This is a big year for State of Israel as it celebrates the 65th anniversary of its birth. The Kansas City Jewish community will celebrate it not once, not twice, but three times during the month of April.

Why schedule three events so close together in one month, you might ask. Israel Shlicha (Emissary) Ophir Hacohen explained that ever since the State of Israel was founded, the memorial day commemoration and the independence day celebration have been linked together.

“Some people say that’s strange. But it’s part of the idea that the way we established the state cost a very high price, and still does to this day, and we have to remember that. So where there’s happiness there’s also sorrow for those who lost their lives for our country,” explained Hacohen, who has now been serving the Jewish community of Kansas City about eight months.

The third event, Lag b’Omer, just happens to fall close to Israel Independence Day events. Hacohen said attending one, two or even all three of these events is a wonderful way to show support for the Jewish state.

“People often ask me how they can show support for Israel when they live all the way here,” Hacohen said. In addition to donating money, “this is a great way to honor and celebrate with Israel.”

Planning three events celebrating Israel is a lot of work, but Hacohen thinks it will be worth it.

“It’s amazing that the community goes to so much effort to honor Israel during this month. We have so many events but they keep going strong because people come to them and people look forward to them,” she said.

“I think people are looking for more and more ways to support Israel. We have a lot of organizations working on these events and I think this is a wonderful way to unite and support Israel.”

Yom HaZikaron

Israel’s Memorial Day

Hacohen explained that Yom HaZikaron, which will be commemorated here on Sunday, April 14, is Israel’s Memorial Day dedicated to fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

“It’s the day that foremost honors those who have lost their lives and in Israel, unfortunately, we have many victims of terror attacks.”

This year’s event will be held on the same day that Israelis will hold memorials.

“It’s really wonderful and very meaningful that we hold the ceremony the same day that it is in Israel,” Hacohen said. Sunday is memorial day eve and Monday is the actual day in Israel.

The Yom HaZikaron ceremony will be held in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Campus beginning at 7 p.m. The event, which is slated to last an hour, will include Israeli music provided by Emily Tummons, Leslie Zucker and Sophia Porter, a student at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.

In years’ past the Israeli army officer stationed at the officer’s training school at Fort Leavenworth has attended this event. This year, however, the officer, Uzi Kliger, will be in Washington, D.C. that evening and won’t be able to attend.

But the Israeli Defense Forces will still be represented this year in the form of guest speaker and former lone soldier Yoona Kolfina. Her presentation will be about the life a lone soldier. The local Jewish community boasts eight lone soldiers in the IDF — Sam Mendel, Sam Kohn, Rachel Kaplan, Alana Gaffen, Jason Barnett, Tomer Bar Lavi, Aviv Bonomo and Mai Bonomo.

Kolfina immigrated to Israel from Belgorod, Russia, in 2006 through the Na’aleh program. She was active in the Jewish community in her town and participated in the Jewish Agency’s summer camps. She studied at a boarding school in Herzliya and finished high school there. She joined the IDF Karakal unit following high school and served as a combat lone soldier, also serving as a paramedic during her army service. After her army service, she finished a course as fitness instructor at Wingate institute and worked in her field. She also works as a paramedic at a support center for drug addicts.

Yom HaAtzmaut

Israel Independence Day

Two days after Yom HaZikaron, on Tuesday, April 16, the community will celebrate Israel Independence Day. Hacohen said three things will happen that evening.

The celebration will begin with a walk for Israel called Walk the Land 65. The Afikim Foundation, in conjunction with the World Zionist Organization and the Israel Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, is organizing this global walk. Locally it is being sponsored by the Jewish Federation, the Rabbinical Association, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee, Hadassah and Village Shalom. The first Walk the Land celebrated Israel’s 60th anniversary and drew nearly 100,000 participants in 100 community-wide walks worldwide, including here. The walk is a show of pride and solidarity with Israel, celebrating Israel’s contributions to the world and highlighting Israel’s emphasis on life.

Walk participants are asked to gather at Village Shalom between 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. Shuttles will be available at the Campus to take people to Village Shalom. Walkers will begin walking to the Campus at 5:45 p.m. The walk itself should take between 15 and 20 minutes.

The first 100 people to arrive at Village Shalom will be given a free T-shirt commemorating the event. In addition the first 200 people will get a packet of seeds from Israel to take home and plant.

A free open house at the Jewish Community Center begins at 6 p.m. Music will be provided by Shir Balev, Israeli food will be available for purchase, a children’s area will be available and a photo booth will be set up for families to have their photos taken by the Child Development Center’s Western Wall replica. This celebration is sponsored by the Israel Committee of the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation.

“People can socialize and have fun and do different activities related to Israel,” Hacohen said.

The celebration will conclude with the Israeli movie “A Matter of Size,” which will be screened outdoors at 8 p.m. by the Jewish Community Center’s Fitness & Sports entrance. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be shown in the White Theatre. This movie features the community’s sister city of Ramla, Israel. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the evening. Popcorn will be sold during the movie.

“The movie is a very successful comedy about four overweight guys that decided to put together a sumo wrestling group in Ramla,” Hacohen said.

Volunteers are still needed for Yom HaAtzmaut events.

“We would love some more volunteers, most of which are needed to help with the food,” she said. Volunteers will be needed late afternoon to help put things together and to sell food. Those interested in volunteering should contact Hacohen at 913-327-8124.

Lag b’Omer

A joyous holiday

This is the second year the community will sponsor a Lag b’Omer picnic celebration. It will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at Gezer Park.

“Lag b’Omer marks the time between Passover and Shavuot in Jewish tradition. In Israel it is usually celebrated with great big bonfires. This year Jewish Federation is working again with the city of Leawood and the Torah Learning Center to plan the event,” Hacohen said.

Events that day will include storytelling with Rabbi Simcha Morgenstern. Bridey Stangler, the director of the Jewish Community Center’s camp, will lead children’s activities as well. Participants are encouraged to bring their own picnics or purchase hot dogs, chips, potatoes and drinks. All food served will be kosher. S ’mores will be provided for free.

Hacohen said Lag b’Omer celebrations in Israel are usually at night. However the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Civic Service Award Dinner is that evening, so organizers felt hosting the picnic earlier in the day would be appropriate.

From the mellah (Jewish quarter) in Fez, Morocco, to Congregation Ohev Sholom, Charles Choucroun has had an interesting and varied life. But his deepest commitment is to Judaism. He shows it in a variety of ways including leading the morning minyan six days a week — Sunday through Friday — at his Conservative congregation for more than 20 years.

Ohev is recognizing Choucroun’s love of Judaism and his synagogue by presenting him with the Shem Tov (Good Name) Award at a brunch on Sunday, April 14. Choucroun is only the second person to be honored with this recognition. The first recipient was congregant Marvin Denton. The cost for the brunch is $18. RSVP to the synagogue office at 913-642-6460.

“He enriches the Jewish culture of the congregation in special ways through cuisine and the special events he initiated,” said Ohev’s Rabbi Scott White. “The reason he is getting the Shem Tov Award is for these contributions, which stand out beyond the average committed congregant.”

Ohev Sholom’s President Dr. Ace Allen endorses Rabbi White’s words, “Charles Choucroun exemplifies the ancient Jewish understanding of what comprises a good name: modesty, generosity, hard work, commitment to the community and excellence in everything he does.”

Choucroun left Morocco in 1961, five years after it declared its independence from France. First he went to France for a few months, then to Israel for 13 years, then back to France and finally to the United States. He ended up in Kansas in 1977 because one of his sisters and her husband lived here.

“After independence everything changed,” he said. “And we had to leave.”

Although he left the congregation of his childhood, Choucroun has brought his traditions to Ohev, where he has been a member for more than 25 years. Besides leading Ohev’s daily minyan, for which he davens in the Sephardic style, Choucroun also prepares the meals for festival kiddushes.

Rabbi White said Choucroun is one of the reasons the congregation eats well after festival services.

“In the past, he and his wife Susan have sponsored our Tu b’Shevat seder. Choucroun prepares a very elaborate meal for the seder, using some Sephardic cooking. This year almost 100 people attended. He single handedly pulls it together.”

He prepares casseroles, soups and side dishes. Rabbi White calls the food “very exciting.”

Choucroun is humble and somewhat embarrassed by the attention. He started helping with Kiddush because he felt it was important for the congregation to have a communal meal after services. As for leading services, he simply starting doing it because well over 20 years ago some of the “old timers asked me to help.”

He also reads Torah on Mondays, Thursdays and yom tovs, when the rabbi is not in town. He loves to read Torah and Haftarah. He always reads the Haftarah of Jonah on Yom Kippur.

One of the special rites he added to Ohev Sholom’s religious events is the inclusion of the Mimouna, an event held at the close Passover, which is very popular in Moroccan communities. People dress up in bridal white as well as costume. They eat Moroccan crepes dipped in honey, as the first bread after Passover. The table is set with symbolic foods: honey, buttermilk, fruit, sweets and greens. Guests are blessed with milk, whose whiteness symbolizes purity. The milk is sprinkled on their face and shoulders. Choucroun has been holding a Mimouna for about 10 years. But last year it was held in the synagogue.

“In the 25 years I’ve known Charles,” said Dr. Allen, “he has always been one of the first to volunteer his time, talents, and resources. He has always been a faithful minyanaire, prayer leader and Torah reader. He and his wife, Susan, have hosted innumerable Shabbat Kiddushes and celebrations of Purim and Mimouna. He’s the guy at KosherFest walking around with a platter of sample delicacies from Morocco that he’s made, with a beautiful smile on his face. He has special affection for older people, and in his profession as a hairdresser has provided free haircuts for people unable to afford them.”

Even with all the accolades, or perhaps because of who he is, Choucroun was surprised when the rabbi announced at services one morning that he was to be presented with this award. “I was very surprised,” he said. “I did not know that they even had a special award.”

“Everyone clapped and gave him a standing ovation,” his wife said.

Susan Choucroun is proud of what her husband does for the congregation. “I want people to know that he has an intrinsic and deep love for Judaism with every part of his being,” she added.

“It is how I was raised,” Choucroun responds.

“I want to be an example,” he added. “You must have the discipline to come to the service, instead of going to a football game. It is more important to come to services than to go to a concert or sport event. Synagogue should come first.”

Last September, former Kansas Congresswoman Lana Gordon found herself stepping back into state government as the interim secretary of labor. In February, the state senate unanimously confirmed an appointment that took away the “interim” part of her title.

Gordon, who had served for 12 years in the state legislature as a Republican representative from District 52, serving part of Topeka, decided not to run for re-election after redistricting put her in the same district with two other incumbents.

“I’m thankful for the experience I had in the state legislature. It helped prepare me for this role, knowing how to work with the legislative session and so forth,” Gordon said.

According to the Associated Press, the previous secretary of labor, Karin Brownlee, was removed from the position by Gov. Sam Brownback and did not step down voluntarily.

Gordon’s background is in business — her family owns Goodman Hardware, and she helped out there while she was growing up in Kansas City. Her parents, Myron and Hariette Goodman, brothers Robert and Larry Goodman and sister Janice Pinson all live in the Kansas City area.

Later, she taught elementary school in Lee’s Summit before moving with her husband, Arnold, to Topeka. The couple, who have now been married for 42 years, worked in his family’s janitorial service business.

“We didn’t think we’d live in Topeka this long,” said Gordon, who raised her three daughters there.

Gordon is a member of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka, while her family in Kansas City attends a variety of synagogues — Congregation Ohev Sholom, Congregation Beth Shalom and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Her daughters and four grandsons live in Arizona and Wisconsin.

She owned some gift shops, worked in her husband’s family business, was president of the local Junior League and did lots of volunteering around town, “everything from the PTO to post-prom chairman,” she said.

“I had never thought about running for political office until others saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself,” Gordon said.

After friends encouraged her to run, she earned her seat in 2000, then won reelection five times. According to Project Vote Smart, as a representative, she voted in favor of concealed weapons, increasing minimum wage and voter identification bills and against various bills to add more state regulations for abortion providers.

Now, her new position is giving her a different experience in state politics with the opportunity to use some old skills.

“All the functions that keep the government running are not dissimilar to what keeps businesses running,” she said. “I communicate well with people by listening to what they have to say, and it really helps me understand their situations … I feel like I’m able to accomplish a lot of common goals.”

As head of the Kansas Department of Labor, Gordon oversees all its various departments, including the unemployment system, workers compensation and employment standards.

Although most people are familiar with the first two, employment standards, which enforces state labor laws regarding issues such as child labor, minimum wage and lost wages, often stays in the background. However, Gordon is quite proud of that division.

“It’s helpful to employees who have lost their jobs, and the employers still owe them money,” Gordon said. “In 2012 we collected over $1 million for Kansas workers.”

She also touts the number of small businesses in Kansas that participate in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program instituted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In Kansas, 173 sites are recognized by the program for their success with maintaining a safe work environment; Gordon said Kansas has the highest participation in the country.

The department also collects and compiles information on the employment rate, job growth and other workforce data for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of the biggest challenges of the position is handling the budget, Gordon said.

“Managing the budget for an agency like this— it’s a huge responsibility,” she said. “We want to be sure we’re spending wisely and giving good service to people.”

Women’s Division of Jewish Federation is changing its name to Women’s Philanthropy.

“With this name change, our community will be in line with over 70 other communities who have adopted Women’s Philanthropy, and our connection to the wider Federation world is strengthened,” said Women’s Philanthropy President Bari Freiden.

“Women’s Philanthropy provides an opportunity for every woman to affirm her Jewish identity. It is a place for women of all ages, backgrounds, interests, lifestyles and income levels. It’s time to embrace a name that reflects what we really do,” added Freiden.

Women’s Philanthropy programs this spring will engage women with a variety of interests, including the upcoming Women’s Philanthropy Annual Meeting, which takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. Outgoing Women’s Philanthropy President Bari Freiden will be honored and new President Trudy Jacobson will be installed.

Dr. Erica Brown, a well-known author and educator, will be the guest speaker. She will discuss “From Inspiration to Transformation,” a very apropos topic as Women’s Philanthropy moves into a transformative future. Brown has an in-depth understanding of what makes a great leader, and she will challenge Annual Meeting attendees to think about how they can effectively influence the people around them to create positive change, interweaving Jewish wisdom throughout. Brown has worked with a number of organizations to help them develop inspired leaders, and was selected to speak at this year’s meeting to create the spark for transformation.

Couvert for the Women’s Philanthropy Annual Meeting is $15 per person, which includes Vaad supervised desserts prepared by Beth Barden. Register at jewishkansascity.org, or contact Nicole Feldman, , 913-327-8111 by May 5.

Other upcoming Women’s Philanthropy events include:

Thursday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. — Yad B’yad education series will present “Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival.” Well-known speaker and cookbook author June Feiss Hersh shares the life-affirming stories and cherished recipes from Holocaust survivors and their families that she gleaned while researching “Recipes Remembered.” She also describes her own journey that led up to writing the cookbook. A food archivist, Hersh’s goal is to preserve memories that are connected with food. Hersh is also the author of “The Kosher Carnivore: The Ultimate Meat and Poultry Cookbook.” Both cookbooks will be available for purchase at the event. Cost of the event is $5, and will be held at the Jewish Community Campus.

“Recipes Remembered” is being held in collaboration with Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and the Jewish Community Center.

Monday, April 29, 1 to 3 p.m. —The Social Action Committee Spring Mitzvah project will be at the JFS Food Pantry. Participants will pack food boxes for 30 homebound JFS clients. Space in the pantry is very limited and a maximum of 20 participants will be accommodated. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will meet in the Jewish Community Campus’ Conference Room E (next to the food pantry) for orientation. Go to jewishkansascity.org to view JFS Food Pantry’s requested food, personal care and cleaning items.

To register for any of these events, go to jewishkansascity.org, or contact Nicole Feldman, , 913-327-8111. To learn more or to get involved in Women’s Philanthropy, contact Bev Jacobson at 913-327-8108 or .

GOT MATZAH? — Remember last week when you were worried you wouldn’t have enough matzah. Now that Passover is over, you might not know what to with those extra boxes. The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah has suggested to its congregants that they donate any leftover matzah to the JFS Food Pantry or Harvesters. Just remember the boxes need to be unopened. Yachad-The Kosher Food Pantry would love to have those leftovers as well.

AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT UMKC — High-profile CNN analyst and New Yorker staff writer Jeffrey Toobin will provide an insider’s look at the U.S. Supreme Court in an April 11 presentation at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The son of newswoman Marlene Sanders, Toobin is the author of several books, including his best-selling account of modern-day justices and their decisions, “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court,” which won the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and spent four months on The New York Times best seller list. His talk, “The U.S. Supreme Court and the Major Issues of our Time: An Evening with Jeffrey Toobin,” will be at 7 p.m. in Pierson Auditorium in the Atterbury Student Success Center, 5000 Holmes Road. Toobin’s appearance is sponsored by the Bryan Cave law firm, in honor of Edward A. Smith; and by the Advisory Committee to the UMKC Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair in Continuing Education. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. For online reservations, go to go.umkc.edu/jeffreytoobin or call 816-235-6222. A book signing will follow the lecture.

FRENCH FILM FEST FEATURES JEWISH FILM — The Alliance Française de Kansas City, of which Cyprienne Simchowitz serves as president, is once again presenting the KC French Film Fest. The fest is part of the larger Kansas City FilmFest, which takes place at the Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet in downtown from April 10 through April 14. The film with the French-Jewish flavor is “My Best Holidays,” or “Nos plu belles vacances,” is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. In French with English subtitles, it’s described as an authentic comedy about the childhood of director Philippe Lellouch. Set in the late ’70s, it’s full of holiday romance, nostalgia and humor. An Algerian-Jewish family and their friends from Paris go on vacation to Brittany in 1976. They attempt to repair fraying marriages, sort out their lives and not upset the distrusting provincial locals setting the scene for an almighty comedy of culture clashes — the country versus the city. Tickets are available at the theater. Learn more about the French films by visiting http://www.facebook.com/groups/215141802941/ or the entire festival by visiting kcfilmfest.org.

Holocaust  Commemoration events

Last week two of our local rabbis received national accolades. Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn was mentioned as one of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis by The Forward and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz was once again listed by Newsweek and The Daily Beast as one of America’s Top 50 Rabbis.

The Forward’s article, “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis: 36 Rabbis Shaping 21st-Century Judaism,” appeared on Wednesday, March 20. Written by Abigail Jones with additional research by Susan Armitage, Anne Cohen, Maia Efrem, Michelle Gross, the article featured rabbis nominated for the article by Forward readers.

In introducing the list of rabbis, Jane Eisner, The Forward’s editor-in-chief, wrote that when The Forward initiated this project, as it also embarked on a yearlong series examining the embattled American rabbinate, she expected to “hear stories about rabbis in unlikely places.”

“And the lesson from these 36, a special number in our tradition, is that American Jews, regardless of denomination, geography or gender, harbor a deep longing for spiritual leadership — and respond to it not only in synagogue, but in classrooms, Hillels and hospices. They yearn for rabbis who touch the soul and create community,” she wrote.

Rabbi Cukierkorn, the 45-year-old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, leads Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City. He was nominated by 16 Forward readers. Rabbi Cukierkorn devotes a considerable amount of time to helping people learn about Judaism and has helped more than 400 people convert — or in the case of those who were forced to convert to Christianity — return to Judaism, mainly in Latin America but also in Europe and here in the Kansas City area.

He was truly surprised and pleased to be included on the list.

“Above all, it is good to know that my activities are impacting people in Kansas City and abroad. All rabbis inspire and touch the lives of congregants but it is nice to think that some of the people I have touched cared enough to write in to The Forward,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.

“My hope is to continue my work here and abroad to merit the appreciation shown to me and to enhance Jewish life,” he continued.

The nomination chosen by the paper to honor Rabbi Cukierkorn comes from a man who resides in Costa Rica, Gustavo Ramirez Calderon. His comments follow:

“I met Rabbi Cukierkorn this year, 30 years after discovering my Sephardic Jewish roots. I spent 30 years investigating my surname, searching the archives, hearing stories of family and how we came to Costa Rica and why. That was 30 years of receiving ‘NO’ for an answer every time I tried to get close to the Jewish community in my country, Costa Rica. I have no doubt of who I am. I found Rabbi Cukierkorn with one hand ready to take me to the Path of Abraham our father. Jacques Cukierkorn is my Jewish hero, the kind man who answered the door.”

To read more about the 36 rabbis The Forward featured, visit http://forward.com/specials/americas-most-inspiring-rabbis-2013/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The%20Forward%20Today%20%28Monday-Friday%29&utm_campaign=Daily_Newsletter_Mon_Thurs%202013-03-20#ixzz2O5qLWYi2.

Rabbi Yanklowitz top 50 rabbi two years running

This is the second year in a row Rabbi Yanklowitz has been listed as one of America’s Top 50 Rabbis by Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Both years he has occupied the No. 40 spot on the list. Rabbi Yanklowitz, affectionately known as Rav Shmuly to many, began serving as Kehilath Israel Synagogue’s senior rabbi last August.

Rabbi Yanklowitz said he is in awe of the thousands of great rabbis and Jewish leaders around the country committing their lives to serving others.

“I feel very humbled and deeply thankful to all my partners that I am blessed to do holy work with every day,” he said upon being named to the list for the second consecutive year.

This year’s article featuring the top 50 rabbis, the seventh year for such a list, was published Thursday, March 21.

“Just in time for Passover, we rank the religious leaders who bring ideas, innovations, and inspiration to large numbers of American Jews,” is the way the article is introduced.

“This list comprises rabbinic leaders from across the denominational spectrum and those who don’t affiliate with a movement. It includes pulpit rabbis, educators, organizational leaders, activists, and scholars. It includes clergy working in Dallas, Minneapolis, Memphis, and Columbus, Ohio, but like American Jews themselves, the rabbis on this list are clustered on the coasts — particularly in New York and Los Angeles.”

Key players who compiled the list included Gary Ginsberg, Time Warner’s executive vice president of corporate marketing and communications, and Michael Lynton, the CEO of Sony Entertainment, who started the list back in 2007. Abigail Pogrebin, an author and former “60 Minutes” contributor, also helped guide the process. Pogrebin wrote the list in 2011 and 2012. Her first book, “Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish,” is currently being adapted into a musical produced by Daryl Roth.

The profile the magazine published about Rabbi Yanklowitz is as follows:

“At 31, Shumuly Yankowitz is Orthodoxy’s most prominent voice on social justice and has a resume longer than many rabbinic leaders twice his age. He is founder and president of Uri L’Tzedek, an organization ‘guided by Torah values and dedicated to combating suffering and oppression.’ The group recently launched campaigns on prison reform and business ethics. He also leads Kehilath Israel, a 500-family synagogue in Overland Park, Kansas; serves as CEO of the Jewish animal welfare organization Shamayim V’Aretz, which he started with actress Mayim Bialik and hip hop artist Matisyahu; and is a rabbinic representative at the Word Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Yanklowitz somehow found time this past year to earn his doctorate in ‘moral development and epistemology’ at Columbia University and to complete his second book, ‘The Soul of Jewish Social Justice.’ ”

Rabbi Yanklowitz added that, “We are working to make the Kansas City Jewish community one of the most vibrant cities for Jewish life in America.”

“We have a lot of work to do and it will require that we embrace innovation, change and big vision,” he said.

To read the entire America’s Top 50 Rabbis story, go to http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2013/03/21/america-s-top-50-rabbis-for-2013-photos.html#d52f2223-c31d-45dd-bf27-e1accbd78923.

Thirty years after a National Council of Jewish Women program advocating for abused and neglected children launched Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a long-time Jewish volunteer is being honored for her tireless commitment to the program and the children it serves.

Ann Stern will receive the Light of Hope Award on April 18 at the city’s largest fundraising breakfast, which benefits Jackson County CASA. The Light of Hope breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., with networking beginning at 7 a.m., at the Sheraton Crown Center, 2345 McGee. There is no cost to attend, although it is hoped that guests will be so moved by the stories they hear about the profound impact of CASA volunteers on children’s lives, they will be motivated to donate.

Stern, who was a graduate of the third training class of CASA volunteers, will accept the award on behalf of all the CASA volunteers who have served as the voice of abused/neglected children under court protection in Jackson County for the past 30 years. CASA volunteers have also advocated for children in Johnson County since 1985 and Wyandotte County since 2005.

In 2012, some 459 CASA volunteers advocated for the best interests of 1,341 abused and neglected children in the three counties. Through contact with the child, family members and other interested parties, a CASA volunteer provides critical information to the judge, so the best possible decisions can be made regarding where that child should live and what medical, educational and therapeutic services they need.

Studies show that children assigned a CASA volunteer have better outcomes, says Jackson County CASA Executive Director Martha Gershun. They are 50 percent less likely to be re-abused, 50 percent less likely to re-enter the court system, more likely to receive timely and appropriate health and behavioral services, and more likely to be placed in a permanent and safe home.

For 2012, 95 percent of children with a CASA had not re-entered the local courts. In addition, every dollar spent on CASA yields $23 in savings in the foster care and family court systems.

Currently, CASA has enough volunteers and funding to serve about one-third of the children who are in the system. The goal is for every child under the protection of the courts to have a CASA.

But that’s not easy, given that the number of abused and neglected children under court protection keeps climbing. In 2012 alone, the number grew by 11 percent in Jackson County. In Johnson County, the number grew by 15 percent last year. For the same time period, Wyandotte County Court experienced a 42 percent increase. Some 4,091 abused and neglected children were under the protection of the three court systems last year.

“I know I made a difference in the lives of children I represented — absolutely,” says Betty Barnett, who was in the first class trained to become CASA volunteers and serves on the advisory board for CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. “I think some would not have been able to survive. In one of my cases, parental rights were severed and it was a lifesaving thing that they might not have done if there had not been a CASA involved.”

“It’s very powerful to know that you can help a child, even if it’s one child. It’s an experience that you carry with you your entire life.”

Barnett encourages others to become CASA volunteers.

“It doesn’t take all that much time,” she says.

While each case is different, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours a month meeting with the child, speaking with others involved, and attending meetings or court hearings. Hours are flexible and can be completed within the limits of even the most hectic schedule.

Stern, who through the years advocated for children independently, and alongside her late husband Dan and friend Janice Lowenstein, says “We cast too many children aside. They’re hidden in that dark room and nobody finds them. We cast a light in the darkness.

“We do it one child at a time or a sibling group at a time. It all adds up. If everybody would come forward and do a little bit, we might reach our vision of all children having a safe house and growing up and having a successful life.”

Stern’s impact on a child will be evident at the Light of Hope breakfast where Brittany Stillwell will share the story of how Stern and her husband completely altered the trajectory of her life. Before Stillwell was even born, Stern had been assigned as her CASA. Stillwell says the Sterns “were God-sent” and ensured that “I would have a fair shot in life, despite the life I was born into.”

Today, Stillwell has graduated from college, became a registered nurse and just graduated from law school.

“I currently volunteer as a CASA in St. Louis,” she says. “I find the experience fulfilling, and I revere the opportunity to give back to an organization that’s given so much to me. My life is a testament to the program’s success. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without CASA.”

Another woman Stern influenced, 26-year-old Whitney Dantzler, became close with both Ann and Dan. Removed from her home at age 3 after being burnt twice by scalding water through negligence, she grew up in her grandparents’ home.

“I’m thankful for CASA and Ann and my grandparents because, without all three of them, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says. “I can never repay them. I thank them. I love them.”

As a result of seeing the difference the Sterns made through CASA, Dantzler chose a career helping others. Today, she works for the Raytown Emergency Assistance Corp. and is considering becoming a CASA herself.

To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.casakc.org.

To reserve a free space for the Light of Hope breakfast, call 816-984-8217 or email .

The natural gas explosion that destroyed JJ’s Restaurant on the Country Club Plaza five weeks ago also displaced many businesses including the Menorah Legacy Foundation. The building that housed the foundation’s offices at 4739 Belleview Ave. was severely damaged by the blast and the MLF office suffered severe smoke and water damage. Yet Gayla Brockman, the foundation’s executive director, said the foundation has been able to conduct business as usual.

Last week Brockman said she expects the search for the foundation’s new home will be concluded shortly. Her hope is that new office space will be ready to occupy by May 1. While the past few weeks have been a little stressful, she noted they “could have been so much worse.”

“We were so lucky. The foundation is fortunate. It’s just an office. It’s just little things. These are replaceable things. We don’t have employees in the hospital or worse. It’s a hassle, but we’ll figure it out and in a few months it will be like it never happened,” she said.

The day after the blast Brockman, who has set up a make-shift office on her dining-room table, went to work to salvage as much as she could from the now uninhabitable office.

“We were able to salvage important data from the server, but the server itself is gone. It took on too much moisture,” she said.

All of the furniture in the office, except for the file cabinets that housed all of MLF’s paper files, was destroyed. “The paper files are being restored,” she explained.

Fortunately for MLF, Brockman said the foundation had “pretty decent insurance.”

“We had a special policy just for valuable papers because some of our documents go back to the 1930s and ’40s,” she said. “Not everybody was so lucky. I think there was a business next door to JJ’s that isn’t going to come back. I don’t think they had the insurance coverage that they needed.”

Brockman stressed that the foundation has been conducting business as usual since the blast, including holding a regularly scheduled board meeting. In that same spirit, the lack of physical office space will not change the due date for the next round of grant requests, which are due April 1.

“That is a firm deadline. We are definitely still in business,” she said. “Our staff is staying on top of everything.”

Besides Brockman, only one other foundation employee, a part-time operations/grants manager, has been affected by the lack of office space. The Kansas City Beans and Greens Program, a MLF program, employs a full-time mobile market manager and a full-time consultant, both of whom are remote employees.

Brockman explained that the back wall of JJ’s, which was the restaurant’s kitchen that blew up, abutted the south wall of the building that housed MLF.

“Fortunately our offices were on the north side of the building,” she said.

That building and two others located near the restaurant at 4732 and 4734 Belleview were also damaged by the Feb. 19 blast and are owned by Steve Rothstein.

“He’s been great throughout all this. He’s been very helpful and responsive to us and he’s even helped us try to find space, which is super,” Brockman said.

“The building is structurally sound, but you can’t be in there,” Brockman added. “I don’t know how long it will take to renovate the building.”

The weekend of April 5-7 will be devoted to the spiritual wellbeing of community and congregants at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Rabbi David Jaffe will speak about ethical and spiritual development, “Mussar,” as part of the Caviar Family Scholar in Residence programs.

“I am teaching Jewish wisdom about how to create a holy community,” said Rabbi Jaffe. “I want to stress the practical nature of Jewish wisdom about the soul traits and relationships.”

His programs will be held immediately after Pesach.

“Pesach symbolizes the birth of the Jewish nation. We came out of slavery, and now what? If left on our own, we would have figured some things out but most likely we would have recreated the oppressive society we just came from. That is what former slaves often do, they repeat the patterns of domination of their oppressors,” Rabbi Jaffe said.

“The Torah gives us the guidelines how to create a society that honors the dignity of each person and how to manage the power dynamics in relationships to maximize this dignity,” he added. “It also gives us guidance how to create a community that makes space for God to dwell among us. I hope these teachings would help the K.C. community go even higher as a kehilat kodesh, a holy community where people treat themselves and each other with dignity.”

The dean and founder of the Kirva Institute, Rabbi Jaffe received his rabbinic ordination from the Bat Ayin Yeshiva in Israel. He has master’s degrees in both Jewish studies and social work. He devotes his teachings and writings on exploring the intersection of moral/spiritual development and ethical action in the world. Before becoming a rabbi, he served as the director of social justice programs for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and was a founding board member of Avodah, The Jewish Service Corps.

“Mussar is very practical wisdom for living a more holy, connected, meaningful life. At our core I believe we all want to be closer to ourselves, others and God,” said Rabbi Jaffe. “The work of Mussar is to refine our soul traits so we can relate to act in alignment with our highest selves. This is daily, practical work and makes a difference in all our relationships.”

K.I.’s Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz said Rabbi Jaffe is a scholar and a mensch.

“We have been colleagues and friends for many years now, and Rav David is a thriving leader of the Mussar movement (spiritual and ethical development movement). Anyone who attends his classes will be sure to leave more introspective, reflective and inspired with new tools for self growth.”

During Rabbi Jaffe’s programs at K.I., there will be a mechitzah for services. The community is welcome for all programs and events.

Weekend details

Rabbi David Jaffe, Kehilath Israel’s April Caviar Scholar in Residence, will speak about the following topics at the synagogue:

Friday night, April 5 — “Intro to the Mussar movement & The Development of the Soul!”

Shabbat morning, April 6 — “Developing Character: Jewish Ethical & Spiritual Development”

Shabbat afternoon, April 6 — “To Forgive and Forget? A Jewish Approach to Difficult People and Situations”

Sunday morning, April 7 — Workshop: “The Jewish Wisdom on Rebuke — Managing Difficult People”

The end of February brought two major snowstorms to the Kansas City area in less than a week, closing schools and businesses, and making many roads impassable. This week brought another 7 to 8 inches. But that did not deter dedicated Village Shalom employees from being at work to serve the needs of the senior adults in their charge.

Unlike other Jewish-community-sponsored organizations in Kansas City, Village Shalom cannot suspend activities during severe weather. As a round-the-clock health care facility and home to more than 200 residents, the continuing-care retirement community must serve meals, administer medications and meet basic personal needs — come rain, shine or blizzard. Committed to that obligation, many employees managed to get to work and remain on duty for additional shifts, despite Mother Nature’s winter fury.

“It’s indicative of our staff’s depth of commitment. They were willing to do whatever it took to care for our residents,” said Matthew Lewis, president and CEO. “It’s the embodiment of teamwork.”

Though road conditions made it impossible for some employees to get to work, others managed to make it to Village Shalom from across the area. They readily took on longer hours and double shifts, and even handled jobs other than their own to cover for staffing shortages.

Dennis Nealey, driver of Village Shalom’s 26-passenger bus, was “busy as a bumble bee,” he said, shuttling employees (instead of the usual busloads of residents) to and from the campus. He ventured out multiple times to their homes in Overland Park, Lenexa and Olathe, asking employees to walk to the end of their snowed-in streets so he could pick them up. “The bus got stuck seven or eight times,” Nealey commented, “but I’m pretty good at getting it out.” During the first storm, he piloted the bus on another important run as well — to take a Village Shalom resident to the hospital.

Members of the security and maintenance crews arrived at Village Shalom before the brunt of the first storm, and spent much of the day digging out residents’ and employees’ cars. Maintenance Manager Tim McFarland returned later in the day to help Director of Resident Services Eileen Miller deliver meals to residents in the independent-living Villas. McFarland drove a couple of department directors to Target to purchase necessities for their two-day stint. He then drove some of his own staff to their homes so they wouldn’t have to negotiate the snow-packed roads.

“Several CNAs (certified nursing assistants) did double shifts,” reported Mike Rubaie, security officer. “I drove them to the Extended Stay hotel after the end of their shift at 11 p.m.,” for them to be picked up the next day at 6:45 a.m. and start over again at 7 a.m.

More than 20 employees lodged in hotel rooms near Village Shalom during both storms.

For those employees who stayed over at Village Shalom beyond their regular shifts, finding adequate sleeping quarters presented some creative challenges. Karen Gibbins, LPN, took charge of making sure everyone had a bed. Some slept on mattresses brought into a couple of vacant Assisted Living apartments. Others overnighted on cots in empty activity rooms, offices, a computer lab and even in the therapy area of the campus’s Wang Rehabilitation Center.

Receptionist Beth Miller worked a two-day stint, arriving at her usual time of 7 a.m. before the first storm began in earnest. Anticipating the weather’s severity, she came equipped with an overnight bag. “I slept in the Media Room (a television room in the Assisted Living wing) and got cleaned up in the Spa & Wellness Center,” she said, before beginning the next day at the front desk.

Mealtimes presented other challenges. With many Food Services employees unable to get to work, Nursing and Housekeeping employees — including Cynthia Moore, director of Environmental Services — pitched in to serve meals and clear dishes for residents. A skeleton kitchen staff prepared not only the residents’ meals, but also made pizzas to feed dinner to all the employees and a hot breakfast for those who stayed overnight.

One kitchen staffer “washed dishes and pots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” said Lisa Hanson, director of Food Services, “and then spent the night and was ready to go again at 7 the next morning.” Other Food Services employees brought co-workers home with them. After working 12 hours straight, three food servers went to the nearby home of Clinical Nutrition Manager Matt Homan, so they could be sure to get back to work the next morning.

“They enjoyed popcorn and the movie channel at Matt’s,” Hanson said. “He made them a hot breakfast the next morning before they all came back to work.”

While work was certainly the order of the day (and night), there also was an element of fun to it all. For example, some members of the nursing staff who hail from Ethiopia experienced their first-ever “slumber party” — eating pizza, learning to play Bunko, and relaxing in nightclothes and bathrobes before heading to sleep between shifts.

“These are things that help the staff bond,” Matt Lewis commented. “These kinds of situations help every department realize that we’re all dependent on each other.”

Perhaps the best outcome of the snowstorms was the minimal impact noticed by Village Shalom’s residents. “It was great,” said resident Kate Lebovitz. “I was amazed how well [the staff] did” in keeping every area and service operating normally. “We didn’t miss anything.”