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Volume 101, Number 13 www.kcjc.com April 1, 2021 19 Nissan 5781

jewish chronicle The KANSAS

CITY

Providing compassionate care for all Local Jewish doctor serves homeless through medical nonprofit

By Lacey Storer Assistant Editor Dr. Jonathan Jacobs sits at a table listening to his patient describe his foot pain from plantar fasciitis. The pain was evident as the man limped up. He works on a factory line and being on his feet all day only exacerbates his condition. Jacobs examines the man’s foot and recommends an injection of Lidocaine to temporarily relieve the pain. He then walks over to the bright green bus parked a few feet away that serves as a makeshift clinic to get the local anesthetic from the pharmacist inside. This evening, Jacobs isn’t seeing patients in his office at Menorah Medical Center, where he works in internal medicine, or as part of his concierge medicine practice. He’s working his regular weekly volunteer shift with Care Beyond the Boulevard (CBB), a local nonprofit that operates mobile health clinics and provides medical care to the homeless, uninsured or otherwise vulnerable in and around Kansas City, Missouri. Jacobs has been volunteering with CBB for almost four years and is one of more than 100 CBB volunteers. He is also the president of the board and the medical director. “This group is unbelievable,” he said. “The work is unbelievable that we do.” CBB, which celebrated its fifth anniversary last week, was started by

Dr. Jonathan Jacobs, president and medical director for Care Beyond the Boulevard, visits with a patient during a recent clinic at the temporary shelter in Bartle Hall. (Lacey Storer) Jaynell “KK” Assmann and her husband. A registered nurse for more than 20 years, Assmann conceived the clinic while volunteering at a local food kitchen. She realized the patrons needed healthcare as well as food. The goal, Assmann said, is to provide compassionate healthcare to all, and particularly the “rough sleepers” who bed down outside. CBB doesn’t turn anyone away — its patients include people who have homes but no insurance and little money to afford healthcare. CBB started with a small group of

volunteers and a pickup truck equipped with a homemade pharmaceutical cabinet. A year later, they received an old school bus and the funds to renovate it into a mobile medical clinic. Assmann’s husband did the renovations. The bus includes a small exam “room” for more private exams, a pharmacy section and a storage area for non-medical supplies, such as toothbrushes, socks, umbrellas and sleeping bags. This year, CBB added a van so volunteers could make more stops and collect more donations.

The nonprofit has a busy schedule, running seven regular clinics and routes five days a week (Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays), with an additional monthly clinic in Independence. They provide care at churches and homeless camps, and in February added a weekly stop at the temporary shelter set up in Bartle Hall, pulling the van and bus in through the back and setting up a makeshift waiting room next to the rows and rows of cots. Going to where their patients are helps the CBB volunteers connect with them, said Assmann. New patients are often reluctant to trust the CBB workers. But after a week or two, “they would do anything for us,” Jacobs said. “They end up being very trusting, very grateful, very appreciative.” CBB provides several different types of care: acute care for short-term medical problems; routine care, which includes check-ups and follow ups; and seasonal care like flu shots and school physicals for children. Wound care and burns from starting fires are the most common types of injuries (although CBB has treated bullet wounds before). In the past few months, the cold has meant a lot of frostbite cases. Although the bus and van hold a lot of medical supplies, it doesn’t have everything. A common challenge is not having the specific item needed to treat a patient. When Jacobs asked for the LiSee MENORAH, PAGE 8

What is the difference between Yom Hashoah and International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

MCHE leader explains the origins of the two commemorations that fall within weeks of one another By Jessica Rockhold Midwest Center for Holocaust Education As a community, we gather twice a year to remember those lost in the Holocaust and to pay tribute to those who survived. Though similar in their desire to honor and commemorate, the origins of Yom Hashoah and International Holocaust Remembrance Day reflect different goals. YOM HASHOAH Yom Hashoah is an Israeli, and specifically Jewish, recognition of the Holocaust. Discussions about how to

appropriately commemorate the Holocaust have occurred since the very early days of post-liberation in 1945. The first conversations were held amongst the survivors themselves and centered on dates commemorating the experiences of the Warsaw Jewish community — the largest in Europe. On December 28, 1949, the first Holocaust Remembrance Day took place in Israel with the re-interment of Jewish remains moved from the Flossenbürg camp near Munich to a crypt in a Jerusalem cemetery. From that first observation, other Israeli commemorations periodically occurred, though there was no consensus on which date to com-

memorate. In 1951, the Knesset designated the 27th day of Nisan as Holocaust Remembrance Day. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the name —Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah (Day of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism) — pays tribute to those lost in the Holocaust and to the heroism of the European Jews. This was codified in Israeli law on March 4, 1959. American Jewish communities soon began holding Yom Hashoah ceremonies. In Kansas City, the ceremony was initiated by survivors who met with Sol E. Margolin, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, to consider ways to commemorate the Holocaust. This meeting led to the formation of what they would call “The New Americans Club of the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City.” The following year, in 1959, two significant memorial projects emerged: the annual Yom Hashoah service, which

Jessica Rockhold the New Americans called the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial Service, and the WarSee TWO, page 8

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

jewish chronicle

April 1, 2021

The KANSAS CITY

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Mike Sherry Editor mikes@jewishkc.org

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Pandemic highlights strengths of Jewish Community Foundation Lauren Hoopes Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City As we pass the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, I am in awe of the strength, resilience, creativity, and generosity of our community. The past year has brought challenges and hardships we’ve never seen before, but it has also brought new opportunities to care for one another and reconsider and, in some cases, reinvent the way we live and work. The Jewish Community Foundation is privileged to be a partner to so many individuals, families, and nonprofits in the area during this time. Together, we have made a positive impact during the pandemic through creative approaches to grantmaking, programming, and education, across the Kansas City community and beyond. One small gift of 2020 was the reaffirmation of the Jewish Community Foundation’s purpose. The Foundation was established more than 60 years ago “to ensure that our community would continue to be served, regardless of economic conditions or changing needs.” Our Foundation Family — how we refer to our fundholders, program participants, leadership, and community partners — coalesced as never before during the pandemic with an outpouring of compassion and generosity. Since March of 2020, Jewish Community Foundation funds have distributed nearly $1 million dollars to pandemic relief efforts. From Jewish Family Services right here in our own community, to the

Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, to the World Central Kitchen, more than 100 organizations across the country have received support from Foundation funds. From the outset of the pandemic, my team and I worked diligently to support our community partners and educate our fundholders about impactful ways to help. We shared information about how to help organizations in both the Jewish and general communities, including promoting the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which provides grants to nonprofits disproportionately affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic, and the Federation’s Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund. One of the most rewarding services we offer at the Foundation is matching fundholders’ giving interests with needs in the community. We connected one fundholder with Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy to provide microphones, webcams, tripods, and USB hubs to aid students in distance learning. Another fundholder purchased iPads so that Village Shalom residents could communicate virtually with family and friends. It’s our honor to make connections and create funding partnerships that have helped our beloved institutions creatively adapt their services during these unprecedented times. Of the many benefits of having a fund at the Foundation, one of the most engaging is access to philanthropic education and resources. The Connecting Our Giving Community series offers events planned by JCF fundholders for JCF fundholders. During these events, like-minded givers come together to share ideas and discuss philanthropic topics.

Last May we held a special virtual Connecting Our Giving Community event on the topic of “Creative Ideas for Responding to the Pandemic.” Hosts Gail and Gary Weinberg led an engaging discussion about ways we can all connect with and help others while staying safe. The event generated a list of dozens of volunteer opportunities and ideas about simple ways to safely connect with friends, family members, and neighbors that may be found on our website. Another virtual Connecting Our Giving Community event, to be hosted by Frank Lipsman and Janet Mark, is planned for this spring, where fundholders will explore how the pandemic has (or hasn’t) changed their charitable priorities. In our role as a trusted community resource, over the past year we have met regularly with representatives from communal agencies and synagogues to offer guidance and support. Our CFO Kevin Taylor and I assisted several organizations with the arduous process of applying for small business loans under the PPP program. In February, we hosted a virtual educational program for these community leaders that included best practices and tips for fundraising during the pandemic. Through both public and behind-the-scenes efforts, we’ve been with our partners every step of the way as we’ve navigated this crisis together. While we’re not out of the dark yet, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever the future holds, know that the Jewish Community Foundation is here for you. With your support, we’ll continue working together to make a positive impact on our community and world. Lauren Hoopes is executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City

SevenDays honors former Chiefs QB Trent Green with first Ripple of Kindness Award

Four area high school seniors receive kindness scholarships Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green has been a winner on the gridiron. Now, he is being recognized for his charitable work off the field as the first recipient of the Ripple of Kindness Award. Created by the Faith Always Wins Foundation, Green will be honored during the 2021 SevenDays-Make a Ripple Change the World annual kindness experience presented by the foundation this year April 13-25. This year’s experience takes place over two weeks with all events in a virtual format due to COVID restrictions. The SevenDays Ripple of Kindness award recognizes someone who has gone above and beyond in demonstrating kindness through their actions and words. The honoree is someone whose impact on our community is apparent but with no expectation of reward or return. It is given annually to showcase the importance of kindness. The Ripple of Kindness recipient

serves as a role model for others, especially for our youth, promoting and doing acts of kindness and making a ripple to change the world. SevenDays originated in response to the murders of Reat Underwood, his grandfather Dr. William Corporon and Terri LaManno outside of Jewish facilities in April 2014. Green played in the NFL for 15 seasons including his seasons (and two Pro Bowls) with the Chiefs. Over the years. Green and his wife Julie have focused the majority of their charity work on children. Their involvement includes Children’s Mercy Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Phoenix Family and the HIKE reading program as well as the YMCA. A father of three, Green just completed his seventh season as an NFL game analyst for CBS Sports. Green will receive the Ripple of Kindness Award during SevenDays first event on LOVE Day, April 13.

“This is a tremendous honor to receive the first Seven Days Ripple of Kindness Award,” Green said. “Over most of the last 20 years, Julie and I have called Kansas City home and raised our children here. We’ve tried to make an impact in the community as well. Thank you to Mindy Corporon, her family, and the Faith Always Wins Foundation for this recognition” Green said. In addition to honoring Green, LOVE Day’s program will recognize four local high school seniors with Act of Kindness scholarships. Each student created an Act of Kindness project incorporating one or more of SevenDays daily themes and wrote an essay about its impact on them and the community. Winners each receive a $1,000 scholarship. This year’s winners are Aaliyah Aramjoo-Hull, Staley High School; Fatima Gonzalez, Sumner Academy of Arts and Science; Ava Jones, Blue Valley High School; and Alex Green, Lee’s Summit West High School.

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community news

Jewish Family Services Spiritual Care volunteer gives from the heart

Spiritual Care Volunteers are integral to Jewish Family Services’ Chaplaincy Program and fulfill the mitzvah of bikkur cholim — visiting the sick. Working with Jewish Community Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick’s guidance, Brad Ordo is among this group of volunteers who receive extensive training to work in the healthcare community serving Jewish patients’ spiritual needs. Volunteers provide connection and support while someone is hospitalized or lives in an elder care facility — a very stressful time for those who might otherwise be alone or disconnected from the community. Ordo was a school friend of Rabbi Rudnick’s, having both attended the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. Ordo then moved to Los Angeles for 30 years, where he volunteered in different capacities. Ordo served as a visitor to AIDS units in the 1990s as a support group facilitator and as part of a literacy program where he tutored young adults from other countries helping them to integrate into the community. When his mother was in failing

health, Ordo moved back to Kansas City. He wanted to be around to support her and to help his siblings. Ordo’s mother was a client of JFS’ older adult services program. “I was impressed and inspired by how I saw her social worker and her psychotherapist at JFS tend to her needs and support her at a critical time in her life journey,” he shared. Ordo’s mother passed in 2018. Just a year later, after attending a Communitywide Service of Spiritual Renewal led by Rabbi Rudnick, Ordo decided to utilize his experience at JFS and become a Spiritual Care Volunteer. “It is important to meet people where they are spiritually. You don’t want preconceived notions about what each person is going through,” Ordo said. “I try to be an open vessel and take in what each person shares. We’re just there to listen — using our ears more than our mouth.” JFS Spiritual Care Volunteers are a welcome surprise to isolated members of the Jewish community. While most Spiritual Care Volunteers visit people

Brad Ordo in a facility, Ordo’s mission is to meet people isolated at home. Since COVID-19 began, Ordo has been primarily meeting virtually, although he did arrange a masked visit early last summer. Ordo makes weekly calls to Gertie, an older woman who had difficulty transitioning from her apartment into assisted living. Ordo’s calm and soothing nature lends Gertie support and is the highlight of her week.

Another of Ordo’s regular Spiritual Care clients is Lori, who went into an elder care facility when her husband’s heath began to decline. He has since passed away. Lori has signs of dementia and is legally blind, but she and Ordo say the Kaddish prayer together, which Ordo said she appreciates. Ordo also volunteered for another client who has since passed away from cancer. During those last two or three months of her life, Ordo was with her when she knew she was dying. “I made it a point of staying connected to her along with her JFS family of social workers,” he said. “We often visited her when she was hospitalized and made a Chanukah celebration for her in her hospital room by bringing her gifts and homemade food.” Ordo spoke at her funeral. Like many older adults, she had no family left. JFS stepped in to connect her to the Jewish community and provided spiritual support in her last days with Ordo’s help. If you know someone in need of spiritual care or would like to be a spiritual care volunteer, contact rabbi@jfskc.org.

Heritage Center at The J presents ‘Unmasked: A COVID-19 Virtual Panel Discussion’ Do you know the latest information on COVID-19 and its impact in our community? How does this impact The J’s Heritage Center members and participation in activities at The J? The Heritage Center at The J has brought together a distinguished panel of local experts for “Unmasked: A COVID-19 Panel Discussion” at 2 p.m. April 6 via Zoom. The goal of the discussion is to provide those 65-plus

with information, facts and findings on COVID-19, its variants and the vaccination. It also will include information about the Heritage Center’s phased re-opening plans. The panel will include Elizabeth Lawlor Holzschuh, director of epidemiology with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment; Dr. Erin Corriveau, director of Community Health Division of KU’s

Department of Family Medicine and community health deputy medical officer for the Wyandotte County Health Department; Dr. K. Allen Greiner, professor and vice chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center; and Dr. Andrew Dalton, a board certified emergency management physician at Menorah Medical Center.

The panel will be moderated by Eric Morgenstern, CEO of Morningstar Communications, who has previously served on The J’s board of directors and is one of the leaders involved in ComebackKC, a business-led initiative to help the Kansas City region come back stronger post COVID-19. The cost is free. For more information and to register, visit TheJKC. org/coviddiscussion.

KU Hillel encourages open conversations in new program Amid the pandemic, KU Hillel sought out new programming to keep students engaged. Recalling his thoughtful conversations in years prior, KU Hillel’s Rabbi Neal Schuster conceived his now popular “What the Bleep is Going On” program. “What the Bleep is Going On” meets at 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday on Zoom, and students gather to discuss the latest current events, or whatever is on their minds. “I wanted to have conversations with students, especially since there is so much to talk about [in the world],” Schuster said. “This created an opportunity for us to have an atmosphere where we can discuss and look at many different viewpoints on a topic.” Though Schuster begins the program with a few broad topics to discuss, he is always willing to expand the conversation to meet students’ wants and go with the flow of conversation. Because of this, participants have been able to speak their minds on a plethora of topics spanning from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to the parallels between Taylor Swift and The Beatles. With each conversation comes a va-

Rabbi Neal Schuster riety of different opinions, all of which people are open about, even if they disagree. Schuster’s emphasis on remaining open-minded has helped guide these conversations away from being an echo chamber, something students were excited to explore. This also has led to interesting revelations, too. “It is so interesting to hear about the different points of view on the issues, and it allows me to frame the issue in a way I would be unable to if I just read an article on the subject,” KU freshman Josie Safir said.

With students like Safir able to engage openly and frequently throughout the “What the Bleep is Going On” weekly meetings, KU Hillel is able to give students the opportunity to gather safely and share thoughts and ideas. “What started as a one-off program quickly became a popular weekly event,” said Suzy Sostrin, KU Hillel executive director. “This brings together a diverse group of Hillel students to engage in a new way. We love hearing all about the discussions!” As “What the Bleep is Going On” continues, Schuster is hoping to ex-

COMPASSION • CARE • LOVE COVID 19:

CDC GUIDELINES OBSERVED

pand students’ knowledge and understanding of various opinions. Whether it be about global political conflicts or cancel culture in the United States, Schuster advocates for everyone participating to think outside of their current opinion and hear new perspectives — something that allows for more comfort among the group as a whole. “It’s a safe place for me to have great debates with a group of people that I know will challenge my views in a judgment-free way, and it has become my favorite Hillel program,” KU senior Ben Novorr said.

Thanks to the Jewish community for welcoming our care team into their homes.

816-377-1306

INFO@CARINGCOMESFROMTHEHEART.COM

Services • Assistance with daily activities • Individualized care Customized to meet your family’s situation • Respite care • Medication administration • Hygiene assistance • Meal preparation • Light house keeping/laundry • Provide transportation (ie – doctor’s appointment) • Open to any other special requests

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community news

celebrations BAR MITZVAH

Hunter Matthew Brown Stacey and Steve Brown announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Hunter Matthew Brown, at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Relatives and friends are invited to worship virtually with the family. Hunter is the grandson of Carole and Bernard Ellis and the late Elaine and Alan Brown. He has one brother, Miller Brown. Hunter plays baseball and basketball. He loves watching sports and enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

daughter, Julia Helena Luetje, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Friends and family are invited to join virtually at facebook.com/ttcbj or vimeo.com/ bnaijehudah. Julia is the granddaughter of Dr. Phyliss and Robert Bernstein and Dr. Charlie and Sandra Luetje. She has three siblings: Chad, Ali and Adam. Julia enjoys competitive gymnastics, art, baking, being with family, traveling and is active in Kesher. When she was 10, she won the Grand Prize in a national invention contest out of 13,000 entries for her Storm Sleeper invention, which she created to help others manage stress and anxiety. She went from young inventor to entrepreneur when she recently launched The Storm Sleeper business. On her own, she also created a Donor Advised Fund with a portion of her prize winnings to support children’s hospitals, the autism community and pet rescues. For her mitzvah project, Julia is collecting arts and crafts to donate to Children’s Mercy

Mary (left) and Katie Marshall dropped off donations for the JFS Food Pantry during a recent communitywide drive.

Sophie Andrea Silver Renee Polsky Silver and Larry Silver of Overland Park announce the birth Nov. 20, 2020, of their daughter, Sophie Andrea Silver. Sophie has two siblings, Nathan, 5, and Elaine, 3. Grandparents are Ellen and Larry Polsky of Leawood; Sarene Silver and Jack Jagoda of Golden Valley, Minnesota; and Ken Silver of Eagen, Minnesota.

HAVE A STORY IDEA FOR US? Email editor Mike Sherry at mikes@jewishkc.org.

Rabbinical Association, congregations help stock JFS Food Pantry

BIRTH

BAT MITZVAH

Julia Helena Luetje Chucker Luetje and Susan Bernstein announce the Bat Mitzvah of their

April 1, 2021

Hunger never takes a holiday. The two locations of Jewish Family Services Food Pantry continue to offer support for the growing number of individuals facing food insecurity. Each month, the JFS pantry is serving more than 900 families with food, personal care items, cleaning supplies and pet food. JFS relies on food drives and donations for 50% of the products it distributes — so it needs your help. Monthly the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City and area congregations host food drives to help stock the two locations of the pantry. During April, the focus of the JFS Community Food Drives is canned fruit and vegetables and multi-purpose cleaner sprays. April Community Food Drives: Thursday, April 8, 4‒5:30 p.m., at JFS Food Pantry in Brookside, 425 E. 63rd St. Donors are instructed to pull into a designated parking space on the west side of the building and call the number listed; a volunteer will pick up

items directly from cars. Sunday, April 18, 10 a.m.‒noon, at the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park. Drop off will be in the front circle drive where JFS volunteers and staff will take items directly from cars. All donations are greatly appreciated. One in four individuals receiving assistance from the JFS Food Pantry also benefit from one or more additional services the agency provides. In addition to the monthly Community Food Drives, donations can be dropped off in the JFS barrel in the lobby of the Jewish Community Campus during business hours. Donors can also make a financial contribution to purchase items for the pantry at jfskc. org. In addition to its Food Pantry, JFS provides other essential human services for people facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis-regardless of faith, age, culture or lifestyle. For more information, visit jfskc.org.

B’nai B’rith Bowling The following bowlers in Sunday Morning Kansas City B’nai B’rith Men’s Bowling League achieved high scores at Ward Parkway Lanes on March 21.

500 SERIES: Ron Rubin (196, 201, 222 — 619) Marion Potts (174, 204, 211 — 589) Morty Rock (191, 160, 223 — 574) Tiger Johnson (225, 193, 154 — 572) Geoffrey Gunter (211, 212, 149 — 572) Al Elbert (175, 194, 189 — 558) Jeff Kivett (147, 226, 177 — 550) Michael Altman (174, 191, 184 — 549)

Gary Gray (181, 163, 204 — 548) Stuart Pollock (203, 167, 165 — 535) Bruce Singer (183, 171, 180 — 534) Robert May (121, 212, 186 — 519) Steve Greenberg (150, 177, 190 — 517) Jerry Shapiro (177, 156, 169 — 502)

170 GAME: Michael Sokol (185), Ted Simon (180), Scott Bronston (178). Contact Tom Balke at 913-648-0326 or tombalke@everestkc.net if you are interested in bowling in a competitive, fun, social atmosphere.

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White Theatre to present ‘Fiddler in Concert’ — a virtual cabaret

“Tradition! Tradition! Tradition!” Those words evoke images of the Broadway musical masterpiece, “Fiddler on the Roof.” Many of the memorable songs of “Fiddler on the Roof” will be part of “Fiddler in Concert,” a virtual cabaret, presented by The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J, April 11 through May 9. The concert will be performed and pre-recorded and then available for viewing on-demand for $18 per household. “Fiddler in Concert” will feature a group of talented singers and musicians performing all your favorites from Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock’s iconic “Fiddler on the Roof,” which opened on Broadway in 1964. Based on the classic Sholem Aleichem tale, “Tevye, The Milkman,” “Fiddler” received 10 Tony Award nominations — claiming nine, including Best Musical, Book, Director and Actor honors. It was the first Broadway musical to surpass 3,000 performances. “Fiddler In Concert” will be set up like Broadway’s virtual release of “Ratatouille,” where singers are filmed separately, and through video editing, are brought together for a magical night of stunning performances. “We are excited to bring the magic of this newly-recorded, on-demand concert performance of the iconic and be-

loved ‘Fiddler’ songs right into people’s homes,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, director of Arts + Culture at The J. “With the pandemic, we have had to completely reimagine our theater season and are thrilled we can do it in a way that is safe and entertaining for our audiences.” The ensemble includes several powerhouse singers from The White Theatre’s recent performance of “Something Rotten,” including Tom Nelson, Matt Fowler, Krista Eyler, Ron Meyer, Karen Blackmon and Fisher Stewart. It also features 2021 Broadway World’s “Regional Performer of the Decade,” Kelly Urschel, who also starred in The White Theatre’s production of “Newsies,” Ruth Bigus and two members of The White Theatre staff, Megan Segars and Keith Wiedenkeller. The White Theatre at The J is a performing arts leader in presenting some of the finest theatrical and musical productions, featuring an array of talented local performers from the Kansas City metro region. This 500-seat, state-of-theart facility is located at the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W. 115th Street in Overland Park. To purchase tickets for “Fiddler In Concert,” visit TheJKC.org/Fiddler. For more information about upcoming events at The White Theatre, visit TheWhiteTheatre.org.

MEMBER FDIC

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important dates Friday, April 2 Candle-lighting time 20 Nissan, 7:25 p.m. Share Shabbat In partnership with The JKC, Jewish Federation and PJ Library, join B’nai Jehudah at Shabbat every month on first Friday. Each month will feature a new theme, a story, an activity and a family-friendly service with song. Free and open to the community. Participate via facebook.com/ttcbj. 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 3 Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat This Shabbat, join Congregation Beth Torah to explore halacha (Jewish law) of childhood and coming of age under the larger theme of Halacha of Lifecycle Events. Email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9-10:30 a.m. Passover Service with Yizkor Join B’nai Jehudah to celebrate the end of Passover and remember our loved ones. Join on facebook.com/ ttcbj or vimeo.com/bnaijehudah. 10:30 a.m. Beth Torah’s Chametz Havdalah Congregants will break Passover together in the CBT parking lot, with chametz and Havdalah. Visit Beth Torah’s website to pre-order large cheese pizzas from Minsky’s for just $10: beth-torah.org. Pizzas must be pre-ordered through Beth Torah’s website by noon Friday, April 2, at noon. 6:30-8 p.m.

Sunday, April 4 Boker Tov Live! Get your morning off to a great start with B’nai Jehudah’s Sunday morning program family service via facebook.com/ttcbj. 9 a.m. Ohev Sholom Morning Minyan Call the synagogue office at 913-642-6460 for the Zoom link. 9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays on Facebook Live. Let B’nai Jehudah guide your day — and your month — with readings, teaching or other reflections. 9 a.m. Ohev Sholom Morning Minyan Call the synagogue office at 913-642-6460 for the Zoom link. 9 a.m. Happiness Habits The Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition, based at Jewish Family Services, and the Kansas City Public Library are offering a free program to make your days better. Happiness Habits is a half-hour program held on Mondays via Zoom. The focus is how to manage the uncertainty of our daily lives with simple habits fostering happiness regardless of our circumstances. Each half-hour interactive program has a theme. The program is open to anyone, but registration is required through the library’s website, kclibrary.org/events-activities-calendar. 3 p.m. B’nai Jehudah Minyan Service Daily minyan service, Monday-Thursday, will continue to be only virtual via facebook.com/ttcbj at 5:45 p.m. K.I. Talmud Class Exploring the Secrets of the Talmud — study of this central Jewish text pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. This class is on-going and is the longest running Jewish class in our area, but no previous knowledge is needed. Taught by Rabbi Herbert Mandl. Meets Mondays unless otherwise noted. Email info@ kisyn.org and request the Zoom link. 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 6 ‘Unmasked: A COVID-19 Virtual Panel Discussion’ The Heritage Center at The J has brought together a distinguished panel of local experts for “Unmasked: A COVID-19 Panel Discussion.” The goal is to provide those 65plus with information, facts and findings on COVID-19, its variants and the vaccination. It also will include information about the Heritage Center’s phased re-opening plans. There is no charge. For more information and to register, visit TheJKC.org/coviddiscussion. 2 p.m.

B’nai Jehudah Minyan Services B’nai Jehudah’s Sunday morning minyan services are held via facebook.com/ttcbj. To participate, join at 9:45 a.m.

KC SuperStar Auditions Auditions for The J’s singing competition and annual fundraiser take place virtually. Open to high school students in the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas. More information at kcsuperstar.org. 5-8 p.m.

K.I. ‘Shmooze & Kvetch’ Everyone who logs on is encouraged to sit with their own brunch and a beverage. We’ll go around the “room” checking in with each other and giving everyone a chance to say what they’re thankful for that week. Email info@kisyn.org for the Zoom link. 11 a.m.

Wednesday, April 7

K.I. Mincha/Ma’ariv Join K.I. on Zoom if you are unable to go to the synagogue. Contact info@kisyn.org and request the link to weekday Ma’ariv. 6:15 p.m.

Monday, April 5 Boker Tov Boker Tov at B’nai Jehudah is live on Mondays,

‘Those Who Remained’ The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival at The J, in partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE), will present the film “Those Who Remained” in honor of Yom HaShoah. The film is available for viewing on-demand April 7 through 14. A virtual presentation and discussion with Dr. Shelly Cline, director of education and historian with MCHE, will be at 8 p.m. on April 14. E-tickets are available for $12 per household at TheJKC.org/remained. Tickets will be available for purchase through April 13. The link to the film will be emailed once your e-ticket(s) have been purchased. One e-ticket equals one virtual household.

B’nai Jehudah Torah Study Start your day by delving into this rich and insightful text. Grab a cup of coffee and join our clergy for this always exciting exploration as we study the weekly Torah portion and learn from its many faceted lessons. Drop-ins welcome; no experience necessary. To participate, contact Damien Timms, rabbiadmin@bnaijehudah.org for a link and access to the Zoom meeting. 10-11:30 a.m.

JWV Post 605 Meeting The next Jewish War Veterans Post 605 monthly meeting will be held this evening via Zoom. All Kansas City area Jewish veterans are welcome to join. For more information, contact Greg Quinn, 913-492-6812 or kansasbadger@yahoo.com. 7 p.m.

JFS Jewish Grief Support Group Continues The Grief and Loss Support Group meets virtually the first and third Wednesday of each month. The group provides the opportunity to address issues of loss and grief within a Jewish spiritual context. Anyone is welcome to join. JFS and The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City co-sponsor the group which is the only Jewish-based grief support group in the area. It is co-facilitated by Rabbi Mark Levin and JFS therapist Lauren Glass, LCSW. There is no charge to attend; however, if you wish to participate or would like additional information, contact Molly McGurk, JFS director of Mental Health Services at mmcgurk@jfskc.org or 913-327-8298. 11:30 a.m.

Candle-lighting time 27 Nissan, 7:32 p.m.

Women’s Study Group In this weekly ongoing virtual class, the women choose the topics. Taught alternately by Rabbis Moshe Grussgott and Herbert Mandl. Email info@kisyn.org and request the Zoom link to the Women’s class. 7 p.m. Mid-Week Song Session Join Lezlie Zucker to take a deep breath and sing some songs together. Mid-Week Song Session is streamed on facebook.com/congregationbethtorah and beth-torah.org/virtual-sanctuary. 7-7:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 8 Peltzman Educational Series Unit 3 resumes today with instructor Rabbi David Glickman. The topic is “Great Arguments: How the Jewish Methods of Disagreement are What the World Needs Now.” Cost is $15 for new students who are not already participating in Peltzman. To RSVP or for more information, contact Amy Schultz, sisterhood education vice president at aschultzbsw@gmail.com or 913-6815752. This series is open to the entire Jewish community of Greater Kansas City. 10-11 a.m. Beth Torah’s Lunch ’n Learn Join Rabbi Cattapan for some learning (and lunching) on Zoom. Email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. Noon-1:30 p.m. Bring Your Own Dinner Monthly Learning Sessions Grab your dinner and join a B’nai Jehudah staff member on the second Thursday of the month for learning and conversation. This month’s session features “From the Holocaust to the State of Israel” in the Klein Collection with Abby Magariel (replaces this month’s Collection Connection event). To register, go to us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvcOGhqz8iE9dh664qNpzB9Gfk65YwwYgC. For more information and a full schedule of events visit bnaijehudah.org/ specialevents/programguide. 6 p.m.

Friday, April 9

Virtual Oneg Missing the post-service schmooze or Oneg desserts? Join Congregation Beth Torah for a virtual Oneg. Do Kiddush and Hamotzi together before schmoozing and tasting the sweetness of Shabbat. Email connect@bethtorah.org to request the Zoom link 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 10 Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat This Shabbat, join Congregation Beth Torah to explore halacha (Jewish law) of childhood and coming of age under the larger theme of Halacha of Lifecycle Events. Email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9-10:30 a.m. K.I. Parsha of the Week An in-person class with Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. Enhance Shabbat by gaining deeper understanding of the weekly Parsha. This class will be taught between Mincha and Ma’ariv. 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 11 ‘Fiddler in Concert’ Many of the memorable songs of “Fiddler on the Roof” will be part of “Fiddler in Concert,” a virtual cabaret, presented by The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J, today through May 9. The concert will be performed and pre-recorded and then available for viewing on-demand for $18 per household. To purchase tickets for “Fiddler In Concert,” visit TheJKC.org/ Fiddler. For more information about upcoming events at The White Theatre, visit TheWhiteTheatre.org. Boker Tov Live! Get your morning off to a great start with B’nai Jehudah’s Sunday morning program family service via facebook.com/ttcbj. 9 a.m. Ohev Sholom Morning Minyan Call the synagogue office at 913-642-6460 for the Zoom link. 9:30 a.m. B’nai Jehudah Minyan Services B’nai Jehudah’s Sunday morning minyan services are held via facebook.com/ttcbj. To participate, join at 9:45 a.m. K.I. ‘Shmooze & Kvetch’ Everyone who logs on is encouraged to sit with their own brunch and a beverage. We’ll go around the “room” checking in with each other and giving everyone a chance to say what they’re thankful for that week. Email info@kisyn.org for the Zoom link. 11 a.m.

Outside the Kansas City area:

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spotlight BELOW: Last week, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy celebrated its annual Civic Service Award with a Private Broadcast Celebration, posthumously honoring Tiberius ‘Tibor’ Klausner. The award was accepted by Tibor’s wife, Carla Klausner. The one-hour virtual event included music by Klausner’s protégé, Elizabeth Suh Lane, as well as HBHA students, and was co-chaired by Neil Sosland and Pella Fingersh, shown here. While the event is over, HBHA is still accepting donations for its Fund-a-Scholar appeal. Go to hbha.edu, or text ‘SCHOLAR21’ to ‘44-321’ to donate to this scholarship fund.

Go Jayhawks! ABOVE: KU Hillel students gather safely at Bagels & Basketball to watch KU basketball play.

Honoring Tibor Klausner

O TLIGHT SPO PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to marciam@jewishkc.org. Please write spotlight photo in the subject line. BELOW: The J offers private, semi-private and shared swim lessons with enhanced safety protocols. Learn more at TheJKC.org/swimlessons. ‘The parent is bound to teach their children a craft. Some say also to teach them to swim.’ — Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 29A

Matzah for all ABOVE: Pictured from left are KU students Austin Klinock, Ethan Matsil and James Mendel joyfully presenting the matzah they received from KU Chabad. The weeks before the holiday more than 600 students, alumni, parents and community members received matzah for the holiday from Chabad, ensuring that all can celebrate the festival of freedom.

Spices galore

Get ready for swim season!

ABOVE: Congregation Beth Torah collected more than 550 spices (b’samim) for the JFS Food Pantry. To culminate their collection drive, CBT ‘Spice(d) Up the Night’ by donating spices for JFS and participating in Havdalah in their parking lot. Thank yous go out to Beth Torah members and friends who added MANY flavors to our neighbors’ pantries.

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April 1, 2021

local news

Menorah physician delivers care to the homeless from page 1 docaine to help ease his patient’s plantar fasciitis, he was told there wasn’t any on hand that night. He gave the man some painkillers and asked him to come back next week, promising he would have what he needed. “It’s raw medicine,” Assmann said. “It’s very difficult. It’s using our senses; we don’t have labs, we don’t have X-rays…” What CBB does have is a lot of dedicated volunteers. Most of the volunteers work full time jobs — ranging from doctors and nurses to medical residents and students, to those who hope to one day go into the medical field. Jonah Elyachar is one such volunteer. Like Jacobs, he is Jewish. He’s applying to medical school and has been volunteering with CBB for the past 18 months. He helps with everything from patient registration, to taking vitals, to making sure things run smoothly during the clinics. He started with CBB not only for the experience, but to help homeless people get care they wouldn’t get anywhere else. “For me, it’s still tough every time (I volunteer) knowing there are people that have the same problems that everyone else has, they just don’t have access to the same care as everyone else,” he said. The homeless aren’t in a position to be able to take care of themselves like they should, he said. They can’t get prescriptions; they have no running water to keep wounds clean. “It’s hard for me to describe, because I enjoy what I’m doing, but it’s not happy,” Elyachar said. Even on slow nights, he can’t help but think there are more people out there who need CBB’s help but can’t find them or have no way to get to them.

Ruben Celis, who works full time as a pharmacist at Children’s Mercy, sorts medications in the pharmacy section of Care Beyond the Boulevard’s mobile bus clinic. (Lacey Storer) CBB is working to meet increasing demand. In its first year, it registered 900 patient encounters. Last year, that number grew to 4,165 encounters with 1,405 patients; CBB’s goal this year is to treat more than 2,000 patients and have more than 5,000 encounters. Currently, there are just a few full-time CBB employees, including a case worker, a program coordi-

nator and a volunteer coordinator. Assman is leaving her nursing job to be CBB’s full-time CEO, so she can ensure the organization doesn’t get bogged down with day-to-day operations. “We want to make sure we don’t lose focus,” she said. “The patient is always at the focus of what we do.”

Two Holocaust remembrances have different histories from page 1

saw Ghetto Monument, which the New Americans named the Memorial to the Six Million. Today our local Yom Hashoah commemoration follows the format established by the survivors themselves. INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY In contrast to Yom Hashoah, International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD) was conceived as an international recognition of the Holocaust. The resolution was introduced by the Israeli delegation and unanimously passed by the General Assembly as UN Resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005. It established January 27 as IHRD, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army in 1945 — signifying the status of Auschwitz as the international symbol of the Holocaust. As part of the goal of this resolution, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism on this date. It further encourages the development of educational programs to help prevent future genocides and explicitly rejects Holocaust denial and revisionism. Locally, MCHE emphasizes the educational aspect of this mandate in our community commemoration. For the past several years, we have hosted noted scholars to teach our

Ann Federman and Walter Rosel (at left) participate in the local Yom Hashoah candle lighting ceremony in 2015, held in the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Campus. community about important aspects of the Holocaust and important research initiatives which further the goal of establishing evidence of the Holocaust. YOM HASHOAH 2021 The community is invited to share in the 2021 virtual Yom Hashoah ceremony, which will begin at 1:30 pm on April 11. This year’s ceremony commemorates the 78th anniversary of

the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the 58th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial to the Six Million. Along with MCHE, organizers of the event include JCRB | AJC and the Jewish Community Center. In addition to the traditional lighting of 6 candles recognizing the 6 million Jewish victims, the program features Ida Kolkin, daughter of Holocaust survivors Maria and Fred Devinki, both of blessed memory, sharing the experiences of her parents’ surviv-

al by hiding near Wodzisław, Poland. Rabbi Moshe Grusgott of Kehilath Israel Synagogue will offer opening remarks and Rabbi Doug Alpert of Congregation Kol Ami will offer closing reflections and recite Kaddish. Registration for the Zoom is required at www.mchekc.org/yomhashoah. The video of the commemoration will be available in the days following at www.mchekc.org. The following organizations sponsored this year’s Yom Hashoa ceremony: Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Beth Torah, Congregation BIAV, Congregation Kol Ami, Congregation Ohev Sholom, Congregation Ohev Sholom Sisterhood, Hadassah Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Relations Bureau/AJC, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Vocation Services, Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Menorah Heritage Foundation, Menorah Medical Center, Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, National Council of Jewish Women, Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, Temple Sinai, The New Reform Temple, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah Sisterhood, Village Shalom Jessica Rockhold is executive director of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education

April 1, 2021

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community news

Jewish Film Festival at The J and MCHE present ‘Those Who Remained’

The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival at The J, in partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE), will present the film “Those Who Remained” in honor of Yom HaShoah. The film is available for viewing on-demand April 7 through 14. A virtual presentation and discussion with Dr. Shelly Cline, director of education and historian with MCHE, will be at 8 p.m. April 14. Directed by Barnabás Tóth, “Those Who Remained” is a lyrical story of the healing power of love in

both of their lives slowly returns. But as the Soviet Empire rises to power in Hungary, their pure and loving father-daughter relationship is misunderstood and frowned upon. E-tickets are available for $12 per household at TheJKC.org/remained. Tickets will be available for purchase through April 13. The link to the film will be emailed once your e-ticket(s) have been purchased. One e-ticket equals one virtual household. This film can be viewed on your cell phone, tablet, computer or smart TV.

the midst of conflict, loss and trauma. It reveals the healing process of Holocaust survivors through the eyes of a young girl in post-World War II Hungary. Having survived the camps, 42-year-old Aldo lives a solitary life as a doctor in Budapest, and 16-yearold Klara lives reluctantly with her great aunt, holding on to hope that her father and mother will return. She meets Aldo, and soon the two of them find something in each other that has long been absent in their lives. As they grow closer, the joy in

Beth Shalom Sisterhood launches calendar campaign

Co-Chairs Berenice Haberman, Meg Adler and Arlene Shalinsky announce that Beth Shalom Sisterhood has launched its 2021-2022 Congregational Calendar Campaign of selling listings, tributes and ads to its congregants and advertisers in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The calendar is Sisterhood’s major fundraising project, and its proceeds support both congregation and sisterhood programs. The calendar/directory is complimentary to all Beth

Shalom congregants, non-congregant sisterhood members and advertisers. Calendars will be mailed the first of September. We welcome all business leaders to consider this tool in their promotional planning for the year. It is a great value and opportunity to advertise one’s business every day for 16 months. Our professional designer can create your ad and accommodate you in any way to meet your advertising budget. Full page

ads are also available in color for a minimal extra charge. For further information contact Berenice Haberman, 913-894-6657 or bshaberman521@gmail. com. Ad forms are available at the Beth Shalom website, http://bethwshalomkc.org/events/sisterhood/. Please complete your ad form and return it to Beth Shalom Sisterhood, Attn: Calendar, 14200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66223 with your check payable to Beth Shalom Sisterhood as soon as possible.

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5500 West 123rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66209 | VillageShalom.org | Open to all faiths | 913-755-9610

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

From our Home to Yours...

Happy Passover! kc

REALTY EXECUTIVES OF KANSAS CITY

Jeremy, Liron, Elliana & Ari Applebaum

April 1, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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global news

Religious Zionist Party officially endorses Netanyahu for prime minister By Yair Altman and Ariel Kahana JNS Israel’s Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that he plans to recommend President Reuven Rivlin task Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government. “Based on the prime minister’s commitment that he will form a right-wing government that will safeguard Israel’s Jewish identity, bolster the Judea and Samaria settlement enterprise and pursue the necessary reforms in the judiciary, the Religious Zionist Party will recommend that the president task Netanyahu with forming a government representing the national camp,” Smotrich said in a statement. “We call on all members of the national camp to set aside their differences and turn a new leaf—for the Israeli public’s sake. Israel needs a solid, cohesive right-wing government. Let’s

Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a meeting of Israel’s right-wing bloc at the Knesset in Jerusalem on Nov. 20, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) put the anger behind us and begin negotiations.” On Monday, Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri also endorsed Netanyahu as the next prime minister, saying that the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party will ask Rivlin to task Likud’s leader with putting together a coalition. “Shas will act to establish a rightwing government headed by Netanyahu

that maintains the Jewish character of the state and acts for the benefit of the weaker sectors of society, and calls on all right-wing parties, Yamina and New Hope in particular, to rise above all other considerations and joint a fully rightwing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu,” he said. If Yamina leader Naftali Bennett decides to join Netanyahu’s coalition, he will be able to establish a right-wing government in the current Knesset, Netanyahu said on Monday. “If we get to 59 [Knesset seats], we’ll get to 61,” Netanyahu said, referring to the minimum number of mandates he would need to form a government. The March 23 election resulted in 52 mandates for Netanyahu and seven for Bennett. Netanyahu did not mention which other Knesset members from which parties would join the prospective government to give him the crucial 61 mandates.

Meanwhile, New Hope Party leader Gideon Sa’ar is reportedly “open” to joining a government led by Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid, if Lapid and Bennett strike a power-sharing deal and rotate the position of prime minister, Israeli media reported Monday. Sources close to Sa’ar told Kan 11 News that if Lapid is able to hammer together a coalition, but Bennett refuses to join in, “it’s just a left-wing government”—which Sa’ar will not join. Channel 13 News reported that Bennett is so far refusing to commit to ousting Netanyahu unless he is named the next prime minister, despite the fact he only won seven Knesset seats in the elections, compared to Lapid’s 17. The latter so far will not cede the premiership. According to Channel 12 News, Bennett told members of Yamina that he stands by his commitment to ensuring Israel does not head into a fifth election campaign in two years.

Biden administration to send $15 million in COVID relief to Palestinians

(JNS) U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced last week that the Biden administration will send $15 million in COVID-related humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. “With this assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development is supporting Catholic Relief Services’ COVID-19 response efforts in healthcare facilities and for vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza,” she told the U.N. Security Council on March 25 as part of its monthly briefing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The funds will also support emergency food programming as well. “This urgent, necessary aid is one piece of our renewed commitment to

the Palestinian people,” she said. “The aid will help Palestinians in dire need, which will bring more stability and security to both Israelis and Palestinians alike.” The Biden administration has vowed to restore U.S. ties with the Palestinians, which were largely severed under the Trump administration. The United States had largely cut off all aid to the Palestinian Authority under the Taylor Force Act, which prohibits funding to the Palestinians as long as they continue to provide stipends to imprisoned terrorists and their families. The money will not be transferred directly to the P.A., but through NGOs that work in the West Bank and the

Gaza Strip. Thomas-Greenfield also criticized the U.N. Security Council for its disproportionate focus on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. “There are other issues in the region that are threats to international peace and security and deserve more of this council’s attention,” she said. “Let me be clear,” she emphasized. “Not all criticism of Israel is illegitimate. But too often, that criticism veers dangerously into anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism, as with all forms of hate, works directly against the cause of peace. So we will vigorously oppose one-sided efforts.” The Democratic Majority for Israel CEO Mark Mellman applauded the

move by the Biden administration. “We welcome the Biden administration’s decision to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza to help them meet the urgent needs associated with COVID-19. In addition to supporting healthcare facilities, the aid will also provide emergency food assistance to vulnerable families. The aid will be provided by USAID which will work in coordination with Catholic Relief Services’ COVID-19 response efforts in the region,” said the group. “Importantly, the administration has taken care to ensure this relief effort complies with the Taylor Force Act which President Biden has committed to uphold,” it added.

Turkey ready to resume exchange of ambassadors with Israel, says Ankara official By Dean Shmuel Elmas JNS Turkey has made it clear to Israel that from its perspective it is ready to dispatch an ambassador to Tel Aviv once the Israeli government commits to simultaneously reciprocating the measure, a senior Turkish official told Israel Hayom. The main point of contention between the two former allies remains the presence of senior Hamas officials on Turkish soil. Following years of contentious relations, Turkey recently altered its foreign policy toward the region in general and Israel in particular. In December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that “Turkey wants to improve its relations with Israel. Our intelligence cooperation with Israel is ongoing.” This occurred some three weeks after his close confidant, former Admiral Cihat Yayci, proposed a shared maritime border deal with Israel, which was first reported by Israel Hayom. The trend continued earlier this month, when Dr. Hakan Yurdakul, a board member of the Turkish Presidency’s Committee for Economic Policies, attended a European Jewish Parliament conference focusing on a renewed agenda between the former allies. Israel is not the only country in the Middle East with which Ankara wants to rehabilitate and normalize relations. In Ankara’s efforts to normalize ties with Cairo, Turkish authorities on March 20 ordered

Istanbul-based TV channels affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to immediately stop airing criticism of Egypt. This could indicate that if Israel agrees to restore relations with Turkey, Erdoan’s government could work, to some extent or another, to remove or stifle the senior Hamas leaders residing in Istanbul. Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Contrary to Cairo’s official denial of rapprochement with Turkey, meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while speaking at a Likud campaign event in Bat Yam on March 10, confirmed that Israel was “engaged in talks with Turkey” about natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. At the event, Netanyahu also noted that Israel was holding fruitful talks with Egypt, Greece and Cyprus on the issue of exporting gas to Europe. “Turkey and Israel never severed their diplomatic ties, despite all the negative events over the years,” Karel Valansi, a political analyst for the T24 Turkish online newspaper, told Israel Hayom. “Both countries have managed to separate economics and politics, and have helped one another on humanitarian issues. The channels of dialogue are always open, such that it’s not easy for either country to give up on their relationship. With that, the relationship has suffered considerably, meaning political will and trust-building measures are needed for it to be rehabilitated,” she said. “Bilateral relations between the countries have al-

ways been sensitive in regards to the Palestinians,” Valansi added. “At the same time, the personal hostility between the two leaders is another limitation.” As for Turkey’s foreign policy, Valansi said, “Turkey’s growing isolation in the region and its strained relations with the United States are the catalysts for Ankara’s proposals to normalize relations with other countries in the region, including Israel.” According to Valansi, “Israel won’t ignore an opportunity to rehabilitate relations with Turkey, but it wants certainty as it pertains to Turkey’s intentions. Turkey used to be a vital economic, diplomatic and defense partner for Israel. With that, the situation today is different. While Turkish-Israeli relations have declined, Israel has strengthened its relations with many other countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. Ankara’s support for Hamas, its growing interest in Jerusalem and its foreign-policy shifts all mean Israel must act with caution.” Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, an expert on contemporary Turkish politics and foreign policy, told Israel Hayom: “The question isn’t whether Turkey wants to normalize relations with Israel or not; it’s whether it needs to—and it does. Turkey’s immediate interests require immediate alterations to its foreign policy regarding the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. Iran’s influence in the region is growing, and Turkey wants to curb this influence in Syria, just as Israel does.

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global news

Jews in the former Soviet Union eat pounds of matzah per person — the most in the world — every year. Here’s why.

By Cnaan Liphshiz JTA When it comes to consuming matzah, the Jews of the former Soviet Union are in a league of their own. At the top of the chart are Azerbaijan’s 8,000 Jews, who this year are expected to consume 10 tons of the unleavened bread cracker that Jews eat on the week of Passover to commemorate their ancestors’ hurried flight out of Egypt. That’s a provision of 2.7 pounds per person — a ratio that’s nearly three times what’s on stock for the average soldier in the Israeli army. In Russia, home to about 155,000 Jews, the rate of consumption is somewhat lower than in Azerbaijan, about 2.4 pounds per person. The ratio in the similarly sized Ukrainian Jewish community drops to about a pound of matzah per person, but that’s still higher than the average per Israeli soldier. “There’s a special emotional attachment to matzah here that you don’t find elsewhere because for decades under the anti-Semitic persecution of the communist years, Passover was probably the safest way to stay connected to Judaism,” Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, who was born in Italy, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “Pound for pound, Russian-speaking Jews buy much more matzah than what we know in other communities. A lot of people keep eating matzahs long after Passover.” Two matzah retailers told JTA that estimates for consumption in Western countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom, are difficult to make as those countries have multiple importers and producers. The supply in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries “is more centralized,” according to one of the retailers, Rabbi Meir Stambler. In Azerbaijan, Jews regularly stock up on matzah to consume for many months after Passover, said Zamir Isayev, the rabbi of the Georgian Jewish Community of the Azeri capital of Baku. Among his community of Mountain Jews, an ancient group that has lived in Central Asia for at least a millennium, “Passover is a time of great devotion, and eating matzah is part of it.” “Passover is a holiday that is celebrated inside the family and requires no special objects except the matzah, which is just a cracker. So it was relatively safe to practice,” Lazar said. The holiday’s message of deliverance from slavery also resonated especially with the oppressed Jews of the former Soviet Union. This year, Lazar’s Chabad-affiliated Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia for the first time sent out 30,000 sets of matzah and other staples of the seder meal to Jewish households due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas making matzah was legal under communism, Lazar said, the regulations on selling and storage made it impossible to keep its kosher for Passover certification. In Azerbaijan, Isayev said, “you could make the matzah, but were only allowed to sell it in a regular bakery. Next to the bread, which of course meant Jews couldn’t consume it as kosher.” To get kosher matzah, Jews across the former Soviet Union would come to underground supply points — typically private residences — for a few pieces. The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv had an under-

Workers knead dough at the Tiferet Hamatzot factory in Dnepro, Ukraine, Dec. 8, 2014. (Cnaan Liphshiz/JTA)

Matzahs travel on the production line of the Tiferet Hamatzot factory in Dnepro, Ukraine, Dec. 8, 2014. (Cnaan Liphshiz/JTA) ground matzah bakery that operated secretly for four decades until the 1990s. The oven was built by a Jewish engineer. Patrons would bring their own little paper bag of matzah flour and the staff would use it to bake the matzah. The bakery has since been modernized and expanded under Ukrainian Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov

Bleich. Until 2014, it supplied 200 tons of matzah annually, mainly to Russian-speaking countries. But demand plummeted that year following the territorial conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has paralyzed bilateral trade. Russia has its own matzah factory, but “it’s never enough and we need to import from Israel,” Lazar said. Dnepro, a city in eastern Ukraine, has another factory, Tiferet Hamatzot, that specializes in shmurah matzah, a handmade product that some Jews favor because of the strict kosher standards of its production. “I think there’s a special pride and satisfaction that goes into getting matzah here,” the city’s chief rabbi, Shmuel Kamenetsky, told JTA. In Dnepro, many local Jews buy matzah, which in the former Soviet Union is available only in a handful of kosher stores and at synagogues, “to give it to their non-Jewish friends as something exotic and interesting,” Kamenetsky said. The late Lubavitcher rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, often recalled how his father, Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, who lived in Dnepro, clashed with Soviet authorities over matzah. The elder Schneerson obtained permission to produce kosher matzah. “But it made him enemies, and that’s the reason he was arrested ultimately,” Kamenetsky said. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was exiled from Dnepro in 1939 and died in Kazakhstan in 1944. “Ultimately, Russian-speaking Jews risked their lives to have matzah,” Kamenetsky said. “So it’s no wonder they like it a little more than other Jews.”

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Streaming, Singing, + Stringing Another GREAT Season at The White Theatre

On-Demand Virtual Cabaret | April 11 - May 9 Fiddler In Concert offers you an on-demand, virtual cabaret featuring local singers and musicians playing the music you love from the beloved Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and many more!

Ends March 21 LAST CHANCE! Don’t miss out on this outrageous, crowdpleasing on-demand musical farce, that welcomes you into the Renaissance as two brothers try to one-up “The Bard” by creating the first-ever musical!

Apr. 7 - 14 A story of the healing power of love amidst conflict, loss and trauma. This film reveals the healing process of Holocaust survivors through the eyes of a young girl in postWorld War II Hungary.

Box Office: (913) 327.8054 5801 W. 115th Street, Overland Park

May 30 Our first-ever Memorial Weekend Outdoor Concert honoring our veterans, those who went before us, and those that have impacted our lives, featuring Kinnor Philarmonic.

More great shows:

TheWhiteTheatre.org

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

April 1, 2021

commentary

Longstanding local agreement covers weddings during ‘semi-mourning’ that starts during Passover By Rabbi J. Herbert Mandl Kehilath Israel Synagogue Orthodox, Traditional and Conservative Jews refrain from celebrating joyous occasions, including weddings, during certain days of the seven-week period between the second day of Passover and Shavuot known as the sefirat haomer or “the counting of the omer.” This tradition goes back to the second century when a plague killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students. In addition to that, many other calamities befell the Jewish people during the spring time period we are discussing. The Crusades, the Inquisition were all at their height around Easter season adding more reason with hundreds of thousands of more deaths to have a period of semi-mourning in the spring months. It is even more appropriate today, with all the evil talk,

anger, and racism that we deal with in our country, that we observe a period of semi-mourning to remind us to improve our behavior. Joyous occasions are usually banned during this period because the “counting of the omer” has evolved into a semimourning period for Jews. Originally an agricultural observance, “counting of the omer” is referred to in the Torah in two ways — as an agricultural observance where the first grain harvest was brought at the beginning of Passover, and as the actual counting of the 49 days between Passover and Shavout. All this came to mind as I recalled the effort many years ago to establish a community-wide agreement on holding weddings during the omer. The policy was developed through the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City in early 1990, and it remains in place today. The Rabbinical Association developed the policy because several of the newer rabbis in the community wanted such a clarification. I had experienced firsthand the problems of having dif-

ferent rules in different congregations when I was asked to officiate a wedding involving families from both Kehilath Israel and BIAV in the 1980s. I wrote about the policy for The Chronicle when the association adopted it, but because so many years have passed since then, I thought it worthwhile to remind our community of the existence of the policy and the reasoning behind it. Here is what I wrote for The Chronicle back then: Not every one of the 49 days is considered a day of mourning. There are basically three main ways in which the omer is observed. The law required that there be 33 days of prohibition of joyous events. What it doesn›t clearly state is which 33 days. An exception to this policy would be whether or not to perform a wedding on Israel Independence Day, should that day fall in the 33-day period in which celebrations are banned. The Rabbinical Association has decided to let rabbis decide individually whether or not they

will perform weddings on that day. Even though most Reform congregations will perform weddings for members of their congregations during the omer period, the local pulpit Reform rabbis, all of whom are members of the Rabbinical Association, have agreed not to perform weddings for members of the Orthodox, Conservative or Traditional congregations who might seek them out during this time period. Since which of the 49 days of the omer are prohibited are not clearly stated, it has become custom for the chief rabbi of the area to determine which days joyous celebration shall be prohibited. According to the book “Mid America’s Promise: A profile of Kansas City Jewry” edited by Dr. Joseph Schultz, there hasn’t been a chief rabbi in Kansas City since the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s when Rabbi Simon Glazer, Rabbi Yehudah Braver, and Rabbi Tibor Stern all served in that position at one time or another. Rabbi Mandl is rabbi emeritus at Kehilath Israel Synagogue

book review

Corporon book shares grief and remarkable hope

By Barbara Bayer A book reviewer is supposed to attract the reader’s interest in learning the story by way of the book. Most readers of The Chronicle will already know the basic story shared in Mindy Corporon’s tome, “Healing a Shattered Soul: My Faithful Journey of Courageous Kindness after the Trauma and Grief of Domestic Terrorism,” or are at least familiar with it. A white supremacist murdered three people who he thought were Jewish on April 13, 2014, outside of two Jewish institutions in Overland Park. Two of those three people were Dr. William Lewis Corporon and his 14-year-old grandson Reat Griffin Underwood, who were murdered in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Campus. A short time later Terri LaManno was slain in the parking lot of Village Shalom. That’s the story the public knows. What we don’t know is how Mindy and her family managed to live “through the eye of a hurricane and land standing,” while keeping their faith. Mindy has captured all that and more in her memoir. The book is currently available for preorder through her website, mindycorporon.com. It will soon be available locally at Rainy Day Books as well as through online retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Walmart. As Jews, we were painfully aware that two Christians and a Catholic were murdered by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Mindy’s family found themselves at the

Jewish Community Campus that day because Reat wanted to audition for KC SuperStar, the Jewish Community Center’s annual fundraiser and Kansas City’s premiere high school singing competition. In the book, Mindy notes that she grew up in the Bible Belt in Oklahoma, not the “Torah Belt,” and she didn’t know much about Judaism or know many Jewish people growing up. That’s not the case today and readers will recognize several Jewish people quoted in the book including Rabbis Jonathan Rudnick and Arthur Nemitoff, and Jacob Schreiber, former executive director of The J. I think it’s fair to say the Jewish community has adopted the Corporon family and works closely with the foundation that was created because of the events of that horrible day: the Faith Always Wins Foundation and its flagship event, SevenDays, Make a Ripple, Change the World. SevenDays provides opportunities for all people to increase kindness through knowledge, mindset and behavior. There’s much to learn in this book about how Mindy copes as a mother, daughter, wife, sister and co-worker after such a senseless tragedy. In addition to learning how to live day by day without one of her sons and her father, Mindy also had to learn how to respond to other people’s reaction to the hate crime and the fact that Christians were killed instead of Jews. “No one should have been murdered. My family and I hold true to this statement. There was no reason for anyone to lose their lives because of ‘an idiot with a gun,’ ” Mindy writes. The book, much like the funeral director has said about the service for Dr. Corporon and Reat, is “uplift-

ing and heartbreaking at the same time.” And as you can imagine, it’s not always easy to read about someone’s pain, especially if it’s someone you may know. The largest focus of the book is Mindy’s faith. She writes, “When I speak publicly, people often ask, ‘How are you so strong?’ My answer is simple … faith. I truly believe heaven is all around me, mostly because I feel it. My father and Reat are with me, often all around me. I have no doubt. Their presence is tangible. Miraculously, this realization allows me to put one foot in front of the other each day.” Mindy’s entire world changed in just a split second on that fateful day. Her life purpose changed from guiding people financially as co-founder of a wealth management firm to helping people find space to learn about their differences and discover commonalities. Now she spends her days focused on Workplace Healing, LLC; the Faith Always Wins Foundation; SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World and the “Real Grief—Real Healing with Mindy Corporon” podcast. None of these entities existed in 2013. All were created “from the shattered pieces” of her soul, “blown up by hate on April 13, 2014.” One of the book’s dedications is to “those hurting, sorrowful and filled with anguish.” Mindy writes “there is a healing path for you. Keep seeking the peace you deserve.” This book gives the reader a glance at the path Mindy continues to find the peace she deserves. I found the memoir to be interesting and insightful and I highly recommend it. Barbara Bayer is the former editor of The Chronicle

reader’s forum THE TIECHTELS DESERVE PRAISE My husband and I loved reading the beautifully written article by Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, marking the 15-year anniversary of his arrival in Lawrence to start the Chabad House at KU with his wife, Nechama. (“A trip down memory lane … what a journey,” March 18). We learned about KU Chabad via our

son Michael. His excitement and enthusiasm for their programming, Shabbat dinners, study sessions, total acceptance in a judge-free environment, piqued our curiosity. Then we visited and realized the students’ attraction to Rabbi Zalman and Nechama. They made each student feel good about themselves, and their main goal is to joyously engage students in Jew-

ish activity. That could be a study session, coffee with either one of them, helping cook dinners, attending Shabbat dinners, de-stressing, popping into High Holiday services in between classes ... however the students choose engagement. The Tiechtels remember everyone’s name too .... so important to a student away from home. Three years ago, we

stopped in before the KU-WV game; there’s a photo wall boasting 20 wedding pictures of students who’ve met their beshert because of KU Chabad, including our son! Rabbi Zalman and Nechama truly make KU Chabad a home away from home for students. Susan and Allen Lebovitz Prairie Village, Kansas

April 1, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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obituaries GERALD F. BAYER Gerald F. Bayer of Northbrook, Illinois, died suddenly Thursday, March 25, at age 91. Jerry was born in Chicago on June 12, 1929, the son of Adolph and Eleanor Levy Bayer. His father died when he was very young and he was raised by his mother with the help of his Aunt Mary and Uncle Moe, who Jerry cared for as if they were his parents. As a youngster, Jerry was proud to be a Columbus Park Bulldog and participated in many sports. Following graduation from Austin High School, which was and still is the largest high school in the world, Jerry attended Wilbur Wright City of Chicago Junior College. From there he moved on to the University of Colorado at Boulder on a football scholarship. When that adventure ended after a year, Jerry transferred to Roosevelt University in Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce in 1950. Following graduation Jerry worked as a junior accountant in a small CPA firm while studying for and passing the CPA exam. He eventually became the co-founding partner of Bayer, Kolof and Lev, where he worked until he retired in his early 60s. A respected accountant, Jerry served as president of the Illinois CPA Society and on the board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In late 1956 Jerry met the love of his life, Joan Mae, and they married on June 16, 1957. The first of their four sons was born 17 months later and they celebrated many happy occasions during their 63-plus years of marriage. Jerry was extremely proud of his sons’ participation in Boy Scouts and the fact that all four boys earned the rank of Eagle Scout. While he worked primarily in downtown Chicago, he and Joan Mae spent the majority of their married life living in the northern suburbs of Skokie and Northbrook. A member of Temple Sholom in Chicago, Jerry served as head usher on the High Holidays for many years and was an “honorary and lifetime member” of the synagogue’s board of directors. Jerry was an avid newspaper reader and especially enjoyed reading The Chicago Tribune. He was a loyal Chicago Bears fan and longtime season ticket holder. In his retirement years Jerry and Joan Mae escaped the cold Chicago winters for the Florida sunshine. There they enjoyed watching the ocean, sitting by the pool, golfing and bocce ball, giving Jerry his first ever bocce ball championship. He was a member of several men’s clubs where he relished the opportunity to be with friends and hear interesting speakers. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, his oldest son Alan, his brother Todd, and Aunt Mary and Uncle Moe. Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan Mae; his three sons and their spouses: David and Barbara Bayer, Overland Park, Kansas; Joel and Renay Bayer, Chicago; and Richard and Hollie Bayer; Napa, California; daughter-in-law Pam Bayer, Los Altos, California; and six grandchil-

dren: Matthew, Rachel, Michael, Sam, Daniel and Madison. Graveside services and burial were held Tuesday, March 30, at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The family suggests memorial contributions in Jerry’s honor be sent to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. DAVID BRIAN GERSON David Gerson of Kansas City, Missouri, lost his year-long battle with leukemia on March 24, 2021. He passed at home surrounded by his loving family. David was born Dec. 16, 1964, to Kurt and Barbara Gerson. He attended Shawnee Mission East High School and Ohio University, then later obtained his master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas. He spent his life caring for others as a social worker, philanthropist, volunteer, husband and father. He started his career in the family business and developed into a skilled entrepreneur and compassionate social worker. He lived life to the fullest through his love for music, theater, art, travel, nature, good food, good friends and, of course, his family. Throughout his life he exemplified the values of his Jewish faith and worked hard to pass on those values to his children. David is survived by his loving wife and soulmate, Christine Holland-Gerson of the home; his son, Levi (Emily) Gerson of Denver; his daughter, Tess Gerson of Chicago; his sisters, Debbie (Kerry) Lindenbaum of Leawood and Linda Gerson of Santa Cruz, California, as well as his nephew Alex Potvin of Denver. He was preceded in death by his parents. David’s love and generous spirit touched the lives of many, and he will be deeply missed by countless friends and family. Private family services were held on Friday, March 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society or Jewish Family Services. Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel. com. Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211. TWYMAN PIERRE HAMPSHIRE Twyman Pierre Hampshire (Ty), aged 73, passed away March 12, 2021, at University of Kansas Medical Center. “Ty” as he was known, was born Aug. 22, 1947, in Peoria, Illinois. He was predeceased by his father Twyman Joseph Hampshire and his mother Lilian (Rene) Hampshire Ninke. Ty grew up in Overland Park and later moved to Joplin, Missouri. He graduated from Joplin High School. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam era. He married and had two children, Jennifer Rene Hamp-

shire (Rhodey) and Jason Twyman Hampshire. He worked as a salesman in the credit card industry for 30 years, retiring in 2019. He met Anita Beth Cohen in June1997 and they married in October of 1998. Ty was a most loving and generous husband, and was a devoted father to Anita’s daughter Mia Anne Rosado and nephew Michael Edward Cohen. Ty loved fishing, boating on Table Rock Lake and the Kansas City Chiefs. He greatly enjoyed seeing the world with Anita, particularly Scotland. At 16, Ty became an Eagle Scout and later when raising Michael was a great source of guidance and leadership in Boy Scouts. Among those in the Scouting community, Ty will be remembered as someone who was always available to help anyone who needed his aid. He served as an assistant Cub Master for Troop 438 and then for Troop 347 in the Heart of America Council. He was a Warrior, Silver-Black Wolf in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Ty cared very deeply for children and was a Youth Friends volunteer in the Independence School District, mentoring children for several years. He was on the board as president of Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City for five years and was devoted to its membership. His connection with Judaism gave him great joy and purpose, together with his friendship with Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn. Ty is survived by his wife Anita and her daughter Mia Anne Rosado and his nephew Michael Edward Cohen of Lee’s Summit; daughter Jennifer Rhodey and her husband Cliff Rhodey of Plano, Texas; son Jason Hampshire of Hot Springs, Arkansas; sister Margie Barbato and brother-in-law Larry Barbato of Springfield, Missouri, and their children and grandchildren; granddaughter Megan Samora; grandson Matthew Rhodey; and granddaughter Monica Vaughn. The family wishes to thank Ty’s cardiac team at KU Medical Center for their expert and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association and Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City. Gratitude to Julie Walter-Davis, service manager of Neptune Society for her compassion and empathy at this difficult time. BURTON L. JACOBS On Oct. 28, 1932, God sent one of his brightest lights down to earth, Burton Jacobs. He was welcomed into a loving family with his mother Edith, father Maurice and brother Lawrence. Burt would always talk about his memories growing up, and all the wonderful times he shared with all of his relatives, including his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He grew up on the North side of Chicago, but one 4th of July, on a trip to Nippersink, Wisconsin, Burt crossed paths with the love of his life,

Barbra Kaufman. They were married March 3, 1963, and lived in Kansas City. They would bring into the world two beautiful daughters, Ellyn and Kim Jacobs. One of Burt’s biggest senses of pride and enjoyment came from owning and operating Maslan’s Women’s clothing stores located in Kansas City, Kansas. He would often reminisce about the people he met in those years and the adventures he would have. In the late 1980s he moved on to a new business venture as an owner and distributor for Pepperidge Farm. As the years went on Burt would retire and find a new role as the grandfather to Dakota Hood and Desiree´ Porter. Burt was as perfect a human as God could create. Through every moment of his life he gave every last bit of himself to the ones he loved without ever looking for anything in return. In his wife’s final years battling cancer he would sleep by her bedside in a nursing home. He cared for her like no other until the day she died. Burt loved to spend time going to South Florida from the time he was a child visiting his Aunt Henrietta in Miami Beach. Eventually, he would visit his parents who moved there in the ’60s. As fate would have it, he would later purchase a condominium right across the intercoastal water from where his beloved parents once lived. He enjoyed spending the summers and winters there soaking in the sun, eating Jewish food and talking around the pool. Burt was a people person and could talk and charm the best of them. He loved Jewish culture and the community that surrounded him. As he grew older his trips to Florida became more infrequent, but it should be known he spent almost all of the year 2020 getting to enjoy Florida once again. Burt spent his last few days at home, with his family, in the company of the ones he loved the most. On March 25, 2021, God asked for his light to be returned, as he passed peacefully in his sleep. We imagine that Dad is right now with his family, and all those who passed before him. They are in Miami Beach having a beautiful Passover dinner, laughing, smiling and sharing all the memories of a life that he would say himself couldn’t have been lived any better. Burt was entombed next to his wife in the Rose Hill Mausoleum on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Burt leaves behind his daughters, Ellyn Jacobs and Kimberly Jacobs; granddaughter, Desiree´ Porter; and his precious grandson who he loved with all his heart and soul, Dakota Hood. Finally, this tribute can never end without also saying how much he loved his dear Aunt Inez Kaufman, and his very best friend and companion Joyce Bratman. In lieu of flowers we ask for donations to the charity of one’s choice. Although you are gone dear sweet man your light will forever shine in our memories and hearts for all the days of our lives. Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211. See page 16

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April 1, 2021

his sister Delores and his brother Donald. His immediate family is all deceased. His close cousin Devora Molitor of St. Paul, Minnesota, survives him. Arnold was a proud graduate of Boone High School. He met Patsy Gutovitz, the love of his life, at a Young Adults function at the Jewish Community Center. They got married shortly after. Arnold was very handy, and he enjoyed fixing things around their home and taking care of the yard. Most recently Arnold resided with his wife at Delmar Gardens of Overland Park. They enjoyed a loving marriage of nearly 50 years.

Arnold was a Royals fan. He enjoyed watching baseball games on TV and spending time with Patsy. He also enjoyed visiting with family and friends. Arnold is survived by his wife and best friend Patsy Gutovitz Probin; his sister-in-law, Toby Gutovitz Levine (David); and brother-in-law Sammy Gutovitz (Susan). Other survivors include nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. We will always remember Arnold’s patience, kindness and love. Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.

obituaries ARNOLD STANLEY PROBIN Arnold Probin passed away Feb. 25, 2021, at Overland Park Regional Hospital. A private family service was held on Feb. 26, 2021. Arnold Probin was born on Oct. 29, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Kansas City in 1947 with his parents Lillian and Barney Probin,

Polish woman who doted over Jewish boy she rescued from the Holocaust dies at 101 Anna Kozminska, a Polish woman who rescued a Jewish boy from the Holocaust, has died. She was 101. Kozminska, who was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations – Israel’s title for non-Jews who saved Jews from the Holocaust — died last week, the Polin Jewish museum in Warsaw wrote Monday on Facebook. She was among the world’s oldest people. In September 1942, when the Germans began destroying the Czestochowa ghetto near Krakow, Kozminska and her late stepmother, Maria, took in and hid in their home 8-year-old Abraham Jablonski, who had escaped from the ghetto with the help of relatives who were already in hiding.

Abraham had spent days hiding in barns and feeding on scraps at night to avoid detection when his uncle secured a hiding place for him at the Kozminskas. Maria and Anna “looked after Abraham devotedly, saw to all his needs, made him feel safe, and raised his spirits when he was feeling low,” the file about them in Yad Vashem reads. They also saw to his education, “taught him to read and write, and at great personal risk, took him occasionally for walks outside.” Kozminska’s apartment also served intermittently as a temporary shelter for a Jewish refugee by the name of Rubinsztain as well as two women,

Stefa and her daughter Rita. Abraham Jablonski stayed in his hiding place until January 1945, when the area was liberated by the Red Army. After the war

he immigrated to Israel. The Kozminskas consistently declined any payment or compensation for their actions.

Submitting obituaries to The Chronicle All members of the Kansas City Jewish community are encouraged to share the obituaries of their loved ones in The Chronicle. The Chronicle does not charge for this service. Please limit your submissions to one photo and 750 words. Email your submissions to mikes@jewishkc.org

Chag Pesach Sameach