2/3/23

Update from Bob Goldberg, CEO

Hello friends,

It is good to be home.

The last ten years, I have bragged to my friends in Texas and Iowa that I am a product of the Omaha Jewish community. We have so much to be proud of and so much to be grateful for.

A lot has changed and continues to change. The city has grown, our building had a major renovation, Friedel is adding middle school, and pickleball is a thing. The constants remain; the JFO and all its agencies continue to connect, empower, and educate us. The Staenberg Kooper Fellman campus is buzzing, and I invite you to come feel the energy of this place. It is outstanding.

These first couple weeks in my new role, I have been meeting with the JFO leadership team, our boards, staff, rabbis, community partners, and many of you. I have found an inspired community working to engage and support one another with the ultimate objective of advancing our caring and active Jewish community, a place where we all have a voice and a space to call our own. I look forward to visiting with many more of you in the days ahead.

I want to give a huge thank you to Jan Goldstein and Marty Ricks who stepped in to lead with passion and purpose. Jan and Marty are longstanding pillars in our community. They have been mentors to me, and I will continue to lean on them. Phil Malcom, who served as our interim CEO, is now assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Phil is a tremendous leader who will continue to leverage his talents and expertise in pursuit of our mission. Mike Siegel, JFO Board President, has overseen significant growth over the last few years. Mike deserves our appreciation for the long hours of volunteer service dedicated to making the JFO the best it can be. Thank you, Jan, Marty, Phil, and Mike.

The impact of our work is possible because of the dedication and support of our community and our incredible staff. I am inspired by the volunteer and professional leaders who believe in our cause and work to strengthen it every day. And I am grateful to our entire Jewish community– YOU who show up, support us, donate time and resources, and reach out– that’s what a community is, and I’m proud to once again be a part of it.

Shabbat Shalom,

Bob Goldberg
CEO