Archived News

HELP SOUGHT TO INTEGRATE LOCAL JEWS-BY-CHOICE — A Jewish integration coordinator position is being created by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City to ensure the successful integration of new Jews-by-choice into their synagogues and into the Jewish community after they complete the Rabbinical Association’s yearlong community course: “Judaism for Conversion Candidates” and their actual conversion to Judaism. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}The coordinator will meet with new Jews-by-choice to explore any barriers to full integration in the Jewish community that they might be experiencing, and facilitate personal connections for new Jews-by-choice within their synagogue home and connect individuals to the general Jewish community. Hours are flexible and candidates must be available during the months of April-May and Aug. 15–Dec. 31.

Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center, has chosen to resign from his post to pursue his professional goal of working with a larger, more challenging organization. In an email sent to The Chronicle, Ken Sigman, the JCC’s chairman of the board, wrote that Schreiber “made the decision to leave the JCC on a high note while the Center is flourishing. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}We are truly grateful for him vastly improving our financial situation to profitability, the key hires he has made and enhancing our programming to service a growing organization.”

Former Kansas Citian Carol Terte Gill is writing a book about her great aunt, artist Paula Neufeld, whose many works still hang in the homes of prominent Kansas City residents. In the process, she’d would like to locate one of her aunt’s missing paintings. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}She contacted The Chronicle hoping an article would assist in the search.

Lifelong active member of the Kansas City Jewish community, Gerean Rudnick (80), has always been known as a great communicator and an avid giver. In November 2013 Rudnick was diagnosed with a brain tumor that has prohibited her ability to communicate, but she and her family are still giving. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Despite the physical challenge and emotional hardship, Rudnick’s daughters, Melynn Sight and Lenise Ward, are helping their mother donate to her long-time benefactor, Children’s Mercy Hospital.

The community is invited to the 17th annual Purim Gala on Sunday, March 8, at Oakwood Country Club, as BIAV recognizes two local organizations devoted to “growing the good in Kansas City” — Mitzvah Garden KC and Friends of Sheffield Cemetery.

This year’s event marks the first time Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner will highlight the mitzvahs of Jewish organizations — feeding the hungry and honoring the dead. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}“We look forward to a joyous celebration as we celebrate deserving ‘home grown’ organizations for their good work,” said co-chair Lisa Bernard.

Music is a universal language bridging barriers and building harmony among disparate groups of people.

Two Kansas City area foundations are to build harmony from hatred — RRACE (Racial and Religious Acceptance and Cultural Equality) and Faith Always Wins. The nonprofit organizations are conducting a songwriting contest seeking compositions that address the subject of racial, religious and/or cultural equality and acceptance. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Songwriters ages 14-21 are invited to submit original works now through Feb. 28 for the first Faith, Love & Song competition. Winners will be announced at the SevenDays Celebration taking place in April 2015.

TEAMING UP AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH ‘SHREK’ — The White Theatre and The Theatre in the Park will be teaming up once again this summer to co-produce “Shrek.” The first co-production between the two theaters was the 2013 production of “Hairspray.” {mprestriction ids="1,3"}I’ve been told it helped reduce costs, increased production value and combined talent so well that they decided to do it again.

“The collaboration with the Theatre in the Park allowed us to access more potential actors than normally audition at the White Theatre, which allows us to expand our talent pool and our audiences,” said Krista Blackwood, director of Cultural Arts at The J.

It has been said before and its bears repeating — there are hungry Jewish people in Kansas City. KC Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) is one of the organizations that strives to help these people by providing healthy, kosher meals and companionship to any member of the Jewish community who is elderly, living with a disability or recovering from illness. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}KMOW began delivering meals to seven clients in May 2013. The list has now grown to 40, which is more than a 400 percent increase in only 20 months. The program serves people on both sides of the state line who live in Jackson County, Missouri, as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas.

The Jewish Community Foundation has recently undergone a complete redesign of its brand identity. Local design firm Indicia has created a fresh and modern brand for the organization that reflects the Foundation’s creative and innovative approach to philanthropy. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Central to the new identity is a logo that pairs simple, clean typography with an organically drawn plant. The plant’s symbolism echoes the Talmudic saying, “As my ancestors planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me,” and signifies growth and prosperity. The complete circle surrounding the plant evokes the cycle of life and represents the many services the Foundation provides for donors of all ages and stages of life.

JEWISH FEDERATION OPENS EMERGENCY FUND TO AID FRENCH JEWS — Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City stands in solidarity with the 500,000-strong French Jewish community, the families and friends of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo and kosher market shootings and the entire nation of France. For those interested in providing philanthropic support to the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Jewish Federation has opened the France Emergency Fund. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}The funds will be used to address security needs of the French Jewish community, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims and their families. To donate, go to www.jewishkansascity.org/france.