Pictured is KU Junior Daniel Wachsberg with matzah ball soup and tea bags being delivered to a KU student who is feeling sick.

When a student is far from home and their parents are miles away, who do they turn to when they’re sick? A parent could console them through the phone and tell them things will be alright. Watkins Health Center could help diagnose the issue and get the student some medicine. But only a dedicated Rabbi and Rebbetzin can be there to deliver the best cure: a steaming hot bowl of fresh matzah ball soup.

KU Hillel gets together for some pre-Rock Chalk Shabayit challah baking. Watch the video at kuhillel.org, featuring Kaycee Krell, KU freshman; Sarah Glaser, KU senior and Development coordinator intern; Savannah Kannberg, KU Hillel Development & Marketing director; and Suzy Sostrin, KU Hillel executive director.

KU Hillel is excited to bring Rock Chalk Shabayit to living rooms across the country on Friday, Nov. 6. Their famous Rock Chalk Shabbat has adapted to its online format this year, hence the new name, combining Shabbat and “bayit,” which is Hebrew for home. Hundreds of alumni, parents, students and friends of KU Hillel plan on tuning in and opening their Shabboxes together to celebrate Jewish life at the University of Kansas.

JFS volunteer Ron Altman makes a call to check on one of the agency’s older adult clients.

At Jewish Family Services, volunteers play a key role in helping its clients meet life’s challenges, including older adults. JFS is committed to providing its volunteers with numerous opportunities to help and the best training to do so.

‘Shofar’ by artist James Michael Smith; acrylic on metal.

Bold, vibrant and unique artwork, valued at more than $250,000, will grace the walls and hallways of The J’s new expansion and in the existing Fitness + Sports area. More than two-thirds of the pieces came from the personal art collection of philanthropist Michael Staenberg. The J purchased the remainder of the collection, designed specifically for the facility by Sara Jo Fischer, an art curator in Denver, who assists Staenberg. In total, there are more than 75 pieces of art.

The generosity of the Polsky family inspired others to give and made the PJ Library endowment fund in Kansas City possible. Pictured from left: Ellen and Larry Polsky, Renee Polsky Silver and Larry Silver, Harold Grinspoon , PJ Library founder, and Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

By Lacey Storer
Contributing Writer

For 12 years, PJ Library has helped families with young children in Kansas City connect to their Jewish identities, traditions and values. Now, the establishment of the Polsky Family PJ Library Endowment will ensure that the program continues to provide free books and music to Jewish children in our community for years to come.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Cairo Genizah can take the MeltonKC class “Exploring a Forgotten World: A Social History of Medieval Jewry as Revealed in the Cairo Genizah.” It will be taught by Rabbi Javier Cattapan of Congregation Beth Torah on Zoom from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for 10 weeks beginning Nov. 5.