21 Jewish Soldiers to Receive Gifts from Temple

After gathering the names and addresses of 21 Jewish soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, we were able to send wonderful packages containing many “comfort items.”

Thanks to Religious School students and Al Rieder for making cards to the soldiers, as well as helping us pack the boxes to be shipped. Special thanks to Omaha Steaks for donating gourmet beef jerky for each box, an item often requested by those serving overseas, also to Gordman’s, for donating many pairs of athletic socks, a necessity for our soldiers.

Thank you also to the many families who donated food and personal items to make our packages even more special.

If you would like to help defray the costs of shipping these gifts, please contact either Danielle Gordman or Susie Norton, or the Temple office.

Chanukah Parties at Religious School

Thank you to all of the parents and teachers who made our Religious School Chanukah celebrations a success!

This year, we kindle the first candle of Chanukah on Sunday night, December 21st and the menorah is lit for the last time on Sunday night, December 28. Print out these blessings, or sing along with the audio recordings.

Isaac Rogers and Wendy Vann

Syndey Krasno, Eitan Rosenquist, Dora Goldstrom, Harper Gordman

Rachel Stoneking, Madison Eisenberg, Madison Bierman, Max Gendler, Isaac Rogers, Courtney Bierman

Seth Norton, Bennett Ray

Sarah Prescott, Tyler Schneiderman, Leah Miller, Sara Cohen

What I am Thankful For…. by Steve Danon

Many of you know me; Safety, Risk Control . . . the “what if guy”, what you may not know is that I have taught Religious School for the last 15 years.

This past Wednesday evening we took a group of 7th & 8th graders to Quality Living a resident care facility in Omaha that provides purpose, dignity and hope to those who have brain and spinal cord disabilities.

We had the opportunity to talk with Brad a thirty-five year old resident at Quality Living.   He sat and talked with us for about an hour. Brad wore a baseball cap, t-shirt, blue shorts, and was in a wheel-chair.

After talking about sports, music, and other activities, a child finally was brave enough to ask Brad what happened to him.  Brad had a bit of a slur in his voice but began to tell his story.  He had been driving alone to Missouri late at night and fell asleep.  The car went off the road and hit something and he was thrown out of the car.  Another child asked, “Brad were you wearing a seat belt”?

Brad answered directly, “No, and the only injury I got was a cut on my chin, no bruised ribs, not other cuts or broken bones, but I hit my head”.

A third child asked, “Brad, what do you think would have happened if you had been wearing your seat belt, “I would have gotten up the next morning and went to work”.

Brad’s brain injury that night put him in a comma for four months.  The doctor’s told his family that he we would be brain dead and never regain consciousness.  He was proud to tell us how he had taught himself to dress, drink, eat and speak again on his own over the last seven years.

He was especially looking forward to this Saturday’s Thanksgiving Feast, a time for families to come and have a meal together at Brad’s home, Quality Living.

Brad told us he thought he was alive because of a miracle. Ironically in religious school the previous week we had talked about miracles, not knowing we would meet Brad.  Interestingly one of the children’s grandfather, had been shot in the eye in a robbery two years ago and survived.  When we told that to Brad he smiled and gave a “thumbs-up”.   Brad said, “…this place (Quality Living) is full of miracles”.

So what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving; Albert Einstein said it best . . . “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

As we left and shook Brad’s hand he said, “I don’t think of myself being handicapped, I think of myself being handi-capable”.

A peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving to each of you and your families, we all have so much to be thankful for.