Community News

Jews have settled all across America for centuries, not just in big cities. While the Jewish presence in rural areas may be smaller, antisemitism remains a growing problem in those communities.

Sixteen local Jewish teens recently attended the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games and Access in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, representing the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (The J). The Kansas City delegation won more than 25 medals.

Kansas City native Neil Shapiro is returning next month for a special event. Images from his book “The Jazz Alphabet” will be on display at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre Galleria at The J. 

Congregation Beth Torah will honor Sonia Warshawski, local Holocaust survivor and subject of the documentary “Big Sonia,” as part of its Shabbat services on Friday, Sept. 1.

Through the Jewish Community Chaplaincy program housed at Jewish Family Services, the community is invited to prepare for the holidays by attending the Pre-High Holidays Service for Spiritual Renewal at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 27, at Village Shalom, 5500 W. 123rd St., Overland Park, KS 66209.

A Jewish businesswoman in Overland Park, Kansas, is celebrating the 20th anniversary this year of the networking not-for-profit she founded.

Jewish Life Television (JLTV), a nationwide Jewish-themed television network, has been added to Spectrum’s channel lineup in the Greater Kansas City area.

Community member Joseph (Joey) Frager was awarded the Citizen Commendation Award from the City of Leawood chief of police for demonstrating “incredible strength and maturity” when his mother, Jackie Frager, experienced a life-threatening medical emergency.

Once a year, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) awards one college tennis player with the Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award. This year’s winner was Leawood, Kansas, native Nathan Turtledove, who just graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

Ben Gaeddert, Jewish community member and owner of Hiatus Wine in Wamego, Kansas, recently started a new job with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).