IF YOU’LL BE IN OR AROUND OMAHA SOON — A new exhibit in Omaha focusing on immigration rights has a Kansas City connection. The Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights is sponsoring a multimedia exhibit at the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Criss Library highlighting the impact of Shirley Goldstein’s and the Omaha Jewish community’s activist work on behalf of Soviet Jewish emigres from the 1970s through the 1990s. Martha Gershun is the niece of Shirley Goldstein, who passed away in 2017.
The exhibit, titled “Shirley Goldstein’s Immigration Rights Legacy: Operation Exodus in Omaha,” includes a selection from Goldstein’s archival papers as well as oral histories collected from Soviet Jewish emigres who settled in Omaha and community members who participated in Operation Exodus. The exhibit runs through Nov. 10.
LEADERSHIP TOMORROW — I had the pleasure of attending the Leadership Tomorrow closing luncheon recently. During that time, the 11 Leadership Tomorrow interns presented grant proposals for funding special projects at three nonprofits: SAFEHOME, Farmer’s House and The Grooming Project. I was very impressed by the professionalism of the presentations. The 11 Leadership Tomorrow interns worked for several nonprofits, including a few in the Jewish community: The J, JFS, JVS and Menorah Heritage Foundation. In the past, The Chronicle has even featured the athletic prowess of one intern and the artistic talent of another who was a Hanukkah Art Contest winner! This is a program coordinated by Jewish Federation. If you know college students who may be interested in such an internship, check in with Jewish Federation in November. To learn more about what they did this summer, see page 4.
EL PASO STRONG — I remember being surprised at the number of cards and letters sent to the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom following the April 2014 tragedy. I heard of a way this week where members of our Jewish community can pay that kindness forward. Two teachers in El Paso, Texas, are suggesting people mail postcards to them to help their students understand there are plenty of good people in the world. In a Facebook post they write, “As teachers, we may only be able to say so much. We think concrete messages of support would help us calm some fears.” Send these cards to E. Flores, Hillside Elementary, 4500 Clifton Ave., El Paso, TX 79903 and Teresa Garrett, Tom Lea Elementary, 4851 Marcus Uribe Dr., El Paso, TX 79934. #ElPasoStrong.
MIZZOU SAMMY FINAL REUNION SET — If you’re a Sammy alumnus of Mizzou’s Sigma Rho Chapter, you won’t want to miss out on the chapter’s final reunion planned for Oct. 11, to be held in Jack Fingersh’s backyard in Prairie Village. The fun starts at 6 p.m. Marv Fremerman tells us there’ll be free food and libations. Wives or significant others are welcome. Contact Fremerman to make reservations at .
SAM MATIER ELECTION UPDATE — Sam Matier was defeated in his bid to seek a seat representing Ward 4 on the City of Merriam’s City Council in the April 6 primary election. He finished in third place behind incumbent Bob Pape and challenger Staci Chivetta, making him ineligible to move on to the general election.
JCRB|AJC AMONG ORGANIZATIONS CALLING ON U.S. GOVERNMENT TO MEET REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT GOALS (JTA) — Some 167 national, state and local Jewish organizations have called on the U.S. government to meet the refugee resettlement admissions goal for this year.
The goal for fiscal year 2019 is 30,000, a historically low figure.
A letter signed by the organizations was delivered to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Aug. 7. The signers cross the religious and political spectrum.
“The United States has historically distinguished itself as a beacon of hope and as a safe haven for those who most need it,” the letter says, noting that the global refugee population reached a record 25.9 million in 2018.
It points out that for nearly 40 years, the refugee admissions target averaged 95,000 per year, with actual admissions averaging about 80,000. The Trump administration set the 30,000 ceiling for 2019.
“Resettling zero refugees in the U.S. in FY2020 would effectively gut the refugee resettlement program, violate our values as Jews and Americans, and abdicate the American promise of freedom and opportunity,” the letter also says, calling for the previous refugee target of 95,000 to be restored.
“As Jews, we know all too well what happens when people fleeing for their lives have nowhere to turn. Our parents or grandparents, neighbors or community members once faced a similarly callous and unwelcoming world, with fatal consequences.”
In a Facebook post Aug. 8, JCRB|AJC wrote it was “proud” to be among the organizations to sign the letter. In Kansas, the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation also signed. No local organizations from the Missouri side of our community signed the letter. Go to jewishpublicaffairs.org to see the entire letter and the national and local organizations that signed it.