The Kansas City Jewish community will hold a gathering in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2014 shootings that took place outside of The J and Village Shalom.
The commemoration will be outside of The Shirley and Lewis White Theatre entrance at The J (5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS 66214) on Friday, April 12, at 5 p.m. Registration will be required.
On April 13, 2014, an antisemitic gunman shot and killed three people in shootings outside of The J and Village Shalom with the intent of killing Jews. The effects and echoes of the shootings are still felt a decade later; the Kansas City Jewish community continues to build upon and enhance existing security measures in a world of increasing antisemitism.
Rabbi Moshe Grussgott, president of the Rabbinical Association of Kansas City and rabbi of Kehilath Israel Synagogue, will provide a rabbinic perspective to the commemoration. Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda of Congregation Beth Shalom will provide song and prayer. Organization and lay chairs will make remarks.
Attendees that Friday will receive a bag with two Shabbat tealights, candle-lighting blessings and a purple tealight, because purple was the favorite color of Terri LaManno, one of the victims.
“The focus will be on remembrance and a commitment to combating the hatred that was responsible for the heinous act ten years ago,” said Alan Edelman, the event chair representing Village Shalom. “[The shooter] murdered three very special people who became part of our community through their involvement in Jewish institutions. We must make sure that their memories continue to be a blessing to their families and community.”
