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Beth Shalom Sisterhood announces officers and board of directors

In May, Shira Wajcman and Dini Freed will be installed as co-presidents of Beth Shalom Sisterhood. Shira is currently Sisterhood president and will continue in that role for a second term as co-president with Dini Freed. Previously, Shira served in many positions on the Sisterhood board. She received the Sisterhood Past Presidents Leadership Recognition Award in 2019. Shira is a native of Kansas City. She was married to Michael Wajcman until his death in 2011 and has three children, Jeremiah, Samantha , and Eitan.

Jewish Greeks celebrate Passover with KU Chabad

Why was this year’s Passover different from all other years?

According to the Pew Research Center, Passover is the most observed Jewish holiday in the United States, with some 70% of its Jewish population of 5.7 million usually participating in a Seder. This year, many restrictions remained in place, even as vaccination rates increased. The threat of infection remained real, and not everyone felt safe enough to venture out just yet.

All about KU Hillel’s Passover

KU Hillel just finished its second (and hopefully last) pandemic Passover. Passover was celebrated by so many students through various KU Hillel programs over the holiday’s eight days.

The Heritage Center at The J Presents ‘Kreplach & Dim Sum — Yes, there are Jews in China!’

Join the Heritage Center at The J and celebrate the extraordinary presence of Jews in China with “Kreplach & Dim Sum – Yes, there are Jews in China!” on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

B’nai Jehudah member prodded President Truman on Israel issues

Editor’s note: With Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) set to be observed April 15, The Chronicle is running this timely blog post by Stolper, who is posting a series of entries on the temple website to mark B’nai Jehudah’s 150th anniversary.

B’nai Jehudah CDC enrolling for August reopening

Becca Browar named as new site director

The J in partnership with The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah will reopen the B’nai Jehudah Child Development Center (CDC) beginning with the new school year on August 20. Along with the reopening, Becca Browar has been named as the new site director. B’nai Jehudah CDC temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn Laugh & Love offers interactive program with challah

Nothing says Jewish cuisine like challah! Just its aroma conjures up memories of holidays, home and tradition.

Synergy Services celebrates the Power of Kindness

Synergy Services is pleased to announce that it will be holding the 31st annual Kindest Kansas Citian Award via virtual livestream on May 7 at 7 p.m.. The event will honor Jake Jacobson, the Geiger family, 20 everyday heroes in Kansas City chosen from the community, and Gracemor Elementary School as the 2021 Rita Blitt Kindest School.

Kansas City, Kansas, Catholic newspaper runs series on anti-semitism

Sources include leaders in the local Jewish community

The Leaven, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, recently explored past and present roots of anti-semitsm. The stories below are reprinted with the permission of the paper, which introduced the series as follows:

Jewish Family Services Spiritual Care volunteer gives from the heart

Spiritual Care Volunteers are integral to Jewish Family Services’ Chaplaincy Program and fulfill the mitzvah of bikkur cholim — visiting the sick. Working with Jewish Community Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick’s guidance, Brad Ordo is among this group of volunteers who receive extensive training to work in the healthcare community serving Jewish patients’ spiritual needs.

KU Hillel encourages open conversations in new program

Amid the pandemic, KU Hillel sought out new programming to keep students engaged. Recalling his thoughtful conversations in years prior, KU Hillel’s Rabbi Neal Schuster conceived his now popular “What the Bleep is Going On” program.

Rabbinical Association, congregations help stock JFS Food Pantry

Hunger never takes a holiday. The two locations of Jewish Family Services Food Pantry continue to offer support for the growing number of individuals facing food insecurity. Each month, the JFS pantry is serving more than 900 families with food, personal care items, cleaning supplies and pet food. JFS relies on food drives and donations for 50% of the products it distributes — so it needs your help.

White Theatre to present ‘Fiddler in Concert’ — a virtual cabaret

“Tradition! Tradition! Tradition!” Those words evoke images of the Broadway musical masterpiece, “Fiddler on the Roof.” Many of the memorable songs of “Fiddler on the Roof” will be part of “Fiddler in Concert,” a virtual cabaret, presented by The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J, April 11 through May 9. The concert will be performed and pre-recorded and then available for viewing on-demand for $18 per household.

Jewish Film Festival at The J and MCHE present ‘Those Who Remained’

The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival at The J, in partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE), will present the film “Those Who Remained” in honor of Yom HaShoah. The film is available for viewing on-demand April 7 through 14. A virtual presentation and discussion with Dr. Shelly Cline, director of education and historian with MCHE, will be at 8 p.m. April 14.

The J’s CDC and after-school program staff get COVID-19 vaccines

Safety remains top priority for The J

As Kansas entered phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination roll-out plan, Machaela Whelan, director of The J’s Child Development Center (CDC), worked with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to register qualifying employees for COVID-19 vaccinations. As of mid-March, the majority of the CDC’s and The J’s after-school program’s approximately 75 teachers and staff had received vaccinations.

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