In this issue...
Annette Fish retires from Rabbinical Assn.
700-square-foot mural painted at KU Chabad
Parashat Devarim Shabbat times (Overland Park): Candlelighting: 8:11 p.m. Havdalah: 9:13 p.m.
Raising awareness of domestic violence in the Jewish community
New initiative to support survivors, train leaders
By Kevin Deutsch Special to The Chronicle
In a historic step toward confronting domestic violence in the local Jewish community, Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City (JFS) and Jewish Women International (JWI) have partnered to launch “Here for You,” a new initiative that seeks to raise awareness, support survivors and train community leaders to address abuse.
menting the JWI-developed model.
A crucial part of the effort is openly acknowledging that domestic violence — which can include physical, emotional, verbal and financial abuse — is a reality in Greater Kansas City’s Jewish community, program organizers said.
the idea that, ‘This doesn’t happen to us.’ And that’s not true. So we’re working against this ongoing conspiracy of silence, and we’re going to talk about this, and we’re going to do our best to make sure that people who approach us get the help and support they need.”
“There’s a big stigma in Jewish communities, and most of it comes back to the idea that, ‘This doesn’t happen to us.’ And that’s not true.”
Organizers say the program is designed to dismantle stigma, equip rabbis and Jewish professionals with tools to respond to domestic violence, and create a safe environment for Jewish survivors across the religious spectrum to come forward. Kansas City joins 10 other communities nationwide impleCommunity member running for governor
“Individuals approach me about their personal experiences with domestic violence, so I know it’s happening here,” said JFS’ Community Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, a domestic violence awareness advocate and champion of the new initiative. “There’s a big stigma in Jewish communities, and most of it comes back to
Experts say domestic violence occurs in Jewish families at around the same rate as it does in other families: More than one in three women and one in four men will experience intimate partner violence in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As for Jewish survivors of domestic violence, one in three report staying in relationships due to embarrassment or guilt and lack of support from
See page 10
Growing Jewish Girl Scouts troop offers unity, connection for participants
By Jane Blumenthal Martin Special to The Chronicle
With the creation of a Jewish Girl Scouts troop more than a year ago, Kansas City is now home to a new way for Jewish girls in kindergarten through fifth grade to connect and bond over mutual interests.
Started by local moms Lindsey Lipsky and Sara Goldfarb, Troop 5871 is similar to most Girl Scout troops in that they meet monthly, focus on leadership and community building
and work on various service projects throughout the year. The troop also integrates Jewish values and practices and brings together girls from all branches of the Jewish community. It is open to girls from any area school and welcomes new members. According to Lipsky, having girls of different ages in the troop has been very positive. While troop members get to work on different projects based on age and ability, the troop leaders noticed that the older girls have taken
on more leadership roles, teaching and playing with their younger members.
While starting a Girl Scout troop wasn’t originally on their to-do lists, Lipsky and Goldfarb found themselves at an initial Girl Scouts troop meeting because of their daughters. Goldfarb’s daughter Hannah, who attends Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, was interested in having a girls-only scouting space. According to Goldfarb, this was so important to Hannah that she advocated for it and convinced her mom to look at available options.
For Lipsky’s part, she realized her daughter was enjoying Girl Scouts through her public school group but was missing the Jewish communal aspect of things. Lipsky, who grew up in a
Rabbi Rachel Rothstein and Troop 5871
Girl Scouts Ellie Lipsky, Layla Singer, Hannah Goldfarb, Elisheva Sandler and Hannah Lipsky volunteering for Shabbat at Village Shalom.
Annette Fish retires after 22 years with Rabbinical Association, 48 years of Jewish communal service community news
After 22 years of service as administrator and program director for the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, Annette Fish has retired, concluding her 48-year career as a Jewish communal professional in Kansas City.
Her retirement marks the culmination of a meaningful and fulfilling professional journey, which she describes as “profoundly gratifying and an honor to have experienced.”
Prior to her work with the Rabbinical Association (RA), Annette served in numerous roles at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, including teaching in the religious school and later coordinating programming for congregants ranging from preschoolers to older adults during her 14 years as the congregation’s program director.
Her next chapter began with the RA, where she took on a role that would shape the next two decades of her career.
“When I began working for the RA, I was tasked with helping grow the organization in collaboration with the
board of rabbis,” Fish shared. “Over the years, our efforts blossomed into a wide array of engaging community initiatives that not only enriched Jewish life in Kansas City but also created meaningful opportunities for individuals from different congregations to meet, interact and build connections — often with people whose paths they might not have otherwise crossed.”
Rabbi Herbert Mandl, rabbi emeritus of Kehilath Israel Synagogue, said, “I was president of the Rabbinical Association for six years — three two-year
terms; and the longest in the history of the Association. I had the privilege of working with Annette as our executive director. When we hired her, we were in disarray — we had no community programming scheduled. It was a mess.
“[Fish] organized the association, and we began offering programming,” he continued. “She developed the S’lichot program and the all-night Shavuot program, just to mention a few. We developed an amazing all-night Tikkun Shavuot program and had Rabbi Joseph Telushkin as our keynote speaker two different times, which drew over 500 people from every congregation in the community. Most of this success was due to her efforts. She will be missed.” Fish’s responsibilities at the RA were extensive. She oversaw day-to-day operations, supported rabbinic study and clergy meetings and coordinated countless community-wide programs and holiday observances. Among the many events she helped bring to life were the community Passover Seder, the annual Day of Discovery—Day of Jewish Learning, an erev and day Tisha B’Av observance, the community Purim Seudah, a series on medical ethics and the Issues of Our Day forums, and many more.
“Volunteering to serve on the Day of Discovery task force is a commitment of time and energy, yet every year when Annette asked, I jumped at the chance,” said Lainie Decker, a community volunteer and longtime
continued on page 13
Annette Fish
Largest Jewish mural in Lawrence painted on new KU Chabad building
Internationally-acclaimed muralist
Solomon Souza has completed a new mural on the front wall of the soon-tobe-completed Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Lawrence, Kansas.
Towering 50 feet wide and 14 feet tall, the mural is a visual tapestry of Jewish symbols, themes and heritage. It’s intended as a public declaration of identity and inspiration, a first of its kind in Lawrence and one of the few Jewish-themed murals in the entire state of Kansas.
"This mural will not just be art on a wall; it will be a beacon," said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, co-director of KU Chabad. “It’s a declaration that the Jewish story belongs here, in the heart of Lawrence, Kansas. It sends a powerful message to our students and to the wider community that Jewish pride is
alive, strong and here to stay.”
Souza, a British-Israeli artist whose works span cities from Jerusalem to Sydney to London, arrived in Lawrence on July 13 and painted day and night. Known for his bold use of color and deep storytelling, Souza’s pieces are known across continents. His past works include a 100-foot mural of the Six Days of Creation in Australia and a Holocaust memorial outside Chelsea Football Club’s stadium in London.
“The response here has been amazing,” Souza said. “To see people stop in their tracks, take photos and ask questions — it’s clear this isn’t just a mural. It’s resonating. It’s a celebration of Jewish resilience and beauty in a place where people might not expect it. That’s powerful.”
The mural features a blend of Jewish
and Kansas imagery layered with the words “Be the Light." Painted with high-grade acrylics and protected by anti-graffiti coating, it’s built to last both physically and symbolically. It will overlook a landscaped public plaza, designed as a welcoming space for students and community members to reflect and connect.
For many students, the impact is personal.
“As a Jewish student on campus, just seeing this mural go up fills me with pride,” said Braden Hoffman, a KU senior from Lawrence, Kansas. “It’s bold, it’s beautiful, and it tells the world we are here, and we are proud.”
The mural will be formally unveiled at the grand opening of the new Chabad Center in early November with alumni, donors, university leaders and elected
officials expected to attend. Until then, the work-in-progress stands as a visible testament to the spirit of Jewish life on campus and the strength of a community coming together.
“This is about more than paint and panels,” Rabbi Tiechtel said. “It’s about legacy. It’s about every student who walks by and feels seen. And it’s about showing the next generation that Jewish life in Kansas doesn’t just exist — it thrives.”
The new Chabad Center, located at 1203 W. 19th Street, is slated to open in September. At 10,000 square feet, it’s the first purpose-built Jewish student center in Kansas history. With features including a synagogue, student lounges, large ballroom, library, a mental health wellness room, hospitality suites and KU’s only commercial kosher kitchen, the center is designed to serve as both a spiritual home and cultural anchor for Jewish life at KU and beyond.
The new building is becoming a reality due to donations from hundreds of KU Chabad alumni, parents, partners and friends. Its $6 million campaign has reached $4.8 million and still needs support. Those interested in donating, learning more about KU Chabad’s vision and building a Jewish future at KU can visit BuildKUChabad. com.
NCJW scholarship committee continues more than 90 years of helping college students
In 1933, the Kansas City Section of National Council of Jewish Women awarded the first Liberman Scholarships for high school students going to college in the fall. Since then, almost 1,000 students in the Kansas City Metro area have received scholarships from money from hundreds of donors. At the Kansas City Section, the scholarship committee is active and helping high school students afford college. The scholarship is based on academic achievement and financial need. Students used to receive small stipends, but today can receive between $500 and $2,000 a year for four years of college as long as they maintain good grades, carry at least 12 credits each
semester and still have financial need. Eligible students must attend high schools in the metro Kansas City area and can be of any religion, ethnicity, gender or race.
There has been a long line of volunteers who have chaired the scholarship committee or served on the committee.
“When I started, Betty Joe Marder was the committee chair,” said Ellen Portnoy, current committee chair. “I then served under Ro Jacobson, who was the one to determine that I should take over the committee about 10 years ago. I know that Serena Lorsch, Marjorie Vogel and Millie Krasne all served as committee chairs.”
members are Carla Oppenheimer, Joan Jacobson, Naomi Kaufman, Bonnie Buchbinder, Lynn Murray, Berenice Haberman, Laura Gilman, Jessica Shea and Judie Becker.
and Jane
This year, the scholarship committee just finished interviewing five applicants. Four will be receiving scholarships of $500 to $1,100 each. The committee is continuing to support eight students from previous years. Anyone interested in joining the scholarship committee or donating money to help continue this 90year tradition should contact the NCJW office at (913) 648-0747 or visit kansascity.section.ncjw.org/programs/ ncjw-scholarships.
The new mural outside the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at the University of Kansas. (Ailecia Ruscin|Oh Snap Photography)
Today, 14 women, including Portnoy, serve on the committee. Sonny Singer, Ro Jacobson
Duggan are the longest-term members. Other
NCJW scholarship committee members Bonnie Buchbinder, Joan Jacobson and Ellen Portnoy.
celebrations and community news
Bar Mitzvah
Noah Alexander Eisenman
Noah Alexander Eisenman, son of Marjory Eisenman, will become a
bar mitzvah on Saturday, Aug. 9, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Noah’s grandparents are Martin Eisenman and the late Sandra Goldstein Eisenman.
A rising 8th grader at Indian Hills Middle School, Noah is active in choir, student council and Jewish Student Union. In his free time, Noah enjoys playing fantasy sports with his friends and snuggling with his dog, Ivy.
For his mitzvah project, Noah created handouts, posters and a TED-style talk about food waste and its impact on climate change. He will compost unused food from all the events for his bar mitzvah.
Honoring his father, Josef Loeffler funds Israel advocacy fellowship position
In honor of his father, Frank Loeffler (z”l), Josef Loeffler is funding a position in the Orthodox Union’s Leaders in Advocacy Training (LIAT) Fellowship reserved for local college students.
Martin and Irene Goldstein of Overland Park, Kansas, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 11.
The couple celebrated by taking their entire family on a Caribbean cruise in June. They are the parents of David Goldstein (Deborah) and Brian Goldstein (Tamara) and the grandparents of Leah Goldstein, Meredith Goldstein, Marisa Goldstein and Julia Goldstein.
NCJW selling honey for High Holidays
Holidays.
The Greater Kansas City Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is selling honey for the High Holidays.
(Rosh Hashanah starts on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 22.)
The honey can be bought as a gift
for friends, families or clients. NCJW will send a festively-wrapped eightounce bottle of honey and a special holiday greeting with an explanation of the significance of this tradition.
Funds raised by the honey sales will go towards NCJW’s programs to improve the quality of life for women, children and families and safeguard individual rights and freedoms.
All honey orders must be received by Aug. 15; they can be made at kansascity.section.ncjw.org or by contacting Meg Adler at adlermomx3@ gmail.com.
The position is open to local Jewish students either from the Kansas City area and studying elsewhere or at nearby schools like the University of Kansas and University of Missouri. The program is for “students who are interested in learning about launching a professional career in politics or as an engaged community leader who will advocate on behalf of Israel and the Jewish community,” according to its website, advocacy.ou.org/liat.
Upon learning about the LIAT Fellowship from a friend in Jewish Federation of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, Josef Loeffler saw an opportunity to support the next generation of Jewish leadership and honor his father.
“My dad didn't like the idea of paying for buildings and really wanted to see the next generation be stronger than the last,” he said. “He remained optimistic about this and would get great joy out of hearing of others' accomplishments, hoping that they would exceed his own… I hope that this may inspire the next generation to think about what future they want to see, as everything that our community has built is only justified if they perpetuate it.”
Frank Loeffler was politically active throughout his life, supporting the Kansas City community and traveling to the South to march with Jewish civil rights advocate Abraham Joshua Heschel. He also ran for Congress, and Josef Loeffler said he was supported by the local Jewish community for his dedication to integrity.
Josef Loeffler was influenced by his father’s work and beliefs, especially regarding Zionism and a dedication to the State of Israel.
“Throughout my life, when he was talking about Israel, his voice would tremble, his eyes would water up, and he would [strongly] express his love for the Jewish homeland,” he said of his father. “... For him, being the descendent of Zionists, one of the
facets of being Jewish was a belief in Zion — a belief in self-determination with one eye in the past and one foot in the future.”
Frank Loeffler was a supporter of Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee and many other organizations. Josef Loeffler said that his father was proud to have a chance to speak with people who saw things differently than him, and he would encourage his friends to give and “show up, because he felt it was what needed to happen.”
These goals and values are emphasized by the LIAT Fellowship’s curriculum.
“LIAT fellows spend an intensive week in Washington, D.C., engaging directly with senior policymakers, Israeli diplomats and national Jewish advocacy leaders,” said Max Oberg, a public affairs consultant for the Orthodox Union. “They meet with members of Congress and staff across the political spectrum to advocate for stronger action against campus antisemitism. Fellows also participate in hands-on training sessions that cover Title VI rights, university governance, media strategy and coalition building.
“Beyond D.C., each fellow designs and implements a year-long capstone project on their campus, such as legal literacy workshops or administrative advocacy, ensuring the fellowship drives meaningful, lasting change at their universities.”
Those interested in applying can visit advocacy.ou.org/liat. Should applicants be interested, Josef Loeffler would like to share their names with other organizations seeking young Jewish leaders.
NCJW will send out honey gift packages ahead of the High
60th Anniversary Martin and Irene Goldstein
Josef and Frank (z”l) Loeffler
Jewish State Senator Ethan Corson seeking nomination for Kansas governor
State Sen. Ethan Corson, a member of the Jewish community, announced that he is seeking the Kansas Democratic Party’s nomination for governor. Corson will compete for the party’s nomination against state Sen. Cindy Holscher.
Since his election in 2020, Corson has been involved or supported several state government initiatives combating antisemitism, most recently being among the 39 senators voting yea on SB 44 in March. SB 44 includes that “antisemitism and antisemitic acts are against the public policy of the state, including, but not limited to, the purposes of public educational institutions and law enforcement agencies.”
the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Corson is a Johnson County native and became a bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Shalom in 1995. He graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School and went to Garden City Community College before attending Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and earning a law degree.
Corson practiced law for seven years in Washington, D.C. before entering government. In Washington, he served as a senior advisor to thenU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and later as chief of staff of the International Trade Administration.
KU Hillel in search of three new staff members
KU Hillel is searching for qualified applicants for three open positions: assistant director, development and events manager, and Jewish student therapist.
Additional information about all three positions is available at kuhillel. org/jobs.
Development and events manager
and problem-solving skills, among others.
Assistant director
Additionally, Corson voted for Kansas to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism in 2022 and to declare May Jewish American Heritage Month in 2023. In January of 2024, Corson was one of 17 senators who sponsored SR 1729, a resolution expressing support for Israel and condemnation of
After returning to Kansas, he served as the executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party from 2017 to 2019. He was elected as state senator in 2020 representing the seventh district.
Corson and his wife, Jenna Brofsky, live with their two sons in Fairway, Kansas.
The development and events manager at KU Hillel will “build oneon-one relationships with parents, alumni, and supporters nationwide, helping to connect their passion for philanthropy with our unique and innovative approach to thriving Jewish life on campus,” according to the organization. The position includes donor cultivation and solicitation, representing the organization in the community, planning and executing fundraising/stewardship campaigns, developing parent and alumni community and overseeing grant and data management, among other responsibilities.
Requirements include a bachelor’s degree; experience in development leadership, nonprofit management or major gifts fundraising; communications and relationship-building skills;
JCRB|AJC partners with Dave and Carol Porter to strengthen Jewish student advocacy
With the support of community members Dave and Carol Porter, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC) will expand its Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program to now offer all participating students a free trip to Washington, D.C. for AJC’s LFT Advocacy Summit.
The partnership with JCRB|AJC and the Porters was facilitated by Beatrice Fine, director of grantmaking and impact for the Jewish Community Foundation. The Porters initially contacted Fine because they knew that, through her role at the Foundation, she could help them “identify the agency and program that could be most impactful for their vision of emboldening young
Jewish leaders.”
JCRB|AJC anticipates 20 LFT participants in the 2025 cohort, and with the support from the Dave and Carol Porter Advocacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, each of them will be offered an opportunity to attend the Summit free of cost. Through this partnership, there are also travel funds available to support LFT students interested in attending AJC’s Global Forum, another conference opportunity for students.
Prior to this partnership, participants were responsible for paying for themselves to attend the trip, which made the trip cost-prohibitive for many students. Now, JCRB|AJC can
offer this opportunity to each of their participating students.
“This is an incredible opportunity to empower and inspire some of the brightest young minds in our Jewish community,” JCRB|AJC Executive Director Neta Meltzer said. “We are so grateful to the Porters and to [the Jewish Community Foundation] for making this possible.”
AJC’s annual LFT Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. is a three-day conference designed for more than 200 LFT students from across the country. During the program, Kansas City LFT students meet and learn from advocacy and policy experts, sharpen Jewish advocacy skills and build connections with peers.
Succeeding current Assistant Director Ben Davis (who is moving to Denver, Colorado) must be “a passionate Jewish leader who prioritizes creating student-led, innovative, and meaningful programs, experiences and communities on campus,” according to KU Hillel. The assistant director works alongside the executive director to develop strategy for expanded student engagement; works to build relationships with students; champion Jewish education; oversee communications and social media plans; supervise the engagement team; and oversee program budgets, among other responsibilities.
Requirements include a bachelor’s degree, experience with supervising and strategic planning, interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of Jewish life, among others.
Jewish student therapist
The KU Hillel Jewish student therapist is a joint contractor (20 hours per week) position with Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City. They will provide counseling services to students on site at KU Hillel or virtually and refer students to additional support systems if needed. In addition to standard conseiling services, they will facilitate occasional group therapy sessions, address acute crises and triage alongside Hillel staff and provide mental-health resources and education, among other responsibilities.
Among the requirements are a master’s degree or higher in social work or a mental health field; licensed or eligible to be licensed in Kansas; experience with caring for young adults; understanding of Jewish traditions and culture.
All three positions have in-person aspects at KU Hillel in Lawrence, Kansas. Applicants from outside of the area are encouraged to use Jewish Federation’s See KC program as a resource to learn more about the local Jewish community.
Those interested can visit kuhillel. org/jobs for application details.
Sen. Ethan Corson
This week in history
18 years
Cub Scouts of Pack 3153, chartered by K.I. Synagogue, recently visited the Johnson County Executive Airport. They sat in the pilot’s seat of an airplane and visited the air traffic control tower.
35 years
Former Barney Goodman and Jecoce Camps Director Ida Rose “Skipper” Feingold sorts through old photos ahead of an upcoming camp reunion.
80 years
The Zionist Youth Commission of Kansas City announced Charleen Peltzman and Lillian Kranitz as the recipients of camp scholarships for the Brandeis Camp Institute in the Pokonos.
• Annette Fish (pg. 2)
• Dave and Carol Porter (pg. 5)
• Girl Scouts (pg. 1)
• JFS Food Pantry (pg. 11)
ANNETTEFISH DAVEANDCAROLPORTER ETHANCORSON HIGHHOLIDAYHONEY GIRLSCOUTS JFSFOODPANTRY KELLYMURPHY KUCHABADMURAL KUHILLEL MONDELBREAD NCJWSCHOLARSHIPS POSTCARD YOUNGADULTDIVISION JOSEFLOEFFLER
• Ethan Corson (pg. 5)
• High Holiday honey (pg. 4)
• Josef Loeffler (pg. 4)
• Kelly Murphy (pg. 12)
• KU Chabad mural (pg. 3)
• KU Hillel (pg. 5)
• Mondel bread (pg. 10)
• NCJW scholarships (pg. 3)
• Postcard (pg. 8)
Hadassah Event
Hadassah Great Plains featured a panel at their program, Region on the Road: "Facing Antisemitism: From Classrooms to Communities," held recently at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Panelists included (top, from left) Samantha von Ende, a comparative constitutionalism expert; Diana Diner, Hadassah’s Israel/Zionist educator; and Rachel Kaseff, programs and development coordinator at JCRB|AJC Kansas City. Attending the event were (above, from left) Meghann Barrish, Julie Spiegel, Adryan Steinberg, Debbie Goodbinder and Julie Rohr.
School Supply Drive
Pearl Society
Members of Jewish Federation’s Pearl Society got together for a paint and sip event at Painting With A Twist in Overland Park. Pictured are Kaitlin Birnbaum, Abigail Millan, Dani Thompson, Laura Slosky and Melinda Barrett.
Above: PJ Library of Kansas City hosted a PJ in the Neighborhood event at the Roe Park Splashpad on July 21.
Right: JCF’s J-Lead Young Families Giving Circle packed 43 sensory kits for Sasone, which will be gifted to every religious school classroom in Kansas City. These kits are designed to support students with attention, regulation and sensory needs with inclusive learning tools.
PJ in the Neighborhood
Jewish Family Services, in partnership with NCJW, provided backpacks filled with school supplies for JFS clients. Participants (from left) Alison Tellatin, Taly Friedman, Moshit Snir, Becca Graham, Rebekah Ebeling and Brenda McKinnon show some of the items students received.
Postcard
By Ellie Holsten
Postcards were invented in Austro-Hungary in 1869 as an inexpensive, easy way to send a message. The earliest postcards were simply thick paper, blank on the front and back, that could be sent without using an envelope. In the 1880s, postcards with pictures on one side became popular.
Postcards were quickly adopted by European Jews, and the first Yiddish postcards were printed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These postcards typically depicted scenes of traditional Jewish life. Sending Rosh Hashanah greetings had long been a tradition in the Jewish community, and postcards were quickly adapted to this custom. The first ever holiday-specific greeting cards were made for Rosh Hashanah.
This postcard was printed in Germany for the American market in the early 20th century. Postcards like these incorporate both photography and painting. Models would have their pictures taken in an empty room, and then an artist would print out the photos and add the background and sometimes even clothes and accessories for the models, as is the case in this example.
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.
Growing Jewish Girl Scouts troop offers unity, connection for participants
continued from pg. 1
larger Jewish community in Chicago, Illinois, appreciates that her everyday life was rich with Jewish culture and community. She wanted the same for her daughter, Ellie.
“There are only 22,000 Jewish people that live in Kansas City. Here, we have to be intentional about being Jewish by forming relationships and creating habits around it,” she said.
After attending the introductory session, the two women decided to take what was already working and apply it to the Jewish community.
“When you’re a troop leader, you do a background check, you have to go through training; there are systems in place to create a safe space. But at the same time, [each troop] is its own entity, and we have high hopes for it,” Lipsky said.
Both women have found many benefits in the troop for everyone who is involved.
“This is an opportunity for so many different people to overlap and come together. I now have met moms who I might not normally have known before, because they go to a different synagogue, or because the kids don’t go to the same school,” Lipsky said.
Lipsky also pointed out that a Jewish Girl Scout troop provides another much-needed low-barrier entry point to Kansas City’s Jewish community. Their monthly meetings give girls time to make crafts, sing songs, participate in service projects and learn about Jewish holidays. She sees this troop as a gift to the girls, who can grow up feeling like they are part of something bigger than just their sports team or their grade at public school.
“We are an important people, and we have to go out of our way to find each other,” Lipsky said. “So that’s the meta benefit: hopefully we’re planting seeds to help our kids grow.”
The troop currently has 12 members and is looking to add more girls in the coming year. Their program year begins in October, and activities include volunteer work at Mitzvah Garden KC and Wayside Waifs as well as fun projects throughout the year that combine themes from Girl Scouts and Jewish
context.
Lipsky and Goldfarb emphasize that the troop’s success relies on community support and participation. Both leaders are enthusiastic about plans to expand and enhance their offerings in the future as the troop grows. They appreciate all the resources parents of current troop members have given, including time, talent and financial support.
The troop aims to continue to grow and sustain itself, and there are plans to involve more parents and community members as it grows. While they
Federation
are opting out of cookie sales for the time being, troop leaders are considering alternative fundraising ideas, including Girl Scout challah sales. They invite families to reach out for more information and to give Troop 5871 a try. They held a “get to know the troop” pool party on July 28 and are welcoming new members. More information about the troop can be found on the Facebook page for Girl Scout Troop 5871; by contacting Lindsey Lipsky at lindesyl@jewishkc. org; or by contacting Sara Goldfarb at gfarbfam@outlook.com.
in
search of Young Adults Division associate
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City is searching for a Young Adults Division (YAD) associate to enhance the program by engaging Jewish young adults in their 20s and 30s through creative programming, leadership development and philanthropic outreach.
The YAD associate will work with Federation’s chief of staff, development team, marketing team and other colleagues to oversee all YAD initiatives and grow the Jewish young adult community in Kansas City.
Responsibilities include community building and engagement through interpersonal relationships and connection; guiding volunteer commit-
tees and training program/event organizers; fundraising for the program through their own donor portfolio; planning YAD events throughout the year; and collaborating with the marketing team to advertise YAD, among others.
Requirements include interpersonal, organizational and communication skills; ability to motivate volunteers and peers; and commitment to managing information with care. A bachelor’s degree, relevant experience and knowledge of Jewish life are preferred. Those interested in learning more or applying can contact Federation Chief of Staff Erin Heffernan Markowicz at erinm@jewishkc.org.
Current members of the Jewish Girl Scouts troop, Troop 5871, include (from left) Lilah Kravitsmith, Cora Allard, Edith Raab, Elisheva Sandler, Julianne Kravitsmith, Hannah Goldfarb and Ellie Lipsky.
community news
Raising awareness of domestic violence in the community
continued from page 1
clergy, data shows. Experts say reports of intimate partner abuse have increased in Jewish communities since Oct. 7, 2023, fueled by increased stress some families are facing amid a surge in antisemitism and anti-Jewish exclusion.
“We want to make sure that survivors feel heard, understood and supported by their community, and that the community is saying, ‘We believe you and we’re here for you,’” said JWI Associate Vice President of Community Response Alana Blum, who is spearheading the local program. “Survivors want to turn to their rabbis and community leaders, but those leaders often lack the necessary tools and resources.”
“Here for You” Kansas City launched in February with training workshops for rabbis and organizational leaders, who learned how to recognize and talk about abuse while gaining knowledge about referral resources. They next helped build an actionable plan to help survivors with a goal of ensuring they and their children feel supported at every point of contact, organizers said.
Ingredients
• 3 ½ cups flour
Jewish communal professionals meeting to discuss the domestic violence issue and the “Here for You” program on Feb. 27 at The J.
In the months ahead, participants in the program will place resource materials in strategic locations like restrooms at synagogues and Jewish centers where survivors can safely access information; distribute referral tip sheets to Jewish clergy; and organize a “Healthy Relationship Shabbat” this October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The tip sheet itself has an instruction from Leviticus which advocates think can save lives: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.”
According to one survivor in Greater Kansas City’s Jewish community, the program comes as a long-overdue lifeline.
their name.”
“They said, ‘A lot of our people on staff are anti-Israel, so they wouldn’t feel comfortable if we partnered with a Jewish organization,’” Blum said. “So that’s another reason why we like to do these cultural competency trainings for DV [domestic violence] agencies. We want to make sure they understand that part of the fear in turning to a domestic violence service for help is the fear of antisemitism.”
JFS Kansas City Chief Program Officer Maggie Haghirian, a social worker and former shelter director at Safehome, said the “Here for You” program’s results “could be a life-changing situation for a person.”
that they should work on their relationship and focus on the children. And if they leave the abuser, they’re breaking up that peace. Obviously, that’s not true. But that’s an idea we hear a lot and we’re working to address.”
Blum said JWI has been combating domestic violence in Jewish communities since the 1980s, when a JWI chapter member was killed by her husband. A number of other Jewish women in the U.S. have been murdered by their intimate partners or ex-husbands since that time.
A 2021 JWI analysis of survivors’ needs found U.S. Jewish communities substantially lacking in safe shelter, legal services, acknowledgement and support for victims of domestic violence – troubling findings that led JWI to launch “Here for You” in 2022.
The domestic abuse survivor who spoke with The Chronicle described how silence around abuse, fueled by fear of communal shame, compounded her isolation.
Mondel bread
1970, Mrs. Henry Paslove
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
1. Set oven to 375 degrees
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together
3. Beat eggs and add sugar
4. Add dry ingredients alternately with oil
5. Stir in vanilla and nuts
6. Line 7”x11” baking pan with aluminum foil (do not grease)
7. Place batter in pan and bake for 30 minutes
8. When baked, cut through center of baked batter lengthwise, then slice each section ½” thick.
9. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon
10. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and toast 10 minutes in 375 degree oven
“Being a survivor of abuse in a small Jewish community is difficult,” said the woman, who was granted anonymity by The Chronicle due to safety concerns. “People just don’t want to acknowledge that it’s happening, and they don’t want to get involved because they think it’s somebody’s private matter.”
The woman, who got help at the Safehome domestic violence shelter in Overland Park, said she hopes “Here for You” pushes clergy and Jewish organizations to take a more active role in helping survivors.
“Rabbis need to ask direct questions, just like doctors ask about safety at home,” she said. “And survivors need to know that it’s okay to reach out.”
“Here for You” will also provide cultural competency training to secular domestic violence providers in the area, who may lack familiarity with Jewish customs and the harm caused by antisemitic stereotypes, Blum said.
As in other professions, antisemitism has increased markedly in the domestic violence field since Oct. 7, Blum said. In one case, an agency tasked with helping survivors in another city declined to work with JFS “because they had the word Jewish in
“For so many in the community, there’s a willingness and desire to learn what they can do to help: Making a phone call, helping someone get services, or engaging with someone who needs support – those things are huge,” Haghirian said.
Tackling the stigma surrounding domestic violence in the community is a key goal of the program, which encourages rabbis and community leaders to speak openly about the issue from the bimah, online and in meetings with congregants.
That represents a major shift for Jewish clergy, who in the past encouraged survivors to stay in their marriages or avoid publicizing family problems, according to Rudnick.
Advice like that can compound risk for Jewish victims due to misapplication of concepts like shonda (shame) and shalom bayit (peace in the home), which have contributed to many survivors staying in abusive relationships, experts said.
“There’s this idea that you don’t want to create shame within your community or shame for your family, especially when it comes to bringing secular DV providers into the mix,” Blum said. “Then there’s this idea that the survivor should maintain peace in the home,
“I think that if people in the community knew the signs better and how to recognize when it’s really happening, it would help them to call people out and not be afraid,” she said.
She said rabbis are often reluctant to address abuse because of their personal relationships with abusers or a perpetrator’s financial support for Jewish institutions — a concern also raised by Rudnick and Blum.
“Oftentimes, we see that the abusers are the big donors, they’re the philanthropists, they’re the macher in the community everyone admires,” Blum said. “So if someone’s coming forward and saying, ‘This person is actually being abusive to me,’ nobody wants to believe it. And even if they do realize that something is going on, organizations now have to decide, ‘What are we going to do with their donation, because we need that money that comes to our organization?’ It’s really sad to think that organizations are valuing the donations more, but oftentimes that is what happens.”
Rabbi Rudnick, who has called domestic violence a “modern form of bondage,” said the efforts of “Here for you” bring to mind ancient wisdom from the Mishnah: “You save one life, you save the whole world.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
community news
JFS nonprofit pantry partners make a difference
Every month, the two locations of Jewish Family Services’ Food Pantry provide more than 500 families with food, non-perishable household goods and personal hygiene items as well as pet food for those who need it.
JFS wouldn’t be able to keep its shelves stocked without other nonprofit partners, who step up and donate items to the pantry.
These partners include various nonprofit organizations, including the Mitzvah Garden of Kansas City (MGKC). Growing fresh produce on the grounds of The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah, Congregation Beth Shalom and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, MGKC is a volunteer-supported garden that was started in 2000 with its crops going to various organizations like JFS. During the growing season, the JFS Food Pantry receives regular deliveries of fresh produce from the MGKC.
“JFS provides a mechanism to ensure the nutritious benefits of fresh produce go to people in need in our community,” said Ken Sonnenschein, garden founder. “Volunteers pick up the harvest from the MGKC and bring it to the JFS Food Pantry. When it arrives, it is washed, stored and displayed by more volunteers for clients to choose based on their preferences.”
So far this year, MGKC has provided various produce, including apples, beans, cucumbers, garlic, onions, peaches, squash and tomatoes. As the growing season continues through the summer and fall, the Mitzvah Garden will provide other crops as well.
In addition to food and nonperishable items, JFS nonprofit partners donate diapers, period products, produce, protein items, bread, flowers and more. Those nonprofits include Knabe’s Markets, Happy Bottoms, Pete’s Garden, Nourish KC, Tiny Pantry Times, Harvesters, Strawberry Week, Giving Hope and Help.
JFS is always open to teaming up with other organizations. Those associated with a nonprofit organization and interested in partnering with the JFS Food Pantry can contact Jo Hickey, director of volunteers and pantry partners, at jhickey@jfskc.org or (913) 327-8257.
JFS invites the community to support its nonprofit partners by volunteering. Each one of these organizations can use help to meet their missions.
“JFS cannot provide the level of service our guests deserve without the
JFS Pantry Director of Pantry Operations
Zach Sellers with a van loaded with 400 packages of Poise Pads donated by Strawberry Week.
support of our nonprofit partners," Hickey said.
“We grow food, community and ourselves,” Sonnenschein said. “Volunteers are welcome to not only do the work of growing food but also learn. Visitors and volunteers learn agricultural information with a focus on the connection between our Jewish texts, traditions, holidays, food security and sovereignty. Gathering a diverse group of people for a shared purpose also grows our community.”
Those interested in volunteering for any of these organizations, can visit their websites:
• Nourish KC - theprospectkc.org/ nourish-kc
• Pete’s Garden - petesgarden.org/ volunteer
• Mitzvah Garden - mitzvahgardenkc. com/get-involved
• Happy Bottoms - happybottoms.org/ volunteer
• Tiny Pantry Timestinypantrytimes.org
• Harvesters - harvesters.org/how-tohelp/volunteer
• Strawberry Week - strawberryweek. org/volunteer
• Giving Hope & Helpgivinghopeandhelp.org/volunteer
• Kanbe’s Markets - kanbesmarkets. org/volunteer
Meanwhile, the JFS Food Pantry is in need of personal care items (not covered by government assistance) including shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant. Food items include tuna, canned chicken and other protein products. Physical donations can be dropped off during business hours in designated barrels at the Jewish Community Center and JFS Brookside location. More information is available at jfskc.org.
By Bridey Stangler PJ Library
By the time you read this, you are likely finding whatever school supplies can be salvaged from last year. You’re plotting how to get your kid on a normal sleep schedule. You’re cleaning sunscreen out from the bottom of backpacks.
And your camp director is preparing for another spectacular week of camp. His summer is not over. Sure, it’s just one or two more weeks, but he knows that those last two weeks could count for everything. Those last two weeks are, for some kids, the first (and only) two weeks that matter. And (here I apply some superstitious spitting) anything can happen in two weeks.
I write this in honor of the camp director.
It is easy to love a good counselor. It is easy for the child to adore the smiling face, the cheering, the patience, the fun. It’s easy for parents to feel gratitude and respect when their campers are mostly well-sunscreened, incredibly happy and sleeping like a log.
But the good camp director is a person you only talk to a couple times all summer. He is calm and upbeat when we are harried and anxious. His success is measured by the trust of his staff (mostly teenagers), but also by our trust in his counselors (again, heaven help us — mostly teenagers).
A good director is one who comes up through the camp system because he loves it: the energy, the joy, the incredible challenge, and the immeasurable and indefinable gift that is working with children. And like any job we love: the reward for good work is more work.
I know because I did that myself, and frankly, I couldn’t hack it. Now I watch camp from the sidelines. I work in the same building as J Camp and, however much the
hundreds of children might distract from the goings-on of daily business, I will never not love the smell of sunscreen and chlorine and the clomping of feet in the stairwell. Wherever my kids go in the summer, I will always have only the deepest respect and admiration for a J Camp director.
Cool as a cucumber with a walkie on his hip, he coaches a hundred teens to be the young adults that we — the parents — need them to be. He fields phone calls ranging from the vital to the absurd at all hours of the day and night. He loses sleep waiting for the morning that the state licensing department shows up. He reshuffles schedules at a moment’s notice to bring 500 children inside from outdoor programming when it rains. He works with HR to coordinate travel, paperwork and homesickness of counselors from overseas. He enforces rules that frustrate the majority while protecting the minority (hello, peanut-free peanut butter!). He shops at Walmart at 11:30 p.m. to make sure there’s enough lanyard cord for the 3rd and 4th grade girls.
And he does it all in the name of youth development and safe care disguised as fun and built on Jewish values. Few things are as good for the Jews as an outstanding Jewish day camp that welcomes children of all faiths. But that’s another article.
I’ve had my share of tough jobs. I operated a senior living community at the height of COVID, for one. But nothing has ever come close to the three summers I spent as the director of camps at The J.
Congratulations to The J on another spectacular summer (still a few weeks to go — repeat superstitious spitting here). And thank you, Barry Birkmeyer, for your tireless work, seen and unseen, to create outstanding experiences for our children. This community is stronger for it, and this parent in particular is grateful.
Nixing the nick: A cutting-edge controversy
Bubbes and zaydes of newborn baby girls, consider yourself lucky. Because of your grandchild’s sex, you have avoided one of the most contentious controversies of contemporary Jewish life. To cut to the chase (groan), the debate slicing generations apart (another groan) is whether or not to circumcise Jewish newborn baby boys.
The arguments in favor of and opposed to chopping off the tradition (last pun, I promise) would fill up this column, if not the whole issue. I’m not going to weigh in on the merits of the arguments, but I know firsthand from friends that the issue is causing havoc within Jewish families. One soon-to-be bubbe told me she was so enraged when her son told her there would be no circumcision that she had to be physically held back from swatting him, something she hadn’t done since he was a toddler. Another new grandma said she stopped speaking to her daughter over the issue, resuming communication only once she learned that her Jewish friend’s pregnant daughter was making the same decision.
The exact number of Jewish parents opting out of circumcising isn’t known. Most experts agree the great majority of Jewish parents still perform the ancient rite. But according to the New York Times, the opting-out trend appears to be growing. Even in Israel, “a still small but growing number” of Jewish couples are forgoing the procedure, claims an NPR report.
Because circumcision is so entrenched in Jewish history, many new parents are reluctant to speak out about discontinuing the practice, which is one of the oldest commandments in the Torah. “Every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days,” demands Genesis 17:12. Those left uncircumcised “shall be cut off from his kin.” A biblical pun perhaps? Some believe the removal of the foreskin was even the first prehistorical surgical procedure performed by humans (along with trephining, which would bore a hole in a person’s skull to alleviate headaches — That relieved headaches?). Jews are one of the only cultures known to circumcise at birth rather than as a rite of passage at puberty.
Jewish boys should be thankful to be provided the bar mitzvah instead. With our penchant for disputation, Jews also have a history of questioning the practice. The online Jewish Encyclopedia recounts an attempt in 1843 in Germany by the Friends of Reform to abolish circumcision. The group also advocated moving Shabbat to Sunday. We know how that turned out.
But now, hundreds of years later, it appears that the no-cut campaign is gaining ground. Two new websites provide encouragement to those questioning the procedure. Your Whole Baby offers education on the “care of the intact penis, functions of the foreskin, and the lifelong harms of circumcision in an effort to end infant genital cutting.” The website beyondthebris.com supports what they call the “pro-intact Jewish movement.”
Those arguing against the procedure suggest that instead of a traditional brit milah, Jewish parents perform an alternative ceremony. “Let’s cut pomegranates instead,” offers one source, while others suggest foot washing, tallis wrapping or oil anointing.
None of these alternatives have placated my fellow grandparents who continue to insist that a Jewish boy must be circumcised. Despite their complaining, coercing and kvetching, none of them have been able to alter any decision. Even reminders about how fast their ancestors are spinning in their graves have proven unconvincing. Alas, as these new grandmas and grandpas will soon realize, child-rearing decisions like these ultimately reside with the parents.
But all these new bubbes and zaydes should take heart. Another section of the Bible, Genesis 17:24, tells that Abraham circumcised himself at 99. Maybe there’s hope for them after all.
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell is a Kansas City native and award-winning author. Her latest book, “Typically Jewish,” is available through the Jewish Publication Society or Amazon. Her website is www.kaliwellinc.com andemailisnancykalikowmaxwell@ gmail.com.
community news
Kelly Murphy joins SevenDays as executive director
Kelly Murphy has joined the nonprofit SevenDays as its new executive director. Murphy will oversee SevenDays, providing strategic, operational and fundraising leadership to advance the organization’s mission.
SevenDays is a Kansas-City based nonprofit organization that promotes kindness and understanding through education and dialogue. SevenDays was founded in 2014 after a white supremacist murdered Reat Underwood, his grandfather Dr. William Corporon and Terri LaManno outside of Jewish organizations in Overland Park. Underwood’s mother and Dr. Corporon’s daughter, Mindy Corporon, is a co-founder.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kelly as Executive Director,” Corporon said. “Kelly will help lead us to the next level in our kindness efforts. Her experience, passion for community service, and commitment to our mission will help us continue our important work of spreading kindness.”
“The board looks forward to working with her as we move forward into our second decade of overcoming hate through kindness opportunities,” said Alana Muller, SevenDays board president.
“I am honored to be selected as executive director at SevenDays,” Murphy said. “I look forward to working with the amazing team, board, volunteers and supporters to build on the success and recognition that SevenDays has achieved since its founding in 2014. I am excited about the opportunity to build and offer programs that have wide-reaching impact and reach as they ripple through individuals, communities, and the world at large.”
Murphy brings a background in human resources to SevenDays. Recently, Murphy served as chief human resources officer for Swope Health. Previously, Murphy was senior HR director at Evergy, Inc., leading a 40-member team in implementing HR programs.
In addition to her professional work experience, Murphy has given her time and talent to numerous nonprofit organizations, gaining experience that she brings to her new role at SevenDays.
Murphy has been a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations, including serving as board chair for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, and she has been on the advisory boards of Health Forward’s Diverse Health Sciences Pathways Initiative and the Great Jobs KC Healthcare Advisory Committee. Murphy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University. Murphy has lent her talents to other organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the Women’s Employment Network, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School of Management, and the Central Exchange. Additionally, she is an active member and serves on various committees at Resurrection – A United Methodist Church.
Murphy has been recognized for her efforts, including being selected for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City’s Kansas City Tomorrow Program, the FBI Citizens’ Academy, and being named as a Woman of Achievement by the Evergy Women’s Business Resource Group.
Promoting kindness is a key component of SevenDays work. Murphy looks forward to leading the nonprofit and the important work it accomplishes, especially working with youth.
“Young people are the leaders of the future. They are at a key age to identify their own value structure and what they can offer the world,” Murphy said. “There is so much goodness in youth that they can cultivate and share. Offering youth programs provides participants with channels to further develop their unique skills and kindness capabilities. Participants can also build a lasting and positive network of kindness champions and mentors.
“Kindness is all about connection and how we treat one another,” Murphy continued. “There is an element of grace in kindness, as it can be extended when it is not anticipated or expected. Even a small or simple gesture can brighten another’s day or lift another’s spirits. We can uplift others and create positive ripples by sharing kindness through our words and actions,”
More information about SevenDays is available at sevendays.org.
Kelly Murphy
community news
Annette Fish retires
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member of the Day of Discovery task force. “[Annette] is a remarkable leader who facilitated each meeting, each question and each annual event with poise, preparation, respect for others and a hefty dash of humor."
One of Fish’s most enduring contributions was her leadership of the community “Judaism for Conversion Candidates” program. Over her 22year tenure, more than 650 students enrolled in the yearlong course, with approximately 12 to 24 new Jews-bychoice welcomed into the Jewish community each year. Fish managed most aspects of the program, from recruitment and registration to implementing the rabbinic-designed curriculum and facilitating hands-on experiences that helped candidates connect with Jewish life. She worked closely with program staff, including the weekly course coordinator and Hebrew instructors, ensuring the program’s consistency and lasting impact year after year.
Rabbi Amy S. Wallk (known as Rabbi Katz during her Kansas City tenure), who formerly served as associate rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom and is currently Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts, said, “The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City has always been an important organization for the broader community. When we hired Annette Fish, the association transformed. We still gathered monthly, but now we had someone who ensured our ideas became reality. From the community conversion class to the August Day of Learning to the community Passover Seder, Annette listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions and brought creativity and precision to every project.”
Fish also served as staff liaison to numerous community initiatives and task forces, including those focused on indigent Jewish burials, partnerships with the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry and the Mental Health Coalition, and the coordination of annual professional development programs for religious school faculty. Her efforts fostered cross-institutional collaboration, streamlined planning and helped prevent duplication, ultimately saving time and resources across the community.
Fish’s leadership enabled local rabbis to focus on their congregational responsibilities while benefitting from a centralized hub for shared community
programs and services. Those who worked with her cite her professionalism, reliability and attention to detail as strengthening the RA’s role as a unifying force within the Kansas City Jewish community.
“During my time as both a member and president of the RA, it was a joy to work with Annette,” Rabbi Doug Alpert of Congregation Kol Ami said. “She was always focused on strengthening Jewish life in Kansas City. Her work made my role as RA president far more effective. She always went above and beyond, and while she will be deeply missed, her retirement is well-earned. I wish her all good things in this next chapter.”
The RA, representing Reform, Conservative, Progressive and Modern Orthodox rabbis, has long served as both a spiritual and civic voice for the Jewish community. Under Fish’s leadership, the RA further strengthened its role in interfaith dialogue, civic engagement and communal collaboration. She contributed significantly to the planning and coordination of major initiatives, including six years of The Gathering — a citywide celebration of hope and prayer for the peace of Jerusalem that drew nearly 2,000 participants.
“I’m especially proud of helping to create opportunities for connection across denominations and faiths — through education, holiday celebrations, social justice work, and communal observance,” Fish said. “These experiences affirmed my belief that we are always stronger when we come together with mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose.
“The connections and professional relationships I’ve formed over the years hold a special place in my heart,” Fish continued. “I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to have been part of this esteemed organization and will always cherish the friendships and shared commitment to Jewish life that emerged from this work.”
As she enters retirement, Fish is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, engaging in meaningful volunteer work and continuing to use her strengths to help build a brighter world.
“As I begin this new chapter, I want to continue learning — through study, reflection, and connection with others — as I strive to live each day with meaning and purpose,” she said.
Lewis Nerman elected to Park University board of trustees
Community member and philanthropist Lewis Nerman was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of trustees of Park University, a private university in Parkville, Missouri. He is one of four men elected as board members.
Nerman, who splits his time between Leawood, Kansas, and Florida, is the founder and managing partner of Truck Center of America LLC in Leawood, a company formed in 2003. He was formerly with Arrow Truck Sales, a company started by his father, Jerry Nerman, and served as its president from 1985 to 2000.
A collector of contemporary art, Nerman and his family provided the lead gift for the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson Coun-
ty Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park, Kansas. In addition to numerous art-related boards across the country, Nerman is a past board member of the JCCC Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Kauffman Scholars, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Vocational Service and Shalom Geriatric (now Village Shalom). Nerman earned a master’s degree in executive education/owner-president management from the Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Nerman was elected alongside Brian Mertz, Sam Stahnke and Levi Young, M.D. Scott Jackman was elected as chairman of the board.
Peace
Lewis Nerman
C. Barnett Alport
Barnett Alport, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home on July 23.
Born in Kansas City, he attended Center High School and was active in the Nordaunian chapter of AZA youth group. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1969 with a degree in business. He went on to build a successful career in sales, earning a reputation for his work ethic and ability to connect with people.
He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren, and he delighted in watching them grow and excel in sports, dance, educational competitions and other pursuits. Barnett was deeply involved in their upbringing, finding immense fulfillment in coaching their soccer and basketball teams and cheering them on at every game.
An avid sports fan, he loved watching and rooting for the local teams: the Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks. He also enjoyed watching “Shark Tank,” especially when viewed alongside his grandchildren. Playing board games with them, particularly Rummikub, Memory and Checkers, was a beloved tradition. He also cherished his weekly get-togethers with his friends at ROMEOs every Friday.
Barnett served as a Specialist 4th Class in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1968 to 1974 and looked back on his time in the service with pride. In his younger years, he had a passion for physical activity — running, biking, swimming and playing tennis. He especially loved running and participating in 10k and triathlon races across the country.
Known for his sense of humor and unwavering love for his family, Barnett touched the lives of all who knew him.
A man of strong faith, Barnett was actively involved in Kehilath Israel Synagogue, where he found connection, meaning and community.
Barnett was preceded in death by his parents, Gustava and H. William Alport.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Beverly; his son, Scott (Adina); daughter, Amy (David); sister, Carol Lissauer; grandchildren, Chaim Pinchas (Chani), Moshe Aharon (Chaya), Yosef Meir and Devora Leah Alport; Levi and
obituaries
Theo Youdovin, Asher Alport; and one great-grandson.
His friendliness, steady presence and deep devotion to family will be dearly missed and forever remembered.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kehilath Israel Synagogue, an institution that was dear to his heart.
Bernard Birnbaum
when the four generations were able to attend together. He did not mean any disrespect when napping during the rabbi’s weekly d’var Torah while waiting to get back to praising G-d for all of his blessings.
Bernard Birnbaum, born on Nov. 5, 1924, was 100 years, 8 months, 12 days, 21 hours, 30 minutes and 33 seconds old when he peacefully passed away on July 18. He was a man of character, integrity, gratefulness and a steadfast devotion to his family and to G-d.
Always an entrepreneur, his work career started in the shoe business and ended at the age of 87 when his wife and his work truck decided it was time. He could be seen in his Dekro Auto Supply truck all over the city, and in later years, you would find it parked at various community centers where he played bridge until it was time to come home for dinner.
Home — that was wherever his beloved wife, Barbara, was. They were married for 74 years on July 15. Barbara and Bernard enjoyed playing cards and socializing with their “Club” — lifelong friends that have mostly passed on, but those times and stories live on in the minds and hearts of all their children.
Always an active person, he went from tennis to golf and enjoyed their travels, which often took them to Florida. At the end of the day, no matter where, no matter what, they always ended their day together.
With family always at the forefront, he helped raise his brothers after his father’s passing when he was nine years old. He was always supportive of his mom, put food on the table for his wife and kids and would do anything for a hug and kiss from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bernard had a reverence for G-d second to none. The Congregation Beth Shalom congregants were his second family. Over the years, he helped to make daily minyan when he could, attended Shabbat services every week, and firstborn services at Passover time had an extra special place in his heart
Bernard is survived by his dear wife, Barbara; son, Bruce (Jeanette); daughter, Patti; his grandchildren, Melissa Friedman and Bradley (Taly) Friedman; and his great-grandchildren, Emmett Friedman and Remy Friedman. He is preceded in death by his father, Isadore Birnbaum; mother, Minnie Klugman; step-father, Joe Klugman; brothers, Melvin Birnbaum and Leibert Birnbaum; sister-in-law, Miriam Birnbaum; and son-in-law, Gary Friedman.
He was grateful every single day that G-d opened his eyes and let him be a part of the world around him. There was a spark, a spirit inside of him that he shared with those who touched his life.
May Bernard’s memory continue to bring goodness and inspire those who remember him.
Graveside services were on July 22 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. If you would like to make memorial contributions, please consider Congregation Beth Shalom, Village Shalom or a charity of your choice.
Jack David Corral
Comins, Michigan. “Poppa Mike” was Jack’s first best friend. They have been playing guitars and singing classic rock songs together for Jack’s entire life, which inspired and fostered his love of music. In the summers, Jack would travel to Michigan to skeetshoot, canoe and fish at Grampa Frank’s cabin. He would always joke about moving there one day to live in the great outdoors. Jack loved adventure. As a scout, he conquered Philmont with his father and his dear friend Gryffin. His many adventures included the beaches in Florida, California and Texas; big city fun in New York and Chicago; and outdoor hiking in Colorado and New Mexico. His biggest trip was taken sophomore year to Rome, Italy, with his marching band. He was looking forward to marching with them again at Walt Disney World as well as planning a celebration trip to Mexico with his best friends.
Jack David Corral, born on Jan. 10, 2008, in Cape Coral, Florida, to Jon and Jaime Corral, died on July 15. He will always be a wonderful big brother and role model to Joey and Josh Corral. Jack was passionate about music. He attended Blue Valley Northwest High School, where he played trumpet in the Howlin’ Huskies Marching Band and was proud to become a section leader. He also played guitar in the jazz band and enjoyed taking honors music theory. Jack was looking forward to playing his first real gig at the Kansas City Jazz Museum. He loved going to concerts, writing songs and playing video games on the computer he built piece-by-piece. Most of all, he cherished sharing time with his beautiful group of friends.
He cared deeply for his grandparents, Michael and Del Pisci of Overland Park, Kansas, and Frank and Elsa Corral of Sarasota, Florida/
He moved to Kansas City with his mom and dad when he was just a baby. Jack was a downtown kiddo and loved daily trips to the Kansas City Public Library, joining his mom at the Nelson-Atkins Museum and discovering new things during camp at Science City in Union Station. Jack was connected to Judaism through attending preschool at The J; becoming a bar mitzvah at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; and spending two funfilled summers at Camp Sabra. He was planning to attend the University of Kansas after graduating high school. Jack had always been an excellent student, enrolled in many honors classes and inducted into the National Honors Society. He was most curious about science throughout his life, but more recently thinking about a career in business and finance. He often talked about becoming so successful that he could take care of everybody and discover all that life has to offer.
Even at a very young age, Jack had a sharp and witty sense of humor. He questioned everything and pushed boundaries. Sarcasm was his love language, always making jokes, teasing and laughing with his brothers, friends and parents. If you received a strange pet name or you were teased incessantly with a running joke, you knew that Jack loved you.
He had a deep sense of justice and enjoyed discussing his values as they pertain to politics and everyday life. He believed in philanthropy. Jack also loved animals, especially all of his pets
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that he grew up with and cared for. He wanted his cat, Sir Thomas, to join him at college.
Jack is survived by his beloved family: Jonathan, his namesake and soulmate; Jaime, his proud mother who made his precious body; Joseph and Joshua, his brothers who look up to him and will forever carry his memory forward with love; Aunt Jill and her wife Giti; his cousins who he loved so much, Ross, Preston, Naina, Blake, Theo and Owen; and his aunts Kathy, Michelle, Gina and Shelley, who wrapped him up in so much love. Jack is at peace with his great-grandparents Ross and Jean Pisci and Nancy and Joseph Rosen.
Finally, Jack is survived by so many dear friends. The family gives special thanks to Mete, Sam, Gryffin, Gavin, Matthew and Ethan, who have always been there for him.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Jack Katz
Jack Katz died on July 11, 2025, at age 91.
Jack was born on March 25, 1934, in the Bronx, New York. He was the son of immigrants from Russia (now Ukraine), Morris and Anna Katz. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Irma H. Laufer, at a summer camp where they were counselors. They married in 1956, after they both graduated from college.
Jack graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing in 1956, and he received his M.S. degree in speech pathology in 1957 from Syracuse University. While he attended Syracuse University, Jack became interested in the connection between phonemic synthesis and reading. This connection grew into his lifelong study of auditory processing, which, simply put, is what the brain does with what the ear hears. Jack and Irma moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for additional post-graduate studies. Jack earned his Ph.D. in audiology in 1961 from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jack’s first teaching position was as an assistant professor at Northern Illinois University, and he moved from there to Tulane Medical School’s
Department of Otolaryngology. While at Tulane, he served as a consultant for NASA and was present for a trial firing of a Saturn rocket to record hearing effects.
In 1965, Jack became the director of the Hearing and Speech Clinic at Menorah Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to directing the department, he also developed diagnostic and therapeutic programs for a new area called auditory processing disorders (APD). While he was at Menorah, Jack decided to create and edit “The Handbook of Clinical Audiology” (HOCA), which first came out in 1972. He retired as editor when he finished editing the 7th edition in 2015. HOCA continues to be the standard graduate textbook for audiology in the U.S. and in many countries around the world.
From 1972 to 1973, Jack and his family moved to Ankara, Turkey, for the academic year. He was a Senior Fulbright Professor, both teaching and overseeing clinical services. The family’s next move was to Buffalo, New York, where Jack was a professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences for 28 years. He served as chair for five years. There, he continued his work on APD with the help of many students and developed the Buffalo Model for diagnosing and treating APD.
Jack “retired” from the University of Buffalo in 2002, and he and Irma moved back to the Kansas City area to be close to their children and grandchildren. When Jack learned there were no local practitioners offering APD services, he opened a solo practice specializing in the evaluation and therapy for children and adults with APD. In 2011, he began an international webgroup for audiologists, speech-language pathologists and other professionals who served patients with APD. The International Guild of Auditory Processing Specialists (IGAPS) encourages communications among those who work with individuals who have APD. It is an accepting, supportive group of professionals who welcome diversity of thought but not hostility. Jack trained many students and colleagues and helped hundreds of patients over his 21 years of private practice.
Jack saw his last patient in October of 2024, when he retired — again. During his final retirement, Jack continued to write articles for professional journals, partner with researchers on new projects and consult with audiologists on their challenging APD cases.
Jack is survived by Irma, his wife of 69 years. She improved his every endeavor with her love, support and partnership. She was his confidant, editor, indexer for publications and fierce protector. Jack is also survived by his son, Mark and his wife, Jill; and his daughter, Miriam and her husband, Eric. Jack and Irma never gave heed to the notion of “in-law,” so to Jack, all four were simply his children. Jack will also be missed by his grandchildren: Erin and her Tom; Hanna and her Alex; Rachel and her Alex; and Elaina, whom he would only call Lainie. His great-grandchildren, Evie and Theo, will carry forward their memories of him and the songs he sang to them.
Finally, Jack is survived by hundreds of students and colleagues, and most importantly, thousands of patients to whom he dedicated his life’s work.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Sy Katz, whom he adored.
Jack’s family suggests family and friends to consider donations in his memory to Operation Breakthrough (operationbreakthrough.org/how-youcan-help/financial-support); Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, (donate. hadassah.org); and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, (myasthenia.givevirtuous.org/donate/ donation-form).
ReadKatz’sfullobituaryatkcjc.com/ obituaries.
Steven Kingston
Steven Kingston passed away on July 17, surrounded by the love of his family.
Steven was a devoted and beloved husband, father, “Papa” and brother. Steven was born on July 8, 1957, in London, England, to Maurice and Evelyn Kingston. He lived his life with selflessness, humility and a spark of quick wit that never dimmed. Always ready with a joke or a clever
remark, he had a gift for making people laugh even in the hardest moments. His sense of humor brought joy and comfort to so many, and his warmth made everyone feel welcome.
Above all, Steven cared deeply about family. He showed up for the big moments, and the small ones, with unwavering love and support. He was a steady presence, a voice of reason and a heart full of kindness.
In recent months, Steven was committed to improving his health and staying strong for himself and for those he loved. That strength and determination will always be a part of how we remember him.
Though heartbroken, his family is at peace knowing that his spirit will live on through the wisdom he shared, the care he gave and the genuine kindness he extended to everyone he met.
Steven is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Tamara; sons Benjamin (Belén) and Marc (Kate); grandchildren Savannah, Brady Jaros and Everett; sister, Linda Sluys; brother, David Kingston; and his “furgrandsons” Troy and Wilbur.
Funeral services were held on July 20 at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery, followed by burial there. May his memory be for a blessing, and may his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Steven’s name to the American Stroke Foundation (americanstroke.org/donate) or to Kehilath Israel Synagogue (10501 Conser, Overland Park, KS 66212).
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel. com.
Correction
The July 17 article about the passing of Rabbi Larry Karol unintentionally omitted the names of his son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Rabbi Julie Karol, and grandchildren, Joshua and Eva Karol.
