The Jewish Federation of Omaha is thrilled to announce Tapestry: A Celebration of Jewish Learning 2026, featuring Dr. Erica Brown as our scholar-in-residence.
Dr. Brown serves as the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and is the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. She is one of today’s most influential voices in Jewish education, known for her ability to weave together timeless Jewish wisdom, ethical leadership, and spiritual reflection in ways that speak powerfully to modern life.
A prolific writer, Dr. Brown is the author or co-author of 15 books on leadership, spirituality, and the Hebrew Bible, including Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile which is a National Jewish Book Award finalist, and her latest work, Kohelet and the Search for Meaning. She also hosts the daily podcast “Take Your Soul to Work”, offering brief reflections on character, purpose, and leadership.
Her writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Tablet, and The Jewish Review of Books, and she has received numerous honors for her contributions to Jewish learning, including the Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Dr. Erica Brown will visit Omaha in two installments: April 28–30 and May 31–June 7, 2026 where she will lead a variety of programs across synagogues, schools, universities, and community organizations. Each event will offer an opportunity to explore meaningful ideas, engage in discussion, and connect with others through the shared experience of Jewish learning.
Tapestry 2026 continues our community’s tradition of bringing world-class Jewish educators to Omaha to inspire, uplift, and connect us through the joy of study. More details about Dr. Brown’s programs will be announced in the coming months.
The Jewish F
ederation of Omaha proudly hosted renowned scholar, author, and co-president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, in the Omaha Jewish community for 2025’s Tapestry: A Celebration of Jewish Learning as the scholar-in-residence May 1–10 at various locations throughout the community.
During Dr. Kurtzer’s 10-day visit, he engaged with the full spectrum of Jewish life in our community. These events were hosted in collaboration with the following partners: BBYO, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, B’nai B’rith Bread Breakers, B’nai Israel Living History Synagogue, Chabad of Nebraska, Friedel Jewish Academy, Harris Center for Judaic Studies, Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of Omaha, Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Temple Israel, The Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies, and Tri-Faith Initiative.
Tapestry is an investment into strengthening our Omaha community’s Jewish literacy. Each year, The Jewish Federation of Omaha will bring a Jewish scholar to Omaha to collaborate with our congregations, JFO agencies, and partner organizations. Each host organization/agency will customize their own program during this ten-day period of learning. Host organizations/agencies will determine topic, mode of preferred learning experience, and setting that best serves the age group and interests of their participants. Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer engaged in a variety of sessions, in a variety of formats, determined by our host organizations/agencies.
Tapestry 2025 is generously supported by the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: Special Donor Advised Funds, Foundation Grants Committee, The Chesed Fund, Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund, Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, Albert & Eleanor Feldman Family Israel Foundation, Herbert Goldsten Fund, The Klutznick Custodial Fund, and personally by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel.
Their generous contributions help ensure this learning experience remains open and accessible to the entire community.
During the week of Tapestry, three of the learning sessions were recorded: the JCRC and Foundation Breakfast, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Lunch and Learn, and Yehuda’s sermon at Temple Israel Synagogue’s evening services.
The Moral, The Political, and the Partisan: Jewish Community in a Partisan Age
American Jews and Judaism in 2025 (and Beyond!)
Loving Your Friends, Your Neighbors, and Your Enemies: On Community and Conflict
Dr. Kurtzer chose to record his weekly podcast about our Jewish community and his experience living and teaching in it for ten days, you can access it here: Jewish in the Heartland – Identity/Crisis Podcast
