In the past year, more than a dozen leadership positions at Kansas City Jewish community organizations changed hands. These new leaders’ efforts will play a part in determining the course of the Jewish community over the coming months and years.
The Chronicle reached out to the new wave of leaders to get their perspectives on their positions and what they hope 2025 will bring for their organizations and the Kansas City Jewish community.
Serving Jewish students
Three Jewish educational institutions welcomed new leadership in 2024: Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA), which serves Jewish students from kindergarten through 12th grade; Congregation Beth Torah’s Weiner Religious School, which serves pre-K through 10th grade; and KU Hillel, which serves Jewish students at the University of Kansas.
HBHA welcomed Annie Glickman as its new head of school last June. She had previously held an executive position in the community as Jewish Federation’s campaign director, helping to raise millions of dollars for its annual campaigns and the Israel Emergency Campaign.
“I’ve been struck by the dedication and commitment I have seen at HBHA. It is inspiring to be part of an institution in which there is so much emotional investment,” Glickman said. “We are not only a community of learners but a family. I am proud of our high level of volunteer engagement by our parents, grandparents and others who value what we offer.”
Glickman said that in 2025, with the talent and dedication of the school’s faculty and administration, HBHA will “prioritize accessibility for anyone who wants to come learn more about what we do… to open our doors even wider so that HBHA is accessible.”
Beth Torah welcomed a new director for its Weiner Religious School, Sara Glass. She had previously served for years at the synagogue, returning in 2024 to take the religious school director role after spending time in California.
“From the moment I was welcomed so warmly to hitting the ground running with the religious school, the [Beth Torah] community has come together to support each other,” Glass said.
Growth and “outstanding content and education… while cultivating our tikkun olam mission” are among Glass’ goals for the Weiner Religious School this year, and she emphasized that creativity, innovation and supporting children with special needs are key to the school’s mission.
KU Hillel also welcomed new leadership in June — its new executive director, Ethan Helfand, succeeded Suzy Sostrin and interim Bailey Nakelsky, who took an executive position at The J. Helfand was previously the director of Jewish Experiences.
“It’s been a whirlwind first six months and a wonderful first semester at KU Hillel,” Helfand said. “We’ve been lucky to engage with hundreds of new and returning students, celebrating Jewish life at KU. As with any new job, there has been a tremendous amount to learn, and I’m grateful to our staff, students, board and the broader community for their continued support as we think together about the future of KU Hillel.”
In addition to strategic growth, Helfand’s hopes for KU Hillel in 2025 include new connections with parents, alumni and supporters and “expanded opportunities where our students are empowered to develop their own Jewish identities and pursue their own Jewish journeys.”
Synagogues
Two of Kansas City’s synagogues, Kehilath Israel Synagogue (K.I.) and Congregation Beth Shalom, announced new leaders in 2024.
K.I.’s new Executive Director Shelley Palmarine began last fall. She succeeds Elizabeth Peden, who took an executive role at the Jewish Community Foundation.
“It’s been wonderful to learn the customs and traditions of the Jewish faith, and I look forward to learning more each day,” Palmarine said. She also said that the K.I. Grand Givers fundraising event was a success, and that her first few months were a “whirlwind.”
For 2025, Palmarine’s hope for K.I. is “to help create and implement a vision that offers enhanced opportunities for our members to grow in their faith as well as expand those opportunities into a vibrant ministry in our community.”
Rabbi Talia Kaplan joined Beth Shalom’s clergy team last summer, joining Rabbi David Glickman and Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda in leading the congregation’s spiritual and pastoral services.
“It’s been such a pleasure becoming further integrated in the Beth Shalom community,” Rabbi Kaplan said. “Our congregants are gems, and I am grateful to serve in this synagogue.”
Rabbi Kaplan looks forward to the “increased capacity for pastoral care with the expanded clergy team” at Beth Shalom. Among her and the clergy team’s upcoming initiatives are new adult education offerings, teen trips, engagement with local justice initiatives and young adult gatherings for people in their 20s and 30s.
New leaders at The J
The J announced two new chief officers in 2024, as well as a new director for Jewish Experiences.
Beginning in May, Carly Stein became the new chief operating officer. Stein spent five years working for KU Hillel and nine years leading projects in digital marketing before joining The J’s team.
“I’ve had the privilege of stepping into a leadership role where collaboration, growth and innovation are at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “...The work we do is truly impactful, and I’m constantly amazed by the dedication and passion everyone brings to the table. It’s been exciting to get to know the incredible people in our community and work alongside them to push the organization forward.”
Stein’s hope for The J in the coming year is to continue being a “beacon of innovation” and “to build upon the solid foundation that has been laid and continue to expand our programs, reach new audiences, and deepen our connections within the community. It is essential that we remain adaptable, inclusive, and committed to providing a space where all individuals feel welcome and supported.”
In August, Molly Hess took the reins of Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, succeeding Ethan Helfand. Her experience in the local Jewish nonprofit world includes working with Priya, Jewish Family Services and the TribeKC group for Jewish young adults.
Hess said that her first few months at Jewish Experiences and seeing the reach the program has across the Kansas City Jewish community were “eye-opening.”
“In 2025, we hope to explore the way we do programming and how we reach the community,” she said. “The hope is to have more one-on-one engagement with community members that leads directly to new programs and opportunities to connect with community.”
In November, Bailey Nakelsky began work as The J’s chief development officer, a new role created to increase fundraising and support for the organization. She previously served as the interim executive director of KU Hillel and has been heavily involved in The J’s programming since moving here in 2019.
“I have loved immersing myself in the work of The J and learning about the vibrant programs we offer,” Nakelsky said. “I have had to balance a mix of behind-the-scenes work, like researching a new database system, with the more people-centered elements of my portfolio that I love, like working with our volunteer leadership to build a new committee or being inspired by my colleagues and the KC SuperStar Committee as we envision what this year’s big event will look like.”
Nakelsky has taken on multiple projects in the months since she began and said that “they are all leading up to big things — programmatic growth, event ideas and opportunities to engage more people in philanthropic support.”
New leadership at JCF
The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF), crucial to the community’s charitable resources, welcomed three new leaders in 2024.
Joshua Stein began as the organization’s new executive director in January. Succeeding Lauren Mattleman Hoopes, Stein was promoted from within JCF, having been its director of philanthropy for a decade. A native of Kansas City, he has spent more than 25 years as a Jewish leader in communities in Kansas, Oregon and Indiana.
“This was a wonderful year of personal and professional growth and a record-breaking year for the Jewish Community Foundation, seeing assets under management grow to our highest levels,” Stein said. “The collective impact of this generosity, along with the positive momentum from our investment efforts, cannot be understated and will benefit our community in both the short and long term.”
Stein anticipates a year of continued JCF growth as “new staff members gain more experience in their roles and we are able to focus on new opportunities… [such as working] with donors on their charitable plans.” He said he is thankful for the JCF team and the “incredible effort, attention to detail and professionalism that each person brings to their role.”
Succeeding Stein as director of philanthropy is Suzanne Galblum Dicken, another Kansas City native with extensive nonprofit experience. She is an HBHA graduate and among the first participants in the Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek teen philanthropy program.
“I grew up in Kansas City and graduated from HBHA in 2006, so returning to [the Jewish Community Campus] to take on a leadership role with JCF feels like coming home,” she said. “In my first few months, I focused on reconnecting with community leaders, stakeholders, donors and volunteers to better understand where we stand as a community and where we are headed.”
Among Galblum Dicken’s focuses for 2025 are further solidifying JCF as “the community’s philanthropic hub” through “meaningful and personal engagement with our fundholders and the broader community.”
In the summer, JCF announced that Elizabeth Peden, former executive director of K.I. Synagogue, would be its new chief financial officer. She succeeded Kevin Taylor, who’d served in the position for 24 years. Peden has worked in the Jewish community for more than 20 years, having served 17 years as executive director at K.I.
“The opportunity to navigate the complexities of financial management while fostering collaboration across our team has been truly rewarding,” Peden said. “I’m grateful for the support from colleagues and the community, which has made this transition smooth and impactful.”
Peden said her goal is to ensure JCF’s role as a “pillar of support for all its members and the broader community” by working to “streamline our processes, enhance our financial strategies and foster a culture of innovation and transparency.”
Interim leadership
Interim leaders are currently leading Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City (JFS) and the Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC). As the organizations continue to search for permanent directors, their interim leaders work hard to continue and advance their organizations’ missions.
Helping with JFS’ transition is Awais Sufi, its interim executive director and CEO. He began in July of 2024, succeeding Kelly Davydov and utilizing his more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership to steward JFS as it searches for a new longterm leader.
“It has been an extraordinary opportunity to learn both about JFS’ vital work supporting those in need of critical social services,” Sufi said, “and also the KC Jewish community’s incredible spirit of giving and support to those in need.”
In December, JFS announced a restructuring of its operations, which Sufi said will make JFS’ work stronger.
“Alongside the hiring of a new, permanent CEO, I am excited to see our new structure in operation and bring forth even greater impact in our work,” Sufi said.
At JCRB|AJC, Neta Meltzer is serving as interim executive director. Meltzer was hired in January last year as the organization’s director of community and government relations; she was named the interim executive director in the summer, following the departure of Gavriela Geller.
“2024 was a really significant year for our organization in terms of programming, growth and change,” Meltzer said.
“This year, we continue to feel the urgency of our dual priorities, combating antisemitism and pursuing justice,” she continued. “With rates of antisemitic incidents higher than any time in recent memory and such deep divisions fracturing our society, building, deepening and repairing relationships throughout this region will be critical to creating a path forward that ensures safety and understanding for all communities.”
A positive 2025
Two main hopes for the Kansas City Jewish community were repeated by multiple leaders: increased collaboration and inclusion.
“I envision the coming year as one of recalibration for many of our Jewish agencies as new professionals are welcomed into roles and there is even greater collaboration amongst the agency leadership,” said Joshua Stein, JCF CEO. “Hopefully, we will address our challenges head-on and set a positive course for a stronger and more stable future.”
“[I hope for] continued forward momentum together,” said Helfand, KU Hillel CEO. “Our community is so wonderfully interconnected… I’m excited to continue finding ways to partner with other organizations and leaders.”
Some leaders are also hoping for a more welcoming and inclusive community to both its current and new members.
Carly Stein, The J’s COO, said that The J must “remain adaptable, inclusive and committed to providing a space where all individuals feel welcome and supported” in the community, and Hess, director of Jewish Experiences, said that her hope is that “we continue to embrace change, practice inclusion, listen to the needs of others, and show up for our community.”
“I hope we find ways to be inclusive and welcoming of those who are still trying to find their place in the Jewish community,” said Nakelsky, The J’s chief development officer. “Having moved here just five years ago, I have been so impressed with the community’s ability to take the spark of an idea and grow the dream to a reality.”
All the leaders’ hopes had one major similarity — optimism.
“I feel [the community is] on an upward trajectory,” said Glickman, HBHA head of school. “We are growing, and I hope for our Kansas City Jewish community that we harness that growth into innovative opportunities that are going to connect us.”
“Together,” said Peden, JCF CFO, “we can create a vibrant, engaged and resilient community that thrives on shared values and mutual support.”
