What does an organization do to mark the finish of its 100-year celebration? Break the record of spinning the most dreidels simultaneously of course! The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City is planning the record breaking event on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The Spin 1000 celebration will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, and the organizers of the event are hoping for 1,000 and “more” participants. The all-community event is open to the public and is free of charge. Games, food and giveaways will also be provided.
“At 6 p.m. we’re going to stop, drop and spin in the effort to set an unofficial world record,” said Shanny Morgenstern, the 100 More Co-Chair. “We’ve ordered custom-made dreidels for the event and will be providing one, free of charge, to the first 1,400 people in the door. The custom dreidels will have the same Hebrew letters on them as the ones used for play in Israel.”
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is used during the celebration of Hanukkah to play popular children’s game that involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning.
It is believed that no other Jewish Community Center, or other related organization, has ever attempted to break the dreidel-spinning world record. According to Morgenstern, “Binghamton University’s Chabad set the previous official world record … 749 dreidels spinning at the same time. We’re hoping to break that record.”
Two local charities will benefit from Spin 1000. Participants are asked to bring either used bikes or new spinning toys. The used bikes will go to Revolve KC, an organization that refurbishes bikes to those who need them most. The new spinning toys will go to CASA of Kansas City as gifts for children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center, says Spin 1000 is the perfect event to end, “a unique year.”
“When we began our 100 More celebration campaign, we wanted to promote to the greater Kansas City community that The J has been a trusted resource to the metro for multiple generations. Spin 1000 is not really an end; it’s a beginning of another 100 years for all of us to experience how The J brings programs of wellness, meaning and joy to the entire community.”
The J opened in 1914 in midtown Kansas City, Mo., and has grown and adapted to serve the changing needs of Greater Kansas City’s Jewish and secular communities. During the past century, The J has become known as a respected community leader in child development and youth services, fitness and sports activities, social and cultural events, theatre, senior adult programming and “more,” all designed to foster strong families, individuals and community.
