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$1.00 Volume 100, Number 3 www.kcjc.com January 16, 2020

jewish chronicle The KANSAS

CITY

Be prepared Security expert advises see something, say something, do something By Barbara Bayer Editor After the tragedy in the Kansas City Jewish community in April 2014 when three people were murdered on Jewish sites by a convicted neo-Nazi, the community learned the catch phrase “see something, say something.” Last week Bradley W. Orsini, senior national security adviser for the Secure Community Network (SCN), took that a step further when he added two more words: do something. Orsini, the featured speaker at the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 8, has been a security expert in the Jewish community for three years. After serving as the director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, where the worst anti-Semitic attack in the United States took place on Oct. 27, 2018, he knows one thing for sure: being prepared saves lives. One of the ﬁrst ways to be prepared, he said in an interview with The Chronicle, is to take every threat seriously. When he ﬁrst tackled the security job in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, he visited with synagogue and agency executives. One of his questions: Do you ever get hate mail? In many cases the answer was see See Security, page 18

The newest member of the Mayer family, Nathan Benjamin, arrived on Saturday, Jan. 4. Also in this family portrait are big brother Mason Alexander and parents Brian and Tiferet Mayer. (Melissa Rieke photo)

Community cheers first Jewish baby born Jan. 4 By Barbara Bayer Editor Tiferet and Brian Mayer welcomed the community’s ﬁrst bundle of joy, and their second son, on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Overland Park Regional Medical Cen-

ter. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 21 inches long. He has light brown hair and blue-gray eyes. The proud papa told The Chronicle, “We’re super happy and blessed that he’s happy and healthy and we’re excited he’s the ﬁrst baby of the new year.” The couple, who have known each other eight years and have been married for six, chose to name their young son Nathan Benjamin. He was given his Hebrew name, Nachum Berel, at the bris last Sunday. The name Nathan was chosen after Tiferet’s beloved grandfather, of blessed memory, who passed away almost exactly a year before Nathan was born.

Tiferet was very close to her grandfather and naming her son after him is very meaningful to her. She said her grandfather was an amazing human being with the biggest heart you could ever imagine. “He was the most genuine and caring person who left a lasting impression on everyone he met,” Tiferet said. “He would be so proud of this beautiful little boy we brought into the world. I know this little guy will follow in his footsteps and be just as caring, loving and kindhearted as Grandpa Nathan.” see See First, page 17

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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January 16, 2020

listening post MLK REMEMBRANCE — Despite the Chiefs game and the weather, the annual MLK Interfaith Service on Sunday was wellattended. Every year, this event By Barbara Bayer kicks off one of Editor the largest weeklong celebrations in the country in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Co-Chairs were Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hill, minister emeritus of Community Christian Church, and Rick Hellman, JCRB|AJC advisory board member. The event included musical performances by Lara Steinel, Laura Payne and Michelle Cox; Kansas City Boys and Kansas City Girls Choirs led by Ah’Lee Robinson; Trio Aztlan; and Millie Edwards accompanied by Tim Whitmer. The keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Angela Sims, the ﬁrst female president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York. SCLC President Rev. Dr. Vernon Percy Howard, who is now a JCRB|AJC advisory board member, gave the opening remarks. Rev. Dr. Bobby Love gave the closing benediction. KOL HAKAVOD — Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City got the secular new year off on the right foot by celebrating the “power of the collective” as Chair Michael Abrams so aptly put it at its annual meeting. Approximately 160 people ﬁlled the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Campus to learn about the Federation’s work and its accomplishments over the past year. Among the highlights was raising $6.5 million in restricted and unrestricted funds allowing Federation to provide funding to 21 different organizations. As the evening, chaired by Lisa and Steve Ruben, drew to a conclusion Federation President and CEO Dr.

Co-Chairs Rick Hellman and Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hill welcomed people to the annual MLK Interfaith Service held Sunday, Jan. 12. This is the ﬁrst year Hellman, a member of the JCRB|AJC advisory board, has served as the event’s co-chair. He takes over from his mother, Judy Hellman, who co-chaired the event for more than 30 years. Helene Lotman noted that the Federation’s work as the community’s convener is never ending. “As long as there are Jews in need, as long as there are Jewish children to educate and Jewish souls to nourish, our work will never be ﬁnished,” she said. “The generations before us laid the strong foundation on which we stand. It is our responsibility to build on that foundation, to adapt it for 2020 and beyond, and to leave it stronger for the next generation. Thank you for being a part of this community and for your commitment to this work. I look forward to collaborating with you.” SECURING OUR FUTURE — One of Federation’s themes for its annual meeting was securing our fu-

Correction The wrong date for Drew Liss was published on The Chronicle’s list of Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates for 2020 in the Dec. 26, 2019, issue. The correct date for Drew Liss’ Bar Mitzvah is Saturday, Nov. 7, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

ture. I had the opportunity to meet the featured speaker, Brad Orsini, prior to his presentation. One of the things I learned from that conversation with him and our own Director of Community Security Chuck Green is the importance of being prepared for the unthinkable — an active shooter event. I realized I am not prepared and I’m guessing many of our readers are not prepared either. Is it better to run, hide or ﬁght? These security experts said every situation is different, but training can help people be prepared to make those split-second decisions. Here’s my mini editorial: If your congregation has not scheduled an active shooter training, urge leadership to do so immediately. Orsini and Green strongly believe training saves lives. And if you’re one of those people who believes lightning never strikes twice, think again. In these contentious times, we can never know when an unstable individual will decide to attack.

January 16, 2020

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HBHA’s Civic Service Award to honor Tiberius Klausner Tiberius (Tibor) Klausner’s story of Holocaust survival, followed by his incredible journey across the ocean to study music at Julliard may sound like ﬁction, but the story is real. His perseverance, commitment to Judaism, and devotion to music are just a few of the reasons Klausner, of blessed memory, became Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s choice as this year’s Civic Service Award honoree. The posthumous award will be accepted by Klausner’s family: his wife, Carla, and three daughters, Danielle, Mirra and Serena. “Tibor’s life embodied all that HBHA strives to instill in its students: Jewish values, resiliency, courage and kindness. We are all richer for having known him,” said Civic Service Award Celebration Co-chair Pella Fingersh. The celebration takes place Thursday, May 14, at the Sheraton Overland Park. Co-chaired by Fingersh and Neil Sosland, guests can look forward to an elegant evening of music and dinner beﬁtting the beloved violinist, concertmaster and professor of music. “We plan to honor the strong ties Tibor and Carla have forged in Kansas City. He was beloved in so many different ways in Kansas City, including HBHA, where all three Klausner daughters attended. Today, his grandchildren are also at the school, showcasing Tibor’s legacy of religion and cultural values,” Sosland said. “Tibor was one of HBHA’s original board members. When our girls reached school age, there was no question of where they would attend school. He enjoyed visiting HBHA and playing his violin for the students,” Carla said. “It was important, and he was proud of it. It was part of his identity.”

“As a couple, we participated in everything happening at HBHA: the plays, programs, and every event we could for our children, and then our grandchildren.” FAITH, FAMILY AND MUSIC Klausner had the unique ability to project his passion for family, music and faith and to weave them together to create something truly beautiful, both for his family and for his community. While music was the driving force behind Klausner’s coming to the United States, and his career — which includes becoming the youngest concertmaster in the United States (for the Kansas City Philharmonic) and 32 years as a respected professor of music and artist-in-residence at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance — it was his circle of family, students, friends and fellow congregants at Congregation Beth Shalom that truly enriched his life. According to his daughters, Tibor loved spending time with family and was very hands-on as a father and a grandfather. They have fond memories of their father’s favorite and most frequent saying: “It’s so good to be together.” Even though they lived overseas, he kept in constant contact with his parents and brothers through regular letters and visits over the years. Closer to home, Tibor expanded his “family” to include colleagues and students, who stayed in touch and visited him regularly. “A student from 35 years ago came to visit this Thanksgiving,” Carla said. “It was these connections that made Tiberius Klausner such a remarkable

Tiberius Klausner (Photo by David Sosland)

and beloved ﬁgure in our city. His music touched our souls, but it was his vibrant personality, his warm sense of humor, and his deep love of life that touched our hearts,” said Carl Puritz, past HBHA board president and lifetime trustee, and one of the driving forces behind HBHA’s Civic Service Award celebrations. “Please join HBHA to celebrate Tiberius Klaus-

ner’s life and to honor his legacy at this year’s Civic Service Award Celebration.” The Celebration Steering Committee is currently seeking sponsorships at the $5,000-plus level. Tickets will be available in the coming months. Contact Kerry Cosner, 913-327-8156, kcosner@hbha.edu, for more information or to inquire about sponsorship levels.

Contact The Chronicle The Chronicle now has a new phone number, email addresses and mailing address. The main phone number for news tips, obituaries, celebrations, subscription information and advertising: 913-235-4474 The Chronicle has moved its ofﬁces to 10650 Roe Blvd., Suite 141, Overland Park, KS 66207-3907. Ofﬁce hours are by appointment only. Letters to the editor and press releases may be emailed to kcjc@rosepublicationskc.com.

Individual staff emails are: Publisher Steve Rose, srose@rosepublicationskc.com Editor Barbara Bayer, bbayer@rosepublicationskc.com Copy Editor Marcia Montgomery, mmontgomery@rosepublicationskc.com Account Executive Judy Lanes, jlanes@rosepublicationskc.com Account Executive Rebecca Rose Devereaux, rrose@rosepublicationskc.com Account Executive Robbie Small, rsmall@rosepublicationskc.com

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

JCRB|AJC’s Geller named Wexner Field Fellow The Wexner Foundation, in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, recently announced Class 4 of the Wexner Field Fellowship. Fifteen outstanding professionals, including Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC Executive Director Gavriela Geller, were selected through a highly competitive process for this three-year intensive program. Utilizing the diverse, cohortbased learning that is the hallmark of The Wexner Foundation programs, Field Fellows will be exposed to different approaches to leadership and tools for addressing pressing issues in the Jewish community, while being integrated into The Wexner Foundation’s vast network of more than 3,000 professional and volunteer leaders in North America and Israel, including the 30 outstanding professionals who are currently in the Field Fellowship Program, as well as 25 alumni. “I am honored to join this incredible network, and excited for the ways that this opportunity will help me continue to grow as a leader, and as a Jew, so that I can better serve our Kansas City community,” said Geller of this opportunity. In addition to Geller, the list of Class 4 Fellows includes: Ari Brickman, Senior Philanthropic Officer, Key Relationships for The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, North Bethesda, MD Yehuda Chanales, Director of Educational Advancement for the Fuchs Mizrachi School, Beachwood, OH Keren Fraiman, Dean and Chief Academic Officer for the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Chicago, IL Rachael Fried, Executive Director for JQY (Jewish Queer Youth), New York, NY Addie Klein, Director of Community Engagement for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA Stephanie Levin, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer for the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City, CA Evan Majzner, VP, Development and Strategic Initiatives for itrek, New York, NY Janu Mendel, Executive Director for Repair the World, Miami, FL

Harry Pell, Associate Head of School for The Leffell School, Hartsdale, NY Hillel Rapp, Director of Education for Bnei Akiva Schools, Toronto, Ontario Lani Santo, Executive Director for Footsteps, New York, NY Yaffi Scheinberg, Executive Director and Head of School for Kayla’s Children Centre, Toronto, Ontario Matt Weintraub, Executive Director for Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, CA Ari Weiss, Executive Director for Cornell Hillel, Ithaca, NY The Wexner Foundation has more than 30 years of experience developing excellence in Jewish professionals and volunteer leaders in North America. The Wexner Field Fellowship was created in 2013 in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation to focus on developing promising Jewish professionals’ leadership skills while enveloping them in a rich network of Jewish colleagues. Wexner Field Fellows engage in a diverse, cohort-based leadership learning program. Fellows are selected based on their past accomplishments, current motivation and engagement, and exceptional attributes they’ll contribute to the cohort of 15 diverse Jewish professionals of which they will be a part. Through in-person, intensive conferences and virtual meetings, Wexner Field Fellows are exposed to Jewish educational and professional growth opportunities while addressing their unique needs of career and personal progress. “We faced the tremendous challenge of selecting our new class from a deep and talented pool of candidates. The field is richly blessed. I am excited about the ways in which these 15 mid-career Jewish professionals will contribute to the Wexner Field Fellowship and more importantly to the Jewish organizations and communities they will lead,” said Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson, president of The Wexner Foundation. “This new cohort of transformational leaders will add mightily to the community of Wexner Fellows and alumni shaping the Jewish future.” As with the first three cohorts of Field Fellows, Class 4 is comprised of dynamic Jewish professionals at pivotal moments in their careers. Fellows work in Jewish

Gavriela Geller federations, summer camps, advocacy and social justice organizations, day and supplementary schools, national organizations and local institutions across North America. “The Wexner Foundation continues to shape our ﬁeld in deeply profound ways,” said Barry Finestone, president and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation. “Their programs for Jewish leaders and educators provide the highest quality learning and coaching and enable cohort members to develop such important and supportive peer networks. These thousands of leaders and educators engage directly with Jewish youth and ultimately help shape the Jewish community. We are very pleased to continue to support the Wexner Foundation’s important

work and congratulate the newest cohort of Wexner Field Fellows.” As part of this three-year intensive professional development program, Wexner Field Fellows: Become part of a selective cohort of lifelong professional learners. Learn with amazing leadership teachers and Jewish educators. Receive one-on-one professional coaching and Jewish learning, along with access to funds toward customized professional development opportunities. Develop a nuanced appreciation for the diversity of the North American Jewish community. Focus on developing strengths in adaptive leadership, storytelling, difﬁcult conversations, negotiation and other crucial leadership skills.

January 16, 2020

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KU Chabad, JCRB|AJC Recognized For Community Programs Two outstanding programs were recently recognized for their impact on the Jewish community at Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Annual Meeting. This year’s Community Program of the Year award winners are KU Chabad’s JewishU and JCRB|AJC’s Unity Seder. “Programs like these are critical to the vibrancy and strength of our community,” said Dr. Helene Lotman, president and CEO of Jewish Federation. “We are proud to work in partnership with organizations like KU Chabad and JCRB|AJC to support our mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life.” CHABAD OF KU: JEWISHU KU Chabad developed the JewishU program as a way to curate a more meaningful Jewish campus experience for students. JewishU is built around a simple concept: to provide an accessible and engaging way for students to immerse themselves in quality Jewish learning. Since the program’s inception in fall 2017 with just 22 students, JewishU has grown to consistently average 40 to 50 in attendance per semester. “The reality is that college students truly want to learn more about themselves, their history and their heritage, but they are often too busy to commit to extensive Jewish learning due to the many college obligations,” Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said. “KU Chabad created JewishU to bridge that gap.” Within the JewishU curriculum, students can choose from ﬁve different courses that intend to “demystify everything Jewish.” From history to philosophy and everything in between, JewishU has been developed to provide a comprehensive look into Jewish identity and spirituality in a way many students had not previously experienced. “Going to Jewish U was one of the best decisions I made this year,” said Sophie Kunin, a KU sophomore from Overland Park. “I have become more connected to the Jewish community here at KU, I learned subjects of Judaism I didn’t even know existed, and I now feel like I have a place.” Once students complete a course, they can then convert their class par-

KU Chabad’s JewishU was recognized by the Jewish Federation last week as one of its Programs of the Year. Shown are Jewish Federation President and CEO Dr. Helene Lotman (from left), KU Chabad Co-Directors Nechama and Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, student Sam Matsil and Federation Chair Michael Abrams. (Ryan Bruce) ticipation into scholarship funds toward further Jewish programming, or they can allocate their stipend to a favorite charity. JCRB|AJC: UNITY SEDER For many years, JCRB|AJC has held a Freedom Seder, bringing together black and Jewish community leaders to explore themes of oppression and liberation in our respective communities. In 2019, JCRB|AJC reframed this program as the Unity Seder and invited faith and civic partner communities. In doing so, JCRB|AJC created a program that introduced non-Jewish communities to the Jewish faith through the sharing of the seder ritual and meal, and fostered greater understanding of the communities’ shared values. The program included various songs, both Jewish and secular, and incorporated readings from the Talmud and from civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Sections of the traditional seder were re-envisioned; the Four Sons were made into the Four Community Members who we may encounter, and both the traditional 10 Plagues as well as 10 Actions for Social Change were read. Nearly 200 people of all faiths attended the Unity Seder, compared with 75 to 125 at previous Freedom Seders. Several

JCRB|AJC Board President Gary Wolf (center) and its Executive Director Gavriela Geller show off the organization’s Program of the Year Award while Jewish Federation Board Chair Michael Abrams (left) looks on. (Ryan Bruce) prominent community leaders were in attendance including Consul of Mexico Alfonso Navarro Bernachi and Joe Reardon, president/CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “The Unity Seder provided our community the space to celebrate and share our rich Jewish heritage, to deepen

existing bonds with other faith communities, and to create new ones,” said JCRB|AJC Executive Director Gavriela Geller. “Everyone in the room reafﬁrmed our collective commitment to standing in solidarity with each other and felt empowered and inspired to pursue change.”

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

SevenDays® 2020 expands to spread interfaith, kindness message Hateful acts rock our world. The recent church shooting in White Settlement, Texas, and the machete deaths at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey, New York, shattered the holiday season. Hundreds of hate crimes were reported last year according to the FBI and the numbers continue climbing. AntiSemitism has reached new highs and hate speak is more common than ever permeating social media and beyond. They are all reminders of the hate crimes that took four innocent lives here in the Kansas City metropolitan area outside of Jewish facilities in Overland Park and an Olathe sports bar. Faith Always Wins Foundation (FAW), a Kansas City-based nonproﬁt organization, is determined to make a difference through acts of kindness and interfaith dialogue. The organization’s three pillars are faith, kindness and healing and it is working to make a difference. SevenDays® Make a Ripple, Change the World is the organization’s annual weeklong series of experiences demonstrating how hatred, bigotry and ignorance can be overcome by kindness and understanding each other. SevenDays® 2020 will take place for the sixth year in the Greater Kansas City area Tuesday, April 21, through Monday, April 27. SevenDays® 2020 continues the healing journey following the murders that took the lives of Dr. William Corporon, his grandson Reat Underwood and Teresa LaManno outside of Jewish facilities in April 2014. The three lost their lives at the hands of a convicted Neo-Nazi shooter. Determined to turn tragedy into triumph, family members and friends joined together to create something positive to overcome this senseless hate crime. Sponsored by Faith Always Wins in partnership with several organizations, SevenDays® provides opportunities encouraging all people to increase kindness through knowledge, mindset and behaviors. “While our families will always remember, we are also healing and moving onward with passion,” said Mindy Corporon, Reat’s mother and Dr. Corporon’s daughter. “Our passion is to help others through their own personal tragedy, to explore another faith and to ﬁnd commonalities with their neighbor or coworker through acts of kindness. We are all human,” Corporon said.

“The majority of us do not want violence, terrorism or even sarcastic remarks about our religion, so let’s continue the conversation. We want to enjoy the world in which we live and leave it in a better place. We can do this through understanding commonalities and SevenDays® provides the platform for this engagement.” Jim LaManno, husband of Teresa LaManno, said SevenDays® is more important now than ever. “We strive to make things better for all the other families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence. “We must remain steadfast and redouble our efforts to spread kindness and give joy and peace to all through SevenDays® and every day,” LaManno said. SevenDays® is under the leadership of Mindy Corporon and Director Jill Andersen, who has been involved since the beginning. The SevenDays® Planning Committee, which includes several members of the Jewish community, consists of a diverse group of dedicated volunteers who work for months out on the annual event. SEVENDAYS® OF KINDNESS Everyone has the power to make a ripple and change the world — and that’s the focus of SevenDays®. Each of the SevenDays® has a special theme — Love, Discover, Others, Connect, You, Go, You and Onward — reﬂecting the overall spirit of the effort. Beginning with Tuesday, April 21 — Day One — the week kicks off with a special interfaith program and awards ceremony at St. James United Methodist Church. Other events include a diversity dinner at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City, a weeklong blood drive in partnership with the Community Blood Center, an interfaith workshop and Ramadan Iftar at the Islamic Center of Johnson County and a day focused on self care in partnership with major sponsor AdventHealth. One 2020 highlight will be a conversation with Wes Hamilton, a gun violence survivor turned founder of Disabled But Not Really. In conversation with Mindy Corporon, Hamilton will share his story of healing, love and his newfound passion for helping those with disabilities. Hamilton, as seen on Season 4 of Netﬂix’s popular “Queer Eye” series, will recount the aftermath of a shooting that left him paralyzed and depressed, but which he faced head on to become the award-winning athlete and father he is today.

Each day of SevenDays® features special activities — everything from speakers and ﬁlms to workshops and hands-on community service projects. Suggested kindness activities for the community are also available. The annual Kindness Walk will be held on Monday, April 27, at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The walk will circle the grounds of the memorial before a celebratory conclusion. SevenDays® partners with 14 area charities showcasing the work they do to make Kansas City a kind community. Registration for the walk will be open at GiveSevenDays.org. The entire community is invited to participate in SevenDays® events, both digitally and in person. Events will be held at various locations throughout the metropolitan area. The SevenDays® team of volunteers has created resources for educators, learners, business and organizations allowing for participation at each person's desired level of engagement. Materials are available on givesevendays.org and all ages are encouraged to participate. Community groups and organizations are invited to create their own activities and share them through SevenDays® social media sites using #givesevendays and #betheripple. Information about the themes, activities and sponsored events will be continuously updated on the SevenDays® website, GiveSevenDays.org as well as the Facebook page @GiveSevenDays. SEVENDAYS® BUTTONS & KINDNESS COMPETITIONS A signature of SevenDays® is its colorful, creative buttons with designs reﬂecting each day’s theme. For a number of years, a button-design contest took place inviting area high school students to submit their artwork for consideration. Designs from eight different students were chosen for the 2020 SevenDays® buttons, which are now in production. Each student will receive a $500 award for their artwork. One act of kindness has the power to start a ripple and change the world. Applications are now available for high school seniors for the annual SevenDays® Make a Ripple, Change the World Scholarship competition. Seniors are encouraged to create a project of kindness addressing one or more of the SevenDays® themes, execute it and submit an essay about its

impact. Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded for higher education tuition. Full details can be found on the SevenDays® website. The submission deadline is March 18. SevenDays® sponsorship opportunities are available and welcome for each themed day, activity, as well as for the decorative button distribution, scholarships and awards to the participating students. Numerous volunteer opportunities are available for SevenDays®; those interested are urged to regularly check the website for details and registration. There are also opportunities for area businesses and organizations to become involved with SevenDays®. SEVENDAYS® PRE-EVENTS Kindness is a form of art, and all of us our capable of it. Two pre-events will focus on the artistic side of kindness. Artwork from students who entered the button design competition — as well as the winning designs — will be part of the two-week SevenDays® Kindness Student Art Show at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch. Students from across the metro will be represented in the display opening to the public Feb. 18. The library is producing a special bookmark to coincide with the show as well as creating a special section of books on the topics of kindness and interfaith. “The Art of Kindness” Exhibit will take place at the Buttonwood Art Space, 3012 Main, Kansas City, Missouri, Feb. 3-April 23. This juried art show will feature works from artists in the region with a special First Fridays event from 6-9 p.m. March 6, 6-9 p.m. Proceeds from the sale of art will beneﬁt the Faith Always Wins Foundation, which sponsors SevenDays®. While most SevenDays® events are free of charge and open to the public, there is a participation fee for the Kindness Walk on April 15. The fee does include a commemorative T-shirt; other SevenDays®-themed items are also available through the website’s shop. For more information about SevenDays®, contact Ruth Baum Bigus, (913) 707-7746 or at ruth@faithalwayswins.org. Additional information is also available at www.GiveSevenDays.org.

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

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national and international news

Netanyahu vows to free Israeli-American jailed in Russia (JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to an IsraeliAmerican woman imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, promising to do everything in his power to secure her release. “We are here in Israel, and you are in Russia, but the distance between us is bridged by the closeness of our hearts,” Netanyhu wrote in the letter, a copy of which was distributed by his ofﬁce. “Our people have always been characterized by a heritage of mutual guarantee — we do not abandon anyone to his fate, and so it is in your case. The State of Israel and I are making constant efforts for your release.” Naama Issachar, 27, has been in Russian custody since

April, when Russian authorities found 10 grams of cannabis in her luggage during a layover in Moscow. She was ultimately sentenced to sevenand-a-half years in Russian prison on drug smuggling charges. It is widely believed that Issachar’s heavy sentence may have been designed to pressure Israel into not extraditing a known Russian cyber-criminal to the United States. The letter was sent just a week before Russian President Vladimir Putin is slated to visit Israel, and according to Netanyahu’s ofﬁce was received by Issachar on Sunday. On Jan. 10, Israel released two Syrian prisoners in what analysts say was a goodwill gesture to Putin. Earlier this month, Issa-

char’s mother, Yaffa, called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin not to host Putin in protest over Naama’s imprisonment. “It is inconceivable that you, the president of the state, will receive at the President’s Residence … the president of Russia, who is holding my daughter Naama as a political bargaining chip for extortion,” Yaffa wrote in a letter published on Facebook. “I would like to inform you that it is my intention to come straight from Moscow to the entrance to the President’s Residence that same evening and block the entrance of the Russian president and his delegation with my body,” she added. In a call between Yaffa and Netanyahu, the mother expressed her gratitude to the

Family, friends and supporters call for the release of Naama Issachar, an Israeli-American woman imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on Oct. 19, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90.) prime minister for his letter, which she said greatly strengthened and encouraged her daughter, reported The

Jerusalem Post. “I will continue to do everything to bring Naama home as soon as possible,” he replied.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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celebration Birth

NATHAN BENJAMIN MAYER Tiferet and Brian Mayer announce the birth Jan. 4, 2020, of a son, Nathan Benjamin Mayer. They are also the parents of Mason Alexander Mayer. Grandparents are Pam Margolis of Columbus, Ohio; Cynthia and Rabbi Raphael Ostrovsky, Munster, Indiana; and Shari and Robert Mayer, Hazel Crest, Illinois.

Ohev plans Beit Midrash Winter 2020 Ohev Sholom invites the community to join Rabbi Beryl Padorr for its Winter Beit Midrash to discuss “The Dybbuk and Other Writings” by S. Ansky. The first session is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Asner Hall. Sessions will continue on Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11 and 18. Participants will watch the movie “The Dybbuk” on Feb. 25. Born in a small town in Belorussia, Ansky studied in traditional Jewish schools and was also self-educated. His writing reflects his democratic ideas and love for the poor and underprivileged, which also prompted his interest in folk psychology and in folklore, its artistic reflection. Ansky gave a highly poetic and symbolic interpretation to a popular folk belief in his play “The Dybbuk,” which is the story of a dead soul that enters the body of a living person as a malevolent spirit. The play is a classic of Yiddish theater. Each presentation is followed by dessert and coffee. RSVP to the synagogue office at 913-642-6460.

January 16, 2020

Six-week course helps people find meaning in personal troubles It’s January and for many of us that means it’s time for an emotional reset. We’re resolved: 2020 will be the year that we achieve true happiness and selfconfidence, enabling us to reach personal and professional goals that have eluded us in the past. Before long, life’s challenges will conspire to make our optimistic quest feel more like a daily battle. To prevent strivers from losing steam, The Jewish Community Center (The J) and Chabad of Leawood have partnered to offer “Worrier to Warrior: Jewish Secrets to Feeling Good However You Feel,” a six-session course beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Jewish Community Campus. Rabbi Mendy Wineberg taught the course in the fall and its success led him to propose its reprise this year. Cost for the course is $95/person, $175 for couples, including materials. Interested adults are invited to attend one class at no charge to determine if they wish to register. “Everyone faces roadblocks and it’s all too easy to let them chip away at our self-esteem, cause us to doubt ourselves and mire us in negativity,” Rabbi Wineberg said. “This course helps people find meaning in personal troubles and re-define them as op-

portunities cloaked as threats to our well-being. “Worrier to Warrior” combines positive psychology with Jewish wisdom, empowering us to accept ourselves and emboldening us to ﬁnd a path forward.” Dr. Steven M. Southwick of the department of psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine agrees. “It is well-known that positive emotions rest at the heart of overall wellbeing and happiness. But how to effectively enhance positive emotion remains challenging. “Worrier to Warrior” approaches this challenge from an insightful perspective grounded in contemporary psychology and Jewish literature. … This is an exciting and

very impressive course unlike any I have seen.” This course is accredited in Kansas and Missouri for mental health professionals seeking to fulﬁll their continuing education requirements (CEU). It is just one in a catalogue of educational opportunities offered by JLI, the adult education branch of Chabad-Lubavitch, which has engaged more than 400,000 students since its founding in 1998. Like all JLI programs, it is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. For more information and to register, visit TheJKC.org/Warrior or call 913-327-8077.

Jersey City kosher store shooters had powerful bomb and planned to target Jews and police (JTA) — The two Jersey City kosher store shooters were carrying a bomb in the van they were using that had enough firepower to kill or wound people in an area the size of five football fields. Federal officials on Monday also said that David Anderson and Francine Graham had enough materials to make a second bomb. Anderson and Graham killed two Jews and a non-Jewish worker at the JC Kosher Supermarket, as well as a police officer at a nearby cemetery, in the Dec. 10 attack. Police killed the shooters during a standoff that lasted several hours.

Craig Carpenito, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said Monday that the shooters planned even greater acts of violence on Jews and law enforcement, The New York Times reported. “Anderson and Graham both targeted Jewish victims and law enforcement, and we know now that they planned greater acts of mayhem on both communities,” he said. Since their deaths, the pair have been linked to the shooting at a “visibly Jewish” New Jersey driver near Newark Airport of his back window and to the murder of a taxi driver.

Carpenito said video from inside the market before Anderson was killed showed him saying “They stole our heritage, they stole our birthright, and they hired these guys to stop us.” They also expressed hatred of Jews and law enforcement in notes left at the grocery shooting scene and in online posts, The Associated Press reported. Surveillance video showed that the shooters had driven past the market in the rented van at least twice in the week before the shooting, according to Carpenito.

January 16, 2020

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its season with the Tony award-winning musical, FUN HOME, by Alison Bechdel with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Jeanine Tesori, and directed by Lisa Rothe. Running January 24 to February 16 at Spencer Theatre. As a memoir, Fun Home necessarily relies on the wisdom of reflection, but as theatre it must rely on action. A key innovation, then, was Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori’s decision to split one character into three actors: Alison as a child, a young adult, and an adult. Having three phases of her life onstage simultaneously allows Kron and Tesori to create conflict between Alison’s recollections, while highlighting the labor of recovering traumatic memory. On the stage, it also has the effect of mirroring the layout of cartoons: we see the other frames in our periphery, we behold multiple moments in time at once. As Kron puts it, within “this play, more than anything I’ve ever written, the dramaturgy is in the staging.” The home of Alison’s childhood is, after all, not just the title character—it may just be “the real object of [her father’s] affection.” Bruce’s desire to renovate and refresh the Bechdel house belies his obsession with appearances, as Alison invites spectators to “see how we polish and we shine.” Superficially, the tidy rooms we observe may sparkle, but behind closed doors, what remains in the closet? Excerpt above by Jane Barnette, Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Kansas, where she teaches classes in dramaturgy, script analysis, and theatre history. She is the author of Adapturgy: The Dramaturg’s Art and Theatrical Adaptation (2018) and has directed several plays, including the regional premiere of Sycorax by Susan Gayle Todd (2019).

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Chabad promotes mitzvot in recognition of Rebbe’s anniversary The 70th anniversary of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, becoming the leader of the Lubavitch movement in 1950, will take place on Yud Shevat, the 10th day of Shevat, which is Feb.5. In honor of this momentous event, Chabad House is encouraging the community to add mitzvot to their daily routines. Suggestions include women and girls lighting Shabbat candles and men and boys putting on teﬁllin. The goal is to have 70 new people lighting Shabbat candles and 70 new people donning teﬁllin. Chabad Rebbetzin Blumah Wineberg said this is “particularly so, since it is known that each mitzvah brings positive energy and blessings to the performer of the good deed, as well as to Israel and indeed, the entire world!”

Bernie Brownstein recently donned teﬁllin, with the help of Chabad’s Rabbi Zevi Wineberg.

January 16, 2020

Amazing musician! Internationally acclaimed clarinetist David Krakauer received a standing ovation at the New Year’s Day concert by the Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra held in The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The Jewish Community Center. Krakauer’s engaging performance of various klezmer tunes and original works wowed the audience. The sold-out concert featured The J’s resident 55-member orchestra that is directed by Christopher Kelts, who is also Kinnor’s co-founder. The New Years’ Concert was followed by a complementary dessert and champagne reception. The Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra will return to The White Theatre on June 7 for its next concert. Tickets are now available by calling White Theatre Box Ofﬁce at 913-327-8054 or online at TheWhiteTheatre.org.

JCF announces deadline for Karen and Ed Porter Jewish Experience Award

Gather KC gaining momentum Gather KC launched in October with the vision of cultivating engagement and connections for adults in the Kansas City Jewish community in their 20s, 30s and 40s-plus. Following a successful Sukkot Game Night in October, the volunteer-led committee was excited to share a Friday Night Dinner with 90 people in early December. “Demand for the family-friendly Shabbat dinner was so high that we had to close registrations to make sure we had enough room,” said Rabbi Levi Perl, who helps run Gather KC together with his wife Brachie. “We’re really pleased that the event was enjoyed by so many people.'' The dinner took place at the Torah Learning Center (TLC) in Overland Park, and Rabbi Moshe Grussgott of Kehillath Israel shared some words during the meal. Attendees from across the Kansas City metro enjoyed a three-course dinner while babysitters were available to entertain their children. In response to the success of the Shabbat Dinner, Gather KC has announced two additional events. A Night of Israeli Cuisine on Thursday, Jan. 23, will be an evening for adults to enjoy Is-

raeli food and entertainment. The next family-friendly Friday night dinner, which welcomes both adults and children, will return on Friday, Feb. 21. Rabbi Perl said Gather KC is grateful to all those who have sponsored events to date and offered to underwrite upcoming events. “Gather KC extends a special thanks to Jim Badzin for donating $500 toward the next event to help make it more accessible to young Jewish people,” said Yosef Silver, Gather KC committee chair. “Gather KC is a project of TLC, to which Badzin has been a true friend and supporter of in the past and has recently dedicated a plaque there to memorialize his parents.” To learn about upcoming events, or to register, visit www.gatherkc.org or ﬁnd Gather KC on Facebook at facebook.com/pg/letsgatherkc/events/. You can also email hello@gatherkc.org for additional information.

Jewish Experience Award Fund scholarship recipients in 2016 were Blake Mendenhall (from left), Robin DeWoskin, Dylan Emmert, Max Treen, Ben Fiszel and Johan Pellegrino. The Jewish Community Foundation invites Jewish high school and college students seeking funding for an approved Jewish summer travel experience to apply to the Karen and Ed Porter Jewish Experience Award Fund. The Fund makes annual awards to students to participate in Jewish travel experiences that encompass leadership development, spiritual development, community development or personal Jewish enrichment. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage students who are marginally connected to the Jewish community to consider spending time immersed

in a Jewish environment. Awards are typically given to summer programs, but in certain case applications will be accepted for programs that take place during the year. Awards are based upon merit. Financial need may be taken into consideration. To apply, download an application from the Jewish Community Foundation’s website at jcfkc.org/scholarships. Applications and letters of recommendation are due by Friday, Feb. 28. Previous scholarship recipients may not reapply. For more information, call Beatrice Fine at 913-327-4618.

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‘Spread the Love’ in February with food drives for JFS February is the month for love and Jewish Family Services is embracing the theme whole-heartedly! JFS is launching Spread the Love – a Kansas City-wide food drive during the month of February to collect peanut butter, jelly, and other nonperishable spreadables for JFS’ two pantries locations at the Jewish Community Campus in Kansas and Brookside East in Missouri. Every month, the two locations of the JFS Food pantry provide sustenance for 420 families, giving out 27,000 pounds of food, a growth of 25% over last year. JFS relies signiﬁcantly on food donations from the public to keep its shelves stocked and provide variety in its food offerings. Overall demand for food assistance has increased and during the winter months, it is particularly challenging to keep shelves stocked.

In addition to seeking individual donations, JFS is encouraging businesses, organizations, schools, youth groups and neighborhoods to “spread the love” by hosting a food drive during February. Host a drive for a week or the entire month — or celebrate a birth-

day or other special occasion by collecting spreadables. “We distribute approximately 380 jars of peanut butter each month, which means it is chosen by nearly every shopper,” said Jo Hickey, JFS Food Pantry director. “Jelly is an expensive item for us to purchase

through our food networks. It’s popular with our families and we like to have it as a choice on the shelves. And of course, peanut butter and jelly are a winning combination!” It’s easy to host a Spread the Love food drive; just send an email to fooddrive@jfskc.org or call Hickey at 913-327-8257 to coordinate dates. JFS will drop off barrels or totes for your collection and pick up the donations at the conclusion of your drive or you can drop off donations and schedule a tour. Graphics for posters, email and social media will be available to download to help you publicize your food drive. Another way to help spread the love is sorting food and stocking shelves in the pantry itself ! Hickey can help schedule any of these options. Don’t have time to host a drive? Financial contributions

A community is reborn IN SOUTH OVERLAND PARK. Village Shalom, Overland Park’s premier Life Plan Community for people of all faiths, is expanding. We’re adding new apartments for independent living, a 12,000-square-foot dining and entertainment district, a new rehabilitation gym, and many more renovations and improvements. It’s a $42-million makeover that just might change your retirement future. Now accepting reservations. Call 913-755-9610 to speak with a sales counselor.

5500 West 123rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66209 | VillageShalom.org | Open to all faiths | 913-755-9610

are always welcome online at jfskc.org/donate or mail a check to JFS, Att. Spread the Love, 5801 W. 115th St., Suite 103, Overland Park, KS 66211. JFS staff will shop for needed items to keep pantry shelves stocked. JFS hopes to collect a threemonth supply of peanut butter and other spreadables through its Spread the Love effort. Through its two locations, the JFS Food Pantry provides sustenance to people in need, regardless of religious afﬁliation. The Food Pantry provides nonperishable staples as well as grains, dairy, protein and fresh fruits and vegetables. Both Vaad-supervised kosher and non-kosher food options are available, as are personal care and household items. For more information, contact Hickey at jhickey@jfskc. org, call 913-327-8250 or visit jfskc.org.

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January 16, 2020

KU Hillel Hires new development director Savannah Kannberg has joined the team at KU Hillel as their new development director. KU Hillel Executive Director Suzy Sostrin said Kannberg is a natural ﬁt for the staff because she is someone who believes in the importance of building strong Jewish communities on college campuses and beyond. “We are so excited to have Savannah as part of the KU Hillel team,” Sostrin said. “We know the students and community will love her energy and passion for connecting students, inspiring leaders and continuing to build an amazing Jewish community at KU.” Kannberg brings several years of marketing and communications experience from both advertising agencies and in-house marketing teams to this position. As the development director, she’ll plan KU Hillel’s signature

events, lead communication efforts and develop strategies to grow Hillel’s programming. Kannberg is currently the Jewish Family Services chair for the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri. She also advises the Saadia BBG chapter of the B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO). Previously, she served on the board of Congregation Kol Ami as the communications chair. Her professional Jewish development also includes participation in the Statland Leadership Institute through the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, which helped her create a deeper connection to her local Jewish community. This program heavily inspired her transition into the nonproﬁt world. “The idea of tikkun olam (repairing the world) was central to my decision,”

MCHE Free Film Series 2020: RESIST Faced with overwhelming obstacles, Jews and others in occupied Europe sought to resist Nazi policy in various ways. Some took up arms in uprisings in ghettos and camps. Others performed more social acts to preserve community and create a record of their experiences. This year’s series explores these different paths of resistance. The next ﬁlm in the series is “Ghetto Uprising: The Untold Story.” It will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64112. On the eve of Passover, April 19, 1943, heavily equipped German forces entered the Warsaw ghetto. Against them stood an army of a few hundred young Jewish men and women, armed with pistols and Molotov cocktails. Who were these Jewish ﬁghters who

dared oppose the armed might of the SS troops? The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising has become a symbol of heroism throughout the world. Despite that, the generally accepted account of the uprising is incomplete. The truth is that among the uprising fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was a group that was not granted commemoration. The story of those fighters disappeared from history books and their place in the myth of heroism during the Holocaust was omitted. How did it happen? Were political and ideological reasons behind this disappearance? (Running time: 61 minutes, Hebrew and English with English subtitles, 2017) Reservations can be made for this film at kclibrary.org/signature-events/ ghetto-uprising-untold-story.

Kannberg said. “My Jewish community has given me so much, so I’m thrilled to give back in this role.” As a proud University of Missouri School of Journalism graduate, she said she looks forward to learning about the Jayhawks and maybe even seeing what it’s like to have a team reach the Final Four. In addition to looking forward to working alongside Sostrin, Kannberg said she can’t wait to work with the team including Assistant Director Ira Kirschner, Rabbi and Senior Jewish Educator Neal Schuster, Engagement and Innovation Associate Melanie Edwards and Engagement and Jewish Life Associate Maya Cohen. Supporters will be able to meet Kannberg at KU Hillel’s fundraiser at Hamburger Mary’s in Kansas City from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Savannah Kannberg

New Moon Women’s Circle to meet at The J Remember Thanksgivukkah? It was 2013 and Jewish families across the country substituted latkes for mashed potatoes with their traditional Thanksgiving turkey because it was also the first night of Hanukkah. The coincidence, which won’t happen again for more than 75,000 years, represents the collision of two calendars: the Gregorian, or solar calendar followed worldwide, and the lunar calendar followed by Jewish communities. Rosh Chodesh, literally the head of the month, is signaled by the appearance of a new moon. The occasion is of special significance to women who, according to tradition, described the creation of a golden calf as an act of idolatry and refused to participate. As a reward, they were granted special observance of Rosh Chodesh and a promise to be renewed, like new moons, in the world to come. The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City announces the first monthly gathering for women of all ages to celebrate the beginning of the new lunar cycle. The free program welcoming the Hebrew month of Shevat takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 on the upper level of the Jewish

Community Campus. Facilitated by Dr. Hadas Moshonov-Cohavi, the group will explore attributes of the Hebrew month and its astrological sign according to the Hebrew Zodiac. Informal discussion will be followed by a guided meditation. “This is designed to be a relaxing, empowering spiritual welcome to the new month,” said MoshovovCohavi, who has led Rosh Chodesh groups in other locations. “No Jewish knowledge or level of observance is required, and I hope that women bring friends, daughters and granddaughters. This is also an opportunity to support Jewish causes, through strictly voluntary contributions. “ Born and raised in Israel, Moshonov-Cohavi has been studying and practicing Kabbalah for the past 15 years. In addition to teaching math and statistics at Avila University, she is a certified yoga teacher and an experienced mindfulness instructor. “I’ve experienced the benefits of Torah and spiritual practices and I’m eager to share the flame,” Moshonov-Cohavi said. For more information, contact Jill Maidhof, director of Jewish Experiences at The J, 913-327-8077.

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important dates Friday, Jan. 17

Yiddish Group Interested in Yiddish? Join others with the same interest every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Noshing is permitted. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Candle-lighting Time Tevet 20, 5:04 p.m. Yiddish Group For those who haven’t yet visited the “Yiddish Circle for Learning,” you are in for a treat. Meets every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Participants may bring a lunch if they choose. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Erev Shabbat Service A special wedding anniversary blessing will be given at B’nai Jehudah’s services to those in attendance who are celebrating their December and January anniversaries. To be included, contact the synagogue ofﬁce, 913-663-4050. Bisseleh nosh, 5:30 p.m.; services, 6 p.m.

Erev Shabbat Service A special wedding anniversary blessing will be given to those in attendance at B’nai Jehudah who are celebrating their December and January anniversaries. To be included, contact the synagogue ofﬁce, 913-663-4050. Bisseleh Nosh, 5:30 p.m.; service, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25 Ohev celebrations Join Ohev Sholom family and friends as the congregation celebrates its January birthdays and anniversaries. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Marshall Miller Sanctuary. A special Kiddush to celebrate January celebs follows services.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Beth Shalom Parashat Hashavua A stimulating discussion of the Torah portion, Shemot, in a friendly atmosphere where the difference of opinions is respected and questions are encouraged. Held in the CBS boardroom. 9 a.m.

Tefillateinu Services Tefillateinu is a highly participatory, somewhat abbreviated, joy-filled service with instrumental accompaniment facilitated by Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda and Alan Edelman in Rooms 111-113 at Beth Shalom. 10 a.m.-noon.

Beth Shalom Sisterhood Shabbat Sisterhood invites the entire Beth Shalom congregation to join them for Sisterhood Shabbat in commemoration of their 96th birthday. This service will be led by the women of Beth Shalom Sisterhood. This is a time when Sisterhood members are honored, especially those who have given both monetary gifts and the gifts of their time. Kiddush luncheon follows the service. 9:30 a.m. Kehilath Katan, Mini Minyan All children through grade two. Open to children whether parents are members or not. Meets every Shabbat, unless otherwise noted, in the K.I. library. 10:30 a.m. K.I. Parsha of the Week Gain insights into the weekly Parsha in this class taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. This Shabbat afternoon class meets 45 minutes before Mincha weekly in the K.I. Spitcaufsky Library. 4 p.m. Ohev Sholom family education Ohev invites the community to its news “Let’s Celebrate and Teach Our Kids” program. Havdalah will be celebrated followed by a pizza dinner with dessert and activities including crafts, songs and glow sticks. RSVPs are appreciated by calling the synagogue ofﬁce, 913-642-6460. 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 20 Minyan Service Minyan services at B’nai Jehudah will take place at 9:45 a.m. NOTE: There will not be an evening service. Ofﬁces will be closed. Secrets of the Talmud This is the longest running Jewish class in Kansas City. Explore rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. Meets in the K.I. Spitcaufsky Library and is open to everyone. 7 p.m.

Kehilath Katan, Mini Minyan All children through grade two. Open to children whether parents are members or not. Meets every Shabbat, unless otherwise noted, in the K.I. library. 10:30 a.m.

Participants at a recent ‘My Jewish Kitchen’ session enjoyed making Umm Ali — bread pudding from Egypt. The next session is Jan. 21. For more information or to register, visit JKC.org/MyJewishKitchen or call 913-981-8803.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 My Jewish Kitchen My Jewish Kitchen is a monthly culinary class for children age 6 and up with an accompanying adult “sidekick” to explore cuisine from around the world. Cost per session is $20 per student/adult team who are J members; $30 for J guest teams, and covers all supplies. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register online, visit JKC.org/MyJewishKitchen or call 913-981-8803. 6:30-8:30 p.m. K.I. PrayerWorks This group meets at K.I. on the third Tuesday of each month. At each meeting the topics of healing, health and wellness will be discussed. The group is open to anyone in need of healing — whether it be from a physical illness or emotional — and those who would like to pray for themselves and others. 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 22 Weekly Torah Portion “Turn it and Turn it Again — Jewish Texts Throughout the Ages,” adult learning classes, take place at Congregation B’nai Jehudah. This seminar focuses on the weekly Torah reading with occasional excursions to other elements of Jewish life. 1011:30 a.m.

Beth Shalom PrayerWorks Rickie Haith, PrayerWorks facilitator for over 20 years, is back leading the group beginning with this session to be held in the boardroom at Beth Shalom, 10:15-11:45 a.m. Future sessions will be the fourth Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30 a.m. All former and new prospective participants are invited to learn more about PrayerWorks and get reacquainted. For more information, contact Haith at rickieh1@aol.com. Film Series The Kansas City Public Library and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education ﬁlm, titled Resist, explores various paths of resistance during World War II. The 2017 documentary “Ghetto Uprising: The Untold Story” (61 minutes, Hebrew and English with English subtitles). It spotlights an under recognized group of ﬁghters in perhaps the most famous act of resistance during the Holocaust: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Historian Shelly Cline of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education offers opening remarks and later leads a short Q&A session. Takes place at the Library’s Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64112. 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 24 Candle-lighting Time Tevet 27, 5:12 p.m.

K.I. Parsha of the Week Gain insights into the weekly Parsha in this class taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. This Shabbat afternoon class meets 45 minutes before Mincha weekly in the K.I. Spitcaufsky Library. 4:10 p.m. Trivia Bowl Presented by The J and K.I.; to be held at The J Social Hall. Includes kosher beer, wine and bar snacks, with prizes after each of the eight rounds and a grand prize at the end of the evening. Topics include sports, food, Israel @ 70 and more. Master and Mistress of Ceremonies: Jake and Jennifer Schlozman plus techie Steven Kingston. Cost: $96 per team ($12/person | Max eight people on a team) until noon on Wednesday, Jan. 22, then $18 a person at the door. Buy tickets at thewhitetheatre.secure. force.com/ticket/. Questions? Contact Lauren at 913-327-8007 or laurenl@thejkc.org. Check-in begins at 7 p.m.; game begins at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 26 Driving Risk Awareness Teens’ risk of being in a crash during their ﬁrst 12 to 24 months of driving is at a lifetime high. “Driving Risk Awareness for Teens and Parents” will address safe driving issues. The workshop will take place at the Jewish Community Campus. The program is open to students in ninth and 10th grades and parents are required to attend with their teen. The workshop is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot, contact Susie Hurst at Susieh@jfskc.org; for questions only, contact Hurst at 913-327-8259. 1011:30 a.m. see important dates, page 14

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Monday, Jan. 27 Conversation with Sonia Warshawski Sonia Warshawski survived the Holocaust and famously opened a tailor shop in Johnson County. The star of the documentary “Big Sonia” talks about her life at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, Museum Foyer for Special Events, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. Cost is $7. For reservations, call 913-826-2787 or register at jcprd.com/220/OnlineActivity-Registration. Members call 913-831-3359 to get a discount. 7-8:30 p.m. Secrets of the Talmud This is the longest running Jewish class in Kansas City. Explore rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. Meets in the K.I. Spitcaufsky Library and is open to everyone. 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28 The community is invited to join Congregation Ohev Sholom for its Winter 2020 Beit Midrash in Asner Hall. Rabbi Beryl Padorr lead a discussion on author S. Ansky’s “The Dybbuk and Other Writings.” For information and to RSVP, call the synagogue ofﬁce at 913-641-6460. 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

“Turn it and Turn it Again — Jewish Texts Throughout the Ages,” adult learning classes, take place at Congregation B’nai Jehudah. This seminar focuses on the weekly Torah reading with occasional excursions to other elements of Jewish life. 1011:30 a.m. Women’s Study Group K.I.’s Rabbi Moshe Grussgott teaches this class with topics chosen by the women in the group. No previous knowledge needed and the class is free. For additional information, contact rabbi@kisyn.org. 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 30 Nosh & Learn at BIAV Presented by K.I., BIAV and K.C. Kollel. The topic is “Tu b’Shevat and Environmentalism: Our Obligation Toward the World and its Ecology.” This free program will be presented by Rabbis Moshe Grussgott, Yitzchak Mizrachi and Aaron Rubin. 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31 Candle-lighting Time Shevat 5, 5:20 p.m. Yiddish Group Speak a “bisseleh” Yiddish? Come visit with others who are interested in Yiddish. Meets at Congregation Beth Torah every Friday. Bring lunch if you like. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Weekly Torah Portion

Saturday, Feb. 1 Kehilath Katan, Mini Minyan All children through grade two. Open to children whether parents are members or not. Meets every Shabbat, unless otherwise noted, in the K.I. library. 10:30 a.m. K.I. Parsha of the Week Gain insights into the weekly Parsha in this class taught by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. This Shabbat afternoon class meets 45 minutes before Mincha weekly in the K.I. Spitcaufsky Library. 4:15 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 3 ‘Healthy Parenting and Wellness’ JFS is offering a three-part positive parenting workshop on three consecutive Monday evenings beginning tonight and continuing Feb. 10 and 17, taking place in Conference Room A at the Jewish Community Campus. This series is appropriate for parents of preschool to elementary school children. The fee is $35 for solo parents or a couple and advanced registration is required by Jan. 27. Reserve your place by emailing Susie Hurst at susieh@jfskc. org. For questions, call 913-327-8259. 7-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 5 Weekly Torah Portion “Turn it and Turn it Again — Jewish Texts Throughout the Ages,” adult learning classes, take place at

Congregation B’nai Jehudah. This seminar focuses on the weekly Torah reading with occasional excursions to other elements of Jewish life. 10-11:30 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 7 Candle-lighting Time Shevat 12, 5:29 p.m. Yiddish Group For those who haven’t yet visited the “Yiddish Circle for Learning,” you are in for a treat. Meets every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Participants may bring a lunch if they choose. Noon-1:30 p.m. Share Shabbat Young children and their families are invited to Share Shabbat at B’nai Jehudah. Enjoy a light nosh, schmoozing, playing, singing, a family friendly service and a fun activity. 5:15-6:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11 My Jewish Kitchen My Jewish Kitchen is a monthly culinary class for children age 6 and up with an accompanying adult “sidekick” to explore cuisine from around the world. Cost per session is $20 per student/adult team who are J members; $30 for J guest teams, and covers all supplies. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register online, visit JKC. org/MyJewishKitchen or call 913-981-8803. 6:308:30 p.m. see important dates, page 15

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Join four local congregation for the 2020 Refugee Birthday Party Many refugees arrive in the United States with only a vague idea of when they were born and how old they might be. Upon entry, refugees are usually given Jan. 1 as their birth date. Additionally, many have never celebrated a birthday or received a gift. All that changes on Sunday, Jan. 26, when Congregations Ohev Sholom, Beth Shalom, Beth Torah and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah partner with Jewish Vocational Services to host the 2020 Refugee Birthday Party. The Refugee Birthday Party celebrates the children and their families, and helps ease their transition by providing an example of what happens during an American birthday party. Attendees are greeted with party decorations, games for all ages and, of course, party food for everyone to enjoy. Each of the participating congregations is collecting gifts for resettled refugees. Organizers are seeking gender-neutral and culturally diverse new gifts for ages 0 to 12. Suggested items are games, coloring/ art supplies, building activities, stuffed animals and sports equipment (jump ropes, balls). The collected gifts will be brought to Ohev Sholom where there will be gift wrapping party at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Anyone wishing to help at the birthday party on Jan. 26 should contact Ohev Sholom at 913-642-6460 for information regarding volunteering.

Refugees enjoy a birthday party sponsored by JVS and area congregations.

important dates from page 14

Friday, Feb. 14 Candle-lighting Time Shevat 19, 5:37 p.m. Yiddish Group Interested in Yiddish? Join others with the same interest every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Noshing is permitted. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 21 Candle-lighting Time Shevat 26, 5:45 p.m. Yiddish Group Speak a “bisseleh” Yiddish? Come visit with others who are interested in Yiddish. Meets at Congregation Beth Torah every Friday. Bring lunch if you like. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28

Thursday, March 5

Tuesday, May 19

Yiddish Group For those who haven’t yet visited the “Yiddish Circle for Learning,” you are in for a treat. Meets every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Participants may bring a lunch if they choose. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Peltzman Educational Series The Sarah Peltzman Educational Series continues with the third and ﬁnal educational unit at Congregation Beth Shalom. The cost is $15 and is open to the entire Jewish community. The unit is four class sessions, followed by a ﬁfth session with a guest speaker. For more information, contact Amy Schultz at aschultzbsw@gmail.com or 913-681-5752. 10 a.m.

My Jewish Kitchen This is the ﬁnal My Jewish Kitchen culinary class for children age 6 and up with an accompanying adult “sidekick” to explore cuisine from around the world. Cost per session is $20 per student/adult team who are J members; $30 for J guest teams, and covers all supplies. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register online, visit JKC.org/MyJewishKitchen or call 913-981-8803. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 29

Tuesday, March 24

KU Hillel Hosts Women’s Hoops Classic KU will host its annual Women’s Hoops Classic fundraiser when KU Women’s basketball plays Oklahoma State. Championship sponsorships begin at $5,000; general admission tickets for the event begin at $5. For more information or to sponsor, go to kuhillel.org/ womenshoops or contact Michelle Cole at michelle@ kuhillel.org.

My Jewish Kitchen My Jewish Kitchen is a monthly culinary class for children age 6 and up with an accompanying adult “sidekick” to explore cuisine from around the world. Cost per session is $20 per student/adult team who are J members; $30 for J guest teams, and covers all supplies. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register online, visit JKC.org/MyJewishKitchen or call 913-981-8803. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Candle-lighting Time Adar 3, 5:52 p.m.

Yiddish Group Speak a “bisseleh” Yiddish? Come visit with others who are interested in Yiddish. Meets at Congregation Beth Torah every Friday. Bring lunch if you like. Noon-1:30 p.m. Yiddish Group For those who haven’t yet visited the “Yiddish Circle for Learning,” you are in for a treat. Meets every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Participants may bring a lunch if they choose. Noon-1:30 p.m. Yiddish Group Interested in Yiddish? Join others with the same interest every Friday at Congregation Beth Torah. Noshing is permitted. Noon-1:30 p.m.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ debuts at White Theatre in February The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre of The Jewish Community Center (The J) continues to expand its artistic horizons with its first William Shakespeare production as part of its 15th season. Shakespeare’s magical masterpiece “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will open for its limited five-performance run at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, Feb. 8, at The White Theatre. Additional evening performances are Thursday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 15. Two matinee performances are Sundays, Feb. 9 and 16, with curtain at 2 p.m. On Feb. 12 there will be a special school performance at 9 a.m. Details and tickets are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org. The J’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is directed by idonie Garrett, executive artistic director at The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. The show honors the memory of Broadway producer and Tony award winner Marilyn Strauss, who founded Kansas City’s nationally recognized Shakespeare festival in 1990. Strauss, a longtime friend of The J’s, died in 2018 at the age of 91 after an illustrious career in the theatre arts. “It would be hard to overstate the impact Marilyn Strauss has had on Kansas City theatre and the community at large” said Keith Wiedenkeller, director of Arts + Culture at The J. “But I think it’s especially fitting for this, our first self-produced Shakespeare show, to be in her honor, given her special history with both The J and The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival,” Wiedenkeller said. “I think it’s fair to say, The Festival wouldn’t have existed without Marilyn’s leadership, and our community would have been all the poorer without that treasure.” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is widely considered to be Shakespeare’s best, funniest and most accessible comedy. It has all of the classic elements: kings, queens, magic potions, unrequited love, an enchanted forest, mistaken identities, and of course, a happy ending. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a show that is guaranteed to dazzle the senses, tickle the funny bone, and create a fantastic adventure for the whole family. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was Marilyn Strauss’s favorite of Shakespeare’s stories and I am proud to direct and stage it to honor her vision and dream of bringing Shakespeare, as an annual event, to Kansas City almost 30 years ago,” Sidonie Garrett said. “As a female director, Marilyn was a shining example of female entrepreneurship and excellence in the theatre with her producing career in New York City and here at home. Marilyn supported me in my work as a director and producer in my own career and inspires me by all she accomplished, and I am

proud to bring this beautiful play to life at The J, in her memory and to honor her legacy bringing romance, comedy and magic to this stage.” Garrett has taken a unique approach for The White Theatre’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” “We’re setting the play during the 1930s, a time period that is in our not-so-distant past and when the U.S. was struggling with the Great Depression and were working hard to make ends meet,” Garrett said. “It was also a time when radio programs, particularly comedies, were popular and swing music was at its height of popularity. People were seeking joy and entertainment to escape their day to day challenges. Culture ﬂourished during this time which was also the Golden Age of Hollywood. This story about overcoming adversity to ﬁnd love, which also features a group of workers as wannabe actors presenting a play-within-the-play feels like the New Deal at work, making things change for the better.” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is the second production of The White Theatre’s 2019-2020 Theatre Series. The White Theatre also offers a robust concert series and an exciting lineup of special engagements. The White Theatre season is produced by The J’s Arts + Culture Department in a state-of-the-art 500seat performing arts community theatre. The White Theatre is a welcoming and inclusive space, providing handicap-seating options, access without steps, assistive listening devices, and The J’s signature open captioning system at select performances, making live theatre accessible for all patrons. The 2019-2020 season features something for everyone. In addition to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the remainder of this year’s Theatre Series includes two locally produced shows with some of the region’s best talent, including: • “Last Night of Ballyhoo,” (March 14-22) • “Billy Elliot the Musical,” a co-production with The Coterie Theatre (June 27-July 19) The remainder of the 2019-2020 Concert Series includes: • “Fiddler in Concert” – Featuring Jerry Jay Cranford & Select Kinnor musicians (March 28 - 7:30 p.m., March 29 - 3 p.m.) • “Kinnor Philharmonic Summer Concert” (June 7 - 3 p.m.) The White Theatre’s Special Engagements include: • “Open Stage at The J” — Dance & Choreography showcase (March 1 - 2 p.m.) • “The Jellybean Conspiracy” (April 4 - 7:30 p.m.; April 5 – 1:00 & 7:30 p.m.)

Sidonie Garrett

• “The Ben Hecht Show” (April 25 - 7:30 p.m., April 26 - 2 p.m.) • “Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights” (Sept. 13-2 p.m.) 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 will be held throughout the year and are announced on The White Theatre website as well as Facebook page. Tickets may be purchased online at TheWhiteTheatre.org, by calling the box ofﬁce at 913-327-8054 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 90 minutes before curtain on performance days.

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

page 17

First Jewish baby of 2020 born Jan. 4 from page 1 The mother of two explained that the name Nathan means “a gift from God.” “It couldn’t be more accurate or ﬁtting! We feel so incredibly blessed and are completely in love with our new addition to the family,” she concluded. Nathan’s middle name, Benjamin, belonged to one of the baby’s greatgreat grandfathers. Benjamin was the name of Tiferet’s grandmother’s father. Tiferet was born in Israel and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and Brian is from Chicago, where the couple met. From Chicago they moved to Los Angeles for three years, then moved to

this area three and a half years ago for work. They miss LA’s weather, but are happy here. “It’s a good place to raise kids,” Brian said. Members of Congregation Beth Shalom, the Mayers’ older son Mason Alexander, who is 2 ½, attends the congregation’s Rose Family Early Childhood Education Center. Mom said he loves being a big brother. “He came to visit in the hospital and was a little skeptical at ﬁrst, but by the time he left he was giving kisses and hugs to the baby and wanted me to bring him home. He’s adjusting well,” Tiferet said.

OHEV SHOLOM PRESENTS ‘LET’S CELEBRATE AND TEACH OUR KIDS’ The Torah tells us in the V’ahavta prayer that we should teach words of Torah again and again to our children. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the Sages teach that grandparents are also obligated to teach their grandchildren. With those thoughts in mind, Congregation Ohev Sholom plans to fulﬁll the mitzvah of teaching and learning, l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation (Talmud Kiddushin 390a), through its new religious education program. Rabbi Beryl Padorr will welcome parents and grandparents with their children and/or grandchildren, every-

one ages 3 to 103, at the first program featuring Havdalah at 5:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Jan. 18. The evening will feature craft activities, songs, glow sticks, pizza and dessert. Another “Let’s Celebrate and Teach Our Kids” program featuring Passover is set for Sunday, March 29. Stay tuned for specific dates for quarterly Tot Shabbat Friday night services and dinner. Munchies will be provided by the Ohev Food Committee. RSVPs are appreciated; contact the synagogue office at 913-642-6460.

B’nai B’rith Bowling The following bowlers in Sunday Morning Kansas City B’nai B’rith Bowling League achieved high scores at Ward Parkway Lanes on Jan. 12. 500 SERIES: Brian Wright (191, 226, 229 — 646) Willie Jones (191, 213, 235 — 639) Tiger Johnson (245, 209, 171 — 625) Al Elbert (195, 195, 225 — 615) Michael Viera (179, 201, 214 — 594) Art Cole (211, 208, 165 — 584) Morty Rock (256, 171, 147 — 574) Michael Sokel (187, 197, 174 — 558) Bruce Singer (170, 147, 234 — 551) David Grodowitz (194, 179, 158 — 531)

John Coleman (190, 178, 160 — 528) Bruce Baraban (202, 161, 161 — 524) Bruce Parker (153, 188, 173 — 514) Miles Ross (192, 143, 173 — 508) Jeff Kivett (191, 147, 168 — 506) Scott Hecht (169, 179, 156 — 504) Gary Gray (157, 180, 164 — 501) 180 SCORES: Mark Copeland (181), Marion Potts (188), Steve Baraban (180), Geoffrey Gunter (180), Michael Altman (181) Contact Tom Balke at 913-648-0326 or tombalke@everestkc.net if you are interested in bowling in a competitive, fun, social atmosphere.

As parents of the First Jewish Baby of 2020, the couple will receive a free one-year subscription to The Chronicle. In addition, the family will be showered with prizes from the following Chronicle advertisers: • Star of David necklace from Brookside Jewelry BKS • Floral bouquet from Craig Sole Designs • An overnight stay and breakfast for two in the Troﬁ Restaurant from the Doubletree by Hilton Kansas City-Overland Park • Two tickets to any Spring 2020 Carlsen Center Presents performance and two chicken spiedini dinners at Garozzo’s Ristorante before the show from Johnson County Community College

• $25 gift certificate from Gates BarB-Q • $500 gift certificate toward kindergarten tuition at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and a Future Ram bib • Two tickets to any 2020 performance at KC Actors Theatre • Two tickets to any remaining show from the 2019-20 season at KC Rep • $50 gift certificate from Pressed Penny • $25 gift certificate from Cosentino’s Price Chopper • $25 gift certificate from Riley’s Phillips 66 • $50 gift certificate from the Skinology Skincare • $50 gift certificate from the Tasteful Olive • $50 gift card from Urban Table

Family-to-Family 12-week program offered to cope with mental health issues Jewish Family Services, NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition are partnering to offer NAMI’s Family-to-Family Education Course helping families dealing with a loved one who struggles with mental health issues. This free, 12-week series of classes is held on consecutive Wednesdays* beginning Feb. 26 through May 6* from 12:30-3 p.m. in Conference Room B at the Jewish Community Campus. (*Due to Passover, there will be no class on Wednesday, April 15). This course is for the caregiver and not the loved one with

mental illness. Participants must commit to the entire 12 weeks. The Family-to-Family course provides caregivers with communication and problem-solving techniques, coping mechanisms and the self-care skills needed to deal with their loved one’s mental health issues as well as the impact on the family. NAMI facilitators lead the course. Space is limited for the free course. Those interested are asked to register in advance by contacting John Thompson at 816-763-6169 or email him at tntkc@ hotmail.com. For more details about the program, visit nami.org.

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

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January 16, 2020

Security expert: training saves lives from page 1 yes. But he found instead of reporting it to authorities, many executives simply discarded the threats. Those days are gone, according to Orsini. “We don’t ignore any signs of hate. We report all signs of hate,” said Orsini, a former Marine who spent three years in Pittsburgh and has 28 years of experience with the FBI. He admitted there is a difference between hate speech and a hate crime. If it is hate speech, law enforcement often can’t do anything about it. “But it’s our community’s responsibility and it’s everybody’s responsibility not to ignore it and to report it,” he said. “Hate crimes are a jigsaw puzzle. We need to make sure we have every bit of intelligence that we can gather on these hate groups so we can give law enforcement a mechanism to start looking at this stuff. Even though it might be protected first amendment speech, there are things our community can do.” What can a community do? For instance, Orsini said if you see something suspicious or out of the ordinary when you are out and about, go to security, call police and report the suspicious activity. Orsini also gave an example of seeing someone putting up a hate filled or anti-Semitic flyer. He said if you are in a safe place, document it. “If you can get a picture of the (person), if you can write down a license plate number, then provide that to law enforcement or provide that to your community security director. That’s why we’re here,” Orsini said. Once synagogues and other Jewish sites have been assessed regarding their security vulnerabilities and emergency operation plans have been put in place, Orsini is a strong believer in providing training sessions. He said there’s a laundry list of training session topics including active shooter, stop the bleed training, situational awareness and learning how to recognize behavioral indicators. “Once we do that classroom training, then we do drills,” he said. “We practice what we teach because we want to get that muscle memory into

everybody’s brain on what to do in case we have a threat. We want to practice those protocols and that really drives the point home.” His ideas regarding training were validated following the tragedy at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh. The three communities that inhabited that building participated in active shooter training just six weeks before the attack. “Because of training, we minimized loss of life at Tree of Life,” he stated. “Fortunately they got out. Fortunately we had a Conservative rabbi change his method on how he did things, (he used a cell phone) and he’s alive.” Orsini tells people he never worries about an attack happening on the High Holidays, “because we have law enforcement there.” “There are physical signs of security,” he said. “You should all feel safe, but you need to feel safe on Friday night when we don’t have police there, on a Saturday morning. (I said) those words on Sept. 5 (2018) and they still haunt me because it’s exactly what happened to us.” In Pittsburgh he noticed a change in the community’s idea about security after the Tree of Life attack. “Prior to 10/27 in Pittsburgh probably about 75% of our community bought into our communal security program. We did a lot of training,” he said. “(But) we had about 25% of our community that did not feel it was necessary. After 10/27, everybody felt it was necessary. That’s what’s changed. It was a watershed moment for the Jewish community, not just in Pittsburgh, but for the whole country.” While Orsini often gets questions about the wisdom of having guns in shul, he prefers to focus on another popular question: Should I run or should I hide? The answer, he said, is it depends. “The worst thing you can do is to stay put in an open area. Movement is our friend, movement is key,” he said. “If you are hiding, you’re moving. You’re not just hiding … if you are barricaded you’re going to prepare. What are you preparing to do? You are preparing to evacuate or counter.”

Bradley W. Orsini, senior national security adviser for the Secure Community Network, was the featured speaker at the Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting Jan.8. (Ryan Bruce photo) He said three actions occur in an armed shooter event: fight, flight and freeze. “What we really try to do in our community is teach them not to freeze. That is really the key in any active shooter training,” Orsini explained. “Whether it’s run, hide, fight or avoid, deny, defend … whatever it is it’s all about not freezing, not being paralyzed with fear. Having that muscle memory to commit to action and react. That’s what we want our community to do. “ In the three years Orsini has been in the Jewish security business, hate and attacks toward Jews have increased. “Anti-Semitic acts have risen, antiSemitic postings and hate speech has dramatically risen and I think we see that across the country, not just in Pittsburgh, not just in Kansas City, not just in New York City … we see it all across the country. While he was here, Orsini said he checked out the security situation at the Jewish Community Campus. “I think you’re doing everything you need to do,” Orsini said. “The Jewish community needs to continue an aggressive training program, which I believe is one of the most important things that guys like your Jewish Community Security Director Chuck Green

and I can do is to educate our community.” As he transitions to his new position this month with SCN, the security arm of the Jewish Federations of North America, Orsini will be providing assessments and training to Jewish communities across the country. His focus: What we can do to protect ourselves. “We can’t control somebody wanting to come in and hurt us. The only thing we can control is how prepared we are to deal with that threat. “We need to prepare. We need to be aware.” As he told those that attended the Federation’s meeting, he doesn’t want anybody afraid to go to shul. Here again he suggested, “Be proud of who you are. Be trained, be empowered, and be resilient.” Orsini knows people are afraid to attend training classes, but he believes that fear is unfounded. “There has not been one person out of the 16,000 that we trained in Pittsburgh that came away after training being scared,” he said. “In fact it’s the absolute opposite. They felt empowered because awareness does that to you. Again, that’s the only thing we can do to protect ourselves.”

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

page 19

sports

Root, root, root for Team Israel As Israel baseball team preps for Olympics, it’s soon to get its own field of dreams By Josh Hasten JNS Israel might be known globally as a high-tech juggernaut, but the “Startup Nation” is on the verge of being a superpower in diamonds as well. No, not the kinds that shine, but the kinds you use for pitching, catching and batting — as for the first time in history, the Israel men’s national baseball team has qualified for the Summer Olympic Games to be held this summer in Tokyo. This past September, Israel stunned the competition by winning the “A” pool Olympic-qualifying tournament in Italy, where the best teams in the Europe/Africa regions were competing with a chance to move on to Japan. Jordan Alter, the new president of the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) — the organization that oversees all official baseball activity in Israel — tells JNS that reaching the Olympics was nothing short of astonishing. “It was a wild dream just to get to Group ‘A,’ ” he says. “To get to where we are, to the Olympics, is a dream come true. Europe is in shock” that we won the tournament, he adds. Alter explained that out of the 24 members of team Israel, four are native Israelis. The other 20 are Americans who became Israeli citizens for the purpose of being eligible for the games, as players must have citizenship in the country they are representing. The players must also not be currently on the roster of a Major League Baseball team in the United States/Canada, the top league in the world. Some of the players do have experience in the Majors, while many are currently playing in the Minor Leagues. Bostonian Jeremy Bleich, 32, is a lefthanded pitcher on the team. He is currently an MLB free agent who has played for various teams in the league after being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees in 2008. He tells JNS that playing for the Oakland A’s in 2018 was “the highlight of my career.”

He got involved with Israel baseball in 2017, when the team competed in the World Baseball Classic in South Korea/ Japan exceeding expectations with a sixth-place ﬁnish. Bleich says that he welcomed the opportunity to represent Israel on the mound internationally. “Being a Jewish American, I grew up in a Conservative Jewish environment and was always in touch with my Judaism.” He shares that it has extra meaning for him to play for Israel, as he is the grandson of two Holocaust survivors. “When the IAB gave me the opportunity, I jumped at it quickly,” he says. In terms of his expectations for the team in the upcoming Olympics, Bleich says “we just want to continue to complete and do some damage in the tournament.” But more importantly, he notes, “the more successful we are, the more attention we can bring the State of Israel [in baseball], and can help provide conﬁdence, desire and hope for young Israeli kids to step out of their comfort zone and want to play baseball.” He stresses that “it’s an honor to represent the State of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community on such a large scale.” He also says now that he has citizenship, he would consider living in Israel full-time one day. ‘TRY TO GET MORE KIDS INVOLVED’ The team’s manager and coach is Eric Holtz, 54, who lives in White Plains, New York. He has coached college baseball in the United States for the past 20 years, and also owns and operates a strengthand conditioning-training facility for athletes who play baseball and softball. He served as a player/coach in the short-lived Israel baseball League in 2007 for the Beit Shemesh Blue Sox. In 2017, after guiding Team USA to a Gold Medal in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, he was quickly scouted and asked to coach Israel Team Israel, which he accepted.

Baseball Team Israel celebrates after qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. (Margo Sugarman) When asked by JNS if Team Israel has a shot to stand on the medal’s podium this summer, he doesn’t have a deﬁnitive answer. “Look, nobody gave us a shot anywhere we went,” says Holtz as he lists Israel’s impressive tournament results on the long road to Tokyo. “This is how I live my life and coach baseball and father my kids: one day at a time. And the fact that no one gave us a shot makes this even sweeter for us.” He concludes by saying, “I worry about us [Team Israel], handling our business. If we handle our business, then we are going to be just ﬁne.” Similar to comments made by Bleich, Holtz says that at the end of the day, “we are trying to build awareness, and love and passion [for baseball], and bring that to Israel. After wins and losses, our job is to try to get kids more involved.” While Alter is certainly excited about the Olympic bid, he seems equally proud of the fact that 800 youth currently play in organized baseball leagues and clinics throughout Israel. He hopes to double that number as a result of upcoming plans to construct a professional-level baseball stadium in Beit Shemesh.

“What’s personally important to me is Israel baseball,” he says. “We are about to build a ﬁeld and complex in Beit Shemesh, thanks to the help of our partners JNF-USA, which will become Israel’s national baseball stadium. My focus is to bring awareness that we are building baseball here. The Olympics is a big opportunity to get the word out.” Holtz says he team will begin training for the Olympics shortly at a facility in New York. In large part due to the 24-member baseball squad, Israel will be sending its largest-ever delegation to the Olympics with around 85 athletes competing in 18 different sporting events. The opening ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Games is set for July 24, with the baseball competition slated to begin July 29, and the Gold Medal Game scheduled for Aug. 9. Holtz says “for us, nothing could be greater than having the Israeli people behind us.” And while baseball has yet to overtake soccer or basketball as the most popular sport in the Jewish state, there’s no doubt that Israelis will behind all its Olympians, baseball hopefuls included.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

national and international news

Jewish families affected by catastrophic fires in Australia By Mendel Super Chabad.org/News via JNS The Friday before she lost her home, Verne Dove went with her family to a Shabbat dinner in Coffs Harbour, a small coastal city in New South Wales, Australia. “It was like an apocalypse; 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and everything was orange. It was the most eerie thing I’ve ever experienced,” Dove tells Chabad. org. “At Shabbat dinner, we had black, burned leaves falling everywhere around us; we weren’t even sure where the fire was, it was all just orange. It was like being under a cloud of fire without being able to see the fire. We were stuck there, trusting we’d be OK and make it through the dinner.” As Australia enters the new decade, devastating bushfires ravage the continent; the fires blaze in every state and territory. More than 21 million acres — roughly the size of Maine — have been burned, with 27 lives lost and more missing, and almost 2,000 homes destroyed. An estimated half-billion animals have been killed, pushing some of Australia’s unique and already endangered species further toward the brink of extinction. Under scorching temperatures — reaching 104-plus degrees in all six Australian states last month — and extreme drought conditions, the fires have spread rapidly, with firefighters battling flames more than 130 feet high in some areas. Authorities are calling it the country’s worst bushfires in history, with the sheer size of the flames far surpassing that of the 2018 California wildfires and 2019 Amazon fires. Dove, who with her family lives in tiny Nana Glen (population 1,055) in New South Wales’s tropical north, received notice to evacuate her home immediately as the fires began to close in. She gathered her three children, the youngest just 9 months old, and drove to the evacuation center back in Coffs Harbour, the closest sizable city. Her husband, Troy, stayed behind to defend the family butterfly-house business from the fires before eventually joining his family in safety. “It was just smoke as far as you could see,” says Dove. Hours after they left, the family home was reduced to a smoldering

heap of metal and ash, charred beams and burned-out car bodies littering the property. Rabbi Yossi Rodal, co-director with his wife, Malki, of Chabad-Lubavitch of Rural and Regional Australia (RARA), which serves isolated Jews and Jewish communities scattered throughout the vast continent, says that at least 250 Jewish families have been directly impacted by the devastating bushﬁres. Camp Gan Israel of Melbourne, a Jewish childrens’ summer camp, was evacuated just as camp began with campers and staff members being packed onto buses and taken to safety. Meanwhile, the Rodals have been coordinating relief efforts together with Jewish community volunteers. “It’s heart-wrenching to see the pain people are in, and it’s our job to be there for them in whichever way possible,” says the rabbi. Working together with Chabad of Melbourne’s Aliya Institute, a youth group, they have been collecting, packing and then distributing necessary supplies such as bottled water, canned goods and other household staples for affected communities and shelters around the nation. Chabad of RARA has already raised more than $13,000 to aid those who have lost their homes, businesses and essential belongings, as well as helped accommodate those who have been displaced. Many have expressed gratitude and some relief. From Mallacoota, a sleepy coastal town hit by a mammoth blaze, cut off by road, and accessible only by sea — prompting a massive navy evacuation operation, Rachel wrote: “Thank you so much for your call, Yossi. I’m deeply touched by this connection from you and Chabad. I had a little good ‘feeling so cared for’ cry after we spoke. With much gratitude and appreciation, Rachel.” In Jindabyne, a popular ski destination in the winter now threatened by deadly ﬁres, Bob wrote: “Thank you for caring as I do have nothing.” In Canberra, the nation’s capital city centrally located between Melbourne and Sydney on the country’s east coast, Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, co-director of Chabad Australian Capital Territory (ACT), has been in a position to help hundreds pass-

Preparing to deliver home-cooked food to those who have lost their homes. (Chabad.org/News) ing through the capital, as large stretches of the highway interconnecting Australia’s two largest cities are closed, forcing many to detour through the city. “As one of the only Jewish presences between Melbourne and Sydney, we have been providing free fresh kosher meals and accommodation to many,” says Feldman. He estimates that they have already helped around 100 individuals relocate from stricken areas, with some being put up in Chabad ACT’s crisis accommodation housing. With the assistance of Chabad of RARA, others are being hosted in Melbourne and Sydney. Among those Feldman recently assisted is Christina “Esther” Hacker, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor and former Nazi ﬁghter. She was evacuated from Jindabyne, a two-hour drive from Canberra, and together with her family placed in a Chabad apartment until she could return home. Even as the Emergency Services Agency warns that Canberra and the ACT region may be impacted by the fast-moving bushﬁres or the dangerously polluting smoke they leave in their wake, Feldman says Chabad plans to sit tight. “Under these circumstances, how can we leave? G d has given us such an important opportunity to help others in desperate need; we are honored to embrace it,” says Feldman. Chabad North Shore, in Sydney’s northern suburbs, directed by Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, is accommodating

families displaced by the fires, and Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, director of Chabad East Melbourne, has arranged with a Jewishowned hotel with locations in Melbourne and Sydney to put up some of those who lost homes, free of charge. Chabad of RARA has also launched a campaign encouraging people from around the world to take on an extra mitzvah in light of the bushfires plaguing the nation. “Our country is on fire, and not in the metaphorical positive sense of the phrase,” wrote Rodal in a social-media post announcing the campaign. “Quite literally, our beautiful country is ablaze with out-of-control raging bushfires. We must take action to help and assist at this crucial time. We can donate to funds assisting bushfire relief; we can stand up and join the hundreds of donation appeals around the country; and we can go one step further. “Bushfires are by nature volatile and unpredictable. They don’t always follow a rational pattern, and at times, defy the laws of nature. “And so,” he continued, “our response needs to be the same: beyond the rational, natural order of things. We can give of ourselves in the supernatural realm: through increasing in our prayer, good deeds and Torah learning.” To help support relief efforts in Australia, visit Chabad.org. This story originally appeared on Chabad.org/News.

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January 16, 2020

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opinion

Enough with the Trump and Netanyahu analogies By Jonathan S. Tobin JNS In the coming weeks, a U.S. Senate trial of President Donald Trump on impeachment charges is looming. In Israel this week, the Knesset will debate whether or not to grant immunity to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing indictments on charges of alleged corruption. These political allies are both also facing tough re-election fights this year. Fervent supporters of Trump and Netanyahu also have similarly dim views of their political opponents and mainstream media outlets, which they not unreasonably regard as implacably hostile to the two leaders. And both seem to have bred in their opponents an anger that rises above the normal antagonisms natural to politics in a democracy. But though the similarities between the two country’s situations seem remarkably similar, lazy pundits who are making such analogies are fundamentally wrong. It’s true that Trump and Netanyahu are lightning rods for their opponents, and face allegations relating to their legitimacy that seem to transcend their nation’s political debates. But the contrasts between the two and their respective predicaments are far greater than their opponents seem to understand. Leaving aside their very different personalities and backgrounds — Netanyahu is an intellectual and former military elite who has spent his life in public service, while Trump was a political novice when he ran for president, and no one has ever accused him of being an intellectual — the real difference is in the fundamental nature of political debates in the two countries. The United States has never been so deeply divided about political questions since the Civil War. Israel is fundamentally united on the great issues of the day. This point is easily ignored because both the U.S. presidential election and the upcoming Israeli election — the third within the last year — are rightly perceived as referenda about the two leaders. Trump looms over every discussion about politics and even culture in the United States. Opinions about virtually every issue or question facing the country are influenced by views about this real estate mogul/ reality TV star in a way that is virtually unprecedented in American political history. Democrats are united in their loathing for the president, while Republicans seem equally unified by their support for him, as well as by their anger at the thought of his opponents having their way and evicting him from office.

Israel’s election also hinges primarily on the question of whether Netanyahu will continue in ofﬁce after 11 straight years in power and 14 overall as prime minister. His primary opponent in the election — former Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of Staff and retired Gen. Benny Gantz, and the various elements of his Blue and White Party — were brought together solely by a desire to defeat the prime minister. Netanyahu’s critics are also quick to accuse him of undermining democracy with the same kind of arguments employed by Trump’s critics. The fact that both elections hinge on the two incumbents should not distract us from the fundamental difference between American and Israeli politics in 2020. Americans are fairly evenly divided on all the great issues facing the country. Opinions about Trump have helped to solidify those schisms and make them as intractably partisan, as is the case with every other issue currently up for debate. The difference between Republicans and Democrats about Iran policy or killing a terrorist like Qassem Soleimani illustrated this, since Democrats would have almost certainly cheered and not treated it as an invitation to World War III if a Democratic president had taken the same action. In that sense, Trump has exacerbated partisanship in a way that exceeds the way similar “derangement syndromes” generated by his predecessors did. But Americans would still be split in this fashion, albeit perhaps in a more civil manner, if someone else had been elected president in 2016. But despite the similarly angry and bitter nature of the rhetoric being employed by Israeli politicians against each other, this should not be mistaken for the same kind of intractable left-right divide that exists now in the United States. What is often obscured by mainstream media coverage of Israeli politics that is tainted by hostility to Netanyahu is the fact that his main political opponents don’t really disagree with him on the one issue that matters above all others: the conﬂict with the Palestinians. Gantz spent both the April and September election campaigns trying not only to leave a sliver of daylight between himself and Netanyahu on security issues, but to also position himself as somehow to the right of the prime minister, whether it was on how to deal with Hamas terrorists in Gaza or the future of the Jordan Valley. Gantz’s success in leading Blue and White is a testament to his ability to illustrate the consensus on the peace process that stretches from the moderate left to the right. Few in Israel outside of the far-left (where the remnants of the once-dominant Labor Party and the leftist Meretz faction are now merging to avoid political oblivion) believe that the country has a peace partner or should listen to advice from foreign liberals

A billboard with pictures of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sept. 4, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) about more territorial withdrawals. Nor is a Gantzled government likely to diverge greatly from Netanyahu on economic issues. In that sense, a leftist critic of Netanyahu and Gantz was right to complain that the face-off between the two was more like a contest between Trump and a moderate conservative like Mitt Romney, with liberal opponents being consigned to the margins. By contrast, real and profound differences fester among any of the Democrats running for president, and Trump and the Republicans on a host of issues. And it’s likely that whoever wins in November will face an equally divided and embittered nation no matter what the outcome. As much as it is tempting to pretend that Israeli politics is as dysfunctional as the American variety, the truth is that the two countries are not experiencing a similar kind of political civil war. The split about Netanyahu notwithstanding, Israelis are not nearly as much at odds with each other as Americans. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS — Jewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at: @jonathans_tobin.

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January 16, 2020

commentary

Healing and the power of prayer By Rickie Haith Guest Columnist I am a person of deep faith. I was raised in an observant home and learned the Shema as a toddler. My family believes everyone has a personal relationship with God. Over the years my love of the Jewish faith continued to grow through studying the Bible and Jewish history. I have also studied the benefits of reading psalms and studied Kabbalah. My strong faith has helped me through the last year. I had extensive back surgery Jan. 4, 2019, which caused unbearable pain. This prevented me from leading PrayerWorks, a program of Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sisterhood I founded 23 years ago. With much appreciation, Suzanne Lange, Ph.D. capably volunteered to lead a temporary prayer group called Prayer Partners during the latter half of 2019. I am in far less pain now and I’ll be able to return to monthly PrayerWorks sessions next week. I believe my strong faith, family, friends and prayers on my behalf from Prayer Partners and the members of the congregation helped my healing process. I must also give credit to the loving care I received from my husband, Dr. Edward Haith, our daughters, Dion Lutzk and Elisa Pener, and our son-in-law Howard Lutzk. They helped me survive the most excruciatingly painful days. Of course, I also relied on God for healing, but the physical presence from those who care and love you is also crucial in healing. Prior to my surgery and recuperation, I only missed three PrayerWorks sessions out of more than 250. In fact in more than 20 years, the group never missed a session, thanks to other volunteers, until my surgery. I believe the power of collective prayer is one reason behind this stellar record. I’m not the only one who believes in the power of prayer. Rabbi David Glickman and Hazzan Tahl

Ben-Yehuda have told me they believe PrayerWorks is a valuable asset of our congregation and our Sisterhood. Why is a group like PrayerWorks important? We believe in the stressful climate we live in today, PrayerWorks helps to relieve tension. It is also good for your health as we get in touch with God on a spiritual level. Study after study shows the health benefits people get from prayer, as well as maintaining a religious life. The first scientific test regarding prayer was done in 1988 by Dr. Randolph Byrd at San Francisco General Hospital. That study revealed prayer helped to heal the prayed for patients by way of them taking fewer drugs. The people being prayed for did not know anyone was praying for them. The people praying did not know whom they were praying for. Additional studies have followed showing patients’ remarkable recoveries. This reinforced my belief in intercessory prayer. In addition to scientific evidence, people in general believe prayer can heal and prevent disease. A poll by Life magazine done by the Gallup poll organization found 95% of the respondents replied yes when asked if their prayers regarding healing were answered. I started learning about the power of prayer after my conquest of bilateral breast cancer 23 years ago. I found that during my experience with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and even preceding the diagnosis, God was directing my path to healing and wholeness. After my last radiation treatment, my close friend Judy Bell, of blessed memory who passed away in March 2019, encouraged me to form a prayer group. At that time she had recovered from Stage 4 lung cancer. By that time the rabbis in our community were beginning to embrace healing services. On top of that I did my own research and met with the rabbis at Beth Shalom, Rabbis Alan Cohen and Morris Margolies. They encouraged me and were thrilled with the idea of starting a prayer group. The group was formed under the auspices of Sisterhood, with the cooperation of Sisterhood’s

Beth Shalom’s PrayerWorks is back PrayerWorks, a program of the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Shalom, returns under the leadership of Founder and Facilitator Rickie Haith at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. All former and prospective participants are invited to learn more about PrayerWorks and get reacquainted. For additional information, contact Haith at RickieH1@aol.com or 913-341-8707.

President Toba Maslan and Sisterhood Vice President Elisa Pener. We opened it to the entire Jewish community and held our first session in November 1997. The group meets once a month and prays for anyone in need of physical, spiritual or emotional healing. The act of praying is everyone’s most individual, personal and confidential activity — the private voyage to the unknown world of spirit. Prayer enables us to thank God for the precious life He has given us. I very much believe in personal prayer to God. An individual can pray directly to God for his own healing. Yet, it has been a practice of Jews for thousands of years to have prayers said on their behalf. During my recovery period, prayers were said for me in several countries including Israel. There are prayer groups like PrayerWorks that offer prayers on behalf of the ill, free of charge in many communities, such as one group that gathers across from the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. My life is guided through my belief in God, Judaism and Torah, and it is my faith that unites and binds me to God. He illuminates the way ahead, guiding me on the correct path of life. God’s brightness enabled me to find the strength I needed to survive the agonizing pain that was the result of my surgery. I am grateful to now be able return to PrayerWorks. I welcome anyone who would like to join this prayerful journey. Rickie Haith is founder and facilitator of Beth Shalom Sisterhood’s PrayerWorks group.

Voice your opinion We welcome letters to the editor for publication. The views expressed in the opinion columns and letters published in The Chronicle are those of the authors. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number or email address and will be conﬁrmed before publication. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should be no longer than 350 words. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and civility. Space preference is given to letters received from members of the local Jewish community. Email your letters to kcjc@rosepublicationskc.com or mail them to Editor, Rose Publications, Inc. – KC Jewish Chronicle, 10650 Roe Blvd., Suite 141, Overland Park, KS 66207-3907.

The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020

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obituaries JAMES SOLOW MARGOLIN Jimmy to his many friends, Dad to his sons, Papa to his grandchildren, and if he was in trouble it was just Jim, passed away peacefully at the age of 72. (August 2, 1947 – January 8, 2020) Jimmy was born in and remained a life-long resident of the Kansas City area but his second loved area of residence was the City by the Bay, San Francisco, California, where he was semi-retired and maintained a second home. Jimmy went to Pembroke Country Day (‘65), and received his undergraduate (‘69) and Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas (‘72). After a brief stint in Washington, D.C., working for the FCC, he moved back to KC where he worked at Margolin and Kirwan Law Firm until the early ’90s when he opened Margolin Law Firm working mostly employment and discrimination law. The last several years he focused most of his attention to mediation and arbitration where he worked for the FMCS and CSMCS in California. Jimmy loved his Royals and the Kansas Jayhawks, and he was learning to love

the Chiefs because his wife Susan does. He loved to play golf, tennis and sitting by the bay. He was always singing to Susan “Now I am having the time of my life.” Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents Abraham and Florence Margolin, sister Judith Margolin Goodman, niece Kathy Margolin Richter and nephew Chuck Margolin. He is survived by his wife Susan Layne Margolin of Mission Hills, sons Dan Margolin (Julie) of Prairie Village and Andrew Margolin (Jeff) of Evergreen, Clorado, and his brother Robert Margolin (Dorothy) of Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Jimmy has three grandchildren, Abby, Izzy and Piper, whom he dearly loved and cherished. The family would like to personally thank the great nurses, doctors and staff at Saint Luke’s Hospital and Saint Luke’s Hospice House. They are all amazing and took great care to make sure that not only was Jimmy comfortable and taken care of, but also the many visiting friends and family. Funeral services will be a private affair per Jimmy’s request. Instead of ﬂowers, the family suggests donations to Saint Luke’s Hospice House in Jimmy’s honor. Jimmy’s granddaughter Abby wanted to include the following words: “He wasn’t just my grandfather. Papa was my best friend. We had many inside jokes together, late nights eating cereal at 11 o’clock, road trips, adventures in San Francisco, and so much more. I have

always been able to count on him for a great and memorable time together. I admire the many strong and wise pieces of advice he has given me, and I hope that one day I can be able to do that for my grandchildren. I have looked up to him every day, and I will continue to look up to him while he is watching over me. I didn’t expect him to go so soon, and it has been a long year of him being sick. Throughout that year we were able to make the best of it. During days that he didn’t feel well, we would sit on the chairs in the TV room eating peanut M&M’S while having long talks. Papa, I love you. I will always love you for ever and ever. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.louismemorialchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211. BEVERLY ELAINE SAWL Beverly Elaine Sawl, 100, passed away Jan. 13, 2020, in Overland Park, Kansas. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, at the Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery Chapel, 1901

Blue Ridge Blvd., Independence, MO 64052. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association. Beverly was born Sept. 10, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois, to Helen and William Goodman. She was the youngest of three children. She lived in Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; Syracuse, New York; Pompano Beach, Florida; Longmeadow, Massachusetts; and Overland Park, Kansas. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and William Goodman; sister, Ruth Pian; brother, Marvin Goodman; son-in-law, Dr. Ashley Zack; and husbands, Sidney Ralph Lewis and Harold Sawl. Beverly is survived by her daughters, Linda Zack and Ellie Weinstein (husband Marc Weinstein); son, Hillard Lewis (wife Mary Lewis); seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Throughout Beverly’s 100 years, she was a housewife and mother. She was active in City of Hope and was a lifetime member of Hadassah. She loved to travel, play cards and loved being around people. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will deﬁnitely be missed by all. Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchaple.com. Arrangements by The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.

Total of 2.3 million people visited Auschwitz in 2019, setting new record (JNS) — A record 2.32 million people visited the sites of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz and Auschwitz IIBirkenau in Poland last year, the Auschwitz Memorial announced last week. That number is about 170,000 more than in 2018, which also broke previous records. Some 81 percent of last year’s visitors learned about the camp’s history with one of the museum’s 340 guides, who conduct tours in 21 languages. More than 14,000 people in organized groups visited the sites as part of study visits, which is approximately a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year.

According to data in the online reservation system, in 2019, the memorial was visited by at least 396,000 visitors from Poland, 200,000 from Great Britain, 120,000 from the United States, 104,000 from Italy, 73,000 from Germany, 70,000 from Spain, 67,000 from France, 59,000 from Israel, 42,000 from Ireland and 40,000 from Sweden. “However, [the] data [is] not complete because in relation to the 730,000 visitors who came to the memorial in international groups, the organizers of the trips did not declare a particular country,” said Andrzej Kacorzyk, director of the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

“Consequently, we are undertaking actions aimed at making the statistical data more detailed through the electronic system for booking entry cards.”

The museum added that as many as 900,000 users follow its account on Twitter, and more than 300,000 use the museum’s profile on Facebook with 80,000 on Instagram.

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The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

January 16, 2020