Jewish Family Services recently announced several staff promotions enhancing its relationships with key stakeholders and partner programs.

Formerly the JFS Director of Volunteer Engagement, Taly Friedman has been named Director of Corporate Relations. Friedman joined JFS eight years ago and has significantly grown the agency’s volunteer program.

Help stock the Jewish Family Services pantry as part of its Communitywide Food Drive from 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Jewish Community Campus, 5801 W 115th St., Overland Park, Kan. Drop off will be in the front circle drive where JFS volunteers and staff will take items directly from cars.

In the wake of the United States military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the mass evacuation of Afghans this summer, Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City is helping more than 180 Afghan refugees resettle in the Kansas City area.

Since it was established last year, one of the main goals of Jewish Experiences, a collaboration between Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and The J, has been to reach members of the Jewish community who have been underrepresented or marginalized. That includes members of the LGTBQIA+ community.

KU Chabad hosted 17 holiday programs over the eight days of Hanukkah. The celebrations ranged from a community Hanukkah celebration in downtown Lawrence, Kan., to a Menorah lighting at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka.

For more than two decades, KU Hillel has celebrated its community with an annual Rock Chalk Shabbat. During the pandemic, it transformed its usual 500-person event into a virtual Rock Chalk Shabayit, where their community welcomed the event into their bayits (homes).