Samantha von Ende and Gavriela Geller, a married couple at the forefront of the Kansas City Jewish community’s fight against antisemitism, have each recently received national recognition for their efforts.
Von Ende, an academic and advocate as well as co-founder and executive director of the AMICUS Institute for Governance, has been recognized by Hadassah as one of this year’s “18 American Zionist Women You Should Know.” Geller, the executive director of Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC), was honored with a Director’s Community Leadership Award from the FBI.
Von Ende credits her work founding and directing the AMICUS Institute with helping develop her communication skills that benefit her Jewish and Zionist advocacy. Other formal endeavors in that field include being the former director of academic affairs for the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States; an educator and committee member of Limmud; a Birthright staff leader; and being involved with Israel Policy Forum.
As the executive director of JCRB|AJC, Geller leads a five-person team in combating antisemitism in Kansas City. JCRB|AJC represents the Jewish communities in Kansas and Western Missouri in matters of public policy on all levels of education and government, ranging from school administrators to law enforcement and state officials. She and her team facilitate programs, teach classes, lead events and meet with officials to work to fight antisemitism and injustice.
Samantha von Ende — “A Zionist Woman You Should Know”
Described by Hadassah as a “scholar, advocate, educator and strategic visionary,” von Ende is one of the 18 women highlighted by Hadassah in its second annual list of women “making an impact and shaping the future of Zionism.”
“It’s a profound honor to be recognized by Hadassah in this capacity,” von Ende said. “Hadassah is a revered institution which upholds principles that I believe every human on Earth would find respectable: healthcare, youth development, self sovereignty, women’s inclusion in matters of community interest.”
Among the other honorees are actress Debra Messing, social media influencer Shai Albrecht and poet Tova Ricardo. (The full list of honorees is available at hadassah.org/18women.) Von Ende said her fellow awardees inspire her and that she is fortunate to interact with Hadassah in her work.
Geller feels great pride in her spouse’s achievement.
“Anyone who knows Sam knows that she is one of the most uniquely brilliant minds of our time,” Geller said. “To have her insight, ideas, analysis, and tangible support as an educator and leader, has been such a gift to our whole community — and most of that support is done so quietly that people will never know how hard she works for all of us.”
Gavriela Geller — FBI Honoree
Geller received her award from FBI Director Christopher Way on April 19. The Director’s Community Leadership Award is awarded yearly by the national bureau to a person or organization from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.
“Ms. Geller is a trusted partner of the FBI Kansas City,” said Stephen Cyrus, special agent in charge at FBI Kansas City. “Through her leadership with the JCRB|AJC, the FBI enjoys a strong partnership. Her work serving the community, as well as her work connecting the community and law enforcement, is deserving of this recognition.”
Geller, who wanted to join the FBI as a teenager, is proud to work with and be honored by the organization.
“It’s so meaningful to be recognized for JCRB|AJC’s efforts to bring communities together to fight hate and extremism,” she said. “...I’m grateful and honored that they feel my efforts — really, our organization’s efforts — have been impactful in creating safer communities across our region.”
Von Ende said that Geller is deserving of this award, and she is proud of her spouse for her work.
“Gavi’s award is remarkable and yet a well-deserved national recognition for her cross-community work promoting justice, safety, dialogue and inter-community relationship-building in this city and region,” von Ende said. “...From board development and staff recruiting to Jewish youth empowerment and effective government relations, Gavi is a star. We are seen better because of her light.”
Fighting antisemitism as a couple
Both Geller and von Ende grew up in the Kansas City Jewish community, attended Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA) and were steeped in Jewish values by their families. Despite both being alumnae from HBHA, they did not know each other when they were students.
Von Ende’s family centers around Judaism. With her family being members of Congregation Beth Shalom for multiple generations, Von Ende remembers her parents telling her that being Jewish was in her soul. She attended the Child Development Center and HBHA, went to the American Hebrew Academy and attended Alexander Muss High School in Israel in 2005. When she attended law school at Indiana University, she did not anticipate it becoming a path towards advocacy for Jewish protection and Zionism. She returned to the Kansas City community and thanks Megan Pener, Rabbi David Glickstein, Mark Sosland and Hillary Parker Thomas for their help enabling her re-entry to the community that led to her civic engagement and community participation.
Geller attended Congregations Beth Shalom and Beth Torah while growing up. Being Jewish was important to her father, who died when she was 10. She felt an obligation to continue his sense of identity and commitment to family, leading to her transferring to HBHA for her freshman year of high school — a move she called “the most pivotal decision in [her] Jewish journey.”
Geller and von Ende met each other as adults and formed a deep bond. Geller said that since their first date, she and von Ende shared a connection in expertise and passion in community relations, Israel advocacy and combating antisemitism.
Now married, von Ende and Geller continue to fight antisemitism together. They both said that the current wave of antisemitism is not over, but this does not deter them.
In addition to the ongoing factors driving the current wave of antisemitism — the Israel-Hamas War, disinformation, misinformation, media biases, lack of media literacy, social media and artificial intelligence — Geller predicts that future challenges will likely perpetuate it. For example, the upcoming presidential election and its implications for Israel-U.S. relations have major potential to heighten antisemitism (on top of spikes in antisemitism normally seen during election cycles). Von Ende also included academic culture and the “unequal standards or moving goalposts in the continual demonization of Israel within various institutions worldwide” as significant issues.
Despite the current and upcoming challenges in Jewish relations and combating antisemitism, both von Ende and Geller are steadfast in their goals of creating a better world for the Jewish community, and they are energized and inspired by each other’s efforts and the progress made.
“Sam and I share the same values and the same passion and commitment to the Jewish community,” Geller said. “...Everything we do is for our ancestors and for our future generations. And to be able to connect with my spouse on that level — spiritually and professionally — it’s incredible.”
