Jewish Family Services is preparing to open a food pantry. Known simply as the JFS Food Pantry, it will officially launch with a kickoff event on Sunday, Oct. 7, during the intermediate days of Sukkot. Details of the event, which will include an education session about hunger in the community, will be announced later.

The timing of the opening is not coincidental, according to JFS Executive Director Don Goldman.

“Sukkot is a harvest festival, so the holiday is about food,” he explained.

The JFS Food Pantry will be the second Jewish food pantry in the community. Yachad — The Kosher Food Pantry was established in 2004 and is operated by the Chabad House Center. (For more information see below.) Over the years Yachad has coordinated the Simcha Box program, a joint effort between JFS and the Jewish Federation to provide food for Jewish families in need in the area. The Simcha Box partnership will end following the October delivery. JFS will take it over and rename it in November.

Who will the pantry serve?

The JFS Food Pantry will serve anyone who is hungry and works with JFS, Goldman said. These people are often referred to JFS through a partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City after seeking safety net services such as emergency assistance funds. The pantry will serve both Jewish and non-Jewish clients as well as kosher and non-kosher ones.

“Our social workers work with many people both in the Jewish and general community who come to us for a variety of needs,” Goldman said. “The fundamental issue for them is they just can’t pay all their bills to get by, at least for a short period of time.”

In addition to needing help with the bills, many of these same people need food assistance. Some are already on food stamps, but they have learned that food stamps don’t stretch very far. For example, Jewish Council for Public Affairs reports the average food stamp allotment is $31.50 per week, or just $1.50 per meal.

“First of all you have to be very, very poor to qualify for food stamps and even if you do qualify it’s not sufficient food for the month,” Goldman explained.

To receive food pantry benefits, a person must be a JFS client and qualify for the service.

“We have some standards that we generally use for our clients, but the fact is we are not like a big government bureaucracy, so we are very flexible about those guidelines. The fact is everybody’s situation is different. There could be people who are above the poverty line who have extraordinary expenses caused by an illness or a disability who will qualify,” Goldman said.

Anyone who has qualified for special Jewish community safety net services and is receiving services from JFS is already qualified for assistance from the food pantry.

“That’s one of the reasons it makes sense for us to do this,” Goldman said. “To get those funds they are already talking to social workers, they are already coming up with a plan to improve their situation so they will need less help or even no help in the future.”

Goldman said in many cases JFS has helped a client, regardless of religion, by actually purchasing a bag of food for the family.

“That’s not really covering their food needs for the month but it’s helping a little. Then we send them to another place or another food pantry for more assistance,” he said.

Why now?

JFS is currently sending a lot of clients to other pantries for assistance. Goldman said the thought more and more was, “Why shouldn’t they be able get food from us when they are here?”

Goldman said it’s frankly an oddity that JFS couldn’t help clients with food before. In fact, the majority of the 120 Jewish Family Service agencies across the country already operate a food pantry.

“It’s such a basic need. We’re helping to pay their rent but their kids are hungry. That never made sense to us,” Goldman said.
Goldman pointed out that JFS has been tangentially in the food business for quite some time.

“We have done holiday food projects around Passover and Rosh Hashanah for many years. In addition, in the last few years we have gotten money from the federal government as part of its emergency food program to help distribute food for our clients. Finally almost three years ago JFS inherited the Simcha Box program from the Federation, which had created it in partnership with JFS and Yachad about 10 years ago,” Goldman said.

Simcha Box, according to Goldman, originally was a food delivery program for people who couldn’t get out of their homes and needed food assistance. However it has grown to be a program that has served many people who have lost jobs or are having other financial troubles.

Community partnerships

The JFS Food Pantry will be a member of Harvesters Community Food Network. A number of others organizations in the Jewish community, including most of the local congregations, have also expressed a desire to work with the pantry.

“I’ve met with all the rabbis in town and the Rabbinical Association and everybody is very excited about the pantry,” Goldman said. “Most of the congregations in town are planning High Holiday food drives to support the pantry, including a number of congregations that have not done High Holiday food drives before or in recent times.”

Several local grocers plan to assist the pantry including Hen House at 117th and Roe, Price Chopper in Rosanna Square and Whole Foods at 119th and Lamar. The Mitzvah Garden will also provide some produce from its garden.

“Liberty Fruit has very generously provided fruit and vegetables for the holiday programs and Simcha Boxes in the past and has indicated they will continue to support these programs,” Goldman added.

Goldman said a core part of pantry funding is a redirection of funds from Simcha Box, which are provided by Jewish Heritage Foundation and Menorah Legacy Foundation. JFS also received a new grant from United Way from its United for Hope project, which is helping to provide the infrastructure for the pantry as well as funds for food for non-Jews who use the pantry.

How it will work?

The pantry will be run by Adrienne Kizer, who has been with the agency for more than 11 years. Her new title is director of food pantry and community projects.

The pantry will offer both kosher and non-kosher options.

“We surveyed our current Simcha Box clients and somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of those keep kosher. So in the past we had been providing 100 percent kosher food to 85 percent of people who don’t keep kosher. That has huge implications on the cost of the program,” Goldman said.

Now the pantry will be able to purchase a variety of food it couldn’t get in the past from Harvesters.

“It’s impossible to get kosher hechshered (kosher certified) tuna or green beans from Harvesters. So when we provided that before, we had to go and buy those things at retail cost as opposed to what you can get it for from Harvesters, which is a very small handling fee,” Goldman said.

The kosher section of the pantry will be Vaad supervised.

“The Vaad will give us procedures and help train our volunteers so that we can maintain high kosher standards,” Kizer said.

Goldman reiterated that the pantry’s kosher section is very important to JFS.

“Anybody who requests kosher can have kosher food and the kosher food will be at least equal in quality and quantity to the non-kosher food, whether we have to buy some of that at retail or not. The food drives will be really important for us to get and stock those shelves,” Goldman said.

The pantry will be located in the basement of the Jewish Community Campus. A satellite location will be available in the Missouri office for people who use that location for privacy reasons or because it is located on the bus route.

The pantry will be open by appointment and qualified clients will be assisted by a volunteer as they shop. There will be no walk-in hours so visitors to the Jewish Community Campus will never see a line of people waiting to enter the food pantry.

Kizer pointed out that JFS will need volunteers to serve the entire program, doing such tasks as stocking the shelves, assisting the clients and delivering food to those who can’t get it themselves.

JFS Food Pantry
Home Delivery

The establishment of the JFS Food Pantry is necessitating a change in the Simcha Box program. In November the name will change to JFS Food Pantry Home Delivery. It will no longer be an exclusively kosher program, but kosher food will be available for those who request it. Delivery will be provided to all clients who request it, but in general Goldman believes the program will deliver fewer boxes than in the past.

“We expect that those that can get to the pantry will choose to shop here so they can personally select their own food.

However it will be their choice if they want to continue receiving a delivery,” Goldman said.

For more information regarding the JFS Food Pantry and JFS Food Pantry Home Delivery or to become a volunteer, contact JFS at 913-327-8250 or .

Yachad — The Kosher Food Pantry to continue operating

Now that Jewish Family Services is opening a food pantry for the Jewish community, questions have arisen as to the future of Yachad — The Kosher Food Pantry run through the auspices of the Chabad House Center. According to an email sent to its supporters in early August, Yachad plans to continue operating.

“Concerns have been voiced that Yachad is shutting its doors. We hasten to assure you that this is not happening,” stated the email, signed by Rabbi Mendy Wineberg and Sherrill Parkhurst, the volunteer manager of the pantry.

Yachad was started by Rabbi Wineberg and his brother Zev in 1998. Rabbi Wineberg said in the email that he “is as devoted to this project today as he was then.” The email pointed out the biggest difference between the two food pantries in the Jewish community.

“Chabad House will always ensure that the Jewish community will have a kosher place to feed their bodies as well as their souls. We are a kosher pantry — the only one serving the entire Midwest.”

In a conversation with The Chronicle, Rabbi Wineberg also reiterated that Yachad will continue to assist anyone who needs it, regardless of their religion and without meeting any type of qualifying standards.

“We are truly a walk-in pantry. We don’t ask for any financial information,” he said. “We don’t care what the situation is. We want to make sure anyone who is hungry is taken care of in a truly private manner.”

Rabbi Wineberg believes a kosher food pantry is important to the body and the soul.

“Times have been rough economically for our city. For those who experience distress, the spiritual aspect of eating kosher food is unique in its ability to foster resilience and inner strength.”

After October, Yachad will no longer be involved with the Simcha Box Program, a joint project between Yachad, Jewish Federation and JFS, which has been operating since 2004. The program will now be run by JFS. It will no longer be a kosher program, but a kosher option will be offered to those who request it.

“While this was a Federation funded program, it was Yachad’s dedicated volunteers who ran the entire program, from purchasing food, to packing the boxes, through the final distribution to the clients,” Rabbi Wineberg and Parkhurst wrote.
As Yachad makes these changes, it thanked its volunteers.

“Wonderful relationships have been formed with our volunteers and also between volunteers and clients. We are very grateful for this, and, particularly for the fact that together we have helped ease the hunger of those less fortunate; moreover, in a truly dignified manner. We did all this with true love, compassion and empathy, while adhering to the highest kashrut standards without compromise.”

“We want to give a special thanks to Joan Fogel and Nancy Eisner. Without their vision and hard work there would never have been a Simcha Box Program.”

In the fall, Yachad will be offering new services. In cooperation with Harvesters, it will be hosting nutrition and cooking classes.

“In addition, because we are committed to feeding the soul as well as the body, we are going to be offering coaching to anyone who would like to understand more of the mystical and/or practical applications of kashrut. Group classes are forming, as well as one-on-one tutoring. In preparation for the upcoming High Holidays, Yachad encourages all who are connected with us in any way to take on one new kosher commitment and to encourage their friends and family members to do the same.”

For more information about Yachad, call 913-649-4852.

Next week Patricia Werthan Uhlmann will be recognized, along with 78 other Jewish women, as a Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award recipient. Established in 2004, The Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award recognizes extraordinary women who have set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism. These women have been chosen by their communities as “women of valor” with lifetimes of commitment to the Jewish world. The award ceremony will be held at the International Lion of Judah conference in New York in which 18 people from Kansas City will be in attendance.

Uhlmann joins an elite group of Kansas City women — Elaine Polsky, Shirley White and the late Maria Devinki — who have been so honored. Yet honors were the farthest thing from her mind when she chose a path of volunteerism.

“Both sides of my family were always involved in the community. Their biggest foot was in the Jewish world and their smaller foot was in the general community because they felt it was very important to do good works and be visible and have the privilege to give back in both the Jewish and general communities,” Uhlmann explained.

She credits her father, Howard Werthan and his family from Nashville, Tenn., and her mother, Heloise Pfeifer who hailed from Little Rock, Ark., for setting the stage, the tone and the example for everything she does.

“I had really amazing role models. That’s why I think it’s important to be a role model for others. You have to actually do things, not simply preach,” Uhlmann explained.

Uhlmann came to Kansas City as a young married woman and really didn’t know anyone except her husband’s family — she married John Uhlmann (who passed away unexpectedly in 2009) in 1972. Her first opportunity to volunteer came from the local Jewish Federation.

“People were wonderful to me and very inclusive and tried to teach me about the community,” Uhlmann recalled. “I credit Debbie Granoff with getting me involved here. Debbie was the president of the Women’s Division and she called me and asked me if I would chair the Young Married’s division. I said yes and that was the beginning of the Federation experience for me.”

From there Uhlmann moved on to serve as Women’s Division campaign chair and then president. She later became the Jewish Federation’s general campaign co-chair. Today she continues to serve on the board of directors and is planning and allocations chair. Her volunteer work also includes serving on the board of the Jewish Heritage Foundation. Previously she served on Planned Parenthood, the Center for Practical Bioethics and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah boards.

Uhlmann said participating in communal activities for the past 40 years has given and continues to give her life great satisfaction.

“I think we’re all looking for things that give our lives purpose and meaning. Kansas City should be incredibly proud of the relationships that they have made around the world through the work that we do. We’re a stellar Federation. Other communities look to us for best practices. We’ve won a lot of awards for our programming. Our leadership is always of the top caliber. It’s a privilege and it’s a responsibility and it’s fun to work with the Federation,” she said.

Jewish Federation Executive Vice President and CEO Todd Stettner said Uhlmann’s efforts personify the agency’s mission to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world.

“Trish Uhlmann captures not just the heart of our work but also the soul. She is deeply passionate about community and understands the true meaning of kol Yisrael aravim ze leh ze — all Jews are responsible for all others.”

Through Jewish Federation, she met and worked with those she now considers her best friends.

“I really can’t imagine living in a community that’s as blessed as our community is and not feel the desire, the sense of privilege and responsibility to give back to this community to ensure its future,” Uhlmann said.

She points out that while she is being honored personally, she doesn’t work alone on any project.

“It’s all done with the support of an incredible community,” she said.

Uhlmann has extended her family’s volunteer tradition to encompass other areas of the world, taking to heart her family’s mantra, “Don’t just take up space, make a difference in your community and your world.” She has done so through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Since 1995 she has been active on the JDC board of directors serving as chair of the Europe Committee and currently as chair for the International Development program, the non-sectarian arm of JDC. In February, she co-chaired a fact-finding mission to Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Through Jewish Federation and JDC, Uhlmann worked behind the scenes to establish a connection between the two Jewish organizations and Kansas City-based Heart to Heart International. A medical social worker by training, she has traveled with Heart to Heart to disaster-ravaged areas such as Haiti, and just last week was keeping tabs on the status of the hurricane damage there through Heart to Heart representatives.

“We’re constantly close to the pulse of what humanitarian needs are in the world,” Uhlmann explained.

A course she took this summer at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem reinforced what she already knew, that the volunteer work we do in the Jewish and general communities is not just about us.

“We really are a role model and a bellwether for the world. The way we treat each other and the way we treat other people in our community and people outside our community is critical for our wellbeing and for the world’s wellbeing. I think we’re so often judged on what we do, how we do it and what we say,” Uhlmann said.

Uhlmann, who grew up in a classically Reform Jewish household and is a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, said she never forgets that she lives in the best country in the world where “we are blessed to live freely as Jews.” She is proudly passing on her Jewish values to her children and grandchildren and is also a role model to younger members of the Kansas City Jewish community.

“It’s so important to me that the next generation understands and respects the Jewish community’s sacrifices and successes of the past and are willing to embrace the mantle of leadership in the future. Our community will not thrive without this commitment,” she adds.

When Uhlmann uses the term “our community,” she means the local, national and international Jewish community.

“I urge people to get involved in projects here in Kansas City,” she said. “And when they are traveling to other parts of the world … Berlin or Prague or Budapest … call us and we’ll help arrange a meeting with other Jews in that area. We are trying to keep the windows and doors open to the world and we are doing a great job.”

Uhlmann is determined to make sure the Jewish community here remains vital and viable and sustainable for her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren who live here. (Another daughter lives with her husband and three children in Massachusetts.)

“There’s a very clear purpose for the reasons that I do what I do. I’m very proud of this community. I’m very proud of the work that is done by this community and on behalf of the Jewish community in the general community.”

When Becca Winner moved back to Kansas City last year, she was looking to socialize with a group of young Jewish professionals in their 20s and 30s, like the groups she’d been part of in Washington, D.C. At the same time, local community workers were trying to re-engage that same set.

KC Young Jewish Professionals started when The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Shared Vision/Individualized Jewish Path

Coordinator Amy Ravis Furey and Congregation Beth Torah’s Special Programs Coordinator Farrah Udell decided to combine their efforts to develop new programs for that age group.

The congregations each have their own programs as well, Friends Next Dor at Beth Torah and Kehillah KC at B’nai Jehudah, but this new group is more informal and does not meet on the grounds of either congregation.

“A little more than a year ago, a couple of B’nai Jehudah parents approached me, concerned that they felt like there weren’t opportunities for their young adult children to explore their Jewish identities in Kansas City. They were worried that either (their kids) would leave Kansas City or it wouldn’t be attractive enough for them to come back post-college,” Furey said.

That’s when she started organizing Kehillah KC. About the same time, Udell was hearing similar concerns, as she was working on Friends Next Dor.

The focus of this new group is not religious but more to provide a chance to hang out with other Jewish people in their 20s and 30s. Winner also had a hand in organizing these gatherings.

“I think it’s (about) finding a place to network. It’s great for people who just moved to town,” she said. “It’s hard in general when you come back, just trying to figure out your social scene here. People want to have Jewish friends, but it’s not easy just to go out and find them.”

When Winner moved back, she contacted Udell in hopes that she could help implement some of the programs that were on the scene for young Jewish adults in Washington, D.C.

“I’m part of this demographic as well,” Udell said. “When we started talking to people, there was a need that wasn’t being met. There were a lot of young Jews in the community who wanted to find Jewish friends.”

Since this new program aims to connect with all young Jewish professionals, regardless of religious observation or affiliation, having a happy hour in a local bar or restaurant provides “a very neutral location,” Udell said.

Although they are planning to offer events with more Jewish content in the future, such as Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations, Udell and Furey are focusing first on creating a community among these young professionals. Other more neutral events include kickball games and a book club.

Winner agrees with this approach.

“We have to take baby steps in introducing things. I think people are hesitant to jump on the bandwagon if they think it’s too Jewish, because some people aren’t as religious as others,” Winner said.

Trying to create groups for people in their post-college years is not a challenge limited to the Kansas City area, according to Furey.

“Nationally, people have spent lots of time, energy and money trying to think about how to engage people after college.

Hopefully they’ve been immersed in Hillel,” Furey said. “There’s a gap between when people exit college and the time they start to have children and come back to a synagogue for preschool and religious school.”

Right now, the group meets once a month for happy hours. These gatherings take place on different days of the week and different parts of the city each time, as the young adult population is scattered throughout the area, from downtown Kansas City, Mo., to Gardner, Kan.

Furey and Udell have worked with participants to plan the events, and they announce all event details on their eponymous Facebook group, which currently has 200 members.

The average attendance at any happy hour is about 30 people, Furey estimated.

“People in Kansas City are making an investment in young Jewish adults who will become future leaders of our community,” Furey said.

Happy hour scheduled

The next Simchat Sha’ah (happy hour) will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, 101 E. 13th Street in the Power & Light District. The October event will be held on Oct. 16 at Remedy Food & Drink at 500 W. 75th Street in Waldo. No reservations are required for either event. For more information contact Farrah Udell at .

Athletes around the world just competed for the gold this summer and the Heritage Center of the Jewish Community Center has achieved gold as well — accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers.

“Accreditation is unique to the senior center field and demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment to quality programs and services for older adults. The Heritage Center of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City is thriving and is the only senior center in Johnson County to hold the distinction of accreditation,” noted Sandra Greason, director of the Heritage Center, which serves senior adults 65 and older.

The Heritage Center joins the ranks of just 120 senior centers nationwide to have been awarded this designation by the NISC.

“Considering there is an estimated 15,000 senior centers in the United States, accreditation is seemingly as rare as an Olympic gold medal,” Greason said.

In celebration of its recent achievement, the Heritage Center will host an Accreditation Gala sponsored by The Tutera Group on Sunday, Sept. 9th. Due to limited capacity, the gala is by invitation only.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to support and congratulate the Heritage Center for its commitment to seniors within our community,” said Randy Bloom, president and COO of the Tutera Group. “At Tutera Group, we share this commitment and look forward to our ongoing relationship.”

Greason added that in addition to “celebrating this accomplishment with our members, we hope to use this opportunity to educate community and state officials about our senior center and remind everyone that our programs are open to all faiths.”

“Whether it’s art, lunch, cards, exercise, book club, day trips or any one of the many programs offered by the Heritage Center, you’re sure to find something just right. Perhaps you’ll even feel you’re part of a gold medal team,” she continued.

Rod Minkin, chairman of the Heritage Center Senior Committee, congratulated the Heritage Center staff including Greason and Sandy Terwilliger, program coordinator, on this accomplishment.

“It was an achievement well-deserved, diligently pursued and a unique distinction.”

Qualifying for accreditation was a rigorous two-phase process, which included the participation of more than 40 community members, lay leaders and JCC staff. The first phase, the community self-assessment phase, is based on nine national senior center standards of operation: purpose, community collaboration, program planning, evaluation, financial management, governance, administration/human resources, record keeping and facility management. The second phase involved compiling supporting documentation related to the self-assessment and national accreditation manual, an on-site review of documentation and the Heritage Center facilities by a certified peer reviewer, and a review of the peer reviewers’ findings and recommendation by the National Institute of Senior Centers’ Accreditation Board.

“Successfully achieving accreditation status takes the work of many people both in the senior center and in the community. When these two groups work together, the rewards will be felt for many years to come. We are pleased to have the Heritage Center of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City on the list of more than 120 senior centers who meet the standards as developed by NISC. These are centers that are held up as models for others to follow,” said Maurine Arsenault, NISC program manager.

Ruth Buccheit, a NISC peer reviewer from Aurora, Colo., noted the Heritage Center has many strengths “including a caring staff, scholarship assistance to those experiencing financial hardships, number of sponsorships and community connections, user-friendly volunteer computer system for volunteers to log hours, comprehensive volunteer handbooks and wonderful facilities.”

Greason said this accreditation means a lot to the Kansas City Jewish community.

“Accreditation demonstrates to our funders we are aggressively engaged in meeting the needs of older adults in our community at national levels of quality. Likewise, it demonstrates to our members they are part of something special and have many opportunities to learn, make new friends, focus on health and discover new interests all in a safe and well-managed environment.”

David Burnstein attends several programs at the Heritage Center including its exercise classes, SMART Men (sports minded adults reminiscing together) and Jewish educational discussions. He enjoys his involvement in the Heritage Center.

“I love the camaraderie of the exercise classes and friendliness of Heritage Center participants. My cardiologist says keep doing what I’m doing,” Burnstein said.

To learn more about the Heritage Center, go to www.jcckc.org/heritagecenter or call Greason at 913-327-8042.

METZL RELEASES NEW BOOK — KC native and sports medical expert Dr. Jordan Metzl has launched his second book this year, this time in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics called “Home  Strength Training for Young Athletes.” Once again he was featured on the “Today” show. The first-of-its-kind instructional program, which includes DVD, flash cards and apps, encourages parents and coaches to take an active role in the prevention of sports injuries in young athletes. This program is aimed for kids between the ages of 8 and 18 to use at home. On “Today,” Dr. Metzl said “we know strength training makes stronger bones and stronger muscles. The idea of this program is for parents to actually train with their kids at home.” He points out that these types of exercises are also good for parents. “If you are a 45-year-old mom with an aching back, these exercises are as beneficial for you as they are for your 10- or 12-year-old.” Dr. Metzl has been regularly voted among New York’s top sports medicine doctors by New York magazine.

KOSHER MAGAZINES MERGE —Two popular kosher publications have merged. Bitayavon magazine is now officially part of Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller. The new publication will be a multi-featured magazine that will be the only one of its kind on the market focusing on the burgeoning kosher lifestyle.

The new magazine will keep the title Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller and will continue to feature Geller’s trademark warmth, straightforward approach along with her highly acclaimed recipes. It will also incorporate Bitayavon’s signature style of showcasing new food trends, gourmet cooking and its pioneering approach to focusing on seasonal foods.

“We’re looking forward to combining specific columns and content from each magazine to provide a truly superior product that will better serve both the reader and the industry,” says Jamie Geller, founder and chief creative officer. “Joy of Kosher and Bitayavon have featured some of the best kosher food writing, recipes and photography published.”

Shifra Klein, who with husband Shlomo Klein are co-founders and co-publishers of Bitayavon, agrees. “Not only does this merger combine editorial talents, but it also creates a dynamic publishing team with entrepreneurial experience. Both Shlomo and I look forward to working with Jamie and sharing our vision of upscale, gourmet kosher food with the readers of Joy of Kosher.”

The magazine is offering a limited-time subscriber special for the new Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller. Visit http://www.joyofkosher.com/magazine/.

Over the years KU Hillel has become known across the country for its quality programs of all types — including Israel, leadership training, outreach and engagement, social justice and religious. Perhaps the most well-known of these programs, and most certainly the largest, is Rock Chalk Shabbat. Last year the KU Hillel board of directors, led by its president, Susie Greenberg, decided to use the popular event as a fundraiser. This year the fundraising campaign is being co-chaired by board members Craig Kolkin and Brad Smuckler.

While the event is now a fundraiser, it remains true to its origins as being an absolutely free event. It brings together more than 500 students, parents, alumni, faculty and members of the Lawrence and surrounding communities for a Shabbat experience in the Kansas Union. This year’s event takes place on Nov. 2 and begins at 6 p.m.

The event

This will be the 11th year for Rock Chalk Shabbat, which was originally called Shabbat 150 in hopes of getting 150 people to attend a Hillel Shabbat dinner.

“It became Rock Chalk Shabbat in the fifth year when we decided to focus on the experience itself, and not the actual number of people attending,” explained Jay Lewis, KU Hillel’s executive director.

More than 120 student leaders are involved in planning the event. Hillel students plan every aspect of it from the worship service, to the food, to the cleanup. Last year for the first time members of the two predominantly Jewish fraternities took part as well. The men of Alpha Epsilon Pi served the hors d’oeuvres and members of Zeta Beta Tau were waiters for the dinner, which is served family style.

“The students love showing off Hillel and the university,” Kolkin said.

The event has never been completely sold out, but it’s been close.

“People were standing in the back of the room for services in Woodruff Auditorium,” said Carly Stein, Hillel’s program director.

Smuckler said it’s amazing to see so many people, especially college students, gathered together at Rock Chalk Shabbat given the types of hectic schedules people lead today and the other choices available to students on a Friday night. But once they get to Rock Chalk Shabbat, they are wowed by what Hillel does.

“I took several guests last year and they were literally overwhelmed by the event. I know that they all walked out of there as new supporters of KU Hillel,” Smuckler said.

In many cases, Rock Chalk Shabbat is the first event a young KU student attends as well.

“Once a student attends Rock Chalk Shabbat, we have found that he or she is more apt to attend other Hillel programs,” Kolkin said.

As Greenberg and Kolkin point out, the event is not only for students or those who have students at KU.

“My children love to attend because they have babysitters that will be there and family members that are there. When we go to Rock Chalk Shabbat we invite everybody, including non-Jewish guests,” Kolkin said.

“It’s celebrating Shabbos, but in a very youthful and modern way,” he continued.

Even though there are 500 people worshipping together, Smuckler said it’s a very warm, welcoming and intimate experience.

“It’s done so well that you really feel like you are in a small chapel,” Smuckler said.

A perfect fundraiser

Greenberg said Rock Chalk Shabbat has become an opportunity for parents to see what their students are doing at KU. Turning this event into a fundraiser gives parents and others the opportunity to support KU Hillel’s great programming.

“This event gives parents a chance to support what KU Hillel exemplifies, which is the participation of Jewish kids in Jewish activities while they are not living under their parents’ roofs,” Kolkin explained.

Both Kolkin and Smuckler have served on the Hillel board for four years and are KU alums who knew each other as students. They have each attended several Rock Chalk Shabbats, and say they definitely have an impact on those who do attend. That emotional impact is another reason the board decided to turn the annual event into a fundraiser.

“This event has a way of inspiring people to give,” Kolkin said.

Since Rock Chalk Shabbat is already an established and popular event, Lewis said KU Hillel did not have to create another event for the explicit purpose of raising funds, which could distract them from Hillel’s mission to connect students to Jewish life both on and off campus.

“Having a major fundraiser pivoting around one of our biggest student events kept the focus on the students and student experience,” Lewis said.

The event raised $18,000 last year. The goal for this year is $50,000. Rock Chalk Shabbat is actually funded by a grant from the Jewish Heritage Foundation. Funds raised at Rock Chalk Shabbat, Lewis said, will fund a variety of Hillel programs.

Donations are being sought in three categories: $10,000 Title Sponsor, $1,800 Patron of Hillel and $180 Table sponsor. Gifts are not limited to these three categories; gifts of any size will be accepted.

Kolkin, Greenberg and Smuckler stressed that the local Jewish community is invited and welcome to attend the event.

“The board of directors and KU Hillel as a whole would love to have any member of the Kansas City Jewish community join us on Nov. 2 to experience Rock Chalk Shabbat for yourself so that you can experience what the true impact of the organization is,” Kolkin said.

“Our hope is that after you attend Rock Chalk Shabbat for absolutely nothing, the service will move you like it has moved us and you will want to help support KU Hillel after what you’ve experienced,” Kolkin continued.

For more information about Rock Chalk Shabbat or KU Hillel, visit www.kuhillel.org or email .

Being a scholar of Jewish philosophy didn’t come naturally to Alan Morinis, but when he discovered the tradition of Mussar, he knew he’d found a way to connect. Morinis, who founded the Mussar Institute in Vancouver, will be speaking at the community-wide Selichot service at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Congregation Beth Torah on “the experience of yirah as the basis for a prayerful life.”

Morinis will also be leading other programs over the weekend. “What is Mussar and How Can It Change My Life?” will be at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. “Cultivating a Life of Gratitude through the Lens of Mussar” will be at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Jewish Community Center.

According to Morinis, the main difference between Mussar and regular group rituals is that when you study Mussar, you look inward at yourself, rather than outward at the community around you.

“So much of Jewish life is focused on the external,” Morinis said. Looking at personality faults “becomes the focus of the discipline, because each of us has certain traits in which we have the potential to grow. If we recognize that and … grow in that area, it ceases to become the problem area. People who are impatient can become patient. People who worry can get peace of mind.”

The particular area of Mussar Morinis will focus on at the Selichot program is yirah, which doesn’t have a direct English translation but refers to a feeling of fear, awe and reverence.

“If you’re standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, you’ll have an experience of awe, because it’s such a dramatic and remarkable thing to see, but you’ll also have fear, because there’s the edge of the canyon, and it’s a long way down … and it’s all wrapped up in one,” Morinis said. “It’s very important to cultivate that inner sensibility. That’s how we know the presence of the divine in the world; when you have one of those experiences, it takes your breath away.”

Morinis, who made the transition from film producer to Judaic scholar 15 years ago at age 47, found the roots of this philosophy in the Torah. At the time, he did not consider himself to have a strong background of Jewish knowledge but found the philosophy accessible nonetheless.

“It’s aimed at helping us in helping us in our everyday reactions with the people who annoy us the most, (who are) the people we love the most, (and) cultivating the kind of person the Torah says we have the responsibility to be,” he said.

When he discovered Mussar, he researched the topic by himself in the library at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Although he didn’t know enough Hebrew to read the academic texts in their original form, he found that many of the books were available in English.

“Torah is the foundation,” he said. “It really has to do with the inherent mechanisms of human nature or ways in which we are programmed to change. It’s not an intellectual exercise; there’s learning involved.”

Because studying Mussar is an individual process, the experience will be different for each person, he said.

“We’re really good at collective (in Judaism), but the individual is different, and the Mussar traditionally addresses this and works with the fact of our uniqueness as a central focus. It’s not really prescribing for the collective,” Morinis said.

Although Morinis’ Mussar Institute is based in Canada, there are locals in Kansas City trained to lead classes for those who may be inspired by the Selichot program. Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah is a qualified Mussar group leader and will hold Mussar classes in October and November.

Rabbi Shuval-Weiner wants to thank Ellen Miller and Irv Robinson for bringing Morinis to the community.

“Through their own study and engagement with the Mussar Institute, they have come to regard Alan Morinis as a wonderful teacher and inspiring leader. Because of their generosity, we are so very blessed to have the opportunity to study with Alan Morinis at various sites over the course of the weekend. The lessons he will bring are sure to enrich our work of Hesbon HaNefesh (an account of the soul), in preparation for the Holy Days. What a beautiful gift to our community!” Rabbi Shuval-Weiner said.

“Personally, I am looking forward to a special Mussar teaching that Dr. Morinis will be leading on Shabbat afternoon. This particular private session was made available to a select group of people from across the community who completed ‘A Season of Mussar’ with me during this past year,” the rabbi continued.

For additional information regarding Morinis’ Selichot presentation Sept. 8, visit www.kcrabbis.org or contact Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association administrator. While not mandatory, those attending are asked to respond by email to or by phone to 913-327-4622.

The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City sponsors the Selichot program with support from The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. The keynote speaker is made possible by a contribution from Ellen Miller and Irv Robinson, in memory of Freda Rose Miller.

More information regarding Morinis’ presentation on Sept. 7 at B’nai Jehudah can be obtained by calling 913-663-4050. Call 913-327-8077 for more information regarding the Sunday, Sept. 9, presentation at the JCC.

For more information about Rabbi Shuval Weiner’s Mussar class, call 913-663-4050. The class will run from Oct. 3 to Nov. 28 at B’nai Jehudah. Participants must register before the class begins.

System announces exclusive health care partnership

Build-out is under way at the new Saint Luke’s Health & Wellness Center, located in the former gallery space adjacent to the lobby of the Jewish Community Campus. The Health & Wellness Center, when complete, will be a permanent venue for delivering health education.

“We know that a growing number of health care consumers are looking for ways to incorporate wellness into their busy lives,” said Katherine Howell, R.N., M.B.A., president and CEO of Saint Luke’s South Hospital. “The new Health & Wellness Center brings convenient, consumer-focused information in an easy-to-access format.”

Saint Luke’s Health System and the Jewish Community Center recently penned a sponsorship agreement — making Saint Luke’s the Jewish Community Center’s exclusive health care partner.

“This is a unique opportunity for our members, as well as for visitors to the Jewish Community Campus,” said Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center. “Saint Luke’s has committed to expand the scope of their onsite educational offerings. These are the types of programs that enhance wellness and complement our extensive array of fitness services. We’re proud to partner with Saint Luke’s to promote good health and well-being.”

The Health & Wellness Center classes will begin in September — most are free of charge. Topics range from diet and nutrition, to preventing heart disease, to arthritis and joint care. Teams of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and registered dietitians are developing a full selection of classes.

For more information, or to reserve a spot in one of the classes, call Saint Luke’s Concierge at 816-932-5100.

Yafit Josephson was born in the United States and moved to Israel when she was 2. After she served in the Israeli army she chose to move back to the United States nine years ago and study acting in Los Angeles. She earned a degree from the University of Southern California, began auditioning for roles and found herself typecast as a Middle Eastern villain in every role.

She didn’t like playing that role, so she created her own.

Josephson will be in Kansas City Sept. 8 and 9 to perform her one-woman show, “New Eyes” as the Jewish Community Center debuts its 2012-13 performing arts season. Ticket information is available by visiting www.jcckc.org. The actress will moderate a post-show talk-back following each performance.

Josephson was raised in Ramat-Hasharon. The daughter of Israeli filmmaker Isaac Josephson (and wife Tamar), who produced two famous comedic Israeli movies, “Charlie Va’hetzi” and “Hagiga Ba’Snuker,” she was exposed to the entertainment industry at an early age.

But she didn’t like what she saw as an adult trying to make it in showbiz.

“After I graduated and started auditioning, I saw that there was a pattern. I was always receiving the role of the bad guy, the villain. It was always the Middle Eastern villain. Coming from Israel I had an issue with this stereotype about Israelis or Middle Easterners so I decided to decline many roles and started writing my own show and explain the true colors of Israel,” Josephson said.

Once she made this decision, she focused her creative energies on writing “New Eyes” with American Jewish playwright Suzanne Bressler. She helped support herself during that time by teaching Hebrew and Judaic Studies, using her acting skills, at the Religious School of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in West Los Angeles. After a year and a half of intense writing, she finally brought “New Eyes” to life on stage in July 2010 and has been sharing her personal life story with audiences ever since.

Josephson said “New Eyes” “tries fix the misconceptions that are out there.”

“It turned out to be a show that is full of laughter, full of hope but also full of dramatic moments. Many people here in Los Angeles see it as a good PR piece for Israel,” she said.

She sees the show as a woman standing up to tell the true story about Israel and Israelis.

“The goal was to expose myself as an actress of course, but also to fix this misconception. But now I realize that this is bigger than me. Many organizations want me to come perform for their organizations so that I can explain what Israel is all about through my own eyes,” she said.

In the show Josephson portrays 18 characters from five different countries. Those characters include a Persian, which is a third part of her own personal identity, as well as French, British, Israeli and American. It explores universal themes of self-esteem, family, identity and cultural differences and similarities.

“Many people who come see the show say it is a story about an Israeli girl but many can relate to it because many of us belong to different cultures. It’s very much the story of an immigrant as well,” she said.

Josephson has been presenting “New Eyes” for two years now. She’s performed in more than 100 shows, all in California. Besides being its co-writer and star, she produces it, books it and publicizes it. It has done well enough that she can support herself on this project alone.

When “New Eyes” comes here next month, it will be the first time it has been performed outside of California.

“I’m really, really excited about that,” Josephson said.

She was able to bring the show to the attention of the local JCC through Naty Saidoff, an Israeli she describes as “a great supporter of hers” who happens to co-own Brookridge Golf & Fitness in Overland Park.

“He is an amazing fan of my show and he’s seen the show many times,” she said. “One day he decided he was going to bring Jacob Schreiber of the Jewish Community Center to Los Angeles to see the show. That was in June 2011.”

Josephson said she and Schreiber began communicating after that and the show was booked about a year ago.

Schreiber said he thought the show fit well with the JCC’s drive to bring more original Jewish-themed performances to the JCC.

“I went to LA to see why ‘New Eyes’ was such a big hit — why its run was extended numerous times. What I found was a poignant and funny work of art that addresses how Israelis and  American Jews are stereotyped — and the havoc that plays on young people’s ability to find their place in the world,” said Schreiber, the JCC’s president & CEO.

“It’s rare to be able to communicate these issues outside of an educational forum, and it’s amazing to actually be entertained during the entire discussion,” he continued.

Schreiber said Kansas City audiences simply do not get to see these types of original works that typically are only available in New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago.

“This is a real opportunity to see what young Jewish artists are creating — while getting glimpses of Israel not readily available in the mainstream media,” he said.

“New Eyes” may be a one-woman performance, but several people will travel with Josephson to Kansas City including her father, who she always introduces during the post-show question-and-answer session, her brother Eliad Josephson who helps produce the show, director Sammie Wayne and technical director Emir Isilay.

She credits her success to both parents, who moved back to the United States when she did.

“Even at times when I doubted I could do this, my parents told me I had to pursue it and continue because I had the talent,” she said. “I owe much of this to them because they really, really encouraged me to continue. Both of their characters are in the show and both of their characters shaped me into who I am today.”

For Seroj Terian, every day on the job is rewarding. Terian is the lead community handyman for the Help@Home program of Jewish Family Services. Terian helps adults age 65 and older or those who are younger but have a physical or mental disability, by doing minor home repairs that allow them to live independently in their own homes for as long as they choose.

“It’s been such a blessing for us,” said Louise Siegel, who’s been a Help@Home member since the program began almost four years ago.

Modeled after successful programs both in the United States and Israel, Help@Home was created to meet the needs of Kansas City’s growing older adult population. The service is provided for a monthly fee, which is based on a sliding scale.
Help@Home members have access to the services of Terian and his volunteer helpers.

“We do all kinds of minor home repairs including plumbing, electrical, paint and drywall, installing safety equipment like handrails and grab bars, etc. We also do many kinds of ‘around the house’ chores like assembling items, moving things, hanging pictures, flipping mattresses, cleaning gutters, etc.” he said.

Terian also provides some computer troubleshooting, as well as hooking up new electronics and components.
Dawn Herbet, who works directly with the program as JFS director of older adult initiatives, said Help@Home members are grateful for the services they receive through the program.

“Every time a member tells me how glad they are there’s a program like this in Kansas City, it just reinforces for me the need for older adults to have options to live their lives independently,” Herbet said. “That’s what Help@Home gives its members — options, support and a sense of security.”

Terian has been the lead community handyman for three-and-a-half years. While others might describe the chores he does as hard labor, Terian likes the tasks he performs.

“I enjoy working with my hands, fixing things, and solving challenges,” Terian said. “Each day is different. I also enjoy working with and getting to know our members and hearing about their life experiences.”

Terian said the services Help@Home provides its members gives them a real sense of security.

“Everyone who owns a home knows that there is -always  something to repair and chores to be done. These tasks become difficult or impossible as people age,” Terian said. “It gives our members peace of mind to know that they can call us at any time when something comes up. They trust us.”

Siegel and her husband became Help@Home members to assist them with chores around their home.

“We were never very good at repairs, so when Help@Home became available we signed up right away,” she said.

Terian put in a microwave for the couple as well as stained a porch swing. When Siegel’s husband passed a little over a year ago, she came to rely on the program even more.

“Someone comes who is qualified to do the job, they come at the appointed time and they’re very friendly and capable,” she said. “I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t sign up.”

Help@Home is open to anyone 65 and older or those younger than 65 with a mental or physical disability, regardless of religion or ethnic background. New members are welcome. For more information or to join the program, contact Dawn Herbet at 913-327-8239 or .