Nearly 200 people participated in the recent virtual community Day of Jewish Discovery. Twenty-four classes covering a wide range of topics were offered throughout the day and presented by 28 different presenters. Participants had the opportunity to learn and study with some of the community’s finest Jewish educators, rabbis, professors, and cantors who shared their time and expertise with attendees.
Dr. Bob Hill, Deacon Bill School and Rabbi Michael Zedek facilitated a lively and engaging lunch discussion with the more than 100 in attendance. The three are cofounders and radio co-hosts of the popular weekly Sunday morning radio show Religion on the Line, on KCMO Talk Radio 710 AM.
The discussion included responses to questions from the audience as well as conversations about themes, connections, and challenges for the radio show over the past 28 years.
Also part of this year’s Day of Discovery was a special Mitzvah Garden project, facilitated by Ken Sonnenschein. The group discussed mitzvot in Torah that commands us to care for those in need by providing food while maintaining one’s dignity and then harvested produce from the garden. The produce was delivered by a volunteer from the Seventh Day Adventist community directly to the food pantry at her church.
“What a wonderful day of learning and doing good work together,” Sonnenschein said.
Planning for the annual Day of Discovery began eight months prior to the event and was made possible by a team of extraordinary volunteers and professionals from congregations and partnering agencies.
“It is a delight to work with this remarkable group of amazing and dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to make this event possible,” said Annette Fish, administrator/program director of the Rabbinical Association.
Task force members involved in planning the day include Mari Anne Birnbaum, Lainie Decker, Joel Fish, Elliott Franks, Marti Fry, Joyce Fulps, Ben Gaddert, Henri Gaddert, Dayna Gershon, Cristi Gillom, Jody Gittleman, Lauren Gladish, Henri Goettel, Molly Hess, Linda Hyken, Marian Kaplan, Simon Kass, Sam Matier, Pat McKenna, Vicki Mooney, Peter Pizor, Gillian Singer, Teri Smith, Frank Tankard and Felicia Weiner.
The virtual Zoom platform for this year’s program was made possible by the Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Dayna Gershon, director of formal and informal Jewish education at B’nai Jehudah, set up the Zoom rooms for each class and coordinated and provided technical support both prior to the program and throughout the day. She was assisted during the program by Peter Pizor, Adam Pizor and Lillian Teague.
Each class had a trained session facilitator to assist their presenter. Facilitators included: Marian Crosson, Dawn Gale, Cristi Gillom, Glenn Esser, Simon Kass, Josh Hoffman, Sam Matier, Teri Smith, Frank Tankard, Lillian Teague and Glenn Young.
At registration, participants were given the opportunity to make an optional donation to benefit the JFS food pantry. Approximately $1,000 was collected in donations for this year’s High Holiday food drive.
The program is sponsored by The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City and generous funding is provided by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
Partnering agencies include The J KC - Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Village Shalom, Jewish Family Services and area congregations.
