Welcome to your Jewish Omaha E-newsletter, a new community resource from the Jewish Federation of Omaha. While we all feel inundated, at times, with news and information from multiple sources, we felt it was the right time to provide an electronic newsletter - a composite of Jewish Omaha events, programs, global perspective and news links - so that our community members, donors, supporters and friends will stay connected and engaged.

This newsletter isn't intended as a place to list those we've recently lost, but I can't write this letter without sharing my thoughts about three people, who we as a community, buried this week.  My friends, Rachel Rosenberg, Blaine Roffman and Sheldon Bernstein were three individuals who dedicated their lives to making society better.  Rachel, a Holocaust survivor telling her story to over 10,000 Nebraska students;  Blaine, a physician and past president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation; and Sheldon, serving our community as a past Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Compassionate and caring, leading by example and standing up for justice; this is what we think about as we remember these three members of our community.

I hope you'll share our inaugural issue with your family and friends. Let us hear from you as we work hard to make this a community forum beneficial to all.

Shabbat Shalom!
Alan Potash

Louri Sullivan has joined the Federation staff as Director of Community Impact and Special Projects. She will be engaging with the community in meaningful and impactful ways on a daily basis. A native Omahan, Louri graduated from Westside High School, the University of Texas-Austin and lived in Dallas for 12 years before returning to Nebraska. She is super mom to Rachel, Josh, Samantha and Tommy. Senior Development Director Steve Levinger looks forward to Louri's skills in strategy, planning and donor relations and commented, "Louri knows a lot of people and we'll take advantage of that in the best possible way."

The P2G Torch Project visited Omaha last week when Israeli members of its Arts Task Force arrived on campus for a series of creative torch-making sessions. The CDC, Friedel Kindergarteners and Blumkin Home residents all participated.  Passing a torch is symbolic of our Jewish heritage.

Our Jewish Omaha Torches will be displayed during
Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebrations on April 15.

Jewish Omaha's own Cornbelt Council hosted teens the weekend of March 29 for the spring regional convention. Teens participated in the P2G Torch Project with the help of Community Shaliach Eliad Eliyahu. He posted on Facebook, "It's amazing to see over 200 BBYO teens in one room showing their strong support for Israel and the IDF soldiers! Am Yisrael Chai!"

Teens spent Friday afternoon volunteering at several down town Habitat for Humanity projects before beginning preparations for their Shabbat observance.

The MDRT Foundation (Million Dollar Round Table) has awarded a $5,000 Quality of Life grant to the Jewish Federation of Omaha/Jewish Family Service's Yachad Program; the community's developmentally disabled adult group.  Jewish Family Service will be collaborating with the Ollie Webb Center to begin programming in the 2015-16 fiscal year.

JFS was invited to submit a grant by MDRT sponsor Jimmy Farber, past president and current JSS Board member.  Thank you, Jimmy, for advocating on behalf of our Yachad members!

The week of March 23 brought together 7 Holocaust Survivors and one military liberator with more than 8,000 Nebraska students during 30 different speaker events, the largest week yet undertaken by the Institute for Holocaust Education.

A presentation by Michael Korenblit, author of Until we Meet Again, the annual candle lighting by survivors, prayers, readings and music. Join us for this meaningful remembrance. On this day, when we mourn the nearly six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, we also honor the more than 100,000 vulnerable survivors living in the U.S. today.

Children's Carnival
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | JCC Pavilion
Star Catering available for purchase

15th Annual B'nai B'rith Jewish Trivia Contest
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | JCC Auditorium
RSVP before April 22nd. E-mail   [email protected] or call (402) 334-6443.

Sokolof Lecture featuring Ari Shavit
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. | JCC Theater
An Israeli reporter and author whose latest book, My Promised Land: A Personal Journey Through the History of Israel, is a deeply personal narrative history of the State of Israel.

Nearly a year has passed since fighting began in Ukraine and Jews have fled, leaving behind their jobs, homes, savings and security. This crisis speaks to the most fundamental reasons why Jewish Federations are so critical. We will not turn away and we are making a difference.  To date, Federations have raised and allocated more than $2.5 million for services and Aliyah support for Ukrainian Jews.

Read first-hand accounts:
www.jta.org
www.jdc.org

The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US increased by 21 percent in 2014, according to a report released by the Anti-Defamation League on March 30. Funds raised through the JFO's Annual Campaign help support the ADL's important work. Read more

Major Jewish organizations this week including The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, AIPAC, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Jewish Federations of North America   raised a number of questions about the framework agreement reached between the P5+1 and Iran. Jewish organizations are emphasizing the need for congressional review going forward and suggesting we remain vigilant of Iran's ongoing support of terrorism and threats against Israel.    Click here for the formal statement from JFNA Board Chair Michael Siegel and CEO Jerry Silverman.