09-29-22 Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, Volume 102, Issue 20

jewish chronicle

Kansas City hazzanim talk High Holidays, traditions, and cantor life

By Sam Kricsfeld Editor

Kansas City’s trained synagogue cantors, Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda of Congregation Beth Shalom and Hazzan Aron Hayoun of Kehilath Israel Syna gogue, have each worked for decades to develop the skills needed to lead a con gregation in melodical prayer. Those skills will be on full display during Yom Kippur services.

Hazzan Ben-Yehuda and Hazzan Hayoun grew up on different sides of the world — Pennsylvania and France, respectively — but their philosophies, values, and paths to the cantorate have noticeable parallels.

The path to becoming a hazzan

Both hazzanim grew up in families deeply devoted to Torah. Hazzan BenYehuda’s father is a rabbi, and she con siders him her mentor; she recalls her first time leading High Holiday services at age 16, singing Kol Nidre and Avinu Malkeinu.

“[My father] set the tone for every thing,” Hazzan Ben-Yehuda said. “I just adored the music.”

Hazzan Hayoun’s mother taught him and his siblings Torah from when they were young. His grandfather was a hazzan, and once, when his grand father was sick, Hayoun was asked to read Torah when still a young child.

“I had almost a good voice; I was playing all the time like I was a haz zan,” Hazzan Hayoun said. “I have some pictures where I took the hat of a

hazzan… I began very early to have this feeling that I would be one.”

Because of their experiences as de facto hazzanim in synagogues grow ing up, when they went to cantorial schools, both graduated in only three years.

After leading High Holiday services as a student at Cornell University and synagogue services with her father

from 1997 to 2010, Hazzan Ben-Yehuda attended the Jewish Theological Semi nary H. L. Miller Cantorial School in New York.

After graduating from cantorial school, Hazzan Ben-Yehuda joined Congregation Beth Shalom in the sum mer of 2013. In addition to her cantorial duties, she’s led the Polsky Religious School, serves as the synagogue’s di rector of congregational learning, and trains b’nai mitzvah students, among other responsibilities.

Hazzan Hayoun attended the Can torial School of the Grand Synagogue of Jerusalem in the mid-1980s, learn ing under traditional cantors such as Moshe Stern and Naftali Hershtik.

Hazzan Hayoun has been hazzan rishon (head cantor) at multiple synagogues throughout Europe and North America, including synagogues in Paris, France; Stuttgart, Germany (where he also studied opera); Brussels, Belgium; Metz, France; and Toronto, Canada.

“I worked like meshuggah,” he said.

Kansas native Ben Novorr named new Beth Shalom youth director

By Sam Kricsfeld Editor

Ben Novorr has returned to Kansas as the new director of youth and fam ily programming at Congregation Beth Shalom. Novorr, originally from Law rence, previously interned with KU Hil lel and worked with Indiana University Hillel.

Among his many responsibilities as youth director, he oversees the Kansas City chapter of USY (the Conservative youth group for 6th through 12th grad ers), helps plan and run congregationwide programs for young children and families, and teaches 3rd and 4th grad ers at the Polsky Religious School.

“I most look forward to forming strong, meaningful relationships and

partnerships with the teens, kids, families, and all members of the Beth Shalom and Kansas City Jewish com munity,” Novorr said. “Through these relationships, I can’t wait to help the young people of our community de velop, strengthen, and grow more con fident in their Jewish identities. This is a responsibility that I take incred ibly seriously and am quite honored to have.”

Novorr grew up in Lawrence and was not often exposed to Jewish life there outside of his family. He and his immediate family would go to Kansas City to celebrate major Jewish holidays with extended family, and he was driv en from Lawrence to religious school at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehu

dah every Sunday.

“I had a small outlet where I could learn about being Jewish and be around other Jewish kids,” he said about reli gious school.

Back in Lawrence, he and his broth er, Jon, were the only Jewish children they knew of in their public schools.

“In 7th grade, I faced antisemitism for the first time in my life, having an other kid tell me the same Holocaust jokes every single day. Because I wasn’t surrounded by other Jewish kids, I had to face that situation on my own,” he said. “I didn’t really know what it was like to have Jewish peers that were go ing through the same types of things that I was.”

Novorr’s Jewish identity solidified

Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda

Hazzan Aron Hayoun

Ben Novorr

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LISTENING POST

Spiritual care volunteers needed

The Jewish Community Chaplaincy program at Jewish Family Services is currently seeking individuals to serve as Spiritual Care Volunteers (SCVs).

Volunteers visit Jewish patients at area hospitals and elder care centers. SCVs help console individuals and their families in times of personal crisis dur ing a health issue, while visiting an ail ing relative or when there is a death in the family.

SCVs work with Jewish Community Chaplain Jonathan Rudnick and are asked to commit to a year of service. Additional information is available at jfskc.org/chaplaincy.

Those interested in receiving more information or applying to service as a Spiritual Care Volunteer can email chaplaincy@jfskc.org.

Walkers win medals

Two members of the Heartland Racewalkers (who train at the Jewish Community Center) brought home medals in their age divisions this season in national and state track competitions.

David Eisenberg took a silver med al in the biannual National Senior Games in May in Fort Lauderdale in the 1500-meter walk and gold medals in the 1500-meter and 5000-meter walks at the Kansas Senior Games in Topeka on September 11 (70-74 division). He has

been competing in this sport for less than three years.

Alan Poisner, who had to skip the Nationals because of COVID, garnered gold medals in both races at the Kan sas Senior Games (85-89 division). He has taken only golds in the more than 25 times he has raced in Topeka since 1992.

Eisenberg is vice president of the Heartland Racewalkers, one of the most successful walking clubs in the country. Poisner is a founding member and past president and served in that capacity for 20 years.

Erlene Krigel honored

Jewish community member Erlene Krigel was selected as this year’s Mi chael R. Roser Excellence in Bank ruptcy Award for her achievements in bankruptcy law.

The Bankruptcy-Creditors and Debtors Rights Committee (formerly the Commercial Law Committee) of the Missouri Bar gives the award to a lawyer who showcases the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, has contributed significantly to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law, and has made an outstanding contribution in the field of bankruptcy administration or practice.

Krigel will receive the award at the Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute in

Kansas City on Oct. 7.

Krigel and her husband, Sanford, founded Krigel & Krigel PC law firm in Kansas City in 1979. She practices in bankruptcy, workouts, debtor/creditor rights, commercial litigation, and com mercial transactions.

She served on the Attorney Advi sory Group for the Western District of Missouri Bankruptcy Court and has volunteered with several legal organi zations. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Krigel was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1979.

JFS commemorated

On September 8, Jackson County, Missouri, legislator Theresa Galvin an nounced a resolution commemorating Jewish Family Services’ 120th anniver sary.

JFS began in 1901 as United Jewish Charities (UJC) when five volunteer relief agencies came together to legal ly incorporate. It was the predecessor agency of Jewish Federation and one of the founding eight agencies of the Heart of America United Way.

In 1942, United Jewish Charities be came United Jewish Social Services, Jewish Family Service in 1958, and Jewish Family & Children Services in 1964 as adoption services became a fo cus. In 2006, the current name, Jewish Family Services, was adopted.

Community Selichot service ushers in High Holidays

Following a dessert reception and Havdalah, Alan Morinis, founder of The Mussar Institute, led an engaging and inspiring session, Jewish Guid ance for Living in Turbulent Times. The Selichot service took place Sat urday evening at host congregation Congregation Beth Torah with multiaccess participation.

The service was led by area clergy and a musical leadership team of solo ists from congregations across the com munity. The Selichot service helped worshipers begin to spiritually prepare

for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The late hour and the themes articulat ed in the liturgy prepared attendees for the Days of Awe and set the tone for the High Holy Days. The service concluded with the blowing of the shofar by Zach Zwibelman.

Music for the service was coordinat ed by Lezlie Zucker. Selichot commu nity choir members were Marie Asner, Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Michelle Cox, Carol Ducak, Estelle Edelbaum, Kris Gray, Brendan Howard, Julie Kaplan, Nicholas LeVine, Lee Merrill, Edna Ri

ley, Nina Shik, Denton Williams, Lezlie Zucker and Andrea Zwibelman.

Soloists included: Rabbi Javier Cat tapan, Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Mi chelle Cox and Lezlie Zucker. Lara Stei nel was the director of the community choir; accompanist, Susie Adams; and Warren Sickel was on the clarinet.

The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City sponsors the Seli chot program in collaboration with area congregations and support from Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

Participating in the Selichot service were (left to right): Rabbi Stephanie Kramer, Rabbi Caitlin Brazner, Hazzan Tahl Ben Yehuda, Rabbi Doug Alpert, Rabbi Larry Karol, Rabbi David Glickman, Rabbi Rachel Rothstein, Rabbi Alan Londy, Rabbi Beryl Padorr, Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick and Rabbi Javier Cattapan.

White Theatre opens 2022-23 season by celebrating Jewish Broadway

The Lewis and Shirley White The atre will begin its 2022-2023 season with an homage to Jewish contributions to Broadway with a special one-perfor mance concert on Sunday, Oct. 2. “A

Place for Us: A Musical Celebration of Jewish Broadway” is an award-win ning production starring award-win ning NYC entertainer Ari Axelrod. The White Theatre is located at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (The J), 5801 W. 115th St., in Over land Park.

During the 4 p.m. concert, Axelrod will perform Broadway melodies from Jewish composers such as Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz and Carole King.

“We are thrilled to be able to kick off our 18th season with a concert of this caliber and significance,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, director of arts and cul ture for The J and managing artistic di rector of The White Theatre. “Not only is Ari an amazing performer and edu cator, but he has a huge heart and great ties to our local community.”

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduate of Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Axel

rod’s theatrical credits include re gional, national, Off-Broadway and Broadway stages. He is a recipient of The New York Jewish Week’s 2021 “36 Under 36” Award, honoring young lead ers, entrepreneurs and changemakers in Jewish New York.

“I am an actor, director, singer and Jewish activist seeking to make Juda ism in all its forms accessible to every one,” Axelrod told The Jewish Week. A sampling of his work can be found on his YouTube channel.

Tickets for “A Musical Celebration of Jewish Broadway” are available on line at TheWhiteTheatre.org, and at the box office either by calling (913) 3278054, or in person at 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park. The White Theatre box office is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as 60 minutes before curtain on performance days.

Now in its 18th season, each year The White Theatre at The J includes a Theatre Series, a Concert Series and lineup of Special Engagements, all pro duced by The J’s Arts + Culture De partment in a 500-seat performing arts community theater. In addition to indi vidual show tickets, season ticket pack

Beth Shalom Sisterhood to host program on the Vilna Ghetto Resistance

Beth Shalom Sisterhood will host an educational program about the Vilna Ghetto Resistance and lunch on Thurs day, Oct. 13, at 10:45 a.m. in Goldsmith Hall.

Shelly Cline, director of education and historian at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, will discuss the Vilna Ghetto Resistance, and Alli son and Ken Cloud will present about the musical they have written, “Vilna: A Resistance Story,” which will be per formed at The White Theatre next year.

The program will continue with Hazzan Ben-Yehuda in the sukkah.

Those interested can mail a $13 check for their reservation. RSVPs are due by Oct. 6 by mailing the $13 check to Milisa Flekier, 6827 W. 132nd Ter race, Overland Park, KS 66209.

Services

ages are on sale at TheWhiteTheatre. org and The White Theatre box office.

Shows this season include the Broad way musical “Kinky Boots,” staged for the first time in Kansas City since its 2016 Broadway tour, as well as Lorraine Hansberry’s dramatic classic “A Raisin in the Sun,” produced in partnership with the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, featuring special matinee performances for area schools. The sea son will also include the second show of The White Theatre’s New Works Initiative, partnering with The Culture House, as well as a one-man show with the support of The Truman Library Institute. The season will close in the summer of 2023 with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

Full descriptions and performance times for each event are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org. Auditions for various musicals and plays produced by The White Theatre productions are announced on The White Theatre web site as well as Facebook page.

High Holiday food drive sponsored by JFS and Rabbinical Association

JFS is partnering with the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City for the High Holiday food drive taking place from Sept. 23 through Oct. 18. While this drive is during the Jewish holidays, JFS staff urge everyone in the community to donate during this time.

For the drive, JFS requests a grocery bag with the pantry’s most-needed items for September: tomato products, canned fruit, lotion, dish soap, toilet paper and paper towels. Any food, personal care or household goods are also welcome.

Members of local Jewish congrega tions should return their donations to their place of worship; drop-off dead lines may vary.

Other drop off options include:

• In the JFS donation barrel inside the lobby of the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W. 115th St., in Over land Park, during business hours.

• In the JFS donation barrel outside its Brookside location by the delivery door during business hours (425 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110)

• Sunday, Oct. 16 (10 a.m. to noon): Drop off donations during the driveup JFS Food Drive at the Campus Purchases can also be made through the “JFS Pantry” Wish List through Amazon. A link to the Amazon Shop ping List can be found at jfskc.org.

More information about the High Holiday food drive can be answered at (913) 327-8257 or fooddrive@jfskc.org.

RIGHT: Ari Axelrod will perform a concert celebrating Jewish Broadway at The White Theatre.

community news and celebrations

KCUSY announces Second Saturdays programming

A new group of teen leaders now make up the board of the Kansas City chapter of USY (KCUSY), and they have created and announced new USY pro grams in addition to continuing to fa cilitate traditional programs. One new program is Second Saturdays.

Stemming from the board and staff’s conclusion that teens wanted mean ingful programs that create a sense of community, excitement, and fun, Sec ond Saturdays was born.

“Many Jewish teens struggle to find the ‘fun’ side of Judaism, and USY is the perfect place to explore what that looks like,” said KCUSY President Ellie Glickman.

The monthly program, which occurs on the month’s second Saturday, chang es each time in order to keep participants engaged and make sure that something is offered for everyone’s interests.

On Sept. 10, for “S’mores and Sloach,” the first Second Saturdays event, teens gathered at Congregation Beth Shalom, where, under the guidance of Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, KCUSY board mem ber Sid Linafelt led a Havdalah service. The service was livestreamed online for community members.

“We often forget that teens have spir itual souls, and they love this aspect of

camp and of their Judaism. For many of our kids, camp is the happiest place on earth, and USY is a taste of camp year-round,” Hazzan Ben-Yehuda said.

Teens had the opportunity to social ize over a bonfire as they made s’mores before heading inside for “sloach” (a calm USY song session). The songs were from the very first KCUSY song book, which was compiled of songs sub mitted from KCUSY members through an Instagram poll. Songs ranged from Jewish summer camp staples such as “Erev Shel Shoshanim” to songs such as “Wagon Wheel” and “Imagine.”

“I think it’s a great way to mix the religious side of Judaism with the cul tural side of Judaism,” Linafelt said.

“The concept of Second Saturdays was conceived by the KCUSY board and wouldn’t have been the success that it was if it wasn’t for their vision and hard work,” said KCUSY Director Ben Novorr.

More KCUSY Second Saturdays programs are planned and open to all Jewish teens from 8th-through-12th grade. The events will be advertised on the KCUSY Instagram account (@ kcusy) and through email. Ben Novorr can be emailed for addition to the email list or for information about KCUSY at youthdirector@bethshalomkc.org .

Ella Claire Jerwick

Ella Claire Jerwick, daughter of Jennifer and Brad Jerwick, will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Ella is the granddaughter of Fran and Jeff Winstock of Memphis, Tennessee, and Mindi and Alan Jerwick. Great-grandparents are Marjorie Jerwick and Annette Brown of Lincolnshire, Illinois. Ella has two siblings, Jack and Samantha.

A seventh grade student at Lakewood Elementary School, Ella participates in competitive and school cheer. She loves animals and enjoys art, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Her mitzvah project was raising money to buy supplies to make “Happy Kits” for patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Tyler is the grandson of JoAnn and Steve Seigel, Ellen and Tom Swengel of Michigan, and Ken and Cindy Weiss of Florida. He has a brother, Daniel.

A seventh grade student at Harmony Middle School, Tyler plays violin in the school orchestra and participates in the yearbook club. He also enjoys tennis, basketball, swimming and spending time with his family.

For his mitzvah project, Tyler has been volunteering with Jewish Family Services by delivering groceries to those needing food assistance in Kansas City.

The service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live and Vimeo.

Engagement

Tyler Jacob Weiss

Tyler Jacob Weiss, son of Michael and Julie Weiss, will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Jacob Benjamin Bell, son of Marla and Jeff Bell of Leawood, and Carolyn Jane Almeida (“Jane”), daughter of Charles and Libby Almeida of El Dorado Hills, California, announce their engagement.

Jacob is the grandson of Phil and Cheri Rabicoff of Overland Park, Ruth Bell of Overland Park, and the late Allan Bell.

The couple got engaged in London in May of 2022 and are planning a wedding in Portland, Oregon, for September of 2023.

Jacob and Jane met at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. They both played in the school’s golf teams. From Lewis and Clark, Jacob received a bachelor’s degree in political science, and Jane received a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer science.

The couple resides in Portland, where Jacob is a lobbyist for Northwest Public Affairs and Jane is an energy trader for Portland General Electric.

Weindling is a real estate professional at Terra Management, a fam ily

about real estate in Kansas City, his family’s Holo caust

background,

involved in JREP.

The Chronicle’s biweekly conversational podcast featuring inspiring, successful and fascinating Kansas City Jews.

To listen, Scan the QR code on the right, go to kcjc.com/podcast, or search “Getting to know Jew” on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Adam Weindling Episode 25

where he runs his own part of the company called Kinner

Jacob Benjamin Bell and Carolyn Jane Almeida

Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah

Ellie Glickman, Emma Rosenthal, Grace Cowman, Nina McNay, and Nat Spiegel roasting marshmallows at “S’mores and Sloach,” the first in a new series of Second Saturday programs sponsored by KCUSY.

KU Chabad hosts mental health retreat for students

As part of its “ReJOYvination 360” mental health initiative, KU Chabad held a day-long mental health retreat for students. The second annual “Men tal Health & Wellbeing Retreat” saw 40 students join a full-day retreat at the Circle S Ranch outside of Lawrence.

“ReJOYvination 360” is KU Chabad’s multifaceted and broad initiative aim ing to create a full spectrum of emo tional support for Jewish students at KU. With the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and generous donors, this program has grown, offering a variety of safety net support services and programs ca tering to the needs of the students. A recent addition has been the 24-hour texting helpline, called “Joel’s Help Line,” where students can text things like “food,” “scared,” or “lonely” and receive the help they need.

According to Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, co-director of KU Chabad, the initiative is in response to the depression and anx iety caused by emotional challenges of distance from home, heavy workloads, financial pressure, cyberbullying and remaining effects of the COVID-19 era.

“So many students today feel lost and alone,” Rabbi Tiechtel said. “We

feel fortunate to be able to help them tread the murky waters of stressful col lege life and show that they have some one to support them.”

The venue for the retreat, Circle S Ranch, offered activities for stress relief and relaxation such as wagon rides, ATV trails, horse grooming, can vas painting, nature walks, and a relax ation lounge.

“It was really great to just discon nect from college and come up here to be one with nature,” said Daniel Israe li, a KU freshman.

“I was able to relax with nature and have a much needed break from real life and stress,” said sophomore Zach Brown.

The students also participated in

Israeli data says country’s population nearing 10 million

JNS

The population of Israel is just over 9.5 million people ahead of the Jewish New Year, according to data issued by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Tuesday.

The country has a population of 9.593 million people, according to the CBS. 7.069 million (74%) identify as Jewish, 2.026 million (21%) as Arab and 498,000 (5%) as neither.

The bureau states that the Israeli population will reach 10 million by 2024, 15 million by 2048 and 20 million

by the end of 2065.

Jews in Israel who are at least 20-years-old are identified as 45.3% sec ular, 19.2% traditional, 13.9% tradition al-religious, 10.7% religious and 10.5% Haredi.

Average life expectancy for Israeli men is 80.5 years compared to 84.6 years for women.

According to the data, 177,000 babies were born in Israel this year; 49,000 people made aliyah from around the world; and 2,000 Israelis returned to Is rael after living abroad.

B’nai Brith Bowling Scores

mental health workshops led by Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Teichtel and Charles Goldberg, LPC, NCC, CAADC, a clinical psychotherapist specializing in mental health and addictions who is also a proud KU Chabad Alumni. The workshops covered topics ranging from stress management tips to a can did conversation about body image and self-perception. There was a panel dis cussion about finding and maintaining healthy relationships and a facilitated nature walk about emotional wellness. Students explored the kabbalistic ap proach to serenity, gaining insights into mystical Jewish meditation.

New this year was a special track for the brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi

(AEPI), a Jewish fraternity on cam pus, that focused on brotherhood and exploring tools to deal with the unique challenges that being part of a frater nity can lead to.

“All of the brothers who joined had a wonderful time and gained so much from the open and engaging conversa tions,” said Logan Rosengard, the cur rent president of AEPI. “It was special to get away from the buzz of campus and focus inwards with each other.”

“I enjoyed being with my peers in a relaxed setting,” said KU senior Molly Ellner. “I learned about tools and re sources to deal with the daily stressors that can sometimes bog us down. This day away from it all will carry me on for a while.”

The mental health retreat is another step in Chabad of KU’s ongoing efforts to provide support and an embracing com munity for every single student at KU.

“As Jewish leaders on campus, we are the on-the-ground first respond ers,” said Nechama Tiechtel, co-direc tor of KU Chabad. “We cannot rest un til we ensure that every single student knows that they are not alone and there is someone who truly cares about them and their wellbeing.”

Wichita, Kansas, adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism

JNS

The city of Wichita, Kansas has de cided to adopt the International Holo caust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism after a number of antisemitic flyers were distributed across the city over the summer.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple signed a proclamation on Sept. 15 ordering education and law enforcement agencies to use the IHRA definition when addressing the issue of antisemitism.

Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), applauded the city of Wichita for adopting the definition, calling it “the best type of response to the anti semitism which the city has witnessed in recent months.”

“For too long, the antisemites have

set the agenda and hidden behind the lack of a definition of antisemitism, so decisions like these are giving them much less space to spread their hate,” he said. “We look forward to the day when the IHRA Working Definition is universally adopted, but for now we can see great enthusiasm for it amongst those who want to combat the increase in antisemitism in the U.S. and elsewhere.”

The state of Kansas adopted the IHRA definition in March. So far, a total of 30 U.S. states and over 900 en tities around the world have done so since 2016, according to CAM.

Pictured are some of the participants at the recent KU Chabad mental health retreat for stu dents at KU.

important dates

Friday, September 30

The Ray Davidson (Z”L) Yiddish Group at Beth Torah

Join the Yiddish Group for schmoozing (in both English and Yiddish) and noshing - it’s B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own) lunch. We look forward to conversing and learning with individuals of all Yiddish levels, including beginners. 12:30 p.m.

Light Shabbat candles at 6:44 p.m.

Saturday, October 1 (Parashat Vayelech)

Beth Torah’s Sichat Shabbat (Shabbat Conver sation)

Join Congregation Beth Torah for a Sichat Shab bat (Shabbat Conversation). All are welcome to join physically at Beth Torah and virtually via Zoom. Email connect@beth-torah.org to request the Zoom link. 9 to 10:15 a.m.

K.I. Pirkei Avot Class with Rabbi Grussgott

Rabbi Grussgott will teach this class on Pirkei Avot - Ethics of Our Fathers, which is typically learned from Passover until the High Holidays. This class is taught prior to Mincha. 5:40 p.m.

Shabbat ends at 7:40 p.m.

Sunday, October 2

The J - Woof Walk

Come to The J’s parking lot with your dog, bor row your friend’s, or beg for one at The J’s outdoor Woof Walk event. Pup cups, crafts, and a mini dog show will be included. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“A Place For Us: A Musical Celebration of Jew ish Broadway” at The White Theatre

“A Place For Us” is an award-winning show hon oring the songs and stories of Jewish composers and their contributions to the American Musical. Broad way performer Ari Axelrod will perform melodies by the likes of Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Schwartz, and Carole King. Visit The White Theatre’s website for more information. 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 4 (Erev Yom Kippur)

Yom Kippur begins at 6:38 p.m.

Wednesday, October 5 (Yom Kippur)

Yom Kippur ends at 7:34 p.m.

Friday, October 7

The Ray Davidson (Z”L) Yiddish Group at Beth Torah

Join the Yiddish Group for schmoozing (in both English and Yiddish) and noshing - it’s B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own) lunch. We look forward to conversing and learning with individuals of all Yiddish levels, including beginners. 12:30 p.m.

Light Shabbat candles at 6:34 p.m.

Saturday, October 8 (Parashat Ha’azinu)

Shabbat ends at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 9 (Erev Sukkot)

Sukkot begins at 6:31 p.m.

Monday, October 10 (Sukkot Day 1)

Goldenberg Duo concert at William Jewell College-Gano Chapel

KC Symphony violinist Susan Goldenberg and her brother, William Goldenberg, a professor of piano at Northern Illinois University, will perform various classical works in a free concert at William Jewell College-Gano Chapel, 500 College Hill, Lib erty, MO 64068. 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 11 (Sukkot Day 2)

Goldenberg Duo concert at Kansas City, Kan sas, Public Library

The Goldenberg Duo will perform various clas sical works in a free concert at Kansas City Kansas Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101. 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 12 (Sukkot Day 3)

BIAV Parasha Shiur

A weekly Parasha class with Rabbi Mark Glass at Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner. Vir tual — contact the BIAV office at 913-341-2444 or assist@biav.org for more information or the Zoom link. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

B’nai Jehudah Klein Collection Learning Group Session

Join B’nai Jehudah to view items of the Klein

Collection. Many pieces are brought out from stor age for these programs, giving attendees an op portunity to see rare ritual items and works of art up close. No registration required, all are welcome. 11:30 a.m.

Goldenberg Duo concert at Kansas City Public Library

The Goldenberg Duo will perform various clas sical works in a free concert at Kansas City Public Library, 14 W.10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. 12 p.m.

Thursday, October 13 (Sukkot Day 4)

BIAV Harvest Festival

Join BIAV for Sukkot food and activities in the BIAV parking lot. Contact the BIAV office at 913341-2444 for more information. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Friday, October 14 (Sukkot Day 5)

The Ray Davidson (Z”L) Yiddish Group at Beth Torah

Join the Yiddish Group for schmoozing (in both English and Yiddish) and noshing - it’s B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own) lunch. We look forward to conversing and learning with individuals of all Yiddish levels, including beginners. 12:30 p.m.

Light Shabbat candles at 6:23 p.m.

Goldenberg Duo concert at St. James Church

The Goldenberg Duo will perform various clas sical works in a free concert at St. James Church, 3909 Harrison, Kansas City, MO 64110. 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 15 (Sukkot Day 6)

Goldenberg Duo concert at Southminster Presbyterian Church

The Goldenberg Duo will perform various clas sical works in a free concert at Southminster Pres byterian Church, 6306 Roe Ave., Prairie Village, KS 66208. 7 p.m.

Shabbat ends at 7:19 p.m.

Sunday, October 16 (Hoshana Rabbah)

JFS at The J Community Food Drive

Stop by The J to donate food for Jewish Family Services’ Food Pantry. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Shemini Atzeret begins at 6:38 p.m.

Monday, October 17 (Shemini Atzeret)

Simchat Torah begins at 6:37 p.m.

Tuesday, October 18 (Simchat Torah)

Simchat Torah ends at 6:35 p.m.

Wednesday, October 19

BIAV Parasha Shiur

A weekly Parasha class with Rabbi Mark Glass at Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner. Vir tual — contact the BIAV office at 913-341-2444 or assist@biav.org for more information or the Zoom link. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

JFS Grief and Loss Support

The ongoing support group is for individuals grieving from the death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunity to address issues of loss and grief within a Jewish spiritual context. The pro gram is co-facilitated by Lauren Glass, LCSW and Rabbi Mark Levin. Register by contacting Molly Mc Gurk, LCSW - JFS Director of Mental Health Services at 913-327-8298 or mmcgurk@jfskc.org. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, October 21

Light Shabbat candles at 6:13 p.m.

Saturday, October 22 (Parashat Bereishit)

Shabbat ends at 7:10 p.m.

Monday, October 24

MeltonKC - Biblical Women: Emerging from Margins Through Midrash

Join MeltonKC over Zoom in tracing major fe male figures of the Bible through classic and mod ern midrashic commentary. Attendees will gain mul tiple perspectives on their lives, relationships, and choices, and understand their roles in Jewish history and literature as full, well-rounded characters. 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

MeltonKC - Jews in Exile 70 CE-1492

Join MeltonKC in Conference Room A at The J to learn how the Jewish people survived for so long with out having a home and what major changes in Juda ism prolonged exile brought about. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

CENTER | 8800 W. 103rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66212 | Lubavitch | Rabbi Benzion Friedman | 913-385-5770

Outside of the Kansas City area:

TEMPLE ADATH JOSEPH | 102 N. 17th Street, St. Joseph, MO 64502 | Reform | Rabbi Linda Steigman | 813-279-3179

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM | 4200 SW. Munson Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604 | Reform | Rabbi Sam Stern | 785-272-6040 | templebethsholomtopeka.org

LAWRENCE JEWISH COMMUNITY CONGREGATION

917 Highland Drive, Lawrence, KS 66044

Non-denominational | 785-841-7636 | lawrencejcc.org MANHATTAN JEWISH CONGREGATION

1509 Wreath Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66053

Non-denominational | 785-841-7636 | mhkjc.org

Scholarship Winners

Show Us Your Sukkah!

and

laceys@jewishkc

27

celebration Photos

ABOVE: Jewish Federation’s Young Adults Division recently hosted its annual FED event at 28 Event Space in downtown Kansas City. The event, which combines food and philanthropy, fea tured a three-course meal from Chef Nick Martinkovic of Noah’s Cupboard and live music from the Jacob Schwartzberg Trio.

ABOVE: Jewish Family Services is one of the United Way’s inaugural Impact 100, a group of community partners addressing the most vital health and human needs in Kansas City. JFS staff who attended United Way’s Campaign Kickoff at Kauffman Stadium were (from left) Debbie Bass, Chief Development Officer; Rachel Ohlhausen, Director of Program Operations; Melanie Hayden, Director of Foundation Relations and JFS Board Member Courtney Landy.

ABOVE: During a recent meeting, SevenDays Youth Engagement Director Jill Andersen (right) met with Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Upper School Principal Todd Clauer to share educa tional resources the nonprofit has available for students. SevenDays aims to teach kindness and promote understanding among the Kansas City community through education and dialogue.

ABOVE: The Jewish War Veterans Post 605 scholarship committee recently announced the winners for this year’s Gertrude Panmasik scholarships chosen by the Post. They are Laura Martasin, Noah Lindenlaub, Haille Cooper, Jerod Gordon, and Daniella Quinn. These young adults will utilize the funds towards furthering their collegiate aspirations. Pictured are (from left) Howard Noah, Mark Slatkin, Deb Lindenlaub, scholarship winner Noah Lindenlaub, and Commander Bill Greenberg.

community news

Hazzan Ben-Yehuda and Hazzan Hayoun value tradition, congregational inclusion

from page 1

After decades of leading services, Hazzan Hayoun joined Kehilath Israel Synagogue as cantor in April of 2022 and teaches the congregation’s b’nai mitzvah students.

Preparation for the High Holidays

Both hazzanim prepare for the High Holidays months in advance. Haz zan Ben-Yehuda said that around the 17th of Tammuz (usually mid-July), she stops listening to music on the radio and starts studying the melo dies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kip pur prayers. Hazzan Hayoun has been working with a small choir at K.I. while revisiting eastern European hazzanut (cantorial singing and melodies) that he learned in Jerusalem.

Both hazzanim also physically pre pare for the High Holidays, preparing their bodies like an athlete. Leading services and belting out prayers for the majority of Yom Kippur while fasting is, as both hazzanim said, “very, very difficult.”

Hazzan Ben-Yehuda’s preparations include increased water intake, eight

hours of sleep a night, special care of her respiratory system and a healthy diet. Hazzan Hayoun said he had to develop a technique to deal with not drinking while singing all day. How ever, despite the hazzanim’s physical duties on Yom Kippur, both said that by the end, they feel a sense of intense spirituality.

“[Once services are over], I’m rid ing this incredible spiritual wave, and I’m praying everyone is on it with me,” Hazzan Ben-Yehuda said.

“[By the end of services], you’re in a special excitation if you’re a guy who loves Hashem,” Hazzan Hayoun said. “[A hazzan who loves Hashem] has the power to do it. I don’t know where this power is from, but he has the power.”

Both hazzanim openly admit to be ing nervous before High Holiday ser vices; Hazzan Hayoun said that all can tors get nervous beforehand, and some work themselves up to the point of be coming ill.

“Nobody is coming in like Elvis Presley,” Hazzan Hayoun said. “The [nervousness] is also bringing you sensibility.”

Kol Nidre and tradition

Singing Kol Nidre, perhaps one of the most recognizable High Holiday prayers, is a high point in a hazzan’s work (and often one of the most wellattended services of the year). When asked about the Kol Nidre melody, both hazzanim shared the same sentiment — it is not to be messed with.

“There are some hazzanim today that try to change [Kol Nidre], and I think that is very sad,” Hazzan Hayoun said. “You have to respect the rules… Who am I to change Kol Nidre? Who am I to change Unetaneh Tokef?”

“If you want to be fired really quick ly, if you want to be let go from your pulpit really fast, change the tune to Kol Nidre,” Hazzan Ben-Yehuda said.

Like the tune of Kol Nidre, both haz zanim are adamant in their belief that although some things can be changed or even updated, there are certain prayers, melodies and traditions that should not be changed.

“Cantors and service leaders need to understand that there are melodies that are so integral to the experience of the holiday that when you change

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them, it doesn’t feel right anymore,” Hazzan Ben-Yehuda said. She also said that she is deeply grateful that the Beth Shalom congregation embraces the tra ditional prayers in Hebrew.

Cantorial philosophies

The two hazzanim both mentioned the importance of including the con gregation in prayer.

“If you want to be a hazzan, work well and have the people be happy to have you, give the feeling that they are with you in tefilah,” Hazzan Hayoun said. “Don’t forget that behind you, you have people who want to sing with you, who love to sing with you, and listen to the melodies they’re used to.”

“I want to be able to reach out spiri tually and lovingly, and musically touch every person in the room,” Haz zan Ben-Yehuda said. “It’s an insane goal, but it’s what I long for.”

“Synagogue is not an opera,” Haz zan Hayoun said. “Tefilah is not a show.”

Yom Kippur begins at 6:38 p.m. on Oct. 4.

Seth and Rachel Katz, Donna Gould Cohen, and Evan Luskin Ages 2022 Campaign Co-Chairs

Rachel and Seth Katz Co-Chairs

Evan Luskin Co-Chair

Donna Gould Cohen Co-Chair

Matt Lewis President and CEO

Bob Gershon Board Chair

After working with two Hillels, Ben Novorr now oversees KCUSY, youth programs at Beth Shalom

from page 1

as he studied and became a bar mitzvah. Shortly after his bar mitzvah, the family moved from Lawrence to Burke, Virginia, where he was exposed to a large community of Jews. There he had his confirmation, joined youth groups, and worked as a madrich (youth leader) at religious school.

“[Working as a madrich] not only connected me with Judaism, but it also gave me the opportunity to teach, which always ended up being the high light of my week,” he said. “I would say that without a doubt, Jewish programs that I was a part of were the part of my high school experience that made the biggest impact on me.”

Novorr cites his grandfather, Larry Gelb, as “the person who really in stilled the importance of being a part of Jewish life.” Gelb served terms as president at B’nai Jehudah, Congrega tion Kol Ami and Temple Sinai. In 2016, he was awarded a Presidential Cita tion by President Barack Obama for a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his 10,000 hours of community volunteer work. Gelb passed away in June, but

his impact on Novorr’s Jewish identity is evident.

“I had never seen anyone as dedi cated to Jewish life as he was, and it made me place an extra emphasis on it as well,” he said.

Novorr taught religious school while he was attending Johnson County Community College and set his sights on becoming a Jewish professional. When he transferred to the University of Kansas, he became heavily involved with KU Hillel. Having been told when he was young that he should “contrib ute more than you consume,” he vol unteered and interned in various roles at KU Hillel that addressed Israel pro gramming, freshman engagement and strategic planning.

“Some of my closest friends in the world were ones that I met through Hil lel,” he said, “and I can say without a doubt that my college experience would not have been anywhere close to as amazing as it was without KU Hillel.”

After graduation, his experience at KU Hillel led him to a job at Indiana University Hillel. There, he learned more about mentor-student relation ships on the job. One of his most

meaningful takeaways from his time there was learning to be as authentic as possible.

“I found that I was able to form re ally strong and meaningful relation ships with my students because I was my true and complete self with them,” he said. “I was fiercely loyal to them, but equally as vulnerable. Those rela tionships are ones that to this day are so strong, and I find myself talking to Indiana students on a daily basis be cause of this.”

Even though Novorr enjoyed his po sition at IU Hillel, after a year in Indi ana he missed working with children, teenagers and families, and he missed Kansas City.

“When I first heard about the direc tor of youth and family programming position that was open at Beth Shalom, I quite frankly was a bit shocked that such a perfect position was available, and immediately threw my hat in the ring because it truly checked every sin gle one of the boxes that I was looking for,” he said.

Novorr’s vision and ideas regarding youth engagement “were in total align ment” with those of Beth Shalom’s

Since accepting the job, he has formed strong partnerships with KCUSY teen leaders. One of his early accomplishments was helping facili tate the teens’ newest initiative, “Sec ond Saturdays,” which brings the USY youth together on the second Saturday of each month. September’s event was “S’mores and Sloach” and featured a livestreamed Havdalah, s’mores and a song session.

“To say that I am so incredibly proud of all their hard work would be such an understatement,” Novorr said.

Novorr is passionate about his com munity, and is excited to be back in Kansas City.

“The Kansas City Jewish com munity set me on the path to living a Jewish life and becoming a Jewish professional,” he said. “I find myself both honored and humbled to not just be working to help strengthen a great Jewish community, but to be work ing to help strengthen [specifically] my Jewish community. I sure hope to make the Kansas City Jewish commu nity proud.”

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Over 75,000 immigrants later, aliyah organization is about a lot more than charter flights

By Larry Luxner JTA

This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with Nefesh B’Nefesh, which in cooperation with Is rael’s Ministry of Aliyah, The Jewish Agency, KKL and JNF-USA is minimiz ing the professional, logistical and social obstacles of aliyah, and has brought over 70,000 olim from North America for two decades. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.

Erica Weintraub, 18, long had dreamed of immigrating to Israel and joining the Israel Defense Forces. Origi nally from Brooklyn, New York, Wein traub got hooked on Israel from her first visit, when she came for a few weeks as a 9-year-old for her sister’s bat mitzvah.

“I kept reminding myself what that summer was like. For years, I would tell everyone that someday I’d go and fight for Israel,” Weintraub said. “After you do the army, you are officially a part of Israel — sort of like marrying into the family.”

Batshevah Nagel runs an Orthodox Jewish survival camp in the forests of Vermont along with her husband, Ian.

Born and raised in Monsey, New York, Nagel, 33, has four children and just moved to Efrat, a religious town in the West Bank near Jerusalem.

“I’ve always wanted to live here,” Na gel said. “It’s a spiritual thing — being part of the Jewish people and returning to this place after the Holocaust and all the history we’ve been through.”

The two New Yorkers, who don’t know each other, were among 225 new im migrants on a recent charter flight that marked a milestone for immigration to Israel, or aliyah, from North America.

The flight was the 63rd charter flight organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh — the agency that coordinates aliyah from North America in partnership with Is rael’s Ministry of Aliyah & Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kay emeth LeIsrael (KKL) and Jewish Na tional Fund-USA — and on board was the 75,000th immigrant Nefesh B’Nefesh has helped bring to Israel.

In the 20 years since its founding in 2002 by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Ameri can Jewish businessman and philan thropist Tony Gelbart, Nefesh B’Nefesh has expanded from functioning as a pre-

screener and coordinator of aliyah flights to a full-service immigration and absorp tion assistance organization. That starts with helping prospective immigrants sort out their paperwork and get their free flight to Israel to helping them once they arrive find places to work, friends and the right community.

For doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, Nefesh B’Nefesh works directly with Israel’s Health Ministry to streamline the medical licensing process and job placement. For fresh high school graduates considering staying on in Isra el after a gap year, Nefesh B’Nefesh helps them explore various options available for Israeli national service, university study, IDF service and other opportuni ties. Young women who choose to serve in Israel’s national service are served by a Nefesh program called Ori, which pro vides them with support programming and bureaucratic assistance. Nefesh also supports so-called Lone Soldiers, who serve in the IDF without the support of family in Israel.

Nefesh B’Nefesh runs free co-work ing space for young professionals in Tel Aviv; hosts an Israel job board that links

Israeli employers with English-speaking immigrants seeking jobs; coordinates a special program to encourage and sup port immigrants who choose to move to Israel’s peripheral north or south; and runs summer camps to help immigrant children get used to Hebrew and Israeli culture in a fun environment with lots of field trips.

“There’s a lot more going on at Nefesh than just bringing people here on planes,” said Marc Rosenberg, vice-pres ident of Diaspora partnerships at Nefesh B’Nefesh.

Nefesh’s Institute for Aliyah Policy and Strategy advances systemic changes related to aliyah and proposes relevant legislation. Its Initiative for Zionist In novation offers mentorship and financial grants for projects by olim that strength en and improve local communities throughout Israel. Since Nefesh B’Nefesh opened its new Aliyah Campus in Jeru salem several months ago, thousands of people have come to events there.

“We’re trying to accentuate this meeting point for new immigrants

Nefesh B’Nefesh helping olim from North America

here as an immigrant —finally — feels surreal.”

and native-born Israelis to make sure their integration is more successful,” Rosenberg said.

This summer, some 2,000 new immi grants from North America arrived in Israel. Ranging in age from 2 months to 101 years, they included 494 families, 315 single people, 205 retirees and 626 chil dren. Their main destinations were the cities of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Mo diin, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana and Netanya.

Samuel Leeman, 26, of Bath, Maine, one of 27 medical professionals on board the mid-August charter flight, was awarded the distinction of being named the 75,000th immigrant. An aspiring ophthalmologist, Leeman just started his second year of medical school at Beersheva’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

“It was really nice of them to name me the 75,000th oleh,” he said. “Being

commentary

Leeman’s two sisters and his parents are now in the process of making aliyah together, so he won’t be leaving his fam ily behind. Olim often say being far from family is the single-biggest challenge of aliyah.

“It’s hard being away from family,” Rosenberg said. “But people make ali yah for very practical reasons. They know the weather is hot and Israelis can be pushy. They also know that if they come to Israel, they’ll miss out on fam ily gatherings back home. The question is do they want to pay that price?”

Increasingly, the answer is yes, Rosenberg says. Last year marked a record-breaking year for immigration from North America, with 4,478 new immigrants — up more than 50% over the average of the last 10 years and the largest single-year number since 1973. Israel is experiencing a surge in aliyah due to increased opportunities for re

mote work that the pandemic wrought, according to Rosenberg.

“For many people, a big obstacle to aliyah is their professional careers, and now that you can work from home, sud denly that’s opened a door for many peo ple that wasn’t there before,” he said.

Officials at Nefesh B’Nefesh discount the notion that antisemitism is pushing American or Canadian Jews to move to Israel, saying immigrants rarely bring it up in surveys.

Nagel, who ended up in Efrat, left a 130-acre farm in rural Vermont, where for the last 12 years she and her hus band, a former New Jersey yeshiva ad ministrator, have been running a wil derness survival camp for Orthodox Jewish kids.

“I’ve been doing freelance graphic design and marketing during the year, then camp during the summer,” she said. “We hope to spend summers in Vermont, where we can keep running the camp, and hopefully one day to open

The end of an era

By Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City

An infrared thermometer, a pair of arm-length heat resistant gloves, a water kettle and maybe a salad spin ner. These are some of the tools Bruce Daniels might use on an average day on the kosher beat. It’s hard to imagine the Vaad without the sure presence of our long-time mashgiach, field representa tive, consultant and all-round profes sional.

The Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City predates Bruce’s role as a senior inspector, but not by much. Some might remember the early days of the Vaad, when its activities were limited, and lo cal community rabbis conducted rou tine inspections at some bakeries and nearby facilities. As demand for kosher certification grew it became apparent that a dedicated professional was need ed to keep up with our accounts and provide kosher expertise at communal events. A former cop, Officer Daniels was no stranger to compliance, and he was a natural fit for the enforcement of kosher regulations.

In every field and every workplace there is acceptable and there is excep tional. When seeking an attorney, they say that a good lawyer knows the law, but a great lawyer knows the judge. This makes all the difference in court.

In the certification business an inspec tor is much more successful when there is a relationship with the client. If you were a fly on the wall observing Bruce conduct a routine inspection you might wonder whether an inspection is taking place at all. Chances are you would see

a lot of camaraderie and maybe some friendly teasing – going both directions.

On occasion you might see the owner or quality assurance manager excited to show off a new piece of equipment or an improvement to the inventory system. But throughout the visit Bruce keeps a sharp eye to note any changes that might affect the kosher program in the factory. A full review of ingredients that enter the plant, the flow of produc tion, segregation of dairy and pareve on the lines, through to packaging and la beling, is a lot to take in during a visit. Bruce’s experienced eye and affable manner makes it look easy.

Over the years Bruce has worked with many event spaces, helping to en able kosher dinners, galas, BBQs, ko sher restaurant nights and family sim chas. Probably half the chefs in town have worked with Bruce at one time or another, and they enjoy reminiscing about the challenges of adjusting to ko sher requirements under Bruce’s help ful and firm guidance.

Hazards come with any job, be it car pal tunnel, falling objects or burns from hot equipment. Vaad work magnani mously offers opportunities for all haz ards. Bruce has been the Vaad’s go-to man for difficult kosherization of equip ment. Some items can be kashered by sterilizing them in a kettle of boiling wa ter. Try kashering flatware in a 50-gallon steam kettle for 650 guests while staying free of any burns. And the blowtorch. What could possibly go wrong when us ing a 20-pound propane tank and an in dustrial torch?

The effects of these hazards are not

limited to human victims. The various kitchen facilities at The J bear witness to the gentle hands Bruce applied over the years while kashering for Passover. There is a great opportunity for a scav enger hunt on the campus, with the ob jective of identifying all the burn marks around the edges of equipment, semi melted rubber pipes and silicone seal ant that became disfigured from Bruce’s torch. Some might call it pyromania, but come on, we know better…

Commercial kitchens have systems installed that are designed to suppress and contain fires. Mendel Segal, former director of the Vaad, recalls when Bruce tripped the sprinkler system while kash ering at an event space in the P&L Dis trict. The BRGR that was under Vaad supervision was drenched. On another occasion, while kashering a warming

a similar camp in Israel.”

The family chose Efrat mainly be cause Nagel’s brother lives there, and because it has a large English-speaking community.

“Knowing my children, they needed a cushy landing. Also, many kids on our block speak English, so they can com municate with people easily,” she said.

“But our goal is for everyone in the fam ily to eventually speak fluent Hebrew.”

Weintraub already knows some He brew and plans to live at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu south of Beit Shean during her army service.

“No one in my family has ever lived in Israel,” she said, adding that her par ents have known for years that this was her lifelong dream. “Although it’s sad I’m not going to be with them for the next few years, they’re happy for me. And hopefully they’ll follow me here one day.”

This story was edited for length. Head to kcjc.com for the full story.

cabinet at a downtown hotel, the heat melted the temperature gauge, prompt ing a $1,500 repair bill to the Vaad. Jeff Goldenberg, then president of the Vaad board, had a sage and philosophical re action, noting, “this is the price of doing business.”

Professionalism? Well, usually Bruce is the consummate professional, but not when it impedes customer service. Vaad board member Greg Quin remembers a time when multiple families jointly or dered some meat. The meat arrived in one big piece, not divided in portions. Bruce took the box home, sliced the meat in his kitchen and schlepped it all to the old kosher Subway where he weighed out the meat, apportioning it equally for the families who participated in the order. Bruce doesn’t remember this spe cific story, but when it came up in a con versation he shrugged and replied with a grin, “sounds like something I would do.”

After more than two decades of ser vice to the Vaad, Bruce is taking a welldeserved retirement. This doesn’t mean the end of his work with the Vaad. No doubt we will call upon Bruce, needing his expertise to assist us with an event, or to connect to a client with whom Bruce has the relationship and experi ence built over decades. However, the Vaad will have to learn to manage dayto-day without the constant presence of its most stalwart personnel.

This is an end of an era for the Vaad, and we wish to express gratitude for the many years of dedicated service dur ing which the Vaad operated on Bruce’s broad and generous shoulders.

WWW.KCJC.COM

Bruce Daniels

Phyllis Blander passed away peace fully at her home in Overland Park, Kansas, on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. She was born on July 21, 1941, to Louis and Lillian Levy in Brooklyn, New York, where she attended Samuel J. Tilden High School. There she met and married Robert Blander, to whom she was married to for 63 years. They moved to and raised their two children in Los Angeles, California. Later, they moved to Kansas City to be close to grandchildren.

Phyllis and Robert owned an interi or design store, later retiring to spend time scrapbooking, shopping and spending time with her bird, Casper. Her greatest pleasure in life was spend ing time with her husband, kids, and grandkids.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Blander, and is survived by her husband, Robert; daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Steven Dean; and grandchildren Anthony Blander, Leah Dean, and Alexander Dean.

Graveside services were held on Sept. 8, 2022, at Rose Hill Cemetery, 6900 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64131. To share a tribute with the family, visit louismemorialchapel.com. A Shiva ser vice was held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the home of Steven and Bonnie Dean.

Stacey Michelle Singer

Stacey is survived by her mother, Sandy Curtis; father, Bruce (Frances) Singer; brother, Adam (Jessica) Singer; sister, Danielle Singer; uncles, Ross Singer and Scott (Barbara) Hecht; and aunt, Michelle (Neal) Deutch. Stacey will also be missed by her close friends Vincent and Gloria Amador and How ard Snitkoff.

The family requests no flowers or plants and asks that donations in Sta cey’s memory be given to one of the fol lowing charities:

KC Pet Project (kcpetproject.org/do nate/) or send to Kansas City Pet Proj ect, 7077 Elmwood Ave, Kansas City, MO 64132.

Kansas City Hospice House (kchos pice.org/donation/) or send to KCHPC, 9001 State Line Rd, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114.

Robert G. Shaw

ing competition held each summer in North America representing the sec ond largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world. The 1997 Maccabi Games were the only time that this event had been held in Kansas City. He also served as a board mem ber for the Menorah Heritage Foun dation for a period of years. Over the past year, Bob was instrumental in the creation of Maddie’s Mission, a nonprofit committed to supporting families in the Kansas City area with children living with Angelman Syndrome and other complex medical needs in honor of his granddaughter, Maddie. He was also a long-time member of Congrega tion Beth Torah.

Apart from his professional and civic contributions, Bob was a devoted family member and a trusted friend to many. He enjoyed a variety of passions. He was a life-long fan, and sometimes critic, of KU basketball, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. He and wife, Jeanne, frequently attend ed performances at Starlight, Quality Hill Playhouse, The Theater League,

The White Theatre and Van Wezel. Bob was an avid traveler, always looking forward to new adventures, both do mestically and abroad. Bob cherished sunsets with friends and family either at Lake Lotawana, Missouri, or in Si esta Key, Florida. Through their morethan-48 years of marriage, Bob and Jeanne shared a love for golden retriev ers, and Bob will be missed by their two dogs – Cooper and Charlie.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Edna, and his brother, Howard. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; his children, Andrew Shaw (Laura Hall), Laura Sargent (Pat rick Sargent), and Stacey Shaw; his brother, Irwin Shaw (Sara Shaw); How ard’s wife, Irene; his five grandchil dren, Colin, Kellie, Maddie, Ethan and Hannah; and many loving members of the extended family.

A funeral service was held on Sept. 18 at Congregation Beth Torah.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Maddie’s Mission (themir aculousmissmaddie.com/) or a charity of one’s choice.

First digital translation of Mishneh Torah interconnected with Jewish texts goes online

JNS

At the time of his passing, Bob was sur rounded by his close family.

Bob was born on Oct. 26, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Morris and Edna Shaw. He graduated from Shaw nee Mission East High School in 1968.

In 1972, Bob graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree, and in 1974, he received his Master of Business Administration de gree from the University of Kansas.

Following college, Bob worked for Arthur Andersen for several years be fore joining Winning Ways, a small ap parel company based out of Lenexa, Kansas, which later became Gear for Sports. Bob worked at Gear for Sports for over 25 years, eventually serving as the Chief Financial Officer, and help ing the company grow from a small business to approximately 1,000 em ployees. After leaving Gear for Sports, Bob was the Chief Executive Officer of MC Flooring, based out of Mission, Kansas.

A complete English transla tion of the Mish neh Torah inter connected with other Jewish texts is being digitally offered for the first time ever by the nonprofit organiza tion Sefaria, which digitizes and shares Jewish texts for free in Hebrew along with translations and commentaries.

“We are so excited for learners to dive into this rich text and share their reflections with each other and the world,” said Sara Wolkenfeld, Sefaria’s chief learning officer. “For the Jewish people, our texts are our collective in heritance. They belong to everyone and we want them to be available to every one, in the public domain or with cre ative commons licenses.”

The Mishneh Torah, authored by the medieval Torah scholar Maimonides, commonly known as the Rambam, be tween 1170 and 1180, while he lived in Egypt, consists of 14 books and is a ma

jor code of Jewish religious law. Users can access it on Sefaria’s website and through the Sefaria app.

The translation provided by Sefaria was completed between 1986 and 2007 by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger. The text on the Sefaria website comes with Hebrew commentaries; interlinking to other religious texts, to help readers under stand the work; and topic tagging so they can research related ideas that in terest them.

The Sefaria website also allows us ers to create shareable source sheets that incorporate religious texts from Sefaria’s catalog with their own com mentary.

Sefaria is used by more than 500,000 people each month, including students, educators and scholars.

Stacey Michelle Singer, of Over land Park, Kansas, peacefully passed away on Sept. 16, 2022, at the age of 48. Born on May 1, 1974, she followed her own path in life and enjoyed the time spent with friends, family, and most of all, her pets. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her and will live on through their memories.

In addition to his professional life, Bob was active in the Kansas City community. Bob completed his term as President of the Jewish Commu nity Campus board in August 2022. In addition to his tenure on the Campus board, Bob served on The J KC board for nine years and he was a current Board of Advisor for The J KC. In 1997, he chaired the Kansas City Mac cabi Games, the Olympic-style sport

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Robert G. Shaw (“Bob”) passed away on Sept. 10, 2022, at his home from com plications related to pancreatic cancer.

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We were thrilled to increase our donation to Village Shalom’s fundraiser through the JCF’s matching program. It was an easy decision to open our Donor Advised Fund. We now utilize our Donor Advised Fund for all of our charitable giving.”

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A fund offers significant tax and planning advantages, the ability to streamline your giving, and access to the Foundation’s philanthropic expertise and exceptional personal service.

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