Mackenzie Haun enjoys using the word amazing to describe her experiences. As you speak with the 16-year-old high school senior and read her resume, you discover she has indeed already been on some interesting journeys in life.

“She is eager to share her experiences with her peers and younger students,” noted Marcia Rittmaster, Congregation Beth Torah’s religious school and youth groups director who nominated Mackenzie for the Salute to Youth feature.

Mackenzie notes that Judaism “plays a big part” in her life. She is president of Beth Torah’s youth group and serves as a madricha for sixth-grade students on Sunday mornings. And she shared her love of music with campers this summer as a song leader at the Jewish Community Center’s Barney Goodman Camp.

“We have a very Jewish household so Judaism has always been a part of my life and more so since I started youth group and NFTY,” Mackenzie explained.

A top student at Blue Valley High School, Mackenzie has already been accepted to the honors program at the University of Kansas, where she plans to major in political science with a focus in pre-law. Mackenzie truly enjoys learning, in school and out.

“By any definition, Mackenzie is an over-achiever. Ever since her first days in the Weiner Religious School she exhibited a thirst for knowledge. She always wanted to learn beyond what a teacher was teaching and as she matured, she began attending adult education classes with her parents in addition to her religious school classes. She even participated in the Melton Adult Education program with her grandmother at a very young age! She is a very valuable member of our Madrichim Program and the students love working with her,” Rittmaster said.

Mackenzie said all of her Jewish experiences have had an impact on her life. Even if they are supposed to be leisure activities, she finds a way to either learn something or teach something in just about everything she does. For example as president of BTTY she spends a lot of time planning events.

“But I don’t mind that because I get to help bring Judaism to the other teens at Beth Torah and make it fun for them. That’s always been my goal and I think (being president is) a good way to accomplish it,” said Mackenzie, who became a Bat Mitzvah and was confirmed at the Reform congregation.

The summer after her freshman year in high school she began honing her Jewish leadership skills at NFTY’s Kutz Camp in Warwick. N.Y. At the camp, which promotes “living an intentionally Jewish life,” she majored in Temple Youth Group Leadership. Of course she found her first sleep-away camp experience to be “amazing,” and described it as the best summer of her life.

“I got to learn a lot about how to be a good leader, specifically for the synagogue, and how to be a really good youth group member. It was really a great summer where I learned a lot and made a lot of friends,” she said.

Earlier that school year she was chosen as one of a handful of teens to take part in the Together We Remember program. Two teens are selected from each congregation and as a group they visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Upon their return home, they make presentations about the experience to their congregations and other organizations.

“It’s a really beautiful museum. I got to learn a lot. I already had read a lot about the Holocaust because of Sunday school … but it was a more hands-on experience that was definitely impactful,” she explained.

One reason the trip to the museum resonated with her so much, as well as a visit to Poland as part of the Union of Reform Judaism’s Eisendrath International Exchange Program a year ago, is because her great-grandparents are Holocaust survivors, who both had roots in Lodz, Poland.

The young student said visiting camps in Poland, including Auschwitz-Birkenau, was very emotional and strenuous for her.

“I’ve always liked learning and feeling connected to my Jewish heritage, whether or not it’s my personal Jewish heritage or our communal heritage,” Mackenzie said. “I found it very interesting, but the emotional connection came from my family as well. It’s a very emotionally charged subject anyway, but that did make it more so.”

Taking part in the exchange program, she said, was “probably the most amazing thing I’ve done in my life so far.”

“I always wanted to go to Israel and this was a really great way to do that.”

At EIE she spent three hours a day learning Jewish history, one and a half studying Hebrew and then took regular general studies classes.

“I got to really learn Jewish history from biblical times up until now,” she said.

“It was fairly in depth … but of course even that only scratches the surface of history,” she said, noting they took a lot of field trips to places all over the country and even spent five days hiking from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean.”

“It was difficult and challenging but it was a way to connect with the land because we were living in nature,” she said.

As the High Holidays approach this year, she is reminded how much she enjoyed spending them in Israel last year, where she spent Rosh Hashanah in a synagogue in Jerusalem and Yom Kippur at the Hebrew Union College.

“It was very different from home but it still felt like Rosh Hashanah,” she said. “It was practically the same service but it was all in Hebrew instead of having English parts. I found that very interesting.”

Here at home she plans to read Torah on Simchat Torah. While she doesn’t read Torah often, she said she likes doing it.

“It connects me not only to the congregation I’m reading in front of but also to the greater Jewish people and to our history and to our heritage,” she said.

URBANSUBURBAN CHANGES OPENING DATE — Out of respect for the Epsten family, The Epsten Gallery is rescheduling the opening of the UrbanSuburban Exhibition to Sunday, Sept. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. The original opening date was Sunday, Sept. 1.

Jacqueline Epsten, who was one of the co-founders of the Epsten Gallery, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 24. Epsten Gallery Executive Director Marcus Cain said Epsten was intensely active as a board member and as a founding member of the gallery’s honorary board. For more information about UrbanSuburban, contact Cain at 913-266-8413.

GUCI CAMPER UPDATE — The JTA article published about Ethan Kadish, the GUCI camper who is still fighting the effects of a catastrophic brain injury suffered after he was hit by lightning, published in the Aug. 22 edition struck a chord with our readers. It turns out Ethan has a connection to the Kansas City Jewish community as well. Reader Don Boresow pointed out that Ethan’s grandfather, Dr. William Brody, a retired cardiologist living in California, grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Paseo High School in 1952. Those wanting to make a donation to help defray Ethan’s medical costs, which are substantial, may do so by visiting HelpHOPELive.org and search for Ethan Kadish.

“In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist,” Ruchama King Feuerman, New York Review of Books, $8.49 ebook, Sept. 17, 2013

The year is 1998. Isaac Markowitz is a 43-year-old bachelor, who lost the girl he wanted; he is knowledgeable, but did not become a rabbi; and he suffers from eczema. He sells his New York haberdashery business on the Lower East Side, goes to Israel and seeks out a rabbi/kabbalist in the Old City of Jerusalem, offering to be his assistant.

Meanwhile, he encounters Mustafa, a 55-year-old Arab street cleaner with a twisted neck, cast out by his family and his village, who works on the Temple Mount. Isaac tells him he is like a Kohen and a friendship occurs.

As the rabbi’s assistant, Isaac hears questions from the people who gather in the courtyard and relays them to the rabbi for responses. Here he meets Tamar, the American on a motorcycle, looking for spirituality and a husband. Will she find one? Will anything develop between her and Isaac?

When the rabbi suddenly dies, the rebbetzin asks Isaac to stay on and continue to see the people. Who really dispensed the advice, we wonder as we read on.

When Mustafa is not cleaning toilets and the area of the mosque, he is sent to the Solomon’s stables area to remove debris where he discovers some interesting shards. As a token of Isaac’s kindness to him, he gives a shard to him, starting a series of adventures. But overriding everything is Mustafa’s deep feelings of rejection by his family, particularly his mother, and his intense desire to reunite with them.

True, there are some strange twists and turns in the plot or plots, but Feuerman is such an engrossing story writer, we want to keep reading and reading.

The publisher calls this book “a thriller, a courtship tale and a gentle clash between civilizations.”

It is absorbing, fascinating, intriguing and more, written by a creative storyteller with an amazing skill for originality.

Ruchama King Feuerman grew up in an observant home, lived in Israel for 10 years (studying and teaching Torah to women), from which she drew inspiration for her 2003 novel “Seven Blessings” on the theme of matchmakers.

She received a Master’s in Fine Arts from Brooklyn College, is married and lives with her husband and five children in New Jersey. She also conducts workshops in writing for religious women.

Sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world is important to Miriam Scharf. As chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, she helped the agency strive to meet that mission. Now that she is concluding her two-year term, she is proud and honored that she has been able to do her part to make the Kansas City Jewish community a strong and vibrant community.

When Patricia Werthan Uhlmann takes on the role of board chair on Tuesday, Sept. 10 (see story page 7), she, too, will focus on meeting the Jewish Federation’s mission while concentrating on energizing, educating and enlarging the agency’s base of stakeholders.

A top priority during Scharf’s tenure was to make sure that the most vulnerable families in our community received the assistance they need. Another goal was to enhance the image of the Jewish Federation. A new marketing campaign was launched during her tenure that helped people understand what the Jewish Federation does, and how it accomplishes it mission.

In an effort to make everything run smoother and enhance the organization’s image, Scharf spearheaded an internal review of the organization. When it concluded, a variety of policies and procedures were updated.

“We are proud to say that the organization is well run and salaries and benefits are competitive in the K.C. market,” Scharf said.

Knowing that the organization is well run, Scharf believes, gives donors the confidence that the Jewish Federation is a good steward of their gifts.

“We do a lot of cultivating of different members of the community. When we are talking to them and answering their questions, we are telling them we have looked at the internal structure of the organization. We have updated what we needed to update because our ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life for all members of our community.

Longtime community leader Patricia Uhlmann will be installed as chair of the board for The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City during its upcoming 80th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting, including a Vaad-supervised dessert reception, will be held at Oakwood County Club, 9800 Grandview Road in Kansas City, Mo. The entire community is invited to attend.

Uhlmann has been involved in helping people near and far through her work with the Jewish Federation. Her past leadership roles include chairing the Federation’s Allocations Committee, serving as campaign co-chair and as Women’s Division (now Women’s Philanthropy) president. She has also been extremely active on the national and international level with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, known more commonly as JDC. Uhlmann is currently a member of the JDC’s executive committee and is vice chair of the 100th Anniversary JDC “Shabbat Around the World.” She’s also been chair of JDC’s Europe Committee and its International Development Program.

Keynote Speaker: Will Recant

Because of Uhlmann’s close association with JDC, the organization’s Assistant Executive Vice-President for the International Development Program Will Recant will deliver the keynote address at the Annual Meeting. Recant will share insights from his work on “Rescue, Relief and Jewish Renewal: What that Means in 2013.”

Recant serves as the senior staffer for all of JDC’s non-sectarian and disaster relief programs. He coordinates projects relating to the rescue, relief and renewal of Jewish communities worldwide and develops non-sectarian programs. Through Recant’s work, he has helped provide relief assistance to disaster-affected countries, including India, Sri-Lanka, Kosovo, Rwanda and Haiti.

In addition to the installation of officers, a number of awards will be presented during the Annual Meeting to individuals and groups that have had a positive impact on Kansas City’s Jewish community. These include:

• The Community Program of the Year Awards

• Tracy Shafton, Dan Fingersh Young Leadership Award

• Denise Ellenberg, CAJE Jewish Educator of the Year

In addition to the installation of Uhlmann, Miriam Scharf will become immediate past board chair, completing her two-year term in office. Other Federation officers coming on board include: Stacey Belzer, Sarah Z. Beren, John Isenberg, Trudy Jacobson, Polly Kramer, Amanda K. Morgan, Shanny Morgenstern and Daniel L. Scharf, M.D. Incoming board members include: Herb Buchbinder, Bill Carr, Howard D. Ellis, M.D., Seth Freiden, Michelle Goldsmith, Paul Himmelstein, Beth Kaplan Liss, Peter Loftspring, Linda Lyon, Karen D. Pack, Robert Palan, Sandy Passer, Steve Ruben, Jessica Rudnick-Kaseff, Tracy Shafton, Joshua Sosland and Ira Stolzer.

The cost to attend the Annual Meeting is $18 per person and reservations are required. Please make reservations online by Tuesday, Sept.3, at www.jewishkc.org.

The Jewish Federation’s mission is to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world. Through our network of partners, we help feed, clothe, comfort and inspire people here at home and around the world through the more than 75 programs we support.

On Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 very talented high school singers will perform, hoping to be the one crowned KC SuperStar — the best in the metro area!

KC SuperStar is the “American Idol/The Voice”-style singing competition sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. The final event will take place at 7 p.m. in Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. This “top 10” was whittled down from a field of 260 students representing 100 schools in the metro area who auditioned for KC SuperStar.

While the excitement is nearing a peak as to who will win the $7,500 Craig Citron Memorial Scholarship, there is more to the story than honoring youthful singing talent.

“SuperStar impacts lives directly and meaningfully,” said Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center. “It is a godsend to the JCC because it allows us the privilege to help families and children in need, and do it graciously, quietly and with dignity.”

Because of KC SuperStar, the JCC will distribute more than $450,000 in financial assistance — up from $260,000 four years ago when the event began. KC SuperStar has enabled the JCC to help significantly more people in need — children, seniors and families — whether facing on-going financial need or episodic struggles.

Take Menashe, a single, immigrant father who is caring for his child. Menashe’s wife is dying of cancer; he only works part time due to his own complicated medical conditions that include depression, insomnia and arthritis. Living in this household is tough on his young daughter, who gets little attention or stimulation. However, thanks to a scholarship to summer camp, this little girl was able to spend two carefree months making friends, swimming and laughing and experiencing the joy every child should.

Schreiber is quick to give credit for the success of KC SuperStar to the many volunteers who work on the annual summer event.

“KC SuperStar is a good idea, but without the monumental fundraising efforts of Herb Buchbinder — our community’s ‘Bulldog-Angel’ for tzedakah — hundreds of children, seniors and other needy people would certainly go without proper care, nourishment and education, and would never get to experience the joys of a summer, childhood, friendships, exercise,” he said.

At KC SuperStar, the audience participates in picking the ultimate winner. After each finalist performs, a four-judge panel will select the top four singers based on vocal quality and stage presence. The audience will then vote to narrow the contenders to two singers and then vote again to choose the ultimate winner to be declared KC SuperStar 2013.

And everyone’s a winner! In addition to the first place scholarship given to the KC SuperStar, all singers in the competition will receive scholarship awards. The second place winner receives $2,500; third place — $1,500; fourth place — $1,000; and singers coming in fifth through 10th place will each receive $500 scholarships.

This year’s 10 finalists and the schools they attend include:

CeCe Dawson, Kearney H.S., junior, Kearney, Mo. — Finalist in 2012

Jackson Gulick, Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S., senior, Shawnee — Finalist in 2012

Kendra Leet, Lawrence H.S., senior, Lawrence, Kan.

John Long, Lee’s Summit West H.S., senior, Greenwood, Mo.

Dylan Martin, Blue Valley Northwest H.S., junior, Overland Park

Maggie Marx, Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S., sophomore, Shawnee

Abby Parra, Bishop Miege H.S., senior, Fairway — Semi-Finalist 2012

Monica Sigler, Olathe East H.S., senior, Overland Park — Finalist first two years

Samantha Smith, Blue Valley West H.S., senior, Overland Park — Second Place winner 2012

Houston St. John, Shawnee Mission East H.S., sophomore, Lenexa

Another highlight of the evening is bestowing the Community SuperStar award on Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. Harvesters — The Community Food Network will also be recognized as a SuperStar organization; part of the event’s proceeds will be shared with the food bank. For more information about KC SuperStar, visit www.kcsuperstar.com.

While limited seats remain in Yardley Hall, tickets are available for the Fan Room in the adjacent Polsky Theatre. The performance will be streamed live and Fan Room audience members will get to vote for the winner. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling 913-327-8000.

Schreiber said KC SuperStar has become a synergistic event.

“The true strength of a community is not judged on how big its buildings are or how nice its streets look, but on how it treats its elderly, its wounded, its sick — and all those in need,“ Schreiber said. “With the partnership of the Jewish Federation, Jewish Heritage Foundation, Menorah Legacy Foundation, United Way, generous family foundations — and now with SuperStar — the JCC and our Jewish community can proudly say that we continue to stretch ourselves to do all we can.”

When the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy board and administration decided to return the school to a two-principal model last winter, they found new strength and leadership within.

Todd Clauer, a 14-year HBHA veteran who teaches math and science and runs the college-counseling program, was promoted to the role of Upper School principal. A nationwide search for a new Lower and Middle School principal also ultimately ended inside the school’s walls, when Jessica Kyanka-Maggart, who has taught at HBHA since 2004, was hired in late May to oversee grades K through eight.

Head of School Howard Haas explains that the administrative restructuring is primarily an effort to place more emphasis on course-programming and teacher development.

“From an academic standpoint, we strive to be the best in the city, and to be able to do that, you need experts in curriculum and evaluation,” he says. “In both Todd and Jessica, we have that.”

Haas notes that Clauer has been part of the administrative team for years, even serving as interim principal of the upper school the year before Haas arrived.

“Todd is a proven commodity,” he says. “He has the total respect of the students, the staff, and the community.

“Likewise, we found that Jessica’s knowledge and her history with HBHA would give her a recipe for success. She was the best candidate and she knows this community. She has great rapport with the staff, and she’s a warm, open-hearted instructional leader. I think she embodies what we want for our children.”

Along with Rabbi Avi Weinstein, head of Jewish studies, Clauer and Kyanka-Maggart look forward to pursuing and expanding HBHA’s holistic approach that integrates Jewish and general studies — endeavoring for excellence in both — and charts students’ growth as a seamless whole, from kindergarten through high school.

Plans for the new school year, which began Aug. 19, include further development of HBHA’s “Profile Of A Graduate,” an inventory of characteristics, measured through benchmarks, that the school wants to instill over each student’s K-12 experience. Formed through focus groups of parents, teachers, students, alumni, clergy, and other community leaders, “it’s an incredible document that helps guide what everyone in their classroom should be doing,” Kyanka-Maggart says.

As part of a three-year development process, HBHA leaders are now mapping out how to help students reach these goals. “One characteristic is ‘personal connection and commitment to the State of Israel,’ ” Clauer explains. “Well, what does that mean and how do we get our students there? This process will help us grow and stretch as an institution, and be firmly connected to why we’re here.”

The administrators are also looking at how best to apply new technologies to learning, as well as evaluating and expanding outside opportunities — engineering programs through Shawnee Mission, pre-med programs through Blue Valley, classes at local colleges — to balance the intimacy of a small school with greater possibilities.

Having two administrators in charge of curriculum also allows for something impossible with only one, Clauer says: “meaningful dialogue.”

“As a small school, we need to be learners with each other about the most relevant research and by thinking deeply about what is good teaching and powerful learning for our students,” he explains. “We will include that in the way that our teachers operate and the way that we talk about education and interact with families.”

Haas adds that he has already seen the new collaboration pay off during staff development days. “The veterans — some of whom have been here for 30 years — said it was the best opening that we’ve ever had,” he says.

Kyanka-Maggart, who is completing her doctorate in education leadership at Baker University, looks forward to the challenge of her first administrative role, and already feeling at home helps.

“For starters, it was lovely interviewing with people I had known for the last nine years,” she says with a smile. “I feel so fortunate to be in this school. We are one of the oldest K-12 (community) day schools, and now that I’m an administrator, it’s really hit me that I am part of something so special.”

She has been delighted to witness the Lower School’s recent growth; she started here as a co-teacher for a combined fourth-and fifth-grade general studies class; within a few years the numbers had grown to the point where it wasn’t even practical to share recess. “Now, as an administrator, I am fortunate enough to see all the kids and see them grow throughout the years,” she says. “I want to continue that positive energy and atmosphere that this is a family place — it’s a school, but we’re a family. We stick together and support each other, and we all grow up together.”

For Clauer, whose three daughters are current HBHA students, “family” means a blend of his personal and professional roles. “The experience my girls have had here — they love coming every day, they feel connected to their Jewish identity, they’ve developed incredible Hebrew skills, as well as general studies capabilities — is a tremendous inspiration and motivation to do everything to make this school even better.”

ANGEL GALA — Several members of the Jewish community are integrally involved with the 10th annual Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care 2013 Angel Gala Saturday, Aug. 24. Serving as honorary chairs are Arnie and Carol Caviar. The event co–chairs are Carol Barnett, Sharon Mallin and Jill Shapiro. The event, which will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, is expected to draw more than 600 people and will recognize all the people involved with the organization, including patrons, donors, volunteers and staff. Hospice House serves more than 1,000 patients each year.

COOKOUT AT HYVEE — When HyVee at 95th and Antioch in Overland Park opened last winter, Kosher Department Manager Meir Anton said the store would be holding kosher events in the future. It has its first event, a kosher cookout, on the schedule for Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Anton said, “The store will purchase a barbecue grill for the occasion and the event will be supervised by the Vaad HaKashruth of Greater Kansas City.” Hy-Vee plans to keep the grill to use exclusively for future kosher events.

The menu will include beef hot dogs, hamburgers and lamb burgers. Food will be served from 5 to 8 p.m.

Customers may purchase food for take-out or may eat it in the store’s second-floor restaurant. Plastic plates and utensils will be available as well as condiments.

If this first event is successful, Anton said HyVee hopes to plan more kosher events in the future.

For more information contact Meir Anton at 913-894-1983, , or at https://www.facebook.com/HyVeeKosherDept.

NEW CHILDREN’S PRAYERBOOK — It’s too bad my children aren’t little anymore because I just received a wonderful new Reform prayer book for young children: “Mishkan T’filah for Children: A Siddur for Families & Schools.” It is a full-color siddur appropriate for grades K-2 and includes a Shabbat service for evening and morning, as well as a weekday service for evening and morning. This volume is designed to introduce young children to the structure and order of the prayer services. Thumbing through the book, I really enjoyed this explanation of the Torah: “In this scroll is the secret of our people’s life from Sinai until now. Its teaching is love and justice, goodness and hope. Freedom is its gift to all who treasure it.” I think that’s a definition I can pass on to those of other faiths who ask me about the Torah. The book was published by CCAR press, a division of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and a volume appropriate for children in grades three to six is expected next year. It can be ordered at www.ccarnet.org/ccar-press or by calling 212-972-3636 x243.

Twenty people who keep kosher and are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals are now receiving assistance from Kosher Meals on Wheels. KMOW, organized under the auspices of the Torah Learning Center and run by Susie Klinock, had hoped to be up and running in January. It took a little longer than expected, but the organization is now in full swing. Clients first began receiving meals in May.

“Our goal is still to hit 50 clients by the fall, God willing,” Klinock said.

There is already a waiting list ready to fill those spots, Klinock said. All they need is more volunteers and more money.

Clients needs to qualify for KMOW services through a screening process. Those who are referred by Jewish Family Services have already been screened. For the others, Klinock said it’s a short and simple process.

“Rabbis are very much encouraged to let us know when they have a member in need that we don’t know anything about who needs help. The rabbis are all behind this program,” she said.

Most, but not all, of the KMOW clients are over age 60.

“If somebody is physically handicapped, are younger and unable to stand and prepare meals for themselves, we help them, too,” Klinock said.

Most clients receive five frozen meals a week and are encouraged to pay “a little something” toward the cost of the meals. The full cost for the meals and supplies is $12.50 per meal or $62.50 per week.

“Of course we have a sliding scale program so people can pay whatever they can do without hurting them financially,” Klinock said. “Some people are able to pay full cost. They just want the service, which is great.”

KMOW has no paid staff. Klinock is a volunteer as are all the cooks and drivers.

A typical meal consists of a meat for protein, vegetables and a fruit. Often a client gets three helpings of soup for the week as well.

“Soup is very popular, even in the summer,” Klinock said.

A dietician, also a volunteer, is on board to make sure all the meals fill proper nutritional standards. Klinock is proud that the local KMOW is doing something that no other Meals on Wheels program in the country is currently providing.

“Those programs are providing one-third of the daily nutritional requirements in their meals,” she said. “We know that this is the only decent meal that a lot of these people get, so we are providing half of the daily nutritional requirements in one meal.”

Two crews of volunteers are now set to cook the meals, generally in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the kosher kitchen at TLC.

“We are thinking about putting second shifts on those days. And we definitely need more volunteers for everything,” Klinock said.

Currently KMOW has about 40 volunteers, about evenly split between cooks and meal delivery drivers. All the drivers have taken a one-hour training program. Drivers also serve as friendly visitors, checking in with the clients during each delivery day.

The visits have been well received. One woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a relative who is ill and is currently receiving meals from KMOW. She said Rabbi Benzion Friedman has spent time with her loved one while delivering his meal, and asked the man if he wanted to lay tefillin, which he did.

“It gave him such a warm feeling inside to just know someone cares,” she said.

Klinock hopes to train more drivers very soon.

“In order to grow we have to have more drivers because not everybody can drive every week,” she said.

“We have a couple of people who drive and cook, and of course that’s fantastic. But we don’t require that. We’re just appreciative of anything people can do,” she continued.

One volunteer who does both is TLC member Keren Huff. She chose KMOW because when she learned about it, she thought it was an awesome thing to help out with.

“I am just grateful that whoever came up with the idea did it because I know there is a great need in the community for something like this,” Huff said.

Once a week she goes to TLC for three hours to cook. She spends another hour and a half delivering a meal and visiting with the client.

She hopes others will give their time as well to this worthy cause because “they need the help really badly.”

Huff said the woman she delivers to is “very, very grateful for what we are doing.”

“I understand all of the people are very grateful for what we do,” she said.

Klinock said they have had lots of positive feedback to the program already.

“They are raving about the meals. They say they are really good and they are also saying that they feel better, which of course has always been one of our goals and that’s because they are getting at least one meal a day that’s nutritionally sound,” Klinock said.

As it hopes to add clients in the future, Klinock said KMOW will continue to need more volunteers and will look at ways to raise more funds. KMOW currently sells pareve cookies by special order and will sell them at the Kansas City Kosher BBQ Competition & Festival Sunday, Aug. 18, on the grounds of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Down the road it hopes to expand its Kosher to Go service to include offering full meals and possibly even catering. For more information about Kosher to Go, call 913-735-3663 or email .

Klinock acknowledged that even though she and her team spent 16 months researching and getting ready to launch this program, they are still learning how to best do things and “smooth out the wrinkles.”

“Everybody said this whole first year is really a learning process and they were right,” she said. “No matter how much research we did, there were still some problems that you can’t think of initially. But we are working it all out. If we have a problem, we clear it up the next week. And it’s been a lot of fun.”

Temple Israel will soon begin holding its services and events at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The boards of directors of both congregations came to terms on a one-year deal earlier this week. The Reform congregation will hold its first service at K.I. in Overland Park on Aug. 30.

K.I. boasts a membership of approximately 500 families, while T.I. is much smaller at 90 families.

For the past two years T.I. was based at Congregation Ohev Sholom in Prairie Village. During its first few months of existence, Shabbat services and the congregation’s first Passover seder were held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Overland Park.

“We were looking for a location that was closer to most of our members, a place with more opportunity for growth and a better environment to welcome new members,” explained Temple Israel President Ty Hampshire. “Several years ago K.I. had approached us about space in their building. We contacted them to see if they still had an interest in renting to us.”

K.I. President Steve Osman said the congregation is very pleased to be a community resource and help other congregations in the community when necessary. He believes the K.I. building is beautiful and is happy members of T.I. will be able to enjoy it.

The majority of T.I. programs will take place in the Brown Pavilion. Upon availability T.I. may use K.I.’s chapel or the sanctuary. The office of T.I. Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn will be located in the school wing.

K.I. Interim Rabbi Jeffrey Shron said K.I. “is pleased that we are able to provide a meaningful space for Temple Israel to hold their services and educate their children, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Rabbi Cukierkorn is looking forward to forging a wonderful relationship with K.I., “and cooperating in the areas that we can.”

One of those areas is religious school, where students from the two congregations are expected to begin each Sunday together with a bagel breakfast and will join together in many joint school activities. Enrollment for the next school year is not complete yet, but K.I. expects 15 to 20 children to be enrolled in its school. (Many of its members attend the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and do not attend supplementary religious school.) T.I. generally has 12 to 15 students enrolled in its religious school.

T.I. students, however, are not expected to participate in K.I.’s midweek Hebrew program.

Rabbi Cukierkorn said T.I. takes pride in its family learning days and hopes K.I. members will choose to participate in them. He also believes the two congregations will plan some joint adult education opportunities as well as dinners.

While joint activities are being planned, T.I’s board President Hampshire emphasizes that the congregations are not merging.

“We are simply renting space from them where we can conduct our services,” he said. “While we are there in that space, we are still a Reform congregation.”

However, since K.I. is a Traditional congregation, Osman pointed out that should T.I. plan any programs on site involving food, the agreement states that T.I. will follow all of K.I.’s kosher dietary laws.

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