Congregation
Honoring Over 30 Years of KJ Beginners
December 13, 2025 24 Kislev, 5786
The Leaders of KJ’s Beginners Program:
George Rohr
Morris Massel
Dr. Steven Rudolph
Under the Direction of Rabbi Daniel & Rachel Kraus.
“TheBeginners Servicewasmy first‘real’ exposuretothe magnificenceof Judaism... ”
b l e s s e d i s t h e m a t c h c o n s u m e d i n k i n d l i n g f l a m e . . .
We are still touched by the memory of listeningtoourdaughtersingAdonOlamsolo infrontoftheBeginnersservicewhenshewas threeyearsold.
KJB likely changed the course of our life. That soundslikeanoverstatementbutit’snot.
Maureen & Jack Rimon
First joined a KJ Beginners program 15 years ago
KJB empowered me to move from simply occupying a seat in the synagogue to be a proactive, engaged community participant. I believe this was all made possible by George Rohr's warmth, dedication,andleadership.
Astandoutmemorywasgraduating from the KJB program, advancing to the Intermediate program, and being asked to assume the role of gabbai. Sharing that news with my mother and trying to describe those responsibilities to my mom led to a conversation I'll always treasure.
Being part of this community has brought me so much more than I ever expected. It’s the shared laughter, the supportive words during tough times, and the profound sense of belonging. The true bounty isn't just in programs, but in the people — the connectionsthathaveenrichedmy life and the life of our family in countlessways.
Barry Frohlinger
First joined a KJ Beginners program 24 years ago
When I first began studying for my conversion, George Rohr’s Beginners Minyanbecameaspiritualhomeforme.It wasinthatroom,surroundedbypeopleat all different stages of their own journeys, that I truly learned how to daven. The experience was warm, inclusive, and profoundly expanding. Each service carriedasenseofjoyandbelonging—a community where curiosity was met with kindnessandeverysmallstepforwardwas celebrated.
The Beginners Program didn’t just teach me the words of prayer; it helped me connect to their meaning and to a communitythatlivesthosevalues.Icarry thoselessonswithmealways—andImiss thoseShabbatmorningsverymuch.
Ivanka Trump
First joined a KJ Beginners program in 2008
Leo and Becky Lazar
First joined a KJ Beginners program in 2010
I learned to love learning — the services are interactive so I would do my homework before Shabbatinordertocontributeandlearn.Thisledto mestudyingRabbiNachmanwithMartyKaufmanfor 10 years, learning the Rambam’s Guide with Marty from start to finish. I would never have had the interestorconfidencetoattendtheseclassesifno fortheKJBprogram.Andbestofall,Istillloveto learn abeautifulgiftthatjustgrowsandgrows.
Can you share a specific memory/story of a KJB experiencethatstillinspiresortouchesyoutoday?
The final moments of Yom Kippur and George is askingeachofustocommittoamitzvah.George hadbeenonhisfeetforhoursandwasprobablyso exhaustedbutyoujustknewthatthisoneaskhewas literallyforcingustocommittowasgoingtobea game changer and without fail these smal commitments I made in the last minutes of Yom Kippur proved to be significant steps for me year afteryear.
I gained insight into the beauty of being nonjudgmental.EveryoneinvolvedintheKJBlovedal Jewsandtheydidnothavetosayit—theyshowedi everyShabbat.
Debra Frohlinger
First joined a KJ Beginners program 24 years ago
First joined a KJ Beginners program in 2016
RabbiKraus,Rachel,RabbiFeldman, Morris,George,Dr.Rudolph—youdidn’t justopenyourdoors,youopenedyour hearts.YoumetmewhereIwas, celebratedwhereIam,andguidedme towardwhoIhopetobecome.
KJB means the world to me because it embodies the simple, radical idea that Torah, mitzvos, and tefillah truly belong to every Jew. Walking into shul for the first time can be overwhelming, confusing, and even isolating. At KJB, we start at the very beginning and try to make everyone feel immediately at ease: here is the right book, here is where we are, here is what this silence means, here is why this line matters, and here is why we do what we do. Nothing is taken for granted. No question is too basic. There is never judgment only curiosity, warmth, authenticity, and real answers.
Over the years, I have watched people who once entered saying, “I don’t know anything,” become passionate, knowledgeable, deeply engaged members of the community leading chaburos, keeping mitzvos, mentoring others, and bringing an unforgettable energy into KJ as a whole. And it is not only beginners who benefit. Anyone can walk into KJB and come away refocused and learning something new.
It takes remarkable courage to walk through that door and say, “I want to know.” To me, every person who does that is a little like Avraham Avinu willing to step into the unknown with faith, humility, and hope. Being able to watch, guide, and occasionally accompany people on that journey has been one of the great blessings of my life.
Morris Massel
The KJ Beginners community is, at its core, a story of people—real people, real questions, real encounters with Torah and one another. What has emerged is a constellation of people discovering Jewish identity and encounteringthemselves.
Each conversation, each class, each question, each “Shabbat Shalom” adds radiance to this constellation, bringingthepowerofHaShem,identityandtraditiontothe centerofJewishlife.
At the heart of this story stand three remarkable and devoted lay leaders George Rohr, Dr. Steven Rudolph, andMorrisMassel — who have led with sincerity, wisdom, andanunshakablebeliefthateveryonedeservesaplaceto explore,connect,andcomehome Theirfaithinthepower ofTorah,asinglemitzvah,oneconversation,hasshapedthe programandthesoulofanentirecommunity.
ThemagicofKJBhasalwaysbeenconnectingwithJewish identity,Torahandoneanother.Whethersomeoneenters throughHighHolidays,aShabbatdinner,aclassorasingle question, KJB helps people discover and rediscover their placewithinourmagnificentchainofheritage
TheGemarainBrachot(6a)states
WhentwosittogetherandengageinTorah,theShechinah (DivineProvidence)restsbetweenthem.
EverymomentatKJBisameetingofsoulswheretheDivine Presence dwells The voices that fill this community — teachersandstudentsalike blendintoasingleharmony.
Together, we recognize the teachers, Gorge, Steve and Morris, and the thousands of students, honoring what has beenbuilt,butwhatcontinuestounfold:alivingtestimony tothecouragetoask,thehumilitytolearn,andthejoyof discovery and rediscovery of our sacred inheritance and identity.
RabbiDaniel&RachelKraus
