It’s been three years since the last Jewish Arts Festival was held, but the wait for the 2013 version is almost over. Established in October of 1994, the ninth Jewish Arts Festival, on Sunday, Oct. 6, presented by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Saint Luke’s South Hospital, will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of the Jewish Community Campus. As with the previous festivals — they typically attract more than 7,000 people — this year’s will feature the very best of Jewish culture and expression. But it also boasts an impressive array of new and exciting undertakings.
“We see the festival as bringing the entire community together. As we saw three years ago, the festival attracts people from all cultures, faiths, ages and backgrounds,” said Jacob Schreiber, JCC president and CEO. “This year’s festival will prove to be bigger and better for everyone.”
The staple of the Jewish Arts Festival is the wide variety of artwork representative of more than 70 artists. The event’s focus is on affordable pieces from a mostly local group of creators. New this year is an interactive experience where participants can aid in the creation of a community sukkah with the help of artist-in-residence Carla Malone Steck.
“I think those who come to the festival will be amazed by the quality of art shown,” said festival co-chair Carol Jerwick. “We’ll have everything from stained glass, photography, painting and a lot more.”
New in the food court this year is the beer tent where He’Brew beer from Schmaltz Brewing will be sold. Once again all food at the festival will be prepared and served under the supervision of the Vaad HaKashruth of Greater Kansas City. Kosher delicacies include latkes served hot and fresh by Boy Scout Troop 61; matzah ball soup; challah; bagels; corned beef, BBQ beef sandwiches, BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken legs; chicken schnitzel; corn dogs; chicken wings; pizza and falafel. Sweet treats include donuts; root beer floats; Tippins pie; cupcakes; coconut macaroons and cotton candy. Iced coffee and soft drinks will also be sold.
Attendees will also be able to enjoy a range of entertainment opportunities available in the Performing Arts and Culinary Arts tents.
“We have great local bands scheduled to appear playing a wide variety of music from Israeli sounds to contemporary, rock cover bands,” said festival co-chair Greg Azorsky. “And you’ll probably salivate from the aroma of the food. We’ll have traditional Jewish food along with American favorites.”
Families are encouraged to bring their children, who will have the opportunity to travel through Israel in the Family Pavilion. They can create a stained glass challah plate in Safed, leave notes in the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem, go on an archaeology dig in the Negev and much more.
This year’s festival will also kick off 100 More, the JCC’s year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary. At 11:30 a.m. the morning of the festival, 100 runners will enter the festival grounds to light the 100 More flame, culminating in the early morning Torch Relay run that begins at the River Market site where the JCC was founded in 1914. A special ceremony will be held honoring 10 families who played a significant role in enhancing the JCC’s ability to serve more than 100,000 people in the past century.
The Jewish Arts Festival’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Campus. Tickets are on sale at select Hen House and Hy-Vee stores, Learning Tree stores and the Jewish Community Center. Prior to the event, tickets are $6 for adults, $2 for children ages 4-12 and free for children under the age of 4. On the day of the festival, adult tickets are $8 and $5 for children. For more information about the Jewish Arts Festival, visit www.jcckc.org/jaf.
As a mitzvah and in support of the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry, festivalgoers may donate non-perishable food items at the gate. In return festivalgoers will receive one shekel (worth 50 cents at food booths only) for a one-item donation and two shekels for donations of two or more items.
Volunteers are also still being recruited for the event. A volunteer orientation session will take place on Monday, Sept. 30. Volunteers get free admittance to the festival and a T-shirt. To learn more about volunteering, visit jcckc.org/jaf and click on the volunteer link. Or, call Sandra Greason at 913-327-8042.
