Update from Bob Goldberg, CEO

Meet me in Jerusalem!

This week, a group of twenty-two community members embarked on a trip to Israel, the first community-wide trip organized by our Jewish Federation since 2018. From my perspective, it is always good to spend time in Israel. Having feet on the ground in Israel is special. You can never predict how the experience will impact someone, but it is almost always deep and meaningful. This is particularly true for those traveling there for the first time. No matter the multitude of news, books, magazines, movies or other information about Israel someone might consume, being there, meeting with Israelis, and experiencing its vibrancy, diversity, and complexity firsthand allows one to have a more personal and intimate relationship with the state and its people.

This trip is chaired by Andi and Don Goldstein and staffed by Rachel Ring, JFO Director of Development, with the itinerary organized by Jan Goldstein and Iris Ricks through their work with Amiel Travel. It is a great group, with a busy and exciting itinerary, and I am sure they are having a spectacular experience. Our Omaha friends have a front row seat to Israeli democracy at work. They are visiting at a time when Israel is immersed in turmoil surrounding the government plans to overhaul the judicial system. Israel’s government is currently led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who represents the Likud party.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy, consisting of dozens of parties, and smaller parties that become part of the ruling government coalition can have influence far beyond their number of seats in the Knesset. The Netanyahu-led coalition includes representatives from Likud, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionist Party, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam. This coalition is currently moving forward proposals with major reforms to Israel’s judicial system, which would bring the judiciary under control of the government. Some of the specific changes proposed are aimed at preventing the High Court from acting as a check and balance on government actions, limiting the High Court from challenging laws even if they conflict with Israel’s Basic Laws, and giving the ruling government control over selecting judges. Opponents argue it will weaken Israel’s democracy and put minorities at risk, while supporters say it is much needed reform to control an activist court.

Our Omaha friends on this trip will hear plenty of strong opinions. They will hear from news anchors, guest speakers, hotel workers, waiters, taxi drivers, and others, who will all have vital points of view that they are eager to share with their American guests. The speed with which the government is moving these bills through the Knesset has caused deep rifts in Israel and has led to more than ten weeks of protests by hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrating to express their concern about a weakening of democracy.

Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, has worked to negotiate a compromise, which is aimed at addressing what many consider needed changes to the rules governing the judiciary and the balance of powers, but to do it in a way that helps gain buy-in from the general population and avoids a constitutional crisis. To date, those leading the charge for these changes, Yariv Levin, Justice Minister, and MK Simcha Rothman, head of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, have said that they are open to compromise but will not stop or slow down the process.
This has led to a cacophony of voices, including our own Jewish Federation movement, legal experts, business and financial leaders, global Jewish organizations, and interested parties around the world, imploring the Prime Minister and his government to slow the process and negotiate modified changes with the goal of achieving broad national agreement. Our Jewish Federation joins many other voices in urging the leaders to embrace President Herzog’s compromises to this current crisis, and to work to preserve and strengthen the democratic system with its checks and balances, embracing both majority rule and the protection of minority rights.

Israel will soon celebrate its 75th anniversary. We are the lucky ones. We are living at a time when we can travel to and experience the modern State of Israel. Because, after all, our people have yearned for the same opportunity for centuries. I love Israel. I do not always love its government’s policies, but I love Israel and the Israeli people, and I support them. Their democratic right to elect their leaders is sacred, as is their right to protest, speak up, defend their country, and negotiate their future.

As I watch this situation unfold and keep up on the latest news hoping for compromise to be reached, I am eager to hear from our Omaha friends when they return. I am interested to hear how their front row seat to Israeli democracy influences how they see Israel, understand its complexities, and perhaps how it may inspire them to learn more, engage more, and hopefully return to Israel again and again.

Shabbat Shalom,

Bob Goldberg
CEO

Update from Mike Siegel

Chag Sameach! Purim starts this Sunday evening, commemorating the story of Queen Esther. She tells King Achashverosh of Haman’s deceit and saves the Jewish people from near destruction. We celebrate by dressing in costumes, attending carnivals, eating hamantaschen and giving shalech mones or mishloach manot. These are gifts of food or drink that are sent to family, friends and others on Purim. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews and their neighbors.

Jews were among the first to participate in “spring cleaning.” To prepare for Pesach, families thoroughly clean their homes, disposing of all their chametz (risen grain). It is customary to shop for food that is Kosher for Passover (KFP). Whether you make your own matza balls or rely on the boxed mix, KFP products are difficult to locate in Omaha. Many of our community members have expressed frustration regarding the lack of availability of Passover products.

This concern was brought up at our Rabbis and Presidents meeting and we discussed and researched strategies to address the issue. This is one of the traits I love about living in Omaha – working together as a community.
I am pleased to announce that three local grocers will carry a wide variety of Kosher for Passover products this year. HyVee on 132nd & Dodge, Bakers on 120th & Center and Family Fare on 144th & Center have all made plans to carry KFP items this year.

The Rabbis and Presidents group worked with community members to give these stores a comprehensive list of products to have available for Passover. This list includes dairy products, grocery items, beverages, Seder items, and even a limited supply of pre-packaged kosher meats. Each location will have signs throughout the store guiding you to the Kosher for Passover products. I would like to thank Linda Saltzman, Helene Schrago, Rabbi Abraham and Rabbi Dreyer for working with the grocery managers to distinguish between Kosher and Kosher for Passover. They guided them on items to purchase and the timing as it relates to Passover. This group has put in numerous hours to make this happen and they deserve our gratitude.

Another trait I love about this community is supporting causes that enhance Jewish living in Omaha. Whether it is your tradition to buy KFP products or not, I ask you to recognize that these grocers stepped up and agreed to support our Jewish community. If you are able, please support them by purchasing your KFP products locally. Take time to recognize them for going the extra mile.

Some KFP products are already in stock and you should see the full array of items by next week. I ask you to keep in mind that this is a work in progress. Supply chain issues are still occurring. Please be understanding if your favorite matzo meal or gefilte fish is not on the shelves. If these groceries determine this was a successful first run of the program, it will allow us to expand not only KFP offerings, but also enhance the everyday kosher selections.

Your Federation and your synagogue leaders heard the community’s concerns about KFP products and worked together to find a solution. Thanks to some of our dedicated community members and willing store managers, we were able to expand the KFP product selections. The proverbial ball is now in our court to make it successful. I am confident that you will step up and support these willing participants.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach!

Mike Siegel
JFO President

Update from Phil Malcom

Happy Friday, and it’s nice to speak with all of you again!

As a part of the JFO’s new leadership structure, you’ll occasionally receive brief updates from me regarding the operations of our campus—how we do business and what we measure. Think of it as the nuts and bolts of how we accomplish our mission. Today I want to talk to you about one of those ways we’re working hard to accomplish the mission behind the scenes.

One of the most important parts of building and sustaining a vibrant Jewish community is ensuring that people feel safe in the spaces where community happens. We’ve spoken quite a bit over the last year about security, and today I’m thrilled to announce the next step in our ongoing efforts to provide a safe and secure campus. Last year we brought James Donahue on board to guide our security initiatives and help us plan for the future. We quickly identified the need for dedicated security officers in our building. This is a growing trend in other communities, and the need is no less important in Omaha where so many of our services are housed in one place. Our team got to work identifying ways to scale this needed resource, and we are now ready to begin adding security officers to our team.

We will be partnering with a local security provider, Elite Tactical, for this service. James led a very thorough bidding and vetting process with a panel of campus representatives, and Elite was the clear frontrunner at the end of this process. Elite has been an excellent partner to our campus on an ad hoc basis over the last couple years, and we are thrilled to bring them here full-time.

In the very near future, you can expect to see at least one armed guard in the building at all times. These guards are thoroughly trained by Elite Tactical, and they also undergo training from our team to ensure they are familiar with our campus, respect our Jewish values, and understand the unique service offerings throughout our facility. We have every confidence in this new partnership, and we believe that between James’s leadership, our own updated security procedures, and our new security force we are positioning our community to be more secure than ever.

Some may hear about this and wonder if there is cause for alarm. James monitors threats to the Jewish community both locally and nationally, and though there are currently no credible threats of violence against our Omaha community, we believe the best posture is preventative, rather than reactive. Similarly, in an age of growing antisemitism, we want people to feel safe on our campus. So please don’t be alarmed, and instead know that we are doing everything we can to ensure that our communal spaces are secure for your visit. This is critical to our mission, and we are excited to be taking the next steps forward as a community.

If you have any questions about the new security force on campus, please don’t hesitate to reach out to James Donahue. He can be reached at jdonahue@jewishomaha.org.

Thank you, and Shabbat Shalom,

Phillip Malcom
JFO COO

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

Update from Mike Siegel

I would like to wish everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year! 2023 will be an exciting time for the Jewish Federation of Omaha as we welcome our new CEO, Bob Goldberg. You may have seen Bob on campus recently as he prepares for his first official day on January 16th. Phil and I have been working “behind the scenes” with Bob over the last few months so he can hit the ground running. I have been very impressed with Bob’s knowledge and energy. I can’t wait for you to experience the wonderful ideas he will bring to our community.

Just over a year ago, the JFO Board decided to split the Interim CEO role between three people while searching for a permanent CEO. The Board’s appointment of Phil Malcom, Jan Goldstein and Marty Ricks to fill these roles was one of the best decisions the Board has made. All three of these leaders have exceeded my expectations and I can’t thank them enough for their dedication to our organization.

Phil has been an outstanding leader on our campus. From the beginning, he understood the importance of having a strong leadership team behind him. Over the last year, Phil has strengthened the leadership team by having weekly team discussions about the strategic plan and campus issues. He set objectives so the leadership team could evaluate their success and built a spirit of common purpose among them. Our leadership team is a more cohesive and effective group as a result. Phil also navigated the transition of the ADL/CRC to the JCRC. He listened to community members, staff, and the ADL to formulate the best method for our community to establish the JCRC, headed by Sharon Brodkey. While Phil’s leadership skills are impressive, his demeanor has taught me the most. During this period of transition, I have watched Phil handle difficult decisions with a calm, informed and conscientious approach. He is always prepared to discuss the issue at hand and offer thoughtful solutions. Phil has made improvements to our Federation and is handing it over to Bob in a strong position. We are fortunate that Phil will continue to be a leader on campus.

Jan Goldstein has truly been a blessing for the Federation. As a valued community member and a past Executive Director, Jan wholeheartedly took on the role as a programming and campaign consultant to our Philanthropy and Engagement department. She inspired and supported the team to establish new, relevant programming for our community. One of my favorites was the men’s Cars, Conversation and Cocktails event held at Bentley and Barnato. Jan helped organize and promote a mission to Israel with the goal of inspiring our community members who have never been to Israel to make the trip. I am pleased to say that over 25 community members will be going to Israel in March, including a visit to our partnership region. Jan brought institutional knowledge to help guide the JFO through many decisions. Knowing the history of our community was an invaluable asset and helped the leadership team make some difficult decisions. Personally, Jan helped me better understand my role and how to be an effective leader. I am grateful for the time I have spent with Jan during this transition.

When I first spoke to Marty about filling this interim role, his response was, “When do I start?” Marty has contributed to our Philanthropy and Engagement department immensely. With the retirement of our accomplished team of Steve Levinger and Louri Sullivan, the Board realized it would take some time for our new development team to establish themselves in our community. Marty coming on board as a fundraising consultant allowed the progression of the team to get a tremendous jumpstart. He worked with Jenn Tompkins and Rachel Ring to establish best practices, make donor introductions, and help them achieve their goals for the year. Marty’s endorsement of the new team gave our community members confidence in this change. I can’t thank Marty enough for the confidence and support he provided throughout 2022.

With Bob coming on board soon, along with the amazing staff we already have in place, 2023 is going to be a fantastic year for the Jewish Federation of Omaha. This is possible as a result of the Board’s decision to fill the Interim CEO position with three capable individuals. Not only was the approach effective, the people who accepted the challenge made it a productive success. Phil, Jan and Marty have helped the JFO grow and mature into a better, more effective organization for our community. Please join me in thanking all three of them.

Shabbat Shalom,

Mike Siegel
JFO President

Update from Phil Malcom

What do we mean when we talk about legacy?

We use this word frequently, especially in nonprofits. It’s a quick way to grab at the heartstrings, a simple way to connect with people as they consider their mark on the world. In the Jewish community, we talk about l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation), and we ask people to consider—

How do you want to be remembered?

How will you pass on your traditions and beliefs to the next generation?

There’s a reason we keep coming back to these ideas: they resonate with people, and there is deep, universal truth in them, a collective longing from all of us to continue on in some capacity, to bring consistency and continuity to the world.

But there’s another side of legacy, one that I’ve been thinking on a lot recently: each legacy contains within it the seeds of growth and change. We think of our legacies as static, as deep, fixed impressions on the world that outlive us. But people change. The world evolves. Neuroscience tells us that even memories are elastic, slightly changing each time we access them. Nothing on Earth is permanent. And yet, every change begins with a seed. You can’t have evolution without the germination of an original idea or trait that grows in its environment and adapts to external forces. In this way, leaving a legacy isn’t about preserving some fixed point in time into the future or some idealized memory of yourself—it’s about allowing something new to grow from the seed you’ve left behind.

Our traditions are littered with examples of this. Abraham trusting G-d that his descendants would inherit a land beyond anything he could have hoped for. Moses getting right to the edge of the promised land before being told that someone else would lead the Israelites home. Even the Maccabees, when reclaiming Judah and restoring their people’s legacy, ultimately set the stage for their own people’s growth and change over time. In each instance, the idea of legacy was mixed with the idea of surprise, and the legacy grew to become something that each person never could have imagined.

I think of this often when I consider the incredible foresight of the people who went before us to establish what would later become the Jewish Federation of Omaha or to purchase the land on 132nd Street that we now call home. Could they have imagined how fantastic this community would become? Certainly it looks differently than many would have pictured, and yet that change—that growth—is what makes a community a living, beautiful thing. We’re also living out the legacy of those who began an ambitious project to purchase the lots just north of our campus approximately 20 years ago. I’m thrilled to announce that just last month we closed on the purchase of the final house on this parcel, and we have convened a committee to begin planning out the vision for our next phase of physical growth. What an exciting time to be involved at the JFO!

Of course, this is also presently on my mind as I think of the legacy of my own family. My father and grandmother recently passed away, and I find myself struck not just by the ways in which I remember them, but more importantly by the ways in which those characteristics have grown into new and unexpected things in my own life. I see these fleeting impressions of Dad and Grandma in my daughters—in Amelia’s smile and in Lily’s unique sense of humor—and for a moment I am brought back to my memories of them before being amazed at how that same DNA has turned into a new thing altogether. L’dor v’dor – we pass along our traditions and our truths and ourselves from generation to generation. In this way, we continue to grow, even after we are gone.

We leave a legacy through the things we’ve taught those younger than us and through the seeds we leave behind. But we also leave a legacy through each interaction we have with those around us every day. Each of these impressions carries with it the potential to contribute to the ongoing story of this community, growing and changing with each contribution.

Of course, this is the end of 2022, and it would be a shame for me to miss the opportunity to remind you of some practical ways you can leave a legacy to the Jewish community. Our development team has put together a very handy list of ways to maximize your end of year giving, and I’ve included them below. But whether your contribution is financial, relational, or anything else, you are part of creating this community, of writing a story that will outlive us all.

It is my sincere wish that during this Hanukkah season you each find yourself surrounded by light and transformed by the legacy of those who’ve gone before you and those who walk along with you.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
Phillip Malcom
JFO Interim CEO

Update from Jan Goldstein

These past 11 months of participating on the Federation Professional Interim CEO team have reminded me of just why our Federation and this Jewish community remains strong, vibrant, and special, year after year. The lay and professional leaders here work daily to plan programs and activities and to implement guidelines, procedures and measurable outcomes with dedication and tireless service.

This doesn’t happen by accident, and our Federation has invested considerable time and resources over decades to ensure this success. The JFO and its agencies have grown tremendously, especially over this past decade, and with this growth comes many new challenges, including some that our leadership team could have never imagined. COVID and the post-pandemic world have introduced new norms which have changed everything in both our work and personal lives. But what do I see? Performing arts in the Alan J. Levine Theater, basketball tournaments at the Staenberg Omaha JCC, children learning at the Pennie Z. Davis ELC and Friedel Jewish Academy, senior programming at our exceptional Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, clergy and community members coming together for Beit Midrash, local Jewish authors discussing their latest publications, and the list goes on and on. Stop by any day of the week, and you can tell from the activity on the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus that nothing can stop our community from moving forward.

Since my departure in 2012 as JFO Executive Director, I’ve had the opportunity in my continuing work with other Jewish Federations, to hear about challenges much like those we are facing here in Omaha. In this respect we are not unique. What’s important, however, is how we face these challenges. I can tell you that being back in our community, I have clearly seen an atmosphere, under the leadership of our JFO President Mike Siegel and this Federation Board, of responsibility and cooperation, using creativity to find answers, and a constant motivation not only to meet those challenges, but to do so with an overarching goal of uniting the community – bringing everyone to the table, both literally and metaphorically.

Speaking of challenges and creating the “big table” where everyone feels comfortable, included, and welcomed, I’d like to touch on the subject of kashrut. It’s been talked about the past few months, and it’s an important issue for many of our community members, whether kashrut is one’s practice or not.

Why? For several reasons.

First, so many of us speak continually today about inclusiveness. Our cultural and political climate and just about everything today focuses on the important issues centered around diversity, equity, and respecting others’ beliefs, traditions, and rights, even though they may not be our own. While we as Jews are a diverse group of people and hold many different beliefs and practices, we are united by core values. As we continue building upon the successes of Jewish Omaha, we look for opportunities to build inclusivity.

The ability to share a meal is essential to the Jewish experience. In the Torah, great and important things happen over meals. When we come together at a community-wide event, we want everyone to feel comfortable eating together.

I have heard it said that kosher is too expensive and that we don’t have the resources or the ability in Omaha to make it happen. These are challenges that we are discussing, and we are actively exploring workable ideas for how we can become more inclusive with food at community-wide events. Why? Because kashrut is part of our Jewish tradition and for many it is still very important. Kashrut is part of our legacy and it is a symbol of respect for each other and Judaism.

We are proud of our small midwestern Jewish community because we support diverse populations in every corner of the Jewish world – locally, nationally and worldwide. At the end of the day, isn’t it all about respect for one another?
We are and always have been the community that cares about all people… This is Jewish Omaha.

Shabbat Shalom,
Jan Goldstein
Programming and Campaign Consultant

Update from Marty Ricks

Swan Song

This is officially my final community message as I am close to retiring from the Federation or Foundation for the third time. Since January of this year, Jan Goldstein, Phil Malcom, Mike Siegel and I have been alternating writing this biweekly community update. My next rotation would fall this coming January; however, with Bob Goldberg arriving at that time as our newly appointed CEO, he will be taking over the reins, and I will be stepping down as Fundraising Consultant. Most definitely, the JFO cannot get rid of me that easily, as I will continue to be available on a volunteer basis as Bob adjusts to his new position.

I cannot tell you what it has meant to me to be asked to help the Federation in between CEOs, supporting Interim CEO, Phil Malcom and the Executive Leadership Team with my longtime partner Jan Goldstein. I retired from the Federation in May 2016 after eighteen years at the Foundation and the Federation. After a brief stint in Portland, Iris and I realized how much we missed our friends and moved back to Omaha in December of 2020.

Apologizing in advance for “bragging” and making this space “about me,” I was overwhelmed when six months after returning here, I was given the Federation Humanitarian of the Year Award at the 2021 Annual Meeting and Awards Night. Then asked to get involved again with Iris and the tremendously committed and talented Jess and Shane Cohn, we shared leadership of the 2022 Annual Campaign. Finally, I was asked to take my current consulting position at the Federation, which was anticipated to last about three or four months. And here I am, almost eleven months later. (By the way, Jan may have been away from the Federation for ten years, but she has not lost her touch. She remains the leader she always was as JFO Executive Director from 1998 to 2013. And, as for Phil, he is a terrific Interim CEO, so smart with ten years of JFO history behind him.)

Speaking of the Leadership Team, having met with most of them weekly for most of the year, in my opinion, the Federation is in good hands going forward and has a great executive staff for Bob Goldberg to lead. I don’t have the space to talk about each of them at length, but I would like to recognize the rest of this terrific team:

Sharon Brodkey, Jewish Community Relations Council; Karen Gustafson, Jewish Family Service; Scott Littky, Institute for Holocaust Education; Mark Martin, Staenberg Omaha JCC; Amy Shivvers, JFO Foundation; Jennifer Tompkins, Federation Philanthropy and Engagement; Chris Ulven, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home; and Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press.

I want also to recognize four people who I have worked with closely for the last eleven months, especially to the ones who have helped me navigate through the Federation software, which has been my most challenging experience since coming back to work:

Richard Goedeken, Senior Director of Finance; Rachel Ring, Director of Development; Michelle Johnson, Campaign and Data Coordinator; and Jessi Taylor, Executive Assistant (the terrific lady who takes my drafts and makes it look like I can write proficiently).

Now, on to my special heroes: you. Yes YOU – our 1,373 donors who gave $3,510,779 to the 2022 Annual Campaign and as of November 22, 2022, 879 donors have pledged a total of $2,035,533 for the 2023 Campaign, putting us at 56.5% of our goal. Last year’s amount was a record, and Jess, Shane, Iris and I have high hopes that last year’s amount will be surpassed. If you have not yet been contacted, please call Jenn Tompkins (402-334-3435), Rachel Ring (402-334-6443) or myself (402-301-4038) and we will accept your pledge. Thank you all for your generosity and support.

(I write my final comments not as a consultant, but as a longtime member of the Omaha Jewish Community.)

I want to acknowledge three super volunteers – all Omaha transplants – who are working above and beyond, fitting precious volunteer hours into their days while running successful businesses. Thank you, Michael Siegel, Federation President, for your devoted service to the Federation, for leading the Board through COVID interruptions and issues, for appointing and being a part of the CEO search committee, and being a great sounding board for Interim CEO, Phil Malcom. Our 2023 Annual Campaign chairs, Nancy and Joel Schlessinger, are on a mission to surpass last year’s record total. Nancy and Joel are succeeding in bringing fresh new ideas to the Campaign and are willing to meet with anyone, even with their busy schedules at their practice and company. What a delightful couple to interact with!

And finally, I absolutely love the renovated Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus. What a great environment to work at! Thanks to the many of you who have worked on and supported the project. I want to give a special thanks to Michael Staenberg, Howard Kooper, Tom Fellman, and Larry Kelberg. Those of you who know me, know that I’m not going to miss a chance to fundraise. We still have some exciting naming opportunities, so please reach out to me, Jenn, or Rachel, and we’d be more than happy to help you leave a legacy for the next generation of Jewish Omaha.

Shabbat Shalom,

Marty Ricks
Fundraising Consultant

Update from Mike Siegel

A couple weeks ago, I attended the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly (GA) in Chicago along with four professional JFO staff. The GA is a conference that brings together all Federations in North America to discuss and learn about the current issues facing Jewish communities locally and globally. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the GA was packed with great content and interesting speakers. I left the conference with many valuable takeaways for our community. Following are some highlights:

One of the sessions I attended analyzed Jewish data that has been gathered through national studies. It showed that many cities are good at welcoming new Jewish families to their communities but fall short of making these new families feel like they belong to the Jewish community. Our Federation is making positive strides with our welcoming process, but this session served as a reminder that the process needs to continue past the initial welcome. Some communities host Shabbat dinners welcoming new families and introducing them to a community contact. This helps with assimilation. Others host “Belonging” events where the community matches new families with existing families that have similar makeups. We, as the Jewish Federation of Omaha, need to make a concerted effort to welcome not just those that have previous ties to Omaha, but those who are brand new to this wonderful community.

“The New Jewish Family” was another session I attended. This session addressed interfaith marriages and how the Jewish future will be redefined. Interestingly, most interfaith couples say that while they have the desire to learn more about Judaism and what it means to live a Jewish life, they are more likely to wait to be approached rather than proactively seek this information out. Toronto has started a program called “Jewish And” which provides support and programming for interfaith couples, connecting them with one another to further the discussion of how religion is going to fit into their family dynamic. These couples find comfort in knowing others are having similar fact and faith-based experiences. The JFO plans to dig deeper into this topic to determine how best to help our interfaith couples on their religious journey.

Our group had the opportunity to meet with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. This meeting allowed us to see our campaign dollars in action. JDC does amazing work aiding vulnerable Jews, rescuing Jews in danger, and responding to global crises. In addition, the JDC has programs that help cultivate Jewish life. Two key programs are “Senior Guidance Centers” and “Entwine.” Senior Guidance Centers help seniors prepare for retired life by supplying life coaches and workshops for their next phase of life. These centers are already established throughout Israel and might be a program that would benefit our Omaha seniors. Entwine is like a Jewish Peace Corps. It provides pathways for Jewish professionals and lay leaders to hone their skills and commitment to global, Jewish issues. Programs like these are potential opportunities for us to expand our own programming to appeal to a broader audience.

Finally, a general observation I walked away with is the need to send more lay leaders to attend the GA. It gives community members a greater understanding of JFNA. Endowments have been established to help defray the costs.

Attending the GA was a meaningful experience. The speakers, sessions and other participants sparked conversation and gave us ideas for how best to improve the JFO. Thank you to our generous donors who had the foresight to establish endowments to provide lay leaders with professional development opportunities such as these. I look forward to making new connections at a future GA and hope that a few more Omaha community members will consider joining me.

Shabbat Shalom,

Mike Siegel
JFO President