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After 10 years of working with B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) in Kansas City, senior regional director Annie Rifkin is leaving the organization to follow a new career path.

In the midst of rising antisemitism, an increase in disinformation and Missouri’s new laws mandating Holocaust education, the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE) holds an opportunity for local and rural educators to further learn about the Holocaust in order to better teach their students.

The University of Kansas’s Jewish Faculty and Staff Council (JFSC) recently elected Dr. David Slusky as its new president. The organization, now in its second year, is intended to be a resource for KU’s Jewish professionals regarding matters relevant to Jews at the university.

The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) has announced that Joshua Stein will serve as its next executive director, beginning in January of 2024.

After running A-Lotta-Stuff at Stan’s for nearly 20 years, Lori Siegel is closing its doors at the end of August. The property, located at 6700 Kaw Dr. in Kansas City, Kansas, has ties to the Siegel family that run back to the 1950s. Siegel, who is retiring, has run and managed the location as a thrift store since 2005. 

A unique aspect of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City’s summer day camp is its two Israeli emissaries who provide Jewish and Israeli perspectives and activities to the campers.

Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has named Jay Lewis as its new president and CEO. Lewis will succeed past president and CEO Helene Lotman.

The Village Shalom board of directors announced that Matt Lewis, the senior living community’s CEO, is stepping down. Simon Abrahms, Village Shalom’s current treasurer and finance committee chair, will serve as interim CEO until someone is found by a recently-formed search committee.

Following six other local governments, the City of Overland Park, Kansas, government adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

In the next three years, all Missouri school districts must have a plan in place to annually instruct students about the Holocaust.