6/9/23

JFO Update from Bob Goldberg

Like many of you, I look forward to summertime and all that goes with it – time outside at the pool, flip flops, the College World Series, corn on the cob, longer days – and the list goes on. So, I want to wish you all a great summer.

Another event that signifies summer is the JFO Awards Night and Annual Meeting. Thanks to everyone who participated in our Awards Night and Annual Meeting earlier this week. It was awesome celebrating the community together. It was a great turnout and congratulations to all of the honorees. Thank you to our board members, volunteers, donors, and staff who make our important work possible.

Now, let’s go to Israel! I am excited for our Jewish community trip to Israel this November 2-12, which will celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of our Partnership2Gether (P2G) sister city program with the Western Galilee. This is sure to be a unique and memorable trip.

Now is the time to register. The early bird special pricing, available exclusively for donors to the JFO Annual Campaign, runs through Thursday, June 15. Join me and our trip co-chairs, Andrea and Mike Siegel and Linda and Kevin Saltzman, and register now.

The trip will start in Jerusalem. We will stay at the Herbert Samuel, which is a great boutique hotel just a block or so from Ben Yehuda Street, one of Jerusalem’s premier outside shopping, dining, and socializing areas. The Herbert Samuel has a daily breakfast that you will find ridiculously hard to leave. While in Jerusalem, we will visit sites like Yad Vashem, the Old City, and Machane Yehuda market. We will eat and drink and meet people. There will be an optional excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea.

We will then head to the Golan Heights and see the beauty of Israel’s north. We will stay at HaGoshrim, a kibbutz in the Galilee Panhandle next to the Hurshat Tal National Park and by the Jordan River. It is spectacular. We will spend time in the mystical city of Safed (or Tzefat or Tzfat depending on your spelling preference), which following the influx of Jews in 1492 from Spain became known as the center of kabbalistic teaching.

From there we will make our way over to the Mediterranean Sea at the grottoes of Rosh Hanikra. We will then enjoy two days in our Partnership Region visiting Akko (or Acco or Acre) and the Western Galilee, sharing time with friends at the P2G 25th anniversary gala celebration. We will stay at the Nea Hotel in Shavei Zion, just a stone’s throw from the beach. The last time I was at the Nea, they served a bountiful cheese cart along with the amazing Israeli breakfast.

The last couple of days of our experience will be in and around Tel Aviv. We will be staying at the Crown Plaza, located right on the promenade. We will experience the ancient port city of Jaffa, and all the excitement that the big city of Tel Aviv has to offer.

This trip has something for everyone – great food, culture, art, history, innovation, learning about religion and politics in Israel, and the amazing diversity of the people. And we will be joined by my friend, Shachar, who will serve as our tour guide throughout the trip. He is the best guide in Israel, and you will love him as much as I do.

So, what are you waiting for? Come experience Israel’s cultures and traditions. Connect with our people and our story. Explore the extraordinary beauty and hidden gems of this ancient and modern land. Join me on this trip of a lifetime.

For more information or to register, use the QR code, click the link or reach out to Jay Katelman, Director of Community Development at jkatelman@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6461.

Have a great summer and thank you for all you do to make our community special.

Shabbat Shalom,

Bob Goldberg
CEO