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OCTOBER 23, 2026 | 5 CHESHVAN 5787 | VOL. 107 | NO. 01 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 6:23 P.M.
Between Omaha and Israel A Home Far From Home Central High Hall of Fame Page 4
Two Patriots and a Place in Jewish Sports History Page 8
Kripke-Veret Collection Page 12
REGULARS6 Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life Cycles
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ITAY Community Shaliach hen I returned to Omaha in early September after visiting Israel, something felt different. I was coming back to a place that felt familiar. Walking into the Federation, visiting our synagogues, and seeing people I knew, I realized that I felt at home. I hadn’t expected that feeling to become so strong. Israel is my home and being far away can be difficult. But here in Omaha, I have found another kind of home. It is
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a home built through relationships, conversations, and people who have welcomed me into their lives. This past month, I understood more deeply what that means. As October 7 approached, I kept thinking about how I wanted to remember that day with our community. There are many ways to honor a memory. This year, I wanted to do it through art. I learned of the Wings of Hope global art project and knew it would be a beautiful way for our community to create something special together. The Wings of Hope project honors Livnat Kutz (Z"L) See Between Omaha and Israel page 2
Every Canvas Has a Story: Picturing Pesach: Biur Chametz in Brooklyn, NY Inclusion and Belonging Through Art LYNN BATTEN JFO Content Coordinator/Gallery Manager A special exhibit has been displayed on the small wall of the Eisenberg Gallery during the month of October. “Every Canvas Has a Story” features the artwork of Yachad participants, and Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Resident, David Silver. Yachad, which means “together” in Hebrew, is a program offered through Jewish Family Service (JFS) and is dedicated to enriching the lives of Jewish individuals with disabilities. The pro-
gram aims to enhance their participation in the Jewish community and strengthen their connection to Judaism through social and educational programs and support services. Heather Topil, JFS Emergency Financial Assistance Coordinator & Yachad Coordinator, oversees the program which currently has approximately 10-13 members. “Yachad reminds us that inclusion is not simply about making room for everyone as it is about See Every Canvas page 2
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Jarod Cernousek can often be spotted at Jewish events around our community, anywhere from the Sukkah Hop to the Beit Midrash. Jarod works in the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s marketing department as multi-media producer. He’s currently in his fifth year; he shoots and edits those amazing videos you see at our Annual Meeting and on the JFO website and so-
cial media. Among other things: in addition, he does an impressive amount of still photography, including our staff headshots. By his own admission, he didn’t know anything about Israeli or Jewish culture back when he started: “I was a college grad who needed a job,” he says. “The nice thing about working for JFO is that you’re invited to simply show up as you are. You decide how much you’d like to learn. For See Picturing Pesach page 3
2 | The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026
Between Omaha and Israel
Continued from page 1 and her family, who were murdered on Oct. 7. The original Wings of Hope were created in July 2023 by Livnat and members of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located in southern Israel. The wings were an art installation made from old plastic toys collected by the community. They were assembled on the wall of a shelter and symbolized sustainability, creativity, optimism, and a sense of community belonging. Following the Oct. 7 attacks, Livnat’s remaining family and friends invited other communities to build their own version of the wings. The goal of the project is to carry forward the values that Livnat brought into this world. The project expanded into a global movement. Jewish institutions around the world began collecting used plastic toys and building their own sculptures and murals. We started our project by asking community members to donate used or broken toys. Soon, people were stopping me to say, “I have another toy to bring you.” The donations kept coming, and I could feel how much people wanted to be involved. That meant a lot to me. Together with Shiri Phillips, we built the wings with students from Friedel Jewish Academy, BBYO teens, and teens from our synagogues. Toys that had once been part of someone’s childhood became part of a beautiful memorial that we created as a community. One of our building sessions with the teens took place on Oct. 7 itself. That was a very difficult day for me. I was there on Oct. 7, 2023. I lost friends in battle. This year, I spent much of the day crying. Even from Omaha, the memories of that day felt very close. That evening, I went to work on the Wings of Hope project with our teens. Being around them helped. Talking with them, listening to them, and working alongside them brought a smile back to my face. I was still sad, but I also felt grateful. I remember thinking how lucky I was
to have these young people in my life and to be surrounded by this community. I know it is okay to grieve and to make room for difficult days. That evening reminded me how much it matters to have people beside you when you do. For me, protecting Israel also means protecting a home for the Jewish people, wherever we live. Seeing our community in Omaha come together to remember reminded me how deeply that connection reaches across the distance. On a day that felt so personal and painful, it meant a great deal to know that I was not carrying those memories alone. We proudly unveiled our finished Wings of Hope sculpture at the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Community Campaign Kickoff on Oct. 12. Soon our wings will find a permanent home on the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus. When people see them, I hope they recognize them as something they helped build. Whether they donated a toy, worked on decorating the wings, or encouraged the project along the way, our community made it happen. Most importantly, our set of wings helps Livnat's memory to live on. When members of Livnat's family heard about what we were doing in Omaha, they were deeply moved. They sent us a video from Israel, thanking our community. Knowing that something we made here touched their hearts means so much to me. I made sure our young people understood that too: their time and care reached a family thousands of miles away. Together, we made a difference. We did a mitzvah. For me, that is what shlichut is about: creating connections that matter to people on both sides of the ocean. When I returned to Omaha in September, it felt like home. On Oct. 7, surrounded by our teens, I understood why.
Canvas
Continued from page 1 making sure everyone knows they truly belong,” Topil said. “The program plays an important role in creating an inclusive community where individuals with disabilities can build meaningful friendships, develop social connections, and participate in activities together. Yachad is a place where everyone belongs, regardless of ability, and where each person is welcomed, valued, and celebrated for who they are.” The Yachad group typically meets once or twice a month, although the schedule may vary depending on the month, special activities, and Jewish holidays. “Throughout the year, members participate in a variety of activities, including art projects, bowling, Topgolf, and celebrations of Jewish holidays and special events,” Topil said. “We also offer a weekly yoga class through Zoom, giving members another opportunity to connect and stay active together.” Despite all these fun outings, Topil stressed that Yachad is much more than simply attending activities. It is about creating friendships, building confidence, finding a sense of belonging, and knowing that there is a community where individuals are accepted and appreciated. “When I began serving as the Yachad coordinator a couple of years ago, one of my goals was to expand the program to individuals of all ages. I believe that providing opportunities for people of different ages and abilities to come together is an important part of creating a truly inclusive community,” Topil said. Art has become one of the many ways Yachad members express themselves and enjoy time together. Last year, members participated in an art show where they painted pottery. This year the group visited Painting with a Twist, a local Omaha art studio. Participants had the choice of creating their own landscape or picture or following along with the instructor, who guided See Canvas page 3
The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026 | 3
Canvas Continued from page 2 everyone step by step. The resulting creations are what is currently on display on the small wall of the Eisenberg Gallery. “The painting session was a wonderful opportunity for members to be creative, try something new, and enjoy each other’s company,” Topil said. Hanging alongside the artwork by Yachad are pieces by David Silver. Silver, a resident at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (RBJH), is a self-taught artist who began painting during the COVID pandemic. His works are primarily done in acrylic. He draws his inspiration from Judaism, human connection, animals, landscapes, and abstraction. His bold use of color and expressive style brings a distinctive voice. A hallmark of RBJH is the meaningful relationships formed between staff and residents — relationships rooted in knowing each individual and what matters most to them. When staff discovered David’s passion for art, they helped him find ways to display it. In addition to showing his work in the Eisenberg Gallery, his paintings are also frequently displayed in the lobby of RBJH. Silver paints daily and is always open to painting new subjects, even things he may not have done before. He enjoys painting things that make him feel good, such as dogs, flowers, and Judaism. He appreciates the challenge of trying new things and searching for the spark that will inspire his next piece. "I feel honored to be able to share my paintings with everyone that comes through the gallery as well as to be alongside the Yachad organization for this display,” Silver said. “It gives me a feeling of camaraderie to be working with organizations such as Yachad and RBJH to put on this display of talented artwork from so many different artists. The membership I have with the Jewish Community Center also brings me a lot of joy to continue being connected with a community I love." The exhibit will be on display in the Eisenberg Gallery at the Staenberg Omaha JCC until October 28th. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend the closing reception on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. From Nov. 2–6, the artwork will move to the upper sitting area near JCC Member Services before traveling to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, where it will remain on display for the rest of November. Anyone interested in learning more about Yachad, its requirements, and how individuals can become involved can contact Jewish Family Service at 402.330.2024 or at www.jfsomaha.com. Information about the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home can be obtained by calling 402.330.4272 or visiting www.rbjh.org. Jewish Family Service and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home are agencies of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.
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Picturing Pesach
Continued from page 1 me, the answer was: ‘everything.’ I wanted to lean in. The fact that I have, says everything you need to know about the kindness and generosity of this community.” As an introvert and especially as someone who didn’t grow up Jewish, he figured his exposure would be limited to the Federation walls. “I couldn’t have been more wrong,” he says. “I owe so much to our past Community Shlicha, Mika Mizrahi. Like any great Israeli looking at a Nebraska-nice boy buried six feet in imposter syndrome would, she threw a shovel at my head and invited me to begin exploring Jewish Omaha as an insider, rather than someone just holding a camera on the clock. I’d never say that I belong to the Omaha Jewish community, (after all, I’m not Jewish...yet?) but I can say that over these past few years, this community has been where my friends — my mishpacha — have truly made me feel like I belong.” Learning about Judaism means many different things: hearing others’ stories, learning about religious customs and holidays and tasting your first blintz, but also experiencing the Jewish world first-hand. And here’s what he meant when he said he decided to ‘lean in:’ earlier this year, Jarod boarded a plane for a 48-hour trip to New York to experience the burning of the Chametz in real time. “I made that trip with the sole-intention of documenting Biur Chametz in the Hasidic and Orthodox neighborhoods,” he says. “I learned a lot. It was a big shift from what I pictured in my mind when I was on the plane, to the photographer I became when I left.” A selection from those images will be displayed during the month of November on the pop-up wall in the Eisenberg Gallery.
ROOFING
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“Being able to display my own Jewish-centered photographs in the building where I first admired documentary images of Jews in the diaspora (coffee table books outside the museum) is a real treat,” Jarod said. “It’s very full-circle and exciting.” He still considers himself an outsider. One of the good ones, though: “It was the biggest switch I had to make mentally,” he admits. “With street photography, you try to blend in, but I quickly learned there was no hiding what was written on my forehead (or camera) as I walked these blocks. However, from looking at the actual images, you wouldn’t know my story. Maybe this is the neighborhood I grew up in, celebrating Pesach all my life? Maybe I’m a Hasid from Brooklyn. Or, maybe I’m originally from a rural town in western Nebraska and I booked a plane ticket and hotel room just to take this photo. Only one of those things is true. It bothered me at first. I even felt guilty when I got back…were these not my images to make? Should I even be photographing Jewish tradition at all? I am happy with the answers that I’ve found.” He hopes to continue his Jewish photography journey, and eventually publish a photobook. “Whether it’s documenting Jewish joy and tradition or the complete opposite, like my sister becoming a nun (really). I want to keep making images like the ones that move me; I want to show windows into worlds much different than my own. I see that as my job. I think in the end it proves, a few things aside, we’re not all that different.” Jarod Cernousek’s work will be on display in the Eisenberg Gallery at the Staenberg Omaha JCC during the month of November. Admission is free.
4 | The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026
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Central High Hall of Fame
The 27th Annual Central High School Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony was held on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 at Central High School. The Central High School Alumni Association is proud to induct 10 individuals whose paths from the halls of Central High School led them to the highest levels of achievement in business and community service. Inductees are selected by the Central High School Alumni Association and the program is presented by the Central High School Foundation. Among this year’s inductees were Morris Jacobs and Rachel Shukert. Morris Jacobs z”l was a visionary entrepreneur, civic leader, and pioneer in the advertising industry. Beginning his career as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, he developed the storytelling skills that would shape his future success. In 1921, Jacobs co-founded Bozell & Jacobs in Omaha, growing the firm from a single desk into a nationally and internationally recognized advertising and public relations agency. Under his leadership, the agency helped shape modern communications and produced iconic campaigns while promoting major clients and community institutions, including Boys Town. Deeply committed to Omaha, Jacobs played a key role in supporting civic and cultural organizations, including Ak-Sar-Ben, the College World Series, the Omaha Symphony, and local universities. Recognized for both innovation and integrity, Jacobs exemplified the belief that success carries a responsibility to serve, leaving a lasting legacy in Omaha and beyond. Morris passed away in 1987 at the age of 90. Rachel Skukert, is the daughter of Aviva and Marty Shukert. Shukert is an acclaimed author, playwright, television writer, producer, and showrunner whose creative work has earned national recognition across literature and entertainment. A third-generation Central graduate, Rachel Shukert first distinguished herself on Central’s stage in leading
Rachel Shukert Morris Jacobs roles in The Matchmaker and Fiddler on the Roof, laying the foundation for a career in storytelling and performance. After graduating with honors from Central, she attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, earning her degree in 2002. Shukert has authored four critically acclaimed books, including the bestselling memoir Everything Is Going to Be Great, numerous articles, and nine plays performed in the United States and abroad. She later became a successful television writer and producer, contributing to series including GLOW, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The ‘Burbs, earning two Emmy nominations and three Writers Guild of America nominations. As creator, showrunner, and executive producer of Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club, she won two Emmy Awards and two Television Critics Association Awards. Shukert continues to develop and produce major television projects, carrying forward the creativity, passion, and love of storytelling first nurtured on the stages and in the classrooms of Central High School. Inductees were selected by the Central High School Alumni Association and the program was presented by the Central High School Foundation.
Burke High Hall of Fame
Each year, Burke Alumni Association recognizes Burke alumni who have excelled in their chosen fields and given back to their communities. On Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 alumni Jeff Gordman and Jeff Kirshenbaum were among those honored. Jeff Gordman – Class of 1982 Jeff Gordman is president of Jeff Gordman Advisory, where he provides strategic and operational consulting to companies and private equity firms while also investing in growth-oriented businesses through private equity, venture capital, and angel investing. He is best known for his 18-year tenure as President and CEO of Gordmans Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMAN), leading the company from 1996 to 2014. Today, Gordman serves on the boards of Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, AML Foods, and Elevator. Gordman began his career as a mergers and acquisitions analyst with Lehman Brothers, where he specialized in company valuation and transaction analysis. Gordman graduated cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and later earned a Master of Science in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Gordman currently serves as Chair of the Board of Inheritance Theater Project, a national organization focused on community bridge-building. His extensive community service has included leadership roles with the Anti-Defamation League Great Plains Region and the Omaha Chamber’s Economic Development Council, as well as board service for Habitat for Humanity, the Omaha Community Foundation, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Symphony, and the University of Nebraska’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Jeff Kirshenbaum – Class of 1984
Jeff Gordman Jeff Kirshenbaum Jeff Kirshenbaum has served as Managing Principal of Omaha-based Kirshenbaum Realty since 2017. The firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of commercial and multifamily properties. He began his career in New York City working for a small real estate developer before returning to Omaha, where he spent 26 years with Noddle Development Company. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Since returning to Omaha in 1991, Jeff has been actively involved in community leadership. He has served on the board and as president of the Jewish Community Center, co-president of Jewish Family Service and Jewish Senior Services, president of Beth Israel Synagogue, and currently serves on the board of the Jewish Federation Foundation. Jeff ’s wife, Sharon, moved to Omaha in 1992, where they raised their two daughters, Alyssa (BHS 2014) and Lauren (BHS 2016). The Outstanding Alumni Award (Burke Alumni Hall of Fame) is presented to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the community.
Bennett and Lapid Pledge to Strengthen Israel-Diaspora Ties RUTH EGLASH JTA Israel-Diaspora relations will be made a top priority for former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid if their B’Yachad party joins the next Israeli government, according to a working plan shared with JTA. Under the plan, the party seeks to elevate the importance of Diaspora Jewry by transferring responsibility for relations from the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The plan also envisions the election by Diaspora Jewry of a non-voting observer to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The party will also work to ensure that all streams of Judaism are treated with respect in Israel, particularly at the sacred Western Wall, a particular issue of contention between Israel’s Orthodox rabbinical establishment and non-Orthodox movements in the Diaspora. The plan is being promoted as Israelis are preparing to vote for a new prime minister and parliament on Oct. 27. B’Yachad is one of the factions in the opposition or “change” bloc that is hoping to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud-led bloc. B’Yachad has been highly disparaging of Netanyahu’s record on relations with Jewish communities abroad. “Israel’s relationship with world Jewry isn’t merely of critical strategic importance; they are our family. It’s a moral imperative,” Lapid told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Tuesday. “The challenges of the last few years have shown that we share a fate as a people and a responsibility for our people’s future,” he said. Lapid said the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs needed to be shuttered “not because Israel doesn’t value world Jewry – but because we do.” “The relationship with Diaspora Jewry is too important to be thrown around as an appointment for a politician who needs a job,” he said, referring to how the ministry is often used as a bargaining chip in coalition agreements. “These ties need to be handled professionally, at the highest level, through the Foreign Ministry,” Lapid added. On the Western Wall, or Kotel, the party states in its material that the site “is a sacred and unifying place, and it should be a place of Shalom Bayit [peace among ourselves], not civil strife.” “We will work to preserve it as a place to which every Jewish man and woman, from Israel and around the world, can feel a sense of belonging and connection, while respecting the existing prayer arrangements at the Western Wall Plaza,” the party states in its platform. The plan’s finer print specifies that the southern end of the Western Wall, otherwise known as Robinson’s Arch, will remain a space for “prayer and gatherings in diverse ways” but will not “disrupt Orthodox prayer arrangements at the Western Wall Plaza.” Such a plan stands in contrast with the outgoing government’s trajectory, which has advanced legislation criminalizing all non-Orthodox Jewish prayer at the site. The legislation has already received preliminary approval. If it ultimately becomes law, it could severely strain relations between Israel and the Reform movement, the largest stream of Judaism in the United States. The proposals come amid signs of growing disaffection among Diaspora Jews with Israel and its Netanyahu-led government. Recent polls suggest that support for Israel among Diaspora Jews, especially in response to its policies in Gaza and on matters of democracy, is slipping. A February survey of American Jews by the Jewish Federations of North America found that only onethird of American Jews aged 18-34 identify as Zionist, even as nearly nine in 10 say they support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. A separate Pew poll examining American views of Israel found that Jewish attitudes have shifted since 2024. See Bennett and Lapid pledge page 5
The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026 | 5
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Bennett and Lapid Pledge
Continued from page 4 The survey found that 83% of Jews now view the Israeli people favorably, down from 89% in 2024, while 47% of Jews view the Israeli government favorably, compared with 54% in 2024. “We welcome Bennett and Lapid’s recognition of the importance of preserving the Western Wall as a place that belongs to the entire Jewish people, and their commitment to allowing different forms of prayer there,” Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism, told JTA. However, she said that she would like to see even more steps to ensure the area was accessible to all streams of Jewish prayer. “The Western Wall does not belong to any one stream of Judaism. Ensuring equality at the Wall is an obligation of the State of Israel to the entire Jewish people,” Kislanski said. Yochi Rappaport, CEO of Women of the Wall, an activist group that advocates for women-led prayer and Torah readings to be allowed at the holy site, also welcomed B’Yachad’s efforts. “The various attempts made in recent years by the Israeli government and other entities were all designed to exclude and undermine the prayer rights of liberal Jews, women, and the millions of Jews in the Diaspora who wish to pray at the holiest site in Judaism,” she said. Nachman Shai, dean of Hebrew Union College and a former minister of Diaspora Affairs under Bennett and Lapid’s government from 2021 to 2022, said that during the tenure of the current government “the lives of Jews in the Diaspora have been severely disrupted.” “There have been physical attacks on Jews worldwide, alongside antisemitic and anti-Israel activities, that have impacted Jewish life in every corner of the globe; the very least the Israeli government could do is to embrace the non-Orthodox movements,” he said, adding that “the State of Israel must offer every Jew the opportunity to hold ceremonies at the Western Wall plaza in a dignified and egalitarian manner.” Israel-Diaspora relations are not at the forefront of the Oct. 27 election campaign, nor are they a central theme of Israel’s foreign policy debate. B’Yachad is one of the few political parties in the running that has explicitly addressed the issue in its policy platform. It is also among the few to have published dedicated material in English, with the goal of reaching segments of world Jewry who also have a vested interest in the outcome of the vote. According to the plan, which was developed by B’Yachad parliamentarian Michal Slawny Cababia, the party will establish a Diaspora Jewry Council, which will elect a permanent observer-level representative to the Knesset. The representative will join certain parliamentary committees dealing with Diaspora Jewry. Diaspora representation in the Knesset has long been a source of controversy. A 2020 legislative proposal to require consultation with Diaspora leaders on issues salient to the international Jewish community went nowhere. The B’Yachad plan also includes an educational program to teach Israelis about Diaspora Jewish communities, the establishment of a National Authority for Combating Antisemitism, and an initiative to make the Hebrew language accessible to Jews around the world. Lapid said that the plan was “about giving world Jewry a voice at decision-making tables in Israel on issues that impact them and focusing on the fundamentals: showing basic respect to every stream, Hebrew education, programs to bring together young Israelis and Jews from around the world, and a task force to combat antisemitism professionally.” “As the nation-state of the Jewish people and the capital of the Jewish world, Israel and its government have to lead on maintaining and strengthening these ties. In the new government, I want to take direct and personal responsibility for rebuilding the relationship,” Lapid told JTA. A request for a response by JTA to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism regarding B’Yachad’s plan was not immediately answered.
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JCRC Receives National Grant to Strengthen Nebraska’s 2026 Elections
Douglas County, Nebraska’s largest county, requires up PAM MONSKY to 3,000 election workers to staff approximately 230 JCRC Assistant Director The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of precincts and serve more than 360,000 registered voters. Omaha has been awarded an Ignition Grant from A This summer, Douglas County Election Commissioner More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democ- Danielle Jensen publicly called for additional poll workracy. JCRC is one of just 49 ers for the November elecJewish organizations nation, highlighting the tionwide, and the only orimportance of the work ganization in Nebraska, JCRC is supporting through Every Voice, Every Vote. selected to lead local efforts to help protect and JCRC has also focused on strengthen the 2026 voter registration and acmidterm election. cess. On Aug. 23, the League The grant supports Every of Women Voters hosted Voice, Every Vote, an initiatwo voter registration tables tive through which JCRC is at the Staenberg Omaha advancing nonpartisan JCC, helping JCC and Jewish Election commissioners from Douglas and Sarpy County voter education and elecFederation of Omaha memtion engagement through- addressed the Jewish community in August 2026. bers make sure their voter out the 2026 midterm election cycle. registration information was current and ready for ElecSince August, JCRC has connected the Jewish commu- tion Day. nity with election officials through educational proVoter education has been another key component of grams and community outreach. On Aug. 5, JCRC hosted the initiative. JCRC has co-hosted B’nai B’rith Henry a Community Conversation featuring Douglas and Sarpy Monsky Lodge Breadbreakers Candidate Forums, proCounty election commissioners and chief deputy com- viding opportunities for candidates to speak directly missioners. The conversation offered community mem- with members of the Jewish community about their pobers an inside look at how local elections are sitions and priorities. JCRC has also invited candidates administered and secured, the latest issues facing voters with Jewish constituents to respond to questions on isand what it is like to serve as a poll worker. sues important to the Jewish community. Their reAs voters prepare for the general election on Tuesday, sponses are featured in the JCRC’s Jewish Voters’ Guide, Nov. 3, thousands of trained poll workers will be needed providing voters with information they can use to make to help ensure Election Day runs smoothly. informed decisions at the polls.
JFO and NextGen Sukkah Hop Brings Omaha’s Jewish Community Together
JONNIE ROBINSON JFO Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Education JFO NextGen members celebrated Sukkot on Thursday, Oct. 1 with a joyful Sukkah Hop aboard Ollie the Trolley, visiting beautiful sukkahs at Chabad of Nebraska, Temple Israel, Beth El Synagogue, and Beth Israel Synagogue. At each stop, participants were welcomed with warm hospitality, festive treats and drinks, and opportunities to connect with fellow members of Omaha’s Jewish community. Together, they shook the lulav, shared in the traditions of Sukkot, formed new friend-
ships, and strengthened existing connections across congregations. More than a celebration of the holiday, the evening created opportunities for people to build relationships, experience Jewish tradition together, and strengthen their sense of connection to Omaha’s Jewish community. JFO NextGen extends heartfelt thanks to volunteer leader Seth Feldman, generous sponsors, synagogue partners, and everyone who contributed their time, sukkahs, and support to make the event a success. The Sukkah Hop was a meaningful reminder of the joy and strength found in coming together as a Jewish community.
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.
6 | The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026
FRIEDEL At Friedel, we love when our preschool friends from the JCC Early Learning Center come to visit the Innovation Lab!
It was an uplifting morning, as PJ Library Omaha and Friedel Jewish Academy partnered to bring the Challah Tots program to the ELC, sparking joy through music, movement, and the art of creatively crafting challah at your Jewish Federation of Omaha. A big thank you the 7th graders at Friedel for leading the songs, a story and being an extra set of hands. Friedel Jewish Academy knows how to celebrate in style; mazal tov to Head of School Beth Cohen!!
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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.
BETH ISRAEL It was a festive scene at Beth Israel during the Omaha Sukkah Hop
RBJH The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home celebrated Simchat Torah, led by Renee Kazor and Marti Nerenstone. Marti’s thoughtful gesture of bringing a small Torah and sharing it throughout the room let residents connect personally with the sacred scroll as they listened to its words.
The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026 | 7
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Two Patriots and a Place in Jewish Sports History Jewish Stories in
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SETH SCHUCHMAN The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame honors some of the most recognizable names in sports, including Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg and Red Auerbach. But part of its value is introducing us to people we may not know, and to the Jewish stories behind their achievements. This year’s class includes a world champion boxer who became a rabbi, an Israeli athlete who earned 31 Paralympic medals, and two New England Patriots. They are among 20 athletes, coaches and broadcasters who will be inducted during a virtual ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern, 9 a.m. here in Omaha. Registration is available at jewishsportshof.org. The Hall’s story began in 1979, when Joseph Siegman established an American Jewish Sports Hall of Fame to help raise money for the U.S. Maccabiah team. Working with Alan Sherman, he expanded the idea internationally. In 1981, the museum was dedicated at the Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel. More than 500 athletes, coaches and contributors from over 30 countries have been honored. Its purpose is to preserve Jewish sporting history, celebrate excellence and give younger generations a connection to the people who came before them. As a Patriots fan, I was especially interested in two names on this year’s list: Andre Tippett and Julian Edelman. Tippett has long been one of my favorite players. Learning more about his Jewish life gave me another reason to admire him. He spent his entire NFL playing career with New England, recording 100 sacks and earning five Pro Bowl selections. He helped lead the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Raised Baptist, Tippett chose Judaism as an adult. He and his wife, Rhonda, who is Jewish, wanted religion to be part of the home they built together. Rabbi Rifat Sonsino guided his conversion, with Patriots owner Robert Kraft serving as one of the witnesses. “Judaism has given me a strong foundation of tradition, responsibility, and community,” Tippett told the Jewish Journal earlier this year. That commitment has continued through family life and service. Tippett has visited Israel several times, including for his daughter’s bat mitzvah in Jerusalem. He has described tikkun olam, repairing the world, as central to helping others. Today, as the Patriots’ executive director of community affairs, he helps connect the team with the community it serves. There is something familiar in that story: building a Jewish home, raising children with a connection to their faith, and finding ways to help other people. You do not
need to understand football to appreciate it. Edelman represents another chapter in Patriots history. A three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP, he helped define New England’s championship years. Now he and Tippett will share another honor. He has also publicly embraced his Jewish identity, wearing an Israeli flag hat and special cleats in solidarity with the victims of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The rest of the class stretches well beyond football. Joining them are basketball players Nancy Lieberman, Omri Casspi and Danny Schayes; coaches Bruce Pearl and Red Sarachek; and broadcasters Marv Albert and Al Michaels. Also being inducted are tennis players Jay Berger and Diego Schwartzman; boxers Carolina Duer and Yuri Foreman; golfer Morgan Pressel; Olympic kayak champion Noemie Fox; fencers Lydia Hatuel-Czuckermann and Dezső Földes; Olympic weightlifting champion Robert Fein; and Israeli Paralympians Zipora RubinRosenbaum and Doron Shaziri. Sarachek, Földes and Fein are being honored posthumously. Foreman is the boxer who became a rabbi. RubinRosenbaum’s 31 Paralympic medals include 15 gold. Those are two stories worth exploring on their own. The Patriots connection also leads back to Kraft, whose commitment to Jewish life extends well beyond football.
In 2019, he founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, now known as the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. Its work encourages Americans, particularly non-Jewish allies, to recognize and challenge antisemitism. Kraft has used the visibility of sports to bring that message to people Jewish organizations might otherwise struggle to reach. His support is also about building Jewish life, not only defending it. In September, Brandeis University announced his $10 million gift for a new Jewish life and leadership center that will house Hillel and provide space for learning and gathering. Kraft presented Tippett for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 2008. His presence at Tippett’s conversion makes that commitment feel personal. Jewish continuity depends on institutions and resources, but also on people showing up for one another. That is what I appreciate about this Hall of Fame. The achievements draw us in. The stories give us something to think about afterward. Andre Tippett already had my respect as a football player. Learning more about his Jewish life gives me another reason to cheer.
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MUSHKA TENENBAUM Chabad of Nebraska If you have ever seen Noah Schop’s work, you will probably recognize it again. He is the pipe cleaner guy. And I mean that in the best possible way. Noah has this incredible ability to take something as simple as a handful of colorful pipe cleaners and turn them into full scenes, characters and little worlds that are instantly recognizable. There is something whimsical about them, but also something really thoughtful. You look once, then look again, and suddenly notice all the tiny details.
Noah was born in Omaha and spent his early childhood surrounded by family and Jewish community, receiving his Jewish education at Beth El Synagogue. When he was nine, his family moved to Phoenix, where he continued his Jewish education and became part of the community at Temple Beth Sholom. At 16, Noah returned to Omaha, bringing with him a love of movies, creativity and the characters that have always inspired him. His pipe-cleaner art actually began at summer camp. Like so many good things, it started in the arts and crafts shack. Noah began experimenting with pipe cleaners, trying to bring some of his favorite movie characters to life. What began as a fun project quickly became a real passion. And he did not keep it to himself. Noah has taught pipe-cleaner art at Camp Kef at Beth El, Camp Gan Israel and through Autism Action Partnership, helping others discover how much fun it can be to make something completely their own. This High Holiday season, Chabad had the privilege of displaying a beautiful collection of Noah’s work, and synagogue attendees got a close-up look at just how creative he is. The exhibit includes a rabbi blowing the shofar, a Rosh Hashanah table complete with the fish head, honey and Kiddush wine, and Sukkot scenes with pipecleaner people building a sukkah, including one person up on the ladder. There are also joyful figures dancing with the Torah. It is detailed, playful and unmistakably Noah. The display is still up at Chabad and will remain through Nov. 15, so if you have not seen it yet, please make a point to stop by during business hours or come by on Shabbat morning. And there is one more special piece to this. When Noah is not creating, he works part-time as a playroom attendant at Dogtopia, where he gets to spend plenty of time with dogs, another favorite of his. He also loves superhero movies and spending time with his dog, Freddie. Noah’s art is joyful, imaginative and completely his own. And once you see it, you really do start noticing it everywhere.
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The Other Election ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Who will be the next prime minister of Israel? Party chairman of Yashar Gadi Eisenkot is the most often-cited name when media discuss the upcoming Israeli election. October 27 will be here soon. Will Bibi somehow pull off another win? And if he does, what does that mean? Eisenkot only entered politics four years ago, after a 41-year military career. At that time, he joined Benny Gantz’ National Unity Party. Since then, his motivation has become more personal: In December of 2023, his fifth child, Gal, was killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip. He also lost two nephews, one the day after Gal died, the other the following year. “At the time, Eisenkot was serving as a ministerial “observer” in the narrow, five-member war cabinet that handled all of Israel’s most consequential security decisions. It is hard to imagine a more painful personal and political drama: Eisenkot was one of a tiny group of leaders directing the very military campaign in which his son was killed.” (TOI) When asked who he would welcome into a coalition, he said: “The foundation is our four parties: Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu, Yair Golan’s Democrats, and my
party, Yashar. There are four strict conditions cult to know where the truth lies when it for any additional parties to join our coalition: comes to Israeli politicians. So, what do we do acceptance of Israel as a Jewish and demo- in the diaspora, how do we keep ourselves incratic state, recognition of the foundational formed? We do the hard work, and that means going values of the Declaration of Independence, mandatory national service (whether military beyond our Instagram homepage or short posts on X. We dig behind or civilian), and recognition the headlines. We read, we that Hamas is a terrorist orobserve, we fight the urge to ganization. Anyone who acthink we know exactly what cepts those things can be a we are talking about, and we partner.” listen to the ones who do: the He wants military service to academics we trust, our Isbecome universal, cancel the raeli family and friends, the proposed change to the judipeople with lived experience. cial selection committee, disOf course, to make matters mantle illegal settlements and more interesting, we have limit a prime minister’s tenure midterms here in America. to eight years (Netanyahu has And being subjected to nonmore than 20 years combined Gadi Eisenkot's IDF induction stop campaign ads in our under his belt). own backyard might make it However, stay online long photo, 1978 enough, and you’ll find plenty of “evidence” to a lot less attractive to keep up with the Israeli the contrary; the anti-Israeli camp accuses election. The thing is, even though most of us him of wanting a Jewish state without any don’t live “there,” and don’t always know rights for Palestinians, ‘complete annexation’ enough, and certainly don’t know what life in of the West Bank, and when he served as the Israel has really been like these past years, we IDF’s Chief of Staff he ordered ‘mass killings in still have the responsibility to care deeply. Not knowing all the ins and outs, but still Gaza.’ I guess it all depends on what and who you being invested, it’s a tough position. It’s also want to believe—but it can be incredibly diffi- one we, unfortunately, are not unfamiliar with.
We Studied American Jews’ Mental Health After Oct. 7. They’re Not OK. BECKY REED JTA Within weeks of Oct. 7, 2023, a group of psychologists mobilized to respond to the fear, pain and invalidation experienced by Diaspora Jews. There were no blueprints for clinicians to support a population of Jews whose distress was indescribable and permeated the soul. We knew Diaspora Jews were in crisis and although pain is pain, it manifested differently than it did among those who were living, working or just surviving in Israel. Many U.S. Jews had been privileged, naïve, or, dare I even write, blind, to the experiences of antisemitism. It was something of the past, something that happened infrequently, or something that could be brushed under a rug. Post-Oct. 7, we Jews learned that countless communities, thousands of miles away from the tiny State of Israel, held negative feelings or outright disdain for Jews (and Israel). And we learned fast. Through listening to individuals and focus groups and delving into the limited existing research, it became clear that Diaspora Jews were not OK. Jews described the shape-shifting of friends, community, teachers, mentors, family and institutions that had been in their lives for decades. We heard stories of Jews who had advocated and fought for marginalized communities, only to find silence, disregard and even outright hostility when they themselves came forward with Jewish pain. The rugs had been lifted, and it was messy. As psychologists, we needed a plan, ways to reach people and research. Days after the attacks, a group of concerned volunteer clinicians, under the leadership of Dr. Tara E. Liberman, held a Zoom meeting and decided to build a plane while flying it. We became the Jewish Community Mental Health Initiative at the American Psychological Foundation, a rapid response to the mental health crisis
post-Oct. 7. We are now over 100 volunteer cli- anxiety, depression and anger, along with nicians, researchers and educators. We offer poorer global mental health. approximately 25 free weekly support groups, We also looked at the external and internal have 10 ongoing research projects and provide changes associated with being Jewish postconsultation and training to Jewish and non-Jewish communities. From the outset, we stayed up well into the night planning, organizing and learning. One of our initial findings: Although people experienced immense fear of and pain from antisemitic physical violence, we observed significant increases in symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD from broken trust, denial of someone’s reality, dismissal of feelings, gaslighting and minimization of experiences. We recognized these as inciCredit: JTA; images via Getty Images dents and patterns of “invalidation.” We connected with Drs. Miri Bar-Halpern Oct. 7, including some that could be seen as and Jaclyn Wolfman, who had already begun positive. Participants expressed a stronger applying the framework of “traumatic invali- connection to their Jewish identity, religious dation” to the post-Oct. 7 Jewish experience, practices and Jewish community. We found giving language to our observations. In collab- that almost half of the sample reported wearoration, Drs. Wolfman, Bar-Halpern, Liber- ing distinctly Jewish items more frequently. man, Anna Vaynman and I, along with Other data showed that participants found graduate students Zoe Bernstein and Ben support, most often, from Jewish friends, famKoliski, set out to explore Jewish traumatic in- ily and rabbis and other clergy. Notably, every validation post-Oct. 7. Seven hundred and participant who endorsed seeking support thirty-three American Jewish participants from clergy found them to be useful, and alshowed us that invalidation was happening. though support groups were infrequently utiThey described being demonized, emotionally lized, they were found to be highly beneficial. neglected and excluded — accused of being The invalidation study was a drop in the evil or harmful, ignored when they needed bucket of the research needed. We know the care, treated unfairly, left out or denied access. grave need for more research, more understandWhen asked who or what made them feel in- ing and more training for Jewish and non-Jewish validated, participants most often reported clinicians. Now that data and clinical observapoliticians, celebrities and strangers. However, tions are in, we can show the world what the participants claimed it was most upsetting when Jewish people already know: We are not OK. institutions, like universities, and affinity or comBecky Reed is a Ph.D., a licensed psycholmunity groups invalidated their experiences. ogist and associate professor of teaching at These Jews found invalidation to be emo- Teachers College, Columbia University. She tionally harmful, destabilizing and unsettling is a founding member of the Jewish Com— in a word, traumatic. Invalidation was asso- munity Mental Health Initiative at the ciated with heightened symptoms of PTSD, American Psychological Foundation.
Synagogues
10 | The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
CHABAD HOUSE
An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL 2nd Friday: Short Film Premiere, Friday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. following services, local Jewish filmmaker, Murphy Scott Wulfgar (Incident at Vichy, The Tenth Man, God on Trial), talks about his new film company and presents a sneak peek of his newest short film: A Mitzvah on Krampusnacht. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our board members: David Alloy, Renee Corcoran, Rick Katelman, Gail Kenkel, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon, Sissy Silber and Jenn Tompkins. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Cantor Gil Ezring. FRIDAY: Nebraska AIDS Coalition Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service and Bat Mitzvah of Vivian Hoffman, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:05 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El and Zoom; BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. MONDAY: Brachot and Breakfast, 7 a.m.; Pink Out Shabbat Baking Day, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. TUESDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream. WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Exploring Torah, 6 p.m. with Rabbi Abi Taylor-Abt; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m. at Beth El and Zoom; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom; Minyan, Movement, Meditation & Mindfuless, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 30: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 31: Pink Out Shabbat/Simcha Shabbat, 10 a.m.; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:55 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY-Nov. 1: Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El and Zoom; BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
THURSDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:10 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 30: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/ Candlelighting, 6:05 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 31: Shabbat Café, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 5:05 p.m.; Mincha, 5:50 p.m.; Kids Activity, 6:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:04 p.m. SUNDAY-Nov. 1: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 5:10 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, 6:13 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:11 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; Comedy Night with Gary Vider, 7 p.m. at Funny Bone Comedy Club, purchase your tickets at ochabad.com/comedy. TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Aramaic Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with David Cohen. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with David Cohen. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10 a.m. with David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with David Cohen; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 30: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m. go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 6:03 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 31: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:02 p.m. SUNDAY-Nov. 1: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m.
BETH ISRAEL FRIDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/ Candlelighting, 6:14 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Café, 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.; Mincha, 6 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:13 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Calm in an Uncertain World, 9:35 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:10 p.m. MONDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders, 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:10 p.m. TUESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:10 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Torah from Omaha, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 1:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:10 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Services led by Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at SST followed by an Oneg; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:16 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI followed by a Kiddush Lunch; Torah Study, 12:15 p.m. on Parashat Lech-Lecha led by Rabbi Sendrow at TI; Havdalah, 7:14 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Classes, 9:30 a.m.; LJCS Committee Meeting, 10 a.m.; Men's Bike and Coffee Club, 10:45 a.m. The Mill Coffee & Bistro at Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Dr #1350, Lincoln. For more information or ques-
tions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com. TUESDAY: SCKC Rehearsal, 7–8:30 p.m. at SST. 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; Ladies' Lunch, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at Ollie & Hobbes Craft Kitchen-Lincoln, 2940 Pine Lake Rd STE A, Lincoln. Locations are decided upon at each lunch for the following month. For more information, please email Barbara Barron at oohhmmm.barb@gmail.com; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY-Oct. 30: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at SST followed by an Oneg; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:07 p.m. SATURDAY-Oct. 31: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI followed by a Kiddush Lunch; Torah Study, 12:15 p.m. on Parashat Vayera led by Rabbi Sendrow at TI; Havdalah, 7:06 p.m. SUNDAY-Nov. 1: LJCS Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Men's Bike and Coffee Club, 10:45 a.m. The Mill Coffee & Bistro at Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Dr #1350, Lincoln. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com.
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; Rock Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Alex Sharff, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. SUNDAY: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m. TUESDAY: The Life and Philosophy of Martin Buber, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Bienstock — In-Person & Zoom; Mah Jongg Made Easy, 1:30 p.m. InPerson. WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; Grades 3-6, 4:30 p.m.; Mah Jongg Made Easy, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew CHAI: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff — In-Person & Zoom. FRIDAY-Oct. 30: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom. SATURDAY-Oct. 31: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. InPerson & Zoom; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom. SUNDAY-Nov. 1: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
Volunteers Needed at RBJH The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is in need of volunteers for assistance during Saturday morning service. Volunteers come on a regular basis on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m., meet with service leaders and assist residents to the chapel, sit with the residents and assist
during the service, and escort them back after the service is over (about 11 a.m.). Interested
volunteers must go through the volunteer onboarding process first; this includes application, background checks, and orientation. If you are interested, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Sabine Strong at sstrong@rbjh. com, or call 402.334.6519.
Life Cycles IN MEMORIAM SCHERRY "CHICKIE" PASSER LINSMAN Scherry "Chickie" Passer Linsman passed away on Oct. 8, 2026 at the Rose Blumkin Home. Services were held on Oct. 11, 2026 at Bikor Cholim Cemetery in Council Bluffs, Iowa and were officiated by Rabbi Mordechai Geiger. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Shirley Passer; her husband, Melvin Linsman; her sister, Alice Passer Mashbein; her brother, Alan “Chubby” Passer; and great-grand-
son, Mason Volkmann. She is survived by daughters, Bari Linsman Bogart, and Jill Linsman Volkmann; her sister, Linda Passer Widman; grandchildren: Louie and Jake Volkmann, Charlie and Andy Bogart; and great-grandchildren: Jake Jr., Xander and Skylar Volkmann, Benny, Sophie, Brooklyn, Luka and Luna Bogart. Memorials may be made to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 323 S. 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154.
The Jewish Press | October 23, 2026 | 11
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TOVAH LAZAROFF JTA Benny Gantz said on Monday Oct. 19, 2026 he is dropping out of the race with just eight days to go until Israelis head to the polls to elect a new parliament. Gantz, who is a former defense minister and IDF chief of staff, had once been the leading contender to unseat Netanyahu. But in recent months, his party has been polling below the electoral threshold. In a statement to the press, he said, “I will not run in the upcoming elections – I will continue to fight for unity. This is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all challenges at home and abroad.” Gantz argued last month in an op-ed for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that unity among Zionist parties was critical in part to stop the erosion of support for Israel in the international arena. His Blue and White Party was considered to be one of the parties that could join either the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the opposi-
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Blue and White party chairman Benny Gantz. Credit: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
tion bloc headed by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar Party. In the last election, Gantz and Eisenkot were in the same party. Gantz’s departure is expected to improve the vote count of bigger parties and could give a boost to the Eisenkot bloc. This is a developing story. How is this publication thinking about the future?
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SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist Juvenile: Sand Garden by the Sea: A Marty & Devorah’s Story by Debra Cohen Once, in a place called Gaza, Jewish families lived among gardens, vineyards, and the peaceful sound of the sea. It was a land filled with beauty and hope. The Jewish people who lived there loved their homes, their schools, and their neighborhoods. In a spirit of peace, the Jews gave this land to their Palestinian neighbors, hoping it would be the beginning of friendship. But sadly, instead of peace, the leaders called Hamas destroyed the gardens and vineyards. They built only concrete walls and hidden tunnels meant to bring harm, not kindness. Since then, the people of Israel have not found the peace they offered. On October 7, 2023, a terrible attack brought much sorrow and fear. Since that day, the Jewish people have faced more pain and danger, even though their deepest wish is to live safely and peacefully in their homeland. This book was written so children and families around the world will know the story: that the Jewish people long for peace, but their neighbors chose hatred instead of friendship. The author hopes that by remembering the past and telling the truth with gentle hearts, we can all dream of a future where peace and kindness will finally grow again-like gardens by the sea. This book reflects a true story that happened in Gaza when the Jews were forced off of their land as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Adult: Meet Me In Paris by Kristin Harmel Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time — but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future. Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he
hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.
Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades — including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, City of Light.
But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died — but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France. Can he break through the haze of her dementia, using the songs he’s written all these years, to remind her of who they once were to each other — and to tell her he came back for her? Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair. When she confronts him, he tearfully apologizes and begs her to forgive him. But can she? And, perhaps even more importantly, does she want to? Or is there a different kind of life out there for her if she chooses to be alone? These intertwining stories — plus several others — unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.
Under Story by Chloe Benjamin “We wake up to tomorrow, never yesterday.” At the edge of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For ten hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career and a family. But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t escape her past. When a strange light appears across the ice — and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo — her former husband, Eli, won't be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the Arc: its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole and into a world they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them — to turn back the clock and live their story a second time? A breathless page-turner and a love letter to our planet, Under Story grapples with the great questions of our time: human hubris, the precarity of the natural world, and the mysterious webs of consciousness that bind us. A modern epic of science and soul, of bravery and redemption, it offers a vision of the future that demands we reckon with what we owe to one another, and to the earth itself.
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