Now that the fall festival season has concluded, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s “Shabbat Stars” returns, continuing over the coming weeks with others who have grown up at B’nai Jehudah and have agreed to return virtually and teach us.

Enjoying the lulav shake are KU freshmen Demi Fine, Ivy Greenberg, Samantha Grofsky and Madeline Abrams. Demonstrating is Yosef Meir Tiechtel (far right) along with his helper Mendel Tiechtel (far left).

This year for the first time in history, the festive holiday of Sukkot was celebrated in the age of the coronavirus. This brought along with it the constrictions and opportunities of these strange times.

Applications available for 2021 Statland Leadership Institute

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Dr. Harry & Alice Statland Leadership Institute (SLI). The program is open to young Jewish professionals who are looking to explore their Jewish identity, develop their leadership skills and connect with the Jewish community in a meaningful way.

Ohev Sholom honored Bobbie and Mark Litchman as Kallat Torah and Hatan Bereshit, respectively, this year.

Ohev Sholom rejoiced with the Torah on Sunday, Oct. 11, virtually via Zoom. Everyone enjoyed their own Hakafot dancing. Ohev children received gifts for the High Holidays this year including their own Torah to march with at their homes.

Bari Sigal, KU Hillel development intern, shows off one of this year’s Shabboxes. Each Shabbat box is filled with a Shabbat kit and KU Hillel goodies to bring the celebration to your home.

KU Hillel’s famous Rock Chalk Shabbat will adapt to an online format this year and become Rock Chalk Shabayit.

Because of the pandemic, the format of a huge in-person gathering used for the last 19 years is not possible. By going online, KU Hillel’s Rock Chalk Shabayit (bayit means “home” in Hebrew) will have a broader reach and be able to include friends of KU Hillel, alumni, parents and students from coast to coast. KU Hillel will bring its vibrant community together and celebrate Jewish life at the University of Kansas.

Ethan Corson

Democrat Corson always drawn to public service

By Marcia Montgomery
Associate Editor

Thirty-eight-year-old Ethan Corson became interested in politics and public service when he was in college. He’s running for the Kansas Senate in District 7, hoping to represent residents of Fairway, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Westwood, Westwood Hills and parts of Leawood and Overland Park.

Joy Koesten

Koesten runs for Kansas Senate as moderate Democrat

By Marcia Montgomery
Associate Editor

Joy Koesten is running for a seat in the Kansas Senate “for one simple reason,” she said in an interview with The Chronicle. “To keep this Senate seat out of the hands of a far-right extremist who wants nothing more than to take us back to the Brownback days.