In this issue...
Service of Spiritual Renewal planned
Antisemitism bill progresses in MO
NRT to honor Rabbi Londy upon retirement
Parashat Pekudei
Shabbat times (Overland Park): Candlelighting: 7:21 p.m. Havdalah: 8:20 p.m.
JVS holding emergency campaign
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) announced its Emergency Support Campaign to help fund the settlement of more than 100 immigrant families. JVS’ federal funds were eliminated earlier this year, and the organization aims to raise $500,000 for food, housing and utilities for more than 250 individuals.
“Imagine fleeing your home due to fear and persecution, finally arriving in a new country and then suddenly
See page 2
Jewish broadcasters to cover Kansas City Royals’ 57th season
Broadcaster Jake Eisenberg utilizes love of baseball and language in Royals commentary
By Kevin Deutsch Special to The Chronicle
A Jewish baseball whiz kid is the newest radio voice of the Kansas City Royals, impressing big-league fans with his gift for on-air storytelling and sweeping knowledge of the game.
Jake Eisenberg, 30, has captivated audiences with dramatic calls of historic Royals plays, including Bobby Witt Jr.’s first Major League home run, clutch postseason hits and defensive gems made by the “Boys in Blue” during their sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the 2024 American League Wild Card Series.
A master of rhythmic narration, the Overland Park, Kansas, resident deploys novelistic detail to elevate broad-
casts into immersive, nine-inning dramas alongside his colleagues in the booth. He’s already turned thousands of KC baseball lovers into loyal listeners, including plenty of Jewish fans.
Members of the tribe loyal to the Royals haven’t done this much kvelling since outfielder Richie Scheinblum hit .300 with 66 RBI for the team in his AllStar 1972 season. Only instead of his bat, Eisenberg is impressing with his smooth delivery and gift for lyrical language.
“I love the challenge of trying to find the right combinations of words to create the most vivid possible picture for somebody who’s listening, whether it’s a verb for a batted ball or the right color tint for what the sky looks like,” said Eisenberg, a self-described logophile who was the youngest full-time broadcaster in MLB during the 2023 See page 3
Royals Host Joel Goldberg proud of Jewish identity
By Michael Sudhalter Special to The Chronicle
For the past 17 years, Joel Goldberg has brought the stories of Kansas City’s beloved Major League Baseball franchise into the homes of millions on both sides of the Missouri River.
As a visible Jewish celebrity in Kansas City, the 52-year-old television host and roving reporter understands the responsibility that comes with it.
“When your last name is Goldberg and you’re on television, you’re going to get phone calls from the Jewish community, and that’s a cool thing to have that identity,” Goldberg said. “There’s a Jewish mother somewhere
saying some version of ‘he’s one of us.’
It’s my identity and something I’m very proud of.”
It’s common for broadcasters to change their name for while they’re on the air, but that was never something that Goldberg considered.
“I was never going to do that,” Goldberg said. “I’m proud to have my name, proud to have my heritage, proud that we’re raising our kids Jewish and proud that I married an amazing Jewish woman (Susan).”
The Goldbergs will celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary this summer; covering 162 baseball games per year (plus, possible playoffs) isn’t for every relationship.
“I believe with the travel and everything, you either figure it out, you get divorced or you quit the profession,” Goldberg said. “Those are the
only three options, and we’ve made it. That’s a testament to my wife and my kids.”
Since arriving in the Kansas City area in 2008, the Leawood, Kansas, resident has hosted 99% of the Royals’ pregame and postgame shows.
Joel Goldberg
Jake Eisenberg at Kauffman Stadium on the opening day of Royals’ 2024 season.
Yehudit
community news
JVS holding emergency campaign
being told that the support you were promised is gone,” a JVS community email said. “This devastating scenario is unfolding right now for refugee families in Kansas City.”
The U.S. government cut the funding for the Reception & Placement Program, which helps immigrant resettlement. The announcement to cut funding came on the heels of President Donald
Trump’s executive order on Jan. 20 to suspend almost all refugee resettlement in the United States. JVS, which was originally established to assist Holocaust survivors and refugees after World War II, now largely serves refugees from across the world who come to Kansas City. In addition to the intake processes, JVS helps refugees with community integration, wellness support and vocational skills.
Communitywide
Those interested in donating to JVS’ Emergency Support Campaign can go to jvskc.org/give or send a check to JVS at 4600 Paseo Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64110 with the note: Emergency Support Campaign.
Pre-Passover Service of Spiritual
Renewal to be held on March 30
Jewish Family Services (JFS) is offering a Pre-Passover Communitywide Service of Spiritual Renewal on Sunday, March 30, at 3 p.m. at the social hall of Village Shalom (5500 W. 123rd St., Overland Park, KS 66209). The Jewish Chaplaincy program, under the auspices of JFS, is the host.
Leading this year’s service will be Jewish Community Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick and Lezlie Zucker, music coordinator for Congregation Beth Torah. The service will include readings, prayers and music focusing on reflection and renewal.
“This year, as we continue to experience the trauma of Oct. 7 and its aftermath, the Jewish People — and each of us individually as part of the Jewish People — feel the Passover story and captivity/liberation in a way that
is even more resonant than before,” Rabbi Rudnick said. “The Haggadah teaches that in every generation we must see ourselves as if each of us left Egypt. With all that is happening around us, this feels easier to imagine than in our recent past. Many of us feel the narrow straits of life pressing
in on us. We want and hope to leave these oppressive places, and we take comfort in each other at these times.”
Those who would like to attend the service should RSVP by emailing their name and the number of people planning to attend with them to chaplaincy@jfskc.org.
The Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program at JFS works to connect spiritually with Kansas City’s Jewish community. Spiritual services include pastoral care, education and training of volunteers as well as community collaboration in the realm of spiritual care. More information is available by contacting chaplaincy@jfskc. org or (913) 327-8250.
Service of Spiritual Renewal
Sunday, March 30, at 3 p.m.
Village Shalom, 5500 W. 123rd St., Overland Park, KS 66209
Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick and Lezlie Zucker finishing plans for the Pre-Passover Service of Spiritual Renewal.
community
Broadcaster Jake Eisenberg utilizes love of baseball and language in Royals commentary
continued from page 1
Entering his third full season with the Royals, Eisenberg will chronicle the pageantry of Opening Day Thursday in a matchup with the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.
Eisenberg’s virtuoso performances to date are no fluke – the New York native spends hours immersed in preparation both before and after broadcasts, meticulously studying game notes, statistics and storylines; poring over past broadcasts with a critical eye; and connecting with Royals players to help fans get to know them as people.
“I really want to make sure the way I’m communicating on the air is the same way that we would reactively communicate if we were just sitting in the stands together or at a bar watching the game,” Eisenberg said.
His commitment to excellence in the booth stems from his love for the game – a love that dates back to his childhood in Long Island’s Port Washington, where he fell hard for the New York Mets and their since-demolished Queens ballpark, Shea Stadium. His parents regularly brought him and his twin sister, Taylor, to Shea and later Citi Field to watch his favorite player, Hallof-Fame catcher Mike Piazza, smash home runs into the outfield stands.
His formative season as both a fan and future baseball professional was 2006, when the Mets’ Carlos Beltran struck out looking to end Game 7 of the National League Championship Series; a crushing moment from which many Mets fans still haven’t recovered.
“The 2006 season was the year that I started to really have a conscious awareness of what was happening in baseball in a way that maybe I didn’t when I was six or seven years old,” said Eisenberg, who played baseball through high school. “Day by day, I knew the stats and the backs of base-
ball cards and played MLB Showdown [a collectible card game] with my friends.”
Equally cherished by Eisenberg are the days he spent listening to two of America’s best baseball broadcasters: Jewish New York Mets announcers
Howie Rose – Eisenberg’s broadcasting idol – and Gary Cohen. Both men would later offer pointers as he rose through the ranks of baseball broadcasting, a field so competitive that even the most talented and driven aspirants rarely land an MLB job.
Eisenberg’s push toward the big leagues paid off in 2022 when he made his MLB debut as a Mets play-by-play broadcaster for 41 games, working several games alongside Rose in the broadcast booth.
His parents, Jill and Mark Eisenberg — a dietician and neurosurgeon, respectively — instilled in him a love of Jewish tradition equal to his passion for baseball. Judaism plays an important role in Eisenberg’s life: He grew up attending The Community Synagogue in Sands Point, New York, where his dad served as a longtime board member and past president.
Eisenberg’s favorite tradition is the lighting of Shabbat candles over family FaceTime calls, when his broadcast schedule allows.
“It was my mom’s idea to start the FaceTime calls with our grandparents [during the COVID pandemic in 2020] as a way to maintain a strong connection [during social distancing],” said Eisenberg, who married his wife, Jennifer, in January of 2024. “We would get my grandparents on FaceTime and light candles and say Kiddush. I still get a call from my dad every single Friday wishing me a Shabbat Shalom, and my wife gets her own call. It’s a really sweet thing that I look forward to and very much cherish.”
Eisenberg spent years broadcast-
Chronicle submission deadlines
contact
ing minor-league games in colorful ballparks, growing both personally and professionally, though his journey was not without challenges. Diagnosed with Celiac disease as a child, Eisenberg learned to manage the autoimmune disorder – which affected his intestines and stunted his growth – amid the rigors of school and radio work. Eisenberg launched his on-air career at his alma mater, the University
of Maryland, calling games for the Big Ten Network and student radio. In 2015, he helped create the Maryland Baseball Network. The following year, he leveraged his college experience into a broadcasting role with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League.
He subsequently spent five seasons broadcasting minor league baseball games for teams in Brooklyn, New York; Richmond, Virginia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska, from 2020 through 2022.
Eisenberg hopes his devotion to the art of play-by-play – and successful management of Celiac – can inspire young people who may be struggling with the disease.
“Maybe seeing somebody dealing with the same challenge gives them just a little bit more confidence, makes them feel a little more empowered, to do what they want to do,” he said.
KC Kosher Meals on Wheels holding Passover campaign
KC Kosher Meals on Wheels is raising money for its 2025 Passover campaign to ensure it can deliver homemade kosher-for-Passover meal boxes to community members in need. Passover meal boxes will include matzah, grape juice, soups and 10 kosher-for-Passover meals.
KC Kosher Meals on Wheels is administered by Torah Learning Center (TLC), and meals are cooked in its kosher kitchen. Volunteers deliver the foods to the recipients’ doorsteps.
“As we celebrate the holiday of freedom and redemption, let’s extend that
freedom to those in need by providing nourishing meals to all who hunger,” TLC’s appeal read. Donations can help “fulfill the commandment of ensuring that no one goes hungry this Passover season.”
Donations can be made at bit.ly/ KMOWPassoverCampaign or by sending a check to TLC at 8800 W. 103rd St., Overland Park, KS 66212 with “KMOW Passover Campaign” in the memo line. Henri Gaeddert, TLC community outreach coordinator, can be contacted for more information at henrig@ torahkc.org.
Jake Eisenberg commentating on a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium.
Examples of Passover meal boxes to be delivered by KC Kosher Meals on Wheels.
Engagement
Sophia Porter and Barret Schlegelmilch
Carol and David Porter of Leawood, Kansas, announce the engagement of their daughter Sophia Porter to Barret Schlegelmilch, son of Annette and Charles Schlegelmilch of Hilo, Hawaii. Sophia is the granddaughter of the late Margie and Peicy Alperson and the late Karen and Edward Porter. She works in Seattle, Washington, as a tech-
nical program manager for security at Anthropic and as a parabolic flight coach at Zero G. She has a dual degree in physics and applied mathematics and statistics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Barret is the grandson of the late Earl and Lucille Merchant and the late William and Dorothy Schlegelmilch. He is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, as well as the technical program manager for external partnerships at Anthropic and an adjunct professor for the School of Engineering and Applied Science at George Washington University (GWU). He has a B.S. in astrophysics from the University of California, Los Angeles; an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston; an M.B.A. from the Sloan School of Business at MIT; and a Ph.D. in engineering from GWU in Washington, D.C.
The couple are planning a wedding on July 5 in Seattle.
Jewish Federation to host Men’s Night Out event
Jewish Federation will host its Men’s Night Out event at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at The College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The event will feature kosher Jack Stack barbecue and a viewing of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game.
Men’s Night Out is open to all men in the Kansas City Jewish community over the age of 21. Tickets are $50 per person, with a discounted rate of $25 for those under the age of 35.
Registration includes drinks, Vaad-supervised barbecue and access to The College Basketball Experience interactive museum.
“We are so excited that Men’s Night Out will bring hundreds of men from across the community together,” said Jay Lewis, president and CEO of Federation. “Between the NCAA championship game, an amazing venue, and kosher Jack Stack, the evening is going to be awesome.”
Funding for the event was provided by philanthropist Michael Staenberg.
“I am thrilled that Michael Staenberg
continues to invest in the Kansas City Jewish community by sponsoring this event,” Lewis said. “We appreciate his partnership and support of Federation.”
During the event, Federation will be raffling off a football signed by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a baseball bat signed by the Royals’ first baseman Vinnie Paquantino, among other prizes.
More about this event and registration information is available at jewishkansascity.org/events/mensnight-out-2025.
Royals Host Joel Goldberg proud of Jewish identity
continued from page 1
Goldberg only missed shows because of his grandfather’s funeral; his kids’ high school graduations; and few other circumstances, such as the time he accompanied Royals greats George Brett, Mike Sweeney and Bret Saberhagen on a USO Tour in Kuwait, which Goldberg described as “one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.”
He’s become close with Brett, a Hall of Famer, who wrote the foreword to Goldberg’s second book, “Small Ball Big Dreams.”
“It doesn’t seem real that I’m living in a world where George Brett would write the foreword to my book,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg’s first book was called “Small Ball Big Results.” Both books are associated with Goldberg’s business as a motivational speaker for local, regional and national corporations and groups where he “utilizes baseball as a motivational tool.”
He also has a corresponding podcast for the business, called “Rounding The Bases,” which hosts different Kansas City area leaders. Midwest Center for Holocaust Education Executive Director Jessica Rockhold was a recent guest on the podcast.
Goldberg is beginning his 18th season covering the Royals when Kansas City hosts the Cleveland Guardians on March 27 at Kauffman Stadium.
“It’s very comforting to be with the same organization, even if the people have changed over the years,” Goldberg said. “Players come and go, the winning and losing comes and goes. But the fans are still the same. Every year that goes by is another year that I’m part of this community, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.”
Goldberg is technically an independent contractor who works alongside the Royals and FanDuel sports, but that didn’t stop the Royals from presenting Goldberg with a World Series Championship ring in 2015.
“It was pretty surreal, and I was very humbled by the gesture,” Goldberg said. “The players, coaches and front office won that ring. I’m the guy that gets to talk about it, but being considered part of that team is pretty cool.”
the World Series in 2014, with Madison Bumgarner denying the Royals the championship in a seven-game series.
“They were ready to go back to the World Series in February/March of 2015 – not just to do it again but to win it all,” Goldberg said. “They had a look like that in 2015 that I’ve never seen before.”
Last season, the Royals returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 crown. They swept the Baltimore Orioles, 2-0, before losing to the eventual American League Champion New York Yankees, 3-1.
Goldberg, who covered the late Buck O’Neil’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021, was recently named to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Board of Directors. He also volunteers with Inclusion Connections and the Blue Valley Education Foundation.
“There are so many volunteer opportunities but only so much time,” Goldberg said. “I find the charities that really speak to me.”
Broadcasting beginnings
Goldberg was born in the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia in the early 1970s. He grew up loving the Phillies, Flyers, Eagles and 76ers.
“The first World Series I remember was the 1980 Series between the Royals and Phillies,” Goldberg said. “The Phillies were my team. They were my heroes. Now, I know a lot of the players from the 1980 Royals team, and they’ve become my friends. I never could have imagined the team I was adamantly rooting against have become friends of mine.”
7, at 6:30 p.m.
Goldberg had a front-row seat to the Royals grit and determination after coming oh-so-close to winning
Even at an early age, Goldberg was foreshadowing his future career as a broadcaster.
continued on next page
Joel Goldberg
Pictured are attendees at a previous Men's Night Out event at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
community news
Antisemitism bill clears key hurdle in Jefferson City
By Bill Motchan St. Louis Jewish Light
A proposed Missouri law guarding against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools has moved to the next step in the legislative process. HB 937 passed the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee by a vote of 10-2 on March 13. One committee member voted “present.”
HB 937 was introduced by Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis County, on Jan. 16. A hearing by the higher education committee was held on Feb. 25 during which 89 witnesses offered testimony on the language of the bill. Before the bill can be scheduled for debate and a vote on the house floor, it must clear one additional hurdle, passage by the Rules Committee. This is a necessary procedural step for any new legislation.
continued from previous page
“I’d put the mute button on the television and call the games,” Goldberg said. “I had binders and notebooks of scouting reports for college basketball games – doing the research for nobody but myself.”
Shortly after his bar mitzvah, Goldberg and his family relocated to the Chicago suburbs, but his interest in broadcasting never waned. He later attended the University of Wisconsin, where he double majored in journalism and history.
Goldberg’s first job out of college was in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in the north central part of the state. The city of 7,800 had an NBC affiliate, and Goldberg worked there before returning to work in Madison.
He then moved to a station in St. Louis where he covered the Rams, Cardinals and Blues. Goldberg covered the Rams’ “Greatest Show On Turf” era when St. Louis lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. Three years later, Goldberg covered the St. Louis Cardinals as they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.
Despite seeing games in countless stadiums, Goldberg has an affinity to the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium.
“Kauffman Stadium is in a class of its own – it’s like wanting to compare your home to someone else’s, and it’s my home for 81 nights per year,” Goldberg said.
Hruza, who is Jewish, said the education committee vote was a positive sign.
“It does bode well,” Hruza said. “It’s probably going to be bipartisan. I do have some resistance from some Republicans that still need a little bit of coaxing, and I do have a couple of Democrats that support it.”
The bill, which prohibits antisemitic conduct in Missouri public schools and institutions of higher education, takes on increased significance in the wake of the recent vandalism and antisemitic messages in the Affton School District (in St. Louis County), Hruza said.
“I sent the article (about Affton) to John Patterson, the house speaker, so he’s on board,” Hruza said. “I believe we have a solid majority in the house.
And when it comes to a vote, it’s going to be overwhelmingly bipartisan. The challenge is that some people are tying it somehow into DEI. Jews are not part of any underrepresented minority groups. We’re not a protected class.”
The Feb. 25 hearing, Hruza said, included testimony from one witness who was a high school sophomore in Kirkwood.
“She proved our point because she
was harassed by the opponents to the bill as she was giving testimony,” he said. “They were whispering all kinds of nasty stuff at her. She had a look of terror in her eyes and said to her mom, ‘We have to leave now—I don’t feel safe here.’”
As of March 5, HB 937 had attached 12 co-sponsors. Hruza said that was a positive indicator and that he was cautiously optimistic since the bill has some strong champions in the state senate. He said one challenge could be time and prioritization of other proposed legislation on the house calendar. The logistics of lawmaking result in a limited number of bills successfully moving all the way through the legislative process. This article was originally published intheSt.LouisJewishLight.
Community Yom HaShoah commemoration scheduled for April 27
This year’s annual community-organized Yom HaShoah commemoration has been scheduled for Sunday, April 27, to honor victims of the Holocaust and the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
The Yom Hashoah commemoration is a free event which is open to the public. It will be held at The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre (5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211) on April 27 at 1:30 p.m.
ish fighters held out against the Nazis. By May 16, when the Germans succeeded in suppressing the uprising, at least 7,000 had been killed in the fighting. Approximately 42,000 ghetto inhabitants were then deported.
Anyone unable to attend in person is invited to watch the livestream event on the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education’s (MCHE) YouTube channel beginning at 1:30 p.m. that day.
The 2025 community Yom HaShoah service is chaired by Mark Eisemann, son of Holocaust survivor Dr. Gustave Eisemann, who fled Germany in 1938.
“It is an honor to be this year’s Yom HaShoah chair,” Eisemann said. “The Holocaust is such a defining moment in Jewish and world history that it is important for the Jewish and broader community to take a day each year to recall, reflect, retell and, most im-
portantly, internalize those events. We do so to commemorate what was lost and celebrate those who survived, but with a broader purpose of inspiring vigilance in confronting antisemitism, authoritarianism and prejudice today.”
In 1951, the Israeli Knesset established the 27th of Nissan as Yom HaShoah, commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. On April 19, 1943, the remaining inhabitants of the Warsaw ghetto launched their final act of armed resistance in response to the expected final liquidation of the ghetto. For 27 days, the ill-equipped Jew-
The Kansas City survivors, organized as the New Americans Club, were early adopters of this commemoration, which our community continues to this day as the Yom Hashoah memorial service.
The commemoration’s organizing agencies are MCHE, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC, and The J. Yom Hashoah sponsors include Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Beth Torah, Hadassah Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Family Services, KC AIPAC, KU Hillel, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Menorah Heritage Foundation, Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, The New Reform Temple, and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Sunday, April 27, at 1:30 p.m.
The White Theatre, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri.
The Memorial to the Six Million at the Jewish Community Campus.
This week in history
25 years
55 years
Residents of the Jewish Home for the Age held a “Puppet Purimshpiel” in costumes. Pictured are Estera Estrin, Rose Maslan, Dora Brenner, Anna Eagelstein, Max Gershowitz, Molly Shapiro, Minnie Levy and Adolf Egelberg.
75 years
90 years
ROYALS JAKEEISENBERG JOELGOLDBERG SPIRITUALRENEWAL MENSNIGHTOUT ANTISEMITISMBILL RABBIALANLONDY DRSHELLYCLINE MEGAPURIMPARTY
• Antisemitism Bill (pg. 5)
• Bad Hair Day (pg. 12)
• Joel Goldberg (pg. 1)
• Mega Purim Party (pg. 10)
• SevenDays (pg. 12)
THADDEUSDIAMOND COMMEMORATIONS BADHAIRDAY WORLDZIONISTCONGRESS SEVENDAYS READYFORMATZAHPIZZA
• Spiritual Renewal (pg. 2)
• Commemorations (pg. 5, 8)
• Dr. Shelly Cline (pg. 10)
• Jake Eisenberg (pg. 1)
• Men’s Night Out (pg. 4)
• Rabbi Alan Londy (pg. 9)
• Royals (pg. 1)
• Thaddeus Diamond (pg. 11)
• World Zionist Congress (pg. 12)
Decode the quote from Ben Sira using the cipher below
Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore speaks to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy 6th-grade students at the Capitol in Washington D.C.
Isador Beierfeld (left), director of the Jewish Community Center, with Janice Rosen and Richard Epstein, leaders in the youth division of the 1950 Federation campaign.
The graduating class of the K.C. Hebrew School at The Center included Nissan Beiser, Hyman Braver, Ben Eisberg, Isadore Eisberg, Marvin Hansberg, Saul Klein, Melvin Magilow, Geraldine Peltzman and Isaac Zeldin.
Officer Installation
Beth Torah celebrated Purim
performance using the
in the
parties in senior living homes across the commu-
a
and packaging
The parties included listening to the
Volunteers organizing the
were
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy students celebrated Purim at the school’s Purim carnival. Pictured are (top row, from left) Chaviva Macek and Teah Freeman; Menucha Perman and Esther Tiechtel; (bottom row) Eitan Rubin and Nadav Ben-Aharon; and Emily Stang, Naama Reem, Orli Zigler, Ayla Williams and Norah Pabst.
Simcha Gifts organized Purim
nity.
Megillah, decorating
mishloach manot and more.
invite
Ethan Hobbs, Orli White, Shai and Rebeca Friedman, Binyomin Wineberg, Mendel Berman, Mendel Itkin, Rabbi Yitzchak and Itkin and Pam Reiz.
Hadassah Greater Kansas City recently installed its new officers, with almost 50 people attending the event at Johnny Cascone’s in Overland Park.
Pictured above are (back row, from left) Remi Haik Weinberg, Debbie Goldstein, (front row) Julie Spiegel, Adryan Steinberg, Dara Granoff and Debbie Goodbinder.
Pictured right are Sharon Star, Hadassah Great Plains Region President from Springfield, Illinois, installing Liz Bamberger (left) as president of Hadassah Greater Kansas City.
Congregation
with
singa-long choir
music of Abba, written by congregant Estelle Edelbaum and under the direction of Lezlie Zucker. Pictured are (top) performers
“Shushan Choir” and (above) Weiner Religious School Director Sara Glass, Aleksander Lenz, and Isaac Young, who won first place in the costume contest.
HBHA Purim
Beth Torah Purim
Simcha Gifts
Passover tray
By Ellie Holsten
In the 19th and early 20th century, Ottoman Palestine drew religious tourism from both Jews and Christians. In this period, travelers arrived by ship to Jaffa and then had lengthy and often difficult overland travel to interior sites. In 1892, the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway opened and greatly reduced the time and discomfort required to travel in the Holy Land. After World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the westernization of British Mandatory Palestine further encouraged and catered to European and American travelers.
This Seder tray from 1910 is an example of a piece created for the tourist trade in Ottoman Palestine. It is made from olive wood, a material prevalent in the region. Olive wood was often used for souvenir objects, not only because it was accessible, but because it emphasized their place of origin.
Another key feature of souvenir objects from this time period is the inclusion of holy sites. Travelers wanted to take home memories of the places they journeyed so far to see. This piece is carved with images of the Western Wall, the Tomb of Samuel, the Tomb of Absalom, the Tomb of Zechariah, the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the Tomb of Rachel, the Tomb of David and the Temple Mount.
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
State of Kansas to commemorate the Holocaust
The annual State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration, an official state observance to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust, will be held next month in Topeka, Kansas.
The commemoration will be held on Monday, April 28, at 1 p.m. in Topeka at the Topeka Civic Theatre (3028 SW 8th Ave., Topeka, KS 66606).
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will present the Kansas Proclamation for the Days of Remembrance which states that “the people of the State of Kansas should always remember the terrible events of the Holocaust and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution and tyranny…”
The theme of this year’s program is the lost Jewish community of Eyshishok, with the keynote address by Dr. Lindsay MacNeill, a historian from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). Eyshishok was a shtetl destroyed during the Holocaust, located in modern-day Lithuania, and is the
subject of the USHMM exhibit “Tower of Faces.”
Kansas clergy, political leaders and students will participate in the program. Holocaust survivors, World War II veterans and second-generation sons and daughters will be recognized.
The program, which will last for about an hour, is hosted by the Kan-
sas Holocaust Commission. Commission members are appointed by the Governor for the purpose of organizing the annual commemoration.
The event is free and open to the public. Those interested can register online at mchekc.org/kansasholocaust-commemoration. Bus subsidy applications for Kansas schools are also available at that link.
For those unable to attend, the program will be available on the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education YouTube channel after the event.
The Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission is also sponsoring a commemoration — a 21-panel, USHMM exhibit titled “Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust” will be on display at the Missouri State Capitol (201 W Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, MO 65101) from April 7 to 11.
State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration
Monday, April 28, at 1 p.m. Topeka Civic Theatre, 3028 SW 8th Ave., Topeka, KS 66606
HBHA celebrates educators, raises $370,000 with ‘A Night of Stars’
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA) hosted a sold-out celebration, “A Night of Stars: Celebrating Our Educators,” raising $370,000 from more than 300 attendees to support the school and its mission to provide an exceptional Jewish and general studies education to students in the Kansas City community.
This year’s HBHA spring celebration took a new approach, shifting the focus from a single honoree to recognizing the educators — past and present — who have shaped generations of students at HBHA. The evening was filled with tributes, reflections and appreciation for HBHA teachers.
“The energy in the room was incredible,” Head of School Annie Glickman said. “Seeing our community come together to honor the educators who have poured their hearts into
our students was truly inspiring. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping the future of our Jewish community.”
Chaired by Netta and Joseph Krashin, Julie and Jeremy Krashin, and Sha-
ron and Stuart Pase, the event featured kosher food and stories from alumni and families whose lives have been touched by HBHA educators.
“We are so grateful for the
A photo from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum exhibit “Tower of Life,” which focuses on the lost Jewish community of Eyshishok, the theme of this year’s State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration. (USHMM)
Pictured (from left) at HBHA’s “A Night of Stars” are board members Dr. Jessica Kalendar-Rich, Alice Megerman, Jean Zeldin, David Soffer, Dr. Lori Noorollah, Chris Hobbs, Dr. David Slusky, Isaac Gortenburg, Michael Levine, Dr. Jason Sokol, Annie Glickman, David Sosland, Jonathan Schwartzbard and Brenda Rosenthal.
community news
New Reform Temple to honor Rabbi Londy as he retires, becomes rabbi emeritus
After 14 years as the pulpit rabbi of The New Reform Temple (NRT), Rabbi Alan Londy will retire at the end of June and become the synagogue’s first rabbi emeritus. The congregation will honor him at a farewell Shabbat dinner on Friday, June 27, at 6 p.m. with a celebratory Oneg Shabbat following services. The community is invited to join in this celebration. RSVPs should be sent to nrt7100@aol.com.
Rabbi Londy has spent more than 40 years in the rabbinate, serving congregations in New York, Florida, and Maryland, before moving to Kansas City with his family in 2011 to join NRT. He had planned to retire in 2024, but extended his time at NRT by an additional year to allow the congregation to complete its search for a new rabbi.
“Serving congregants at The New Reform Temple has been the highlight of my professional career,” Rabbi Londy said in 2024. “It has been an honor to lead this vibrant, diverse congregation in the heart of Kansas City.”
Rabbi Londy led NRT through a period of growth, having implemented a new adult Torah study program; de-
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overwhelming support from our HBHA families and the broader community,” Event Chair Sharon Pase said. “The success of this evening speaks volumes about the love and respect our community has for our educators and the future of Jewish education in Kansas City.”
Funds raised from “A Night of Stars” directly support HBHA’s continued efforts to provide a rigorous dual-curriculum education rooted in Jewish values, academic excellence and whole-child development.
More information about HBHA is available at hbha.edu.
veloped a virtual synagogue program; created an online Hebrew language program for children and adults; and supported LGBTQ+ congregants and Jews by Choice.
“We are grateful that Rabbi Londy served our congregation for the past 14 years,” said Joyce Hess, NRT board president. “His devotion to The New Reform Temple was very apparent as he delayed his retirement for a full year so we could complete a successful search for our next rabbi. We look forward to celebrating his service to our community and his position as our first rabbi emeritus.”
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who
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Rabbi Londy will be succeeded by Rabbi David Levinsky, who will start his new role on July 1.
Rabbi Londy received his BA in Near Eastern Studies from Cornell University in 1978 and his MA and rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1983, where he also received an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1981. In 2009, he received a Doctor of Ministry in pastoral counseling from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and The Postgraduate Center for Mental Health.
Before joining NRT, Rabbi Londy’s rabbinic career spanned nearly three decades. He served as the rabbi and rabbi educator at Temple Israel of the City of New York; the rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Suffolk County, New York; the rabbi of Temple Israel of
Orlando, Florida, serving a tri-county area; and the assistant rabbi of Beth El Congregation in Baltimore, Maryland.
Rabbi Londy currently provides pastoral care at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. He is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, Rabbinical Association of Kansas City, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbinic Circle of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and Rabbinic Cabinet of the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He also serves on the board of the Friends of Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Donations to honor Rabbi Londy may be made to Friends of the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism (5630 Wisconsin Avenue, Apt. 1601, Chevy Chase, MD 20815) or online at gcld.co/ KZEpy4P.
Celebratory Oneg Shabbat for Rabbi Londy Friday, June 27, at 6 p.m. The New Reform Temple, 7100 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64114
Rabbi Alan Londy
HBHA faculty member
Clauer,
spoke at
event on behalf of HBHA educators. He was introduced by Katja Edelman, his former student, an HBHA alumna and current HBHA parent, with whom he is pictured.
Using The Chronicle’s archives and community submissions, here are some recipes for you to try out. Email samk@ jewishkc.org with a recipe, and it might be published here!
Passover Mocha Fudge Brownies
1991, Manischewitz
Ingredients
• 2 3/4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cake meal
• 1 tbsp. instant coffee powder
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
1. Set oven to 350°.
2. Melt chocolate and margarine over hot water. Cool.
3. Beat eggs and salt until very thick. Gradually beat in sugar.
4. Beat in cooled chocolate mixture.
5. Mix cake meal with instant coffee. Gradually beat into mixture until well blended. Add nuts.
6. Spread batter into greased 8-inch square pan.
7. Bake for 35 minutes.
8. Cut into portions while still hot.
community news KU Chabad, Chabad YoungKC host ‘Mega Purim Party’ in Kansas City
KU Chabad, in partnership with Chabad YoungKC, a project of Chabad on the Plaza, hosted a “Mega Purim Party” for young Jewish professionals in Kansas City. The event brought together young Jews from the Kansas City area, among them many Jayhawks who attended KU Chabad. The event featured music, festive costumes and a spirited reading of the Megillah.
Alumni from various graduating classes reunited to celebrate the holiday with kosher food, including classic Purim treats like hamantaschen.
“Purim is all about bringing people together, celebrating our Jewish pride and spreading joy,” said Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel, co-directors of KU Chabad. “Seeing so many familiar faces from different graduating years come together was truly special.”
Beyond the entertainment, the event also emphasized highlighting the power of Jewish resilience, unity and the importance of giving back. Many attendees participated in the mitzvot of the holiday, including exchanging mishloach manot (Purim
that alumni remain engaged, connected and inspired after graduation. By continuing to provide opportunities for Jewish young professionals to come together, KU Chabad works to foster lifelong relationships and commitment to Jewish values, strengthening the Jewish future in Kansas City and beyond.
gift baskets) and giving charity to support those in need.
“I’m incredibly thankful to KU Chabad and ChabadYoungKC for the chance to reconnect with old friends at the KC Purim party,” said Dr. Joel Gutovitz, KU Class of 2015. “It was such a blessing to catch up with the community that doubled as my family away from home during my time at KU. The generosity and warmth of KU Chabad are still as impactful as ever, and it was clear at this event how they’ve touched all of us in ways that last long after we leave college.”
KU Chabad’s mission includes shaping Jewish leaders for the future. Events like these are held to ensure
More KU Chabad alumni gatherings are in the works with the intention of keeping their Jewish connections strong.
“Purim tells the story of how the Jews overcame adversity and hatred, and being able to celebrate today shows that we, as a people, will continue to thrive no matter who tries to stop us,” said Michael Portman, KU Class of 2016, who is a leader at ChabadYoungKC and played a key role in planning this event. “Celebrating with fellow alumni and the KC Jewish community is a powerful reminder that we remain strong and persevere with our brothers and sisters by our sides.”
This Purim celebration was made possible by the generosity of donors including local philanthropists Joe Loeffler and Marc and Alicia Kulick.
Dr. Shelly Cline celebrates 10 years at MCHE
Dr. Shelly Cline, the director of education and historian at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE), is celebrating a decade at the organization. In recognition of her anniversary, MCHE staff interviewed her about her work. The following is an abridged version of the interview:
You are a modern Europeanist, but you wish you had learned more about the interwar period and have been learning that history. Why has that history become so important to you and how you teach the Holocaust?
“When I was learning to be a historian, that early period really was glossed over. I think before we assumed not that the Nazi regime was a foregone conclusion, but that there was so much focus on those years as opposed to how we got there. The more I started looking at the Weimar period, the more resonance I see that it has for our world today.
“Starting to tell a Holocaust story in 1933, in many ways, is really jumping in the middle of things. So, it’s become
Dr. Shelly Cline
essential to me for people to understand how Germany transformed and how the lives of average citizens changed before we start to ask questions about what they did during the Holocaust. It’s an incomplete picture to get them at the moment when we start to see persecution of Jewish people happen as opposed to how their own state transformed.”
Why is traveling so important to you, and what location has had the most impact on your understanding of the Holocaust?
“Traveling is important to me because there’s nothing like being in the space and seeing not just the location, like the site of Auschwitz, but also where it’s located in relation to the surrounding town. What are the people there like today? How is this history still a part of the fabric of the commu-
nity? So I think that when you go to a place, you’re not just the closest you’ll ever be to that history because you’re in the space it happened, but you get a chance to see how that continues to impact that space today.
“Going to Auschwitz to see it in comparison to other camps is also impactful. Obviously, being there is its own thing. But then, once you’ve been to Auschwitz, [at] every other camp you go to you’re thinking about size and scope and purpose in comparison to that particular location.
“Going to Vilnius did really impact my understanding of how the Holocaust is memorialized in Eastern spaces. What we think of in the West as the meaning of the Holocaust [compared to] to a space in the East and seeing that Holocaust obfuscation... was really impactful for expanding my view of how other parts of Europe deal with their Holocaust history.”
MCHE has a small team that is very close to each other. What does it mean
to you to be part of this group?
“This is difficult work that we do, and I think that one of the things that makes it possible is the support of the people around me, and the small but mighty team that we have. I’m particularly grateful to Jessica [Rockhold] for her leadership and the trust she has placed in me to use my natural creativity to enhance our programming and contribute to the vision of MCHE.”
What is your proudest accomplishment at MCHE?
“The thing I’m most proud of is our European trip in 2023 — working to plan the pre-education sessions, the way we worked to build our travelers into a cohesive team and creating this impactful experience for our travelers.”
The full interview is available in the MCHE newsletter, available at mchekc. org/about/newsletter.
Those who would like to acknowledge Dr. Cline’s can submit a tribute in her honor at mchekc.org/tribute.
Young adults at the “Mega Purim Party” on the Plaza in Kansas City.
By Bridey Stangler PJ Library
On the first night of Passover, the opening of our festival of liberation, the celebration of the birth of our peoplehood, Darby, my oldest son, will be 10 hours away at a Greco-Roman athletic competition. He will be clad in white, which I’m told symbolizes peace between the schools, but really just makes me think of togas.
The pentathlon (complete with discus, javelin, wrestling, etc.) is a highly-anticipated rite of passage for fifth graders at this nurturing, incredibly “crunchy” school in Waldo. Darby has looked forward since third grade and has prepared all year. I wouldn’t dream of making him miss it.
When the date was announced, we encouraged the host school (an equally hippie enterprise in Austin, Texas) to reconsider the date. Surely, out of the five schools participating, we didn’t have the only Jewish child…
Surely it’s not so much to ask that secular organizations keep in mind the dates of really just three, maybe four Jewish holidays…
But that’s what I thought when, years ago, the public school carnival was scheduled for the same Jewish date. Or the next year, when picture day was set for Rosh Hashanah. Or the next when the only field trip of the semester was on Yom Kippur.
I’m not saying anything new. And I know you share my frustration, my bemusement. So, what do we do? My more traditional friends have suggestions that constantly roll around in my thoughts, but my family’s assimilated life is a rich one. It brought me, after all, the love of my life.
My answer is different: double down on home life. For your consideration, here are ways to make your home more Jewish ahead of and during the Passover holiday – even if it starts with your kid doing the long-jump in a toga:
Clean, baby, clean!
Read the PJ Library book “Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean” to kick off the challenge of packing up, wrapping up and selling (or hiding) your Passover no-gos. Consider giving your little ones the fun of their own tiny broom or handheld dustbuster
to get in the spirit, and pump up the tunes to 11. (Find “Seder Songs” and “Freedom Dance Party” on Spotify.)
Not “Elf on the Shelf,” but “Crumbs in the Corner”
The internet has no shortage of smiling toy matzah balls and rubber matzah with googly eyes. There’s still time to hide those guys in a different spot in the eight days leading up to Passover. Call it practice for cleaning out the real thing.
Make your own matzah
Flour, water and 50 swift pokes of the fork — bake it for four minutes and you’re done. But don’t exceed that magic Jewish number of 18 minutes, or it can’t be used for the holiday. To make doubly sure it’s kosher for Passover, order your shmurah flour – that will pass any rabbi’s muster.
The chametz hunt and matzah s’mores
The ceremony known as bedikat chametz is a “veritable search and destroy mission,” as Chabad.org says, to find the last remaining crumbs on the night before Passover. Hand your child a candle (or a flashlight) and find the 10 pieces of leavened bread that you’ve hidden around the house. Then go outside and throw it in the fire (don’t forget the blessing). Add an extra memory by making matzah s’mores by the heat of the fire.
PJ Library has you covered when it comes to holidays. The Passover hub at pjlibrary.org is complete with playlists, audiobooks, printable activities, recipes and more to help get your home into the swing of the holiday. Whatever is happening outside our front doors — pagan sporting events, modern day plagues, political turmoil — we have the obligation and freedom to commemorate our liberation in our own homes and abroad. It’s about the choices that we make with the things we can control. In the case of my family, we look forward to hanging up the toga and washing our hands for a non-traditional third-night Seder. Chag sameach, everyone.
community news
JCF’s J-LEAD young adult giving circle introduces new co-chair
The Jewish Community Foundation’s (JCF) Jewish Leadership, Education, Action and Development (J-LEAD) program has a new cochair, Thaddeus Diamond.
Diamond joins cochair Bradley Friedman in leading J-LEAD, a giving circle for young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. By pooling together resources and collectively making grant decisions, J-LEAD members are able to make a greater effect than any one member could alone. Members may join for a $500 charitable contribution, and for a limited time, new members may join for only $250. Since the program began in 2005, J-LEAD has granted nearly half a million dollars to nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the Jewish community.
ing organize our young professionals to be able to give back, while at the same time getting to know new people and have fun volunteering and hosting events is amazing. I truly cannot wait to serve and give back to the Kansas City community that is our home.”
Diamond is new to the leadership role, joining Friedman, who co-chaired the program last year. Diamond is a native New Yorker who has adopted Kansas City as his new home. He and his wife, Kelsey, have three young children and enjoy being part of the local Jewish community.
“We send our children to the Jewish Community Center for preschool, enroll in Barney Goodman for summer camp festivities, and pray and learn at Beth Shalom synagogue,” Diamond said. “The people and programs that make up our community have provided us with more than just a home away from home; they’ve given us a sense of meaning and community in such a short time in a city that neither my wife nor I grew up in. That inclusion is the driving reason I have gotten so involved in giving back.”
Diamond graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and began his career as a software engineer. He was one of the founding engineers on Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa. For the past several years, Diamond has worked in multiple corporate director roles for publicly traded healthcare companies.
New J-LEAD co-chair Thaddeus Diamond with his wife, Kelsey Warkentine, and their children. Get yourself, your family and your friends subscriptions to The Chronicle!
In addition to increasing the impact of their philanthropy, J-LEAD allows members to forge connections within the Jewish community. Through collective decision-making and volunteer and social activities, J-LEAD members engage with peers who share their passion for making a difference. The program also offers educational resources and opportunities for members to deepen their understanding of philanthropy, Jewish values and community needs. By educating and empowering members, J-LEAD aims to equip them to make informed decisions about their charitable giving and become more effective philanthropists. J-LEAD also offers opportunities for leadership development and is a platform for networking and mentorship.
More information about J-LEAD is available by contacting Suzanne Galblum Dicken at sdicken@jcfkc.org or (913) 327-8286.
“I am so excited to be the co-chair of J-LEAD this year,” Diamond said. “Help-
Scan the QR code below or go to kcjc.com/subscribe for more information.
Biblical bad hair day
I have always been befuddled by one biblical story. In Judges 16:16, after repeatedly nagging Samson, Delilah succeeds in getting the mighty warrior to reveal his secret: “If my hair were cut, my strength would leave me.”
What? His strength resided in his tresses? I never quite understood that. But that was before my new hairdresser (I’ll call her Ellen) locked off my own locks. Then I understood poor Samson.
“So, what are we doing today?” Ellen had asked, snapping the cloak around me.
“Just a trim,” I said, pronouncing the sentence often uttered to beauticians and barbers before putting one’s head in their hands.
“Okay,” she said as she began hacking. And hacking. And hacking. As each lock fell to the ground, it took with it a bit of my wellbeing, each snip cutting away a part of myself. Unlike Samson, I did not lose my power. Rather, I felt robbed of my humanity. When she finished, I looked in the mirror. Staring back at me was not a person, but a plucked chicken. For weeks afterwards, when I caught sight of my reflection, I would cluck at myself.
I know I should be ashamed for obsessing over something so trivial. With the climate changing, inequality escalating and democracy diminishing, my hair should be the least of my worries. A bad haircut is definitely a first-world problem. But, let’s face it. Hair can make or break a day. The term “bad hair day” blames unmanageable hair for having everything go wrong. And if the subject made it into the Bible, there must be something profound about the subject.
Indeed, according to the Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, in Jewish lore, “hair has always possessed a special mystique.” Because it grows continuously, hair was seen as connecting with “a person’s vital spirit.” The Encyclopaedia Judaica notes that the ancients believed hair possessed the “magic power of man’s ‘life force.’” In many cultures, to gain power over a person, one would try to obtain their tresses. And because hair has no sensation, it was also as-
sociated with death.
For many of us, our hair constitutes an essential element of our identity. Doctors report the first question often asked when delivering a cancer diagnosis is whether the patient will lose their hair. In the movies, after committing a crime, the culprit will disguise themself by dying their hair or wearing a wig. A salon I know of did a booming business thanks to the sign in their window: “We fix bad haircuts.”
Much like Samson’s special power, successful hair styling can bestow a feeling of exhilaration. I remember my mother leaving the beauty parlor with a spring in her step after getting her weekly bouffant wash and set. She would wrap her “do” in toilet paper before bed, hoping to maintain the look and feel for another day.
Some women will travel great distances for the sake of their hair. I know a woman who returns to her former hometown of Los Angeles every six weeks to have her hair cut. Another friend tells me she can’t relocate to where her grandchildren live because her colorist lives here. “It’s them or my hair. Guess which one I chose?” she jokes.
And it is well-known that Orthodox women will cover their hair with beautiful, exorbitantly-expensive wigs. Technically acceptable, these modern sheitels can rival or surpass the woman’s own hair, ironically undermining the reason for the wig.
One of the best features of hair is that it grows back. When Samson’s hair grew back, his strength returned and he was able to demolish the Philistine temple. I can’t say that my returning tresses restored any power to me, nor did it enable me to destroy any buildings. But once my spikes calmed down, I did too and realized I had learned a valuable lesson. From now on I will always ask any new stylist, “Do you know the story of Samson?”
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell is a Kansas City native and award-winning author. Her latest book, “Typically Jewish,”isavailablethroughtheJewish Publication Society or Amazon. Her website is kaliwellinc.com and email is nancykalikowmaxwell@ gmail.com.
commentary
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.
The importance of the World Zionist Congress
By Josef Loeffler
The Torah describes how, at Mt. Sinai, our ancestors each participated in a census by contributing half a coin. This showed that none of us is complete without the other, emphasizing our responsibility to care for one another. Today, each of us counts again as we have the opportunity to vote for the future we want for America and Israel. The World Zionist Organization will decide how to allocate more than $1 billion annually for the next five years based on these votes.
Five years ago, 123,575 American Jews voted for parties that determined how these funds were distributed. If you’re over 18, identify as Jewish and live in the U.S., you are eligible to vote. Kansas City’s Jewish community has historically had strong representation, exceeding our proportional share. Remarkable people from Kansas City serve as national board members of influential organizations like JAFI, JDC and AIPAC. At a time when Jewish communities face increasing hate, maintaining strong representation is especially important.
Because our community is smaller, it’s crucial for us to become informed
about the issues and clearly express our values. By voting, we can positively influence the future of the Jewish people, the land of Israel and the broader world. We are fortunate to have community members running on different party slates.
One key area where the World Zionist Congress has increased funding is in combating anti-Zionist activities on college campuses. Unfortunately, some protests have shifted from criticizing Israel’s government to attacking Jewish institutions like Hillel and Chabad, as well as targeting Jewish students themselves. My heart goes out to students who feel threatened or scared.
While it’s not my place to endorse a specific party, I strongly encourage everyone to learn about the slates and vote according to the causes they support and envision for our shared future. For additional information, you can attend a film screening hosted by one of the slate organizations, Aish. The film, titled “October 8th,” discusses the impact on the world after Hamas murdered 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and how this tragedy has affected campuses. To learn more, visit jewishkc.com.
Josef Loeffler is a philanthropist and community member involved with many Jewish organizations locally, nationallyandglobally.
My kindness journey to diminish hate in our world
By Abby Hill SevenDays KYLT
Do you remember where you were on April 13, 2014? I do. I was eight years old, sitting at home on my couch, watching YouTube videos when my best friend texted me that she was at the AMC Town Center 20. They had called a lockdown – an active shooter was across the street at the Jewish Community Center. At the time, I did not understand the gravity of the situation; all I knew was that my best friend was in danger.
The following Sunday, I arrived at my synagogue for Sunday School and noticed something different: police officers guarded the front doors, and a new security system was put in place. This was particularly strange to me because no other establishment in the area had such precautions. Then it clicked: I was not just unsafe, I was unsafe because I was Jewish. That day marked the beginning of my awareness of antisemitism, a reality I had been shielded from as a young child. As I grew older, I began to notice the prejudice and ignorance that Jews globally and locally faced — hate from continued on next page
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closed-minded, uneducated people. It wasn’t until I began facing the same hate that I decided I would be an active participant in stopping all hate.
In August of 2023, I joined SevenDays, an organization that aims to combat hate by spreading kindness through education and dialogue. I wanted to learn how to combat hate alongside a group of teens with the same mission. My reason for joining the SevenDays Kindness Youth Leadership Team (KYLT) was simply to spread kindness, but after the events on Oct. 7, 2023, that goal became a calling. I knew that to stop antisemitism and other forms of hatred that came from the attacks, I needed to be on the front lines of education and spreading kindness. But that did not only require me to share my knowledge with peers; I needed to learn about different communities.
SevenDays has empowered me to be what we call a “Kindness Influencer.” Whether it is posting an inspirational quote on social media to share with my friends or holding the door open for a stranger, I have learned that any act of kindness can make a ripple. Through SevenDays, I have gotten to create ripples in many different ways. I have had many opportunities to speak at local elementary schools about the importance of kindness and how young kids can become “Junior Kindness Influencers.” I also have made various media appearances with SevenDays Co-founder Mindy Corporon to share the SevenDays mission with the broader Kansas City area.
This year, SevenDays will be from March 31 through April 8. I encourage each and every one of you to join the effort by doing random acts of kindness. SevenDays has a lot of free resources to check out on our website, SevenDays.org. While my journey as a member of KYLT will come to a close at the end of this school year when I graduate, I encourage all high schoolers to consider applying to be a part of the Kindness Youth Leadership Team and help spread kindness locally and globally. Hate thrives in silence, but kindness grows through action. My journey from an eight-year-old witnessing tragedy to an advocate for kindness has shown me that while we cannot erase the past, we can shape the future — one act of kindness at a time.
AbbyHillisasenioratTheBarstow School and a member of SevenDays’ KindnessYouthLeadershipTeam.
Rabbi Eliezer Ben-Yehuda
Rabbi Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, 86, passed away on March 21.
Born in East Jerusalem, he was a child polyglot — no one ever knew what his first language was. By age 4, he spoke the Arabic of his boyhood friends and neighbors; the English of the empire occupying his homeland; the French of his mother’s family; and the Hebrew that was his birthright as a Jew and his responsibility as the grandson of his namesake, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. By the age of 10, he spoke seven languages and acted as a courier for the nascent Israeli Defense Forces in the War of Independence.
After the war, he continued his service to his country and his people, culminating as a member of the Diplomatic Security team in New York in the 1950s. In 1960, his first son, Itamar, was born to Eliezer and his first wife, Malcah. By 1965, they had divorced, and Eliezer met and married his second wife, Leah Ben-Yehuda (née Feldman), with whom he would have four more children, Tahl, Gil-Ohz, Naomi Kallah and Ilan. Eliezer, having participated in armed conflict for much of his early life, wanted a career as a healer. Though he initially studied medicine, he found his calling attending to people’s spirits rather than their bodies.
At the urging of Chancellor Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, he became a smalltown rabbi in the 1960s, first serving in Indiana, Pennsylvania, then in 1970, to Butler, Pennsylvania, until 1984. He went on to lead congregations in St. Joseph, Michigan, and Lakeland, Florida, before taking his last pulpit in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. During that time, he also lectured on Judaism, Zionism, Hebrew and Israel in colleges and schools, on the radio and in television across the U.S., Canada and in Israel. He was an internationally-published author, and in his 60s earned a Ph.D. in literature. He accepted the mantle of being a light unto the people who are themselves charged with being a light unto the nations.
After his career as a pulpit rabbi, he founded the Eliezer Ben-Yehuda Foundation, whose purpose is to educate people on the role of Ben-Yehuda in the development of the State of Israel.
As a rabbi, he used his depth of biblical and rabbinic knowledge to guide and counsel those in transition. He prepared innumerable students not
obituaries
only for their b’nai mitzvah, but even more for a life of faith. He regularly visited hospitals as a chaplain, worked with couples about to be married, taught those seeking to convert to Judaism and comforted the bereaved through their losses. As a father, he imparted to his children a love of art, music, language, the land of Israel and the importance of service. He loved his Leah ferociously, and lived as her partner in building a loving Jewish home, open to all.
He was a servant both to his people and to the God of his people.
He loved to read biographies, watch movies and listen to classical music. He told outrageously bad jokes and puns at the dinner table. His beard ranged from tame to epic; from brown to snowy white, it never failed to impress. He loved the cats that wandered into and out of his life from the ‘70s through the ‘10s and the dogs he got to visit when he spent time in Overland Park, Kansas, with his daughter Tahl and newest sonin-law, Luke. He will be remembered for so many things, but to his family, perhaps best for his resonant voice that underlies their earliest memories: in song and in prayer, in joy and sadness, in the Shema that they recite to their children and in the harmonies they make with each other.
He is survived by his sisters, Eliezra and Hemda; his beloved wife, Leah; his children Itamar, Tahl (Luke), Gil-Ohz (Jenna), Naomi Kallah, and Ilan (Deborah); grandchildren Ehud, Zohar and Uriah, Eliana and Sara, Lila, Sam and Ada, and Benito; as well as great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews in the U.S., Israel and Europe.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of his favorite causes: JNF or the Smithsonian.
Condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Beverly Ann DeLeve
attended the University of Missouri in 1950. She married the late Melvin DeLeve in 1950, and lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, until 1952, when she moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she lived until 1963. She spent the rest of her life in Kansas City. Beverly was a payroll manager for the Department of Defense until she retired in 1984.
Beverly had a strong creative streak. She was an accomplished seamstress and was well known for her bejeweled and bedazzled clothing, as well as her upholstering. She loved all sorts of crafts and especially enjoyed repurposing old clothes into purses, earrings and household objects. She exhibited and sold her craft creations in various craft marts all over Kansas City and the surrounding area. Her interests were varied; she was a gardener, a poker player, a reader, a cook and baker and a dog lover. She loved to travel and took trips all over the world.
Bev was well known for her energy and generosity in making things for her friends and family. She maintained close relationships with her nieces and nephews and their families and was actively involved in their lives. She is remembered fondly for her strong opinions and outspokenness.
Beverly was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Frances Weinstein; and her brother, Marvin Wolf. She is survived by her son and daughter-inlaw, Bart and Kathie DeLeve of Kansas City, Missouri; her daughter and sonin-law, Andrea and Mike Schaechter of Northbrook, Illinois; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Irene Sylvia Gulko Fehr
Irene Sylvia Gulko
Beverly Ann DeLeve, 92, of Overland Park, Kansas, died on March 20. Funeral services were held on March 23 at Louis Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Sheffield Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers; the family suggests contributions to Advanced Home, Health and Hospice of Kansas City (9229 Ward Parkway, Suite 350, Kansas City, MO 64114).
Beverly was born on Dec. 3, 1932, to the late Raymond and Betty Wolf, in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Central High School in 1949 and
Fehr died on March 19 in her apartment at Village Shalom, surrounded by family.
Services were held on March 23 at Louis Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Jewish Vocational Service, American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
Known throughout her life as “Dolly,” Irene was born on July 21, 1926, in Kansas City, to David and Malka Gulko. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution continued on next page
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of 1917, David and Malka left the town of Chudnov, Ukraine. Several years later, they arrived in the U.S. and found their way to Kansas City, where other relatives had already settled.
Family legend has it that Irene was given her lifelong nickname by her first cousin, who was less than a year older, and also named Irene. “This is my Dolly,” she said about her baby cousin, and the nickname stuck for almost a century.
Dolly graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City and then attended the University of Missouri, where she met the handsome, returning WWII aviator Lou Fehr, who was the brother of her sorority sister, Sylvia Fehr. Lou and Dolly were married in 1947, and after a few years in Marion, Indiana (Lou’s hometown), moved to and raised their three sons in the Kansas City area.
Dolly worked with Lou at his business, a restaurant supply company known as Fehr Hotel Supply, Inc. After staying at home for a few years to raise her sons, she worked as manager/ owner of The Glass and China House in Corinth Square with her sister-inlaw Sylvia. And later, after her children were grown, Dolly embarked on a successful career as a real estate agent.
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Congregation B’nai Jehudah for about 70 years, and a part of its Sisterhood. Dolly also was a lifelong member of Hadassah, B’nai B’rith Women and supporter of Jewish Federation. And, not least of all, a Cub Scout Den Leader.
Dolly was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, Louis A. Fehr; and her sister, Frances “Billie” Farber.
Dolly is survived by her sister-in-law, Sylvia Fehr Soule; her sons: Donald (Stephanie Feldman) of Rye Brook, New York; Steven (Cynthia Wendt) of Leawood, Kansas; and Jerry (Lori Gilgus-Fehr) of Kansas City, Missouri; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren: David Fehr (Katherine) and their children Naomi and Nicola Fehr, of Chicago, Illinois; Mark Fehr (Tuba Sural) and their children Lydia and Riley Fehr of Bethesda, Maryland; Rachel Fehr Mankiewicz (Chris Mankiewicz) and their son Ryan Fehr of Portland, Oregon; Elyse Fehr of Rye Brook; Alex Fehr of Overland Park, Kansas; Caroline Fehr (Andrew Bort) of Washington, D.C.; Tom Fehr of Overland Park; Allison Fehr (Patrick McDonald) and their children Arabella, Judah, Juniper and Primrose McDonald of Bray, Ireland; Danielle Fehr and her children Crosby and Calvin Lester of Leawood; and Hannah Gilgus of
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Overland Park. Dolly also leaves behind a loving family of nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
The family wishes to thank those who cared for Dolly at Village Shalom the last three years.
Condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Dr. Harvey Gilbert
scans. The center embodied his belief that comprehensive cancer care must address both body and spirit.
As an oncologist and author, Dr. Gilbert’s brilliant mind earned him professional acclaim, but it was his enormous heart that defined him. He was a tireless advocate for peace in Israel and stood firmly against antisemitism, embodying the Jewish principle of tzedakah through his lifelong commitment to justice and healing.
Dr. Harvey Gilbert, a beloved physician who transformed cancer care in California’s Central Valley and touched countless lives with his extraordinary compassion and infectious laugh, passed away on Oct. 31, 2024, at the age of 84.
Born on July 31, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, Harvey celebrated his bar mitzvah and confirmation from Kehilath Israel Synagogue and also became an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed playing the saxophone and was a member of a popular band while attending Paseo High School. He went to the University of Missouri to attend the University of Missouri Medical School. It was there, on St. Patrick’s Day 1963, that he met Deanne Manfield, then a college student, who would become the love of his life. Their whirlwind romance led to an engagement that June, and they married the following year. He would forever playfully claim it was her lavender-mist Oldsmobile convertible that sealed the deal. After graduating medical school in 1965, he answered the call to serve his country, spending 1966 in Vietnam as a physician aboard the USNS Eltinge, a troop transport, followed by three years of active duty.
After completing his radiation oncology training at UCLA, Dr. Gilbert began his practice at Kaiser in Los Angeles. His true legacy would be realized through the establishment of the Ben Schaffer Cancer Institute in Lodi, California, in 1997. Together with his wife, Dr. Gilbert revolutionized rural cancer care by creating more than just a cutting-edge treatment center; they built a sanctuary of healing. The facility featured waterfall gardens, treatment room murals, massage therapy, a smoothie bar and private spaces for patients. Under his leadership, the center brought the first PET scanner to California’s Central Valley, making this vital diagnostic technology accessible to local patients who previously had to travel significant distances for such critical
However, of all his accomplishments, none brought him more joy than his role as husband, father and grandfather. Through 60 years of marriage, he built a beautiful life centered on love, Judaism and family. To his children, Jill and Jason, he was the father who would move mountains while still letting them find their own path. To his grandchildren, Brody and Naomi, whom he lovingly called his “dividends,” he was a source of boundless pride and unconditional love.
Even as health created limitations in his later years, Dr. Gilbert’s capacity for friendship never dimmed. He treasured his relationships with everyone from lifelong friends to new companions at Rossmoor, his heart having endless room for all who crossed his path.
Dr. Gilbert is survived by his loving wife Deanne; his sister, Janice Coldiron; children, Jill and Jason; grandchildren, Brody and Naomi; and a community of patients, colleagues and friends who will deeply miss his wisdom, warmth and that remarkable laugh that could fill any room with joy.
A memorial service filled with loved ones was held on Nov. 3, 2024. Those wishing to honor his memory through tzedakah may make donations at either the Jewish National Fund (my. jnf.org/memorial/harveygilbert) or B’nai Israel of Rossmoor (P.O. Box 2070, Walnut Creek, CA 94595).
Nedra Rosen
Nedra Rosen, 82, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away peacefully on March 23.
Nedra was born in Denver, Colorado, on Aug. 29, 1942, to the late John E. “Ned” and Mary Jane Lilly. She spent her childhood in Stanton, Michigan, from the age of five until she attended Michigan State University, where she earned a BA in education.
Following graduation, Nedra embarked on a fulfilling career with TWA, beginning as a hostess and leading to continued on next page
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many exciting adventures. In 1968, she married Leonard, and they shared more than 52 wonderful years together, enjoying travel across the United States and internationally. After relocating to Kansas City from San Francisco, Nedra dedicated herself to balancing a career and her family.
Her family was the center of her life, and her grandchildren became her greatest joy. She was always eager to hear about their activities, the scores of their games, and proudly cheered them on at every opportunity. Nedra instilled in her two children a deep appreciation for the importance of family.
Nedra was an international officer of TWA Clipped Wings International and served as president of the Kansas City chapter. She spent much time with the organization and treasured the lasting friendships it cultivated. Her hobbies included travel, attending her grandchildren’s sporting and school events, and gardening. She was a gracious host, always putting family and friends first. Known for her decisive nature, Nedra confidently orchestrated family gatherings, and her plans were rarely questioned.
She was glamorous even to strangers; one which sketched her on an airplane while she was a passenger and named it, “The Echo of an Amazing Woman.” Nedra was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard.
She is survived by her brother Dan and sister-in-law Marian Lilly; brother John Lilly; brother-in-law Edward Rosen; son and daughter-in-law Brent and Daiquiri Rosen; and daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Darin Davis. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Chase and Finley Rosen and Reagan and Riley Davis, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held on March 25 at KI Blue Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Kehilath Israel Synagogue (kisyn.org/donations or 10501 Conser, Overland Park, KS 66212) or the TWA Museum (twamuseum.org/donate).
Condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Lance
Shelley Ross
Lance Shelley Ross, 65, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on March 20. He grew up in Kansas City and was a graduate of Southwest High School.
obituaries
Lance studied culinary arts at Metropolitan Community College and operated a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. He met Beth Cohen, married her, and relocated to Atlanta, where he managed internet sales for automobile dealerships.
A sports enthusiast, Lance rooted for the Atlanta Falcons but loved his KC Chiefs. He loved life and pets, owning as many as three dogs at one time. Son of the late Edward and Dorothy Ross, Lance was preceded in death by his brothers Bertram Ross and Joel Ross. Lance leaves his wife, Beth Cohen Ross of Atlanta; brothers and sister Miles (Sally) Ross, Rudy (Judy) Ross, Sherree Ross, all of Kansas City, and sister Sonja (Irving) Hammer of Chicago. He was the son-in-law of Margie Cohen and the late Jerry Cohen of Atlanta. Graveside services were held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery on March 25. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lance’s name to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) would be appreciated. Condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Adelaide “Adi” Simon
Adelaide “Adi” Simon passed away on Feb. 16.
Adelaide Freida Rybka was born in 1930 in Ostrava, Czechia. Adelaide and her family were forced out of their home after the communist takeover shortly after World War II ended. Adelaide, at the young age of 17, was separated from her family and wound up in a displaced persons camp in Regensburg, Germany. It was there she met the love of her life, Ernie Simon. Adi and Ernie relocated to a second displaced persons camp in Murnau, Germany, where she reunited with her parents, Frank and Albina, and her sister Erika. In 1950, Adi, who spoke only German and Czech, immigrated to the United States with Ernie and their 10-month-old son, Robert. They landed in Rock Island, Illinois, part of the Quad Cities, where they raised a family and became active members of the community for the next 26 years. They later moved to Kansas City and eventually retired to Boynton Beach, Florida, where they enjoyed a healthy and happy retirement. After Ernie passed away, Adi moved to Redondo Beach, California, to be closer to family.
Ernie and Adi thrived wherever they went. They were both hardworking and lived the “American Dream.” Adi
was the consummate perfectionist and embraced the challenges of coming to a new country with little more than the clothes on her back. Adi learned to speak English by going to the movies and listening to radio shows of the likes of Arthur Godfrey and others.
Adi was a devoted wife, a loving mother and a cherished grandmother (aka “Omi”), as well as a trusted friend. She had a generous spirit, always remembering birthdays and making everyone feel special with her warmth and kindness. She believed that a thoughtful gesture, whether a home-cooked meal or a heartfelt note, could brighten someone’s day. With a host of talents including being a fabulous cook and entertainer, she took great joy in preparing family favorites such as plum dumplings, Hungarian goulash and sauerbraten. She also enjoyed sharing her love of cooking, knitting and needlepoint with her children and grandchildren.
Adi is survived by her children Bob (wife Debby) Simon of Overland Park, Kansas; Herb Simon of Littleton, Colorado; Judy Simon of Prairie Village, Kansas; and Linda Simon of Manhattan Beach, California; and her sister Erika Theile of Milford, Ohio. Adi is also survived by her six grandchildren: Benjamin, Alex (and Rachel), Jorie, Adam (and Erica), A.J. (and Hana) and Gabriella.
Adi was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie, and daughter-in-law, Erin. A celebration of Adi’s life will be held at a later date, with details to be announced soon. Contributions in her memory may be made to Jewish Distribution Committee (JDC.org) or Alzheimer’s disease research.
John Robert Slegman
John Robert Slegman, 76, died on March 9.
Funeral services were at the gravesite with immediate family only on March 16. A celebration of life brunch was held afterwards at Ann and Tom Isenberg’s home. The family suggests contributions to Children’s
Mercy Hospital Autism Clinic, The New Reform Temple, Heartland Therapeutic Riding and Kansas City Hospice.
John was born on April 23, 1948, to the late Robert and Betty Slegman in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1966 and received a B.A. in economics from Ithaca College in 1970. He also earned a certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology with honors, and he was on the dean’s list. John married the late Holly Franking in 1987 and lived in Kansas City most of his life.
John worked for Betty Rose Coats and Suits, first in Kansas City and then at its showroom on 7th Avenue in New York City for eight years. He then received a degree in computer science and worked at H & R Block for 18 years doing data input.
As a young man, John enjoyed bowling and golf. He started riding horses as a child and continued his passion for riding his entire life. He especially cherished his horses, Captain and Ollie. In addition, his dog, Mikey, was a beloved companion.
John was an avid sports fan, and he cheered for his favorite teams — the Chiefs, Royals, Liverpool FC soccer and Mavericks hockey. He also had an incredible memory for sports facts, TV trivia, politics, people and events.
John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and mother-in-law, Elizabeth Franking.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Slegman, and brother-in-law, Jim Brewer, of St. Paul, Minnesota; his sister, Ann Slegman Isenberg, and brother-in-law, Tom, of Mission Hills, Kansas; his brother-in-law, Michael Franking, of Overland Park, Kansas; his niece, Kate Ruber, and her husband, Bret, of Westwood, Kansas; his nephews, Samuel Brewer and David Isenberg and his wife, Chantal, all from New York City; and his great-nephews and nieces, Leon Isenberg and Micah, Eloise and Ava Ruber.
The family would like to thank John’s amazing care team: George and Ruth Olendorf, Brittany Ward, Anastasia Dudek, Korey Taylor Davis and the rest of the wonderful staff at Creative Care.
Condolences can be shared at louismemorialchapel.com. Okay John, ride on!
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