05-20-21 Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, Volume 102, Issue 20 by jewish-kc

Volume 101, Number 20 www.kcjc.com May 20, 2021 9 Sivan 5781

jewish chronicle The KANSAS

CITY

‘He absolutely loves it’:

Member of local Jewish community thrives at ice cream shop employing people with special needs By Jerry LaMartina Contributing Writer Everybody can use an ice cream now and then. And everybody benefits from a welcoming workplace. That’s the idea — with a twist — behind The Golden Scoop, a nonprofit ice cream and coffee shop at 9540 Nall Ave. in the Nall Hills Shopping Center in Overland Park. The Golden Scoop employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in “an environment where our employees are mentored, inspired and equipped to succeed in their jobs and their lives,” according to the shop’s website (thegoldenscoop.org). Sisters Amber Schreiber and Lindsay Krumbholz, along with Michelle Reeves, co-founded the shop, which they opened April 14 after about three years of preparation. Hank Wolf started working at the shop shortly after it opened. He lives in Leawood and has Down Syndrome. He’s 20 years old and a graduate of Blue Valley North High School. Hank attends school every weekday at Blue Valley North’s 18-to-21 program and works at The Golden Scoop after school on Wednesdays, said his father, Paul Wolf. “I do have fun working there,” Hank said. “I love working there because I love giving back to the community, and I love ice cream.” Paul, who is Jewish, learned of The Golden Scoop on Facebook. His wife, June Wolf, emailed the shop

Hank Wolf works the cash register at The Golden Scoop with some assistance from Lindsay Krumbholz, a co-founder of the Overland Park ice cream store, which employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Paul and June Wolf)

asking about job opportunities for Hank. They said Hank would need to send a resume and interview in person. The Wolfs, both Kansas City-area natives, made a video resume of Hank and sent it to the shop. He interviewed a few days later. He took the interview without his parents in the room. He was a little nervous — who isn’t during a job interview? — “but Hank’ll talk to anybody,” his father said. “He loosened up once it got started. Hank is a workforce veteran. His first job was at a TJ Maxx store in California, hanging up clothes a couple of hours a week. When the family returned to the Kansas City area, he bagged groceries at a Price Chopper. His job at The Golden Scoop is his first in more than a year, and he’s happy to be working again. “He absolutely loves it,” his father said. “He looks forward to every Wednesday. Loves being around people. He’s a salesman. He gets people to try all the flavors. … He’ll come home and tell us what he did.” Twenty-two people with disabilities work at the shop, Krumbholz said. The shop’s founders are “a godsend for all these families, not just us,” Paul said. Having Hank work was the Wolfs’ goal since he was a child, his father said. Their thinking was “let’s get him acclimated, self-sufficient, employed and move on to adulthood a little bit.” The Wolfs have always wanted Hank to be part of See NONPROFIT, PAGE 8

‘It looks dire but I’m hopeful’:

Jewish and Arab coexistence activists respond to the violence in Israel’s streets

By Ron Kampeas JTA

Last week was not easy for Lama Abuarqoub, a Palestinian from the West Bank who has worked for years to build understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. A teacher and mother of five, Abuarqoub speaks regularly with Jews through Encounter, a group that brings Jewish Americans on tours of the West Bank to meet Palestinians. She also been active in efforts to bring Jewish and Palestinian women together to push for peaceful coexistence. Yet on May 12, she was thinking not about peace but about the current

conflict, posting on her Facebook page pictures of two Palestinian youths, one from near her village, who she said were killed this week by Israeli soldiers. It was a sign of how quickly her hopes had fallen. “My first thought was that we’ve been working years and years for building bridges between the two people, for trying to make peace,” she said, referring to her feelings after the night of May 10, the first night of Hamas rocket attacks and Israeli retaliatory bombings. “And it took us years to take, like, three steps forward, and in one night — 10 steps backward.” Those few nights were indeed grim for Abuarqoub and others who work

for a shared society in Israel, as weeks of clashes in Jerusalem have given way to a heated, lethal conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that has spilled over into the streets of many Israeli cities. On May 11, Arab protesters in Lod, an Arab-Jewish city in central Israel, burned synagogues, shops and cars. There were raucous Arab protests in other cities as well. On May 12, crowds of Jewish protesters took to the streets chanting “Death to Arabs” and vandalizing Arab-owned stores. Jews and Arabs in different cities were sent to the hospital with injuries, including one Arab man beaten brutally by Jewish rioters on live TV. And on the night of May 12, the Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom reported that one of its fleet had been attacked in Lod while providing first aid to somebody there. The unrest continued on the night of May 13 in Israel as well, as a police officer was shot in the Arab-Jewish

city of Ramle. For those who have worked to build ties between Israel’s Arabs and Jews, the scenes offered a stark contrast to others that grabbed headlines over the last year. During the pandemic, visible cooperation between Arab and Jewish first responders and medical staff helped propel within Israel the notion that shared society could work, according to Mickey Gitzin, the Israel director of the New Israel Fund, a group that helps fund a number of coexistence groups. “There was a feeling we were going forward,” Gitzin said. Instead of simply advancing broad notions of equality, NIF recently introduced programs advocating for increased Arab leadership in the public sector. The outbreak of violence, he said, exposed the fragility of the shared society enterprise. “We feel that we’re very successful,” Gitzin said. “And all of a sudden, that See HOPES, PAGE 8

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May 20, 2021

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KU Chabad leaders offer graduates a recipe for fulfilling life By Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel Chabad at KU Congratulations! Here is our message to you, our dear graduates, derived from the making of...a pot of Cholent! The first step is to fill the crock pot to the brim with potatoes. Now that the pot seems full, pour in a bag of beans and watch how they manage to slip right between the spaces. Add a bag of barley, and observe how the small kernels meander effortlessly between the cracks and crevices. Schlep out your collection of spices and pour generous amounts of salt, pepper, and paprika all over. Isn’t it quite neat how the spices easily settle into what had seemed to be a completely full pot? Finally, pour a jug of water into the pot. What a surprise! The entire jug fit right in without a drop spilling over the sides. All that’s left is for you to lower your finger and flick the switch, turning on the heating element lying beneath. You just filled the pot with the most important ingredient of all — warmth. Without it, the pot may as well be empty. Our dear graduates, you are about to move on to the big world where you will

Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel no longer have the luxury of studying all day. In time you will be consumed by the pressures of staying afloat and making a living. But always remember this: your material pursuits are just the potatoes and beans of life. Your spirituality is the warmth. Until the fire is turned on, the pot is full of disparate ingredients. It is the warmth that unites them all into one single Cholent. If you don’t maintain a spiritual connection and keep focused on the true meaning of your lives, then you will end up as a cold stew — very busy, very full, but completely empty. When you have lost touch with your soul, your family life will suffer and your career will be unfulfilled.

But if you keep the fire burning in your soul, it will bring warmth and inspiration to all your other activities. A spiritual connection imbues your entire life with meaning, keeps you anchored and directed, inspired and motivated. It permeates all you do with a sense of purpose, and makes you succeed. You may be wondering how will you have time for all this? You will find the answer by looking to the stew. Did you notice that though the pot seemed full of potatoes and beans, barley, spices and water, when you added the warmth it did not overflow? Never think that adding spirituality to your schedule will overburden you. On the contrary, it will bring everything else in your life together, because it will remind you why you do all these other things in the first place. Spirituality is the warmth that does not take up space, it creates more. You should never think that you are so busy that you can’t afford to concentrate on your soul. The truth is, you can’t afford not to. May G-d bless you that each and every one of you should always be a warm pot of Cholent. Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel are co-directors of KU Chabad

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Holding two truths, and two emotions, at once By Adam Tilove Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

5801 W. 115th St., Ste. 201 Overland Park, KS 66211 Office hours by appointment only. Phone: 913-235-4474 Circulation phone: 913-280-8515 Website: www.kcjc.com ©2020 Jewish Federation. All rights reserved.

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Editor’s note: This is republished from a message that Tilove shared with the HBHA community on May 14. This is an unusual message for me, as I have so much to celebrate — and mourn — this week. From a school perspective, we are able to take a moment, look around us, and celebrate all that we have accomplished at HBHA. From a global perspective, it is difficult to watch what is happening in Israel right now. But first, the joy: First and foremost, our school made it through the year without any major COVID outbreaks. While both children and adults in our school contracted the virus, thank God no one in our community became seriously ill. But there is so much more to be proud of: On Tuesday alone, I was able to watch our upper school students use trebuchets they built themselves in their conceptual physics and honors physics classes. One student team was able to launch a softball up to 44 meters! As tradition holds, the final launch

for each team was a water balloon, aimed at Todd Clauer, upper school principal and honors physics teacher and Cody Welton, Science Department chair and conceptual physics teacher. Standing in the middle of the landing field, Todd was thrilled that one of the trebuchets was so accurate, that the water balloon struck him right in the middle of his chest. It was a first in all the years he and Cody have worked on trebuchets with their students. Later in the day, a group of our 12th graders met with city council members from Lenexa to discuss issues of climate change — an ongoing effort through their Social Justice Project. And immediately following that, a tremendous number of people came to cheer on our girls varsity soccer team in the last game of the season (which they won); and the middle school girls soccer team (which they didn’t win, but who’s counting?). Again, all of these things happened in just one day at HBHA. It serves as a reminder that we are finishing this year as we finish every year: with pride in our students, with joyous celebration, and most important, as a community. As the administration begins reflecting on the year and discussing where we are and how far we’ve come, we were able to acknowledge the “class, courage, intelligence, and knowledge”

of our students. And we were able to celebrate that there were so many “engaged and happy families” present at the soccer games this week — one of the few events where parents have been able to join us this year. While it was, at times, a struggle this year, I think we can look back and let go of a sigh of relief that we made it to this moment. There’s even a prayer for moments like this: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu, laz’man hazeh. Blessed are you God, Sovereign of everything, who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this occasion! At the same time, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that our brethren in Israel are struggling right now, hunkered down in shelters from relentless rocket fire. It is hard to celebrate and mourn at the same time, but this is what we have to do. Hold two truths, and two emotions at once. So while we have praised God for helping us reach this moment, I would also like to quote the Prophet Isiah: “No more will violence be heard in your land, devastation nor destruction within your borders. But you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise.” Adam Tilove is HBHA head of school

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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community news

High school senior makes her mark volunteering with Jewish Family Services For Barstow senior Susanna King, making a difference in the world is part of her DNA — literally. Susanna remembers volunteering at the Jewish Family Services food pantry as a young child when she would come with her mother, Amanda Morgan, to lend a hand. “She taught me the values of tikkun olam when I was very little,” Susanna said. “As I got older, I knew that I wanted to participate in giving back on my own terms.” Her first philanthropic experience took place in third grade when Susanna organized a toy drive. She followed up with a bat mitzvah project benefitting the JFS food pantry. “For my project, my parents and I helped deliver food to homebound clients for a few months, and I organized and ran an activity with Machane Jehudah (a summer camp at The TempleCongregation B’nai Jehudah) to create cards to brighten these clients’ days. They received a nice note or holiday card from one of the campers when we delivered the food,” Susanna said. “I saw my direct impact on helping someone else and seeing them smile from the cards we made.” The daughter of Morgan and Chad King, Susanna is a busy high schooler but makes time to continue volunteering at JFS. “I started being a client shopper twice monthly during Tuesday evening and Sunday shifts. I had been working those shifts in the Kansas pantry from eighth grade until the pandemic when in-person client shopping paused,” she said. “During the pandemic, I have continued volunteering at Brookside and Kansas for the drive-thru pantries.”

Susanna King (left) often helps with Jewish Family Services’ community food drives as she did recently with Karen Massman VanAsdale, JFS marketing director, and volunteer Kylie Fisher. (Jewish Family Services) Susanna has managed to do all of this while following a rigorous academic schedule and participating in numerous school activities. President of Barstow’s Ambassadors Team, she has played on the school’s varsity soccer team and performs as a member of its varsity dance team. In addition, Susanna founded and serves as president of Barstow’s Jewish Student Union — the first in a Kansas City private school. The skills Susanna’s learned as the executive producer of Barstow’s stu-

dent news television show has spilled over to her JFS volunteer work. During the pandemic, Susanna filmed and created a video about JFS’ ongoing efforts to help people during the crisis. Her work with JFS provides Susanna with a strong link to Judaism. “Volunteering helps me connect to the message of tikkun olam, which has really guided me through my Jewishness. I think that’s what started me to volunteer and in part leads me to continue volunteering,” said Susanna. Susanna appreciates the intrinsic

value of volunteering at JFS. “It’s less of what I get out of it and more of how can I help someone else,” she said. “Maybe it’s finding the brand of soup they like or just sharing a smile. I really just want to make sure clients have the dignity of experience with JFS they’re looking for at the pantry.” “Susanna has touched the lives of so many in the various programs that she has volunteered in,” said Taly Friedman, director of volunteer engagement. “From collecting gifts for Hanukkah, to helping JFS launch the Sunshine Card program for her bat mitzvah, to providing support for older adults through JFS’ Calling Connections program this past year, JFS and our community have been so fortunate to have Susanna’s smile, positivity and helping hands.” A Leawood resident, Susanna has big plans after graduation, including attending Brandeis University in Boston. JFS holds a special place in her heart, she said, and she encourages others to consider volunteering for the organization. “I would 100% recommend volunteering for JFS. It’s a really great way to work with a team of volunteers and staff who really care about what we’re doing. The volunteer experience is wonderful,” Susanna said. “I think learning about how to give back as a teen can really set you up to find a way to continue that through life, and prioritize helping the community at a young age, which will make the world a better place as we grow up.” If you are interested in becoming a JFS volunteer, please contact JFS’ Volunteer Engagement Team at (913) 7301410 or volunteer@jfskc.org.

Jewish Experiences to host presentation on race in the Jewish community The community is invited to “Listening, Un-Learning + Re-Learning Race In The Jewish Community,” a virtual presentation starting at 7:30 p.m. June 2. Using principles from psychology and sharing stories from her own experience as a black American Jewish woman, Buffie Longmire-Avital, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the African & African American Studies program at Elon University, will lead this conversation on what it means to have a racial identity within the Jewish community. She and her husband, Nadav, are an interracial and bicultural couple. He is from Israel; Longmire-Avital was born in Boston. She converted to Judaism in 2008 and recently celebrated her bat mitzvah via Zoom. Longmire-Avital will provide an understanding of where the concept of race in America stems from, the im-

can exist within Jewish spaces. This presentation, moderated by Laura Belozer, a diversity, equity and inclusion advocate, will discuss how and why implicit bias influences our actions and thoughts, along with a framework to help create and sustain inclusive and equitable space for all who enter and engage with the Jewish community.

This event is presented by Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and The J, in partnership with JCRB | AJC Kansas City. On the event committee are Lindsey and Zach Bassin, Rachel Rubin, Josh Hoffman and Jeramy Zimmerman. Visit TheJKC.org/RaceInJewishKC to register.

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community news

celebrations

Kehilath Israel announces 22nd annual golf tournament

BAR MITZVAH

Ezra Jacobs Dr. Jonathan and Sherri Jacobs announce the bar mitzvah of their son, Ezra Jacobs, on May 29 at Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner. Ezra is the grandson of Rosalyn and Howard Jacobson, and of Dr. Judy Gondos Jacobs and the late Dr. David S. Jacobs. His siblings are Rachel, Avi, Ariel. Ezra is a Scout in Troop 61, plays saxophone, plays soccer, and does woodworking. Ezra is raising money and helping out with Care Beyond the Boulevard, an organization that provides medical care to homeless people in Kansas City. BAT MITZVAH

Rachel Jacobs Dr. Jonathan and Sherri Jacobs announce the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Rachel Jacobs, on May 27 at Village Shalom. Rachel is the granddaughter of Rosalyn and Howard Jacobson, and of Dr. Judy Gondos Jacobs and the late Dr. David S. Jacobs. Her siblings are Ezra, Avi, and Ariel. Rachel is in Scout Troop 6792, plays piano, soccer, and accordion. She is in seventh grade at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. BAT MITZVAH Maggie Goldberg Dan and Kim Goldberg announce the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Margaret

May 20, 2021

(Maggie) Beatrice Goldberg, on May 29 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Maggie is the granddaughter of Greg and Trudie Goldberg. Her sibling is Ethan Goldberg. Maggie enjoys playing volleyball, cross country, and track and field. She takes jazz dance and loves music and art. For her mitzvah project, to help the environment, Maggie along with her cousin Gracie, put together Knaidle kits for their Kesher class to make and distribute in hopes to reseed and bring native plants back to our local ecosystem. BAT MITZVAH Mardy Martin, Larry Haith, of blessed memory, and K.I.’s Rabbi Moshe Grussgott enjoy lunch before the golf tournament in a previous year. (Kehilath Israel)

Gracie Goldman Lauren and Stuart Goldman announce the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Gracie Goldman, on May 29 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Gracie is the granddaughter of Rene Goldman and the late Thomas Goldman, and Trudie and Greg Goldberg. Her sibling is Natalie Goldman. Gracie loves to participate in sports and competes in cheer, gymnastics, track and cross-country. She is an avid reader and loves art. Gracie is going to be a counselor at Machane Jehudah this summer. For her mitzvah project, she and her cousin put together a seed “knaidel” (ball) project for their Kesher classmates. The goal was to reseed the prairie restoration area at Shawnee Mission Park with native grasses and wildflowers.

Submitting celebrations to The Chronicle The Chronicle welcomes announcements of lifecycle events. Bar/Bat Mitzvah announcements should be submitted no later than three weeks before the event. The notice will run with the photo one week before the event. The Chronicle also marks anniversaries, births, engagements, and weddings. The deadline for all these submissions is 5 p.m. Tuesday for the following week’s Thursday paper. Online submission forms are available here (https://www.kcjc.com/index.php/celebrations). Follow the arrow to the right of each celebration in the dropdown box to access the form. You can also email editor Mike Sherry at mikes@jewishkc.org to receive a hard-copy of the submission form via email. We ask that you use the hard-copy form as a template and then submit the information electronically to Mike Sherry via email.

Kehilath Israel Synagogue will host its 22nd annual Allan Greenberg Memorial Kehilath Israel Golf Tournament on June 7 at the Deer Creek Golf Club. Richard Glass is chairing the event. This year’s tournament is dedicated to the memory of Larry Haith. He was an avid supporter of the synagogue and loved the golf tournament. He brought in supporters and teams, played, volunteered, and was our “cheerleader.” He is deeply missed. With golf as the main event, the day also includes a kosher boxed lunch, silent auction, prizes, snacks and drinks throughout the day. Check-in lunch begins at 11:00 a.m, with a shotgun start at 12:15 p.m. The golf format is a four-per-

son scramble (flighted). COVID safety measures will be followed. The silent auction also takes place throughout the day, offering a wide variety of items. Participants will have the opportunity to take home wine, jewelry, beauty products, sports items, gift cards and more. The cost is $175 per player, which includes all the day’s activities. Sponsorship opportunities are available at levels ranging from $500 to $5,000. Sponsors are recognized in several ways at the tournament and throughout the year. For more information, contact Elizabeth Peden in the K.I. office at 913.642.1880, ext. 203, events@kisyn.org, or visit kisyn.org.

A celebration of life Paul Silbersher was a beloved rabbi, cantor, and Jewish leader in Kansas City for 40 years. He passed away on April 26, 2020, just as COVID began, leaving no chance for the ceremony he deserved. It is finally time to come together and give that to him, and to each other. Please bring your thoughts, memories, ideas, humor, and prayers, as together we tell the story of Paul. The event is scheduled for May 23 at 2pm in the social hall of The J, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, Kansas. For donations, it would be particularly meaningful if you could direct them to The J to fund a plaque and furniture setting that has been installed in his name in the main lobby. Paul loved sitting down and talking with people, so with your help, this space will always bear his mark in a place he called home. Contact alleyd@thejkc.org or 913-327-8001 to

Paul Silbersher make a donation. Due to basic safety protocols, attendance will be counted so to reserve a seat please RSVP by emailing silbersher@icloud.com.

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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community news

A celebration of Jewish learning at KU Chabad

KU students who participated in JewishU classes this semester are pictured at the Torah celebration. (KU Chabad) A group of KU students recently participated in a special graduation celebration. Unlike many other events at this time of the year, which mark academic achievements, this one was a celebration related to their personal growth. More than 50 students gathered to celebrate a semester of Torah learning as part of the JewishU program at KU. “The power of staying connected to the Jewish community is the most crucial component of Jewish continuity. It is a great gift to have a program like JewishU to help each student feel connected to the Jewish community and its heritage,” Eric Kaseff, a Kansas City Jewish leader and KU Chabad supporter, told students at the event. According to Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, KU Chabad co-director, for many young Jews today, their Jewish involvement consists of participating in various experiential Jewish opportunities. While Rabbi Tiechtel considers this integral to ensure continued involvement, the importance of engaging the mind in intellectual study and immersion in Jewish texts can’t be neglected. “Sadly, for most millennials, their Jewish learning ends at the bar and bat mitzvah phase,” he said. “The JewishU program is here to change that.” College students want to learn more about themselves, their history and their heritage but are often too busy to commit to extensive Jewish learning. To fulfill this need, Chabad at KU created JewishU, a program that offers a variety of opportunities for Jewish learning, decreased workload, quantifiable knowledge and valuable rewards. JewishU provides students with a platform to gain a comprehensive Jewish education alongside their standard college education. “JewishU provides an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Jewish learning and to explore core Jewish values and ideas,” said Nechama Tiechtel, KU Chabad co-

director and JewishU course leader. “It is amazing to see how much selfdiscovery and personal development that the students gain from participating in these discussions.” At the start of each semester, students can choose from five different courses, with each course linked to another track. This semester’s tracks included a mental health track, where they received in-depth training from mental health professionals and Torah scholars; a business school track, where they explored the topic of “How Success Thinks” from a Jewish angle; an Israel track, where they learned Israel advocacy and why we care; a graduate-student track; and a special track for the Jewish Greeks. Once students complete a course, they can then convert their class participation into scholarship funds towards further Jewish programming, or allocate their stipend to a favorite charity. Sophomore Suzi DeLay joined three JewishU courses this semester. “When I started taking these JewishU classes, I realized how easy and fulfilling it is to build a connection with my Judaism. Now I love studying Torah, and it has given me an outlet to feel secure with my faith and with myself which is a gift I can never appreciate enough,” she said. “I am forever thankful for this incredible opportunity of Jewish learning.” According to sophomore Maya Kamen, this semester’s JewishU coordinator, the Chabad House will have a mélange of students come together for Jewish fellowship and study on any given evening. Those attending have only one common denominator — they all want to learn more about what being Jewish means. JewishU is funded by a grant from Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, the Robinson Family Foundation and other generous donors. To learn more, visit JewishKU.com or contact KU Chabad at 785.832.8672.

SevenDays Others Day shares doctor’s moving story

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (second from right) was the featured speaker at the SevenDays Others Day event. (Seven Days) During SevenDays 2021 Make A Ripple Change the World, the Others Day program was dedicated to exploring the stories of others to gain more knowledge and understanding. This year’s feature speaker, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish shared his story of resilience after three of his daughters and a niece were killed during the 2009 Gaza War. Dr. Abuelaish, a Palestinian Canadian physician, created the Daughters for Life Foundation advancing health and educational opportunities for women and girls in the Middle East.

In addition to Dr. Abuelaish, other participants in the SevenDays program included: (from left) Haley Harrison, KMBC Channel 9 reporter and anchor; the Rev. Adam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection; Mindy Corporon, SevenDays/FaithAlways Wins Foundation founder; Dr. Abuelaish, and Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. The Others Day program can be watched on the SevenDays YouTube channel at bit.ly/3og01k3. For more information, please visit givesevendays.org.

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May 20, 2021

important dates Friday May 21 Candle-lighting time Sivan 10, 8:12 p.m. B’nai Jehudah Shabbat in the Park After a year hiatus, B’nai Jehudah is pleased to announce that our Shabbat in the Park series returns. We will begin tonight with Shabbat in Loose Park. Our homegrown service will feature our B’nai Jehudah members and friends who will lead us in a musical celebration of Shabbat. Mark your calendars now as we sit together (yet physically-distant in our social pods) celebrating Shabbat. You can also join us on Facebook or Vimeo http://facebook.com/TTCBJ or http://vimeo. com/bnaijehduah. Service Time: 6:00p.m.

Saturday May 22 Kehilath Israel Synagogue Pirkei Avot Ethics of Our Fathers taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. The widespread Jewish tradition is to study Pirkei Avot in the spring and summer months between Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. By internalizing its ethical teachings, we enter Rosh Hashanah with uplifted hearts and minds! Pirkei Avot Class is followed by Mincha and Parsha of the Week Class. 7:20 p.m. Kehilath Israel Synagogue Parsha of the Week Parsha of the Week Class with Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. Enhance Shabbat by gaining deeper understanding of the weekly Parsha. This class will be taught between Mincha and Maariv. Please note: Seudah Shlishit has not yet been reinstated due to COVID-19. 8:05 p.m. Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat This Shabbat, join Congregation Beth Torah to explore Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of Our Fathers. Please email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Sunday May 23 Dreams Never Dreamed Join B’nai Jehudah participants for a discussion on disability, leadership, and community building with Kalman Samuels, Founder and president of the Shalva National Center in Israel and author of Dreams Never Dreamed. Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Person’s with Disabilities, is dedicated to providing quality care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families and promoting social inclusion. Register in advance for this meeting: (https:// us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcod-2uqD8sGNWHZL9bd2CqRCbnDEtB6ikw). 10:00 a.m.

Monday May 24 Bikur Cholim Kavod v Nichum and Neshama: The Association of Jewish Chaplains and several other groups including Jewish Family Services of Kansas City are sponsoring an innovative program about Bikur Cholim — visiting and caring for the sick and vulnerable — Renewing Bikur Cholim in the Time of COVID-19 North American Conference. Prominent teachers and rabbis from across the country provide an educational forum and a venue for

exchange of ideas and concerns, assisting providers and volunteers in providing this essential service biweekly through May 10. For information about the Bikur Cholim conference and how to register, visit: jewish-funerals.org/2021-bikurcholim-conference/. If you are interested in becoming a spiritual caregiver and would like more information about this enriching program, contact JFS Volunteer Engagement at 913-730-1410 or volunteer@jfskc.org. 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. Collection Connection Get firsthand access to pieces in the Michael Klein Collection at B’nai Jehudah while enriching your own understanding of Jewish traditions. It’s truly a can’t miss experience! Bring your own piece of Judaica to share at the end of the tour. Different theme each month. Register here to receive the Zoom link: https:// us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAodO2trDMvHNxm3MSYR41675bL8vz0LTNZ 1 p.m.

Wednesday May 26 The Kansas City Public Library will also host a virtual author event around the new book, “Kidney to Share,” co-authored by Kansas City-area writers Martha Gershun and pediatrician and bioethicist Dr. John Lantos. The moderator will be Terry Rosell, Rosemary Flanigan Chair at the Center for Practical Bioethics. The RSVP link will be posted on the library website at https://kclibrary.org/signature-events. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join Lezlie Zucker to take a deep breath and sing some songs together! Mid-Week Song Session is streamed on our Facebook page (https://facebook.com/CongregationBethTorah) and our Virtual Sanctuary (https://bethtorah.org/virtual-sanctuary) 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Thursday May 27 Kehilath Israel Synagogue The Book of Ruth Fourth of Four-Part Series - The Book of Ruth taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott The Book of Ruth is traditionally read in synagogue on Shavuot, the holiday on which we received the Torah. The standard reason given for this practice is that Ruth herself is the prototypical convert. This short Biblical book, only four chapters long, is also one of the most popular. In this 4 part class, we will explore the characters of The Book of Ruth in depth and discover what makes them so timeless and inspiring. Email info@kisyn.org and request the Zoom link. 7 p.m.

Friday May 28 Candle-Lighting Time Sivan 17, 8:18 p.m.

Beth Torah’s Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Javier Cattapan Join Beth Torah for “Cucina Ebraica: Not Your Mother’s Gefilte Fish”, when we will ask Rabbi Cattapan about Jewish Cooking! This “Ask the Rabbi” session will take place during our Erev Shabbat Service, which will be streamed on our Facebook page (https://facebook.com/CongregationBethTorah) and our Virtual Sanctuary (https://beth-torah.org/virtual-sanctuary). Please email connect@beth-torah.org to submit your questions about Jewish Cooking! 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday May 29 Kehilath Israel Synagogue Pirkei Avot Ethics of Our Fathers taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. The widespread Jewish tradition is to study Pirkei Avot in the spring and summer months between Pesach and Rosh Hashanah. By internalizing its ethical teachings, we enter Rosh Hashanah with uplifted hearts and minds! Pirkei Avot Class is followed by Mincha and Parsha of the Week Class. 7:30 p.m. Kehilath Israel Synagogue Parsha of the Week Parsha of the Week Class with Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. Enhance Shabbat by gaining deeper understanding of the weekly Parsha. This class will be taught between Mincha and Maariv. Please note: Seudah Shlishit has not yet been reinstated due to COVID-19. 8:15 p.m. 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 Life Cycle Events. Please email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Sunday May 30 KI Memorial Day service Memorial Day services led by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. It is a custom in Judaism to show our respect for our ancestors, our family and our friends who are no longer with us. Whether it’s the National Memorial Day, a day of Yahrzeit, or a day when we recite the Yizkor prayer, any day we go to the cemetery and visit the graves of our mishpacha, we perform the mitzvah of Kovod Hamet. To be held at K.I. Blue Ridge Cemetery – 1901 Blue Ridge Blvd. in Independence, MO. 11:00 a.m.

Monday May 31 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.

Tuesday June 1 Author Event Kansas City-area author Martha Gershun will participate in a panel on “Saving a Life: Judaism’s View of Organ Donation” with Dr. Ron Wolfson and Rabbi Elliot Dorff as part of B’Yachad Together: Spirited by American Jewish University (AJU). Free registration for the event is available through the AJU website: https://bit.ly/3e57U7q 8 p.m. Virtual Annual Meeting Kansas Interfaith Action holds its 2021 annual meeting. The featured speaker will be Keith Ellison, Minnesota attorney general and former congressman. Get your tickets here: (bit.ly/KIFA-AE21) 7 p.m.

Wednesday June 2 Jewish Experiences The community is invited to “Listening, Un-Learning + Re-Learning Race In The Jewish Community,” a virtual presentation. Using principles from psychology and sharing stories from her own experience as a black American Jewish woman, Buffie Longmire-Avital, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the African & African American Studies program at Elon University, will lead this conversation on what it means to have a racial identity within the Jewish community. Visit TheJKC.org/RaceInJewishKC to register. 7:30 p.m.

Friday June 4 Candle-Lighting Time Sivan 24, 8:23 p.m.

Monday June 7 Golf Tournament Kehilath Israel Synagogue hosts the Allan Greenberg Memorial K.I. Golf Tournament at the Deer Creek Golf Club. Check-in and lunch are at 11 a.m. A shotgun start begins at 12:15 p.m. You can register for the event online at (https:// files.constantcontact.com/a61cc04b001/97fb19f8-270741d4-bb3b-7e4b8c8d5427.pdf)

Friday June 11 Candle-Lighting Time Tammuz 1, 8:27 p.m.

Friday June 18 Candle-Lighting Time Tammuz 8, 8:29 p.m. Kosher Shabbat Curbside Meals to Go Kosher Shabbat curbside “meals-to-go” will be available for pickup from noon-1:00 at the Jewish Community Campus theatre circle drive. Orders must be received by Tuesdays at 11:00 p.m. of the week ordering. Order your meal and pay online with a few quick clicks at (https://rabbiskc. regfox.com/shabbat-meals-to-go-monthly). This project is sponsored by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City in partnership with the J Heritage Center, Jewish Family Services, Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City and Jewish Federation.

Outside the Kansas City area:

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 7

spotlight BELOW: Members of Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Sisterhood celebrated spring with their first in-person lunch and a walk among flower gardens and waterfalls. The Siserhood’s Mitzvah Day activity was held at the Overland Park Arboretum on May 2 and included collecting clothing and other donations for the Community Services League. Pictured in Monet’s Garden are: (left to right, back row): Janet Baker, Lori Siegel, Lauren Levin, Jennifer Savage Sales, Doris Mendel, Marti Fry, Donna Kaelter, Pam Auerbach, Rita Sudhalter, Sharon Soltz, Darlene Wolf, Jody Cosner, Louise Gruenebaum, Ellen Jacobs, (front row) Nancy Fox, Marcia Soltz, Kathe Stekoll, Shari Barr, Hillary Fried, Amanda Bachmuth, and Reva Friedman.

Mitzvah with Monet

O TLIGHT SPO PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

Do a Mitzvah

ABOVE: The New Reform Temple’s Do A Mitzvah Program offered many opportunities for congregants to be involved in gemilut hasadim, acts of loving kindness. The Lieberman family (left) and the Carlton family spent a recent Sunday morning at Manheim Community Garden, helping to get the garden ready for spring.

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 laceys@jewishkc.org Please write spotlight photo in the subject line.

Code Creations ABOVE: HBHA middle school students Naftali Tilove (front) and Shai Friedman work together to maneuver their vehicle with computer code. Student teams are challenged each week with a new project designed to encourage critical thinking, teamwork, logic and reasoning, and concrete skills they can use throughout the rest of their education and their future careers. HBHA’s curriculum continues to evolve and grow in order to prepare its students for career opportunities that have yet to be developed. BELOW: In celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Month last month, Jewish Family Services thanked its volunteers with a driveby celebration at the Jewish Community Campus. Among the many dedicated volunteers who came by was John Hess (middle), a food pantry driver, who got a warm welcome from Taly Friedman, (left) JFS director of volunteer engagement and Vicki Johansen, JFS volunteer engagement coordinator. Following COVID-19 safety protocols, volunteers received a goody bag to go with bagels and cream cheese and coffee. Last year, more than 300 people volunteered with JFS and provided more than 6,000 hours of service.

Coaching Connection ABOVE: Technology has been a life-saver for many activities during the pandemic, including KC SuperStar. Semifinalists for the annual high school singing competition recently took to the internet for a workshop to prepare them for the virtual event, which will be at 7 p.m. on June 23. This is the 12th year for the competition, presented by The J - Jewish Community Center. The public is invited to watch this night of virtual performances and vote to select the top 10 singers who will move on to the final event in August. The public can cast votes for their favorite singers (once a day) from June 12 through June 20 at www.kcsuperstar.org.

Thanks, Volunteers

page 8

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 20, 2021

local news

Nonprofit ice cream shop employs member of local Jewish community with Down Syndrome

from page 1 the community, June said. “Hank is not that much different than other people,” she said. “He wants friends, to feel useful, to be proud of himself and to fill his time. This is all of those things.” Some of the employees had trouble with their fine and gross motor skills when scooping ice cream, which slowed down the customer line, June said. The shop’s founders brought in an occupational therapist from the University of Kansas Medical Center to work with the employees. Now the employees scoop the ice cream in advance and hand it to customers when they get to the counter. The community’s response to The

Golden Scoop “has been phenomenal,” Paul said. The shop has shut down four times because they had run out of product, June said. Volunteer coaches work every shift, helping employees when necessary, Krumbholz said. Most employees work three-hour shifts but some work six hours. Some bring their own job coaches. Employees work the coffee machine, baked goods, the register, scooping ice cream and handing out ice cream. Krumbholz has worked with people with disabilities for 18 years. She learned of an East Coast coffee shop called Bitty & Beau’s Coffee two to three years ago and another in Dallas called Howdy Homemade Ice Cream. They both employ people with disabilities and got her thinking

about starting her own shop. Paul and June encourage other parents of children with disabilities to take advantage of job opportunities when they come along because there aren’t many of them. Paul said he hoped that would change because there’s a need for it. June said parents must advocate for their children. “These things don’t happen typically on their own,” she said. “You have to believe in your child’s abilities. The one thing we learned is that we never count Hank out, not ever. ‘Can’t’ is not in his vocabulary. Sometimes it takes Hank longer, but he’ll get there.” An example of that is when Hank was working the cash register a couple of weeks ago. June had come to the shop toward

the end of his shift. A customer paid with cash. The register tells Hank how much change to return, but he must figure out how to choose the right bills and coins, she said. “The value of money and being able to put together the right bills in the right amount — we’ve been working on that for 15 years,” she said. “I teared up watching him.” All the teachers, therapists and other care professionals who have worked with Hank helped him get where he is. “To see him do that and see people respond to him and recognize what he is capable of is everything we’ve ever hoped for,” June said. “People are so kind. Parents are afraid people are going to be mean. That has just not ever been the case.”

Hopes remain for good relations between Palestinians and Israelis from page 1 happens and it kind of, like, shakes everything.” And yet Abuarqoub, Gitzin and other coexistence activists say they aren’t giving up. Already, the New Israel Fund has organized two forums to discuss coexistence during the crisis. And despite the carnage, they feel like their work is bearing fruit: The infrastructure they created to advance coexistence in times of crisis is up and running. By mobilizing local networks of allies, activists say, they’ve been able to help shape the national conversation and, hopefully, restore calm. “The past couple of years, we had a serious shift in the notion of Arab-Jewish partnership within civil society, a shift that is very, very important,” said Sally Abed, a Palestinian Israeli citizen who is a leader of Standing Together, a civil society group. “I don’t think that shift will change — if anything I think it will anchor and it will help us, actually help us, try and impact the conversation that’s happening right now.” The coexistence groups build leverage in a variety of ways. Grassroots groups rally popular support for initiatives favored by local politicians. Think tanks provide strategic advice to local leaders on integrating their towns. One such think tank, the Abraham Initiatives, was behind a letter this week from local Arab and Jewish politicians urging calm in their cities, including Lod and Haifa. John Lyndon, the executive director of ALLMEP, an umbrella body for some 150 coexistence groups, said statements from senior Israeli lawmakers urging calm were due indirectly to efforts like that letter and another one like it, from a different network of local politicians. “Many of our members have strong relationships with local mayors in towns and in shared cities,” he said. When Israeli leaders condemned the Arab-Jewish fighting, he said, “A lot of that is from the ground up, from those

Three women walk in a demonstration for coexistence in northern Israel on May 11, 2021. The sign in the middle says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Jalaa Marey/AFP) local leaders saying no, we need you to be out here in front of this.” On May 12, a broad spectrum of Israeli leaders all echoed that call in one way or another, from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Ayman Odeh, the leader of the Joint List, an Arab Israeli party. Similar statements came from centrist leader Yair Lapid and Mansour Abbas, an Islamist politician who has emerged as a political kingmaker in Israel. “Nothing justifies Arabs lynching Jews, and nothing justifies Jews lynching Arabs,” Netanyahu said that night. “We won’t take it. That isn’t us — not this violence, not this wildness. We will return governance and order to Israeli cities everywhere. To all the cities. To mixed cities, to Jewish cities, everywhere.” On May 13, which was also the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Jewish and Arab Israelis began to come together publicly, at the grassroots, to call for coexistence and an end to the violence. Local officials from both communities in Israel’s south met to jointly demand an end to the violence. Around Jerusalem as well as in Israel’s north,

areas that have large Arab and Jewish populations, hundreds of people demonstrated for coexistence, handing out flowers to passing drivers and singing “Give Peace a Chance” to the accompaniment of a ukulele. Activists say they’re in a better place than they were in 2000, when there were similar scenes of unrest across Israel at the start of the Second Intifada. Back then, coexistence projects all but collapsed. Gilad Halpern, a podcaster for the Tel Aviv Review, wrote on Twitter that the landscape had radically changed in the decades since. “I’m old enough to remember the dreadful feeling of an irreparable rupture between Jews and Arabs in October 2000,” he wrote. “Yet we are at a much better place today, in terms of inter-communal relations, than we were then. It looks dire but I’m hopeful.” In an interview, Halpern listed one sign he sees of an integrated society more likely to survive this week’s violence: routinely hearing Arabic in Tel Aviv outside the confines of Jaffa, and on the Tel Aviv University campus. “That’s something I never heard as a teenager and a young adult,” he said.

“It’s just anecdotal, but I think it means a lot.” Still, coexistence advocates know they are working amid fraught conditions. Gitzin outlined a number of vulnerabilities, including persistent inequality of opportunity for Arab youth, police actions that discriminate against Arabs, a government funding program launched a few years ago that prioritizes Arab cities, but not Arab populations in shared cities. Another vulnerability, he said, is a reluctance among Israelis to understand that many Arab citizens identify with the Palestinian populations in the Gaza Strip, and will criticize the Israeli army — which many Jewish Israelis revere — for a bombing campaign that has so far killed dozens of people, including children. Television panels bringing together Israeli Jews and Arabs last week have erupted into shouting matches, with Jewish Israelis accusing Arab citizens of treason for sympathizing with the victims of the Israeli raids. Abed said she had endured such a panel, but also saw it as an opportunity to show Jewish Israelis that Palestinians and Arab Israelis identify with each other across borders. “We, after all, belong, and feel affiliated,” she said. “I identify as Palestinian, and that what happens in Gaza and what happens in Eastern Jerusalem and what happens in the West Bank, affects us deeply, as a society here.” Lama Abuarquob said she feels that, despite the recent violence, Israelis and Palestinians still had only one choice — to keep getting to know each other in the land they share. “We have to start putting plans and making programs, working on more practical and deeper procedures that would lead to more communication between the two peoples,” she said. “Because if people get together, talk to each other, they will listen to each other.”

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 9

national news

Dozens of US rabbinical students sign letter calling for American Jews to hold Israel accountable for alleged human rights abuses

By Philissa Cramer JTA

Dozens of American rabbinical students have issued a public letter accusing Israel of apartheid and calling on American Jewish communities to hold Israel accountable for the “violent suppression of human rights.” The letter comes as Israel is engaged in an intense exchange of fire with Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, in which nine Israelis and more than 100 Palestinians have died. Israel is facing fierce criticism from progressive politicians and activists for its airstrikes on Gaza in response to Hamas rockets. Alongside the bombing, Israel has been shaken by days of clashes between Arabs and Jews across the country. The letter is unusual for its stark criticism of Israel and the Jewish community — a community that the signatories will represent upon ordination. It is also a landmark collaboration across American seminaries: Nearly 90 rabbinical students had signed by Friday morning, representing a significant portion of students who are enrolled now in the country’s nonOrthodox rabbinical schools. No students in Orthodox seminaries have signed. “Our political advocacy too often puts forth a narrative of victimization, but supports violent suppression of human rights and enables apartheid in the Palestinian territories, and the threat of annexation,” the letter says. “How many Palestinians must lose their

homes, their schools, their lives, for us to understand that today, in 2021, Israel’s choices come from a place of power and that Israel’s actions constitute an intentional removal of Palestinians?” Frankie Sandmel, a rabbinical student at Hebrew College, a nondenominational school in suburban Boston, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the letter was intended as an act of caring, but also a call to change policy regarding Israel. “We wanted it to be clear that we deeply care about all of the people who live in that region and that every single person is hurting and terrified,” Sandmel said. “And we’re able to hold that and also hold Israel accountable.” The letter argues that while many American Jewish institutions have been engaged in reckoning with racism and injustice in the past year, many of them have been silent on issues of equity in Israel and between Israel and Palestinians. The situation represents a “spiritual crisis,” it concludes. “Our institutions have been reflecting and asking, ‘How are we complicit with racial violence?’ the letter says. “And yet, so many of those same institutions are silent when abuse of power and racist violence erupts in Israel and Palestine.” The letter calls for education in the Jewish community that teaches “the messy truth” about Israel, as well as changes to how Jewish institutions fund Israeli causes and advocate for Israel politically. “When we vote, we can vote for leaders who won’t continue paying lip service to peace while funding vio-

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lence,” the letter says. “We can use our position as citizens of Israel’s biggest benefactor to push to regulate and redirect funds in equitable ways that promote a peaceful and just future.” The letter does not mention Hamas or Israeli civilians. Sandmel said the students had decided to focus on Israel in the letter rather than address violence and death on both sides of the conflict because of American Jews’ unique stake in Israel. “Why not call out Hamas?” Sandmel said. “I can’t speak for the group. For myself, as an American Jew who has never lived in Gaza or the West Bank, I don’t feel like I have ground to stand on to try to influence how Palestinians respond to oppression. I do have the ability to speak to the American Jewish community that I am hoping to lead, to look at the ways that we vote and the ways that we give tzedakah and the ways that we educate our communities.” (Sandmel, who will be ordained next year, is a former intern at T’ruah, the rabbinic human rights group that has been calling for greater scrutiny on the ways that American philanthropic giving reaches right-wing Jewish extremists in Israel.) For years, many rabbis have seen Israel as a potential third rail for advocacy from the pulpit. The recent Pew Research Center study on American Jews says “several rabbis said they choose their words carefully and try not to unintentionally or unnecessarily alienate people in their congregations, which they know contain both staunch supporters and persistent critics of the Israeli government.”

page 10

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 20, 2021

national news

Rabbi Stephen Slater talks a lot about God. He credits his Baptist missionary parents. By Ben Harris JTA Rabbi Stephen Slater’s rabbinate breaks the mold in all sorts of ways. Though he graduated from the unaffiliated Hebrew College Rabbinical School, he identifies with the Conservative movement and is the only one of the suburban Boston school’s graduates to join the movement’s rabbinic group. Though Slater came to the rabbinate as the culmination of a decade of spiritual searching, he has thrown himself into interfaith and social justice work at the Alabama synagogue he has led for the past three years, spearheading the growth of a visitor’s center highlighting the Birmingham synagogue’s role in the civil rights struggle and developing close relationships with local Black pastors. He’s also likely the only Jewish clergyman in America whose Baptist missionary parents are fervently praying for his return to Jesus. “I was a frum Christian before I was a frum Jew,” Slater said, using a Yiddish term that roughly means “observant.” “It really was a massive transitional moment when I committed to Judaism and dropped my commitment to Christianity.” A NEW JOB This summer, Slater will assume the pulpit of Agudas Achim in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, a 140-year-old synagogue that is the oldest in the region. He is not the only convert serving as a pulpit rabbi at an American synagogue. Nor is he the only rabbi raised in an observant Christian household. But Slater may be the only one born into a multigenerational family of missionaries who dedicated years of their lives to bringing people to Jesus — often at great personal sacrifice. He was raised in Ferkessedougou, a small city in the northern Ivory Coast where his physician father ran a Baptist missionary hospital that his own father had reestablished in the early 1960s. A bookish child more at home reading than on the sports field, Slater imbibed the intense religious devotion of his parents, even taking on a practice of constantly confessing his sins. But Slater was no more successful at ridding his mind of sinful thoughts than he was of persuading himself of the truth of Christian doctrine. At 17, he had a crisis of faith that led him to a deep exploration of Torah and ultimately to Judaism itself. “I never reinculcated anything quite as bad as young man evangelical guilt,” Slater said. “That is some toxic nastiness. The amount of guilt that we carried around as young evangelical men — like self loathing for, you know, natural sexual urges.” The transition would take about a decade. There were years of study of early Jewish history, joining Jewish communities in England and Jerusalem, learning Hebrew and engaging deeply with ancient Jewish texts. But it all began at a boarding school in West Africa with Slater’s horrifying realization that he had no idea what would become of his soul if he longer accepted the truth of the Christianity. “I stayed up all night, probably the closest thing to Kierkegaard’s dark night

of the soul,” he said. “Just sort of terrified by realizing that I no longer thought that it was true that Jesus was Messiah and Jesus was God. And what did that mean, if I couldn’t be a Christian?” At first, Slater tried to read himself out of the problem. He devoured his parents’ bookshelf. He went to other missionaries and read their books, too, trying to figure out how to restore his faith. “It went miserably,” Slater said. “You have no idea.” He was still wrestling with such questions when he arrived at Hillsdale College, a conservative school in Michigan, where he met Bethany Boyd, another child of a missionary family. FIRST IMPRESSION “He was dressed like a missionary kid,” Bethany said. “Like, the dude had tennis shoes that the soles were separated from the front of the top of the shoe so they would flop because he just didn’t spend money on stuff. And he had handme-down jeans. All of his clothes were too big because he had such long arms. His mom would just have to buy him, like, really big shirts to fit his long arms.” In late-night hangouts, Slater would hammer Bethany and his friends about how God could have made an eternal promise to the Jewish people only to then anoint Christians as his chosen people. Or about how eating pork was somehow permissible when it was clearly prohibited in the Hebrew Bible. Or how Sunday could be the Sabbath when the Bible was unambiguous that it should be observed on Saturday. Did God change his mind? “I was a nudnik,” Slater said. “I was annoyingly consistent about that. And that really drove me. I was bothering other people because it bothered me.” Slater had an intuition that the answer lay deep in the past, in understanding how Christianity emerged from Judaism. And that if he could square that circle, maybe he could restore his faith in Christianity. QUESTIONS FOR BETHANY His relentless questioning eventually precipitated a crisis of faith for Bethany as well, who had gone to teach in Africa after graduation. Shorn of the supportive network of her faith community back home, her commitment to Christian dogma collapsed. “I feel like the best analogy is a breakup,” Bethany said. “You’ve been in a relationship for a while. And you think that you can just kind of count on that person in your life and that they’re just going to be there. And then all of a sudden, they’re gone. And you just don’t know how to think about your life without them in it.” Like Slater had earlier, Bethany sought a path forward through intensive study. After graduating, she moved to England to pursue a master’s degree in Jewish studies at Oxford in the hope that understanding how the New Testament had emerged from Judaism might save her Christianity. Over Christmas, Slater came to visit and proposed. The couple made a pact that they would try to figure out their religious quandaries together. After Bethany finished her degree

Rabbi Stephen and Bethany Slater and their children (Courtesy) at Oxford, they moved to Jerusalem so Slater could pursue a master’s degree of his own, in Jewish civilization, at Hebrew University. In Israel, they joined a church and lived for a time in a Palestinian village outside Bethlehem. But they also immersed themselves in Jewish learning communities. Bethany split her time between working with various NGOs and an intensive course of Jewish study at the Conservative yeshiva. And Slater took a year off from his degree program to do a fellowship at the Shalom Hartman Institute, the intellectual center whose work focuses on the intersection of Judaism and modernity. As the Slaters began to get a handle on the spiritual questions that had tormented them for years, they found themselves falling in love with Jewish ritual life — especially the observance of Shabbat, which took Slater back to his family’s practice of taking a weekly Sabbath (though that one was on Thursdays). “We’d been to so many Shabbat tables,” Slater said. “We wanted that. We wanted the texture of Shabbat, a real day of stepping back with people.” KEY MOMENT With their return to the United States drawing closer, the conversion question began to intensify. In Jerusalem, where Judaism is baked into the fabric of living, they had been able to live a kind of vicarious Judaism, spending Shabbat and holidays with friends without formally converting. Back home they would have to make an affirmative commitment to Judaism if they wanted the kind of spiritual and intellectual engagement they had known in Jerusalem. “So as Bethany and I are talking, it was another decision point,” Slater said. “And the question really was do we want to make a commitment and

actually be obligated to do Shabbat, or just want to be people that occasionally crash someone else’s Shabbat? And that was pretty clear.” In February 2010, the Slaters flew to New York City. Both were highly educated and already practicing Jewish rituals, making the actual conversion ceremony something of a formality. The morning after they landed, they appeared before a rabbinical court overseen by Rabbi Ethan Tucker, the president and rosh yeshiva at Hadar, a celebrated egalitarian Jewish learning institute, and then immersed in the mikvah ritual bath. After 20 minutes they were both Jewish. FAMILY IMPACT The change was difficult for both their families. Spreading Christianity is something of a family business for Slater’s family. In addition to his father and grandfather, who between them spent some 50 years overseas doing missionary work, his uncle is a senior pastor at a large Baptist church in Southfield, Michigan. “Our own devotion to God, and to knowing God through Christ, and believing Christ as our savior and offering his savior to all the world, including all the Jewish people, is still very fervent, and we’re committed to that,” Slater’s father, Dwight, said. “We don’t know when and if Stephen and Bethany would come back to that persuasion. But that is our prayer.” After the conversion, the Slaters threw themselves into Jewish life. They moved to Los Angeles so Bethany could enroll in rabbinical school, though she dropped out after a year because she liked the intellectual aspect more than the pastoral one, transferring to a doctoral program in comparative theology at Boston College. Slater spent a year teaching at a Jewish high school in L.A. and was inclined to pursue a doctorate of his own. But concerned about the financial ramifications of two spouses seeking professorships in the humanities, he began considering other options. “I realized I wanted to work with people,” Slater said. “And I wanted to work primarily — like not in research necessarily — and that I wanted to work on spiritual stuff. And so the rabbinate suggested itself.”

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

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 11

national news

What’s a ‘Jew of no religion’? American Jews open up about their non-religious identities

By Gabe Friedman JTA Jesse Wilks had a bar mitzvah — just not a religious one. His parents raised him in a secular home in New York City but still instilled him with a strong sense of Jewish identity. His mother — who worked for the Workers Circle and is now on the editorial board of the left-wing Jewish Currents magazine — hosted holiday dinners, minus the religious prayers. Instead of attending Hebrew school at a synagogue, Wilks grew up going to a “shule,” or non-religious school that taught him Yiddish. The pattern continued with his coming-of-age ceremony, which gathered family and friends at a synagogue he never attended. “It did not involve a Torah reading but instead involved picking any topic related to Judaism that interested me, and then working with a tutor … doing research and basically reading the equivalent of a 13-year-old’s paper” during the ceremony, he said. He chose to explore social justice in Judaism and Jewish history, with a focus on labor movements. Now a 34-year-old architect living in Philadelphia, Wilks does not believe in god and defines himself explicitly as atheist — but also Jewish. That makes him squarely a “Jew of no religion” according to the survey of U.S. Jews released last week by the Pew Research Center. PEW CATEGORIES As it did in 2013, Pew researchers broke American Jews into two broad categories: “Jews of religion” and “Jews of no religion.” People in the second group, the researchers wrote, “describe themselves (religiously) as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular, but who have a Jewish parent or were raised Jewish, and who still consider themselves Jewish in any way (such as ethnically, culturally or because of their family background).” Out of the survey’s 3,836 total respondents, 882 identified as Jews of no religion, suggesting that nearly a quarter of American Jews — 1.5 million people — fall into the category. Becka Alper, a 2021 study co-author, said the term captures a large and diverse part of the Jewish community that can’t be summarized by other terms such as “cultural Jews” or “ethnic Jews.” “It really wouldn’t be sufficient to simply ask people about their religion and categorize [only] those who said Jewish as Jews,” she said. “We’d be missing a really big and important part of the Jewish community, those who are Jewish but not namely or at all as a matter of religion.” DIFFERENT OPINION Critics of the term say it draws a distinction where there should be none. “The fact that 24% of ‘Jews of no re-

ligion’ own a Hebrew-language prayer book should give us pause,” Rachel B. Gross, a professor of Jewish studies at San Francisco State University, wrote in an essay for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency after the study was released. Gross argues that the study’s categories reflected a division that makes sense to Christians, but not in Judaism, where practice has always shifted over time. “American Jews continue to find meaning in emotional connections to their families, communities, and histories, though the ways they do so continue to change,” she writes. “Expanding our definition of ‘religion’ can help us better recognize the ways in which they are doing so.” That argument resonated with three “Jews of no religion” who told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about their Jewish identities. Here’s what they had to say. “I feel Jewish every day” TRIGGERS Certain things trigger Wilks’ sense of Jewishness — for instance, watching the Netflix show “Unorthodox,” about a woman leaving her Hasidic community in Brooklyn. While most days Wilks’ knowledge of Jewish customs, rituals and history stays in the “background” of his mind, “Unorthodox” brought it to the “foreground.” And when he traveled to Berlin during college, he felt his Jewishness turn to visceral vulnerability, in an uncomfortable way. “I couldn’t walk around and get out of my head that, you know, if I had been there 70 years before, I would have been murdered. And that colored my entire visit there,” he said. “And that was surprising to me that, you know, that my Jewish identity rose and bubbled up there.” That experience mapped to one finding in the Pew study: 75% of American Jews overall said that “remembering the Holocaust” was important to their Jewish identity, including two thirds of Jews of no religion. On the other hand, Pew found that while 60% of American Jews say they are strongly or somewhat emotionally attached to Israel, only a third of Jews of no religion described such an attachment. Wilks said he never thinks about the country, where he is entitled to citizenship because of his Jewish lineage. “ZERO CONNECTION” “I feel zero connection to Israel. To me, it’s the same [as] any country that I haven’t visited,” he said. Right now, he is still figuring out what kind of Jewish identity he wants in his life as an adult. Growing up, his mother projected a strong sense of nonreligious Jewish identity built on her family history, as a descendant of secular Jewish socialist activists from Eastern Europe. But now living apart from her, and being married to a non-Jewish woman,

New Yorker Sophie Vershbow had an epiphany about religious Judaism just before her bat mitzvah. (Peter Cunningham) Wilks feels more disconnected from Jewish culture. (Jews who are married to people who are not Jewish identify three times as often as Jews of no religion, according to Pew.) Wilks admitted he would be forced to deal with the issue more head on if he had kids, but he and his wife aren’t planning on having any. “There’s no question I feel Jewish every day and would always identify myself as that. But I don’t know, it’s hard for me to articulate what role that plays in my life,” he said. In contrast, Sophie Vershbow knows exactly who she is: an atheist cultural Jew. The 31-year-old social media manager who works for one of the “big five” publishing houses in New York has a deep connection to Jewish culture. She pointed to two things off the top of her head she feels a particular affinity for: actor Mandy Patinkin, and bagels. Patinkin is an Emmy and Tony winner who became a minor icon this year for weaving Jewish and social justice themes together on social media. People like him in pop culture create a sense of community for other Jews, Vershbow said, and help familiarize non-Jews with Jewish culture. That’s something the born-and-bred New Yorker said she realized was needed after she left the city for Hamilton College in upstate New York. WAKEUP CALL Jews make up close to 15% of the population of New York City, where she grew up in the Chelsea neighborhood. While Hamilton’s student body was still far more Jewish than the general U.S. population, both the college and the surrounding area felt decidedly nonJewish to her. “I called my mom and I was like, ‘What just happened?’ And she goes ‘Sophie, what percent of the country do you think is Jewish?’” Vershbow said. “I studied the Holocaust in college, and learning about our history and how much we’ve been persecuted certainly makes me feel more connected to [my

“It’s hard for me to articulate what role [Jewishness] plays in my life,” says Jesse Wilks. Jewish side]. And makes me feel like it’s important to carry these things on.” But when it comes to religion, she describes participating in holidays — she still does some of the big ones with her parents, such as Passover and Hanukkah — as “going through the motions,” because she doesn’t believe in god. She grew up attending a Reform synagogue but had an early existential crisis of sorts, just before her bat mitzvah — “a pre-teenage change of heart,” in her words. “I realized that I didn’t believe in God, and was like, I’m not going to go ahead and do my bar mitzvah. This doesn’t feel right to me,” she said. “Sort of the same way that you figure out you don’t believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. It didn’t really work for me.” Her love of Jewish food (she’s extremely excited to be living near Zabar’s on the Upper West Side these days) is straightforward. Bagels on Sundays, latkes on Hanukkah, kugel around Yom Kippur — that’s something she sees herself instilling in her kids, if she has any in the future. NOT JUST TEMPLE “I don’t think you have to go to temple for it to be passing [Judaism] down to your kids,” she said. “But if one ever said, you know, ‘Mommy, I want to go check it out, I want to see, I will certainly take my kids to temple and show them.” Vershbow said she sees no contradiction in her identity — and that being Jewish is at the center of it. “My family is Polish, Russian, all of that, but … I don’t feel personal connection to any of that. I feel a connection to the American Jewish experience. And that is a huge part of my identity,” she said. “But I think that’s an amazing thing about Judaism is that, for so many people in my own life, it seems to be pretty acceptable in a lot of communities to say: ‘I don’t believe in God, but I am Jewish.’ And these can perfectly coexist within me. And they’re not conflicting.”

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 20, 2021

global news

He left Brazil to become a lone soldier in Israel. Then he lost both his parents to COVID. By Marcus M. Gilban JTA RAANANA, Israel — When Thiago Benzecry left his home in Brazil’s Amazon region to join the Israeli navy, he knew he was putting significant distance between himself and his family, in more ways than one. He didn’t know it would be the last time he would see his parents in person. Benzecry landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in July 2019 with plans to study Hebrew and then volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces. It was a path he could hardly have imagined as a child in Manaus, where his father was a renowned Pentacostal church pastor and his mother was a party planner who supported her husband’s work. “I have never been afraid of my children’s future. Instead of giving a car when they turned 18, I always gave backpacks,” his father, Stanley Braga, wrote on social media to mark his son’s very first day in the Israeli military. COVID DEATHS Just months later, Braga was dead, and so was Benzecry’s mother, Vladya Rachel Benzecry, both victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Manaus became known to the world as a grim early hotspot in the Amazon rainforest. Braga was 49 when he died, his wife just 48. They had been married for 30 years. In Israel, Thiago Benzecry mourned without any family nearby to support him. Shortly after his parents’ deaths, he would be vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of Israel’s pace-setting inoculation drive. “I, the only one in my family not to contract the virus, am the first to receive the vaccine. What if they had had the same opportunity and the same conditions in Manaus? I felt a mix of relief and pain,” Benzecry told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. WIDELY KNOWN Benzecry’s story has captured the hearts of supporters in both Israel and Brazil. In April, he was featured on the cover page of a major Israeli newspaper. A video testimonial posted the next day on the Israeli Defense Force’s Facebook page garnered nearly 100,000 views, “likes” and supporting messages. “My main goal is to honor my parents,” Benzecry told JTA from his bedroom in an immigrant absorption center in Raanana, the upscale Tel Aviv suburb known as Israel’s “Brazilian capital.” Much sought-after by English- and French-speaking new immigrants, Raanana is home to some 300 Brazilian families and was recently declared a sister city with Rio de Janeiro. The 23-year-old Benzecry is not so different from his new neighbors, whose families found refuge in Brazil for only a few generations before making it to the Holy Land. Benzecry’s great-great-grandfather

“My main goal is to honor my parents,” says Thiago Benzecry. (Thiago Benzecry) Jacob arrived in Brazil from Tetouan, Morocco, in the 1800s, as part of a wave of North African Jewish immigration. There he became the patriarch of a Sephardic dynasty in the Amazon. “The Benzecrys are among the most traditional Jewish families in the whole Amazon region, playing a pivotal role in the local economy, including trade, industry, engineering, medicine,and education,” said David Vidal Israel, president of the Amazon Israelite Committee, or CIAM, the equivalent of a local Jewish federation. “After a century, some 1,000 families had settled in the Amazon, lured by the rubber boom and by the quest for a land free of persecutions,” added CIAM director Anne Benchimol, who is also a descendant of Jacob Benzecry. “They soon created their own small communities as a way of securing their culture and tradition.” Thiago Benzecry’s maternal grandfather married someone who was not Jewish. So did his mother, who maintained ties to the Jewish community even as she devoted herself to supporting her husband’s Christian ministry. “They were both very dear to everyone here. I first met Vladya when I was a teacher at our elementary Jewish school and madrich [instructor] at the Jewish youth movement. She would also practice Israeli folk dance. Later, she started to organize many Jewish events,” Vidal Israel recalled. DUAL EXPERIENCE As a child, Benzecry said he considered himself Christian. “I experienced a dual religious identity and that’s where my education comes from,” he said. He found himself drawn to his Jewish heritage — and especially to Israel — as a teen. First, he attended a school owned by his mother’s aunt that was popular among Jewish families in Manaus. Then, at 16, he went on a 10-day tour of Israel operated by Birthright, the nonprofit that runs free trips to Israel for Jewish young adults. And when he turned 18, he volunteered as a security guard at the Beit Yaacov Rabi Meyr, Manaus’ only synagogue.

Thiago, left, with his late parents and two brothers. (Thiago Benzecry) Three years ago, at 20, Benzecry decided to spend six months in Israel on Masa, a program that lets participants choose from various study, volunteer and professional opportunities in the country. He worked as a student intern at an incubator for high-tech start-ups in Tel Aviv. “I was then able to know what Israel really was, the social and cultural nuances, the way that Israelis communicate, and have a clear idea of what I wanted,” Benzecry told JTA. “When I finally came on aliyah, it was not a first-time adventure anymore, which took the weight off my shoulders.” In order to make aliyah, or immigrate to Israel, Thiago Benzecry submitted a certificate showing that his maternal grandfather, Rubens, was Jewish. Born to a non-Jewish mother, Vladya’s own conversion was apparently not accepted by the Jewish Agency, which oversees immigration applications. But Benzecry was able to benefit from the Law of Return’s clause that gives every grandchild of a Jew the right to Israeli citizenship. “TODAY I AM JEWISH” “As I grew up and got more and more mature, I assumed my Jewish heritage and identity. Today, I’m Jewish,” Benzecry said. He added, referring to his Israeli ID card, “I am ready for conversion as part of the army because today my teudat zeut says I have no religion.” When Benzecry first arrived in Israel as an immigrant, he moved to Maagan Michael kibbutz, where he studied Hebrew at an ulpan, the governmentsubsidized Hebrew language school for new immigrants. Because he was already 22, he was not required to enlist in the military, but he chose to anyway. He joined Garin Tzabar, the program that supports soldiers-to-be who do not have a family in Israel. “The biggest difficulty of a lone soldier is undoubtedly being away from family and friends from the country of origin. Coming home for the weekend and not having anyone to talk to or hug is very difficult,” said Navy Maj. Rafael Rotman, who immigrated from Brazil in 1997 when he was 17 years old. That dynamic only deepened over the last year, as the pandemic set in and

made international travel unsafe and difficult. Israel has not allowed people who are not citizens to visit except in narrow instances since very early on in the crisis, in March 2020. As Manaus turned into a hotspot, Benzecry watched from afar as his father worked to support the city’s many impoverished families. Braga announced an effort to deliver 10,000 food baskets to families in crisis as part of his ministry. He also used his radio show to express support for Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro’s decision to keep the economy open despite the deepening pandemic. OUT OF THE BLUE When he tested positive for COVID-19 last September, Braga wrote to his son from his hospital bed urging him not to worry. Benzecry was totally unprepared for the phone call a short while later telling him his father had died. Just as the father’s funeral was ending, Benzecry’s mother and 31-year-old brother collapsed and were soon diagnosed with the coronavirus. While his brother recovered, his mother died in late October, after six weeks in intensive care. Benzecry finished his tugboat mechanics training course before traveling to Brazil in December to visit his two brothers and 16-year-old sister. The next month, a brutal second COVID-19 wave overloaded Manaus’ health care system, again turning pictures of mass graves in the city into front-page news worldwide. Now, as Benzecry begins to consider what he will do after his military service is complete, he sees his future in Israel, not South America. “I’m proud to be Brazilian and that’s what I tell everyone, everywhere. Brazil is part of my story, a place of communion. It’s my family, my culture, a place I can always visit, but it’s not my target anymore. It’s just a remembrance. The world is too big,” he said. “My parents were the greatest supporters of my choices. The educational and cultural heritage I received from them is the reason why I’m here today. I feel like I’m also living their dream.”

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

page 13

global news

Germany vows to crack down on antisemitism at Israel protests BERLIN (JTA) — Following a spate of anti-Israel protests across Germany tied to the ongoing Israel-Gaza violence, political leaders here have vowed to crack down on demonstrators who have used antisemitic rhetoric and have attacked Jewish institutions. “Anyone who spreads antisemitic hatred will feel the full force of the law,” German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement. He added in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag tabloid on Sunday: “We will not tolerate the burning of Israeli flags on German soil and attacks on Jewish facilities.”

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble called for an increase in security for Jewish communities and institutions on the eve of the Shavuot holiday on Sunday. Due to measures aimed to stem the coronavirus pandemic, most synagogues still only allow reduced attendance or remote observances. Though most demonstrators in recent days reportedly were peaceful, some tried to burn Israeli flags, shouted anti-Jewish epithets and cheered the bombing of Tel Aviv. The Deutsche Welle news agency reported that 180 people marched

from the train station in the western city of Gelsenkirchen to a synagogue chanting antisemitic slogans. Several individuals were arrested after rocks were thrown through the windows of multiple synagogues in different cities. Last year, Germany made it illegal to publicly destroy or damage the flag of a foreign state with which they have diplomatic relations. It is also illegal to incite hate or call for violence against a group or individuals in a manner that could disturb the peace; the law covers, for example, racism, antisemitism and homophobia.

Calling the incidents “disgusting,” Aiman Mazyek, head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, said in a statement to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper that “Anyone who attacks synagogues and Jews on the pretext of criticizing Israel has forfeited any right to solidarity.” The Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) appealed to Muslims to stay away from the demonstrations, Deutsche Welle reported. It remains to be seen whether suspects arrested in recent days will be charged with inciting antisemitism.

Two dead, 184 injured in bleacher collapse at Givat Ze’ev synagogue (JNS) Two people were killed on Sunday evening during prayers at an unfinished synagogue in the town of Givat Ze’ev, near Jerusalem. Binyamin Rubinstein, 23, and 13-year-old Meir Globerman, whose funerals were held in Jerusalem late Monday night, were among the nearly 200 members of the Karlin-Stolin Hassidic community injured when temporary bleachers set up at the site collapsed. Widely circulated security-camera footage of the tragedy—which took place less than three weeks after the disaster at Mount Meron on Lag

B’Omer—shows the moment when the bleachers caved under the weight of the hundreds of worshipers. Israeli news crews joined the hundreds of paramedics and police at the site, as victims were treated on the scene and evacuated to the hospital. “Once again, we arrive at an event that involves negligence and irresponsible conduct,” Jerusalem District Police chief Doron Turjeman told Channel 12. Turjeman stressed that the site had not received the necessary permits to host large gatherings. “The station commander informed

The synagogue in Givat Ze’ev, where collapsed bleachers left two worshipers dead and nearly 200 injured on the eve of Shavuot, May 16, 2021. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

the head of the Givat Ze’ev Local Council that this structure is forbidden for prayers and large gatherings,” he said. Givat Ze’ev Local Council head Yossi Avrahami told Channel 12 that he had “instructed my people not to approve this event at any stage,” and had “erected roadblocks with signs indicating that the site is dangerous.” A Karlin-Stolin spokesman said on Monday night, after the end of the Shavuot holiday, that the community would “act with transparency and responsibility, and in cooperation with the authorities investigating this severe incident.”

Third Annual Annual Third

The Jewish Federation Golf Classic is back for its third year! Join us at Oakwood Country Club on June 14. Register at jewishkansascity.org/golf2021

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 20, 2021

commentary

‘There are no winners when people die and terror rains down from the skies.’ Situation in Israel prompts sadness, protests in Kansas City area By Mike Sherry Editor As the violence continued between Israel and the Palestinians, local organizations and commentators lamented the casualties and tried to make sense of this latest round of fighting. “We grieve the loss of life and join members of the international interfaith community in calling for an end to all violence in this region that so many of our members hold sacred,” the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council said in a statement. The Rabbinical Association of Great-

er Kansas City also expressed its “deep concern for the safety and security of the citizens of the State of Israel” and said members were “saddened by the report of loss of lives on both sides of the conflict and by the escalation towards civil conflict within Israel.” The association added: “As spiritual leaders, we are committed to the teachings of our tradition to ‘Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah.’ We deplore all acts of violence and distance ourselves from extremist religious views that foster a

climate of discord and enmity among our people.” On Saturday, supporters of the Palestinians rallied on the Country Club Plaza. The Kansas City Star reported more than 200 people attended the rally. At one point, according to the report, protesters tore down an Israeli flag flying on a post alongside Ward Parkway. In response, the JCRB|AJC issued a statement supporting the right to peacefully protest but said it was “horrified by the destruction of the Israeli flag at the protest on the Plaza … and will work to ensure it is replaced swiftly.” The JCRB|AJC statement also said,

“Our hearts are breaking for our brothers and sisters in Israel who are once again the victims of rocket attacks that specifically target civilians. Our hearts also break for the citizens of Gaza.” Agency officials added: “There are no winners when people die and terror rains down from the skies.” The agency has posted a resource page regarding the violence on its website at (https://jcrbajc.org/resources/ antisemitism-and-israel-resources/ resources-on-antisemitism-and-israel. html) Printed below are two other commentaries on the violence.

The shame of the current Israeli-Palestinian fighting By Rabbi Arthur P. Nemitoff The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah I am praying for Israelis. I am praying for Palestinians. I am praying for peace. As with so many, it is distressing to see the violence escalate in this place that is — for us — a spiritual home and emotional foundation-stone. Why has all this happened? It’s complicated. And I am not an expert. And I am not living there. But these are some of the elements involved (in no order): • On May 10, Israel celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, an official holiday, recognizing the capture and reunification of the entire city. (The holiday is seen as a provocation for many Palestinians, including Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem.) • In weeks prior to this outbreak, tensions have mounted. Some Palestinians attacked Orthodox Jews in the Old City. A right-wing Jewish group held a march where they shouted “Death to Arabs.” • Palestinians were banned from gathering in a favorite plaza in the Old City, at the beginning of Ramadan. • Tension rose over the expected eviction on Monday of six Palestinian families from the Sheik Jarrah East Jerusalem area. The Supreme Court delayed the eviction. The case, going on for years, is about Jews (some call them “settlers”) who claim they own

the land and want to use it for a housing complex…in the midst of an overwhelmingly Palestinian enclave. • On May 7, as thousands of Palestinians left worship at Al Aqsa Mosque, some threw stones at Israeli police. They responded with rubber bullets and stun grenades. More rioting resulted, with 150 injured. • Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, postponed parliamentary elections for the Palestinians scheduled for May 22. These would have been the first elections since 2006. For all these reasons — and I am sure for others that I do not know or understand — the violence and needless death and destruction is spinning out of control. On May 13, Israel declared that they will not stop its military operation against Gaza until “complete quiet” has been achieved. Violence and destruction is rarely the answer. And so, we need to condemn and say clearly: • Shame on those Jews who agitate by claiming “death to Arabs.” • Shame on those Jews who beat up Arab citizens. • Shame on Israel for perpetuating an atmosphere of distrust and anti-Palestinianism over the course of 70+ years. • Shame on Israel for treating its own Israeli citizens (who happen to be Arab) often as second-class citizens when it comes to social and governmental services. • Shame on Israel for permitting right-wing extremists for agitating against and taking land that Palestinians have lived upon for decades.

And… • Shame on Hamas for sending rockets to kill, injure, and wreak fear and havoc upon innocent civilians intentionally. • Shame on Hamas for agitating and perpetrating anti-Semitic and anti-Israel lies and propaganda within its population. • Shame on Hamas from focusing its energies on destroying Israel instead of uplifting its people. • Shame on Palestinians who attack those who are charged with protecting the status quo. • Shame on Palestinians who attack innocent Israeli Jews. Editor’s note: Rabbi Nemitoff emailed this addition on May18: While I wrote this a week ago — and I still stand by all I say — I am increasingly pained by the thousands of rockets being sent into Israel with the intent of harming innocent lives. Hamas must be stopped from threatening Israel’s safety. At the same time, the Palestinian “narrative” being promulgated across social media and in the streets dismisses Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense and security. Clearly, there is enough shame to go around. But what makes this such a difficult time for us, as Jews who are lovers of Israel? It is that so much of the world is unable/unwilling to look at both sides. Rather, they maintain a skewed view of the conflict. Some see Israel as doing no wrong. Others portray Israel as the Goliath against the Palestinians’ David. The truth is far

more complicated. An example — and one worth our time reading — comes from our own country. Some may have heard the monologue given by Trevor Noah on his May 11th Daily Show. It was full of inaccuracies. Thankfully, David Harris, CEO of the AJC (American Jewish Committee), responded. Sadly, far too often there aren’t enough David Harrises to respond. And far too many who present inaccurate portrayals of the historical realities. So, what do we do? We can and should be Israel’s most stalwart advocates. We can and should defend Israel’s right to defend its land and protect its citizens. We can and should speak truth to the mixture of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism that occurs within the Palestinian world and within the orbit of its supporters. We can and should speak truth to power within Israel, insisting that Palestinians — whether citizens or otherwise — are treated the same as Israeli Jews: with dignity, with equality, with honor. We can and should demand that Israel and the Palestinians find the political spine to break out of this vicious cycle of war — quiet — antagonism — and then, more war – that has eaten away at both Israeli and Palestinian souls for over 70 years. Until then, though... I am praying for Israelis. I am praying for Palestinians. I am praying for peace. And I hope you will too. Rabbi Nemitoff is senior rabbi at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah

We cannot be overcome by fear By Derek Gale, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City WE’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE Hamas launching rockets into Israel, is, unfortunately, not new.

The pure number and the distance they are traveling—to the center of Israel—has not been seen since July 2014—when I was in central Israel taking shelter with each siren. But this is not new. We’ve seen this before. And it will not be the last time this occurs. Hamas has its reasons for the rocket attacks. Such attacks are never justified in any way, of course, but Hamas doesn’t

operate within any constraints—it is a terrorist organization that will use any means necessary to work toward its desired ends. We know what to expect from such an organization, and we know it will not stop or change for the better. Still, we cannot live in fear. THIS IS CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN Violent

protests,

riots,

Molotov

cocktails, setting fires, destruction of businesses, destruction of houses of study and houses of worship, mobs chasing and beating individuals, and shootings—all of which have taken place in mixed cities in Israel, from Acco and Haifa to Lod and Ramle (Kansas City’s sister city and our Jewish community’s partnership city)—are See FEDERATION, PAGE 16

May 20, 2021

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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obituaries FREMERMAN STONE SETTING On May 23, there will be a stone setting for Bernie and Judy Fremerman who both passed away last year. Because the family was prohibited from having a normal funeral at that time, friends and family are invited to share remembrances of them, and honor their memory and support their family as they grieve while unveiling the double headstone marking their graves. The service is scheduled for 4 pm at Mount Carmel Cemetery Section 34, lots 18 and 19. MAX L. GASSER Max L. Gasser, 89, of Overland Park, KS, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on May 11, 2021. Private services were held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Max was born on July 25, 1931 in Oklahoma City to the late Harry and Sara Gasser. He went to Oklahoma University where he met his future wife, Marlene. Max eventually settled in Kansas City after marrying his beloved wife, Marlene. Upon arriving to Kansas City, he worked for Hallmark, but

soon after he went into business with his brothers-in-law; first owning a rental car company and then a car wash. Later, he sold insurance and in retirement worked part-time at Costco well into his 80’s. Max was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene; son, James Gasser; grandson, Dakota and brothers: Irv and Sidney. Max is survived by his sons: Kevin Gasser and wife Lisa; Jonathan Gasser and wife Idala; grandchildren: Austen, Heath, Eliza, Elliana, Riley (Jeremy) and William (Crystalyn) and 2 great-grandchildren: Lily and Murphy. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.louismemorialchapel.com (Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816361-5211) PAUL H. GROLLMAN Paul H. Grollman passed away May 8, 2021, at home days before his 98th birthday. Paul was born in Kansas City, KS, on May 10, 1923, to the late Meyer and Leah Greenberg Grollman. Paul graduated from John P. St. John Memorial High School, Olathe,

KS, in 1940. Paul attended community college and took engineering classes at the University of Kansas. He served as a specialized draftsman for over 50 years, working for various companies in the Kansas City and Lincoln, NE areas. Paul enjoyed music all his life, and in high school, he was nominated for a prestigious competition for his saxophone playing. He shared his love of classical music with his grandchildren, introducing them to Fantasia, theater and regularly attending their musical performances. Additionally, Paul loved to tell stories, one of his favorites was how he met his first wife. In 1978, at the age of 55, Paul’s family invited him to Omaha for the horse races. Unbeknownst to him, it was a ploy to set him up on a blind date with the widowed Shirley Klein (z”l). They were married a few weeks later. By the end of the summer, Shirley and her youngest son, Eddie, moved to the Kansas City area to join him. Paul and Shirley were married for 18 years until she passed in 1996. In 2001, Paul married longtime family friend, and mother of his daughter-in-law, the widowed Elaine Bornstein Gordon (z”l).

After ten years of marriage to Elaine, Paul was widowed for the second time in 2011. In 2012, Paul’s grandson, Aaron, took up residence with his Zayde. Despite a 60-year age difference, they formed a close and profound friendship. Eventually, they were joined by Aaron’s fiancé Bridgett. Aaron and Bridgett provided exceptional care to Paul throughout his final years and were by his side during his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-son Mark Klein, and sonin-law, David Decker. Paul is survived by his children, Ed and Alicia Gordon Klein, Michelle Gordon, Scott Gordon (partner Krissy George), and his beloved grandchildren, Aaron (fiancé Bridegett Tinnin), Hannah (fiancé Nick Hanemann), Deborah, Sadeh and Samantha Klein, and Hope Decker. Contributions in Paul’s memory can be sent to Congregation Beth Shalom, or the charity of your choice. A private family service was held on Monday, May 11, 2021. Condolences may be shared at www.louismemorialchapel. com. (Arr. The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.)

Victim of Lod lynch mob dies of wounds

Yigal Yehoshua was struck in the head by a brick while on his way home from a Torah-scroll dedication (JNS) Fifty-six-year-old Lod resident Yigal Yehoshua died on Monday, less than a week after being critically wounded by a mob of Arab rioters in the central Israeli city. Yehoshua was struck in the head by a brick while in his car, as rioters hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at police and passersby in the 80,000-strong Jewish-Arab city. A yeshiva, synagogues, municipal structures and dozens of vehicles have been torched during the unrest.

Yigal Yehoshua, the 56-year-old Lod resident who died on May 17, 2021, after being attacked by an Arab mob six days earlier. (Courtesy)

According to his wife, Irena, he was assaulted while on his way home from a Torah-scroll dedication in a nearby moshav. “He managed to drive to the house [with his head wound], and even tried to park, but he hit some vehicles,” she told Channel 12, adding that while neighbors called an ambulance, she approached the driver’s side of the car and saw the “window shattered and his shirt soaked in blood.” Yehoshua was rushed to the Sharon Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh Hospi-

tal), where he spent the following six days fighting for his life. “I share in the sorrow of the family of the late Yigal Yehoshua, who was murdered in a lynching carried out by Arab rioters in Lod,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Monday night. “We will settle accounts with whomever participated in this murder; nobody will escape punishment. May Yigal’s memory be blessed and bound in our hearts forever,” he added.

Former congressman Lester Wolff, known for surviving assassination threats and supporting Israel, dies at 102 (JTA) — Lester Wolff, who served eight terms as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives and was an important player in American foreign affairs in the 1960s and ‘70s, has died. At 102, the New York lawmaker was the oldest former member of Congress. Wolff died May 11 at a hospital in Syosset, New York. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency profiled Wolff in 2018, painting a picture of a man who was five times targeted for assassination for his actions and political positions on controversial international issues, including Israel. Wolff won his first congressional election in 1964 to represent part of Long Island, in suburban New York City, and during the ’60s he worked closely with Robert Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson, and met Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. He stayed in Congress until 1981. At a time when support for Israel in Congress was not as widespread as it is now, Wolff fought successfully to

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.

Lester L. Wolff approve the U.S. sale of technologically advanced fighter jets to Israel. The former Jewish lawmaker spent his later years writing books, collecting art and attacking Donald Trump.

Kansas City’s Jewish Funeral Home Over 104 years Proudly Owned & Operated by the Epstein Family 6830 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64131

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

May 20, 2021

commentary

Federation will continue working toward peaceful coexistence in Israel from page 14 cause for great concern. A lot of good people have invested years of time and many organizations—including our own Jewish Federation—have invested significant sums of money in programs built around dialogue, shared citizenship and peaceful coexistence. To see all of that work and investment literally go up in flames is heartbreaking. There will be no short or simple path back to the place we thought we were in those cities—and time may not fully

heal these wounds. Still, we cannot live in fear. SO WHAT NOW? Because we are invested in the welfare of all residents of Ramle—and have been for going on two dozen years—we will work with our community representative in Israel, Hannah Soltz Aharony, to find both existing and new interventions and proposed solutions that we believe will have real impact in repairing relationships and moving that city

toward a peaceful future. The same is true about our investment in Israel more widely, via our core overseas partner organizations—the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee—we will continue to see to the welfare of vulnerable populations, with the hope of a brighter future for all. No matter how you are feeling at the moment—upset, angry, frightened for loved ones in Israel, frustrated, or hopeless even—we hope you will join us in being invested in the future of Is-

rael and its cities and communities. We hope you will join us on a mission to Israel next year that will include a visit to our partnership city— the mixed city of Ramle. What other choice do we have? Throwing up our arms in despair is action with no impact; throwing our arms around our brothers and sisters halfway around the world just might change lives. “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu”—Peace will come upon us, yet. Derek Gale is vice president and Chief Operating Officer at The Federation

Arab-Israeli suspect arrested in Jaffa firebombing (JNS) The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police announced on Monday the arrest of an Arab Israeli man in his 20s on suspicion of hurling a firebomb that seriously injured an Arab Israeli child in Jaffa last Friday. While the attack was first suspected to have been carried out by Jewish Israelis, the police investigation led to an Arab Israeli suspect, who apparently believed he was targeting a Jewish home in Jaffa, according to Channel 13. The suspect threw the firebomb through the window of an apartment

A car burns during violent riots in Acre, May 12, 2021. (Roni Ofer/Flash90) in which six children were sleeping. A 12-year-old boy suffered serious burns, and is hospitalized at the Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

A second firebomb was found near an adjacent home, in which Jews lived. Meanwhile, Israel’s Arab sector called a general strike on Tuesday in solidarity with “the Al Aqsa Mosque and the residents of Sheikh Jarrah,” according to a statement by the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, Ynet reported. The statement added that the strike was also protesting “the violent behavior of settlers in mixed cities.” A number of Jewish employers said employees who observe the strike would be fired, Kan reported. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces

have arrested some 1,000 suspects since the start of the recent riots that have rocked Israel, according to Maariv, with 850 of them being Arab Muslims. Attacks have included stonings, firebombs, arson attacks on vehicles, homes and synagogues, and shootings, including of Israeli police and a paramedic. Seven Jewish Israelis were arrested on Sunday in connection with a shooting in eastern Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood, in which two Arabs were injured. According to Ynet, the shootings occurred in the midst of an attack on Jews in the neighborhood.

ATTENTION PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS Congratulate your 2021 Graduate in the Chronicle!

These special color announcements can include a photo and your own congratulatory message. Announcements will run in the June 3 issue; submission deadline is May 24. To discuss sizes and pricing, contact Jon Schwartzbard, jons@jewishkc.org, 732.841.0787.