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ABOVE: Dr. Helene Lotman, Jewish Federation president & CEO (center), appears with her “kitchen cabinet,” made up of Ward Katz, Alana Muller, Merilyn Berenbom and Stan Bushman. The kitchen cabinet convened throughout Lotman’s tenure at Federation to be a sounding board and to be of counsel to Lotman in her role leading the Federation.
Art show
ABOVE AND LEFT: The J’s Heritage Center’s Dorothy & Leonard Klein Art Show Opening Reception was held on Oct. 27. Pictured are artist Carlotta Burt with her family (above), who came to view her work that is on display; and a grandmother and grandson observing a wall of artwork created by the students in the Heritage Center’s art classes. ABOVE, RIGHT AND BELOW: Kehilath Israel Synagogue’s annual Grand Givers event featured a kosher, four-course French meal prepared by Chef Brian Aaron (pictured right). Guitarist Beau Bledsoe and the international artists of Ensemble Iberica (pictured below) provided music, and French wine selected by sommelier Aaron Fry was offered.
Grand Givers
Bagel makers
ABOVE: Congregation Beth Torah recently hosted its Bagel Making Pick-a-Party. The intergenerational group learned how to make homemade bagels from Stephen Steigman. Pictured from left are Carol Ducak, Avital Falicov, and Noa Falicov with a sampling of the homemade bagels.
NRT at MGKC
Tour of WWI exhibit
Jewish War Veterans supports veterans in need
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Commemoration at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka.
One of Post 605’s biggest focuses is its Holiday Gifts for Vets (HGV) program, which was started in 2003 by post member Mike Katzman. (Katzman, a WWII veteran, is the oldest post member at 102 years old.)
Pre-pandemic, post members would collect donations of essential items like toiletries, dental hygiene products, and clothing for veterans in the Kansas City area. The gifts were donated to veterans (of any faith) at the VA centers in Kansas City and in Leavenworth, the St. Michael’s Veteran’s Center and the Veteran’s Community Project.
During the pandemic, COVID-19 restrictions prevented them from bringing outside items to those communities. The post found a way to continue the program and switched to donating gift cards to the veterans; last year, the post gave out more than 400 gift cards. The post is in the process of securing donations and gift cards for this year’s HGV. The gifts are given out in the first weeks of December. The future of Post 605
Like many organizations, Post 605 faces the possibility of membership going down as current members pass away. However, the post has been successful in recruiting, mostly by word of mouth among Post 605 members and those they know in their synagogues.
“We are actually a pretty vibrant post,” Greenberg said. “Other posts are declining, and we’ve actually expanded. We haven’t got hundreds, but we’ve had a raise in our population. And so I feel it’s a success.”
Greenberg said Post 605 has approximately 60 members at any given time.
Members of the community from any military branch can join the post. The group is also open to non-military members who can join as patrons. Some members spent a few years serving, and others made it their entire career.
Greenberg says he sees a long future for Post 605 in the community.
“It will take a lot of energy to keep the post going, just as it will JWV as a whole to keep it going… but I’m kind of optimistic,” he said. “I think it’ll still go on for a while.”
Those interested in joining or learning more can email Greenberg at greenbergwilliam@hotmail.com. There is more information on the post’s Facebook page at facebook. com/JWV-605-113534657113204.
LEFT: The original chapter charter for Post 605 can be seen as part of the Jewish War Veterans exhibit at the Jewish Community Center.
Jewish community members provide support at Jackson County CASA benefit
Jewish attendees at the Jackson County CASA benefit included (from left) Bradley Friedman, Taly Friedman, Peter Beren, Sarah Beren, Karen Glickstein, Don Swartz, Ed Fried, Jackson County CASA Board Member Sandi Fried, Julie Levine and Terry Levine.
A recent benefit for Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) — which was founded as an NCJW program — received support from members of the local Jewish community. Cocktails for CASA: A Night of Hope raised funds to benefit children removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect. The evening’s festivities and auctions helped raise more than $122,000 to recruit, train and support more volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children under court protection.
In 1983, Jackson County CASA was founded as an NCJW program and was later spun off as an independent nonprofit. Jackson County CASA is one of the nation’s largest CASA programs. Its volunteers are expected to advocate for 1,250 children this year — about half the children removed from their homes for their safety in Jackson County this year.
Judges appoint CASA volunteers to the cases where children most need an advocate by their side as they navigate the foster care and court systems. CASA volunteers — with ongoing support from professional staff — work to provide critical information to judges, helping them make the best possible decisions regarding where the children should live and what medical, therapeutic, and educational services they need.
Jackson County CASA needs more volunteers to help advocate for children. Volunteers do not need any special skills or education — just a background check and training. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours a month meeting with the child, speaking with others involved, and attending meetings or court hearings. Volunteer hours are flexible.
More information is available at jacksoncountycasa-mo.org or by phone at 816-984-8200.
B’nai Brith Bowling Scores
The following bowlers in the Sunday Morning Kansas City B’nai B’rith Men’s Bowling League achieved high scores at Ward Parkway Lanes on October 30 and November 6.
October 30 500 Series:
Brian Wright (209, 279, 204 — 692) Willie Jones (217, 235, 224 –676) Marion Potts (208, 176, 242 – 626) Gary Friedman (201, 180, 181 –562) Steve Baraban (189, 192, 178 –559) Ron Rubin (188, 163, 197 – 548) Scott Hecht (182, 161, 195 – 538) Jeff Kivett (168, 180, 189 – 537) Bruce Silverberg (159, 189, 186 –534) Bruce W Parker (180, 189, 161 –530) Michael Sokol (194, 153, 177 –524) John Coleman (198, 178, 145 – 521) Bruce Baraban (172, 194, 153 – 519) Tom Balke (195, 160, 157 – 512) Morty Rock (178, 160, 170 – 508)
170 Game:
Irwin Snitz (191) Robert May (185) Jerry Shapiro (177) Steve Greenberg (176) Bruce Singer (174) Ted Simon (173) Michael Altman (171) Franklin Eldredge (170)
November 6 500 Series:
Willie Thomas, Jr. (195, 247, 244—686) Steve Baraban (176, 190, 207—573) Jeff Kivett (194, 184, 182—560) Willie Jones (151, 208, 200—559) Ron Rubin (173, 192, 193—558) Michael Altman (184, 156, 199—539) Morty Rock (191, 194, 134—519) Steve Greenberg (116, 229, 173—518) Irwin Snitz (162, 165, 189—516) John Coleman (147, 161, 202—510) Bruce W Parker (153, 178, 175—506) Marion Potts (138, 221, 147—506) Gary Gray (178, 167, 160—505)
170 Game:
Larry Katzif (195) Ted Simon (190) Bruce Singer (191) Franklin Eldredge (187) Scott Hecht (177) Robert May (177) Jeff Martasin (176) Mark Newton (176) Bill Sloan (176) Christopher Eldredge (174)
If you are interested in bowling in a competitive, fun, social atmosphere, contact Tom Balke at 913-648-0326 or tombalke@everestkc.net. The following are corrected scores from October 16.
500 Series:
Brian Wright (169, 205, 289 – 663) Ron Rubin (171, 246, 244 – 661) Steve Greenberg (189, 192, 211 – 592) Bruce W Parker (213, 194, 171 – 578) Scott Hecht (193, 162, 201 –556) Mark Newton (183, 168, 205 – 556) Jeff Kivett (175, 170, 210 – 555) Ted Simon ( 177, 233, 142 – 552) Bill Sloan ( 212, 178, 159 – 549) Marion Potts (165, 178, 198 – 541) Irwin Snitz (156, 186, 195 – 537) Bruce Baraban (157, 197, 179 – 533) John Coleman (164, 192, 161 – 517)
170 Game:
