There are so few Jewish people in Lincoln

Any time the word Jewish comes up (in public school) everybody looks at you and expects you to know everything,” said Eve DiMagno, 12, who attends the temple. She said she enjoys a chance to be in a group of all Jewish students and talk about her faith without being labeled “weird.”

One big difference between the two congregations is that at the Conservative synagogue all men and boys are expected to wear a kippah (yarmulka) or other head covering whenever they’re in the building. At the Reform temple, wearing kippot is optional.

decided that whatever building you’re in you respect the practices and traditions of that building. So in classrooms in the synagogue every boy wears a head covering — usually a brightly colored kippah, but sometimes a stocking cap or baseball cap.

Another difference is that many families at the Reform temple don’t keep kosher (eating only foods that have been prepared following strict Jewish dietary laws) but kosher foods and preparation are the rule at the Conservative synagogue. In this case, school leaders make sure that any snacks or other foods served during breaks or any school activity are kosher.
We would not want to leave a child out of a snack opportunity because it wasn’t kosher, said Gordon, who doesn’t keep kosher in her own house. Giving all students a chance to learn about what kosher means broadens their understanding, she said. “Our oldest son asked about keeping kosher and we had a good family discussion about it.

There have been few conflicts, who has three boys attending the school. “That’s because of the teachers,” she said. “They’ve been so in tune and in touch with both traditions and being sure they both are taught.”

“There are so few Jewish people in Lincoln, it’s good for the kids to get together,” said parent “It’s nice to know others around you who understand what you’re thinking and the holidays you celebrate.”