Virtual event with Edgar Mendez is scheduled for April 17
Edgar Mendez of Neiva, Colombia, is a Jew by choice, a former Catholic priest and at one time a high-ranking official in his diocese.
In May, Shira Wajcman and Dini Freed will be installed as co-presidents of Beth Shalom Sisterhood. Shira is currently Sisterhood president and will continue in that role for a second term as co-president with Dini Freed. Previously, Shira served in many positions on the Sisterhood board. She received the Sisterhood Past Presidents Leadership Recognition Award in 2019. Shira is a native of Kansas City. She was married to Michael Wajcman until his death in 2011 and has three children, Jeremiah, Samantha , and Eitan.
Why was this year’s Passover different from all other years?
According to the Pew Research Center, Passover is the most observed Jewish holiday in the United States, with some 70% of its Jewish population of 5.7 million usually participating in a Seder. This year, many restrictions remained in place, even as vaccination rates increased. The threat of infection remained real, and not everyone felt safe enough to venture out just yet.
KU Hillel just finished its second (and hopefully last) pandemic Passover. Passover was celebrated by so many students through various KU Hillel programs over the holiday’s eight days.
Join the Heritage Center at The J and celebrate the extraordinary presence of Jews in China with “Kreplach & Dim Sum – Yes, there are Jews in China!” on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Brian Carter, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Missouri, will rock in a chair for 63 straight hours in downtown Columbia in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Carter will rock from today thru April 17.
The J and Chabad of Leawood present a family picnic and puppet show and an LGBTQIA picnic Is hosted by Jewish Experiences
There are two special events celebrating Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer.
Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago and Brandeis University will be contacting members of the community starting April 20 as part of a comprehensive Jewish community study project.
Editor’s note: With Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) set to be observed April 15, The Chronicle is running this timely blog post by Stolper, who is posting a series of entries on the temple website to mark B’nai Jehudah’s 150th anniversary.
Becca Browar named as new site director
The J in partnership with The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah will reopen the B’nai Jehudah Child Development Center (CDC) beginning with the new school year on August 20. Along with the reopening, Becca Browar has been named as the new site director. B’nai Jehudah CDC temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
