and open to all. Donahue hopes that those who are able to attend will take advantage of the opportunity.
“We should all play an active role in keeping our community safe. This is a great opportunity to learn how,” Donahue said. “This training can be used anywhere - at your job, house of worship, school, even at the grocery store.”
Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP in order to receive the participant guide in advance. To RSVP, scan the QR code, visit www.jewishomaha.org or email James Donahue directly at jdonahue@jewishomaha.org
B’NAI ISRAEL
BETH EL
BETH ISRAEL
CHABAD HOUSE
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:
B’NAI JESHURUN &
OFFUTT
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Life cycles
IN MEMORIAM
ROBERT LYNN GOODMAN
Robert Lynn Goodman passed away on July 21, 2025 at age 76, surrounded by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Delma Goodman and sister, Barbara Uehling.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Lisa (Shawn) Hugg and Andrea (Chad) Johnson; son, Eric (Meghan) Goodman; grandchildren: Spencer, Peyton, Emily, Alex, Tate and Nash; brother, Steve (Toni) Goodman; brother-in-law, Fred Uehling; and nephews, Michael and Matthew.
Bob was a devoted husband to his wife, Barbara. He enjoyed
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traveling with Barbara, and always spending time with his children and grandchildren. Family was always his priority.
Bob grew up in the Fairacres neighborhood of Omaha before attending Central High School. He was a member of the AZA Chapter of BBYO and went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he was a member of the ZBT fraternity. After getting married, Bob and Barbara spent time in Omaha, Sarasota and Overland Park.
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On Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for their monthly meeting. Group members have the choice of meeting either in person in Conference Room A in the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center or via Zoom. This month they will be discussing An Unorthodox Match by Naomi Ragen.
Can two damaged souls find happiness and start the healing process to discover a new future together? How is it that Orthodox Jews are not of the same mind? These questions are ones Ragen poses to her readers and she suggests that like any group of people, some accept and others are judgmental of people.
In the book, Lola Howard is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, Cheryl Howard, and Dr. David Kannerman, a famous doctor. Growing up in San Jose, California, Lola was raised without any formal religious exposure. When Lola attends college she takes a religion class and begins a journey to discover more about her Jewish roots and find her spiritual path. When her fiancée is killed in a freak accident, Lola seeks comfort in her newly-found religion to help her cope with what happened. As Lola intensifies her immersion into the world of Orthodox Judaism, she wants to now be known as Leah. She begins to help the Yaakov Lehman family who are suffering from the loss of Yaakov’s wife and the mother of their five children.
Leah is struggling to find acceptance as a baalas teshuva (B.T.) amongst many of the residents of her Boro Park community. When it comes to finding a shidduch (mate for marriage), many in the community adopt an attitude that it’s fine for some families but not with my religious family.
Meanwhile, Yaakov Lehman is struggling to care for his daughter and two youngest children while studying full time
The Kaplan Book Group Finds Their Match News Club
at the Kollel in hopes of being selected for a teaching position. With the death of his wife and the loss of her teaching salary, the family is suffering financially and has borrowed several times from the community’s “free loan society.” Even with the help of his mother-in-law Rebbitzen Fruma Esther, Yaakov is struggling to maintain his household. His sixteen year old daughter Shaindele has assumed the role of “mother” to baby Mordechai Shalom, and toddler Chasya. Despite not wanting to take care of her other two young siblings, Shaindele does everything she can to get rid of Leah, who has come in to help the Lehman family in an act of chesed. Shaindele does everything she can to get rid of Leah and the nurturing influence she has on her younger brother and sister and the household.
Yaakov has begun to curtail his time studying at the Kollel and is attending night school to obtain a degree as a CPA in order to suport his family and and repay the many loans he has taken out. Begrudgingly, Yaakov has also begun dating in hopes of finding a wife to help him and his children return to a “normal” life.
Ultimately, it takes a village (or a B.T. doing chesed in Boro Park) to help a troubled family reclaim their lives once again.
Please feel free to join us on Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. in person or via Zoom when we are discussing The Outside World. The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. 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
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