Action & Impact Update: September 19, 2025

Shanah Tovah!

As we welcome Rosh Hashanah, we come together to celebrate new beginnings, reflect on the past year, and look forward with hope. May this season of renewal bring sweetness, peace, and joy to you and your loved ones.



We’re grateful for the strength of our community and the connections that inspire us. Here’s to a year of health, happiness, and shared blessings.

Sharon, Pam, and Morgan

In this issue:

• Tell Secretary of State Bob Evnen: Protect voter privacy. Do not release sensitive voter data.
• Tell Congress: Say NO to Blocking Critical Arms Sales to Israel
• Speak up at Omaha's City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 23 against criminalizing homelessness
• Read our Student to Student Ambassador Highlight

Action Alerts: Add Your Voice

-From Jewish Federations of North America-

Omaha City Council Vice President Brinker Harding has asked the Council to consider an ordinance that would criminalize unhoused people who are found living on public property. This would burden the most vulnerable and exposed people with a $300 fine, money they do not have, and up to 30 days in prison. There is nothing in this ordinance that addresses the root causes of homelessness.

Our tradition demands better. Criminalizing homelessness denies human dignity and punishes people for being poor. Instead of pushing punishment, our values and community priorities guide us to advocate for investments in affordable housing, mental health care, and services that lift people up. As Jews, and as neighbors, we stand against laws that criminalize poverty and for policies that reflect compassion, fairness, and justice.

The ACLU has asked us to join them and

You can speak up at the City Council's meeting next Tuesday, September 23, 2 p.m., in-person or via video streaming. Here is their quick explanation of the process to make it easy.

Every email helps. Each Council Member needs to hear loud and clear that Omahans support more housing access and supportive services, not criminalization.

-From our colleagues at Civic Nebraska-

Your privacy at risk: The DOJ has demanded Nebraska’s full, unredacted voter registration list, including names, addresses, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and even Social Security digits.

This is an unnecessary invasion of privacy. If released, it would put Nebraskans at greater risk of identity theft and erode trust in elections.

Tell Secretary of State Bob Evnen: Protect voter privacy. Do not release sensitive voter data.

Student to Student Ambassador Highlight:

Cadee

Cadee is a veteran STS Ambassador for 2025-2026! She has been a great leader in the Omaha program and is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming school year. We sat down with Cadee to ask her a few questions about her involvement in STS.

Q: In your opinion, what’s the most important part of the presentation?

A: When we talk about Antisemitism. When we told them about the things that have happened in our community and the town that they even live in, I saw the shock and realization on their face I knew that we made an impact and a difference.

You can read her full interview and learn more about Student to Student here.

2025 Shine A Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Award

Powered by The Jewish Education Project, this award recognizes individuals who bravely confront antisemitism across the United States and Canada.

As antisemitism reaches alarming levels, the need for this award is critical. The Shine A Light Award honors those who take bold action and educate others to combat these dangerous trends.

New this year are 9 categories of awards, including high school & university students, educators and administrators, Jewish professionals, community members, gamers, and influencers.

Award recipients will each receive a $2,000 prize and national recognition for their impactful work.

Submit your nomination before the deadline on October 29, 2025.

Join The State of Judaism on Campus on October 21

Jewish Life on college campuses — are our kids ready?

What does it mean to live — and help our kids live — a vibrant, meaningful Jewish life on today’s college campuses?

In a time of rapid cultural shifts and complex social dynamics, join Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International, and 92NY’s Rabbi David Ingber for a timely yet hopeful conversation about the realities of being Jewish on campus today.  

They’ll unpack the evolving challenges and opportunities facing Jewish students and communities across North America — and offer insights for parents on how to prepare, support, and empower the next generation to thrive with pride, resilience, and connection. Reserve your spot here.

X-posed: Antisemitism on X

September 29 at 11:00 AM

At a time of rising antisemitism, extremism, and violence, X has become one of the best tools for spreading antisemitism in history.

That is why the JCPA and CCDH teamed up on a new report illustrating how antisemitism flourishes on X - with real world consequences - in violation of its own terms of service.

To bring the details of this seminal report to life and to discuss how to address antisemitism and broader hate-fueled extremism in these challenging times, two leaders in the field will join in conversation.

Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and a nationally recognized leader on countering antisemitism and extremism and protecting democracy -- who previously led the successful lawsuit against the Charlottesville neo-Nazis -- will join in a moderated discussion with Imran Ahmed, the Founder & CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) –a recognized authority on the social and psychological dynamics of social media, as well as what goes wrong in those spaces, such as trolling, identity-based hate, misinformation, conspiracy theories, modern extremism and fake news.

Get Involved with JCRC

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Guided by Jewish values, the nonpartisan Jewish Community Relations Council works in common cause with other religious, racial, ethnic, and civic groups to foster a just, democratic, and pluralistic society. The JCRC advocates, educates, collaborates, and mobilizes action on issues important to the Jewish Community and greater community to fight antisemitism and hate in all its forms and promote the security of Israel and Jews everywhere.