Rickie Haith will be honored at Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sisterhood Torah Fund Luncheon on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. in Beth Shalom’s Goldsmith Hall, 14200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas.
Haith is being honored for her years of service to the Sisterhood, Beth Shalom, and the Greater Kansas City Community.
Haith is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and had her religious training and confirmation at Beth Shalom. She is a life member of the board of directors of the congregation and has chaired various celebrations and events in the synagogue and the community. She has served as president of the Sisterhood and held other offices including Torah Fund chair and vice president of program, education, and membership. Haith is also the facilitator of Sisterhood’s PrayerWorks, which she began in 1997. PrayerWorks has won awards for promoting healing and spirituality locally and nationally for 25 years. It is open to the community.
Haith’s passion is Jewish education and Jewish living. She studied in the 11-year Bat Torah program with Rabbi Morris Margolies (z”l). They studied the bible and Jewish history. Haith also taught in the Beth Shalom religious school for over 10 years.
More of Haith’s achievements and celebrations include being the first woman to have a haftorah at a Sisterhood Shabbat; chairing the Sisterhood Torah Fund Luncheon for two years; being honored by the Jewish Theological Seminary for writing and directing a Midrash, “And Moses Cried….;” and holding a position on the International Women’s League Torah Fund Cabinet for over 20 years.
Haith continues to support Torah Fund, the Jewish Theological Seminary as well as working for the extended organization. In the International Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Haith has also held many positions, including vice president. She is a trainer, planner, and advisor, editor of the former Outlook magazine, and book reviewer.
Among Haith’s many awards are Ultimate Friends of Sheffield Cemetery 2012, Mordechai Award, Miriam’s Award, Kovod Award 2005, Eishet Hayil Award, PrayerWorks recognition, and Woman of Valor Award from both the local Hadassah Chapter and the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Auxiliary.
Rickie was the first president/chair of Friends of Sheffield Cemetery from 2003 to 2023. She was honored for her work and leadership for the restoration, renovation, and beautification of the cemetery grounds and historic chapel last month, when Spencer Schere was installed as the new chair of the organization along with other executive board members.
She is an active life member and past president of Hadassah, Greater Kansas City Chapter; past president of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy PTA; past president of All City Parent’s Council of Jewish Education; and life board member of Brandeis Women’s Organization and Council of Jewish Women.
Haith holds a Bachelor of Arts and postgraduate studies in education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She taught first grade in the Kansas City School District. She was married for 62 years to Dr. Edward Haith (z”l). Her three children are Elisa Pener (James), Dion Lutzk (Howard), and Dr. Brian Haith (Debra). She has 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren so far.
As the dedicated philanthropy of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, Torah Fund supports scholarships and programs in the worldwide Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher Jewish learning.
The cost for the luncheon is $25, and there is a minimum donation to Torah Fund of $18 to attend the luncheon. For more information, please contact Torah Fund Co-Chairs Toba Maslan () or Rita Shapiro (). Co-chairs for the Torah Fund Luncheon are Phyllis Abrams and Sally Gordon.
