Rabbi Mark Glass of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner (BIAV) was recently elected as president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City (RA).
Rabbi Glass succeeds Rabbi Moshe Grussgott of Kehilath Israel Synagogue.
Elected to serve with Rabbi Glass is Rabbi Stephanie Kramer of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, who accepted the position of vice president; and Rabbi Alan Londy of New Reform Temple, who will serve as secretary-treasurer.
“I’m honored to have been chosen to be president of the RA for the next two years,” Rabbi Glass said.
Rabbi Mark Glass, a native of Manchester, England, joined BIAV as its rabbi in August of 2020. He received his BA in philosophy, MA in Jewish philosophy, and rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University. Prior to moving to Kansas, he was the rabbi of the Adams Street Shul in Newton, Massachusetts, from 2017–2020 and a Judaic studies teacher at Maimonides School in both the middle and high school.
“In my few short years in Kansas City so far, I’ve already been inspired by the workings of our Rabbinical Association and by how united the rabbis are in our shared mission. It’s all too rare, unfortunately, for rabbis across different denominations to come together. What we have here at the RA is something special.”
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City includes Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Reform and non-denominational rabbis and serves as the rabbinic voice in and for the Jewish community and the larger Greater Kansas City community. It guides the community in making religious decisions for community events, supports the rabbis in their personal and professional growth and develops and nourishes collegial relationships within the association.
The RA was officially incorporated June 17, 2002. It existed as an unincorporated, entirely voluntary group for about 25 years, dating back to the mid-1970s. Over the years, the rabbis in Greater Kansas City have established a pattern of community-wide collaboration and have been called upon to provide information, guidance and leadership on both Jewish and interfaith issues. Today, the rabbis meet monthly, functioning as a board of directors and dealing with issues brought to them by the community and of their own initiative.
“Each year, our Association sponsors several community-wide religious and educational events, designed to enhance the experience of every Jew in our community,” Rabbi Glass said.
The RA offers a year-long community-wide course, “Judaism for Conversion Candidates;” a community professional development day for Jewish religious school educators; and partners with The J to offer a day-long program of Jewish learning, the community-wide Day of Discovery. In the past, The RA partnered with Jewish Family Services in creating the Community Mental Health Coalition and JFS Food Pantry, and it supports and participates in community programs such as Yom HaShoah, Yom HaAtzmaut and the Jewish Culture Fest.
“I hope to emphasize our communal unity under the sponsorship of the RA,” Rabbi Glass said. “While we’ve all felt a heightened sense of unity since the tragedy of Oct. 7, we need to come together during moments of joy as well as mourning.”
Rabbi Glass also stressed his appreciation to Rabbi Grussgott for leading the RA for the past two years.
“I look forward to being at the helm of continuing the long tradition of cooperation that we have had going in our community for so many years now,” he said.
More information about the RA is available at kcrabbi.org. Questions or additional information about the RA can be directed to Administrator/Program Director Annette Fish at or (913) 327-8226.
