Ethan Hobbs and David Wasserman, two seniors at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA), led a project to create a new mechitzah for the school’s chapel.
A mechitzah is a divider between men’s and women’s sections in traditional Jewish prayer spaces.
The new mechitzah consists of four sections, each on wheels, with a lowerable section to create more visibility and room after prayer services. Each of the sections are also dedicated — one each to Lynn Kuluva (z”l); Frank Loeffler (z”l); the Sosover family; and KCteen.
Having used a mechitzah built by students in 1999 for 26 years, HBHA celebrated the new one on Aug. 29 at the school’s morning pre-Shabbat gathering. Hobbs led a presentation, and David Kuluva, Josef Loeffler and the Sosover family were recognized. After the death of former HBHA principal Todd Clauer (z”l) later that day, Hobbs said that Clauer also deserves recognition.
At the unveiling, Hobbs explained that mechitzot should fulfil halakhic standards; should “look natural and be pleasant to see;” and are meant to separate space, not people.
“An important point I want to stress is that the mechitzah is not saying that one party is more important than the other,” Hobbs said. “In Judaism, men and women have equal value. The mechitzah’s goal is simply to make it a more respectful and meaningful experience for everyone involved.”
Hobbs and Wasserman began ideating a new mechitzah last school year. They researched materials that would match the HBHA chapel and worked to sand and finish the wood to ensure that the mechitzah would last for years. They involved other students and members of the KCteen Jewish youth group in the construction efforts, and as the project continued, community member and HBHA alumnus David Kuluva offered his support and garage as a working space.
The new HBHA mechitzah in the HBHA chapel.
Kuluva’s role in the project stems from honoring his late father, Lynn Kuluva, to whom one of the mechitzah sections is dedicated.
“My dad played an integral part in me both identifying and continuing to express my Jewish faith,” he said. “...Unfortunately, he passed away in February very suddenly, and I found myself quickly trying to find a place that I would be comfortable saying morning prayers and saying Kaddish at.
“One day, I overheard Ethan talking about this project that he wanted to do with some friends, and I was immediately intrigued by it,” Kuluva continued. “It would be something that I would enjoy taking part in, so I really appreciated being involved with it.”
Loeffler also spoke at the dedication as a section was dedicated to his late father, Frank Loeffler. He said that his father “loved [Israel] very much, as well as Kansas City, as well as Jewish education, which this school so beautifully represents.”
Loeffler and Hobbs also thanked Rabbi Berel and Chanie Sosover, who are marking their 20th anniversary as educators at HBHA
“They are such a light in our community,” Loeffler said. “They commit to bringing Yiddishkeit, Judaism, in such a beautiful way.”
Hobbs said that the fourth section was sponsored by KCteen “in honor of all those who helped build and make the mechitzah project possible.” They included Eitan Silver, Ezra Jacobs, Simon Granoff, Uriel Noorollah, Noam White and Ron Shuster. Additional thanks were given to Kerry Kuluva and Chris Hobbs.
