In this issue...
Exchange student, host reunite after 53 years
Trees to improve area of Sheffield Cemetery
Parashat Vayeitzei
Shabbat times (Overland Park): Candlelighting: 4:38 p.m. Havdalah: 5:40 p.m.
New St. Joseph congregation Beit Echad looks forward, respects the past
By Sam Kricsfeld Editor
Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-partseriesaboutBeitEchad,anew congregationinSt.Joseph,Missouri.
Beit Echad recently opened as the first new synagogue in St. Joseph, Missouri, in more than a century. Two synagogues, Temple Adath Joseph and Temple B’nai Sholem, have been the stewards of the community’s legacy and Jewish observances for decades. Now, the two congregations have worked together to form a new synagogue, Beit Echad, where all prayers and Jewish life will take place.
Adath Joseph and B’nai Sholem still exist as entities that support Beit Echad. B’nai Sholem sold its building in 2018, and though Adath Joseph still has its historic building, it is not in active use anymore. Both congregations still have boards and funds which contributed significantly to Beit Echad’s creation.
Hundreds attend discussion with Jewish advocate David Harris
By The Chronicle Staff
Approximately 300 people gathered at The Temple, Congregation
B’nai Jehudah on Nov. 21 to hear from longtime Jewish advocate
Harris has been active in Jewish advocacy for more than 50 years, having served as CEO of the American Jewish Committee for 32 years and currently
serving as executive vice chair of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.
See page 10
A new location
Beit Echad is located at 2247 N. Belt Hwy. in St. Joseph at the end of a strip mall. The synagogue has no windows other than its glass front door and inner vestibule door. Although this type of location is unconventional for
a synagogue (especially in the Midwest), Beit Echad leaders say that the location is good for the congregation’s needs and has few downsides.
“Because there’s no glass frontage,
See page 8
Oct. 7 survivor shares her story with community
By Alexis Greenberg Special to The Chronicle
On Dec. 1, community members gathered in the social hall at The J to hear from Irene Shavit, an Oct. 7 terror attack survivor from the kibbutz Kfar Aza. She was speaking as part of Faces of October Seventh, a nonprofit organization aiming to combat antisemitism through speaker events.
The event was organized by Jewish Experiences, a Collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J; Herzl Camp; and Mit-Habrim Connections.
Irene Shavit and her fiancé, Netta Epstein, were asleep in their apartment in Kfar Aza, three miles from the Gaza border, on Oct. 7, 2023. Sirens sounded that morning at 6:30 a.m. Shavit remarked that initially,
Oct. 7 survivor
Irene Shavit shares her story on Dec. 1. (Alexis Greenberg)
the sirens did not startle her, as she can remember hearing alarms as early as four years old. Shavit said that the kibbutz sent a text message telling residents to lock their doors. She told the crowd that it took a while to find the key in the first place, as on her kibbutz, nobody locks the door.
“The door is always open,” she said. “I can go to my neighbor’s house and
See page 2
KU Chabad goes to Pegisha in New York
David Harris in conversation with Rabbi Stephanie Kramer.
David Harris.
Pictured at Beit Echad are St. Joseph Jewish community members (from left) Steve and Sandy Rosenak, Sandy Smail, Sherrie and Bob Ott, and Marsha and Dick Rosenthal.
Oct. 7 survivor shares her story with Kansas City Jewish community
take sugar, and they are not even home. It’s fine because we have trust, we believe in each other, and we are one big family. If the kibbutz tells us to lock the door, it’s something big.”
At 11:30 a.m., the couple heard Hamas terrorists breaking the windows of their kitchen and living room. Shavit and Epstein were in their bedroom, which serves as a safe room for their apartment.
“We can’t lock the safe room in Israel because it’s meant to save you from rockets, not from human beings... and [the terrorists] know it,” she said. “They manage to open the door, and they throw a grenade into the room.”
The terrorists threw four grenades into the safe room. The first exploded far from where the pair were hiding, the second one
injured Shavit’s leg, and the third landed near Shavit.
“When I look up, I can see Netta jumping on the grenade,” Shavit said. “While he jumped, they shot him several times in the stomach, and I could hear him fall down, hitting the grenade, and the grenade exploded.”
Epstein was killed at 11:36 a.m.
The fourth grenade started a fire in the safe room. Shavit put a shirt over her nose and mouth and waited until the terrorists left to put it out.
The terrorists later returned to Shavit’s home, shooting Israeli Defense Force soldiers from her living room while she hid under the bed, right around the corner. The IDF rescued Shavit at 4:30 p.m.
Epstein’s family lost eight members, and more than 60 individuals from Kfar Aza were murdered on
Oct. 7. Twenty community members were taken hostage, and five are still in Gaza today, more than 420 days later. About 2,500 people attended Epstein’s funeral.
“So many people came because everyone loved Netta,” Shavit said. “Netta was like a butterfly in a human being. He touched every heart. He was so kind to everyone... Every time we would go to the dining room on the kibbutz, with everyone eating together, he would stop every man and woman and child and ask them ‘how are you?’... Netta loves everyone, and I think the most important thing in his life was making sure that everyone knows how important they are. ‘You’re meant to be here, you’re here for a reason, and you should stay.’ That’s why continued on next page
continued from previous page
everyone loves Netta.”
Following her remarks, Shavit took questions from the audience. One individual asked what Shavit hopes the audience will take away from her story.
“I think that Jews in the United States suffer from hate more than I do,” she said. “In Israel, we have hate, but we are together in front of one enemy... between ourselves, it’s love. Our fight now is here, not in Israel, because Israel will be fine. I believe it, we are always fine. Here, it’s a different story. It’s my fight as well... The hate here will just grow and grow... It’s our fight now, and I think everyone should fight with us.”
Also speaking at the event was Tommy Hoffman, the executive director of Herzl Camp. Epstein spent four summers at Herzl, starting as a camper in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and in 2018 participating in their staff-in-training program.
we bring voices of resilience and firsthand experience to our community,” Kislanski said. “Irene embodies the strength and courage that define the spirit of the Jewish people. Her presence in our community has allowed us to learn from her journey, honor those who were killed and to stand together in solidarity with Israel.”
Shavit also spoke at the University of Kansas on Dec. 2 at an event co-hosted by KU Hillel, KU Chabad, Jewish Experiences and Herzl Camp.
Village Shalom renames main entrance in honor of Stanley Bushman
“Bearing witness and understanding what is going on in our world empowers us to be proud of who we are and emboldened to go out and defend who we are,” Hoffman said.
Community Shalicha Mika Kislanski was one of the main forces behind bringing Shavit and Faces of October Seventh to Kansas City. Faces of October Seventh also brought Gal Cohen Solal from Kibbutz Reim, Israel, to Kansas City earlier this year. The organization has brought 20 survivors to more than 300 communities across the world.
“In a time when Jewish communities around the world are witnessing immense challenges, it is crucial that
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with the larger KC community and Herzl Camp to welcome Irene to KU,” KU Hillel Executive Director Ethan Helfand said. “Her story is a deeply personal one for so many of our students, with many of them having known Netta from their time at Herzl Camp. Now, more than ever, we’re honored to host these opportunities for students to build their personal relationships to Israel and ensure that Netta’s memory will always be for a blessing.”
Kansas City host, Brazilian exchange student reunite after 53 years
In 1971, Nat and Tillie Goodman of Overland Park, Kansas, responded to the news that a kosher home was needed for a Jewish foreign exchange high school student.
With three of their four children gone from home and a four-bedroom house with plenty of space available, they agreed to welcome this exchange student who had specific needs. He would attend Shawnee Mission South High School (SMS) with their daughter Deborah, who was in her senior year.
The exchange student was Milton Maltz, son of a physician and one of several children in the Maltz family. He was from Porto Alegre, a city in the southeast corner of Brazil. At the time, the two metropolitan areas were about the same size, but Porto Alegre has grown considerably since. (Brazil has a significant Jewish population – more than 100,000.)
As an honorary member of the Goodman family, he had a memorable stay in Kansas City. Although, he got tired of explaining that he spoke Portuguese, not Spanish – but the two languages are “tzeemilar,” as he would say.
Milton participated with Deborah Goodman in BBYO and social activities and enjoyed his classes at SMS. He
Deborah Goodman and Dr. Milton Maltz in the 1970s (left) and in September. 30 years. She currently works for the Marfan Foundation for people living with genetic heart conditions.
did, however, miss opportunities to play soccer. So, one weekend he found a game, went and played. He came home smiling, having won.
Earlier this year, Goodman, who now lives in Fairfield, Connecticut, was planning a trip to London with her husband, Roger Agatston. She was reminded that Maltz (now Dr. Milton Maltz) was a physician, medical director and senior private practitioner on Harley Street, an area renowned for its private medical specialists.
The fact that Dr. Maltz is a cardiologist further piqued her interest in meeting and catching up. Goodman worked in development for the American Heart Association for more than
On Sept. 15, Goodman, Agatston, Dr. Maltz and his Brazilian-born wife, Fortuna, gathered in North London at their home. Goodman and Dr. Maltz looked at photographs from his time in Kansas City and reminisced about their youth. In addition to catching up and having fun, they talked about heart health.
The visit included a tour of the area and an outdoor barbeque with friends.
Since the visit, Dr. Maltz and Goodman have remained in touch and pledged to not wait another 50 years to get together.
Village Shalom recently revealed its newly-named main entrance, now called the Stanley J. Bushman Circle Drive, in recognition of Bushman’s generosity and dedication to the community.
Standing at the entrance is a granite monument inscribed with one of Bushman’s favorite quotes, “Are you helping others today?”
Jim Klein, Village Shalom’s past board chair and lifetime member, presented a video to Bushman on his 96th birthday, featuring the monument and messages of gratitude from across the community.
The monument serves as a lasting tribute to Bushman’s unwavering commitment to Village Shalom and the Jewish community. His unrestricted $2 million gift continues to support the care that Village Shalom has provided to Kansas City’s elders for generations.
Upon donating his gift in 2022, Bushman said, “With antisemitism what it is today, it is really important that we show that we care about the general community as well as the Jewish community, and I think that each of these charities [Village Shalom, Jewish Family Services and Jewish Vocational Service] makes a huge, huge difference.”
The new monument honoring Stanley J. Bushman at the entrance of Village Shalom.
Past Village Shalom board chair and lifetime member Jim Klein with Stanley J. Bushman.
Oct. 7 survivor Irene Shavit and Herzl Camp Executive Director Tommy Hoffman speaking to community members on Dec. 1. (Alexis Greenberg)
KU Chabad joins 2,000 college students in New York City
Earlier this month, students from KU Chabad joined more than 2,000 Jewish college students from 176 universities in Brooklyn, New York, for Pegisha 2024. Pegisha, held this year from Nov. 15 to 17, is the largest annual Jewish student event organized by Chabad on Campus International.
Twenty students attended alongside Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel, co-directors of KU Chabad, to represent the University of Kansas. The event offered “immersive Shabbat experiences,” including meals in local homes, workshops and a variety of educational and social programs.
“The KU students gained so much from this incredible experience, returning to campus empowered to serve as strong Jewish leaders,” Nechama Tiechtel said.
“The overwhelming response shows just how important it is for students to have a space where they can connect with their heritage, build lasting friendships and express pride in their Jewish identity.”
Originally designed for 1,200 participants, Pegisha expanded to accommodate nearly 2,000 students due to grow-
ing demand. The weekend culminated in a Havdalah ceremony with song, prayer and dance.
Although students represented a wide spectrum of schools — from small private colleges to large state universities, community colleges and Ivy Leagues — they shared a common bond to learn more about Judaism.
“This wasn’t just a weekend getaway — it was an experience of a lifetime,” said Shayna Weinstein, a KU junior from Chicago, Illinois. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many amazing Jewish people. Experiences like this, where you gain both spiritual and intellectual enrichment, are so rare.”
The KU participants stayed with host families in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. For many students, it was their first time experiencing a fully immersive Shabbat.
Rachel Kricsfeld, a KU senior from Omaha, Nebraska, appreciated being surrounded by such a supportive Jewish environment.
“It was so special to feel so comfortable in my own Judaism,” she said, reflecting on the challenges facing Jewish communities in the wake of the tragedies of Oct. 7.
Throughout the weekend, students engaged in workshops, networking sessions and career discussions. A lively debate on Jewish topics was led by Rabbi Tiechtel for the KU delegation.
“To anyone who attends Pegisha, it’s clear these young people are here for something meaningful,” Rabbi Tiechtel said. “Beneath all the fun, there’s a palpable sense of commitment to Judaism. The impact of this experience on a young person’s life is profound.”
“From the moment we landed, it was joyous — a dance party on the bus, amazing connections, and a feeling of one big Jewish family,” KU junior Jeremy Rosenwald said. “I’m excited to bring this spirit back to KU.”
LJCC to host panel on corporal and capital punishment
The Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation (LJCC) will host a panel devoted to the topic “What Judaism Says about the Death Penalty and the Carceral State.” The event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8, beginning at 5 p.m. Four panelists will participate: Dr. Samuel Brody, KU associate professor of religious studies; Rabbi Doug Alpert of Congregation Kol Ami; Kelson Bohnet, an attorney with the Kansas State Board of Indigents Defense; and Donna Schneweis, the chair of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty (KCADP).
Dr. Brody and Rabbi Alpert will offer reflections about what traditional Jewish sources say about the ethics of imprisonment and execution and speak to what contemporary Jews and others might learn from this body of thought today. Bohnet will offer a brief history of the death penalty and speak
to how the legal processes associated with it operate today at a national level and in the state of Kansas. Schneweis will provide an activist’s perspective, discussing the collateral damage of capital punishment – its effects on the larger community – and offer information about how to get involved for those who wish to put an end to this public policy.
“This event is the final installment in our 2024 ‘Dying Well’ series,” LJCC Director Lara Giordano said. “This series was meant to approach death from a plurality of perspectives — spiritual, ritualistic, communal, practical. I thought that bringing a Jewish lens to the contemporary practice of capital punishment was an interesting way to explore ‘dying well’ through its inversion – which is to say, dying badly; dying at the hands of the state.
“The richness of Jewish tradition is a
function of our perpetual revisitation of — our wrestling with — that tradition in new and different historical contexts,” Giordano continued. “I wanted to create a context where we could think Jewishly — think critically — about our own state policies in regards to corporal and capital punishment.”
The panelists’ presentations will be followed by a Q&A session and reception. This event is free and open to the public, but the LJCC requests advanced registration on its website, ljcc. shulcloud.com.
Pictured are panelists at the upcoming LJCC presentation on Judaism and the death penalty: (top) Professor Samuel Brody, Rabbi Doug Alpert, (bottom) Kelson Bohnet and Donna Schneweis.
What Judaism Says about the Death Penalty and the Carceral State
Friday, Dec. 6, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
LJCC, 917 Highland Dr. Lawrence, KS 66044
Pictured in front of the Chabad headquarters in New York City are KU Chabad Pegisha attendees (back row, from left) Ryan Furman, Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, Tyler Bermundo; (middle row) Robbie Metz, Freida Tiechtel, Jeremy Rosenwald, Ariana Shalinsky, Josh Glen, Dori Jezmir, Alyson Weinberg, Shai Luger, Charles Lachman, Aidan Charlip; (front row) Nechama Tiechtel, Adria Tipp, Shayna Weinstein, Adina Thompson, Brenna Gross, Rachel Kricsfeld and Keira Cohen.
Jewish Family Services to host Hanukkah Wrap Party
As part of its 2024 Hanukkah Project, Jewish Family Services (JFS) is asking for volunteers to wrap gifts at its annual Hanukkah Wrap Party.
The JFS Hanukkah Wrap Party will take place on Monday, Dec. 9, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the social hall of the Campus. Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts for clients. Registration for the wrap party and opportunities to sign up to do gift delivery should be
emailed to hanukkah@jfskc.org.
The Hanukkah project provides more than 300 Jewish individuals facing challenges with the opportunity to receive Hanukkah gifts.
Those interested can also donate to JFS. Donations can be made online, sent by mail or delivered to JFS offices at the Jewish Community Campus or at JFS’s Brookside office at 425 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, MO 64110.
Hanukkah Wrap Party
Monday, Dec. 9, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
Military historian presents about Israel at K.I. Synagogue
Jacob Stoil, Ph.D., presented “Israel at War: An Update” at Kehilath Israel Synagogue at an event sponsored by
on Nov. 17 about the war in Israel.
the K.I. Men’s Club on Nov. 17.
Dr. Stoil, who is the chair of applied history at West Point Modern War Institute and a senior fellow of 40th ID Urban Warfare Center, has lived in the Kansas City area for the past seven years, teaching out of Fort Leavenworth. He has conducted research on Israel and Israeli military history for the past 15 years.
Dr. Stoil provided an overview of the current military situation in Israel and the Middle East, including his informed views of key strategic dynamics at play and possible short- and longer-term scenarios. His speech was attended by about 50 K.I. members,
Jewish Community Foundation engages young adult givers
Last month, members of J-LEAD, the Jewish Community Foundation’s (JCF) young adult giving circle, gathered with their families for an afternoon of volunteering at Mitzvah Garden KC. The event was open to all J-LEAD members, their children and guests. Volunteers participated in a variety of projects to support the garden’s operations, including laying compost and milkweed seeds on a trail to attract monarch butterflies, turning apples into cider and harvesting tomatoes.
Founded in 2005, J-LEAD was created to inspire young Jewish adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s in Kansas City to join together to make an impact on the Jewish community. J-LEAD is a giving circle that makes grants from funds collected by its members. By pooling resources together and collectively making grant decisions, J-LEAD members amplify their impact.
J-LEAD volunteer outings connect members with the agencies and pro-
who were welcome to ask questions concerning the conflict.
At the presentation, Dr. Stoil expressed his appreciation to the local Jewish community for welcoming him and his wife during their years in Kansas City, as they are now moving to Washington, D.C.
Gather KC to host 2024 Chanukah Throwdown
Gather KC, a volunteer-led Jewish young adult organization, will host its 2024 Chanukah Throwdown, featuring its second competition to determine who makes the best latke in town. Judges will choose a winner, and spectators and attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy Hanukkah festivities. The event and competition will be held on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. at Torah Learning Center (8800 W 103rd St., Overland Park, KS 66212). A limited-edition t-shirt is also available.
The 2024 Chanukah Throwdown will include a dinner buffet, refreshments, dreidels, drinks and music. Those interested can attend either as part of a latke-making team or as a spectator. Teams must consist of at least three latke-makers. Gather KC will purchase and supply all ingredients. Team members must be at least 13 years
old. As of publication, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Principal Zohar Flacks and Vaad HaKashruth Director Rabbi Eddie Shapiro have been confirmed as two of the three guest judges.
More information is available at gatherkc.org/throwdown and Gather KC’s social media pages.
Last year’s “Chanukah Latke CookOff,” judged by Megan Pener, Victor Wishna and Mira Mitchell, was won by the Horesh family team “SephardiQue.”
Gather KC Chanukah Throwdown
Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.
Torah Learning Center, 8800 W 103rd St., Overland Park, KS 66212
grams that their membership dollars support. A longstanding partner of J-LEAD, Mitzvah Garden KC is a volunteer-supported, nonprofit garden that is dedicated to growing community while providing education about the agricultural roots of the Jewish calendar.
Another initiative through which JCF empowers young philanthropists is the B’nai Tzedek program. B’nai Tzedek encourages teens to participate in tzedakah by establishing their own charitable giving funds with JCF. To open a fund, a teen contributes a minimum of $125, which JCF triple-matches with $375, resulting in a beginning fund balance of at least $500.
Each year, B’nai Tzedek fundholders may grant 10% of their funds to any Jewish charity in Kansas City, Israel or another Jewish community of residence during or after college. Teens are invited to deepen their understanding of communal needs at JCF’s annual B’nai Tzedek Shuk, where they can meet representatives from community organizations and learn how their support can make a difference. For further engagement, B’nai Tzedek participants can join the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council, a group of teens that meets monthly to encourage their peers to give and learn about how to maximize their philanthropic impact. The Youth Council also plays a key role in planning the Shuk.
To help support J-LEAD and B’nai Tzedek, JCF recently received a grant from the Walmart Foundation, Overland Park Neighborhood Market. More information about these programs is available by contacting Suzanne Galblum Dicken, JCF director of philanthropy, at sdicken@jcfkc.org or (913) 327-8286.
J-LEAD members and their families participating in a volunteer day at Mitzvah Garden KC.
Jacob Stoil, Ph.D., presents to K.I. members
Tannin serves up Hanukkah menu
Chef Brian Aaron and Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen (1526 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64108) are offering a special Hanukkah menu this holiday season.
From Wednesday, Dec. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 29, guests can enjoy a three-course meal that includes matzah ball soup, braised brisket, latkes and babka bread pudding.
Visit tanninwinebar.com for pricing and to make reservations.
Jerry Seinfeld coming to KC
Famed Jewish comedian Jerry Seinfeld will perform with fellow comedian Jim Gaffigan at the T-Mobile Center on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Kansas City is just one of the 10 stops on a tour that’s taking the comedians across North America (including Omaha) and Canada. This tour follows their successful four-stadium tour last year.
Visit t-mobilecenter.com/events for tickets.
Ga’avah Hanukkah Party
Ga’avah KC, the community’s Jewish LGBTQ+ group, is hosting its Hanukkah party from 8 to 10 pm on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Uptown Lounge (3400 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111).
The party will take place during “Queens of Pop: Madonna, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan,” a live performance event featuring the hit songs of these singers. There will also be trivia and sing-alongs, and tickets include a dessert bar.
This event is for ages 21 and over. Visit bit.ly/ GaAvahHanukkah2024 to learn more and get tickets.
New Hanukkah show debuting at White Theatre
Tickets are now on sale for “The Dreidel Players Present… Best Hanukkah Show Ever!” at The White Theatre at The J.
“Best Hanukkah Show Ever” was created by Jeremy Desmon and Victor Wishna and is part of the New Works Initiative. It follows a passionate, not-quite-ready-for-primetime theatre troupe that bands together to create the world’s most ambitious Hanukkah show in just eight days.
This is a special engagement with limited performances: Saturday, Dec. 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Visit thejkc.org/white-theatre to get tickets.
The words you’ll be searching for are all subjects of articles in this week’s Chronicle! The words can be forward or backward, oriented up and down, left and right or diagonal.
BEITECHAD DAVIDHARRIS STANLEYBUSHMAN PEGISHA WRAPPARTY JLEAD JACOBSTOIL LATKES HANUKKAHMENORAH JULIETS SHEFFIELDCEMETERY RIPPLEOFKINDNESS REUNION HBDRACHEL
• Beit Echad (pg. 1)
• David Harris (pg. 1)
• Hanukkah Menorah (pg. 8)
• Jacob Stoil (pg. 5)
• J-LEAD (pg. 5)
• JULIETs (pg. 9)
• Latkes (pg. 5)
• Pegisha (pg. 4)
• Ripple of Kindness (pg. 11)
• Sheffield Cemetery (pg. 10)
• Stanley Bushman (pg. 3)
• Wrap Party (pg. 5)
B’nai B’rith Bowling Scores
The following bowlers achieved high scores in the Sunday Kansas City B’nai B’rith Men’s Bowling League at Ward Parkway Lanes on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1.
Nov. 24
500 Series
Hunter Thomas 771 (279 268 224)
Steve Thomas 626 (202 233 191)
Scott Hecht 579 (199 172 208)
Mark Newton 573 (214 148 211)
Bruce W Parker 563 (173 211 179)
Stuart Pollack 552 (165 190 197)
Nick R Meyers 535 (162 179 194)
Ryan Thomas 525 (192 176 157)
Steve Greenberg 517 (178 183 156)
170 Series
Bill Sloan 223
Morty Rock 204
Tom Balke 198
Michael Sokol 182
Marion Potts 182
Steve Baraban 179
Christopher Eldredge 176
Kent Verden 175
Larry Katzif 171
Irwin Snitz 170
Dec. 1
500 Series
Hunter Thomas 659 (246 179 234)
Scott Hecht 604 (201 191 212)
Steve Thomas 596 (167 238 191)
Ryan Thomas 577 (234 162 181)
Mark Newton 562 (177 195 190)
Nick R Meyers 553 (200 226 127)
Bill Sloan 551 (190 188 173)
Michael Altman 535 (179 167 189)
Steve Baraban 527 (167 194 166)
Bruce W Parker 510 (191 165 154)
Bruce Singer 507 (155 183 169)
Tom Balke 507 (149 182 176)
Irwin Snitz 501 (164 167 170)
Steve Eisman 500 (136 191 173)
170 Series
Michael Sokol 184
Kent Verden 183
Miles Ross 183
Ray Kopek 177
Jerry Shapiro 177
Scott Bronston 176
Marion Potts 175
Christopher Eldredge 171
Steve Greenberg 171
Stuart Pollack 170
If you are interested in bowling during the ‘24-’25 season for a competitive, fun, social atmosphere, you can contact Tom Balke at (913) 244-7010 or balketw@yahoo.com or Stuart Pollack at (913) 957-3716 or skp28@aol.com.
The National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Kansas City Section got together recently for happy hour at The Bar Prairie Village. Among the attendees (all pictured left) were (top row, from left) Amy Both, Susan Kivett; Pam Wirken, Nancy Dishman; (bottom row) Linda Stark, Diana Bright, Janie Cubbage; Debbie Chase and Marcia Ruderman.
Above: Jewish Family Services recently hosted a Community Cocktails event at J. Rieger & Co. Pictured are Lisa Angelotti, Debbie Bass, Jen Lydon, Shawn Barber and Deanna McCabe.
Left: Staff of Jewish Federation donated toys and gift cards to Jewish Family Services for its Hanukkah Project. Pictured are Rebekah Ebeling, Morgan Fasbinder and Alexis Greenberg.
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City hosted its first pickleball tournament on Nov. 17 at Chicken N’ Pickle Overland Park. Pictured are (above left) staff members (front row, from left) Andi Milens, Jay Lewis, Taly Friedman, Becca Graham, (back row) Jon Schwartzbard, Rebekah Ebeling, Ty Fernandez, Erin Markowicz, Derek Gale and Kaitlin Birbaum; as well as participants (top row, from left) Jim Sluyter, Marc Hammer; Jeremy and Katie Terman; tournament chairs Rachel and Noah Slabotsky with their daughter Mila; and morning novice round winners Sam Orelove and Noah Eisemann.
Hanukkah Menorah
By Ellie Holsten
Made to hang on a wall, this Hanukkah menorah from 18th-century Italy would have been a striking feature of its owners’ home during the celebration of the holiday. The family crest at its center, two lions and a palm tree, identifies its one-time owners as the Fua family.
Each of the blown glass cups hangs in the brass frame by its lip. The dangling glasses would be filled with oil and lit on each night of Hanukkah. A metal slot above the family crest would have held the shamash light, possibly another piece of blown glass, but that part was lost before this piece came to the Klein Collection.
In Sephardic communities, wall-hanging Hanukkah menorahs like this one are favored over the bench-style and branch-style hanukkiot that come from Ashkenazi communities. This hanukkiah is more similar to pieces found in North Africa than it is to pieces from other parts of Europe.
More information about the Michael Klein Collection at the Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah can be found at kleincollection.org or by calling (913) 663-4050 to schedule a tour.
The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle and the Klein Collection are partneringtoshareandhighlightsomeofthe collection’suniquepieces.
community news
New St. Joseph congregation Beit Echad looks forward, respects the past
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it doesn’t feel like you’re walking into a retail store,” said Bob Ott, community member and president of B’nai Sholem. “Plus, for security reasons, it restricts visibility of what’s going on in here, so you don’t feel like you have to have curtains on the windows or worry about people peeking in at you. I think that this space just works tremendously well.”
Another benefit is that community member Steve Rosenak’s optometry office is in the same strip mall, meaning that there is a relationship and familiarity with the landlord and location.
Inside, the centerpiece of the sanctuary is its new ark. Neither Adath Joseph nor B’nai Sholem had an ark that would fit inside Beit Echad, so skilled community members and congregants worked to design and build a custom one. Stained glass from the old ark of B’nai Sholem was able to be repurposed for the Beit Echad one.
Unfortunately, the stained glass at Adath Joseph’s building is embedded into its walls and can’t be removed. However, the remaining glass from B’nai Sholem (which is currently in storage) is planned to be hung on the walls of the sanctuary in backlit shadow boxes.
Above the ark is a custom ner tamid (eternal light), dedicated in memory of community members Beverly and Sidney Cohen (z”l), that was handmade in Israel. Shipping issues because of the war in Israel delayed the arrival of the light until July, when it came without proper wiring. As with the ark, a community member stepped up and rewired the light to make it function properly.
Past the sanctuary are a small kitchen, social hall and restrooms. The location, while big enough for the congregation, is not big enough for the wealth of historical items from B’nai Sholem and Adath Joseph.
“It makes me sad that there’s not a lot coming over from either [synagogue]... we want history, because history is where we came from,” community member Sandy Rosenak said.
The yahrzeit plaques of B’nai Sholem and Adath Joseph are among the items that won’t fit. Each plaque
is affixed to a large board and contains hundreds of names of deceased Jewish community members. Because of the importance of these items, the community devised a creative solution.
“We are going to take photos of the large yahrzeit plaques professionally, in a tasteful manner, and then create a memorial book that we’ll have [in the synagogue],” Steve Rosenak said. A committee might be formed in the future to return the plaques to the families of their loved ones.
Bringing new members and respecting history
Community members hope that the creation of Beit Echad will bring more congregants and attract any uninvolved Jews in St. Joseph.
“We want to draw new people… We want to reach out to people who normally didn’t feel they were a part of a Jewish community,” Steve Rosenak said. “We can attract new members from surrounding areas, because now, when they walk in, they’ll go, ‘Oh, it’s brand new. It’s not falling down. It’s in a safe neighborhood.’”
Current board member Sandy Smail of Maryville, Missouri, joined Adath Joseph after converting to Judaism a few years ago. She became invested in the future of the St. Joseph Jewish community, not least because the next nearest Jewish community to her was in Council Bluffs, Iowa, almost two
hours away.
She was invited to join the board of Beit Echad, coming in with a fresh perspective and without the weight of Adath Joseph or B’nai Sholem’s long history. Smail said that it was easy to become a part of the community, and she feels as though she’s “come home, part of the family.”
“It’s exciting to be a part of something brand new,” Smail said. “I always likened it to giving birth — there’s a lot of hard work involved.”
While Beit Echad’s leadership looks forward to a new chapter, the closing of the old chapter isn’t easy.
“We still want to appreciate what we all bring to this. We want to appreciate who was here and who was in this community before us,” Ott said.
Dick Rosenthal, a lifetime St. Joseph resident, comes to Beit Echad with strong memories of the Jewish community when he was young, before synagogues Shaare Sholem and B’nai Yaakov merged into B’nai Sholem in 1960.
“Years ago, when there were three [synagogues], our family belonged to all three,” he said. “We used to go upstairs and sit with Bubbe, and downstairs was Zayde.”
The deep connection also extends to Sandy Rosenak, who remembers many of her life milestones at B’nai Sholem.
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Seven Torahs fill Beit Echad’s new custom-made ark with doors featuring stained glass from the former building of Temple B’nai Sholem.
community news
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“I do think back, and I still feel the loss,” she said. “I feel the sadness. I miss it. We were married there… but we’ve grieved that loss.”
More work to do
The creation of Beit Echad — from religious, financial, legal and practical angles — was unprecedented in St. Joseph in the modern era. The synagogue is still looking at options for a regular part-time rabbi and potentially a Sunday school if more young Jewish families join in the future.
“It’s still in process,” Ott said about Beit Echad. “Yes, we finally got over this hurdle [opening the synagogue], but we still have blank walls. We still got Judaica to figure out what we’re going to do with. We’ve got to make a decision on a rabbi. We’ve got to determine what our costs are and how we’re going to cover them. All those things that every other synagogue that’s been in existence for decades and decades have already figured out.”
Despite the work ahead, Beit Echad is set to continue St. Joseph’s long Jewish history at a time when the Jewish people must remain strong.
“Especially given the terrible events
New St. Joseph congregation Beit Echad’s logo.
of this past year in Israel and the frighteningly increasing antisemitism at home and around the world — not to mention the awful suffering of so many in the context of our war and the ongoing war in Ukraine — I was moved by the spirit of togetherness and deep desire by all involved with Beit Echad for connection — interpersonal, intrapersonal and with G-d,” said Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, who led the congregation’s first High Holiday services.
The congregation has since been meeting every Friday night, and congregants continue their involvement and effort to maintain and grow the Beit Echad.
“The potential [for Beit Echad] is the exciting part,” Sandy Rosenak said. “We’ve got lots of ideas.”
More information about Beit Echad is available at beit-echad.net.
JULIETs to hold event on pain reprocessing therapy
Jewish Unforgettable Ladies Interested in Eating Together (JULIETs) will host psychologist Dr. Pilar Jacobson for a conversation about pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) and the emotional underpinnings of physical illness.
According to PRT practitioners, understanding the connection between the body and the brain is key to providing interventions not only for the recovery of physical deficits in the body but also for the alleviation of chronic pain. Research has found that the brain has the power to generate pain even in the absence of physical damage or after a physical injury has healed.
Dr. Jacobson, a clinical psychologist, has practiced in the Kansas City met-
ropolitan area for 34 years. Early in her practice, she became interested in the mind/body connection. She received training in PRT after a family member’s long standing back pain was alleviated using these methods.
The JULIETs program will take place at Congregation Beth Torah (6100 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS 66209) on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 12:30 p.m.
Reservations are required by Thursday, Dec. 12, by contacting Susie Klinock at JULIETs.KC@gmail.com.
Jewish women (and non-Jewish women with a Jewish spouse) are invited to all JULIETs events, and no synagogue affiliation is required. Attendees should bring their own lunch or snack; JULIETs will provide beverages and paper goods.
Upcoming Events Upcoming Events
December 05 05
Grandparents are invited for coffee, chitchat, and ideas on Jewish grandparenting.
December 05 05
2024 Annual Meeting
Join Federation President & CEO Jay Lewis for an evening of community and conversation.
December 15 15
Hanukkah Glow Party
Families in our community can enjoy games, crafts, food and a silent disco with DJ Stann!
December 19 19
JEX Acclaimed Author Series
Jewish Experiences will host Beth Kander, author of “I Made It Out Of Clay.”
December 21 21
YAD Bagel Bash
Federation’s Young Adults Division (YAD) will celebrate Hanukkah at the Puttery on the Plaza.
JULIETs on PRT
Sunday, Dec. 15, at 12:30 p.m.
Congregation Beth Torah, 6100 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS 66209
Kansas City landmark Sheffield Cemetery greens up
By Martin Rosenberg Special to The Chronicle
In late November, a squad of about 18 volunteers from Bridging the Gap fanned out along Wilson Avenue and Belmont Boulevard on the northern fringe of Kansas City to plant 31 trees on the public right-of-way adjacent to Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner’s Sheffield Cemetery.
It was the culmination of a multi-year effort to secure special funding from the city to upgrade the surroundings of one of the city’s oldest cemeteries.
Some buried there were born around the time of the Civil War.
The neighborhood, now somewhat blighted and industrial, once was home to Jewish Kansas Citians, recalled one Congregation Beth Torah member. His grandmother played in nearby streets around when the cemetery was consecrated in 1901.
Now, slowly spreading their roots in the soil are seven newly-planted redbuds, six trident maples, two lindens, two elms, two crab trees, six oaks and a few lesser-known tree varieties.
The project was funded by a special $18,500 grant approved by the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council as part of
its plan to green the cityscape by planting 10,000 trees to fight climate change and heat islanding in lower-income sections of the city.
Mark Morales, president of the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, was on hand for the tree planting and said he was elated by the major neighborhood upgrade, a landmark day in his 15-plus years at the helm of the group.
complexes and soften the clamor of long freight trains that frequently rumble by.
He said he plans to bootstrap on the tree planting to mobilize other efforts to upgrade surrounding neighborhoods and join forces with others to rollback homeless encampments in the area which have led to vandalism. Area businesses have expressed interest in matching funds for such efforts, he said.
The tree planting initiative was launched three years ago when three redbud trees were planted along 6200 Wilson Avenue flanking the entryway to Sheffield near the cemetery’s
then-newly refurbished chapel.
The trees were planted to honor the memory of Matilda Rosenberg, Peter Shemitz and Charles Megerman by their families.
Some congregants of BIAV, the Orthodox synagogue that owns the cemetery, remember that decades ago there were trees along Wilson Avenue that disappeared over the years as a result of bad weather and tree decline caused by blight and disease.
Now, with a new generation of families using the cemetery, there is heightened interest in greening the area to help screen nearby industrial
City crews have been out to whitewash a railroad embankment covered with graffiti. Morales said he would like to engage local area high school art students with artists from the Jewish community to perhaps paint a mural there.
The city is putting heightened emphasis on rapidly expanding new tree planting initiatives to combat climate change and roll back the problem of “heat islanding” in the summer, when low-income neighborhoods largely devoid of tree cover experience measurable increases in temperature as the result of the lack of shade.
Forest Decker, director of Kansas City, Missouri, city government’s Neighborhood Services Department, said, “Additional emphasis is being placed on tree planting along several fronts and by multiple departments.”
Hundreds attend discussion with Jewish advocate David Harris
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The event was spearheaded by community member Patricia Uhlmann. B’nai Jehudah’s Rabbi Stephanie Kramer facilitated a Q&A with Harris.
After introductions by Uhlmann, Jewish Federation President and CEO Jay Lewis and JCRB|AJC Interim Executive Director Neta Meltzer, Rabbi Kramer began by asking Harris if current events remind him of the 1930s in Germany. In response, Harris warned against attempting to appease extremist ideologies like Iran’s because appeasement did not work against the Nazis. He also expressed concern about “neo-isolationism” and the importance of the United States’ leadership in global affairs and at the United Nations.
“[At the U.N.] Security Council, there’s one hand, literally one hand of one delegate who stands between a resolution that could be legally enforceable,” Harris said. “A global arms ban on transfer of weapons to the
State of Israel, for example — the one hand is the hand of the United States of America… You and I have no control over when that moment might come. It could come under Joe Biden. It could come under Donald Trump. It could come under another leader, whoever that leader might be, and whoever controls the Congress. They have to be of a mind, courage and principle, who instruct the American delegate who raises that hand.”
Regarding antisemitism and anti-Zionism, he called for a “spinal transplant” for the Jewish community, saying that it must draw from Israel’s resilience to face it with courage and determination.
“Unlike five or 10 years ago, to be a Jew in this country — a proud Jew, a proud Zionist — entails a certain courage and a certain risk,” Harris said. “When we ask our children to stand up at university, do we understand what we’re asking them to do and what the consequences might be? We need to
transplants, but of swivel-heads,” Harris said.
Politics were also addressed as Rabbi Kramer asked about the conglomeration of American senators proposing an arms ban against Israel. Harris mentioned that politicians against the war in Israel continue to blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the ongoing war.
learn from Israel, these sort of superheroes, and not just applaud them, but begin to emulate them.”
He also said the community should be aware of antisemitism on all sides of the political and ideological spectrum.
“I’m swivel-headed and worrying about left-wing antisemitism, rightwing antisemitism, jihadist antisemitism. I would urge all of us, whatever your party affiliations may be, to become not just recipients of spinal
“What happened on Oct. 7 was not a response to Benjamin Netanhayu,” Harris said. “It was a long, coordinated effort in which Hamas jumped the gun… Whether Yair Lapid or Benny Gantz — or, for that matter, Shimon Peres or Golda Meir — had been prime minister, I, for one, don’t believe for a single moment the calculation [of Hamas] would have changed, because this is not about [Netanyahu]. This is about Israel.”
The topic of rising anti-Israel sentiment in young adults, both Jewish and
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Volunteers plant trees around Sheffield Cemetery in late November. (Martin Rosenberg)
David Harris in conversation with Rabbi Stephanie Kramer.
community news
continued from previous page not, elicited from Harris criticism of certain colleges — both due to them not enacting consequences against antisemitic acts and for the fact that Qatar is a major donor to American universities — and Jewish education itself.
“We have allowed ‘tikkun olam-ism’ to replace Judaism and Zionism as the secular religion of too many American Jews,” Harris said. “...I’m someone who very much believes in our ethical and moral obligations to others, but everything has to be calibrated. When ‘tikkun olam-ism’ in a way displaces or replaces the foundation of Judaism and Zionism, or our whole heritage and tradition gets boiled down to nothing more than ‘do-goodism,’ forgive me, but what distinguishes Jews from Methodists and Quakers and other people who want to do good?”
Harris decried the divisions in the worldwide Jewish community and said that it has resulted in the lack of national Jewish leaders like Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Elie Wiesel and Natan Sharansky.
“I can tell you who [the national Jewish leaders] are, but they’re non-Jews,” he said, naming people such as Rep.
Richie Torres, Sen. John Fetterman, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “They’re standing up for us, loud, proud, vocal, unflinching, and we’re still involved in our own smaller territorial turf issues.”
He added that this event proved that the Kansas City Jewish community is an exception, citing the list of organizations that united to support the event. He also thanked former JCRB|AJC CEO Gavriela Geller for her work during his tenure at AJC; Federation President and CEO Jay Lewis as “one of the leading figures in the Federation world, not just in Kansas City;” and Kansas City and the state of Missouri for being the birthplace of Eddie Jacobson and President Harry Truman.
The event was held in partnership with several community organizations and synagogues, including Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, The J, Jewish Experiences, Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC, Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner, Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Beth Torah, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, New Reform Temple and B’nai Jehudah.
SevenDays seeks nominations for 2025 Ripple of Kindness Award
SevenDays is seeking nominations from the public for its annual Ripple of Kindness Award. The honoree is someone whose impact on the community is apparent but with no expectation of reward or return. Nominations are open until midnight on Dec. 24. The winner(s) will be honored at SevenDays’ Cultivate Kindness Breakfast on Wednesday, April 2.
Nominations can be made at bit.ly/ SevenDays25.
SevenDays is a Kansas-City-based nonprofit organization that promotes kindness and understanding through education and dialogue. SevenDays is marking its 11th year in the community. Last year, SevenDays marked its 10th anniversary, honoring 10 Kansas Citians with the award: Kevin Birzer, co-founder and board member of the Giving Grove; Alvin Brooks, community activist and former Kansas City, Missouri, city councilman; Peggy Dunn, former mayor of Leawood, Kansas; Alan Edelman, former associate executive director of the Jewish Federation of
Greater Kansas City; Eyyup Esen, outreach director of the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest and college educator; the late SuEllen Fried, a dance therapist, author and community activist who founded BullySafe USA; Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Dr. Gary Morsch, a physician who is founder of the Global Care Force and Heart to Heart International; Barbara Unell, author and Co-Founder of The Raised with Love and Limits Foundation; and Kar Woo, a native of Hong Kong who is founder of Artists Helping the Homeless.
“For 11 years, we’ve committed to cultivating kindness because reducing violence in our schools and communities is critical,” Mindy Corporon, SevenDays cofounder, said. “By providing time, support, and resources to our youth through schools and our mentoring programs, we’re not just inspiring kindness — we’re creating meaningful, positive impacts that ripple through generations."
More information is available at sevendays.org.
By Hilary Lewis (z”l) Central Agency for Jewish Education
For this week’s Shalom at Home column, we’ve reachedintothearchivestopullone of Hilary Lewis’ (z”l) articles from the“JewishParenting”columnfrom Nov.10,2000.LewiswasJewishFederation’s director of school services anddirectorofitsteachers’resource center.
Making time to be together as a family often takes thoughtful planning. This special time can be very valuable on multiple levels. Storing memories, creating bonds and sharing experiences are the ties, which help a family appreciate one another.
A bonus family activity is one that has Jewish significance. Visits to the Jewish book section at Barnes and Noble or a stop at the local Jewish deli can become an identity delight. A hike in the woods or around a lake can be a meaningful Jewish family experience if you take time to bask in the wonder of God’s gifts.
To appreciate the splendor of nature, you need to walk the land, climb the slopes, cross streams, feel heat, experience chills, and encounter the flora and fauna. What better activity for a family than to enjoy togetherness down a path with eyes open to nature’s miracles. Holding hands or walking single-file with the youngest perched on a parent’s shoulders singing songs is an outing, which will be remembered.
Consider starting your hike with a blessing. A hike doesn’t have to be just a walk in the woods, but a spiritual journey. By sharing with the family a beautiful sunrise, a spiritual aspect electrifies the moment. Helping one another on a
trail to overcome obstacles encourages dependence on trust. Conversations flow easily about big and little issues.
Many congregations organize Mitzvah Days. I hope that these annual events spark Jewish families to select an organization, agency or individual that they assist on an ongoing basis. I know of a family that reads to a person with vision loss weekly. Another family commits to helping youth with physical challenges learn to ride horses. Several families are a part of a havurah that, on non-Jewish holidays, provides food and also serves with enthusiasm and warmth a meal at a homeless shelter. Each congregation has a cadre of families that are on call to provide rides to synagogue for those who do not have transportation. Whatever the need, hopefully there are families that will step forward and take action. When a flyer is sent home from religious school inviting families to a Jewish communal activity, I hope that it is put in a very visible place to remind the family of the event. It is very important to connect with other Jewish families engaged in a Jewish activity.
Friends who share many experiences often become extended family to one another.
Parties, life cycle events, community service projects, group study are all a part of an endless list of enriching family experiences. For those times when a family just wants to veg out and enjoy one-another’s company, talking is a very satisfying and informative treat. Values are imparted, family history brought to light and special endearments expressed if families only take the time to talk and listen to one another.
Having fun as a Jewish family is worth planning. Your grandchildren may be the true beneficiaries.
Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle staff, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, or the Kansas City Jewish Community as a whole.
A Hanukkah mitzvah: Spreading light through Jewish Family Services’ Hanukkah Project
By Andi Kahclamat
JFS Volunteer and Marketing and Communications Director, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Each year, Jewish Family Services (JFS) does its Hanukkah Project, ensuring those in our community who are facing challenges will have a celebratory holiday providing gifts and more. It’s a way to bring light to those who may be facing difficult times, ensuring they are cared for and part of our greater Jewish family. Through this project, this Hanukkah season, more than 300 individuals and families will receive wrapped gifts and gift cards; some will also receive gently loved Hanukkiot as well.
JFS’ Emerging Leaders has taken on a big role with this Hanukkah project the past few years. I first got involved with the JFS Emerging Leaders program after reading a Chronicle article about the new group almost two years
ago. I had been looking for a way to get involved in the community and meet new Jewish friends, and this was a great opportunity.
My family struggled with poverty when I was growing up. My mom often had to make impossible choices about what to spend our limited money on. Could we go another month before the electricity shut off so we could restock shampoo and toilet paper at home? How could we combine random food pantry ingredients into meals that three little kids could eat? Could paper towels be used instead of menstrual pads this month? We were struggling significantly, and we really could have used help from an organization like JFS to make ends meet. Unfortunately, we didn’t live in Kansas City, so that
The idea of collecting menorahs was a convergence of happy accidents. I’m a proud Jew by Choice and I know how expensive Judaica can be — and also how much it enhances the holiday to have pretty things. It’s actually a mitzvah (called hiddur mitzvah) to beautify your rituals. Having a menorah is one of those things that doesn’t make-or-break your survival, but it does make life more joyous, and we can all use more of that.
wasn’t an option. I wish it had been. There is so much shame that many families in poverty experience. It’s hard to ask for help, and then you’re often asked to completely disregard your dignity to access it. I can’t tell you how many times I felt worse after accessing “help” that made me wonder if going without was the better option. The price of help was humiliation — and you have to be extremely desperate to pay it. Sometimes we were desperate enough for it.
I had previously volunteered with another organization in town and actually quit serving with them because the attitude towards its clients was “they get what they get, and they should be grateful for it.” That was exactly the attitude I remember encountering as a person in need. I remember sitting in one meeting as a group of people argued whether a client “deserved” a used coat — and they decided the person did not deserve to be warm that winter. I couldn’t believe it. It was unconscionable.
So, when I learned about JFS, and the values of dignity and humanity that permeate every service, I was in love. JFS truly operates with the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh, the idea that all human beings deserve dignity, having been created in the image of G-d. I have seen firsthand how heartfelt and warm the staff and volunteers are toward JFS clients. When our Emerging Leaders group gets together, you can hear the love shine through that the volunteers have for strangers we’ll never meet. JFS truly embodies our Jewish values in every interaction.
Additionally, as a Jew by Choice, I know that pre-loved Judaica is mysteriously even better than brand-new Judaica. Receiving a piece that another family used before makes me feel more like a part of the tapestry of the Jewish people. I don’t have a Jewish bubbe to inherit from, but having a pre-loved Judaica piece connects me spiritually with Klal Yisrael.
Last year, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah generously donated remainders from their Judaica swap, which included a couple dozen menorahs. It was a wonderful surprise. We offered them to JFS Hanukkah clients, and every one was adopted out. Clients were so excited to have this special addition to their holiday.
Most of our menorahs are pre-loved pieces donated by generous members of our community. Since the synagogues aren’t having Judaica swaps this year (that I know of), our menorahs for this year came directly from families. We also look at sales of these items to add to the collection. Community member Henri Gaeddert has done the lion’s share of collecting from the community. We have a mix of brandnew and pre-loved menorahs this year.
This year, 27 households indicated they don’t have a menorah, and we will be distributing these beautiful ritual objects to them to celebrate the Festival of Lights. In addition, every household participating in the JFS Hanukkah project will be receiving menorah candles making sure they have the very basics to mark the festival (Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 24.)
I am so grateful to have found a volunteer home with JFS working to support people in the community.
Andi Kahclamat with some of the Hanukkiot collected for Jewish Family Services’ Hanukkah Project.
global news
For legal crusader Amy Bach, data is the key to holding America’s justice system accountable
By Larry Luxner Jewish Telegraphic Agency
ThisstorywassponsoredbyandproducedinpartnershipwithTheCharles Bronfman Prize, an annual prize presented to a humanitarian whose innovative work fueled by their Jewish values has significantly improved the world. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.
Nearly 20 years ago, Amy Bach, a young lawyer and journalist, spent time in a courtroom in rural Georgia to write about routine injustices in the legal system.
She watched as a public defender pleaded 48 of his clients guilty in a single day.
“He didn’t know their names or their faces or their cases. But he wasn’t a bad attorney,” she recalled. “The problem wasn’t one bad apple; it takes a system to create bad outcomes like this.”
Bach wrote about her experience for The Nation and eventually published a 320-page exposé of the U.S. legal system titled “Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court.” The groundbreaking book was based on eight years of research and chronicled what she calls “an assembly-line approach” that rewards mediocrity, bypasses due process and shortchanges both defendants and victims.
In 2011, a philanthropist inspired by the book gave Bach seed money to establish a nonprofit organization, Measures for Justice, which develops data tools and services that help communities reshape the criminal justice system. The nonprofit pushes for data transparency and accessibility. And for the accountability that ensues.
“Data is key to helping policymakers and the public hold the criminal justice system accountable to its promises,” Bach said.
In 2013, Measures for Justice started
out by proving that administrative data could be used to assess performance.
Amy Bach
The organization received a U.S. Department of Justice grant to develop a pilot program in Milwaukee County, later expanded to cover all of Wisconsin, to compile performance data from the state. Four years later, the organization launched its National Data Portal with data that spans the justice system, from arrest to post-conviction.
Bach achieved a milestone in 2018 with the passage of Florida’s Criminal Justice Data Transparency Act, which requires officials in all of Florida’s 67 counties to submit information monthly to an online database on 28 core performance measures, ranging from the time to deposition in misdemeanor cases to the percentage of cases resulting in conviction.
Today, Measures for Justice has an annual budget of $17 million and employs 83 full-time staffers. They continue to be a key player in the movement to reshape the system with data.
“What we do is take data that’s used to track what’s going on in justice systems and we put it in a format everyone can understand,” Bach said.
But first, the organization addresses the problem of bad data, which is rampant.
“It’s everywhere,” Bach said. “Missing data, incomplete data sets, data errors — these problems prevent courts, police, prosecutors and their communities from using data to assess system performance. This is why we help counties fix their data before anything else.”
Measures for Justice recently
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global news
For legal crusader Amy Bach, data is the key to holding America’s justice system accountable
continued from previous page
launched two new products for county criminal justice agencies. The first is called Commons, a data platform that brings the public and their public servants together to look at local data and set joint policy goals as a result.
The second is called Groundwork, which helps local agencies and offices assess and improve their data quality.
Bach said police brutality is one of the most disturbing issues involving law enforcement today. She noted the recent case of Sonia Massey, 36, a Black woman who was shot to death in her own kitchen on July 6, 2024, by a Springfield, Illinois, police officer after she had called 911 to report a prowler.
“It’s atrocious what happened to
her. But if you want to fix police brutality, you have to make hiring practices transparent — and see whether calls like this for mental health are being addressed properly,” Bach said.
“Only then can you measure progress. Ongoing data collection and sharing is key to accountability and changing culture in the long term.”
The organization will be adding two new police sites in the spring of 2025, including Rochester, N.Y., where the organization is based and where she lived for nearly 20 years.
Bach grew up in New York City and attended Stanford Law School, then clerked for a federal appellate judge in Miami before joining The Nation. She attributes her passion for justice in
part to her Reform Jewish upbringing.
“Of course, there’s tikkun olam [repairing the world], but I also think there’s something about questioning the status quo. I have always cared deeply about making sure people are treated fairly, which is a cornerstone of Judaism,” she said.
In recognition of her efforts, in 2018 Bach received the Charles Bronfman Prize, a $100,000 award given annually to a Jewish humanitarian under 50 whose innovative work has significantly improved the world. The Prize was founded in 2004 by Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Stephen Bronfman, together with their spouses, Andrew Hauptman and Claudine Blondin Bronfman, to honor their
father, the businessman and philanthropist for whom the prize is named.
On Sept. 24, as part of The Charles Bronfman Prize’s 20th anniversary celebration at the Jewish Museum in New York, Bach moderated a discussion titled “Young Global Leaders: The Challenge of Running a Social Justice Organization Today.” Participants included fellow Charles Bronfman Prize laureates David Hertz, co-founder of the food justice organization Gastromotiva; Nik Kafka, founder and CEO of Teach a Man to Fish, which teaches entrepreneurship to young people; and Jared Genser, international human rights lawyer and founder of the international human rights group Freedom Now.
For women using IVF to screen embryos for genetic diseases, these peers can offer support
By Eric Berger Jewish Telegraphic Agency
This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with Sharsheret, the national Jewish breast cancer and ovarian cancer organization.ThisarticlewasproducedbyJTA’s native content team.
In March 2020, around the time B. and her husband started planning to have children, they learned they each carried genetic mutations with significantly elevated risks for a variety of cancers.
BRCA genetic mutations, which are 10 times more common among Ashkenazi Jews than among the general U.S. population, significantly increase the risks of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer – and also melanoma
and prostate and pancreatic cancers. If either parent carries the BRCA mutation, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. If both parents carry it, as in B.’s case, the likelihood is even higher.
The couple had to make a decision: They either could try to conceive naturally and bear the risks, or use in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and test the embryos for the BRCA mutation before implanting. This type of procedure is called preimplantation genetic testing, or PGT.
Sometimes, PGT is unsuccessful and people are left without viable, mutation-free embryos to implant.
B., who underwent a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy to reduce her own risks after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, opted for IVF with PGT. It all made for a very emotionally and physically challenging experience.
Fortunately, B. said, she was able to lean on Sharsheret, the international Jewish breast cancer and ovarian cancer organization, for help connecting with other Jewish women who had undergone the same procedures. Now a mother of two, B. is paying it forward by volunteering in Sharsheret’s peer support network —
and providing unique counsel based on her experiences.
“We are all going through the same thing and we all have these same thoughts, like: How am I going to fit this all in? How am I going to be able to do the IVF while going through these
surgeries?” said B., who asked for anonymity to preserve her privacy.
Sherry Helfand Wiener, a former Jewish day school teacher and grandmother with the BRCA gene mutation
continued on page 16
obituaries
Phillip S. Brown
Phillip S. Brown, 88, longtime resident of Fairway, Kansas, died on Nov. 27 at Village Shalom, surrounded by his loved ones.
management development program at Harvard Business School.
While at Wisconsin, Phil joined the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. It was at the ZBT house that Phil first met his future bride, Peedee (Roseroot) Brown. The two were married on July 19, 1959, and spent many happy years raising their family, traveling the world and enjoying their grandchildren.
Service was important to Phil. He served in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant during the Cold War and was honorably discharged after reaching the rank of Captain in the Army Reserves. He volunteered his time for a number of civic organizations, including serving as the director and president of the Grassland Heritage Foun-
Phil was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 6, 1936, to Louis and Evelyn Brown. He attended J.C. Nichols Elementary and was a proud graduate of Southwest High School, Class of 1954. Phil attended Washington University in St. Louis his freshman year, earning varsity letters in track and cross-country, then transferred to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earned a B.S. in English literature. Phil continued his professional education, earning a law degree from the University of Michigan and later completing the continued on next page
Parents who are carriers of genetic diseases can test embryos for genetic mutations using preimplantation genetic testing during the IVF process. (Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez / Getty Images)
obituaries
continued from previous page her expertise to prestigious retailers including Woolf Bros., Saks Fifth Avenue and Jacobson’s.
dation, board member for the Jewish Community Relations Bureau, director and chairman of Swope Parkway Health Center and member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Visitors.
Phil began his legal career as an associate at the Tucker Murphy law firm in 1961 and moved on to serve as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Jackson County in 1967. He went to work for Kansas City Southern Railroad in 1968, where he worked in the legal department before advancing to associate secretary, associate general counsel and vice president at Kansas City Southern Industries. During his tenure with KCS, Phil was involved with litigation over the transmission of coal through a slurry pipeline, the expansion of KCS rail lines into Mexico, and the diversification of Kansas City Southern Industries into areas of financial management (the Janus Group), financial data systems (DST Systems) and animal health (MidCon Labs).
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Brown and Evelyn (Strauss) Brown; his sister, Leah Brown; his brother, Meyer (Mickey) Brown; and his loving wife of 55 years, Peedee. He leaves behind his three children, David Brown (Diana), Melissa Rooker (Tom), and Mike Brown (Trish); as well as his six grandchildren, Lindsay (Ted Richardson), Alex, Jack (Kristen), Kate, Megan and Molly; and his great-grandson, Malcolm.
A private interment was held on Nov. 29 at Rose Hill Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Congregation Beth Torah (6100 W. 127th St., Leawood, KS 66209).
If you wish to honor Phil, the family suggests donations be made to: Village Shalom’s Ages of Excellence Fund (villageshalom.org/donate/ memorialsandtributes) and KC Hospice (kchospice.org/donate).
As the eldest of four siblings, Rosie led her family with grace and warmth. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Betty Weissman, Philip Jacobs, and Corrine Gerson; her husband, Sidney Carr; her ex-husband, Harold Barash; and her beloved children Jerry and Karen Barash.
Rosie loved bringing family together and is survived by her loving children Charlene and Max Muller and Debby Barash; her cherished grandchildren, Alana Muller and Marc Hammer, Eric and Lydia Muller, Shawn and Rachel Muller, Jordan and Julie Barash, Brandon and Isa Barash, Ali and Spencer Berman, Tommy and Carrie Carr, and Damon and Becky Carr; and her adored great-grandchildren, Simon and Betsy Muller, Ian Hammer, Michael and Noah Muller, Braeden, Riley and Tyson Barash, Harper and Joaquin Barash, June Berman, Brayden and Chloe Carr, and Hadley and Delaney Carr. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, many of whom she considered family.
When not baking a batch of her world-famous mandel bread, Rosie could often be found at Meadowbrook Country Club, where she was a longtime and active member who delighted in playing cards with her cherished circle of friends. She was a devoted member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, where she maintained deep connections to her faith and community.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Edward Lee Porter
Edward Lee Porter, a beloved family man and business and community leader, passed away on Nov. 23 at the age of 87.
Ed had an enduring commitment to a wide range of civic, educational and cultural institutions. Philanthropic with his time and resources, Ed served on the boards of Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Foundation, Village Shalom, The J and New Reform Temple. Ed was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 24, 1936. He attended high school at both Taylor Allderdice High School and Valley Forge Military Academy (PA), graduating at the age of 16. After a year of college, he proudly served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Korea. He received an accounting degree from the University of Pittsburgh and began working for Giant Eagle as a 3rd generation executive from one of its five founding families. In 1983, Ed moved to Kansas City with his family to become president of Milgram Food Stores. Ed went on to become president of Argus Health Systems, a division of DST and Financial Holding Corporation.
Debra Gill (George), David Porter (Carol) and Barbra Hill (Ron); and his cherished grandchildren, Rachel and Lindsay Gill, Sophia and Joseph Porter, and Alec and Jaden Hill.
Ed was preceded in death by his loving wife Karen, to whom he was married for almost 65 years; his brother, Richard Porter; and his parents, Al and Lillian Porter.
The funeral was held on Nov. 25 at Louis Memorial Chapel.
Donations may be made to Torah Learning Center, New Reform Temple or Village Shalom.
Heddy Shumaker
Heddy Shumaker, 80, of Raymore, Missouri, passed away on Nov. 25.
Graveside services were held on Nov. 29 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. The family suggests contributions be made to the Epilepsy Foundation or The Special Olympics.
Heddy loved playing and watching golf and tennis and spending time with her family. She especially enjoyed reading and playing card games with her kids and grandkids.
Heddy was preceded in death by her father and mother, Max and Rose Rosen; her sister, Marsha Rosen; her husband, Ronnie Shumaker; and her daughter Wendy Kay Shumaker.
Rose Jacobs Carr, 94, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Dec. 1 at Kansas City Hospice House.
Rose was born on June 25, 1930, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Louis and Helen Jacobs. A fashion maven with impeccable taste, she built a distinguished career in menswear, lending
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Rosie’s many dedicated caregivers over the past several years, especially Gina Utter, whom Rose came to think of as a daughter, as well as Helen Kelsey, Martha Fernandez, Melanie Cunningham, Rhonda Arenson, Marianne Gormley, the compassionate staff of Kansas City Hospice House and her next door neighbor, Fran Woods. Also a special thank you to Dr. Donald Cohen who provided wonderful and compassionate care to Rose over her many years.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 3rd at Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; Congregation Beth Shalom; Village Shalom; SevenDays; Ronald McDonald House; Kansas City Hospice House; or the charity of one’s choice.
Ed was devoted to family, education, community and faith. He was an enthusiastic golfer who reached single-digit status. He was an avid reader and claimed to have read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica over the course of a year in high school. Those who knew him couldn’t doubt it.
Ed was known for giving so much of himself, his time and his generosity. He did things because they were right, not because they were popular.
He is survived by his loving children and grandchildren: his children,
Heddy is survived by her daughter Lisa Riggs and her son and daughter in-law, Kenny and Debra Shumaker, all of Raymore; five grandchildren, Zane, Zoie, Haley, Zachary and Dalton; and four great-grandchildren, Eli, Olivia, Harper and Carson. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jimmie and Vicki Egender, as well as nieces and nephew, Laurie, Karen Jennifer, Rebecca, Joe and Mary Ruth.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Rose Jacobs Carr
For women using IVF to screen embryos for genetic diseases, these peers can offer support
continued from page 14
in her family, recently donated money to Sharsheret to help expand its program that connects women to peers who have gone through the experience of preimplantation genetic testing.
“I have had experience with PGT — a very beautiful experience —and I have two extraordinary grandchildren because of it, and we are not going to be passing the BRCA gene mutation anymore,” said Helfand Wiener, who lives in Westchester County, New York. “There is so much in life we don’t have control over, but we can control this.”
Peggy Cottrell, Sharsheret’s genetic counselor, said the peer network is critical because, due to the private nature of the issue, it’s very hard for women to find others whom they can ask questions. Sharsheret often receives calls from women seeking clarification about IVF and preimplanta-
tion genetic testing.
“Sometimes people think when they get an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist their eggs will be retrieved that day,” said Sharsheret’s chief operating officer, Devorah Silverman. “But there is a long and intensive process women must undergo before any eggs can be harvested for IVF and PGT.”
When women learn that they can use PGT to avoid passing on the BRCA mutation to their children, it’s often a great relief to them, according to Cottrell. But there also can be ambivalence about the idea of weeding out embryos with the gene — because if their parents had done so they wouldn’t have been born themselves.
The financial burden is another big thing to consider. The average cost in the US of successfully conceiving a baby and carrying it to term using IVF and PGT ranges from $30,000 to $47,000, according to a 2021 study in
the Journal of Fertility and Sterility. Most insurance does not fully cover these procedures.
Sharsheret does not provide financial subsidies but connects callers with organizations that may offer help.
Another woman who carries the BRCA mutation, A., said she decided to do PGT despite the cost and the fact that it’s “physically, emotionally and mentally wearing on your body.”
Both she and her mother carried the BRCA mutation, and her mother died of ovarian cancer in 2014.
“I certainly didn’t want my children to experience what my mother faced,” A. said. “We lost her way too young.”
After five IVF cycles and PGT testing, A. successfully conceived a girl and a boy, neither of whom carries the BRCA mutation.
“I have two beautiful, amazing, rambunctious children, and I have the family that I always wanted, and I am so grateful for that,” she said.
But the process was grueling, and A. hadn’t known about the peer support Sharsheret offers. Now she serves as a peer counselor and has spoken about her experience with about 15 women over the last couple of years.
Women ask her everything from what the daily IVF routine is like to
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how it might impact their relationship with their partner. A. says it’s important to establish a support system and lean on friends and peers.
B. said she also found parts of the process very difficult — such as having to give herself injections to prepare for having her eggs removed, which she found scary. It was also hard waiting for nurses to call back with results, she said.
Despite the hardship, B. says she’d love to have another child. She’s also considering having her fallopian tubes and ovaries removed once she is done having children to protect against an ovarian cancer diagnosis.
As a volunteer in Sharsheret’s peer support network, B. has spoken with eight women about her experience. The importance of peer support is invaluable, she said.
“Finding a community of women that are going through that — I feel like that’s very special,” she said.
Sharsheret offers oncofertility and PGT education, clinical support and peer support. These resources are made possible by the generosity of Sherry Helfand Wiener. For more information and to speak to a licensed social worker or genetic counselor, contact clinicalstaff@sharsheret.org.
today in 1969
