A lot has changed in Kansas City’s Jewish community in 35 years. Key findings from the recent Kansas City Jewish Community Study conducted by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City found a need for change, collaboration and connection.
In the wake of the community study, Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, invites the public to attend “Enduring Challenges, Crucial Conversations,” a facilitated conversation on Monday evening, Dec. 5. The 6 p.m. program will take place in The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J, featuring a facilitated discussion with Kansas City’s own Debbie Sosland-Edelman and Doron Krakow, CEO and President of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America.
“All too often, we shy away from difficult conversations and situations where we might feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. This happens on all levels of Jewish life, even amongst the highest levels of our community,” said Ethan Helfand, Jewish Experiences’ Director, who will moderate the conversation. “We want to model a conversation for our community and think through questions about what it means to take risks with the end goal of innovating and investing in the future of our community.
“This evening will give us an opportunity to lay out what we’re thinking about and help us jump start conversations about what's next for our Jewish community. Change is hard, but change is also necessary. So, it’s imperative that we provide a forum for this discussion. We want to commit to change and the hard work that comes with it, and there is no better way to start that process than by inviting the community to the table for that discussion,” Helfand said.
Both Sosland-Edelman and Krakow have been actively engaged in positive change within the various Jewish and general organizations in which they have served. A lifelong-Kansas Citian, Sosland-Edelman is the executive director of the Sosland Foundation, which provides financial support to social welfare, education, health-related, civic, cultural and Jewish organizations in Kansas City. Sosland-Edelman has a doctorate in developmental and child psychology and worked as an assistant professor in clinical pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
She has served on various boards including the Jewish Community Center, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and was a member of the first class of the Federation’s Helzberg Leadership Fellows. In addition, Sosland-Edelman was the past board chair at Children’s Mercy Hospital and continues on its board as well City Year Kansas City, The Jewish Theological Seminary and the Hall Center for the Humanities. She and husband Alan Edelman raised their children here, providing her with a depth of knowledge about the local Jewish community.
"As a lifelong Kansas Citian, I'm always excited to see collaboration between our communal organizations, especially in an effort to tackle some of the more difficult topics facing our Jewish community,” Sosland-Edelman said. “As both a community funder and an actively engaged community member, I think it's important that we take the time to reflect on where we have been while also ideating on the future and where we need to go. It's time we engage in conversations on how we think about both funding our community and how we innovate and respond to the needs of our ever-changing community."
Since joining JCCA in 2017, Krakow has guided the organization in forging new partnerships, deepening its relationships with philanthropic donors, and strengthening Jewish life across the U.S. and Canada.
Krakow brings more than 25 years of experience with Jewish organizations to his work, previously holding senior leadership posts with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Jewish Federations of North America; and Young Judaea.
Krakow currently serves as a vice-chair of the JPRO Network board and a board member of Tzofim: Friends of Israel Scouts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University as well as an MBA from Cornell University. Krakow and his family are longtime members of the Kaplan JCC on the Palisades.
"Over the years, it has become increasingly clear to me that Jewish communities can’t be painted with a broad brush,” Krakow said. “While interests and concerns certainly overlap, each local community, and each JCC, is a unique reflection of circumstance, leadership, resources and opportunities. The North American Jewish community is a jigsaw puzzle, and every piece is unique, though together they comprise a common whole.”
“The only way to truly know a local Jewish community,” Krakow said, “is to take the time to visit, to meet with its leaders, to walk its facilities and to determine, together, how best to partner with and support its efforts in pursuit of a greater Jewish community and more vibrant Jewish life.”
Following Sosland-Edelman and Krakow’s conversation, community members will have the opportunity to ask questions. A dessert reception will follow the program.
The program is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is encouraged at the thejkc.org/jccaconversation. Those who do register will be able to submit their questions for the speakers prior to the program.
Helfand looks forward to a productive evening.
“We understand that we may not end the evening having come up with solutions for all of the challenges and opportunities facing our community,” Helfand said. “Still, the more we commit to grappling with big questions, the more opportunities we will find to change our community for the better.”
Jewish Experiences aims to find ways to bring both the Jewish people and Jewish organizations of Kansas City together to find new and innovative ways to live, learn, and think Jewishly. Jewish Experiences seeks to empower people to be engaged in their Jewishness and strive to engage those who have not previously been engaged in our community, helping them live a Jewish life that is authentic and meaningful to them.
