A Celebration 100 Years In the Making

Thursday, April 17 – Ceramics Painting Class
Open to all
$10 per painted item
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Register in Daxko

Participants will choose an unfinished ceramic item to paint. Pieces will be left to dry and then fired in the kiln. Participants can pick up their finished item one week from class date.

Each item painted will be $10. Payment is due when pieces are picked up. Cash (exact change only) or check made out the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home will be accepted.

Class will be held in the arts room at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Space is limited to 15. All youth must attend with an adult. Please register online through Daxko.

Sunday, May 4 – Mother’s Day Fitness Event
Free Event
Open to Members
11:00 a.m.
Held in the Large Group Ex Studio / Youth Lounge
Register in Daxko

Join us on Sunday, May 4th for a fun event that will celebrate moms and all that they do! Moms will enjoy a free strength based Group Ex class while their kids have fun in the Youth Lounge. At 11:45 a.m. kids will rejoin their moms to celebrate together. Free event. Please register online through Daxko.

From 3 Million to 62 Million: 100 Years of Growth and Contributions of an Aging Population
Free – Open to the Community
Thursday, May 15
10:15 a.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Please register here

Join us at 10:15 a.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home for an entertaining and insightful presentation by Dr. Julie Masters, PhD. This event is free and open to the public. We ask that you please RSVP if you plan on attending. Julie Masters, PhD is a professor of gerontology at the University of Nebraska Omaha who teaches on the UNL campus. She holds the distinguished Terry Haney Chair of Gerontology. Julie works with undergraduate and graduate students on independent research topics, honors theses, and doctoral studies related to end-of-life planning. In addition to teaching, Julie engages in research related to end-of-life planning, older adults and their sense of meaning, and the role of gerontology and geriatric programming in the US. Julie is active in the community serving on various advisory committees and boards. She remains focused on aging adults and is a frequent presenter on aging issues and end-of-life planning throughout Nebraska. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Julie also serves as a co-host for Aging Partners monthly television program, Live and Learn that is aired on Lincoln cable and on Aging Partners YouTube Channel.  Her presentation, From 3 Million to 62 Million: 100 Years of Growth and Contributions of an Aging Population, will focus on the benefits of the aging population.

Friday, May 30 – Hidden Figures
Free, Open to all, ages 55+
1:00 p.m.
Please RSVP here

Jewish Family Service is excited to present their “Film & Friends” series for all adults, ages 55+. Join us on select Fridays for FREE screenings of classic movies, held in the Staenberg Omaha JCC. All movies will start at 1:00 p.m. and will be held in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater at the J. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please register in advance using the link below.

Film & Friends has been made possible by a grant from the Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund and partnerships with the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Staenberg Omaha JCC.

Sunday, June 8 – Father’s Day Pickleball & Yard Games
Free Event
Open to Members
12:00 p.m.
Held in the Pickleball Area / Youth Lounge
Register in Daxko

Join us on Sunday, June 8th for this fun event to celebrate dads. At 12:00 p.m. dad’s are invited to join us on the pickleball courts to learn the game and have social time with other fathers. We will also have bags and other yard games set up on the turf. Kids will go to the Youth Lounge to work on a craft. At 1:30 p.m. kids will rejoin their dad for a quick snack. Free event. Please register online through Daxko.

Sunday, June 8 – True Grit
Free, Open to all, ages 55+
1:00 p.m.
Please RSVP here

Jewish Family Service is excited to present their “Film & Friends” series for all adults, ages 55+. Join us on select Fridays for FREE screenings of classic movies, held in the Staenberg Omaha JCC. All movies will start at 1:00 p.m. and will be held in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater at the J. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please register in advance using the link below.

Film & Friends has been made possible by a grant from the Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund and partnerships with the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Staenberg Omaha JCC.

In 1906 a group of respected Omaha professionals gathered to discuss the logistics of building a meeting space for the local Jewish population. Public interest was great, but the challenges were many. The group faced numerous setbacks including the tornado of 1913 and World War I.

By 1922, a generous donation from Morris Levy, president of the Jewish Welfare Federation, solidified the plans to build a Jewish Community Center in Omaha. In 1924, a ground-breaking ceremony was held near 20th and Dodge street. After countless hours of constructing and preparing, the Jewish Community Center of Omaha dedicated its cornerstone in July of 1925. Doors opened to the public in 1926. The new facility included an auditorium, basketball gymnasium with running track, tile swimming pool, showers, steam baths, handball courts, meeting rooms, library, and modern kitchen.

The JCC remained at its 101 North 20th Street location for decades. In 1967, a committee was formed to look for a new site. As the population moved westward, the need to relocate became obvious. Several locations were considered, but it was decided that a property off of south 132nd street (a horse farm that was for sale) would be the best fit. The committee believed the size of the property would not only fulfill the present need, but also allow for expansion to accommodate future generations.

On November 2nd, 1972, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the construction of the new JCC at 333 South 132nd Street. By April of 1974 the building was complete and open to the public. The new 105,000 sq. ft. facility was state-of-the-art and included a basketball gymnasium, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, meeting rooms, theater, fine art gallery, offices, kitchen, and playground.

In 1998 the “new” JCC, now 26 years old, announced a campaign to renovate and expand the facility. Expansions included the building of the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center, a new front entrance, and the construction of the Phil Sokolof Health & Fitness Center. By June of 2000 all construction was complete.
In 2017, with the generous support of donors, the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus Transformation Project began. The goal of the project was to enhance the facility to meet the needs of its 21st century visitors. This would be accomplished through updating aging spaces and utilizing the facility to better align with the demands of JCC programming and membership. The project began with a refresh of the Phil Sokolof Health & Fitness Center. The rest of the facility underwent a major renovation soon after.

In 2020 the facility changed its name to The Staenberg Omaha JCC, in recognition of Michael Staenberg’s generous contributions. Staenberg, an Omaha native, echoed the sentiment and spirit of the JCC’s founders when discussing the motivation behind his donation. He cited the continued importance of building community and the significant value of having a central gathering space.

By 2024 the JCC portion of the project was complete. The Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus Transformation Project ushered in the creation of the new Goldstein Family Aquatic Center (outdoor), Baker Family Leisure Pool (indoor) and Alan J. Levine Athletic Facility. Massive renovations were also made to existing JCC spaces including the indoor lap pool, locker rooms, group exercise studios, health spas, front entrance, theater, and dance studios. The project also included major updates to campus meeting spaces and the creation of the Milton Mendel and Marsha Kleinberg Jewish Omaha Heritage Center.
As before, each renovation has been done in accordance with our mission of building and maintaining a vibrant Jewish community – not only for today, but for generations to come. We are fortunate to play a part in this engaged and caring community and we’re excited to see what the next 100 years will bring.

Special thanks to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society for providing records and photos from the last 100 years.