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DECEMBER 26, 2025 | 06 TE V E T | VO L. 1 06 | NO. 1 1 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 4:42 P.M.
BBYO blast: November
IDAN ZACCAI BBYO Director n early November, Omaha BBYO had the honor of hosting BBYO International N’siah: Mercedes Benzaquen. Attendees enjoyed a delightful dinner with conversation about BBYO, college life, Israel, and upcoming convention. On Nov. 7, it was off to Missouri for a Star Wars-themed Regional Convention, which included Friday night Shabbat services as well as plenty of community building. On Saturday there were various breakout programs and a visit to Sky Zone, followed by Havdalah. Our Omaha council stood out as the most respectful, thoughtful, and engaged group. We cherished old friendships, and forged new ones. We played with big hearts and plenty of talent in the AZA tournament. At the start of our first match, we lost a key player due
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Recent additions to the Kripke-Veret Collection Page 12
to a severe calf cramp, and we had no subs. We were able to continue when Makayla Lucoff made Herstory as the first-ever BBG to play in the tournament. That’s how we secured our first win! Although we gave it everything, we did not win the second game, but we never let morale dip. Through workshops, fun and shared missions, we came back stronger. The fun of late-night laughs, brotherhood, sisterhood, and powerful Shabbat bonds culminated in a weekend filled with Jewish Omaha pride. The following Sunday, Nov. 16, we came together for Mama’s Pizza Night. Mama’s prepared dinner; we learned why Jews make latkes and connected our traditions to the stories and values that have been passed down through the generations. Tuesday, Nov. 18, our Pickleball program brought out a different kind of energy. Each See BBYO page 2
Upstanders
REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles
6 9 10 11
Lo Ta’amod: When It Mattered SETH SCHUCHMAN NJHS Advisory Board Member STORIES OF MORAL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ANTISEMITISM SERIES INTRODUCTION Antisemitism has never been abstract. In every generation, it has appeared in laws, institutions, and in the silence that allows it to take hold. Jewish history, however, also includes moments when people, both Jews and allies, recognized what was at stake and chose to act. Not because the outcome was certain, but because remaining silent was not acceptable.
Zach Stein wins 39th Annual Zorinsky Bible Quiz Page 2
The every other Tuesday night poker club Pages 5
SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
The following statements were made in response to the Dec. 14 attack
at Bondi Beach, Australia, where 15 Jews were brutally murdered while celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. (via Facebook) To our Jewish brothers and sisters, Omaha has your back. Violence and hate cannot be the story of our time. What happened in Australia is horrible, and we must work hard together to root out this cancer. At a press conference the Jewish
Federation of Omaha held today, my Deputy Chief of Staff for External Affairs, Keith Station, shared an important message, echoed by others, including Rabbi Katzman and Sharon Brodkey: We need action. We need to stand up. Please know that the Omaha Police Department and Mayor's Hotline are resources. Report suspicious activity. Tell us how to help you feel safer. See Upstanders page 2
From our work preserving Jewish history, we learn that resilience is not found in survival alone. It is reflected in the choices people made when standing up carried real risk. This series, Lo Ta’amod: When It Mattered, takes its name from the biblical injunction not to stand idly by. It highlights moments of moral courage that helped shape Jewish life. These stories are not offered as simple inspiration, nor as accounts of easy victories, but as reminders of what responsibility has looked like in practice. Victor Gollancz and the Cost of Speaking Early History rarely produces uncomplicated figures. The individuals who matter most are often shaped by their time, their convictions, and the risks they were willing to accept when others chose caution. Victor Gollancz was one such figure. For many years, part of my work has involved leading a publishing company. That background is what first led me to Victor Gollancz’s work. He was not a politician or a religious leader. He was a Jewish publisher who believed that remaining silent in the face of documented antisemitism carried its own moral weight. By the mid 1930s, Nazi policies in Germany had already stripped Jews of civil rights, livelihoods, and legal protections. Jewish professionals were dismissed from public service and barred from their trades. Laws isolated Jews from public life and See Lo Ta’amod page 3
2 | The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025
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The Jewish Press
GARY JAVITCH Henry Monsky Lodge President As the 39th Annual Zorinsky Bible Quiz drew to a close, Zach Stein's victory seemed assured. Dominating both the single-Jeopardy and double-Jeopardy rounds of the Jeopardy TVthemed event, Zach maintained his lead with just two questions left. However, his triumph was not guaranteed throughout, as Adam Stein—his younger brother and eventual second-place finisher—along with Evelyn Alexander (third place) and Judah Kohen ( fourth place), remained close behind. A single missed question could have dramatically shifted the outcome. In the end, Zach secured the top prize, earning $100 in cash and a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded later for college or a Jewish-related activity. The Zorinsky fund also recognized the next three finishers, named above, awarding them scholarships of $750, $500, and $250 respectively. Additionally, every student who answered at least three questions correctly received a $50 cash award—a feat accomplished by all 20 contestants for the second consecutive year. Looking ahead, the Henry Monsky Lodge of B'nai B'rith, which organizes the quiz, will celebrate the 40th Zorinsky program next year, promising even bigger prizes. The event originated with founders Steve Riekes, Gloria Kasow, and Stanley Mitchell (now residing in Florida), who sought to foster opportunities for youth to deepen their knowledge of Judaism, culture, and history. The Zorinsky family established the fund to honor Edward Zorinsky, who passed away unexpectedly at age 58 on March
6, 1987, following a heart attack after performing at an Omaha Press Club event. At the time, he was serving as a U.S. Senator, having previously been elected twice as Omaha’s mayor. This year’s Jeopardy-style quiz was crafted and hosted by Marty Shukert, who also created the Book of Kings test material. He was supported by Adam Trubnikov, who managed the
scores, and a dedicated team: judges Hazzan Michael Krausman (Beth El Synagogue) and Rabbi Eli Tenenbaum (Chabad of Nebraska), timekeeper Gary Javitch, photographer Mark Kirchoff, proctor Howard Kutler, and Naomi Fox, the Federation staffer who expertly coordinated the event. The other 16 student participants, each earning a $50 award, were: Naama Abraham, Brianna Alexander, Jason Clignett, Sol Denenberg, Jason Dubrow, Molly Epstein, Asher Finkelstein, Colin Kelln, Carrie Lucoff, Samie Ray, Chloe Ruback, Max Ruback, Alex Scheer, Cadee Scheer, Isaac Sherman, and Eliana Volshonok.
Upstanders Continued from page 1 Know that we are one community, One Omaha, and that we are in this together. May we all take a lesson from this Hanukkah season and bring light to each other, our city and the world. BRINKER HARDING, OMAHA CITY COUNCIL-DISTRICT 6 “Hanukkah is symbolic of the Jewish struggle to resist submission to tyranny and to sustain its spiritual heritage. No people have fought longer, struggled harder or sacrificed more to survive, to grow and to live in freedom than the people of Israel. We appeal to people everywhere to open their hearts and raise their voices in support of our brothers and sisters. Together let us pray that the warm lights of Hanukkah will spread the spirit of freedom and reach comfort and sustain every person who is suffering tonight.” These words were spoken by President Ronald Reagan some 42 years ago. Eerie in a macabre way how, unfortunately, these words are timeless and appropriate today and in today’s world. Yesterday, on the first night of Hanukkah we were reminded of the hate and antisemitism that Jews are still subjected to throughout the world. On what was to be a day and night of celebration and joy at Bondi Beach’s “Hanukkah By The Sea” a tragic and horrific scene exploded as two gunmen indiscriminately hunted down innocent and defenseless Jews including a ten-year old and a Holocaust survivor. At least 16 people were senselessly killed, dozens wounded and countless traumatized. The victims will never be able to light a candle for any night of this or any future Hanukkah for their light has been extinguished. Let us pray for their memories. Let us pray for their souls. Let us pray for our friends and families of the Jewish faith. Let us remember that the menorah’s light is a symbol of hope and faith, and that it can lead us out of the darkness of hate. AND, let those who hate understand that hate has no place in Australia, in the UK, in France, or the US. Hate has no place anywhere. BOB GOLDBERG, JFO CEO To be Jewish in our world today means to be targeted with hatred, hate crimes, and terrorism for merely existing as Jews. To target any or all Jews for Israeli politics, politicians, military, or other issues one doesn’t agree with OR to deny Israel’s right to exist as the Jewish homeland, to deny the Jewish people self-determination, or to hold Israel to standards other nation states are not held to IS ANTISEMITISM. This was a deliberate terrorist act targeting the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia as Jews and friends celebrated the first night of Hanukkah. We insist that local, state, and national officials; media; and civic leaders loudly and clearly condemn this act as antisemitism. There can be no equivocating or uncertainty. May the memory of those murdered while celebrating Hanukkah in Australia be a blessing. May those injured have a full and speedy recovery.
Thank you to the first responders and heroes who ran towards danger to help. Jews are being murdered in 2025 throughout the world for being Jewish. It is time for all governments to wake up and begin to recognize and proactively respond to antisemitism. Today and throughout the coming days, let us light our Hanukkah candles and place them proudly in our windows. The essence of the holiday is the fight of the Maccabees, a small but determined minority, to stand up against the oppressors that wanted to force our people to abandon our faith. We are standing up today as the Maccabees did in ancient times and we are not afraid – we will grow and flourish here in Omaha, in North America, in Israel and around the world. Our community will never retreat in the face of hatred and will never refrain from carrying on our Jewish traditions. Rather, we will use all our tools to make sure that our communities are safe and that our lights burn all the brighter.
BBYO
Continued from page 1 chapter played their own matches and showed off impressive skills. That week’s Parsha was Toldot: it teaches about family bonds, identity, resilience and the power of tradition. Our activities remind us that community is built through shared meals, shared stories, and shared moments of joy. BBYO keeps those values alive in everything we do. With more than a century of experience in Jewish teen engagement, BBYO is growing and thriving in Omaha. BBYO’s programs embrace pluralistic Jewish values and provide opportunities for inspiration, connection, and community. For questions and more information about BBYO, please email izaccai@jccomaha.org or call 402.334.6404.
The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025 | 3
Lo Ta’amod Continued from page 1 marked them as outsiders in their own country. Yet in Britain, these developments were often treated as exaggerated reports or internal German matters best handled quietly through diplomacy. The trauma of the First World War shaped public opinion, and appeasement was widely viewed as prudence. Within publishing, cauVictor Gollancz tion was the norm. Foreign political controversy was considered bad business. For Jewish publishers in particular, speaking too forcefully carried added risk. Public protest could reinforce antisemitic claims of undue influence or alarmism. It could cost authors, advertisers, distributors, and readers. Controversy carried professional and social consequences. Gollancz understood those risks clearly. In 1936, he made a deliberate decision to publish The Yellow Spot: The Extermination of the Jews in Germany. The book did not rely on rhetoric or emotional appeal. It assembled official laws, decrees, and firsthand accounts that documented the systematic exclusion of Jews from professions, public life, and legal protection. The language was administrative and factual, and precisely for that reason, difficult to dismiss. What it revealed could not easily be written off as rumor or exaggeration. The decision to publish brought immediate backlash. Gollancz was warned that the book would damage his business and isolate him professionally. Critics argued that such publications inflamed tensions and undermined diplomatic efforts. Others accused Jewish publishers of exaggerating events or attempting to influence British foreign policy at a time when Britain was struggling to avoid another war. Despite this criticism, The Yellow Spot was widely read. Members of Parliament cited it. Advocacy groups relied on it
to argue for refugee assistance and greater public awareness. For many readers, the book removed the ability to claim ignorance about what was unfolding in Germany. Silence became a choice rather than a default. The publication did not halt antisemitism, nor did it prevent the catastrophe that followed. Gollancz did not claim otherwise. What it did accomplish was to place documented evidence before the public at a moment when many preferred not to look. It challenged the belief that neutrality remained morally sufficient once the facts were known. Gollancz’s willingness to act early came with lasting consequences. In later years, some of his positions, particularly his insistence that moral standards be applied consistently even when uncomfortable, unsettled supporters and critics alike. His commitment to principle earned respect, but it also brought isolation. He accepted that cost as part of the responsibility he believed came with influence. It is this willingness to accept consequence rather than retreat into silence that places Victor Gollancz within Lo Ta’amod. His decision to publish The Yellow Spot mattered not because it guaranteed success, but because it was made when the risks were visible, the opposition predictable, and the outcome uncertain. For those charged with preserving Jewish history, stories like this endure not because they reassure us, but because they clarify what responsibility has required in moments of uncertainty. Resilience, more often than not, has meant acting deliberately, speaking clearly, and accepting consequences. Preserving Our Own Stories Not every act of courage occurred on a national stage or resulted in a published book. Many took place closer to home, in workplaces, schools, civic institutions, and community settings. As this series continues, The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press invite members of the community to share stories, documents, photographs, and artifacts that reflect how individuals confronted antisemitism or stood with others when it mattered. Preserving these histories helps ensure that future generations understand not only what our community faced, but how it responded.
Friedel teacher spotlight
Denise Bennett teaches fifth and sixth grade General Studies at Friedel. Mrs. Bennett grew up on a farm outside of Madison, Nebraska, where she played outside for hours each day in the yard, barn, and woods. After graduation from Hastings College with a double major in elementary education and art, Mrs. Bennett moved to Omaha and began teaching pre-kindergarten. She has been teaching at Friedel since 1988, and we are lucky to have her! She now teaches some second-generation students
(after having taught their parents), and past students regularly stop by to visit with her! Mrs. Bennett’s favorite part of teaching is getting to know each student better as an individual. She also reports that one of her most enjoyable parts of the school day is reading aloud to her class. Mrs. Bennett explains that “We discuss the story and characters and make predictions about what comes next. We learn new words and figure out what they mean through the context of the story. Helping kids learn to read for pleasure is a joy!” When she is not teaching, Mrs. Bennett enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors. She also attends as many symphony concerts, plays, and operas as she can and loves to travel. Some of her favorite trips have been to England, Italy, Hawaii, Mexico, and Borneo.
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.
Guest speaker at B’nai Israel
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Cpt. Jessica L. Wagner will be our guest speaker on Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at B'nai Israel. She is commissioned as a Heritage and Preservation Officer with the Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), USACAPOC(A) 38G Program in 2022. The 38G/6V are a revitalization of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Program of World War II with a focus on fulfilling the requirements of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. She is currently attached to the 353d Civil Affairs Command, and serves as the 353d Command Historian. Cpt. Wagner has over 13 years of experience within the U.S. and international cultural sector. Her career has centered around heritage preservation, development, public outreach, education and engagement within cultural institutions. She is currently the Director of Education for the Durham Museum, a Smithsonian-Affiliate in Omaha, NE. Cpt. Wagner holds an Master of Arts from the University of Manchester, Centre for Museology: Institute for Cultural Practices, focusing on cultural property spoliation and restitution, and received 1st class distinction honors. She completed supplemental history of art and architecture and politics postgraduate coursework with Oxford University, Kellogg College. Her current academic research explores the role of cultural property protection in the prevention of crimes against humanity. Cpt. Wagner has presented her work with the U.S. Naval War College, Naval Academy, the Naval History and Heritage Command, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University, Central Michigan University, and the Institute for Holocaust Education. She has worked alongside the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, UNESCO, Blue Shield International, the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Stability and Human Affairs, and the Hellenic Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center. In a civilian capacity, Jessica serves at the Preservation Lead for the Sudan Heritage Preservation Council assisting with cultural property protection for the National Corporation of Antiquities and Museums (NCAM). Jessica’s awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the 2025 Central Michigan University College of Arts and Media Outstanding Alumni Award, and the Evelyn Frye Smith Art Award. The entire community is welcome to our monthly second Friday Shabbat service and oneg. Listed on the National registry of Historic places and continuously active since 1904, B'nai Israel is one of the region's oldest. In addition to hosting monthly services, arts events, and group activities, we preserve the legacy of Jewish life in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. For more information, please visit our website.
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Crossing the bridges of understanding: our interfaith experience RONI GOSCH AND DR. LUCAS SCHULTE Tri-Faith Initiative This past October, Tri-Faith Initiative had the honor of hosting our first Bridges of Understanding: An Interfaith Dialogue Experience. The idea for hosting an interfaith weekend began over two years ago with the proposal of inviting a scholar experienced in interfaith work with two or more Abrahamic religions. From the very beginning, the scholar in mind for this first event was Rabbi Dr. Reuven Firestone, known in interfaith and scholarly circles for his textual workshops, his research and publications, and his founding of the Center for MuslimJewish Engagement. In early August of 2025, Tri-Faith Initiative started working with Firestone to create the specific programming and schedule for the Bridges of Understanding event, with each session planned as an in-depth examinination of interfaith texts, accompanied by handouts with further resources for attendees that wanted to keep researching. Firestone flew into Omaha from Los Angeles the morning of Oct 16 and immediately facilitated a Lunch & Learn at Temple Israel on the topic "Abraham: The First Jew? First Christian? First Muslim?” Texts discussed in this session included several from the Torah, the New Testament, Babylonian Talmud Yoma 28b, a 6th century C.E. pre-Islamic Arabian text associated with the Ḥums, and several passages from the Qur’an. Following the Lunch & Learn was a workshop at the Tri-Faith Center called “Abraham and Ishmael in Scripture and Tradition.” For this workshop, small groups worked on texts from Genesis 21 in the Hebrew Bible, Sura 2, Sura 14, and Sura 22 in the Qur’an, an 8th-century C.E. Jewish story about Abraham and Isaac found in Pikey deRabbi Eli’ezer, Ch.29/30, and a medieval Islamic story about Abraham and Isaac from A History of Prophets and Kings by Muhammad b. Jarir alTabari. That evening, Firestone presented the Rabbi Sidney and Jane Brooks Lecture at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, entitled “Problematizing Prophethood, or, How to Tell a ‘Real Prophet’ from a ‘False Prophet.’” The following day, a light breakfast at Countryside Community Church accompanied Dr. Firestone’s presentation on “The Birth of Religion.” In this presentation, Rabbi Firestone guided participants through the sweeping transition from tribal religions to the Abrahamic monotheisms known today by considering both historical and scriptural perspectives. After this, Dr. Firestone held a conversation with members of Tri-Faith
Initiative’s Emerging Clergy Seminar, which brought up-andcoming religious leaders from across the country to this immersive experience on the Tri-Faith Commons. The capstone to our interfaith experience was a moderated chat with him and Dr. Abla Hassan, the Professor of Practice in Arabic Language & Culture at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. With a PhD in Philosophy of Language, she specializes in Qur’anic studies, Islamic feminist thought, and hermeneutics. Hosted at the Tri-Faith Center, this program took place shortly after the weekly Juma’a prayer service happening next door at American Muslim Institute. Their chat, moderated by Tri-Faith’s own Director of Education and Outreach, Dr. Lucas Schulte, covered topics such as the history of medieval Jewish/Muslim relations, the alignment of values in both Judaism and Islam, what each speaker admired about the other’s religion, and how having a deeper understanding of the complexities they both discussed help us to build better Jewish-Muslim relations in the future. This fireside chat culminated in a Q&A session, where attendees were encouraged to submit questions that the pair would answer. Rounding out this interfaith dialogue experience were guest presentations at the faith partners on the Tri-Faith Commons. Rabbi Ruth Sohn, a scholar married to Rabbi Dr. Firestone, spoke at the evening Shabbat service at Temple Israel. Then on Sunday morning, Rabbi Firestone spoke from the pulpit at Countryside Community Church on the topic “Faith and Truth.” Over 250 people joined us over the course of three days and five programs, not including the Sunday and Shabbat services he led. “I loved how Reuven made this detailed and lofty text as understandable as possible for someone brand new to certain versions of the text he presented,” says one attendee. “I also loved how he gave an overview of the Quran before diving in.” As an interfaith organization, the Tri-Faith Initiative facilitated this interfaith experience as a way to encourage the congregants of our faith partners as well as outside guests to ask themselves, “What does it mean to be interfaith? How can I find the common thread between me and my neighbors?” We hope to bring Bridges of Understanding back in 2026! Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you especially to Rabbi Dr. Reuven Firestone and Dr. Abla Hassan for coming to speak with us!
Help for parents, caregivers and children
SNOWBIRDS
ANNIE RIFKIN, MSW, PLMHP JFS Therapist and Program Specialist At times all parents feel lost without a clue about what our child might need from us. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you. The Circle of Security Parenting eight-week program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. The program will take place Thursdays from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Jewish Family Service conference room. Classes will run from Jan. 8 through Feb. 26. There are only 10 spots available, so register today at https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/wS2Cw?vid=1nefny. The learning objectives include:
• Understanding your child’s emotional world by learning to read their emotional needs • Supporting your child’s ability to successfully manage emotions • Enhancing the development of your child’s self-esteem • Honoring your innate wisdom and desire for your child to be secure For questions about this program or any other JFSrelated inquiries, please contact Annie Rifkin at 402.330.2024 or arifkin@jfsomaha.com.
Toronto men charged with targeting Jewish women for assault
Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged! Please call us at 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.
GRACE GILSON JTA Three Toronto men were arrested by Canadian police on Friday for allegedly attempting kidnappings targeting Jews and women. Waleed Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, of Toronto each face over a dozen charges, including two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and two counts of attempted kidnapping with firearm, according to the Toronto Police Service. Khan was also separately charged with multiple terrorism offenses, including providing property to fund ISIS and conspiring to commit murder on behalf of a terrorist group, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The arrests stemmed from an investigation into two failed kidnappings allegedly perpetrated by the men several months ago. The attempted kidnappings stemmed in part from “hatemotivated extremism,” according to Toronto police, who said they found evidence in the suspects’ homes that they were “particularly targeting women and members of the Jewish community.” The arrests were welcomed by Noah Shack, the CEO of
Canada’s Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, who warned that the recent terror attack in Sydney showed that “we are one intelligence failure away from a devastating loss of life.” “It is alarming that multiple Islamic State-related terrorist plots have been uncovered over the past two years in Canada,” Shack said in a statement posted on X. “This goes far beyond the safety of any one group. It is a matter of national security and public safety. There is a ticking time bomb in our country that our leaders must confront before it’s too late.” In September 2024, a Pakistani man was arrested in Quebec for plotting to kill “as many Jewish people as possible” in an attack in support of ISIS in New York City. Months earlier in July, a father and son were also arrested in Toronto for allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired attack on the local Jewish community.
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The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025 | 5
Mezuzot of Nebraska The every other Tuesday night poker club This mezuzah is located on the door post of Shelly Fox’ office at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. It is placed there in memory and honor of members of the Fox and Alloy families. “This mezuzah holds very dear significance,” Shelly said, “even though it is not affixed to ‘the doorposts of my house.’ It hangs on the doorpost of my office in Our Home, a place that has taken loving care of many and that I am proud to have been a part of for many years. “I see it each day, and am reminded of how honored I am to work with and for our Jewish community. The decorative case of a mezuzah is a way of making it attractive, but the scroll inside is really what the commandment is about, as with the Blumkin Home. RBJH is beautiful, but what makes it special and what is truly important is the care given to each person and their families.” Are you thinking about your own cases? We would love to hear from you, and see what is divinely protecting your scroll(s) and your home. We hope you will feel inspired, and are ready to share your story with us at https://www.jewishomaha.org/commu nity-engagement/mezuzot-of-omaha/. For additional questions, please email Naomi Fox at nfox@jewishomaha.org, Pam Monsky at pmonsky@jewishomaha.org, Jane Nesbit at jnesbit@ihene.org or Annette van de Kamp-Wright at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.
Writing workshop ‘Write With Us,’ our small and intimate writing workshop (no need to be nervous) continues in the winter and early spring. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for the following Thursdays: Jan. 29, Feb. 26, March 26 and April 30 from 5-7 p.m. in the Noshery at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Register by contacting Jessi at jtaylor@jewishomaha.org or Annette at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org. There is no cost to attend, although donations are always welcome. If you have wanted to write your family’s story, that great 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.
that is looser than in a more formal setting, and you get to ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT know them better on a more personal level. There wasn't anyJewish Press Editor The “Every Other Tuesday Night Poker Club” consists of thing that I would consider "hazing" when I first started, and eight members, who have been playing poker since the 1950s after the first few games, members of the Club reached out to in one form or another. They are also known as “EOTNPC,” me to make sure that I was having fun. Once I assured them but that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, so for the purpose of this article, we’ll refer to it simply as “the Club.” Current members include Les Kay, Harold Kosowsky, Steve Tipp, Allen Ostravich, Larry DeBruin, Doug Wolfson, David Finkelstein and Stan Edelstein. There are members of blessed memory: Tuffy Epstein, Elliott Brown and Art Friedman. There are clear benefits to playing poker, from teaching players Allen Ostravich, left, Harold Kosowsky, Larry DeBruin, Les Kay, Doug Wolfson, Steve Tipp, David Finkelto handle conflict ef- stein and Stan Edelstein fectively, play fairly, manage money, read people, and maintain that I was having a blast, things really opened up.” emotional stability in rapidly changing circumstances. It also They never let him win, though. Wins have to be earned; he teaches how to read people and think analytically. Neurolog- insists. ical studies have been conducted; there are also signs it helps “That being said, when you have a $5.50 limit per game, your fight memory loss. winnings aren't going to move you into a different tax bracket. Les Kay has been in the Club the longest: “It’s two hours of This isn't cut-throat high stakes poker, it's all in good fun.” They fun,” he said, “and the most you can lose is $5.50.” do collect a dollar for Tzedakah from everyone each time they The games are “screwy,” Les explains. “We use jokers, and play, so that would come out of those winnings. five-of-a-kind beats a royal flush. One game played is baseball “This is a group of friends I had heard about for a long time,” where threes and nines are wild; if you get a four up you get David said, “but I never thought I would be selected to join. I an extra card down and if you get a seven facing up, you are was asked to fill the spot that was held by Tuffy Epstein, OBM, out.” and that was truly meaningful, as Tuffy was an influential figNobody keeps notes, he said. It’s a similar vibe as the ure in our children's development when they were younger. As ROMEO lunch group we told you about in our 12-5-25 issue. I heard more and more about the Club, how it's been active Probably because Les is the senior-member there, too. for more than 75 years, I realized that I was not only becoming David Finkelstein is the newest member of the Club, al- part of the Club’s history, but am also influential in its future though he claims to be ‘junior’ in age only. longevity. These friendships are very important, and meaning“We are all pretty much equal,” he said, “but one glaring dif- ful. This group is helping keep the history of a part of Jewish ference is that I am the only one who needs to leave early be- Omaha that doesn't really get talked about, alive and relevant.” cause I need to get up for work the next day. The joke is that I Are you part of a special friend group and interested in sharam supporting their retirement.” ing your story? Please contact the Jewish Press at avan The other guys have been very welcoming, he said. dekamp@jewishomaha.org. We would love to feature you! “The games are usually good-natured, with a lot of backand-forth friendly banter. I've known several members of the Club for years, through synagogue and other Jewish community activities, so there was no intimidation factor. However, omahajewishpress.com/eedition in a setting like this, you get to see a different side of them,
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We are looking for your An exciting new handwritten family recipes. project by the Please contact Jane or Annette Nebraska Jewish if you are willing to share: Historical Society jrips@jewishomaha.org and The Jewish Press avandekamp@jewishomaha.org The Jewish Press
6 | The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025
FRIEDEL Middle schoolers participated in the World Hanukkiyah Competition. They worked hard on their creations!
CHABAD Volunteers hand out hot soup at Chabad’s Hanukkah celebration at Stinson Park, during the first night.
SP O TLIGHT
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PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS Shaliach Itay preps the Wheel of Hanukkah (which is much cooler than the Wheel of Fortune)
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The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025 | 7
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Recent additions to the Kripke-Veret collection SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist Juvenile: Jason Belongs: The Story of Jason Schachter McKinney by Audrey Ades The true story of Jason Schachter McKinney. Jason has a big voice. He sings everywhere ― until a whisper runs through his Jewish day school: Jason is Black. Is he really Jewish? "Can I be both Black and Jewish?" wonders Jason. He stops caring about Jewish songs and prayers. His African ancestors' music continues to touch Jason's heart and spirit, but he longs for a community where he can be his complete self. When he finds his way to services at a synagogue years later, can Jason learn to sing with his whole spirit, both Black and Jewish? Adult: The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer Evelyn Schwartz has the perfect Hanukkah planned: eight jam-packed days producing the live-action televised musical of A Christmas Carol. Who needs family when you’ve got long hours, impossible deadlines, and your dream job? That is, until an accident on set lands her in the medical bay with one of her chronic migraines, and she’s shocked to find her ex-hus-
band, David Adler, filling in for the usual studio doctor. It’s been two years since David walked away from Evelyn and their life in Manhattan, and his ex-wife is still the same workaholic who puts her career before everything else— especially her health. But when Evelyn begins hallucinating “ghosts” tied to her past heartbreaks, and every single one leads to David, he finds himself spending much more time with her than he anticipated. And denying the still-smoldering chemistry between them becomes impossible. As Evelyn revisits her ghosts of Hanukkah past, she and David both begin to wonder if they can have a Hanukkah future. But with a high-stakes production ramping up the pressure on Evelyn, and troublesome spirits forcing them both to confront their most difficult shared memories, it might just take a Hanukkah miracle for these two exes to light the flame on their second-chance at love. I’ll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin Marlee Matlin entered our lives as the deaf pupil-turned-custodian audiences fell in love with in Children of a Lesser God, a role for which she became the youngest woman ever to win a Best Actress Oscar. More than twenty years after her stunning big screen debut, the
Golden Globe– and Emmy Award–nominated actress is an inspirational force of n a tu re — a mother, an activist, and a role model for millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing people around the world seeking disability representation. In I’ll Scream Later, Marlee takes readers on the frank and touching journey of her life, from the frightening loss of her hearing at eighteen months old to the highs and lows of Hollywood, her battles with addiction and recovery, and the unexpected challenges of being thrust into the spotlight as an emissary for the deaf community. She speaks candidly for the first time about the troubles of her youth, the passionate and tumultuous two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt that dovetailed with a stint in rehab, and her subsequent romances with heartthrobs like Rob Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson, and David E. Kelley. Though she became famous at the age of twenty-one, Marlee struggled all her life to connect with people, fighting against anyone who tried to hold her back. Her own mother often
hid behind their communication barrier, and Marlee turned to drugs before she even started high school. However, she found in acting — with the encouragement of her mentor, Henry Winkler — a discipline, a drive, and a talent for understanding the human condition that belied her age and her inability to hear. By the time Hollywood embraced her, she had almost no formal training, a fact that caused many other deaf actors to give her the cold shoulder, even as she was looked upon as a spokesperson for their community. She has played memorable roles on wildly popular television shows such as Seinfeld, The West Wing, and The L Word, danced a showstopping chacha-cha on Dancing with the Stars, and now, with uncompromising honesty and humor, Marlee shares the story of her life — an enduring tale of resilience and recovery that is an unforgettable lesson in following your dreams.
The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025 | 9
Voices The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920) 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; Joseph Abrahams, Helen Epstein, Andrea Erlich, Ally Freeman, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Chuck Lucoff, Sara Rips, 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, 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. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines 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. 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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Home ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Between the random and not-so-random emails that arrive on my screen, there was one recently from Golda.com, which is mostly there because the organization gives me cute Jewish shopping tips. I’m a big fan of retail therapy, especially when the world is on fire. However, this was immediately after the attack at Bondi Beach, and the editor had no choice but to address the heaviness we all felt. She spoke about connecting with a friend in Australia, and shared part of the response: “The fact that something like this could happen in Sydney at a Hanukkah menorah lighting on the central beach of Sydney, Bondi Beach,” the friend said, “it's famous, it's the most beautiful beach in the world — it’s really horrific and shocking. It just contributes to the sense that perhaps Jews in this country might not have the future that we thought we did, and it contributes to a feeling of insecurity about whether we can be safe and whether we can practice our Judaism in public. Today is going to be a day which, as an Australian and as a Jewish Australian, is going to change the way I feel and think about this country and I know that so many other people I know are going to have the same feeling.” I know what that is like. Over the past 30 years, I have slowly made the journey from being Dutch to becoming an Omahan, an American, and while I still travel “home” from time to time to see my family, while I still miss my family, the food, the architecture, the weather, it no longer feels like home at all. It might have happened anyway; 30 years is a long time to be
gone and the world changes fast. You lose the essen- that such a young girl was interested in classical tial stuff, like how to buy a train ticket, which politi- music (I wasn’t, not really). Sure, the music was cians are in charge, which football team is on top. beautiful, but I didn’t know a symphony from a canYour favorite cookies are no longer in the store, the tata. It was the overall atmosphere of the building, day arrives when you can’t find the right word in your the magnificent architectural details, and the lesown language, and you wonder if you’re no longer flu- son my uncle wove through everything we did ent in either Dutch or English. You feel like a tourist around the city. He was born in 1922 and raised in what you’ve always considered your home. And then, that entire process is sped up by what is happening. I hear stories from my mom about vandalism at the Israel center (which is located in a small town, not exactly a hub of activity) and the heavy police presence anytime she does anything remotely Jewish. The continuing protests in Amsterdam-a city I used to love. Like, really, really love. “Dozens of people were arrested on Dec. 14 Outside the concert hall in Amsterdam, on Dec. 14, 2025, after protesting outside Amsterdam’s Royal during a Hanukkah performance by Israeli vocalist Shai Concert Hall, where multiple Hanukkah con- Abramson. Credit: Mouneb Taim/NurPhoto via Getty Images certs were taking place,” Philissa Cramer wrote for there; his survival was a miracle, and consuming the JTA. The day’s concert lineup came under every piece of culture Amsterdam had to offer was scrutiny last month after the concert hall, known as an act of taking back what he had lost. the Concertgebouw, announced that it was canceling Were he alive today, he would be hurt beyond bea planned Hanukkah concert featuring an Israeli per- lief. He also wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know that former over his ties to the Israeli army. Shai Abram- it matters whether they wear Nazi armbands or son is the chief cantor of the Israel Defense Forces.” wave Palestinian flags. The anger among regular I have a lot of memories of that concert hall. The Dutch people has no reason other than the fact “Concertgebouw” was, when I was a teenager, a they hate the Jews. I worry about those still there, quintessentially Jewish place. My great-uncle had I’m glad I’m gone. I’ll visit, but that’s it. season tickets, and would take me with him and The last time I came back from a trip to Holland, even at 15, I realized what a privilege that was. And an officer at Minneapolis airport looked at my it felt like he knew everyone there, he would intro- green card, looked at me, and said “Welcome duce me, the older generation would ooh and aah home.” I will hold on to those words.
The Bondi Beach attack is inspiring Jewish pride. For our children’s sake, we need to allow our fear, too. DAVID BRYFMAN JTA Just last Monday night, I experienced one of the pinnacles of my professional life: interviewing Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin. That evening, Rachel, who herself has endured unimaginable suffering, reminded us that hope is a commandment. Not a passive wish, but an active pursuit. The conversation took place at the Jewish Futures Conference, dedicated to what I called the pedagogy of hope: the idea that hope can be taught, modeled and lived. One week later, our world was shattered. On the first night of Hanukkah, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Fifteen people were murdered. Scores more were wounded. And what will forever mark this event is not only its brutality, but the fact that it was an antisemitic attack—an attempt to murder Jews in public Jewish spaces. I am Australian. I was born in Melbourne and lived and worked in Sydney for two years. Like so many people I love, I know Bondi Beach intimately: the fish and chips, the place you take friends and tourists, the breathtaking walk from Bondi to Coogee — one of my favorite walks in the world. Bondi is joy, openness, life. And now, it is also a site of terror. That can never be erased. Today, we are mourning and burying our dead. And still — we are commanded to hope. To be proud. But sometimes, hope cannot be rushed. As educators, teachers, and especially as parents, our first obligation is to listen to our children. To all of their emotions: fear, anger, confusion, sadness. Sometimes telling children to “be proud,” to “go outside and shine your menorah brightly,” is not the right response in the immediate aftermath of violence. Sometimes the most Jewish thing we can do is to sit quietly with them in their fear. To be scared
together for a moment. Emotions are real, and they is — and how close the Jewish people are. cannot always be controlled or overridden by ideolSo, what is the message of Hanukkah this year? ogy or slogans. Among the heroes of Bondi is Ahmed al-Ahmed, Adults can be adults. But we must also let kids be a 43-year-old father of two and fruit shop owner, kids. Inevitably, adults will begin the blame game. Politics will follow. There will be time to dissect the Australian government’s response — or lack thereof — to the pleas of Australian Jewry over the past two years. There will be time to ask hard questions about whether Australia remains a safe haven for Jews. I have always known Australia as one of the luckiest places in the world, and I hope — with everything in me — that it emerges from this tragedy Children attend a vigil outside the Australian High Commission in stronger and more resilient. central London, following the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish celBut not yet. ebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 14, 2025. For educators especially, it is es- Credit: James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images sential to remember that our primary role is not to make young people think what who was shot multiple times while disarming one of we think or believe what we believe. Our first task is the attackers. His courage echoes a story Rachel to nurture them — to care for their emotional well- Goldberg-Polin tells of a Bedouin man who pleaded being. Good education does not create replicas of to save Jews sheltering from Hamas terrorists, only adults. It creates critical thinkers who can reach to be murdered himself. Even in the deepest darktheir own enduring understandings of the world and ness, there is good in the world. form their own systems of values. None of this means we should stop striving to Yesterday, I spent my day waiting for names to ap- raise proud, thriving Jews. We should light our pear on lists of the wounded and the dead. I have menorahs. Place them in our windows. Gather pubdone this before — most recently on Oct. 7. I reached licly. Be visible and unafraid. out to friends in Sydney, waiting anxiously for replies. And we must also listen to our children. When one didn’t respond for 24 hours, my heart They are not only our future. They are our present. sank. The full list has not even been released yet. David Bryfman is the CEO of The Jewish EduThis is the reality of the world we live in. cation Project. Friends in Israel sent me a photo of a sign on the The views and opinions expressed in this article are Tel Aviv boardwalk: “From Tel Aviv Beach to Bondi those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the Beach.” A painful reminder of how small the world views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
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Synagogues
10 | The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025
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, Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker, Cpt. Jessica L. Wagner. 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: David Alloy, Renee Corcoran, Rick Katelman, Gail Kenkel, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL 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: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; New Year’s Toast following Services; Havdalah, 5:40 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: No BESTT this week; Morning Minyan, 9 a.m. Zoom Only this week. FRIDAY-Jan. 2: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY-Jan. 3: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Havdalah, 5:45 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 9:30 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman. TUESDAY: Mishneh Deot & Sefer HaMiddot, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham. WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 9: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY-Jan. 10: Simcha Shabbat, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Havdalah, 5:55 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
BETH ISRAEL FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 4:43 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, 3:45 p.m.; Mincha, 4:30 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 5 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:48 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. THURSDAY: Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 2: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 4:49 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 3: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 3:45 p.m.; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 5:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:48 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7
a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. THURSDAY: Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m.; Smichat Chaver Men’s Class, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 9: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 4:56 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 10: Shabbos Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/ Laws of Shabbos, 5:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 6 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, 4:15 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 4:43 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 5:47 p.m. SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m. 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 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; 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.; 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-Jan. 2: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 4:15 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 4:48 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 3: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 5:53 p.m. SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m. 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 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; 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.; 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-Jan. 9: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 4:15 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 4:55 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 10: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 5:59 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options. FRIDAY: Shabbat Candlelighting, 4:47 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi
Jewish donors help Bondi hero GRACE GILSON JTA A crowdfunding campaign to support Ahmed al Ahmed, the Muslim fruit seller shot after disarming one of the men who was attacking a Hanukkah event in Sydney, generated $1.3 million in its first day — with the largest donation coming from the American Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman. Ackman also promoted the campaign to his followers, tweeting, “This is the verified link for the
Bondi hero.” In a viral video on Dec. 14, shortly after the attack on Bondi Beach that left 15 killed and over 40 injured, al Ahmed, 43, can be seen crouching behind a car before jumping into action as one of the terrorists shoots a firearm at the Jewish celebration. Al Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two who was unarmed, then jumped on the attacker from behind, wresting the firearm from his hands.
Alex at SST. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Vayigash via Zoom; Havdalah, 5:52 p.m. SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes—Semester Break; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at Rock 'N' Joe Coffee, 5025 Lindberg St, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com. TUESDAY: Ladies' Lunch, 1-2 p.m. Locations are decided upon at each lunch for the following month. For more information, please email Barbara Barron at oohhmmm.barb@gmail.com. WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Hebrew School—Semester Break. THURSDAY: Offices Closed. FRIDAY-Jan. 2: Shabbat Candlelighting, 4:53 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST. SATURDAY-Jan. 3: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Vayechi via Zoom; Havdalah, 5:57 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at Rock 'N' Joe Coffee, 5025 Lindberg St, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; LJCS Teachers Meeting, noon. 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; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 9: Shabbat Candlelighting, 4:?? p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST. SATURDAY-Jan. 10: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Shemot via Zoom; Havdalah, 5:?? 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: Temple Israel Office Closed; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY: Temple Israel Office Closed; Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. SUNDAY: Temple Israel Office Closed; No Youth Learning this week. MONDAY-TUESDAY: Temple Israel Office Closed. WEDNESDAY: Temple Israel Office Closed; No Youth Learning this week. THURSDAY: Temple Israel Office Closed. FRIDAY-Jan. 2: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m.; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY-Jan. 3: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom. SUNDAY: No Youth Learning this week. TUESDAY: The Write Stuff: the art of Safrut, 11 a.m. In-Person; Mah Jongg Made Easy, 1:30 p.m. In-Person. WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; Grades 36, 4:30 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew Chai: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. In-Person. THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff — In-Person & Zoom. FRIDAY-Jan. 9: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY-Dec. 10: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom; Grades 5 & 6 Lunch and Learn, 11:30 a.m. In-Person; Strike Up a Little Fun, 2:30 p.m. InPerson. RSVP Required. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
JEWISH PRESS NOTICE
The Jewish Press will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. There will be no Jewish Press on Jan. 2, 2026. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
Life Cycles IN MEMORIAM RENEE MICKLIN Renee Micklin passed away on Nov. 25, 2025. Services were held on Nov. 28 at Beth El Cemetery, 4700 S. 84th Street. She was preceded in death by her parents, Morris Micklin and Doris Shoshone Micklin; husband, Bruce Greenberg; and sister Joan Micklin Silver. She is survived by her children, Gail Greenberg (Seth Silverman), Mark Greenberg (Robin Fleischmann), and Diane Greenberg Romine (Bucky Romine); grandchildren: Hayley Silverman,
Elizabeth Greenberg, Zachary Greenberg, Shayna Buettner, Jon Buettner, Kiley Robinette, and River Romine; great-grandchildren: Marysa Duerksen, Ava Duerksen, Presley Buettner, and Braylee Buettner; sister, Carol Micklin; and nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Rose Blumkin Home who cared for Renee the past several years. Memorials may be made to The Foundation for Prader Willi Research.
tralians,” said CyberWell founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen MonGRACE GILSON temayor in a statement. JTA The latest controversy was not the first time the Richmond The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area mayor has landed in hot water over his commentary on Israel. is calling for the resignation of a local mayor who reposted In August, while speaking at the People’s Conference for conspiracy theories to his Linkedin account that claimed the Palestine, Martinez compared Hamas to a child bullied on a Bondi Beach attack on a Hanukkah celebration was a “false playground and said whether he supports Hamas was a “comflag” perpetrated by Israel. plicated question, ” according to J. “When an elected official’s words and actions make a seg“If Palestine were a schoolyard playground, I would be a ment of the community feel unsafe and abandoned by their government, that official can no longer effectively serve,” the group said in a statement. “For these reasons, Mayor Eduardo Martinez must resign,” the statement continued. “No community should be led by someone whose conduct contributes to fear, division, and exclusion. This is a stark example of where toxic social media, unchecked rhetoric, and the constant demonization of Israel and Jews can lead—and why it must be confronted.” Martinez, 76, is the mayor of Richmond, California, a city north of Berkeley that is home to one Reform congregation, Temple Beth Hillel. Elected in 2022, he has been a longtime and vocal critic of Israel. It is unusual for a Jewish group to call for the resignation of a local elected official. But Martinez’s rhetoric about Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez speaks during a press conference the Bondi Beach attack, the JCRC said, was “dangerously at a homeless encampment on Rydin Road in Richmond, California, antisemitic, deeply offensive, and wholly unacceptable.” on Sept. 15, 2022. Credit: Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images Following the attack in Sydney that left 15 killed and dozens injured, Martinez reposted several antisemitic senti- Palestinian, and that part of me that couldn’t endure the abuse anymore would be Hamas,” Martinez said at the time. While ments and conspiracy theories on his Linkedin page. “The root cause of antisemitism is the behaviour of Israel & there, he also wore a hat with the letters “DDTTIDF,” an Israelis,” read one since-deleted post shared by Martinez, ac- acronym calling for “death to the IDF.” In the JCRC’s letter, the organization also noted that under cording to J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Martinez’ leadership, Richmond had passed a resolution two Another post shared by Martinez compared the Bondi celweeks after Oct. 7 condemning Israel and “affirming Richmond’s ebration with hypothetical Hanukkah displays at the Al-Aqsa support and solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza.” Mosque in Jerusalem, writing that both should be seen as Martinez’ rhetoric following the Bondi attack was also con“performative assertions of dominance.” demned by the regional director of the Anti-Defamation The post continued: “Hanukkah, traditionally a time of perLeague Central Pacific, Marc Levine. sonal and private reflection, has in recent years been appro“There’s no excuse for an elected leader to be amplifying priated by Jewish Zionist organisations and weaponised as a warped antisemitic conspiracy theories that seek to blame the political tool.” In his repost, Martinez commented, “What are victim, ” Levine said in a statement to J. “The Australian comyour thoughts?” munity has already faced enough tragedy over the last few Martinez appeared to issue an apology for the post about days. We hope Mayor Martinez will reconsider his hurtful Israel on Wednesday, as a backlash grew. words, which have absolutely no place in public discourse. ” “I want to apologize for sharing my previous posts without thinking. Of course we know that antisemitism was here before the creation of the state of Israel,” he wrote on Linkedin. “As I’ve said many times before, we should not conflate ZionHelp us preserve the rich history of the Jewish ism with Judaism. They are two separate beliefs.” Federation of Omaha! In another apology on Thursday, Martinez distanced his rhetoric from his role as mayor. We’re looking for a detail-loving professional to or“I want to assure everyone that these postings are my opinganize documents, photos, and artifacts that capture ions (or my mistakes) and mine only. They are not statements the heart of our community. If you enjoy uncovering from my office or the city of Richmond. If I make a mistake, that mistake is mine only,” he wrote. “Once again, I apologize hidden gems, keeping things beautifully organized, for posting in haste without full understanding of the posting.” and bringing history to life, this role is for you. Following the attack on Sunday, the online antisemitism Join us in honoring our past watchdog Cyberwell said that it had seen a “surge of hatred while supporting our future. and incitement” on social media. Australian officials said the two attackers were motivated by “Islamic State ideology.” Archivist “We are also seeing a dangerous denial narrative online that Part-time (20 hours per week) blames the Jewish community itself, falsely labeling the attack $25 - $35 per hour a ‘false flag’ or ‘Mossad’ operation, orchestrated to divide Aus-
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12 | The Jewish Press | December 26, 2025