Rabbi Lazer Gurkow of Congregation Beth Tefilah in London, Ontario, Canada, will kick off what is intended to be the first annual Jewish Book Fair at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at Chabad House Center, 6201 Indian Creek Drive, Overland Park.
After postponing the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival (KCJFF) in support of the Royals quest for the World Series Crown, the rescheduled dates and expanded line-up of critically acclaimed films have been announced.
UPDATE ON WOUNDED TERRORIST VICTIM — Dr. Vadim Braslavsky contacted The Chronicle recently, thanking all those who participated in his appeal to help Daniel, a Rishon Lezion terrorist victim. A few days before Hanukkah Dr. Vadim delivered 4,500 shekels (approximately $1,163) to Daniel and his family in Bnei Brak.
Around four years ago, KU Hillel Rabbi Neal Schuster started collecting candlesticks he would find at estate sales and thrift shops. Every pair he encountered was unique and made differently in different parts of the world, which caught his attention, so he started buying them so he could provide candlesticks to students at KU.
“What would Babs think?”
This was the question that director Darren Sextro and actor Seth Golay discussed at length when they decided to stage a new production entitled “Buyer & Cellar” at the Unicorn Theatre this December. That’s because the play they are to stage is based on the experiences of a fictional shopkeeper of a very real collection of memorabilia belonging to renowned entertainer Barbra Streisand. While Sextro and Golay both admit they were not experts on Streisand’s career before doing the play, they knew they wanted to treat the beloved figure with respect.
The Jewish community is invited to hear Rabbi Shlomo Katz in concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday night, Dec. 19, in the Social Hall of the Jewish Community Campus. He will also be the guest of Congregation BIAV for a Shabbaton the weekend of Dec. 18 and 19. The community is welcome to attend any and all events at the synagogue as well.
Little more than a year out from its establishment, the local Moishe House is thriving. Current residents Stephanie Pollack, Sarah Freyman and Elizabeth Willens live in one of the 83 houses found worldwide sponsored by the organization. The non-profit is designed to engage Jewish adults ages 22-30 by creating and providing meaningful experiences through a variety of cultural, educational, social and service events.
HEN HOUSE KOSHER RUMORS — Many of the Hen House faithful who shop in the kosher departments at the Hen House location on 117th and Roe have noticed remodeling is about to begin and have heard rumors that the store, along with the kosher departments, will be closing for a while. Hen House and Vaad HaKashruth have been working together to make sure there is as little disruption as possible when it comes to assisting kosher customers. The Chronicle will publish updated plans for the kosher departments as soon as they are available, so stay tuned.
A beautiful drawing of a Hanukkah menorah was the unanimous choice of the judges in the 19th annual Hanukkah Art Contest, sponsored by the Chabad House Center and The Chronicle. The Hanukkiah was drawn by Molly Levinson, the daughter of Jennifer Levinson and Scott Levinson. Molly is an eighth-grade student at Prairie Star Middle School and a member of Congregation Beth Torah. She will be presented with a grand prize of a Motion Sensor Scooter by Chabad House.
Four original paintings by Israeli artist Nahum Arbel were given back to Congregation Beth Shalom at a private event last Monday evening, Nov. 23. The paintings, found rolled up with the blueprints in a barrel in the basement of the former synagogue at 95th and Wornall, were discovered by Burns & McDonnell and Van Trust Real Estate prior to destruction of the building.
