Few people can say they’ve served their community for more than 60 years. Rod Minkin, a native Kansas Citian, is one of them. Minkin has been active in the Kansas City Jewish community since the early 1960s and has left an indelible mark on it.
The Minkin family already had been established in the KC Jewish community before Rod’s birth. His grandfather was one of the founders and builders of Congregation Beth Shalom.
Minkin was born in 1935 at Menorah Medical Center. He enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves at age 17, serving for eight years. By the time he was finished in 1961, he had become a petty officer second class.
Minkin’s active involvement in the Kansas City Jewish community began shortly after his marriage to Gerre Lipoff. “My involvement with the Kansas City Jewish community came a little later than when I was growing up,” he said. “I would attribute my connection to the community to my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They were heavily involved in the Jewish community, and I found inspiration from their involvement.”
Carl and Adele Lipoff, Minkin’s in-laws, were both pillars of the community in his view. “They did so many wonderful things,” Minkin said. “[They were] extremely well-regarded and just lovely people.”
During Minkin’s six decades of service to the Jewish community, he served as chairman of the board of Menorah Medical Center, chairman of the board of directors and 12-year board member of Village Shalom, president of a B’nai Brith Lodge, treasurer of the Jewish Federation of Kansas City, treasurer of the Jewish Community Archives of Greater Kansas City, board member of the Jewish Community Center, board member of Congregation Beth Shalom, and also held various positions with Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605, the Menorah Legacy Foundation, the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee, Vaad HaKashruth and Jewish Heritage Foundation. This is not a comprehensive list; Minkin has held countless positions in a wide variety of different Jewish organizations or programs.
Minkin’s first role in the Jewish community, however, was simply calling on community members for donations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. Minkin said that even with the large number of volunteer positions, he never sought them out. “I was certainly willing to serve,” he said. “I guess one thing led to another.”
Some of Minkin’s fond memories come from his time as president of a B’nai Brith Lodge. Minkin’s lodge was named after Dag Hammarskjöld, a Swedish Secretary-General of the United Nations who died in a plane crash. The lodge was specifically for young businessmen. During his tenure as president, Minkin remembers hosting a fundraiser for which the lodge rented out an entire movie theater to watch “Fiddler on the Roof.” The lodge also hosted Senator Bob Dole — Minkin remembers him being very knowledgeable about Israeli affairs.
In another role, as treasurer at the Jewish Federation, Minkin described not only being a fundraiser, but also making sure funds were appropriately spent. He had much appreciation for those he worked alongside.
“The Federation has always had wonderful staff. I can’t speak highly enough of the people,” Minkin said. “The Federation made me more conscious of all the good things that it does, specifically in the allocation process and the programs that it provides.”
As a veteran himself, Minkin remains active with Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605. He has helped raise funds to provide supplies and clothes to more than 400 veterans and various veterans hospitals. He’s also taken part in ceremonial aspects.
Minkin currently lives at Village Shalom, where he previously served as a chairman and board member. “Village Shalom has been very good to me and many others. It’s a wonderful place to live — I can attest to that,” he said. “So many people have been treated so well here. People here are just fantastic, wonderful people — very loving people. I’m referring not just to the residents, but also the staff.”
Minkin is clear about his opinions on the community. “[The Kansas City Jewish Community] means a lot to me,” Minkin said. “It’s a gift to be involved. It’s a wonderful thing to be here. So many people have been very kind to me over the years. I hope it made me a better person. It has been a very meaningful part of my life.”
