Eisenberg Gallery at the J
From historical and educational exhibits to beautiful displays of local, national, and international art, the Eisenberg Gallery at the J hosts a wide array of content. Exhibits cycle through on a monthly basis, providing a constant stream of new material. Admission is free. The gallery is open to the public. All visitors must check in with the Front Desk receptionist.
March 1-30
Showing in the Main Gallery:
More about the Spotlight Exhibit
With financial support and encouragement from The Staenberg Family Foundation and from Michael Staenberg himself, the Jewish Press created the weekly Spotlight Page in June of 2019. It was something we had been thinking about and planning for: a weekly page dedicated to our community; like a family photo album.
Six months later, the pandemic hit, but we powered through- leading to quite a few photographs of community members in Covid-masks. Then, the world slowly opened up again, bringing smiling faces back to our paper, and none of us take that for granted.
Throughout these past almost-seven years, this page has offered us a glimpse into what our Jewish life looks like. We’ve seen summer camp visits and synagogue youth programs, familiar faces of Omahans around the country and abroad, simchas, holidays, pets, new babies and many shared meals. A low estimate of the number of photographs? Approximately 5,000. There were weeks when it was hard to find enough photos, but there have been more times when we had so many submissions, we had to run Purim photos in May, or Hanukkah photos in February. And that’s okay- we are not only here to enjoy our stories in the moment, we aspire to leave something for posterity. We hope future generations can look at these photographs and know that we were here, working hard, and finding joy.
We know what you are seeing in the JCC Eisenberg Gallery represents only a small portion of everything that happens in our community, proving once again that Jewish Omaha is a robust, vibrant, and inspiring place.
We want to thank the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, as well as the JFO Marketing Department for helping us make this exhibit a reality, and we hope you enjoy seeing these spotlight pages.
Showing in the Pop Up Gallery
David Silver began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic, discovering in acrylics the perfect medium for his expressive style. Drawn to its intensity, versatility, and fast-drying nature, he creates layered, spontaneous compositions filled with movement and depth. Inspired by Judaism, human connection, animals, landscapes, and abstraction, David’s work blends the spiritual with the everyday. His bold, saturated colors and confident brushwork result in paintings that are visually striking and emotionally resonant. Each piece invites reflection, curiosity, and personal interpretation — capturing energy and feeling in a style that is both contemporary and deeply personal.
Annette Fettman (z”l) was an Omaha-based mixed-media artist whose work remains embedded in the city’s Jewish communal life. Trained at University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chicago Academy of Fine Art, UCLA, Creighton University, and Bellevue University, she created functional and symbolic works rooted in Jewish tradition. Exploring themes of memory, loss, and continuity—often in response to the Holocaust—Fettman combined metal, paint, text, and ritual objects. Her aluminum Holocaust memorial at Beth Israel Synagogue features six Yahrzeit candles honoring the six million murdered Jews, with one intentionally hidden. Works at the Institute for Holocaust Education, the Jewish Community Center of Omaha, and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home reflect her belief that art belongs in lived, communal spaces. In later years, she embraced ceramics and vibrant color, expressing resilience, ritual, and enduring hope.
Gallery Hours
Monday – Thursday
5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday
5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday
7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Open to the public.
All guests must check in with
the Front Desk receptionist.
Jewish Press Spotlight Exhibit
David Silver
Annette Fettman (z”l)
