Preparing for Warren Buffett

The thought of a weekend in Omaha doesn’t exactly conjure images of matzah ball soup, home baked golden brown challah, or a Talmudic lecture.

Yet Chabad of Nebraska is preparing this and more, for the hundreds of Jewish guests at business tycoon Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. annual shareholders conference this weekend.

“We’re here to assist in any way possible,’ says Chabad Rabbi Mendel Katzman. “We serve all Jewish needs; we deliver Kosher food, set up a makeshift synagogue in the area for lively services, host lavish Shabbat meals, and offer interesting courses and lectures.”

Guests from previous years now look forward to the Chabad experience, saying it’s an integral part of the trip.

“We’ve built our own little community,” says Gary Friedman, of Columbus, OH. “There’s always a great sense of camaraderie. It’s a home away from home.”

Katzman is taking things a step further this year with the use of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

“Many Jews come to Omaha without realizing the potential friendships and connections to be made. In addition to keeping visitors updated with our schedules and services, these tools will allow us to create a “Jewish Berkshire Community,” where investors can network with like minded peers,” he says.

While it is hard to gauge the exact amount of Jewish attendees at the B.R.K meeting, Chabad stands by to welcome whoever walks through their doors. “While people may come to Omaha to learn from great entrepreneurial minds, we offer an opportunity for spiritual introspection,” says Katzman.

For more information, visit ochabad.com/berkshire