Sam Tucker and his parents Rachel Ommerman and Joshua Tucker were excited to participate in the Congregation Beth Torah Consecration service.

Every February the American Jewish community marks Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month and is an opportunity to celebrate the community’s commitment to removing barriers, celebrating diversity and connecting with Jewish values.

Porsche Elkins

In the continued effort to help individuals and families face life’s daily challenges, Jewish Family Services now offers a program to meet the needs of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). The goal of the new JFS Disability Services program is to support the quality of life and independence of people with I/DD.

Ken Sigman, president-elect of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, recently attended the Scheidt Seminar in San Diego. The Scheidt Seminar is put on by the Union for Reform Judaism and convenes congregational presidents to learn, network, build relationships and enhance leadership skills. Pictured with Sigman (center) are Rabbi Rick Jacobs (right), president of the Union for Reform Judaism and Rabbi Aaron Panken (left), president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religions.

STANDING WITH REFUGEES —  Early this week the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City sent the following statement in regards to refugees.

Jay Lewis, executive director of KU Hillel, was the master of ceremonies at the 2012 TEDxOverlandPark event titled “Game-Changers.”

Ever feel like you have this great idea but don’t know what to do with it? Well, TEDxOverlandPark, a local offshoot of the nationally known TED, might be the answer.

Mort and Helene Singer

Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner is looking forward to “unmasking” and honoring two BIAV heroes — Mort and Helene Singer — at its annual Purim Gala on Sunday, March 12.

Jay Michael Gilman

‘FIRST THEY CAME FOR’ — Earlier this month a play based on the poem “First They Came For” by Martin Niemoller and inspired by Elie Wiesel’s “Night” debuted in Philadelphia. Why do we write about it?

Eileen Bluestone Sherman

Those who think they know Norman Rockwell from his years of illustrating Saturday Evening Post covers don’t know the whole story. At a very early age, Rockwell learned, “Don’t show life as it really is, but how folks want it to be.” And that sums up his life as an artist.