50 KANSANS YOU SHOULD KNOW — At least two members of the Jewish community are among those recognized in the June edition of Ingram’s Magazine as “50 Kansans You Should Know: Blossoms in the Sunflower State.” They are “high achievers who help define business, civic, school and community life in Kansas.” Those recognized who are not Jewish include big names such as Gov. Laura Kelly and University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod.
For the second time this year, Jennifer Savner Levinson has been recognized for her work promoting suicide awareness in teens. As the community outreach facilitator for SPEAK UP (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids United as Partners), she told Ingram’s, “I absolutely believe that it only takes one trusted adult to change the narrative of a child’s story.”
Regarding this honor, Levinson wrote on Facebook, “I am hopeful that this will send a powerful message to the community in the efforts of SPEAK UP to eradicate the stigma and let people know it is OK to talk about their mental wellness and a sign of strength to ask for help.”
Overland Park’s David Naster started his career as a comedian “with the goal of making fun of people.” Now the owner of You Just Have to Laugh and the author of eight books, Naster is a motivational speaker who uses comedy to help people tackle challenges in their lives, from PTSD to problems with addiction. “My life has meaning because I serve humanity by sharing how humor and laughter will help the toughest things we go through,” Naster told Ingram’s.
To read more about Levinson, Naster and the others, visit Ingrams.com.
IN TRANSITION — According to an eblast sent to Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City supporters late last week by Executive Director Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi, Rabbi Mizrahi will serve as part-time interim rabbi for Congregation BIAV, in addition to his full-time role with the Vaad, while the Orthodox congregation searches for a replacement for Rabbi Daniel Rockoff, whose family said farewell to the community on Sunday. According to the eblast, BIAV hopes to have a new rabbi on board in July 2020.
On another Vaad note, the Hen House kosher deli is short a mashgiach (kosher supervisor), and hours may change with little or no notice until the situation is resolved. Rabbi Mizrahi noted they hoped the position would be filled by late August.
B’NAI JEHUDAH WELCOMES, AND BIDS FAREWELL TO, SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS — As the month of June ended, the tenures of Executive Director Jeanne Adler and Shared Vision Coordinator Rabbi Beryl Padoor came to a close. After serving B’nai Jehudah for 13 years (and Congregation Beth Torah for many years before that), Adler is retiring. Rabbi Padoor has been at B’nai Jehudah for five years, and in August she begins her new role as the spiritual leader at Congregation Ohev Sholom.
Rabbi Josh Leighton is taking over the congregation’s Shared Vision duties. He moved here a year ago with his wife, Rabbi Sarah Smiley, and his daughter. Rabbi Leighton previously served for six years as the rabbi of the Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon in New Jersey and served in a variety of roles with congregations and organizations in the New Jersey area.
Abby Magariel has been hired to be the first Michael Klein Collection curator/educator. She was consecrated at B’nai Jehudah and spent her childhood as a member of Congregation Beth Torah. She comes into this position after spending eight years as education coordinator at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence and four years at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Magariel will have a dual role at B’nai Jehudah — first, to manage the Klein collection in all its various aspects, and second, to partner with the congregation’s educational staff in finding ways to incorporate these items into curriculum and programs.
On the lay leader side, Jocelyn Fry takes over as president. She follows Ken Sigman, who recently completed his two-year term.
