October 17, 2025 by Jewish Press

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The Seventh Day Mezuzot of Nebraska Page 2

SIMA DENENBERG The Untested Cookbook Page 5

he sun is setting. I look up at the sky and notice that I can see three stars, indicating that a new day has dawned and Shabbat has begun. Standing outside the doorway, I can smell the aroma of the challah my mother freshly baked. Challah is the special holiday bread that we believe dates back to Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. I hear so many familiar voices, weaving together like a prayer. I always look forward to Friday nights because I know no matter what, I will have a meaningful, fun night with my friends and family. It's not just my friends and family, but my community. The Jewish people keep their own calendar, and this year

is 5785. On our calendar, the date changes not at midnight, but at sundown. The concept is that man made time, but God made sunset to mark a new day. That's why our first festive meal of Shabbat is on Friday night, because for us, it is Saturday. Observance starts at sundown on Friday night and ends at nightfall on Saturday. Sundown is when three stars are visible in the sky. Shabbat originates in the biblical story of creation. God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh, setting it apart as the day of rest and reflection. Observing the Sabbath is one of the most important and widely observed See The Seventh Day page 3

Stronger Together: The 2026 Annual Campaign Pages 6 & 7

Being A Good Ancestor: Reflections and Invite

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles

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AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS JFO Foundation Executive Director On Sunday, Sept. 7, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation and the Foundation launched the “Being a

Good Ancestor” series in the Alan J. Levine Theater with Rabbi Steve Leder from Wilshire Boulevard Synagogue with more than 100 attending. Following his talk, guests gathered for a reception where the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One attendee reflected that the only thing missing was more young people hearing such a powerful and timely message. If we produced a bumper sticker, summarizing the event, Rabbi’s message to us is: YOU MATTER. Here are a few more key takeaways: See Reflections page 2

Beit Midrash begins in November HEIDI HEILBRUNN NEEDLEMAN JFO Assistant Director of Education and Engagement The Jewish Federation of Omaha’s monthly Beit Midrash returns this fall, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19, and continuing every third Wednesday through spring of 2026 from noon–1 p.m. at the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus. The program brings together community with clergy from Beth Israel Synagogue, Beth El Synagogue, Chabad of Nebraska and Temple Israel for open educational discussions over a light nosh. With topics chosen by each presenting clergy, the thoughtprovoking series encourages crossdenominational dialogue and promotes deeper understanding through meaningful study Last year the series, which drew

40-60 participants per session, offered a wide range of engaging discussions. Each member of clergy explored topics such as the art of respectful disagreement, showing how Jewish tradition fosters vigorous debate with civility, the richness of Jewish rituals and how they continue to shape diverse modern practice; and the relationship between Christian Evangelicals and Israel, viewed through historical and theological lenses. Participants also reflected on the Torah’s modern relevance, discovered the enduring See Beit Midrash page 2

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Reflections

• Legacy is love. Today, 85% of Jews have no estate plan that provides for Jewish life. Rabbi Leder reminded us: “Doing our best for people we don’t know, for those who come after us, is the definition of a truly fulfilled life. To matter—to truly matter—let this into your heart and soul.” We hope you will join us for the next program in the Being a Good Ancestor series:

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Continued from page 1 • The Jewish story depends on us. It is in our hands, which can be terrible and wonderful news at the same time. • Religion in America can lack a spark. Too often, it is seen as irrelevant, outdated, or a joke. Yet, Judaism can reignite purpose with two simple words: You Matter. • Freedom matters. What we do with it matters even more. After family and work, what is your third priority? Choose well. Rise above excess, embrace blessings, and ask the Jewish question: Since I am free, what life will I live? What will I do for Judaism? • We fall. We rise. When disrespected, we respond. Prioritize Jewish giving. Disturbed equilibrium sparks creativity — let us act like we matter. Let us aspire and take steps to be good ancestors. • You can’t do everything, but you can do something. The greatest threat isn’t external; it’s uninspired leadership and institutions. Jewish life must be affordable and accessible — through camp, day school, preschool, synagogues, Israel trips — experiences that shape proud, resilient Jews.

Living Your Legacy: Creating a Meaningful Estate Plan, Sunday, Nov, 9, 10:30 a.m. This special interactive session will explore a holistic approach to estate planning. As Rabbi Leder reminds us, thinking about being a good ancestor not only benefits those who will one day inherit our stories — it also helps us reassess our own lives: • Are you living in alignment with your values? • Are you creating a Jewish legacy you can be proud of ? By weaving together the practical and the personal, your estate plan can become a profound act of love — one that provides comfort, guidance, and inspiration for generations to come.

Our featured speaker is Pam Berkowitz, Managing Director of Trust and Estate Planning at Offit Capital Advisors. Pam guides clients in estate and trust planning matters, helping them preserve wealth and maximize tax impacts. Prior to moving to Omaha, Pam practiced law for 15 years in Chicago most recently as a partner at Perkins Coie and an associate at Winston & Strawn. To RSVP please use the QR code (right) or contact Jennifer Goodman at jgoodman@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6459.

Beit Midrash Continued from page 1 power of Passover’s musical traditions, and engaged in thoughtful conversations about marriage and intimacy. The series concluded with an exploration of living a life shaped by mitzvot, emphasizing sacred obligations as a path to meaning and purpose. Over the eight months of the educational series, The Jewish Federation of Omaha was honored to host clergy from across Jewish Omaha. Beit Midrash serves an inter-denominational space that celebrates the diversity and richness of Jewish life in Omaha while bringing the community closer through shared learning. The current schedule for Beit Midrash 2025-2026 will be asfollows. All sessions are held at the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Nov. 19 with clergy from Beth Israel; Dec. 17 with

clergy from Beth El; Jan. 21, 2026 with clergy from Chabad of Nebraska; Feb. 18 with clergy from Temple Israel; March 18 with clergy from Beth Israel; April 15 with clergy from Temple Israel; and May 20 with clergy from Chabad of Nebraska. While the annual Beit Midrash series invites the community to learn, question and celebrate the diversity of Jewish life, advance registration is required through the QR code provided. Registration ensures the JFO can accommodate all attendees with a Kosher ‘nosh’ or light lunch. With any questions, please reach out to Naomi Fox, Director of Community Engagement and Education at nfox@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6424.

Mezuzot of Nebraska These mezuzahs belong to Karen and Oliver Pollak. “They were created in Israel and elsewhere,” Oliver said, “and adorned our homes in Omaha where we lived for 42 years. These Mezuzot are made of Jerusalem stone, wood, and various metals, and have been acquired since 1966. We received them as wedding and house warming presents, from friends returning from Israel bearing gifts, and being passed down in the family. They now sit in Richmond, California, where we have lived for almost ten years. 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.

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The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025 | 3

The Seventh Day Continued from page 1 Jewish commandments. In fact, it’s the fourth of the ten commandments. To welcome in Shabbat, women light candles while we say a blessing, greeting the sacred time and saying goodbye to the week day. Next, we bless the wine in a prayer we call “kiddush”, from the Hebrew word that means “holy”. Then, we bless my mother’s hot homemade challah with the prayer “hamotzi”. Families eat traditional foods like chicken, soup, kugel (noodle casserole), or my favorite, steak. Each traditional food is tied to many generations and memories. We sing zemirot, or songs, tell stories, and teach the Torah. There is much more to the observance of Shabbat than just having a festive meal. A common misconception is that Shabbat is only the meal. We mimic God’s rest by not engaging with our world the way we do during the week. During that time, we are not allowed to work, we don't earn or spend money, and we don't plant or harvest. Observant Jews don't use electronics, drive in a car, or write. There’s more, but you get the idea. Shabbat is also a time for prayer in the community. Shabbat should make you feel at peace and comfort with your loved ones. It is not simply a pause from work, but a time to remember that life is more than just work and routine but a sanctuary for growth and connection. We begin the night crowded in the kitchen, falling over with laughter as we all reunite after the hard week. The rooms are cleaned, the candles are set at their specific spot right by the window and the whole house smells amazing. The table is almost always set with a white tablecloth, set with our finest China as well as silver, passed down from my great grandmother to my grandmother, and now to us. We are getting ready to meet the Shabbat Queen, so we want to prepare as if we are meeting royalty. So, we dress up and put on our best faces. Pots rattle on the stove, the oven is beeping, and I’m slowly gathering the ladies in the room to light candles. After the blessing, my dad pours the wine, the bubbly liquid catches the light, and my mother lifts the challah up to make hamotzi. We have a custom of tearing the bread and tossing the pieces to each person. This custom demonstrates that bread comes from the hand of God and not the hand of man. I catch my warm challah, and the first bite nearly ends me with the bread melting in my mouth. Now comes the hardest part of the night-resisting temptation to eat the entire loaf of challah. I want to save my appetite for dinner. I finally hear my mom say, “okay everyone can go to the buffet now!” In that instant, the energy in the room shifts from relaxed hangry to joyous chaos as everyone rushes to the buffet. Every Shabbat dinner, my aunt presents us with a drash. A drash is a brief lesson she teaches us about something to do with the Jewish religion. This particular Shabbat, she tells us how we are created in God’s image. This was very interesting to me, and my brother added something. When Adam, as in Adam and Eve, came to earth, angels went up to him and were calling him master because he somehow looked like God. The commentary says that all humans somehow look like God be-

cause we were created in His image. This divine spark in every human drives the Jewish respect for and celebration of life. It also makes each of us aspire to develop the godliness within us. The Jewish people put a great emphasis on welcoming guests. I love to sit at the end of the table with my siblings and cousins so I can talk to them for the whole dinner. As we settle around my dinner table, I pick the spot across from my cousin Lev. He usually only attends Shabbat when he’s home from college, so I value the time I get to spend with him. A few other regulars you’ll find at my Shabbat dinner are Berel and Stuart. Berel is the most sarcastic guy you could find, while also being extremely intelligent. On the other hand, Stuart is a genius doctor who will beat you in a marathon. You may think, “Wow, these young men are just normal 20-year-olds.” But Stuart is 77, and Berel is 39. With them at our table I never get bored and my night is always unpredictable. My mother hovers over everyone until she is sure that everyone is happy with their meal and has begun to eat. Every Friday our house is prepared to welcome guests. Because there are often 15 to 25 people at dinner, we usually have to extend the table to make room for everyone. Looking around the table, it is clear now that Shabbat is more than just a weekly dinner. It is a practice that anchors us in a world where the week often rushes by. Shabbat humbles us and reminds us that we can’t take our time for granted and we must embrace our culture. Traditions like lighting candles, blessing bread and wine, and singing songs, bring us back to the generations before us. For the guests who come, they not only have fun at a dinner party, but they leave with more knowledge and inspiration to do better and become the person they want to be in this world. As the evening dies down, the plates are emptied and the candles burn low, their wax dripping off the tin foil holder into colorful polka dots on the marble counter. The room gets quieter as fewer people are making conversation. Children are leaning against their parents, waiting to leave as chairs slowly slide back. There’s a saying, “more than the Jewish people have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” The Jewish people have been observing Shabbat for 6000 years, and other cultures have adopted days of rest along the way. Muslims observe a Sabbath on Friday, and Christians have Sunday as their day of rest. Even American labor laws recognize the importance of a day of rest. Personally, I feel more connected to my God, my community and my religion when we observe Shabbat together. I feel the sparks of holiness in blessings, in learning, and in this weekly ritual with my loved ones. Shabbat really does make me think about how to approach the week, clear-minded, with rest. These small rituals create something much bigger than themselves- a guide that has led my people for generations. I know as Shabbat ends, I am stepping away, carrying a piece of holiness into my week. This beautiful day makes me honor the divine spark within me.

Discovering Tomer Devorah with Rabbi Geiger MARK KIRCHHOFF JFO Community Engagement & Education Rabbi Mordechai Geiger, Senior Rabbi at Beth Israel Synagogue, will begin a learning series focused on Tomer D’vorah, (The Palm Tree of Deborah), the 16th-century classic mystical work by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero. Sessions will be held the first Sunday of every month, beginning Nov. 2nd from 3-4 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Omaha. No registration is required. When many people hear the word “mystical,” they imagine something distant, abstract, or even inaccessible. Yet in Jewish tradition, Tomer Devorah is anything but impractical. In fact, it is one of the most down-to-earth guides for living a better, kinder, and more meaningful life. “The fact that this work is so applicable today is one of the reasons I chose to teach from it,” said Rabbi Geiger. Tomer Devorah simplifies lofty spiritual ideas into practical lessons for everyday living. The title itself, inspired by the biblical prophetess Deborah, suggests strength, resilience, and moral clarity. Rabbi Geiger explained that “The work sheds light on the ‘Thirteen Attributes of Mercy’ described in the Torah—qualities such as patience, forgiveness, and generosity—and shows how we can imitate them in our own lives.” Many will recall Rabbi Geiger’s interactive style of teaching from last year’s Duties of the Heart. His belief is that the best way to learn is to become engaged with others because every individual perspective, opinion and observation adds to fuller

understanding. “The goal of these sessions is not academic mastery but personal growth. You don’t need to be a scholar to appreciate the book. Instead, it invites you to reflect, ask questions, and try applying the teachings in real life” Rabbi Geiger shared. The teachings of Tomer Devorah remind us that spiritual growth is not reserved for the few—it is accessible to everyone. With its practical lessons on mercy, kindness, and personal refinement, this classic work has the power to transform our relationships and elevate our daily lives. If you’ve ever wished to live with greater compassion and clarity, this class is the perfect place to start. Rabbi Geiger is the perfect person to start with. The first Sunday of every month will soon become very special for you.

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.

4 | The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025

The struggle to reconcile grief and joy DEBORAH DANAN JTA On the second anniversary of the Hamas massacre, Israelis grappled with how to mark the date which overlapped with the first day of Sukkot, when Jewish tradition requires festivity. The government postponed official remembrances until the day after the Simchat Torah holiday that bookends Sukkot rather than the Gregorian anniversary. Prime Minister Ben-

memorial organized by Kumu (“Rise Up”), an initiative set up by families of victims and hostages as a counterpoint to the official state ceremony. The event was livestreamed globally and screened simultaneously at Hostages Square. It opened with released hostage Agam Berger performing the theme from “Schindler’s List” on violin. Between speeches from hostage relatives, bereaved families and released cap-

bereaved families or the families of hostages,” she said. “The whole country is mourning.” At last year’s memorial, Young told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it was the first time her brother’s death had truly sunk in. In the months before, she said, her family’s grief had been buffered by “happy” distractions — the birth of her twins, her parents’ aliyah from the United Kingdom, and the flurry of projects created in Nathanel’s memory. But as another year passed and she returned to the same spot this October, the sense of loss felt sharper. The passage of time, she said on Tuesday, had made his absence harder, not easier.

synagogue during a simchat beit hashoeva — a Sukkot celebration where worshippers dance and play music late into the night during the holiday’s midweek nights. Men in fur streimels streamed inside while children chased one another through the narrow alleys. Asked about the tension between celebration and mourning, several attendees said they were unaware the Gregorian anniversary of Oct. 7 had arrived. Down the road, emissaries of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement had erected a roadside sukkah draped with yellow Mashiach flags — contrasting with the yellow hostage ribbons ubiquitous at the Tel Aviv memorial —

Elchanan Danino, whose son was murdered in captivity in Gaza, leads the Mourner's Kaddish at the civilian Oct. 7 memorial ceremony at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Oct. 7, 2025. Credit: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

jamin Netanyahu came under fire for initially failing to acknowledge Oct. 7 directly, writing a social media post that read simply “Happy Sukkot.” The convergence of the festival’s religiously required joy with the memory of mass death set off a broader debate over whether celebration and grief could coexist. Some religious leaders and community groups, including the Reform movement, urged weaving remembrance into holiday rituals — lighting candles, reading names, adding prayers for the fallen — while others argued that Sukkot’s happiness should remain intact, with official mourning deferred. Some Israelis traveled south to visit sites of the attacks, including at official memorials at some of the kibbutzes that were devastated on Oct. 7, but larger crowds were expected on Wednesday, the first of the intermediary days of Sukkot. Travel is prohibited on the first day for those who adhere to traditional interpretations of Jewish law. Even among the bereaved, observance varied. British-Israeli Gaby Young Shalev, whose younger brother Nathanel Young, a soldier, was killed in action on Oct. 7, said her family chose to celebrate the festival with friends and relatives before turning to commemoration. “I tried not to think about the fact that it’s Oct. 7. Because I really think it’s important that we don’t let these atrocities of Oct. 7 ruin our chagim,” she said, using the Hebrew word for Jewish festivals. But once the holiday day ended on Tuesday evening, Young, her parents and sister Miriam went to Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park for the Oct. 7

tives, well-known Israeli musicians performed on a stage that was a tableau of symbols: a burned-out car like those destroyed along the Gaza border, encircled by red crown anemones — the national flower and an emblem of remembrance — a bullet-riddled bomb shelter, and 48 suspended yellow chairs representing each hostage still in Gaza. Singer Yuval Rafael, who survived the Nova festival massacre and later represented Israel at Eurovision, sang with Daniel Weiss, whose parents were murdered by Hamas. Zvi Zussman, father of Maj. Gen. (res.) Ben Zussman, killed in December 2023, recited the Yizkor prayer, while Elchanan Danino, whose son Ori was kidnapped and later murdered in captivity, recited the Mourner’s Kaddish. Eurovision contestant Eden Golan addressed the livestream in English, saying the nation “had been holding its breath” for two years and calling for the release of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza. She performed “I’m Coming Home” as images of hostages filled the screen behind her. The crowd erupted in chants of “Everyone, Now,” the slogan that has become shorthand for demanding their return. Unlike last year, the memorial was open to the general public and drew an estimated 30,000 people. In 2024, 50,000 tickets had been reserved by the public but organizers were forced to curtail attendance to the press and victims’ families amid security threats. For Young, the crowd’s size this year conveyed a collective response beyond those most directly affected. “It’s a reminder that it’s not just about the

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 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 jtaylor@jewishomaha.org or Annette at avandekamp@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 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.

Gaby Shalev, at left, lost her brother on Oct. 7. She attended a memorial held in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park on Oct. 7, 2025. Credit: Deborah Danan

“We realize that Nathanel’s not just on a long holiday, but that he’s not actually coming back,” she said. The release last month of the army’s year-long investigation into what happened on his base that morning, she added, made the loss feel newly immediate. Still, “we live life with a lot of purpose,” she said. “We keep his spirit alive by asking, even in the most everyday situations, what would Nat do?” Young said she resonated deeply with an image shared on stage by fellow bereaved speaker Tomer Zak, whose parents and younger brother were killed in the attacks. Zak compared herself to a tree that had lost its leaves but whose roots remained strong. For Young, the metaphor captured the tension between devastation and resilience. “When other people look at it from the outside they’re like, how can this person continue with their lives? But the memory and the light from the person we lost, from Nathanel, makes us keep going, makes us stronger. It gives us these magic powers — you basically want to do all these things for them,” she said. To that end, the family have set up a memorial fund in his name to support projects for youth at risk, including young people with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence, reflecting what she described as Nathanel’s determination to overcome his own setbacks in life and help others do the same. A few miles east in Bnei Brak, the atmosphere was strikingly different. Late at night, Hasidic music blasted from the Beit Hashem

and were handing cotton candy to children. Yossi, one of the Chabad volunteers, said the date did not change their message. “We pray every day for the return of the hostages and the safe return of the soldiers. In all our daily prayers and also when we read from the Torah,” he said. A woman in a tank top said that despite identifying herself as secular, the attack’s timing would fix the memory to the Hebrew calendar. “I can’t separate from the fact that it happened on Shabbat and also such a joyous festival — Simchat Torah. [Hamas] took that from us forever.” In Holon, south of Tel Aviv, Eyal Golan spent the day at home. His youngest sister Shirel, a Nova festival survivor, died by suicide shortly before the first anniversary of the attacks. He could not bring himself to attend a memorial, he said, but added that looking after his two small daughters, the youngest of whom is a newborn, took precedence. “The mental is affecting the physical,” he said of the migraines he was suffering. “I felt a sense of emptiness all day and I struggled with my own PTSD just to function.” As the event in the Yarkon Park wrapped up, the crowd stood to sing Israel’s national anthem. For Young, the moment tied mourning to resolve. “It’s a collective grief but also a collective hope, that’s how I felt at the end of ‘Hatikvah.’ Yes, we are all grieving, but there’s something with Am Yisrael, with the Jewish people and with Israeli people. We keep going.”

The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025 | 5

The Untested Cookbook ORZO WITH LEMON AND HERBS Kathy Simon

Marcus of Omaha FINE PHOTOGRAPHY

CELEBRATING OUR 40th YEAR! FAMILIES | HEADSHOTS | SIMCHAS | SENIORS

Howard K. Marcus, photographer

Ingredients:

402-333-8588

3 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth 1/2 lb. orzo 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. lemon juice ½ cup plus 2 tbsp. parsley, chopped & fresh Chervil or basil, or combination Salt and pepper, to taste

www.marcusofomaha.com

NOW BOOKING 2026 SENIORS!

Directions: In a large saucepan, boil broth over moderate heat. Add orzo, stirring often. Cook for about 10 minutes or until broth is absorbed and orzo is tender. Remove from heat. Stir in oil, lemon juice and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4.

CHICKEN DIABLE Gigi Osten

EXPERIENCE ANTISEMITISM? If you experience antisemitism, there are ways to report an incident or hate crime:

Ingredients: 1 3 lb. broiler chicken, cut up 4 tbsp. butter or margarine 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup mustard 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. curry powder

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, MOVE TO A SAFE AREA AND DIAL 9-1-1 CALL the JFO’s Safety and Security Team 402-334-6446 EMAIL JCRCreporting@jewishomaha.org SCAN the QR code below to fill out the Incident Reporting Form

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Wash chicken and pat dry. Remove skin, if desired. In a shallow baking pan, melt butter and stir in remaining ingredients. Roll chicken in this mixture coating both sides. In a single layer, arrange chicken in a baking dish with meaty side up. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is tender and richly glazed. Yields 4 servings.

We work directly with law enforcement, Secure Communities Network, and the Anti-Defamation League.

MONICA’S REFRIGERATOR PICKLES Gilda Pieck Ingredients: 12 cups cucumbers, sliced thin 3 onions, sliced thin 4 cups sugar 4 cups vinegar 1 1/2 tsp. turmeric 1 1/2 tsp. celery seed 3 tbsp. pickling salt or kosher salt 1/4 tsp. alum

Directions: Mix together the sugar, vinegar, turmeric, celery seed, salt, and alum. Pour over cucumbers and onions. Refrigerate and stir once a day for 3 to 4 days. They are ready to eat and keep well in the refrigerator.

“My mother was the worst cook in the world. Everything had to cook for four days. She never believed the butcher killed it! My mother made chicken soup with fat on the top. It used to congeal and you could skate on it!” ALAN KING Visit us at omahajewishpress.com

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6 | The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025

The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025 | 7

Stronger Together! The 2026 Annual Campaign More than 300 community members attended the 2026 Annual Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign Kickoff event on October 5. Together, we filled out pledge cards, shmoozed, and welcomed Academy Award-winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin as our keynote speaker. Outside of acting, Matlin is a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf. She has published four works, and won recognitions for her advocacy. A documentary about her life and work, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, was released in 2025. The community honored Spirit of Federation award recipients Susan Norton and Tom Fellman. We also enjoyed a performance by the Israeli group Hashayara. Formed by educators and artists from Dror Israel, HaShayara is more than a performance group. It is a moving force of healing and resilience. Across Israel, communities are beginning to return home after months, and in some cases more than a year, of displacement, trauma and loss. As they rebuild their lives and neighborhoods, many are also working to restore the emotional and social bonds that were broken by war and separation. HaShayara, meaning “caravan” operates both in Israel and abroad, using music as a powerful educational and therapeutic tool to help communities reconnect with themselves, with one another and with their broader Jewish and/or Israeli identity. The ensemble works hand in hand with each community to create musical experiences that reflect their unique stories, programs that give voice to their struggles and open space for emotional expression. The even returned Monday morning for an encore performance for students from Friedel Jewish Academy and the Early Learning Center. And of course, no Campaign event is complete without a great kosher nosh, which was taken care of by Star Catering in the form of a beautiful dessert spread. An important part of our mission is to build bridges of understanding with our neighbors, strengthening the bonds that make Jewish Omaha a welcoming and inclusive home for all. Your support is the driving force behind every life touched, every family uplifted, and every dream realized. The Jewish Federation of Omaha thanks the community for sharing this beautiful night, and joining us in building a bright tomorrow by donating to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2026 Annual Campaign.

8 | The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025

BETH ISRAEL Thanks to the Jane and Jack Cohen Jewish Life Fund, and to Rabbi Eitan’s efforts, Beth Israel congregants had an unforgettable pre–Yom Kippur experience at Fontenelle Forest.

JCC Heidi and Mark at the holiday table in our JCC Schlessinger Family Lobby, where visitors could pick up both knowledge and treats.

SP O TLIGHT

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

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.

ELC Richard Goedeken and Mary Bachteler (above) in the accounting department and our Shaliach, Itay. hard at work.

Israeli musical act Hashayara performed for students from the ELC and Friedel Jewish Academy

FRIEDEL Friedel seventh graders visited the Millard Branch of the Omaha Public Library

Voices

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David Finkelstein President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Will Fischer Creative Director Claire Endelman Sales Director Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Sam Kricsfeld Digital support Mary Bachteler Accounting Jewish Press Advisory Board David Finkelstein, President; Margie Gutnik, Ex-Officio; Joseph Abrahams, Helen Epstein, Andrea Erlich, Ally Freeman, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Chuck Lucoff, Sara Rips, Melissa Shrago, 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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The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025 | 9

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.

We want to hear from you! ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Maybe you have already noticed the full-page ad on the back page of this week’s Jewish Press. If you did, you know: we are introducing a reader’s survey. Receiving feedback at the Press is not unusual; most of it comes during one-on-one conversations in the hallway or the parking lot, over the phone or when we run into each other during community events or at shul. Some of you email us with story ideas, or a response to something you read on our pages. We love all those interactions (I keep notes) but we’d like to formalize it a little, and want to invite every single reader to participate. You can join by scanning the QR code on the back page, we’ll also post the link on our website and on Facebook, as well as the weekly newsletter. You can answer the questions anonymously if you choose, however, we also have an incentive. Six readers will be randomly

chosen to receive a $25 VISA gift card. If you want to qualify, you’ll have to share your contact information. Answering the survey will provide us with essential information about what our readers like, what they love and want to see more of. You will have the oppor-

tunity to suggest new topics, and tell us about things you don’t like, or maybe you have noticed a missed opportunity you would like to share with us.

This paper belongs to the community. Our small team may do the actual writing and designing, but the Jewish Press has always been something shared by all of us. Staff and advisory board are temporary guardians. This survey allows you to add your voice, and take an active role in shaping the paper for the future. And we want you to know: your voice really matters to us. We cannot wait to read your answers, and are very excited about what we can gain from them. We know your insight will be invaluable to making the Jewish Press better than ever! And, it doesn’t matter what kind of reader you are. Do you only read headlines? Do you sometimes not read it at all, or do you read every single story? Maybe you check the front page, or the life cycles; perhaps you only check the synagogue schedule. Some of you let them pile up and then read two month’s worth of Jewish Presses all at once. Some of you only check the website, some of you only read the newsletter, while others have never opened our email. We want to know all of that, we are eager to learn from you, and we’d be so grateful for your time and input. Please scan the QR code, and help us grow, improve, and blossom!

What I saw as a British rabbi after the Manchester synagogue attack RABBI MIRIAM LORIE JTA We’ve known something like this would happen for years. But that didn’t make it less shocking when it happened. After attacks on Jewish shops, schools and synagogues across Europe, it felt like a matter of time before something would come to our shores in the United Kingdom. But an attack on a synagogue on Yom Kippur — this is particularly painful. There’s something about violence coming into a sacred place, at a sacred time, that feels particularly violating. I was leading services as a rabbi at my synagogue in Borehamwood, in the London suburbs. Soon after 10 a.m. someone brought a message from our amazing security guard Vince: There had been an attack in Manchester, and all synagogues were asked to lock their doors. My son was complaining that he wasn’t allowed to play football outside any more. I shared the news with one of the gabbais, the lay leaders helping to run services, to ask her for advice. Her shocked face reminded me that she has siblings in Manchester. Looking around our congregation, I realized that so many have connections in Manchester — people born there, with family there, who went to university there. We slipped out of the service to talk to Vince. He said that four were wounded and the police killed the attacker on the scene. He confirmed a synagogue was targeted but didn’t know which. He said there was a concern of copycat attacks — or worse that this would be a wider coordinated offensive. We were shocked. As Vince protected the front of our shul, I wondered about our congregation inside. None of us had phones on for Yom Kippur — nobody else would know the news. Do I share something like this and unsettle everyone? I wondered. If so, how and when? Do we say Tehillim (Psalms for safety)? Services would be going on until after 2 p.m., but with lots of people leaving earlier, should we say something about leaving quickly and not lingering outside? Would I be making a pastoral announcement, or a spiritual, or a safety one? Usually I’d have my network of rabbis on the

phone, discussing how to respond, sharing re- dom. Our already tight security will get tighter. I’m sources and support, but in a moment like this (an- more grateful than ever for the Community Secuother, obviously, was Simchat Torah in 2023) you rity Trust, the Jewish communal security agency — need to decide in the moment. So I waited until the and so very sorry they need to exist. I fear deeply point in the service where we say prayers for the for our already fragile interfaith relationships, Royal Family and for Israel. I shared what I knew, which need strengthening now more than ever. My with a heavy heart, and asked for people to not kids heard far too much — I worry what this will linger outside the building when leaving. And we said Psalm 130, asking for the wounded to be healed and to know only safety and protection in the future. By the afternoon, Vince shared that there were casualties. He shared the awful nature of the attack: a car ramming, stabbing, an assault on the door of the synagogue, something that looked like an explosive vest. Yom Kippur, with its themes of life, death and judgement, weighed heavily. I up- Members of the public and congregants seen as police and other dated the community and asked emergency responders attend the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation that we have the souls of those Synagogue following an attack on Yom Kippur, on Oct. 2, 2025. Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images killed in our prayers at Neilah, the service that concludes the holiday. do to our children’s psyches. And my community: I worried about Vince. This kind bear of a guy how best to hold them through this now and in the who bounds towards us to carry the Torah to re- future? lieve us. Who already knows all the light switches One thing I know clearly is that we must conin our new building, including the funny one that tinue to walk tall, continue to come to shul, and to trips the fuse and needs resetting. Who locks up for live our Judaism proudly and positively. And we us and is fiercely protective. I saw for the first time must treasure and cultivate our relationships with that someone like him is the first in line, and that non-Jewish friends and colleagues more than ever tough as he is, nobody could have prevented what and not see this as a moment to turn inwards in happened in Manchester. mistrust. None of this in defiance or for defensive This will have ripples for so many people. Most, reasons, but simply because Judaism is amazing for of course, for the bereaved families, and for those a thousand positive reasons, and because it deat the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue, and serves to take a dignified place alongside the many in Manchester generally. And also for the security faiths and cultures in the United Kingdom. guards who were the first line of defense. Rabbi Miriam Lorie is the rabbi at Kehillat But it also now feels like a step change-England Nashira in Borehamwood, England. She was is now a place where something like this has hap- ordained by Yeshivat Maharat in 2024 and is pened, along with too many others to name. I con- the first Orthodox woman to lead a congregatinue to believe that most people are good and tion in England. kind, and the messages that flooded in from nonThe views and opinions expressed in this article are Jewish friends and colleagues confirm this (more those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the from Muslims than any other faith). views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. I can see that things will shift in the United King-

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | October 17, 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, Nov. 14, 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: David Alloy, Renee Corcoran, Rick Katelman, Gail Kenkel, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber.

BETH EL 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: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY: Bar Mitzvah of Issac Sherman, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:15 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 9:30 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman. MONDAY: Baking Day, 10 a.m. TUESDAY: Mishneh Deot & Sefer HaMiddot, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.. FRIDAY-Oct. 24: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY-Oct. 25: Bat Mitzvah of Talia Cohen, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:05 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, 6:23 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, 5:25 p.m.; Mincha, 6:10 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 6:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:21 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders, 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 24: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting,

6:13 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 25: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 5:15 p.m. with Rabbi Geiger; Mincha, 6 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:11 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE Join classes via Zoom. Go to ochabad.com/academy. For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 6:21 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:19 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; 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-1 p.m.; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 24: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 6:11 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 25: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:09 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: Ruth Muriello Bat Mitzvah; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:25 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST. SATURDAY: Ruth Muriello Bat Mitzvah; Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Bereshit; 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, 7:22 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Classes, 9:30 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. and will discuss The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. For more information, please contact Deborah Swearingen at: devra60@gmail.com. WEDNESDAY: Offices Closed; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m. at TI. FRIDAY-Oct. 24: Avigail Muriello Bat Mitzvah; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:15 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST. SATURDAY-Oct. 25: Avigail Muriello Bat Mitzvah; Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Noach; Havdalah, 7:13 p.m.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander. FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat Dinner with TISH, 6 p.m. RSVP Required; Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service and Bat Mitzvah of Emmy Howell, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. SUNDAY: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Temple Israel Welcomes Shwayder Camp, 9:30 a.m. InPerson; Coffee and Conversations with Board Members, 10 a.m. In-Person; Grade 7 Child and Parent Program, 10 a.m. In-Person; Book Club, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Rosh Chodesh Event with No More Empty Pots, 1 p.m. RSVP Required — 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; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Prep Class, 7 p.m. In-Person. FRIDAY-Oct. 24: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. InPerson; Shabbat Service and Consecration, 6 p.m. InPerson & Zoom. SATURDAY-Oct. 25: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service and Bat Mitzvah of Abigail Saylan, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

UPDATED OBITUARY CHANGES

As of July 1, 2025, Obituaries in the Jewish Press are free of charge. For questions, please email avandekamp@ jewishomaha.org. Obituaries in the Jewish Press are included in our print edition as well as our website at www.omahajewishpress.com.

One in three American Jews are taking action GRACE GILSON JTA American Jews are installing security systems and buying guns in large numbers, according to recent survey data. The surveys by the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Federations of North America took the pulse of U.S. Jews as the second anniversary approached of Hamas’ Oct. , attack on Israel that triggered the war and a wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents around the world. The analysis found that nearly one in five American Jews were the victim of an assault, threat or verbal harassment due to their Jewish identity over the last year. Although the surveys are not directly comparable, that is lower than a similar survey taken one year after Oct. 7 by the American Jewish Committee, which found that a third of U.S. Jews had directly experienced antisemitism in the previous year. The new analysis shows a high level of sustained experiences of antisemitism — 55% of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed anti-

semitism, including online, or felt excluded or min- stronger regulations. Additionally, 20% of American Jews who wore imization based on their Jewish identity. It also points to dramatic changes by U.S. Jews in response something distinctively Jewish prior to Oct. 7 have since decided to take it off to the ongoing threat. — though about half as According to the new many have begun wearing findings, a third of Amerisuch symbols at the same can Jews said they had distime, potentially as an act cussed with others how to of resistance. plan for a “worst-case sce“It is so profoundly sad nario,” with 14% developthat Jewish Americans are ing a plan to flee the now discussing worst-case country, 13% installing scenarios,” said Jonathan new security systems and Greenblatt, the CEO and 9% purchasing a gun. Among those who had Protesters at a Jewish solidarity march in New national director of the been assaulted, threat- York City on Jan. 5, 2020. Credit: Jeenah ADL, in a statement. “When American Jews — ened or harassed directly, Moon/Getty Images those proportions were higher. who have built lives, careers and families here for The analysis marks the first public data point generations — are making contingency plans to supporting anecdotal evidence that some Jews have flee, we must recognize this as a five-alarm fire for taken up arms in the wake of Oct. 7. Gun ownership our entire country. This is not just a Jewish probamong congregants has surged so much that Jewish lem; it’s an American problem that demands imsecurity experts have urged synagogues to impose mediate action from leaders at every level.”

Life Cycles B’NAI MITZVAH

ELI FINN BERGER Eli Finn Berger, son of Erin and Aaron Berger of Kansas City, MO,, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park, KS. Eli is a seventh grade student at the Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City. Eli enjoys sports and is a proud member of The Carriage Club’s hockey and swim teams. He enjoys playing chess, reading, managing his fantasy football teams and spending his summers with friends at Herzl Camp. For his tikkun olam project, Eli organized a “Swim & Dive-A-Thon” to raise money, collect non-perishable food and raise awareness for the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry. He has one sister, Micah. Grandparents are Margaret and Arthur Berger of Leawood, Kansas, and Jody and Buzz Malashock of Omaha, Nebraska.

RUTH BELLA MURIELLO Ruth Bella Muriello, daughter of Amy and Frank Muriello, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday October 18 at Congregation Tifereth Israel. Ruth is a 9th grader and is homeschooled. Her interests are reading, origami and learning languages. Ruth volunteered 132 hours at the Lincoln City Libraries, for which she received the Volunteer

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EMMY HOWELL Emmy Howell, daughter of Danielle and Bryan Howell, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday October 18 at Temple Israel. Emmy is a 7th grader at Inicio Academy Homeschool. She is part of the PJ Our Way 2025 Design Team. Emmy’s interests include theater, baking, crochet, piano, voice, writing, reading, and summers at Six Points CAA. Emmy's love of reading led her to focus on literacy in our community for her Mitzvah Project. She volunteered weekly at the Bennington Public Library, and spent the past two summers holding lemonade and cookie stands to purchase a Little Free Library to be installed at Temple Israel. She has an older sister, Katie, and a younger brother, Jamie.

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US president receives a hero’s welcome in Israeli parliament “The fact that you were not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is a grave mistake by the committee, but they will have no choice, Mr. President, they will have to award it to you next year,” he said. “Peace will not come by waiting. It will come by building, by reaching out and by daring, once again, to believe. You, Mr. President, have done the unimaginable. We will be eternally grateful.” Israelis have celebrated Trump for pressing for the ceasefire deal that resulted in the release of the hostages. Signs praising him have popped up at rallies around the country.

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U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Israel's President Isaac Herzog to speak to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. Credit: Evan Vucci-Pool/Getty Images

JTA STAFF The Israeli government will wage a campaign to promote President Donald Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, the a top lawmaker announced Monday October 13 as Trump visited the Knesset to mark the ceasefire deal he brokered between Israel and Hamas. Trump received a lengthy standing ovation — over two minutes — when he first arrived in the parliament after landing in Israel, just after the 20 living hostages who remained in Gaza returned to their country. A series of speakers then lavished him with praise, emphasizing his devotion to the hostages and the peace that may follow in the region. Trump was scheduled to leave Israel that afternoon for a peace summit in Egypt. “The world needs more Trumps,” said Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who said he would work with U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to rally world leaders to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. (Nominations for the prize, which was awarded for this year on Friday October 10, in January.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would nominate Trump to become the first-ever non-Israeli to win the Israel Prize. Listing Trump’s pro-Israel bona fides, he repeated a sentiment that he has shared before: “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.” And opposition leader Yair Lapid, too, praised Trump.

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12 | The Jewish Press | October 17, 2025

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