KU grad who studied leadership takes on formal leadership roles in Jewish life
Evan Traylor may be from Oklahoma City, but he’s a point of pride for the Kansas Jewish community. A first-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Traylor graduated from the University of Kansas after studying political science, Jewish studies and leadership studies. Prior to rabbinical school, he worked at the Union for Reform Judaism for four years creating new projects and initiatives in college and young adult engagement, and he currently serves on the leadership teams for Jewish Social Justice Roundtable and Jews United for Justice.
“I’m honored to have played a role in Evan’s development,” said Rabbi Neal Schuster, senior Jewish educator at the University of Kansas Hillel.
Rabbi Schuster, who served as a mentor to Traylor at KU, remains in close contact with him, and on Oct. 12 will have a conversation with him at a Jewish Federation Ben Gurion Society and Young Adult Division virtual event, titled “From Diversity to Equity: Building a Strong Jewish Community for the Future.”
Besides his experience and involvement with KU Hillel, Traylor attributes his strong sense of Jewish identity to the years he spent at URJ Kutz Camp and Greene Family Camp. He also served as the North American president of NFTY.
Those interested in hearing from Traylor at the upcoming Federation event should contact Annie Glickman, , for more information. The Ben Gurion Society is for members of the Jewish community under the age of 45 who support the Jewish Federation annual campaign at particular levels; the Young Adults Division aims to provide a fun, interesting, and inclusive space for Jewish young professionals to connect and build community, while also educating the young professional community about Jewish Federation and connecting them to the larger Jewish community of Kansas City. Members of these groups represent the future of the Kansas City Jewish community.