Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation will hold its annual meeting, “The Power of One,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Women in the community are invited to attend the event, which includes the installation of the 2016-2017 officers and board of directors as well as a special presentation by international human rights activist Judy Feld Carr. The meeting will be held in the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre of the Jewish Community Campus. Vaad supervised Mediterranean appetizers will be served starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 pm. There is an $18 couvert. Beth Liss and Debbie Sosland-Edelman are event co-chairs.
Over a 28-year period Carr worked with smugglers and bribed government officials to clandestinely smuggle to freedom people and priceless ancient Jewish ritual objects from Syria, a country in which Jews faced persecution and anti-Semitism. Until receiving praise from the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli intelligence organizations, the world had no knowledge of this Canadian Jewish woman’s covert life. Her story was later featured in the best-selling Canadian book “The Rescuer,” by Dr. Harold Troper.
“This year’s annual meeting is important to our community, because Judy Feld Carr is a true tzadeket; righteous woman. It has been said that there is no greater mitzvah than pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captives) and I firmly believe Carr is an example of what it means to live our Jewish values,” Sosland-Edelman said.
“I have been personally involved with the Jewish Federation since I was 14 years old when my mom brought me to hear Gerda Klein at, what was then, the Women’s Division program. I was so moved by that event I have stayed connected to Gerda throughout the years and later chaired the Federation Youth Council. My family has been committed to the work of Jewish Federation for four generations and I believe that no philanthropic gift makes a greater impact on Jewish life in Kansas City, Israel and around the world than a gift to Jewish Federation. I hope a young woman interested in getting involved in our community will have the same experience I once did by attending this special event.”
Women’s Philanthropy officers for 2016-2017 are Lisa Bernard, chair; Amy Shapiro and Barb Kovacs, campaign co-chairs; Allison Glickman, leadership development chair; Roberta Goller, board development chair; Rhonda Fromm and Catherine Singer, community development co-chairs; and Trudy Jacobson, immediate past chair. New board members include Renana Abrams, Liron BenDor Applebaum, Melissa Kingston, Hadas Moshonov-Cohavi, Robin Prosini, Rosanne Rosen, Daniella Silver, Lisa Stolper and Leah Swartz. Outgoing officers will also be honored at the meeting.
To RSVP or for more information, visit jewishkansascity.org/PowerOfOne or call Allyson Weber at 913-327-8100.