In this issue...
KU Student Senate denounces Israel
Billboards target antisemitism in KC
HBHA to celebrate Class of 2025
Parashat Shemini Shabbat times (Overland Park): Candlelighting: 7:48 p.m.
Havdalah: 8:49 p.m.
Torah Learning Center expands kosher culinary capabilities for Meals on Wheels
By Kevin Deutsch Special
to The Chronicle
Torah Learning Center (TLC) unveiled a new dairy kitchen ahead of Passover that helped volunteers prepare around 1,000 kosher-for-Passover meals for 170 people during the holiday.
The culinary expansion marks a major milestone in the Overland Park center’s effort to deliver Jewish dishes –along with companionship and conversation –to Greater Kansas City’s most vulnerable Jews. What began in 2013 as a small Meals on Wheels program serving just seven recipients has grown into an operation making nearly 25,000 meals a year for seniors, people with disabilities, Holocaust survivors and families facing unexpected hard-
ships, organizers said. “These meals bring back memories of childhood and connect people to their traditions,” said TLC Co-Director Rabbi Benzion Friedman. “We’re not just delivering food; we’re delivering a piece of home, a taste of history.”
Local PJ Library success receives international recognition
By The Chronicle Staff
PJ Library Kansas City received international recognition for its programming and success at the annual PJ Library International Conference earlier this month.
Bridey Stangler, the PJ Library Kansas City coordinator, and Jay Lewis, president and CEO of Jewish Federation, were invited to speak on panels at the PJ Library International Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts, about the program’s reach and
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The herculean task of preparing fresh, kosher-for-Passover meals in TLC’s two kitchens – one meat, another dairy – fell to a dedicated team of about 25 volunteers. The fleet of mitzvah-doers included chefs, meal packagers, rabbis handling kosher supervision and a squad of meal deliverers all working tirelessly for TLC’s KC Kosher Meals on Wheels program. The volunteer troop had ample provisions for their Pesach mission: roughly 150 pounds of potatoes, 100 pounds of sweet potatoes, 100 pounds of onions and massive quantities of chicken, salmon, fruits,
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Community events planned for Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’Atzmaut
Commemorations and celebrations for the Kansas City Jewish community are scheduled to honor the Israeli holidays Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day).
Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, is partnering with local community organizations to commemorate Yom HaZikaron and celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut again this year. Events will take place both at the Jewish Community Campus and in other locations throughout the area to encourage community participation.
Information surrounding all upcoming events and activities for Yom
HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut can be found at thejkc.org/holidays. A ceremony for Yom HaZikaron
PJ Library Kansas City Coordinator Bridey Stangler and Federation President and CEO Jay Lewis at the PJ Library Annual Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts, earlier this month.
The Israeli flag outside of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
Torah Learning Center Co-Directors Rabbi Benzion and Esther Friedman preparing boxes of matzah for meal recipients in the center’s new dairy kitchen ahead of Passover.
It
is important to remember and stand in solidarity with those still held hostage by Hamas:
KU Student Senate passes resolution denouncing Israel despite Jewish opposition Resolution vetoed; backers call for revote
By The Chronicle staff
Despite opposition from Jewish students and organizations, the University of Kansas Student Senate passed a resolution on April 9 denouncing Israel and its actions in the ongoing war against Hamas, titled “A Resolution to Recognize the Ongoing Genocide in Palestine.” It was subsequently vetoed on April 19 by Student Body President DaNae L. Estabine, and the resolution’s authors — Jewish Students for People’s Liberation, KU Young Democratic Socialists of America and KU Students for Justice in Palestine — vowed to request a revote at the April 23 assembly meeting.
The Student Senate voted in favor of the resolution 34-5 (with seven abstaining). Following the resolution’s veto, the three authoring organizations posted a message on Instagram denouncing Student Body President Estabine and saying that she “turned a blind eye to” Palestinians, and they hope her decision to veto “haunts [her].”
Despite the subsequent veto, the resolution’s backing and support of the majority of the Student Senate concerned many Jewish students and organizations. The day after the resolution passed, Jewish campus organizations KU Hillel and KU Chabad, as well as the KU branch of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), all shared messages denouncing the
resolution and lauding the Jewish students who opposed it.
In a joint statement shared on social media, KU Hillel and KU Chabad said that this resolution is “an act of selective, performative activism singling out the State of Israel and villainizing Jewish students who believe in the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland.”
The eight-page resolution was created to “recognize that the ongoing violence being perpetrated by the country of Israel against the people of Palestine constitutes a genocide based on extensive analysis and reporting…,” and accuses Israel of genocide, apartheid and perpetrating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and violence in the West Bank. The resolution does not mention the terror organization Hamas, which instigated the ongoing war with its terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
“We ask how this resolution helps KU students, and worry about all of the ways in which it
will harm them,” the KU HillelKU Chabad message continued.
SSI shared on Instagram that the resolution “is a deeply biased, one-sided political stunt that ignores terrorism, disregards Israeli civilian suffering and whitewashes the actions of Hamas. It is an insult to every student who values truth, justice and peace.”
Following presentations by authors and supporters of the resolution (some of whom were self-proclaimed anti-Zionist Jews) at the student senate meeting, representatives of the pro-Israel KU Jewish community gave their counterarguments, refuting the claim of genocide and stating that the resolution is harmful and antisemitic.
“[The resolution] fails to acknowledge the context of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, is riddled with misinformation, and because it tokenizes a fringe minority of Jewish voices — [Jewish Voices for Peace] — to
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Pictured at the podium are Jewish KU students answering questions about their opposition to an anti-Israel resolution at a KU Student Senate meeting on April 9. (Screenshot)
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support its claims,” KU senior Rachel Kricsfeld said in her presentation. “... This resolution doesn’t make Palestinians, Israelis or Jews safer. It just makes Jewish students feel more alone, more targeted and more afraid to display their Judaism.”
KU Hillel, KU Chabad and SSI’s social media statements said the legislative process of the student senate was not conducted as they expected.
“Prior to us attending the senate meeting, we tried to get information on the procedures… we didn’t know what we were walking into,” said Dori Jezmir, KU senior and founder of the current iteration of KU SSI. “We were trying to learn how it worked from past meetings, but every single senate meeting went differently, and… no one explained the procedure when we were there.”
“The legislative procedure — if one existed at all — was not in accordance with the expectations and values of this university we all love,” the KU Hillel-KU Chabad message read.
Jezmir also said that attendees at the meeting were rude, shaking their heads throughout the Jewish students’ presentations.
“The lack of professionalism and order at this meeting was embarrassing and reflects poorly on student leaders on our campus,” an SSI Instagram post read.
The senate meeting was livestreamed on YouTube, but the stream cut out right as the Jewish students began to present and resumed as they were being asked questions.
“It was a bombardment on us, but it only makes us more passionate about Israel and our Judaism and to stand up for what’s right,” Jezmir said.
“The KU Hillel and KU Chabad staff thank the brave students who showed up yesterday to speak in opposition to this resolution, and apologize that you were subjected to a barrage of interrogation that you could not have been prepared for and did not deserve,” the joint message said.
Upon exiting the senate chambers after the resolution passed, KU Chabad co-director Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel led the Jewish students in singing “Am Yisrael Chai.”
As of this article’s writing, the results of the April 23 assembly meeting, during which the resolution’s supporters will call for a revote, have yettobedetermined.
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. 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 importantly, internalize those events.”
In 1951, the Israeli Knesset established 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 Jewish 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.
The Kansas City survivors, organized as the New Americans Club, were early adopters of this commemoration.
Yom HaShoah commemoration
Sunday, April 27, at 1:30 p.m.
The White Theatre, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
The J’s Director of Arts and Culture Keith Wiedenkeller announces retirement
After eight years of service to The J and the community, Keith Wiedenkeller, director of Arts and Culture and managing artistic director of The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre, has announced his retirement, effective this July.
Wiedenkeller’s tenure has been marked by significant growth, artistic innovation and community engagement within The J’s Arts and Culture program.
"Keith's leadership and commitment to excellence have made our Arts and Culture programming and our theater one of the best in the entire region,” said Carly Stein, chief operating officer of The J. “In the past eight years, he has elevated the quality, diversity and scope of our offerings while cultivating strong relationships within our Kansas City theater community that will ensure continued success for years to come. We are deeply grateful for Keith’s leadership and the incredible legacy he leaves behind."
Wiedenkeller joined The J in July 2017, stepping into his role after working for AMC Theatres for 30 years, followed by a brief stint as the CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, and several years consulting for various nonprofit organizations. He credits his decision to leave the corporate world to a desire to “make a life” rather than just a living, or, as he put it, “move from success to significance.”
“It was the right time, the right place and the right opportunity,” he said, describing the role as a natural fit for his eclectic background in business, the arts, leadership and community-building. “Thankfully, Jim Sluyter (president and CEO of The J) and Scott Slabotsky (producer and Thea-
Keith Wiedenkeller
tre Committee chair emeritus) had the foresight and imagination to see that.”
Wiedenkeller’s leadership has led to some of the most ambitious and successful developments in The J's arts programming, with all of The White Theatre’s 10 most popular shows occurring during his tenure. One of his proudest achievements has been the team’s unwavering commitment to professional-level theater, even in a community theater setting, which has become a defining feature of The J’s arts programming.
By hiring talented staff and fostering a culture of excellence and inclusion, The White Theatre’s offerings have expanded, with the number of events – both public and private – almost doubling annually. This shift, along with business strategies such as tiered ticket pricing, subscriber packaging and adding variety and performances to show runs, has resulted in a significant boost to the program's financial performance, with ticket sales now almost triple what they were prior to Wiedenkeller’s arrival.
In recent years, Wiedenkeller and his team introduced the award-winning New Works Initiative, winner of Jewish Federation’s Program of the Year,
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celebrations and community news
100th Birthday
Engagement
Noah Weiner Garfinkle and Alisha
Dena Deluty
Cindy Weiner Garfinkle and Jack Mitchell Garfinkle of Overland Park, Kansas, announce the engagement of their son Noah Weiner Garfinkle to Alisha Dena Deluty, daughter of Evelyn Wortsman Deluty and Marvin Zev Deluty of Queens, New York.
Noah is the grandson of the late JoAnn and Norman Weiner and the late Louise and Myron Garfinkle. He
Andi Kahclamat and Brian Edwardson
Community member Edith Shaw will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 25.
“I was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and in 1950, I visited my brother who lived in Kansas City,” Shaw said. “[There] I met my husband, Robert Shaw. We were married 49 years, and I have a son, a daughter, a son-in-law, a granddaughter and her husband and two great-grandchildren.”
Keith Wiedenkeller retiring
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creating from scratch a multi-faceted program to bring Jewish stories “from page to stage” that might not otherwise have been developed.
currently works as a federal employee in Washington, D.C., having earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio; and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Illinois.
Alisha is the granddaughter of the late Dora and Alfred Wortsman and the late Elise and David Deluty. She also works as a federal employee in Washington, D.C., having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Middle East and Asian studies from Columbia University in New York City; a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies from The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City; and a Master of Arts in Middle East studies from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C.
The couple are planning a wedding in August of 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Andi Kahclamat and Brian Edwardson were married on March 23 at the Flunder Lodge on the Lake at the Kansas City Kansas Community College.
The bride is the daughter of Shani Enns of Kansas City, Missouri, and the groom is the son of Jeff (z”l) and Jackie Edwardson of Austin, Texas.
Rabbi Scott White officiated the wedding. Matt and Yousef Hazimeh of Kansas City, Missouri, served as civil witnesses; and Whit Swinney-Graves of Kansas City, Missouri, and Marshall Ward of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, served as ketubah witnesses.
The two honeymooned in Athens and Crete, Greece, and currently reside in Parkville, Missouri. (Photo credittoCloudyDayWeddings)
“The idea started with a casual conversation with my wife, Anne, and quickly moved to my team saying, ‘we should do this,’” he said. “They recognized it was going to be extra work –an added show every year above and beyond what we were already doing – and yet we kept coming back to our commitment to developing programming that aligns with our mission to build community. In this instance, that meant developing stories that are explicitly Jewish across a whole spectrum of styles and themes, from Jack Mandelbaum’s remarkable story depicted in ‘Surviving Hitler’ to Victor Wishna’s wacky ‘Best Hanukkah Show Ever’ to our very own ‘Jewish Nutcracker.’”
Another highlight of Wiedenkeller’s tenure has been the expansion of youth arts programs. Under his leadership, The J’s Stages program for youth theater was born and has grown rapidly. What started as an item on Jim Sluyter’s “wish list” became an experimental initiative and has now blossomed into a well-rounded program, offering hundreds of youth opportunities to shine on stage as well as behind-the-scenes. Working closely with The J’s Arts Education Director Maggie Osgood Nicholls, Wiedenkeller and the team have experienced tremendous success with Stages and built on the momentum Osgood Nicholls has created over the years with Encore, The J’s award-winning dance and acrobatics program.
Importantly, Wiedenkeller also championed ground-breaking partnerships with community organizations like the Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City (BRTKC), Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT), The Coterie, Culture House, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Theater League. These alliances have helped enrich programming, expand audiences and enhance The J’s ability to deliver high-quality, diverse arts experiences.
Reflecting on his tenure, Wiedenkeller credits any successes he’s had with two leadership principles.
“Number one: showing up — being present at the important moments, leading by example; and number two: selecting the right people … and trying to stay out of their way,” he said.
Ultimately, Wiedenkeller says he is most proud of building a legacy that will continue even after his retirement, especially with regards to his current team, led by Emilie Kodanaz, Justin Dudzik and Osgood Nicholls.
“I believe the hallmark of a good leader is when things keep going well, even after you leave,” he said. “Together, we’ve created something so special and remarkable here, something that will continue to serve this community long after my ‘curtain call,’ and I’m confident the team we’ve developed will continue to take it to new heights.
“While I won’t miss the sometimes-crazy schedule and demanding hours, I will certainly miss the people: my theater team, our amazing volunteers and artistic teams, and my wider J family,” he said. “None of this would have been possible without their unwavering commitment, creativity and support.”
As for what comes next, in addition to offering limited transition support to his successor, Wiedenkeller plans to focus on spending time with his family and traveling – experiences he has deferred during his busy years at The J.
“It’s all about time with the people we love; that’s what matters most,” he said. “After all, as the saying goes, you never heard of anyone thinking, at the end of everything, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’”
The J is now conducting a search for the director of Arts and Culture position. More information on the search is available at thejkc.org/careers.
Edith Shaw
Wedding
community news
Actress Iris Bahr to perform
“Golda’s
Balcony” at The White Theatre
Award-winning writer, actor, director and producer Iris Bahr will present her take on the one-woman show, “Golda’s Balcony,” coming to The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre on April 26 and 27.
Bahr will include reflections on the story’s relevance to today’s dynamic in Israel, Oct. 7, Zionism and the nature of a fragmented American-Israeli identity. Discussions will follow each performance. Tickets for both performances – Saturday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 27, at 4 p.m. –are available at thewhitetheatre.org.
Having appeared in countless TV shows, Bahr is best known for her roles on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Hacks,” “The Conners” and her cable series “Svetlana,” executive produced by Mark Cuban, which she also wrote and directed for two seasons.
Bahr had been interested in performing at The White Theatre, and after conversations with Keith Wiedenkeller, director of Arts and Culture and managing artistic director at The White Theatre, they determined “Golda’s Balcony,” a play about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, would be the right fit.
“What an iconic figure to play, what a powerhouse of a woman whose complexity and challenges are fascinating and emotional, and of course, considering the events of Oct. 7, even more resonant,” Bahr said.
While Bahr had originally planned to perform “Golda’s Balcony” as written, she felt it was important to reflect on today’s dynamic in Israel.
“I was in Israel on Oct. 7 and have been sharing the story of that day in my solo show ‘Stories from the Brink,’” she said. “…Of course, many believe that Hamas planned the surprise attack on the anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, so the connection there is inevitable. Regardless if that’s the case, the tragedy of Israel’s history and its endless loops of war and struggle, not to mention the added tragedy of this being another surprise attack, has traumatized Israelis to their core,
even beyond the tragedy of loss and grief that has been relentless the last 18 months.”
Bahr hopes the attendees will connect both with the performance and through the subsequent discussion.
“I always believe in letting the audience connect in whatever ways work for them; beyond just gaining insight into Golda’s life, belief system and struggles, her wit and her coping mechanisms, I’m looking forward to the discussion with the audience to follow post-performance, to listen to their experiences as Jews in America today, and their relationship to Israel pre- and post-Oct. 7,” she said.
“Golda’s Balcony,” a tight-knit story of war and peace, opens in 1973, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, and uses flashbacks to allow Meir tell the story of her life: her journey from her birthplace in Russia to the United States, where she settled in Milwaukee, became a school teacher and married. She describes her role as a socialist Zionist, her emigration to Palestine in 1921, the birth of her two children and the breakup of her marriage. These details form an intriguing backdrop for a dramatic look at idealism, power and the strength it takes to shape the destiny of a nation.
The White Theatre continues its 2024-25 season with Leonard Bernstein’s classic “West Side Story,” produced in partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City from July 5 to 27 and “Stuff of Dreams,” a new musical, from Sept. 13 to 21.
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 S.W. 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,
“Golda’s Balcony” April 26 and 27
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 Kansas 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/ kansas-holocaust-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.
State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration
Monday, April 28, at 1 p.m.
Iris Bahr
This week in history
30 years
Parents including (from left) Martin Pollman, Linda Barter, Joann Kinney, Carol Lissauer, Joel Lissauer and Ann Leitner prepare Passover boxes for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s college students.
50 years
Hadassah women decorate a pickup truck as a parade float for Kansas City’s Israel Independence Day parade.
60 years
More than 600 people are expected to attend the 12th annual Citation Dinner of the Kansas City Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Pictured is the planning committee of (from left) Mrs. Frank Schloegel, Jr., Kenneth Krakauer, Mrs. Dwight Davis and Mrs. D. J. Wasserstrom.
• B’nai Tzedek Shuk (pg. 11)
• Keith Wiedenkeller (pg. 3)
TORAHLEARNINGCENTER PJLIBRARY YOMHAATZMAUT YOMHASHOAH YOMHAZIKARON KUSTUDENTSENATE KEITHWIEDENKELLER IRISBAHR JEWBELONG
• Shelley Rissien (pg. 10)
• Hadassah (pg. 13)
• HBHA graduation (pg. 11)
• Iris Bahr (pg. 5)
• Knowledge as Power (pg. 9, 18)
• KU Chabad (pg. 12)
• KU Student Senate (pg. 2)
• “This Murder Was Staged” (pg. 9)
LEADERSFORTOMORROW KNOWLEDGEASPOWER THISMURDERWASSTAGED SHELLEYRISSIEN MARTYAWARDS HBHAGRADUATION BNAITZEDEKSHUK JCFSITEVISIT HADASSAH JFSBNAIMITZVAH KUCHABAD ENJOYINGCHAMETZ
• Torah Learning Center (pg. 1)
• JCF site visit (pg. 12)
• JewBelong (pg. 8)
• JFS B’nai Mitzvah (pg. 13)
• Leaders for Tomorrow (pg. 8)
• Marty Awards (pg. 10)
• PJ Library (pg. 1, 15)
• Yom Ha’Atzmaut (pg. 1)
• Yom HaShoah (pg. 3, 5)
• Yom HaZikaron (pg. 1)
AJewishCryptogram
Decode the quote from Larry David using the cipher below
Holocaust Commission
The Kansas Holocaust Commission gathered in Governor Laura Kelly's office at the Kansas State
Jane Greene, Governor Kelly, Alan Parker, Jessica Rockhold, Rabbi Larry Karol, Ragen Murray and Harold Youngentob.
Above: Camp Young Judaea Midwest Director Dan Ravitch and Hadassah Greater Kansas City board member Margie Cooper attended the Jewish Community Foundation's recent B'nai Tzedek Shuk event. Hadassah raises funds for Camp Young Judaea scholarships and invited Ravitch to share its table at this annual event.
Above: Members of Jewish Federation's Young Adults Division (YAD) committee organized a "Seder Shuffle" with nearly 60 young adults attending Seders dinners across Kansas City. Pictured are (top, from left) Hannah Katz and her daughter, Midge; Josh Sipp and Savannah Kannberg and their son, Oren; Kara Kahn; Julia Osburn; and Emily and Brian Levine and their son, Robert; and (above) Jack Harte, Sophie Shafter, Lacey Storer, Keil Young, Angela Schwab, Julia Osburn, Maddie Reiches, Becca Graham, Shaina Falk, Amy Illovsky and Ben Novorr.
community news
Gatherings planned for Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut
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will be held on Tuesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J. The event is free to the community and will honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.
Returning this year as part of the Yom HaZikaron commemoration is a memorial run. Taking place the morning of Yom HaZikaron, April 29, Memorun – Ratzim Le’Zichram will be a 3K walk around The J’s indoor track that includes opportunities for each participant to learn the story of and run/walk in memory of an Israeli fallen soldier or victim of a terror attack. This event begins at 11:30 a.m. and is open to all, including families.
Additionally, Matkom Im Zikaron will return. Matkon Im Zikaron, meaning “Recipes with Memories,” is another way to honor one of Israel’s fallen soldiers. Boxes containing a memorial candle, the story of a soldier and their favorite recipe will be available for pick up at The J.
Two separate events will be held for this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations.
On Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m., young adults 21 years and older are invited to attend a birthday party for Israel’s 77th anniversary at Strange Days Brewing (316 Oak St. Kansas City, MO 64106). The event, which has been created in partnership with Jewish Federation’s Young Adults Division (YAD) and JCRB|AJC, will include birthday games, party favors, birthday cake and a special drink.
Party tickets cover food and one drink ticket; nonalcoholic options are available.
On Sunday, May 4, the entire community is invited to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut from 2 to 4 p.m. at Meadowbrook Park (9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, KS 66207). The family celebration of Israeli Independence Day will include games, arts and crafts, dances and more.
Prior to these events, Midwest Center for Holocaust Education will be conducting a Yom HaShoah service at The White Theatre on Sunday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m. The service will commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the 62nd anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial to the Six Million artwork at the Jewish Community Campus.
This year’s partners include AIPAC; Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner; Congregation Beth Shalom; Congregation Beth Torah; Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy; JCRB|AJC; Jewish Community Foundation; Jewish Experiences; KC Kollel; Kehilath Israel Synagogue; KU Hillel; Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation; Menorah Heritage Foundation; Midwest Center for Holocaust Education; New Reform Temple; Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City; and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
This year’s programs are also funded by Mit-Habrim Connections, a project of the JCC Association of North America and the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
Memorun — Ratzim Le’Zichram
Tuesday, April 29, 11:30 a.m.
The J, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
Yom HaZikaron commemoration
Tuesday, April 29, 6 p.m.
The White Theatre, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
Israel’s 77th birthday party (21+)
Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m.
StrangeDaysBrewing,316OakSt.,KansasCity,MO64106
Yom Ha’Atzmaut family celebration
Sunday, May 4, 2 to 4 p.m.
Meadowbrook Park, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, KS 66207
Capitol for a proclamation signing for Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust. Pictured are Frayna Scrinopskie, Alan Haimowitz, Rabbi Samuel Stern, Davin Potts,
Jewish Federation hosted its Men’s Night Out at The College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City. More than 150 men attended the event, sponsored by Michael Staenberg, which included kosher barbecue and watching the NCAA Men's Championship Game. Pictured (above, from left) are Michael Portman, Joe Loeffler and Noah Slabotsky.
Night Out
Seder Shuffle
Hadassah at the Shuk
Chad Gadya Plaque
By Ellie Holsten
The cumulative Passover song “Chad Gadya” is illustrated on this terracotta plaque, made in Jerusalem in 1914 by Ze’ev Raban. The song “Chad Gadya” starts with a man buying a goat which is eaten by a cat, which is bitten by a dog, and so on until the song escalates to God striking down the Angel of Death. The first printing of “Chad Gadya” was in a 16th-century haggadah from Prague. The song is often heard as a symbolic history of Jewish oppression and eventual rescue by God, with the agents of the song being linked to different oppressors depending on the time period of the interpretation.
Ze’ev Raban (1890-1970) was a Polish-born artist who was active in the early years of the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem. The Bezalel Academy was established in 1906 by Boris Schatz with the goal of developing a unique Jewish identity of art. Many of the most prominent Jewish artists of the 20th century were trained, taught, or both at the Bezalel Academy. Raban traveled to Jerusalem to study under Schatz and later became a member of the school’s faculty.
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.
JewBelong billboards targeting antisemitism go up around Kansas City
JewBelong, a national nonprofit organization for fighting antisemitism and making Judaism accessible, put up seven new billboards in Greater Kansas City. Reaching an estimated 35.4 million eyes, the pink and white billboards feature provocative slogans to raise awareness about the dangers of antisemitism.
The billboards will remain standing until the end of June. The slogans and locations are:
• “We’re just 80 years since the gas chambers. So no, a billboard calling out Jew hate isn’t an overreaction” — I-35 and Henning St., Kansas City, Kansas; I-29 and N.W. Waukomis Dr., Northmoor, Missouri
• “You don’t have to be a Jew to protect Jews” — I-70 and I-35, Kansas City, Missouri; I-70 and Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri
• “Standing against antisemitism is standing with America” — I-70 and E 14th St., Kansas City, Missouri; I-35 and 17th St., Kansas City, Missouri
• “Can a billboard end antisemitism? No. But you’re not a billboard” — I-70 and Brooklyn Ave., Kansas City, Missouri
“The Jewish community is only 2% of the entire country, so we need to
work extra hard to break through to the wider American public,” said JewBelong co-founder Archie Gottesman. “We are up against some of the worst antisemitism of our lifetime. It’s outrageous and wouldn’t be tolerated if it was another marginalized community
being treated like this.”
JewBelong has run nearly 800 billboards across the country and offers a library of free resources for “Jews, allies and anyone who has felt like a Jewish outsider or feels disengaged from the religion.”
Applications open for 2025-2026 Leaders for Tomorrow cohort
The Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC) is now accepting applications from rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors for the 2025-2026 Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) cohort, beginning in the fall of 2025.
JCRB|AJC Kansas City’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program is intended to instill students with confidence and empowerment to advocate for their community.
Over the past six years, more than 100 Kansas City students have participated in the LFT program and have become equipped to confront rising antisemitism in their high schools and college campuses
AJC’s LFT program was created to educate young Jews to become informed, prepared,and effective advocates for themselves, the Jewish community and Israel. LFT is designed to instill in teens the knowledge, confidence and passion to serve as positive changemakers among their peers, in their communities and beyond.
During the 2025-2026 school year, KC LFT students will meet for seven monthly sessions, one Sunday a month, for interactive, student-centered sessions to learn about and unpack the most pressing issues affecting today’s Jewish teens.
Students will discuss a variety of topics, including understanding and combating antisemitism in a post-
Oct. 7 world; the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; challenges and opportunities facing global Jewry; and strategic advocacy and coalition building.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but JCRB|AJC urges interested students to apply quickly before the cohort becomes full. Participants will be selected based on their application and a phone interview. There is no cost to participate.
Applications are available at ajconline.wufoo.com/forms/20252026ajc-leaders-for-tomorrow-application. Questions can be directed to JCRB|AJC Programs and Development Coordinator Rachel Kaseff at rachelk@ jewishkc.org.
Billboard by JewBelong at (top) I-70 and I-35 in Kansas City, Missouri, and (above) I-29 and N.W. Waukomis Dr. in Northmoor, Missouri.
community news
Applications open for ‘Knowledge As Power: Educating Against Antisemitism’ cohort
Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, and the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC) have partnered to facilitate a four-session cohort-style program called Knowledge as Power: Educating Against Antisemitism. The four-session program encourages participants to explore contemporary antisemitism, its history and how to be empowered to act when confronted with antisemitism in everyday life.
The first cohort will meet at The J on Wednesdays May 7, May 14, May 28 and June 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. Interested participants can apply now at thejkc.org/ knowledge. All cohort participants will be asked to commit to attend all four sessions, and those accepted into the program will be notified by April 28.
“Now, more than ever, this program is crucial to combating antisemitism by providing the opportunity to get tangible skills and knowledge to speak up when faced with adversity,” said Molly Hess, director of Jewish Experiences. “It is a call to action to not be a bystander, but to rather be an active participant in standing up to antisemitism.”
disinformation related to Judaism, Zionism and Israel.
The program is funded by Robin and Bill Carr, who saw a need to offer programming to the community as many find themselves encountering various manifestations of antisemitism and hearing or seeing misinformation and
According to organizers, Oct. 7, 2023, and the ensuing war has exacerbated existing divisions and misunderstandings around these topics. With members of the Kansas City Jewish community seeking guidance and training to be able to call out both obvious and
less overt antisemitism when it occurs, this program offers training on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation and how to educate the wider community about the Jewish people, culture and history.
This cohort will be led by JCRB|AJC staff, community partners and guest speakers. This course will take participants through the history of the Jews, contemporary antisemitic tropes and how individuals can respond when confronted with these topics.
Read funder Bill Carr’s editorial about Knowledge as Power: Educating AgainstAntisemitismonpage18.
HBHA students to perform murder mystery comedy
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA) will present “This Murder Was Staged,” a murder mystery comedy, at the The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J (5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211). Performances will be at 7 p.m. on the evenings of Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7.
“This Murder Was Staged” begins with a group of actors performing a murder mystery show, but things take a surprising turn when the character killed in their performance is revealed to be none other than their show’s egotistical director, Sinclair Hemmings — and he is actually dead. Mayhem ensues as a detective strides on stage to interrogate the cast and crew in an effort to find the killer. The detective must determine if the murderer is the stammering playwright; the wealthy, elderly theater donor; the weary stage manager; the scolding theater critic; or perhaps even a seemingly innocent audience member.
Director Micah Margolies is excited for an audience to see the show that his cast has been preparing for the past few months.
“It’s a hilarious play from beginning to end,” Margolies said, “and it really gets to showcase our actors’ incredible comedic skills. Plus, it’ll keep the audience guessing about who the real
killer is all the way up to its surprising conclusion.”
Sophomore Eric Fine is performing in his second HBHA upper school play, following his performance in last year’s “A Monster Calls.”
“I get to play a somewhat deranged custodian,” Fine said. “Who knows — maybe I killed Sinclair Hemmings. Guess you’ll have to see it to find out.”
The cast of the play is composed of HBHA high school students Elia Ellis, Eric Fine, Shai Friedman, Simon Granoff, Ethan Hobbs, Saphire Hobbs, Sofia Levine, Alex Rich, Eliezer Rich, Naftali Tilove, Jei Valdivia and David Wasserman. It is stage managed by Noa Levine and directed by Micah Margolies.
Tickets can be purchased in advance or purchased at the door. To reserve tickets in advance, those interested can email Micah Margolies at mmargolies@hbha.edu.
The cast of HBHA’s upcoming performance of “This Murder Was Staged” consists of (back row) Shai Friedman, Simon Granoff, Ethan Hobbs, David Wasserman, Naftali Tilove, Micah Margolies (director); (middle row) Alex Rich, Jei Valdivia, Saphire Hobbs, Elia Ellis, Sofia Levine, Noa Levine; (front row) Eric Fine and Eliezer Rich.
“This Murder Was Staged”
May 6 and 7
The White Theatre, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
KU Jewish Studies to celebrate Shelley Rissien upon retirement
After 25 years of teaching students and shaping the Hebrew language program at the University of Kansas, Shelley Rissien, Jewish Studies Hebrew coordinator, will retire at the end of the Spring 2025 semester. A member of the Jewish academic and cultural community, Rissien has touched the lives of hundreds of students, colleagues and families.
Before joining KU, Rissien earned her undergraduate degrees in psychology and social work from the University of Maryland and a MA in Jewish studies from the Laura and Alvin Siegal College of Judaic Studies. Her leadership extended over 20 years at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, where she served as principal of Jewish studies while teaching biblical studies and Hebrew language courses, and simultaneously leading Kehilath Israel Syn-
agogue’s religious school. She was recognized for her work with the Kansas City Jewish community and awarded Teacher of the Year eight times during her tenure.
Rissien began teaching at the University of Kansas in 2005, bringing the Hebrew language to more than 600 students over the following two and a half decades. Her classroom and office was welcome to Jewish and non-Jewish students alike to foster connections and build bridges between different cultures and faiths. Her belief that the study of Hebrew carries the language forward from generation to generation, connecting the Judaism of the past with the Judaism of the future, has guided her work.
To honor her contributions and commitment, the Jewish Studies Program at KU will host a retirement celebra-
tion on Thursday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4017 Wescoe Hall, 1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045. The entire KU community, alumni
and members of the Greater Kansas City Jewish community are invited to attend.
In the spirit of Rissien's commitment to the study of the Hebrew language, the Jewish Studies Program has created the Shelley M. Rissien Fund for Hebrew Studies. This KU Endowment fund establishes a lasting legacy in Rissien's name and supports student scholarships, awards and events that continue Rissien's mission as a lifelong educator.
Contributions of any amount are welcome. Those interested can donate and honor Shelley’s legacy at kujewishstudies.ku.edu/shelley-m-rissienfund-hebrew-studies.
Retirement celebration for Shelley Rissien Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4017 Wescoe Hall, 1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045
Kansas City AZA #2 announces third annual Marty Awards, Mnookin Memorial Hall of Fame
Greater Kansas City AZA #2 has announced its third annual Marty Awards, set to take place on May 10 at The J. This community-wide event, which falls on the youth group chapter’s 101st birthday, is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of current Kansas City BBYO members while honoring the legacy of past leaders.
Awards will be given in various categories, including Aleph of the Year; BBG of the Year; Mensch of the Year; Underclassman of the Year; Senior of the Year; and Program of the Year. The night will be capped off with the crowning of Two’s “Belle of the Ball” sweetheart. This year’s candidates are Sabra Bergh, Ariel Palan, Naama Reem, Claire Rosen, Gabby Sosland and Emily Stang. The outgoing sweetheart is Julia Luetje.
“The ‘Marty’s’ is a special event where the Kansas City Jewish community comes together to applaud the incredible contributions of our peers,”
said Bryan Persky, president of Two’s AZA. “It’s going to be a night filled with laughter, tears and unforgettable moments.”
This year, Two’s is introducing a new honor: the Mnookin Memorial AZA #2 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is named in memory of Kansas City chemist Nathan Mnookin, the founder of the AZA movement and the adviser of AZA’s first two chapters, whose vision and dedication paved the way for countless young Jewish leaders.
The inaugural Hall of Famers are:
• “The Four Horsemen”: This group of founding members — Philip Klutznick, Bill Horowitz, Lewis Sutin and Abe Margolin — played pivotal roles in shaping the AZA’s core
values and mission. Their leadership and commitment to the cause have inspired generations of Jewish youth.
• The 1925 AZA National Basketball and Debate Champions: AZA #2 won the first national AZA basketball and debate tournament on March 2122, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. The debate team consisted of Klutznick and Horowitz. The basketball team — led by Phil Copland, Sidney Magazine and Julius Pelztman — not only showcased athletic talent but also exemplified the spirit of teamwork,
camaraderie and competition that are hallmarks of the AZA fraternity.
In honor of the 1925 chapter, this year’s Marty Awards will be transformed into a roaring ‘20s party, with the theme, “Party Like it’s 1925.” Part of the proceeds will go toward Mitzvah Garden KC and the JFS Food Pantry, in support of Two’s yearlong BBYO Stand Up campaign, “If I Had the World Give,” aimed at ending child hunger in the community.
This year’s Marty Awards chairmen are Judah Bassin and Jason Persky. For tickets or to make donations, those interested can visit twosaza. com/martyawards or email twos.aza@ gmail.com.
More information is available by contacting David Wexler at (913) 2092511 or dwex2112@gmail.com.
The Marty Awards Saturday, May 10, 8 to 9:30 p.m.
The J, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
Shelley Rissien
HBHA to celebrate Class of 2025 graduation
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s (HBHA) graduation ceremony is a celebration of personal development, academic achievement and deepening Jewish identity seniors experience throughout their time at HBHA. This year’s ceremony will take place on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J and will be an opportunity for the community to come together in support of the graduates as they mark this milestone.
Every year, the graduation ceremony at HBHA is a reflection of the values and educational priorities the school emphasizes. The seniors who take the stage are honored not only for their academic success but for the people they have become through HBHA’s teachings to be ethical, independent thinkers with profound connections to their Jewish heritage.
One of the most unique aspects of HBHA’s graduation is the students’ speeches. Each graduate shares stories, memories and experiences from their time at HBHA, offering a reflection on their journey. What truly sets these speeches apart is that they are
delivered in both English and Hebrew. This not only showcases the students’ language proficiency but also the confidence and fluency they develop through years of immersive education at HBHA.
Another tradition at HBHA’s graduation is the recognition of the seniors’ Hebrew names. A name in Jewish tradition holds deep spiritual significance, often reflecting hopes for the person’s character and future. HBHA
this tradition by sharing the Hebrew names of each senior, offering insight into how they have come to embody the meaning of their names over the years. These individualized recognitions reflect the perspectives of HBHA staff who have watched them grow from childhood
into young adults.
“Walking across that stage, speaking to my community in Hebrew and hearing my name connected to its Jewish meaning felt like the perfect way to end this chapter of my life. It’s an experience I’ll never forget,” said HBHA alumna Emma Rosenthal, Class of 2024.
As Head of School Annie Glickman said, “Graduation at HBHA is a deeply meaningful milestone that goes beyond celebrating academics. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the incredible growth of our students — intellectually, personally and as Jewish individuals. It’s an honor to witness their journey, and we are excited to see them step confidently into the next chapter of their lives. This ceremony is a testament to what makes HBHA so special: our commitment to nurturing well-rounded, thoughtful and compassionate individuals, determined to make a positive impact on our people and the world.”
HBHA Class of 2025 graduation
Monday, May 12, 7 p.m.
The White Theatre, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66211
JCF celebrates teen philanthropy at B’nai Tzedek Shuk
On April 3, the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) welcomed teens and their families to its youth philanthropy fair, the B’nai Tzedek Shuk.
This annual event is a highlight of the Foundation’s philanthropic programming, meant to connect teens with Jewish communal organizations for an evening of learning, engagement and fun. The theme of this year’s Shuk was “Philanthropy: Rated E for Everyone,” which was emphasized throughout the event with Netflix-inspired references. The Shuk was planned by the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council, a group of teens that meets monthly to engage their peers in philanthropy.
“Serving on the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council and helping to plan the Shuk has strengthened my confidence and helped me build connections within my community,” Nina McNay said. “In addition to working on the Shuk, my time on the council has allowed me to explore different giving options for my current B’nai Tzedek Fund as well as outlets for philanthropy as I grow
older.”
The Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek program introduces b’nai mitzvah-age youth to the processes of tzedakah by inviting them to establish their own personal charitable giving accounts at JCF. B’nai Tzedek Funds may be opened with a $125 tax-deductible contribution, which the Foundation triple matches with a $375 contribution. Each teen fundholder begins their philanthropic journey with a $500 fund balance, and every year they may donate 10% of their fund to a Jewish charity, either locally or in Israel. The Shuk gives these young philanthropists the opportunity to learn about the missions of community organizations and discover how their donations can make a positive impact. In many instances, the Shuk is the first time teens are introduced to the wide array of diverse organizations working in the community. The event began in the Jewish Com-
munity Campus galleria, where teens met with representatives from Jewish organizations and learned about each nonprofit’s meaningful work. To maximize engagement, the fundholders participated in a trivia challenge to discover facts about each organization represented. Representatives from 17 local nonprofits participated in the event.
After visiting the organizations’ booths, attendees enjoyed a reception with kid-approved menu items such as mac and cheese, quesadillas and Dippin’ Dots. The evening concluded with members of the Youth Council sharing personal insights about their positive experiences participating in the B’nai Tzedek program.
Since the program began in 2001, nearly 700 teens have opened funds, and more than $475,000 has been donated to Jewish nonprofits.
More information about the B’nai Tzedek program is available by contacting Suzanne Galblum Dicken at (913) 327-8286 or sdicken@jcfkc.org.
“The B’nai Tzedek Shuk is a great opportunity for HBHA to share our mission with the next generation of philanthropists,” said Cristina Cowan, senior development associate of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA). “The teens’ energy, excitement and eagerness to make an impact in their community is inspiring. It’s a can’t-miss opportunity for HBHA each year.”
The HBHA Class of 2025 comprises (back row, from left) Noah Bergh, Alex Rich, Alex Rubin, Zachary Granoff, Ari Green, (front row) Sofia Levine, Jei Valdivia, Noa Levine, Molly Soloman, Rayli Kopelman, Tali Gortenburg and Livia Noorollah. honors
Leora Stein, Mira Buchbinder, Eliana Berenbom, Vivien Wishna and Harry Pabst participated in the Jewish Community Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek Shuk.
JCF site visits connect donors to KU Jewish organizations
On April 8, together with fundholder Eric Kaseff, the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) hosted site visits to KU Chabad and KU Hillel in Lawrence, Kansas. The site visits were part of the Foundation’s Connecting Our Giving Community series, which brings together Jewish Community Foundation fundholders for a variety of philanthropic education and engagement opportunities. During the site visits, participants have the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of organizations’ operations and see their missions in action.
The visit began at the temporary space of KU Chabad, where JCF fundholders, staff and partners were welcomed by Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel. The Tiechtels shared the organization’s history and described the wide variety of programs they offer Jewish students at the University of Kansas. The group heard accounts from two students who talked fondly about how the organization has made an impact on their Jewish identities.
The group then toured the construction site of KU Chabad’s new facility, located at 1203 W. 19th Street in Lawrence. Rabbi Tiechtel shared renderings of the finished building, which will feature dedicated spaces for prayer and meditation, mental health, study and social gatherings. The facility will also include a fully equipped kitchen, administrative wing for staff and hospitality suite for students’ families and visiting scholars. The façade will display a colorful mural and a large menorah that will be visible from blocks away, intended to give students a feeling of Jewish presence on campus.
The next stop was KU Hillel, where the group met with Director Ethan Helfand and Assistant Director Ben Davis. Helfand and Davis explained their student-centered approach to programming and the research they are currently undergoing to understand how to best serve their population and its needs. They’ve found that many students prefer informal engagement, and Hillel has been creative in coming up with ways to appeal to and interact with students. Such efforts have included Shabbat observance at an ice cream shop; passing out kosher hot dogs outside of a popular bar as a late-night snack (distributed by a staff member dressed in a hot dog costume); and hosting KU basket-
zations is helping Jewish life at KU.
“It was extremely valuable to be able to join other community leaders and funders and get a first-hand look at the tremendous impact that our partners, KU Chabad and KU Hillel, are having on Jewish students at KU,” said Taly Friedman, director of community building at Federation. “Jewish Federation is really grateful to JCF for giving us another opportunity to deepen our relationships with our partners through these meaningful site visits.”
ball watch parties.
“Gail and I were privileged to visit Chabad and KU Hillel with the JCF’s ‘Connecting our Giving Community’ program,” participant Gary Weinberg said. “We were so impressed with both the Chabad staff and the KU Hillel staff. The opportunities and the feeling of belonging that each of these organizations provide for Jewish students is outstanding. We listened to students who spoke of how these organizations changed their lives. Both organizations help our students deal with feelings of isolation and mental health issues. They are incredibly important to the development of our future Jewish adults in Kansas.”
Participant Paul Greenwood agreed
and said, “It was deeply moving to hear from the students whose college experiences had not only been influenced, but actually shaped, by their affiliation with Chabad and Hillel. As a JCF grants committee member, it was fulfilling to see the grants we have provided those organizations are having maximum impact and enabling these organizations to realize their missions and create a sense of belonging and community for so many Jewish students.”
Because collaboration and partnership are central to the Foundation’s work, JCF invited representatives of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City to join in the site visits and discover how its funding of these organi-
Attending site visits is one of many benefits of having a donor advised fund (DAF) at the Foundation. DAFs are personal charitable giving accounts that enable donors to support the Jewish and secular charities of their choice on their own timetable. DAFs may be established with $5,000 or more ($2,500 for those age 35 and younger) and are flexible, efficient and offer substantial tax advantages, especially if donors contribute longterm appreciated stock.
Future site visits are planned for Kanbe’s Markets, Wayside Waifs and Jackson County CASA.
More information about site visits or how the Foundation can help with philanthropic goals is available by contacting Suzanne Galblum Dicken, director of philanthropy, at sdicken@ jcfkc.org or (913) 327-8286.
KU Chabad hosts Jewish students for Passover
Once again this year, KU Chabad welcomed more than 100 students to celebrate Passover together. Students experienced Passover Seder traditions complete with home-cooked holiday food.
“As a freshman celebrating my first Passover away from home, I was so concerned about how I would manage,” said Jacob Abowitz, a freshman from St. Louis, Missouri. “Turns out that I never left home — Passover at Chabad feels just like home. I always leave feeling very uplifted and part of the family.”
In addition to the Seders, KU Chabad offered a full week of kosher-for-Passover meals.
KU Chabad also expanded its impact through its annual Matzah Campaign with the mission of ensuring that every Jew in Northeast Kansas
could celebrate the Festival of Freedom. A team of dedicated rabbinical students traveled across the region, personally delivering Shmurah matzah and other Passover supplies to Jewish homes and families in the region.
They also travelled to Kansas State University, where they met Jewish students, and even to Fort Riley Army Base to ensure Jewish soldiers could experience Passover.
At KU, hundreds of matzah boxes and holiday packages were distributed directly to students living in fraternities, sororities and dormitories.
One recipient, Sharon Brown from
Topeka, Kansas, said, “When I opened the door and saw someone standing there with matzah just for me, I got emotional. It meant so much to know that someone out there cares about me and my Judaism.”
Throughout the holiday week, celebrations continued across campus. ZBT fraternity hosted “Zeta Beta Seder”; AEPI fraternity featured a Passover Pizza Night; and there was a “Macaroon Fiesta” at Wescoe Beach.
KU Chabad’s Passover programming is supported by donors from the Kansas City Jewish community and the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
Pictured are (back row, from left) Eric Kaseff, Nechama Tiechtel, Brooke Hardy, Gail Weinberg, Gary Weinberg, Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, Paul Greenwood, Josh Stein, (front row) Sierra Debrow, Suzanne Dicken, Kaitlin Birnbaum and Taly Friedman at the Jewish Community Foundation’s site visit of KU Chabad.
Pictured are KU students Jacob Abowitz (left) and Ethan Laizerovich with their Passover matzah gift bags from KU Chabad.
Local Hadassah Nurses Council sponsoring Walk with a Friend for Health
Hadassah Greater Kansas City will celebrate its 23rd annual Hadassah Walk with a Friend for Health, sponsored by its Nurses Council, on Mother’s Day. The walk will take place on Sunday, May 11, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Gezer Park (13251 Mission Rd., Leawood, KS 66209).
This year, the local Nurses Council has chosen to benefit physical and mental health by promoting walking and friendship. Participants are encouraged to come with a family member, friend, dog or by themselves and make a new friend. They may walk as little or much as they wish.
An anonymous member is donating seven annual Hadassah memberships in memory of her mother. Those who want to participate in the drawing must be present to win. Winners may choose any non-member aged 17+ in Greater Kansas City to receive a membership. Non-members may choose to gift it to themselves.
Attendees of the 2022 Hadassah Walk with a Friend for Health.
Donations to Hadassah in honor or memory of a nurse or loved one are welcome. These donations will help support Hadassah Medical Organization, which includes the Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus in Israel. This worldclass facility provides rehabilitation services for both Israel Defense Forces
soldiers and civilians.
This free event is open to all. The local chapter hopes that its members, Hadassah associates and the community will show their support of local
nurses and nursing students by attending this annual walk.
Pre-registration is requested by emailing Marian Kaplan at mkhadassah@gmail.com with the subject line “Hadassah GKC Walk for Health.”
Donations may be made online at events.hadassah.org/GKCwalk or sent by mail as checks payable to Hadassah with the memo line “Hadassah GKC Walk for Health” to Hadassah Midwest, 900 Skokie Blvd, Suite 295, Northbrook, IL 60062.
All attendees will be required to sign a Hadassah Event Participation Release to attend Hadassah in-person events. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
More information is available by contacting Kaplan at mkhadassah@ gmail.com.
Hadassah Walk with a Friend for Health Sunday, May 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Gezer Park, 13251 Mission Rd., Leawood, KS 66209
JFS celebrates Food Pantry’s 13th birthday with b’nai mitzvah
Jewish Family Services (JFS) Food Pantry is celebrating its 13th birthday with a b’nai mitzvah party.
Over its 13 years, the two locations of the Jewish Family Services (JFS) Food Pantry have provided more than 3.5 million pounds (1,500 tons) of food, household goods and personal care items to help those who need it most.
To mark the Food Pantry’s 13th birthday, JFS is celebrating with a b’nai mitzvah party for the Pantry Annual Fund Drive. Longtime JFS supporters and community leaders Donna Gould-Cohen and Ann Stern are the honorary co-chairs and presenting sponsors of the B’nai Mitzvah $300,000 Campaign.
“What has inspired me to support JFS for decades is that they help everybody — people of all backgrounds. That is very important to me. It echoes my beliefs,” Stern said.
“I found my time on JFS’ board to have been very meaningful," Gould-Cohen said. “My family and I appreciate the great work JFS does, providing necessary mental health counseling,
helping older adults live safely in their homes and distributing food so people don’t go hungry. JFS even provides Jewish programming at Village Shalom, where I live.”
The two women are working with a committee of community volunteers on the b’nai mitzvah effort, including Phyllis and Bob Bernstein; Cathy Boyer-Shesol and Ron Shesol; Pati Chas-
noff; Janee Hanzlick; Trina and Tom Henke; Gary and Harry Himmelstein; Jenny Isenberg; Ro and Howard Jacobson; Regina Kort; Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein; Susan Lebovitz; Danielle and Sam Levine; Linda Lyon; Katie and John McGurk; Lena Price and Tom Cohen; Irv Robinson; Madelyn Rubinow; Jennifer and John Stolte; Jo Taylor; and Sue Vile.
The community is encouraged to host food drives and drop off items on Sunday, June 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the circle drive of the Jewish Community Campus, where the party will be held. “Party for the Pantry” sponsors will be invited to come inside the lobby for an immersive tour experience.
To date, 52% has been contributed toward the $300,000 goal. It costs about $300,000 to fund JFS’ two pantry locations (at the Jewish Community Campus and Brookside) and its service programs for six months. The B’nai Mitzvah Campaign is JFS’ main fundraiser for 2025. There will be no in-person fundraiser this year.
The Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Charitable Trust has provided a $75,000 matching gift.
Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, with special recognition opportunities for campaign sponsors. More information about sponsorships, making a gift or hosting a food or toiletry drive is available by calling (913) 730-1429 or email development@jfskc.org. Gifts may be made securely online at jfskc. org/donatepantrybnaimitzvah.
Those serving on JFS Food Pantry B’nai Mitzvah Committee include (front row, from left) Ro Jacobson, Sam and Danielle Levine, Honorary Chair Ann Stern, Honorary Chair Donna Gould-Cohen, Sue Vile, (back row) JFS Chief Development Officer Debbie Bass, Board President Jeff Stolper, Howard Jacobson, Cathy Boyer-Shesol, Susan Lebovitz, Jenny Isenberg, Pati Chasnoff, Harry Himmelstein, Sophie Shafter and JFS Interim CEO Awais Sufi.
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!
Chocolate Drizzle
Fig Bonbons
1995, KCJC
Ingredients
• 8 oz. stemmed figs
• 3 oz. toasted hazelnuts
• 8 vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup rum
• 1 tsp. grated orange peel
• 3 oz. chocolate chips
• Vegetable oil
Instructions
1. Process figs, hazelnuts and vanilla wafers in food processor until finely ground
2. Add powdered sugar, rum and orange peel, then process until mixed
3. Shape mixture into 30 1-inch balls and arrange on a baking sheet
4. In a bowl, heat chocolate chips on High in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Add a few drops of vegetable oil to thin chocolate if needed
5. Dip the tip of a form in the chocolate and quickly drizzle over the fig balls (or dip the top of the balls in the chocolate)
6. Refrigerate until chocolate is set; store in an airtight container for up to 1 week
Mocha Meringue Drops
1975, Mrs. Neil Sosland
Ingredients
• 4 egg whites
• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 2 tbsp. Instant coffee
• 12 oz. chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Set oven to 325 degrees
2. Beat egg whites until very stiff
3. Add instant coffee and gradually add sugar, beating constantly
4. Fold in chocolate chips
5. Drop by spoonfuls (makes about 120) on a greased cookie sheet
6. Place in oven and immediately turn the oven off
7. Leave in the oven for at least 4 hours
The J expands childcare offerings at B’nai Jehudah
The Child Development Center (CDC) at The J and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah announced the expansion of its early childhood services with the addition of full-time care for children ages 3 months to 2 years old, beginning in August.
This expansion will allow the center to offer full-time options from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., accommodating more families in the community.
Currently, the B’nai Jehudah Child Development Center offers part-time classrooms for children ages 1 to 5 and recently introduced full-time infant rooms. This upcoming expansion to full-time care for infants and toddlers will allow more families to take advantage of The J’s programs, helping to meet growing demand for early childhood education and care in the area.
“We are so excited to be able to offer members of the community access to a high-quality early childhood environment,” said Machaela Whelan, director of the CDC at The J. “The partnership with B’nai Jehudah has allowed us to offer more families the opportunity to experience
our wonderful Jewish preschool, and we look forward to many more opportunities in the future.”
This new offering will also create additional capacity for younger children, helping to support the transition to older classrooms within
The J.
“With immense joy and gratitude, we announce the exciting transformation of our preschool into a full-time program,” said Rabbi Stephanie Kramer, senior rabbi at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. “This marks a new chapter in our community’s growth, one that reflects our shared dedication to nurturing the next generation with the values, wisdom and love of our Jewish tradition. As we embark on this journey, we are filled with excitement for the endless possibilities ahead and the success that lies in building a strong foundation for our children. May this new step be a blessing for all, as we continue to grow together as a vibrant and thriving community.”
The CDC programs offer an early childhood education program for children ages 3 months to 5 years rooted in Jewish traditions and values. The CDC’s goal is to provide a nurturing, supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and develop essential life skills. With an emphasis on both academic and emotional growth, The J’s CDC intends to foster a community of caring, self-confident and compassionate children.
The partnership between The J and B’nai Jehudah began in August 2017 with the shared objective of providing outstanding early learning opportunities for children through pre-kindergarten.
Those interested in joining the waitlist for full-time infant care at B’nai Jehudah can contact Machaela Whelan directly at machaelaw@thejkc.org or (913) 327-8051. More information about both the CDC at The J and B’nai Jehudah CDC can be found online at thejkc.org.
JFS offering b’nai mitzvah project opportunities
Addison Yamnitz recently celebrated her bat mitzvah at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; for her bat mitzvah project, Yamnitz decided to collect baby items, baby food and feminine hygiene products for the Jewish Family Services (JFS) Food Pantry. She, with the help of her parents, Ryan and Alissa Yamnitz, assembled the donated items into 17 colorful baskets that were displayed during the Oneg Shabbat that followed.
JFS offers a number of opportunities for b’nai mitzvah projects. These service options include personalizing a drive to benefit the food pantry; working with the JFS mental health support team by creating a kindness campaign; participating in the Teen Mental Health First Aid certification program; connecting with older adults; and creating care kits. Jodi Perelmuter, family life educator at JFS, is happy to work with families to personalize a project.
“JFS is so excited to bring a new menu of service projects to connect the next generation of Jewish leaders
with a passion project that inspires them, motivates them and enriches our community. Let us celebrate your special milestone with service to others,” Perelmuter said.
Yamnitz’s project came about after her mother connected with JFS Director of Volunteers and Pantry Partners Jo Hickey to discuss opportunities.
Having seen a special basket project at a St. Louis, Missouri, synagogue, Alissa Yamnitz wondered what her daughter could do to help.
“Since Addison likes babies and kids, we decided to collect baby food; baby items and diapers; and feminine hy-
giene [products],” Alissa Yamnitz said. Her daughter collected food and products over a two-month period.
“We made flyers to pass out to her fellow dance friends who take lessons through The Jewish Community Center’s Encore program and put out a box for her friends to donate,” Alissa Yamnitz said.
The family also posted the donation drive on their neighborhood website and on Addison Yamnitz’s bat mitzvah invitation.
Through her project, Yamnitz, a seventh grader at Prairie Star Middle School, donated more than 255 pounds of items to the JFS Pantry.
“It made me feel good, since I was able to collect a lot [for the pantry,]” she said. “I am very proud and so thankful that JFS does this mitzvah project and gets the community involved and sees where the need is.”
Those wishing to connect about these b’nai mitzvah opportunities can reach out to Perelmuter at jperelmuter@jfskc. org or (913) 327-8259.
Addison Yamnitz with donated items for the shelves of the JFS Food Pantry.
Children at the B’nai Jehudah Child Development Center play together.
community news
Elmwood Cemetery to hold interfaith Memorial Day service
Kansas City’s historic Elmwood Cemetery will commemorate its 153rd Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, by offering several special events and services, including an interfaith service featuring The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Rabbi Rachel Rothstein.
Elmwood, located at 4900 E. Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64127, will open at 8 a.m. throughout the holiday weekend and remain open until 6:30 p.m. each day.
Elmwood’s Memorial Day will begin with the raising of the American flag at 9 a.m., featuring the ROTC from Kansas City’s nearby East High School. Veterans and their families are encouraged to attend this ceremony.
At 9:30 a.m., Elmwood will hold an interfaith remembrance service in its Armour Memorial Chapel. The services will be led by several area clergy, including Rabbi Rothstein, Victor Dougherty of the Temple Buddhist Center and the Very Rev. Dr. Andrew C. Keyse of the Dean of Grace & Holy
The Armour Memorial Chapel at Elmwood Cemetery, where Memorial Day services will be held.
Trinity Cathedral.
“We are delighted to present some special activities during Memorial Day and throughout the holiday weekend,” said Kurt Jordan, an Elmwood Cemetery Society Trustee and organizer of the Memorial Day events. “In addition, visitors can see all the good
work we have done on our historic Armour Chapel and our new scattering garden.”
Elmwood will offer an open house
at the Armour Memorial Chapel throughout the weekend, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day Monday.
“Our gates are open, and our Chapel is available throughout the year,” said Simon Abrahms, Jewish community member and president of the Elmwood Cemetery Society. “But Memorial Day weekend allows us to put our best foot forward when the cemetery is in full spring bloom. We encourage families, neighbors and friends of Elmwood to come join us during this special holiday.”
Founded in 1872, Elmwood Cemetery is Kansas City’s second-oldest cemetery, with more than 33,000 people of all races, creeds and colors laid to rest within its 43 acres, including members of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah who died as long ago as the 19th century.
Elmwood Cemetery Memorial Day service Monday, May 26, at 9:30 a.m.
Armour Memorial Chapel, 4900 E. Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64127
Shoshana Bean to host KC SuperStar Finals on Aug. 24
Shoshana Bean, a Grammy Award winner and two-time Tony-nominated performer, has been announced as the host for the 2025 KC SuperStar Finals on Sunday, Aug. 24, at Yardley Hall in the Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College.
Bean is renowned for her voice and stage presence. Most recently, she portrayed Jersey in Alicia Keys’ new musical, “Hell’s Kitchen,” earning critical acclaim and multiple award nominations. She has also been recognized for her starring role as Susan Young in “Mr. Saturday Night,” which earned her both Tony and Grammy nominations in 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shoshana Bean as the host for this year’s KC SuperStar Finals,” said Tammy Ruder, KC SuperStar producer and director. “Shoshana’s immense talent and passion for the arts will elevate the evening, and her presence is a true testament to the importance of nurturing young voices and fostering opportunities for artistic growth. We can’t wait to celebrate this year’s talented finalists with her.”
A trailblazer on Broadway, Shosha-
na made history as the first replacement for Elphaba in “Wicked” and later starred as Jenna in “Waitress.” She has also appeared in the original Broadway cast of “Hairspray,” the 2000 revival of “Godspell,” and the City Center Encores production of “Songs for a New World.” Her portrayal of Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” earned her an IRNE Award, and her performance as CeeCee Bloom in the pre-Broadway production of “Beaches” earned a Jeff Award nomination.
Beyond the theater, Shoshana has made significant strides in music and film. She has released six independent studio albums and EPs, including projects that topped both the iTunes and Billboard charts. Her music has been featured in films and television, including “Sing,” “Sing 2,” “Enchanted,” “Jersey Boys,” “Glee,” and “Galavant.” Additionally, Shoshana’s on-screen credits include appearances in “Bloodline,” “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” and “Great Performances: 50 Years of Broadway’s Best.” Most recently, she filmed a solo concert special for PBS.
Since its conception, KC SuperStar has had participants from across the metropolitan area compete, and several competitors have continued to perform professionally. KC SuperStar awards over $22,000 in scholarships annually to the top 10 finalists. In addition to a $10,000 scholarship for the winner, other singers will be award-
KC SuperStar Finals Sunday, Aug. 24
ed scholarships, including $5,000 for second place, $2,500 for third place, $1,000 for fourth place and $500 each for all other finalists.
As The J’s major fundraising event, KC SuperStar provides financial assistance to members so they can participate in its many services, including the Child Development Center, J Camp, health and fitness, and programming, meals and transportation for Heritage, The J’s Lifelong Learning program for Adults 55+. A portion of funds raised goes to The Reat Griffin Underwood Rising Stars Fund supporting performing arts education and training programs for youth ages 14-21.
Sponsorship opportunities are available; more information is available at kcsuperstar.org or by contacting Robin Levine at robinl@thejkc.org or (913) 981-8895.
KC SuperStar’s 2025 co-chairs are J members and community volunteers Steven and Jennifer Paul.
Shoshana Bean
community news
Torah Learning Center expands kosher culinary capabilities for Meals on Wheels
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vegetables and other foods — all kosher for Passover.
From handmade round shmurah matzah — a special type carefully guarded from harvest to preparation — to brisket, potato kugel and gefilte fish, each dish was prepared with love, intention and care, said Rabbi Friedman and his wife, TLC Co-Director Esther Friedman.
“We’re not just feeding people,” Esther Friedman said. “We’re providing dignity. Whether it’s a family dealing with a medical crisis, a senior living alone or someone facing financial hardship, we’re here to support them.”
Organizers said TLC’s meals program is more than a food service — it’s a celebration of Jewish community, connection and solidarity at a time of surging antisemitism following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.
KC Kosher Meals on Wheels recipients from across Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, North Kansas City and surrounding areas get up to seven home-cooked meals a week delivered to their homes. During Passover, 170 recipients received kosher-for-Passover meal deliveries from TLC, organizers said.
“People love the gefilte fish,” Rabbi Friedman said. “These are raw gefilte fish rolls that we cook fresh. For many of our recipients, it brings back memories of childhood or reminds them of holiday gatherings.”
Aside from Passover delicacies, TLC volunteers prepare an array of dishes for recipients: soups like sweet potato, mushroom barley, butternut squash, and chicken matzo ball along with challah loaves, honey cakes, blintzes, Thanksgiving meals and holiday-specific desserts like hamantaschen for Purim.
The dairy kitchen’s Passover launch was a temporary opening; the facility is expected to be fully operational later this year once the permitting process is complete, according to the Friedmans.
The expansion comes at a critical time for TLC, which opened in 1998 and is funded by donations. Due to
rising prices and the needs of an aging population, the demand for supportive Jewish services in the community is immense, the Friedmans said.
TLC’s dairy space will help the center meet that challenge, allowing volunteers to cook both meat and dairy meals – in separate, rabbinically-supervised kitchens – along with vegetarian dishes.
Prior to the new kitchen’s construction, Esther Friedman and a team of TLC volunteers prepared dairy dishes out of the Friedmans’ home – a massive, and often messy, undertaking.
“The number of meals we needed to prepare became too large for our home kitchen… it was becoming impossible to manage,” she said.
Brachie Perl, TLC’s head of programming and one of its most skilled chefs, said the dairy kitchen will provide more room for community members looking to give back.
“People want to volunteer and help, and this allows us the space to do that,” Perl said.
The Friedmans, both children of parents who survived Nazism, bring a deeply personal commitment to community service. Their approach is rooted in a philosophy of unconditional support for those in need that goes well beyond meal delivery.
“Sometimes we’re paying bills, helping with medications or simply providing a connection to the outside world,” Esther Friedman said. “We’ve had people call us at two in the morn-
ing just to talk to someone and feel less lonely. We’re there for them any time of day.”
TLC’s improved culinary capabilities have already impressed community members. During a recent event, the center hosted 130 people for a Purim Friday lunch, completely depleting their food supplies — a testament to the growing community interest and support.
Even the military is getting in on TLC’s kosher action: Members of the U.S. Army picked up 30 Passover meals for soldiers at Fort Riley ahead of the holiday, the Friedmans said.
The new dairy kitchen and growing meals program is part of TLC’s larger vision of comprehensive community support; The center offers a complete range of services including a synagogue, a mikvah and extensive programming for both Jewish and non-Jewish community members.
For the Friedmans, TLC’s achievements are the culmination of a lifelong mission of service inspired by their parents’ experiences during the Holocaust, as well as the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (z”l), who the couple grew up following in Brooklyn.
Esther Friedman’s parents lived in Russia and endured brutal conditions under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, she said. Both her grandfathers were rabbis murdered by Stalin’s regime, and her father had two brothers slain in antisemitic violence.
“They had horrific times fleeing Russia and the Nazis,” she said. Rabbi Friedman’s parents endured their own series of horrors during and after World War II. His mother was from Ukraine and his father from Poland. They fled the Nazis and made it to Russia, surviving devastating famines before migrating to Czechoslovakia after the war.
Working in a displaced persons camp – one of numerous DP facilities where Jews languished for years on the orders of U.S and Allied governments – Rabbi Friedman’s father helped thousands of people, including some 500 children, obtain visas and papers to start new lives elsewhere, the Friedmans said.
The rabbi’s father was imprisoned for falsifying papers in Czechoslovakia and freed only at the behest of U.S. officials, he said.
His parents eventually sailed for America on a ship packed with immigrants, and Friedman made the journey in his pregnant mother’s belly.
“I’m still seasick,” he joked.
The Rebbe sent the Friedmans to Kansas City as Jewish emissaries in 1982 with a mission of helping any person in need, whether materially or spiritually. With five decades of experience teaching, counseling and helping others any way they know how, the Friedmans have contributed to every aspect of local Jewish life, community members said.
“Our parents taught us the importance of giving,” Esther Friedman said. “They came to this country with nothing, learning to speak a new language, and built a life based on community and support. This kitchen is a continuation of that legacy.”
Some of the funding for TLC’s meals program comes from the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, the Menorah Heritage Foundation, and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the Friedmans said.
Those interested in TLC meal deliveries can go to tinyurl.com/4zshb55j.
Those interested in volunteering with the meals program can visit torahkc.org/koshermeals.
Rabbi Benzion and Esther Friedman with prepackaged gefilte fish meals for Meals on Wheels participants ahead of Passover.
By Bridey Stangler PJ Library
My first article in these pages was about “scruffy hospitality.” Dedicated readers of this esteemed column will recall that I encouraged us all to embrace the dust in the corners and the toys on the couch in the interest of welcoming more people into our home – and thus, our community. (I stand by that, by the way, even as I panicked about the literal dust in the corners only minutes before my Seder.)
Those same dedicated readers must forgive me for harping on the same larger theme.
Our Seder was small by many standards — a mere 12, including two kids who didn’t even require a place setting. Most were related by blood, but three of them, a young family whom we’ll call “The Newbies,” fall in the category of new/ potential friends.
Seder hosts will appreciate that it was not an easy choice to include the Newbies. Preparing such an event takes incredible work and no small amount of money. And in the beautiful little homes of Prairie Village, seats are definitely limited.
I have absolutely no regrets for numerous reasons — one particularly relevant for this column is that this was the first Seder invitation the Newbies had received since moving here in 2021.
That’s four years without Seders… in a town that prides itself on its warmth… on the night when all who are hungry should come and eat.
I’m not going to go on about scruffy hospitality again (even as I aspire to make a messy household the guiding light of my reputation). I can admit after hosting a Seder that when time and space are limited and you want to create a particular vibe and the world is full of people you love, it’s no small thing to choose the “stranger” over the friend.
I wonder: would the Newbies
have received holiday invitations earlier if someone had first welcomed them… into the park? Or to the pool deck? Or to the pre-pick-up happy hour?
Maybe scruffy hospitality is the second step. Maybe the first step is easier still. Maybe the first step is inviting two families you know and one family you don’t to brunch at the park. Make it BYOB (bring your own bagel) and assign bubbles, balls and sidewalk chalk to each person.
Maybe the first step is using youth sports small talk to mention that you’re dumping the kids in the J pool after this to cool down: maybe you’d like to come?
Or maybe the first step is “there’s this super casual Tot Shabbat on Saturday that my kid loves…”
It is a simple thing to write that it is easy to welcome people into our homes, but I know it’s not. It’s an ordeal to put literally any food on the table at the end of the work week, much less feed people whose tastes/allergies/schedules/ interests/blood types I don’t know. I know it’s far more comfortable to fill three seats at the table with people who know me than people who don’t. I know that when Friday rolls around, I want the comfort of the familiar, not the stress of making an impression.
So let us think of this in steps. After you meet the stranger, remember what it was like to not know people. And then remember that, typically, kids are easier when they have each other. My kid at the park with me wants to play with me. My kid at the park with your kid wants to play with your kid. Ready? Okay.
Step one: Invite them to come to the park. If not right now, then over the weekend.
Step two: Scruffy hospitality. “I’m having people over for pizza. My house is a mess, but we’ll light Shabbos candles!”
Step three: Invite the Newbies to the Seder. Because we don’t want to be the community that takes four years to invite people to the Seder.
Local PJ Library success receives international recognition community news
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effectiveness.
PJ Library works to build Jewish identity, engagement and community by providing free Jewish books and events for area children ages 0 to 8 (the PJ Our Way program provides books for children ages 9-12). PJ Library and PJ Our Way are programs of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and the local branch is supported with funding and resources from Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
Lewis, whose children were among the first group in Kansas City to receive PJ Library books, was invited to speak on a panel of executives about the role PJ Library plays as an organization’s communal engagement strategy. He referred to the 2021 Greater Kansas City Jewish Community Study’s findings that some people found it difficult to be involved.
“PJ Library [Kansas City] is on the front lines of breaking down some of those barriers to engagement that people saw,” Lewis said.
One of the ways the barriers are lowered is through PJ in the Neighborhood, which brings PJ Library events to Jewish community members who live outside of Leawood and Overland Park, where the majority of the local Jewish population is centered.
“We’re really on the cutting edge of the trend that a lot of our programming is becoming far less centralized,” Stangler said.
Stangler spoke on a panel on how PJ Library can help develop relationships with families. She has spearheaded recent efforts to increase engagement in local PJ Library programming, with recent examples including the annual Hanukkah Glow Party and the first private event hosted by the Rabbit hOle museum (in partnership with Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy).
One of PJ Library Kansas City’s recent large-scale programs was bringing Israeli artist Hanoch Piven for an artist-in-residence weekend. Stangler organized the weekend, which included not only children’s events (with the participation of the community’s Jewish religious schools, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and multiple synagogues) but also events for college students, adults and seniors.
“Nobody had done weekend-long programs like that,” Stangler said. “...We
made it possible for the entire community, regardless of age and background, to engage with this Jewish artist. Instead of just making a PJ Library program, we were able to provide something to the entire community because we (PJ Library) have the particular resources and skills to make that happen.”
Additionally, PJ Library Kansas City is one of the first branches to have funded programming aimed at grandparents. It received one of 29 $3,500 grants to establish the PJ Grandparent Program last summer.
Both Stangler and Lewis shared that at the conference, PJ Library Kansas City’s reputation seemed to precede it.
“People were just surprised because the volume and the quality of the programming that we deliver suggest we have a lot more people [than we do],” Stangler said. “We were invited to participate in conversations with much larger communities.”
“Anytime that people found out I was from Kansas City, their faces lit up,” Lewis said. “Kansas City and Bridey are well-known entities in the PJ Library world.”
Federation launched the program in March of 2008; currently, more than 1,000 children across the Kansas City Jewish community receive monthly books and other content intended to teach about Jewish traditions and values.
In addition to Federation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library Kansas City is supported by the Lowenstein Family Supporting Foundation; The Norman & Elaine Polsky Family Charitable Foundation; and Menorah Legacy Foundation.
More information about PJ Library Kansas City is available at jewishkansascity.org/pjlibrary, on Facebook and Instagram, or by contacting Stangler at brideys@jewishkc.org.
Harold Grinspoon, founder of PJ Library (left), with Federation CEO Jay Lewis.
Three Joyous Words
I’ll never forget the Uber ride I had last year. After spending Passover in California with my daughter, I hailed a ride to the airport on Easter Sunday. What impressed me most about the trip was not the cleanliness of the car (though it was spotless), nor the air freshener scent (a delicate citrus lemon), but rather the driver’s greeting. Once I was buckled in and we were on our way, he turned to me at our first stoplight and asked, “How was your Easter, if you celebrate?”
“If you celebrate.” I wanted to reach over and hug this man. But the light had changed so I restrained myself, and simply said, “Thank you for not assuming I celebrate Easter.”
Those three words — if you celebrate — delighted my Jewish soul. How I wished we Jews could hear them more often when offered a holiday greeting.
Especially since moving back to Kansas City from South Florida, I have noticed that everyone here assumes I’m Christian and that I participate in those holidays. In Florida (once known as the Jewish promised land) one would be as likely to be asked “How was your Passover?” as Easter. But here in the Midwest, Jews and Jewish holidays are not on anyone’s radar.
Our tiny population here probably explains why. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the Florida Jewish population is almost 800,000, but in Kansas and Missouri combined a zero drops from that number, totaling just over 80,000 Jews. Because of this, many Midwesterners have little-to-no interaction with Jews who don’t observe their holiday celebrations.
A prime example is the dental hygienist I saw last December. After pinning the paper bib on me, she asked, “So, will you be hosting or going somewhere for Christmas?”
Were those my only two options? I felt like I had been presented with the classic conundrum, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” My mind raced through responses to this dilemma. “I’ll be hosting,” I
could say, with the Hanukkah part unspoken. Or, “I’m traveling,” and let her think Christmas was motivating my trip. By the time I had settled on the least-incorrect comment, she had stuck the suction tube in my mouth. Taking advantage of the situation, I shrugged, which she could interpret however she wished.
I once asked a non-Jewish friend for advice on handling such queries. She suggested that when asked, “How was your Christmas or Easter,” I could say, “Thanks for asking, but I’m Jewish and don’t celebrate. How was yours?”
This sounds better than the snarky comeback I am tempted to offer. “How was your Hanukkah?” or “Where did you go for Seder?” But instead, I usually choose the pathof-least-resistance, responding simply, “My holiday was good. Thanks.” I know that being asked about your Christian holiday is not that big a deal. Even so, I wish more people would add my Uber driver’s disclaimer, “if you celebrate.”
I used to appreciate the Thanksgiving holiday because it includes everyone and avoids these greeting-gaffes. But that was before I made the mistake of ending a family Zoom by wishing everyone, “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“We don’t celebrate that here now,” my Canadian cousin said.
“Oops, sorry,” I said, embarrassed to be caught making my own holiday transgression.
Now, whenever I offer any holiday-related statement, I try to remember to add, “if you celebrate.” Or in the future maybe I’ll avoid the topic altogether and ask, “What do you think of this weather?” But to be safe, I will add, “if you go outside.
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell is a Kansas City native and awardwinning author. Her latest book, “Typically Jewish,” is available through the Jewish Publication Society or Amazon. Her website is kaliwellinc.com and email is nancykalikowmaxwell@gmail. com.
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.
Knowledge as Power: Educating Against Antisemitism
By Bill Carr
Continual antisemitism and its significant recent rise poses the question: How do we personally respond to antisemitism in our daily lives? Do we each have enough knowledge and diplomacy to convince reasonable persons that they are misinformed about Jews? If not, what do we need to know? Are we going to be bystanders or upstanders?
Prominent Jewish author Dara Horn provided me with insight in one of her talks. She believes there is more ignorance than malice regarding antisemitism. This presents us with an opportunity to educate the great majority who just don’t know. Jews and friends of Jews must self-assuredly stand up to antisemitism. But, to be effective, we need to understand the history of antisemitism to rebut the ignorance.
A year ago, I went to a meeting of about 100 people to hear a speaker who had retired after 30 years with the FBI. He brought a woman with him who was running for Congress after having served 20 years in the FBI. When the FBI speaker finished his presentation, the floor was opened for questions. Out of the blue, someone in the group asked, “Who is right in the war between Israel and the Palestinians?”
The FBI retiree immediately responded, “George Soros, a Jew and Hungarian Holocaust survivor,” and went on to suggest that Soros had some responsibility for the conflict.
Taking a cue from Dara Horn, I raised my hand and told her that “George Soros, a Jew” is an often-used antisemitic trope. While Soros is a controversial, often vilified, figure on the political left and right, it was wrong to single him out as being born a Jew. What did that have to do with
anything? Afterwards, she came over to me and apologized. When I asked what Soros had to do with the war, she was unable to tell me. After that, several others approached me and were thankful I spoke up. I was encouraged.
After 52 years of practicing law, I retired in the summer of 2023. In the spring of 2024, I enrolled in a cohort-based online course given by The Graham School at the University of Chicago entitled “Crafting Your Next Chapter.” The cohort members, who came from diverse backgrounds and multiple geographic areas, bonded very well. For me, this was an excellent format for learning and motivation. I thought, “Could we educate Jews and non-Jews alike about antisemitism so they felt comfortable in factually responding to it in their daily lives?” Small cohorts could facilitate this by being interactive and encouraging dialogue and discussion. I took my concept to Jim Sluyter, the CEO of The J. He loved the idea — so much so that he wanted to personally participate in the program and be sure that it would be open to non-Jews. The J and Jewish Experiences quickly brought in the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC) as partners.
Working together over many months, we have created a program called “Knowledge as Power: Educating Against Antisemitism” that we believe will make our community stronger in combating antisemitism. The course will provide participants with the knowledge necessary to diplomatically and factually respond to antisemitism when encountered in their daily lives. Participants, no longer bystanders but upstanders, will feel empowered to act as advocates and ambassa-
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All Cemeteries
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dors for the Jewish community.
Knowledge As Power: Educating Against Antisemitism is sponsored by JCRB|AJC and Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, and will be led by Neta Meltzer, executive director of JCRB|AJC, and Sarah Markowitz Schreiber, director of education and programs of JCRB|AJC. Dr. Ben Schneider is also participating. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and he lectures there on antisemitism and the Middle East. Interestingly, Ben has told me that most of the military personnel who take these courses admit being unfamiliar with the history and widespread nature of antisemitism.
I encourage you to participate in this program. Don’t be a bystander. Become an upstander! We envision grow-
ing to host many cohorts, expanding the reach and programming exponentially over time and building an affinity among the participants.
Our community needs you in these very troubling times.
Knowledge as Power: Educating Against Antisemitism is a four-session cohort style program. The first cohort will meet at The J on Wednesdays, May 7, May 14, May 28 and June 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants will be asked to commit to attending all four sessions. This is an application-based program, and applications can be found at thejkc.org; applicants will be notified by April 28.
Bill Carr has long been active in the Jewish community, having served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City; The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; and KU Hillel; and served as a member of severalothercommunityboards.
Back in the 1930s and 1940s, The Chronicle ran a house ad that looked very similar to the one below. Although more than five different fonts in one advertisement is not considered good graphic design these days, we decided to recreate the ad with today’s information for a bit of fun!
In 1948, as Israel fought for its independence, the medics of Magen David Adom were there, treating wounded soldiers and civilians alike. Today, as Israel celebrates Yom HaAtzma’ut, MDA is still treating the injured — even under fire. But for MDA to continue being there for Israel, we need to be there for MDA. Make a donation at afmda.org/give.
100 years ago today
On April 24, 1925, The Chronicle ran this ad for a two-month trip to what was then British Palestine and Egypt. Adjusted for inflation, second class tickets were about $6,000, and first class were about $10,000.
Stanley Goldberg
Stanley Goldberg, son of Joe and Eva Goldberg, was born on March 5, 1939, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He died at his home in New York City following a long illness on April 7.
Stanley is survived by his husband, Richard Daniels; a brother, Jay Goldberg and his spouse Judy; and many nieces, nephews and extended family who adored him. Graveside services were held on April 10 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Stanley had a lifetime engagement with the camera and technology.
At the age of 13, his Uncle Babe introduced him to the magic of photography. It was his mode of creative expression forever after. But let it be known that Stanley Goldberg was playing with solar cells in grade school in the ‘40s. Even while pursuing numerous commercial applications of photography, in parallel he also pursued an artistic practice.
In 1960, he received a World Student Fund Fellowship to the Technische Hochschule in Hanover, Germany, where he began to explore photography in great depth. Upon returning to the U.S., he studied creative photography with the renowned photographer and educator Minor White at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For many years, Stanley aided White with his educational workshops.
In 1970, Stanley moved to New York City and pioneered multi-image set projections for the Broadway productions of “The Me Nobody Knows” (first in an off-Broadway run) and “Over Here!” with the Andrews sisters. He then built a career leading Stanley Goldberg Associates and then Wonderplay, a technology and multimedia company. He specialized in the integration of new technology, art and audio-visual media with an emphasis on a humanistic approach. His clients included MTV, AT&T, Federal Express, The Knoxville World’s Fair, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, among others. Stanley is also the author of the children’s book “The Adventures
of Stanley Kane.”
After years of producing multimedia presentations and installations, in 1998, Goldberg renewed his creative photographic practice using digital photography. Major subjects include Central Park, street fairs, flea markets and his neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was represented by Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri.
Of the qualities he possessed, perhaps some of his friends put it best:
“He influenced me deeply. His curiosity and willingness to take chances…. A brave soul with a boundless appetite for beauty,” Jack Ox said.
“One of the people I felt lucky to know in life – smart, creative. kind, gentle, and a very generous spirit,” Jane Gross said.
“We met at Minor White’s graduate course. Stan was a creative spirit, and knowing him enriched my life,” Ross Harris said.
“He left joy wherever he went,” Sherry Leedy said.
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and a joke or laugh at the ready, this charming soul who lit up every room he was ever in will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, if one is so inclined, gifts might be made in his memory to SAGE - Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders (sageusa.org).
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Kansas City with her parents, Ben and Minnie Apple, and her two brothers, Marvin Apple (the eldest) and Norman Apple (the youngest).
Ruth Louise Kaplan
Ruth Louise Kaplan passed away at Delmar Gardens in Overland Park, Kansas, on April 3 at the age of almost 101 years.
Ruth was preceded in death by her first husband, Irving Bloom, who served in the Armed Forces as a bombardier during World War II, and her second husband, Norman Kaplan, also a member of the Armed Services during the war.
Ruth had three children from her first marriage, Rhonda Goff, Robert Bloom (Janet) and Lezlie Ellard; and a son with her second husband, Jerold Kaplan (Robin). Her grandchildren are Elissa (Tim) and Carly Robins (Joseph), Erin Bloom, Barbara Mead (Doug) and Stacy Foxworthy (Ryan Lashley), Jacqueline Ellard (Ian Blackstone), Michael Kaplan (Lara Lackstein) and Samantha Kaplan; and her great-grandchildren are Madeline and Coco, Alex and Lauren, Nathan and Lexie, Lotte, Harper and Lily. She was more than happy to brag about all of them to any and everyone she met. Educated at Washington University, Ruthie was a woman of many talents; she painted and sculpted, could play any song on the piano by ear (all you had to do was hum a few notes of the tune you wanted to hear, and she’d play it like she was reading the sheet music) and was often the one who
came up with the hardest answers when someone was struggling with a trivia question — no doubt due to her heavy appetite for reading. She would talk to everyone and never met anyone who wasn’t instantly her best friend.
She was buried at a private family service on April 6 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
If you knew Ruthie and are so inclined, the family asks for donations to be sent in her name to Jewish Family Services (jfskc.org). Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Alice Augusta Hony Lewinsohn
Alice Augusta Hony Lewinsohn, 90, died on April 11 at home in Overland Park, Kansas.
Born on Dec. 19, 1934, in Hilchenbach, Germany, infant Alice left Germany on July
17, 1938, with her parents, Kurt and Hilde Hony, for safety. The Honys immigrated to Kansas City and opened the H & M Market off Southwest Trafficway in Westport.
Alice graduated from Southwest High in 1953, where she made lifelong friendships with the “Top of the Hill” gang. Alice attended university in Columbia, Missouri, and obtained her teaching degree at Kansas City University. Alice taught kindergarten at the Center School District and at the Hebrew Academy.
In 1955 she met her future husband, Thomas Frank Lewinsohn, on a double date with other people in a nightclub at 18th and Vine. They discovered they each spoke German, and it was love at first sight. They married in 1957, giving birth to two children, daughter Deborah Lewinsohn and son Robert (Rob) Steven Lewinsohn, born in Topeka, Kansas, while Tom was employed by the state government there.
Alice was a warm and engaging person, like a Pied Piper, and wherever
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she went she made new friends and included everybody. Alice and Tom explored the world, having taken 35 trips and 25 cruises and making abundant life long friendships. Alice was a talented pianist and played the Clavinova to attract customers to the piano store where she worked.
Alice later worked at her son Rob’s card and gift store, CRAZE. Alice avidly played mahjongg, poker and Pan, and she was active in a Mercedes club and a prayer group.
Alice was an elegant, extraordinary woman, with a sharp mind — kind, generous, gracious, funny and charming, attracting a plethora of friends.
Alice was surprised and thrilled in November of 2008 to be contacted by Matthias and Beate Engelbert, whose grandfather Fritz Engelbert, Sr. had been friends with Alice’s grandfather Seligman Hony in Hilchenbach. Matthias said his father, Fritz, Jr., a Nazi, “got teary before the 70th anniversary of Kristellnacht in November of 2008 and asked Matthias to learn if any member of the Hony family had survived the Holocaust
obituaries
and had offspring somewhere in the world.” Tracking a Stolpersteine installation, Matthias learned from the newspaper report that Seligman’s granddaughter Alice married Tom Lewinsohn, lived in Kansas City, and had visited Hilchenbach in 1983, when neighbors gave Alice the enamel plate of her grandfather Seligmann’s butcher shop, “Seligmann Hony Metzgerei.” He made immediate contact by email\ and visited Alice and Tom yearly since.
Alice leaves behind her beloved husband of 67 years, Tom; her children Debbie and Rob; her devoted caregiver; granddaughter Anastasia Gregory; great-grandson Sean Michael Graham; former sonin-law Pete Brown; cousin Howard Eichenwald; sister-in-law Cynthia Lewinsohn; and friends Sharon Kohn, Leatrice Endlich, Carolynn Fischel, Rhonda Ruggles, and Matthias and Beate Engelbert.
Funeral services were held on April 16 at Louis Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (5801 West 115th St., Suite 106, Overland Park, KS
66211) or charity of your choice. Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Steve Price
Steve Price died peacefully on April 19 at the remarkable age of 98 in Overland Park, Kansas. Born on April 29, 1927, to his parents Isaac and Lena, Steve embraced life with a deep appreciation for connection and a commitment to wellbeing. He was a devoted family man to his core, building his life around keeping his family close and ensuring they always felt loved and supported. His passing was preceded by the deaths of his brother, Sam, and his sisters, Rosie and Mary.
Steve shared a beautiful life with his beloved wife, Carole, and together they raised four children — Doug, Kent, Jon and Lena. He was endlessly proud of them and of the family they built together, a legacy of love that continues through the generations. Additionally, he was a proud and loving grandfather to 12 grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. More than anything else, he valued family — nurturing relationships across generations and always relishing the times when everyone got together.
Professionally, Steve dedicated himself to a family real estate business in Kansas City (Price Brothers) for many years, proudly working with his brother, Sam, and continuing his father’s business legacy that continues today in its fourth generation. He built homes for many families, taking immense pride in the quality of his construction. It brought him great joy to hear, even decades later, from people who lived in his houses about how much they loved them. This enduring testament to his craftsmanship speaks volumes about his dedication and the strong foundation laid by his father before him.
He was well loved by his friends, nephews, nieces, employees and countless others he came into contact with. His large social network was a testament to the bonds he cultivated over his life.
Steve lived with a deep curiosity about the world and a zest for life. He
had a lifelong passion for travel and a remarkable gift for conversation, connecting with people from all walks of life. He was also full of life and humor, always ready with a joke and a contagious laugh. His passion for handball, dancing, bridge and biking showcased his love for staying active. Demonstrating a commitment to his wellbeing, he was very healthconscious, prioritizing nutritious food and regular exercise throughout his long and fulfilling life.
Steve believed deeply in economic and social justice and fairness for all people. He lived his values quietly but consistently, showing up with integrity and empathy.
His legacy is one of connection to family and friends and life balance. He will be remembered as a man who honored his family’s past while building a strong future, cherishing his family and living each day with intention and joy.
Steve is deeply missed and lovingly remembered by Carole, his wife of 68 years; his children, Doug, Lena (Tom), Kent (Andrea) and Jon (Aubry); his 12 grandchildren — Andrew (Emily), Anna, Katie, True, Lauren, Charlie, Rachel, Will, Maggie, Kennedy, Ben and Aspen; his great-granddaughter, Rosie; his sister-in-law, Sonja; and all those who had the privilege to know him. Steve’s presence, laughter and stories will live on in all of them.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s honor to his preferred charities: CASA Johnson County (casajwc.org) and Lead to Read KC (leadtoreadkc.org).
A celebration of his life will be held in his honor on Sunday, May 4, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Oakwood Country Club (9800 Grandview Rd., Kansas City, MO 64137).
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Patsy Dunn Shanberg
Patsy Dunn Shanberg died peacefully in her sleep on April 14. The story of her life — embracing ever more family and friends — is reflected in her full name: Jacquelin Noreen Patsy Breslauer Glazer Dunn
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Shanberg. You can read the personal details at louismemorialchapel.com/ obituaries/patsy-shanberg.
Patsy was very lucky in love and bereft when she was predeceased by husbands Sanford M. Dunn and Arnold Shanberg. She leaves her five children, Robin Winner, Kent Shanberg (Allegra Shanberg), Debbi Dunn Solomon (Stephen Solomon), Neil Shanberg (Liz Kundin) and Danny Dunn (Susie Dunn); her nine grandchildren, Becca Winner, Meredith Winner, Jordan Dunn (Eduardo Shlomo Velazquez), David Shanberg (Cheryl Rafsky), Brian Sanford Solomon (Liyan Chen), Rachel Simon (Alex Simon), Clara Kundin (Kyle MacLeod), Pamina Buechner and Sarah Ann Solomon; and seven great-grandchildren, Jaxson Rosenberg, Maya Rosenberg, Addison Winner, Hazel Libby KundinMacLeod, Kai Philip Chen Solomon, Noe Jacqueline Chen Solomon and Levi Shanberg.
Patsy cherished her enormous number of friends and extended family, always acquiring more throughout her life. She also leaves the many adults who were “her kids” as teens and pre-teens when she served as youth director at Congregation Beth Shalom for almost 20 years, beginning in 1968. She later became the congregation’s program director. Her stated goal was to make such a large congregation feel “haimish,” like a warm Jewish family, by creating multiple smaller interest groups. She also focused on the synagogue’s social action work in the community.
She developed two social groups for singles and one for empty nesters; trips for seniors; a tree-planting
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project in the inner city; a Russian immigrant resettlement program; and the Lechem (bread) Project for congregants to serve on a regular schedule at St. Mary’s Food Kitchen. She also worked with lay committees to organize major fundraisers including performances by Marvin Hamlisch, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Itzhak Perlman.
She was known for her bright smile and optimistic nature, as well as her mastery and love of bridge.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a charitable donation to support a social justice cause that was meaningful to Patsy such as organizations that serve teens, gun violence prevention and voter registration, or whatever you think will help repair the world.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Dolores Mae Sosnow
Dolores Mae Sosnow, 88, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 10 as she wished, in her home at Village Shalom.
Born to Joe and Bessie Brenner on Nov. 10, 1936, she spent her entire life in Kansas City, raised in a loving home with her immediate and extended family at 23rd and Prospect.
It was here that she would learn Yiddish, the main language spoken in the home, and the many cooking recipes from the old country.
Dolores graduated from Paseo High
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School and was an active member of the Jewish youth groups BBG and Mizrachi. It was at school and in these youth organizations where she would meet many lifelong friends.
Dolores married her husband of blessed memory, Dr. William Sosnow, in 1959 at Congregation Beth Shalom. She was fond of recounting how her Uncle Sol met a young man, Bill as he was known, at Hillel in Lawrence, Kansas. He was saying Kaddish for his father, and Sol would go on to set up Dolores and Bill. They enjoyed a wonderful courtship, married, and would soon move to Rome, Italy, for three years where Bill attended medical school.
Dolores and Bill settled back in Kansas City, raising a family together and becoming active members in the community. Dolores was specifically proud of her time as a volunteer at both Beth Shalom, with the Sisterhood — among many other organizations — and the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
While Dolores was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 18 years, she found love and life in raising her three children, doting over her grandchildren and involving herself in many activities. Among her favorites were gardening, cooking, travel, adult education, reading and following the Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks. As she was unable to attend college, she always had a thirst for knowledge and enjoyed taking classes from Rabbi Morris Margolies as well as art classes at the Nelson Atkins Museum and history courses at UMKC. Her garden always bloomed with the seasons and she loved playing with her many dogs as they frolicked through her flowers. She was a voracious reader and always had several books by her nightstand. Her home was always open to her children’s friends and those who needed a table to go to for the holidays. Thanksgiving and Passover were particularly noteworthy for Dolores as she hosted upwards of 30 guests and family with all the traditional
dishes she took such joy in preparing. Later in life, she continued her volunteer work at many local organizations, including the Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum and various soup kitchens, where she was a mainstay.
Her travels took her to many states and countries, and she always brought back some tchotchkes for her kids and grandkids. She was most grateful to travel to Israel with her sister in 1983. Dolores’s later years were spent at Village Shalom, where she thrived and was able to reconnect with many friends from her youth and other stages of life. She loved to hand out candy and kibbitz with everyone. She “held court” every Friday for Shabbos dinner with her friends, “the Knights of the Round Table” as they affectionately and cheekily referred to themselves. Her family is grateful for all those in the community who have made Village Shalom an indispensable place for so many.
Dolores was so grateful for the care her doctors, nurses, aides, hospice workers and all at Village Shalom always showed her. They gave her back the love she radiated. The family extends a special acknowledgement to her caregivers Chris, Yuli and Ashley.
She is survived by her son Michael Sosnow (Kathy); daughter, Elise Sosnow Cohen, (Steven) and son, Jeffrey Sosnow (Beth); brother, Steven Brenner (Susan), and sister, Harriett Krueger; her grandchildren, Belinda Sosnow, Ariella Cohen Fleischman (Eitan), Tamar Cohen Fink (Josh), Jacob Cohen, Abby Sosnow and Stella Sosnow; niece Carla Brenner and nephews David Brenner (Amber) and Andrew Brenner; two greatgrandchildren, Gavriel and Erez; and great-nephew and niece Beau and Neve.
Graveside funeral services were held on April 15 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Village Shalom in her name.
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