In 1820, when young Sam Harding met a tall boy named Abe, a strong friendship grew from their shared love of learning and the outdoors. At the time, Harding didn’t expect that his friend would one day grow into the man that would be considered the greatest president of all time.

This is the premise of Robert Bloch’s new fictional picture book, “My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln: A Tale of Two Boys From Indiana.”  The tale covers an early portion of Abraham Lincoln’s life, and imagines a character-building friendship between the future commander-in-chief and a humble farm boy.

Though Bloch created the story, he says he was drawn to the idea from real life events. Lincoln did live in southwestern Indiana at this time, the location of the story, and as in the story did attend a “blab school,” where a dozen children age 6 to 12 would blab out loud and repeat their lesson over and over again.

“I wanted children to become familiar with Lincoln, and this seemed like a great way to do it,” Bloch said. “I had never thought about writing a book before. But I have always been interested in history, and Lincoln’s life has always been fascinating.”

Bloch created several adventures for Lincoln and Harding to share. Through these adventures and the lively illustrations that accompany them, Bloch hoped to draw kids to this influential figure.

“What is inspiring is that Lincoln was such a great role model,” Bloch said. “Kids at an early age can absolutely learn a lot from his example.”

In addition to his passion for history, Bloch was also inspired by a family connection with Lincoln. Bloch’s great-great grandfather was a distinguished abolitionist who knew Lincoln and was part of a group that brought him to Leavenworth, Kan., where he delivered his first presidential campaign speech.

In addition to children, Bloch believes everyone can learn something from the 16th president.

“His sense of humor was also very noteworthy,” Bloch said. “He always had a sense of humor about everything. Even in the face of adversary, he could make a joke and keep a positive attitude. That is something we all could stand to do a little more.

“He was a great storyteller,” Bloch continued. “He used stories to keep things in perspective and to reach people.”

As the current political landscape heats up, and a new Republican candidate will try and follow in Lincoln’s footsteps, Bloch believes they too could learn from history.

“He always learned from his mistakes, and didn’t mind going through trial and error,” Bloch said. “And he wasn’t afraid to ask the advice of people who disagreed with him.

“I think you can draw comparisons with today,” Bloch said. “Lincoln is like President Obama in that they both started off poor and rose up to have the most important job in the world. And they both made history to do it.”

Bloch’s book is being sold in several local locations around the metro, while supplies last. The book can be found in the Wornall House as well as the Nelson Atkins Museum. Bloch said the easiest way to purchase the book is through Amazon. For more information on the book, visit www.mybestfriendabelincoln.com.

Illustrations for the book were crafted by former Walt Disney Studios animation artist John Ewing. Ewing has worked on many Disney films including Winnie the Pooh and Jungle Book. Resembling an animated movie, Bloch said the pictures just leap off the page. His first reaction to them exceeded his expectations.

“When I first saw it I thought it was perfect,” Bloch said. “I thought the illustrations were very warm and intimate, with an old fashion feel that really fit with the subject matter. They (the illustrations) were impressive. I am very proud of the book.”

Bloch attended both Menlo College in Menlo Park, Calif., and the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He soon plans to join The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. He has worked with the H&R Block Foundation since 1989, focusing on arts and culture grants and investments. He has enjoyed being able to combine his love of art with his love of history.

“So little is known of Lincoln’s life between 1820 and 1823 of Lincoln’s life,” Bloch said. “It has been fun using the things we do know, (his thirst for knowledge, his ability to stand up and talk in front of people, his family relationships,) to create a fun new story for children.”

The New Reform Temple has responded to the lawsuit filed in late September by its former rabbi, Jacques Cukierkorn, and filed its own counter claim Oct. 31 in Johnson County, Kan., District Court.

NRT is disputing Rabbi Cukierkorn’s claim of breach of contract. The rabbi and the Reform congregation mutually agreed to a separation agreement in March. That followed a decision made in December by NRT’s board of directors not to renew the rabbi’s contract, which was in effect through June 2012. Payments, as agreed to in the separation agreement, began April 1 and were to continue through June 14, 2012.

According to court documents obtained by The Chronicle, NRT has not made the regular payments set by the agreement since mid-June. At that time NRT sent Rabbi Cukierkorn a letter stating that unless he could provide documentation relating to monetary transfers from NRT’s discretionary fund, the congregation would cease payments agreed to under the separation agreement.

Rabbi Cukierkorn’s lawsuit asks the court to enter judgment against NRT, requiring it to comply with the terms of the separation agreement and provide full payment, as well as interest. NRT is asking the court to compel arbitration. Both parties are seeking court costs and legal fees from the other, as well as “further relief as the court deems just and proper.”

Rabbi Cukierkorn is now the rabbi of Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City, which held its first service April 1.

NRT hired Rabbi Alan Londy to serve as interim rabbi July 1 and is currently searching for a full-time rabbi.

A letter has been sent to members of NRT informing them of the counterclaim.

YOUNG PHILANTHROPIST — Eleven-year-old Jack Novor, the son of Scott and Jennifer Novorr, has started his yearly quest to raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital. In the last six years he has raised nearly $23,000 for the hospital. His siblings — Sophie, 9; Tate, 6, and Lilah, 2, and friends — help him now and they hope to raise $15,000 this year. Last year donations went toward the purchase of new equipment for the dental clinic. This year funds raised will help buy fun carts — mobile units with games and toys taken into patients’ rooms, which cost about $4,200 each. The first big event will be a kids and clothing toy sale at Jack’s house on Nov. 19. For the third consecutive year, Jumping Jax in Overland Park will let people play from 3 to 6 p.m. on both Dec. 27 and Dec. 29 for a donation. For more information about all of Jack’s fundraising activities, visit his new website at www.threeand3.webs.com. Donations can be made there, too!

HEARTWARMING EXPERIENCE — Joyce Bratman recently had the opportunity to travel to Israel for the very first time and was able to visit her grandson, Michael Davidson, who is studying at Or Sameach Yeshiva there. She said the trip was made even more special by the chance meeting she had with friends from here. While her family was on its way to visit the Kotel (Western Wall), they literally bumped into the Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick family, who had just visited the Kotel. Bratman calls it “a wonderful, joyful spontaneous meeting, from Kansas to Jerusalem, walking in the Jewish quarter of the Holy Land of Jerusalem, Israel.”

RABBI HONORED — Kansas City native Rabbi Larry Sebert was among the 41 rabbis — all members of the Rabbinical Assembly who have served the Jewish community with distinction for 25 years or more— presented with honorary doctorates by The Jewish Theological Seminary at a convocation on Nov. 1. Through the degrees, JTS celebrated the achievements of these spiritual leaders and voiced appreciation for their manifold contributions to Jewish life. The ceremony took place at the JTS campus in New York City. The rabbis honored included congregational rabbis, Jewish communal professionals, educators and chaplains from across the United States as well as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel and Peru. Rabbi Sebert has served Town & Village Synagogue in New York City since 1991.

CARDOZO’S BOOK — A reader reminded me that in the story about Max Cardozo, “Survivor’s book being used in Dutch classrooms,” we neglected to mention if his book, “A Child Underground,” is still available for purchase. It can be purchased from Cardozo’s website, www.achildunderground.com.

NOW PUBLISHED — Nathan Goldman, now a sophomore at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md., had his first short story published recently in the Journal of Microliterature, an online and print journal of critically acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction between 1-1,000 words in length. The story is called “Muscle.” You can read it at http://www.microliterature.org/.

TZEDEK EXPRESS HELPS HBHA — Kosher Express, an online kosher meat website The Chronicle featured a few months ago, has set up an HBHA Tzedek Express account. When you purchase meat from Kosher Express, the company will donate between 5 and 10 percent of your purchase to HBHA. There are two ways that HBHA can receive the donations. Enter the code Hyman2011 into the coupon box at the bottom of the shopping cart or visit the Kosher Express’ website: http://thekosherexpress.com/#HymanBrandHebrew%20.

Leawood has had a park dedicated to the Gezer Region in Israel since 2009. Now Gezer has returned the favor.

During the last week of October, a delegation headed by Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn and Leawood Council members Andrew Osman, July Cain and Carrie Rezac visited Israel and attended dedication ceremonies for two sites named in honor of Leawood — Leawood Square and Leawood Trail.

Mayor Dunn said the relationship between the two cities was formalized eight years ago, in 2003, following a couple of years of informal discussions.

Haim Cohen, special foreign relations consultant to Gezer Regional Council Mayor Peter Weiss, noted that “it is important to state that the sisterhood was initiated and based on the earlier warm connections between the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas and Gezer started by Alan Edelman and Todd Stettner.”

Dunn said the relationship is very valuable to Leawood.

“It has been extremely important to our community. There have been a number of exchanges both with youth and adults and with elected and non-elected officials,” she said.

The mayor pointed out that Leawood has “a particularly large population of Jewish residents.” She said that Leawood residents, along with many other people within all parts of the United States, have many connections to people in Israel.

“I do believe these friendships have been enhanced and are more fruitful since the relationship was officially formed,” she said.

Federation Executive Vice President and CEO Todd Stettner was in Israel in late October and attended the dedication ceremonies along with John Isenberg and the Leawood officials. He believes the relationship between the two cities is very important.

“I think it makes a statement in the general community of the relationship of Americans to Israel. I think it goes beyond just the Jewish community now. It’s a statement of America’s friendship with Israel. For me that’s very important. It’s beyond government, it’s really people to people,” he said.

He believes the Jewish population in Leawood is one of the reasons the partnership was originally established.

“There used to be covenants against Jews living in Leawood and (Mayor Dunn) felt this was one to say we’re way beyond that issue now. Not only are there many Jews that live in Leawood but we all also feel a connection to the Jewish state,” Stettner said.

Gezer’s Cohen said the visit from the Leawood delegation was “quite successful.”

“It will strengthen the already excellent ties between Leawood and Gezer, as well as promote the ongoing cooperation of Gezer with the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas,” Cohen said.

The square and trail

Cohen explained the square in Gezer features a sculpture of Shimon Hatarsi, the last son of the Hashmonaim, a pergola and several typical Israeli trees. He described the Leawood trail as a walking trail that will serve the citizens of Gezer who enjoy walking in the neighborhood.

Dunn said the art in the middle of the square is a beautiful piece designed by Enon DeGroot. DeGroot has shown his work here at the Jewish Arts Festival. Ironically, Dunn had a painting commissioned by DeGroot, which was given to the Gezer Regional Council.

“I didn’t know he had also been chosen to do the sculpture in the middle of the square. He’s quite a talented young man,” Dunn said. “The painting that we gifted them was a painting of our Gezer Park. We had taken photographs and sent them electronically for him to utilize. He did a great job.”

Dunn particularly enjoyed signs that are posted along the Leawood Trail in the shape of directional arrows. She explained that one points in the direction of the Gezer municipal offices and says, “Gezer Municipality 220 yards.” “The sign pointing the opposite direction on the same corner says “City of Leawood, Kansas, 6,887 miles. It was really quite creative,” she said.

The mayor went on to describe the trail itself as very beautiful.

“There are lots of plantings and they are planning to do more in the future,” she said.

Comparing the cities

Osman, who was elected to the Leawood City Council in April 2010 and represents the northern portion of the city, likes to point out that Gezer Park in Leawood has really flourished over the past two years and expects Leawood Square and Leawood Trail to do the same in Israel.

Gezer’s Cohen noted that besides the dedication ceremonies, the Leawood delegation got an extensive tour of the region. He said they visited schools (the education system in Israel is governed by the municipalities) as well as the Hills of Judea and the famous archaeological site of Tel Gezer. For Shabbat dinner on Friday night, Leawood officials dined with several local families.

Osman, who is a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and visited Israel when he was a teen in 1992, enjoyed meeting the family he was paired with.

“They adopted me,” he said. “The entire eight-day experience was eye-opening and I’d love to go back next year on Federation trip.”

The cities are governed differently. Dunn said there are 28 people who serve on the Gezer Regional Council while the Leawood City Council has eight members plus the mayor. But Osman also noted the similarities between the two cities.

“Even though one city is in Israel and one is in the United States, we both have the same problems, such as expansion, housing, generating revenue to build parks and infrastructure,” Osman said.

“We talked at great lengths about how Israel comes up with funds for their city. They can’t use sales tax and they were amazed that 30 to 35 percent of our revenue comes from sales tax,” he continued.

While they were visiting Israel, Osman noted that a protest featuring about 100,000 took place in Tel Aviv.

“People were marching in the streets because there’s no affordable housing over there. That is the Israelis’ big concern,” he said. “Two years ago a house in the Gezer region averaged about $200,000 and now it’s between $500,000 and 600,000. And on the typical wage of the Israeli citizen at $35,000, it makes it extremely difficult to afford these houses.”

While in Israel, Osman came across a high-end shopping center designed by architect Moshe Safdie. He told his tour guides about Safdie’s work here in Kansas City and showed them photos online.

“They were amazed to see the Kauffman Center,” he said.

Jack Katz, Ph.D. entered the field of audiology with a goal to help people. Decades later he remains focused on that goal as a leader in the field.

Katz, 77, will receive the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s highest accolade at the association’s annual convention Nov. 17-19.

As an audiologist, Katz works with patients who have hearing loss and/or auditory processing disorders.

“I was a learning disabled child in school,” Katz said.

He said his experience overcoming disabilities led him to a field where he could help other students with disabilities. When Katz learned about a career in audiology he said it seemed like a perfect fit. And today he remains pleased with his choice.

Fellow audiologist Donna Geffner nominated Katz to receive Honors of the Association.

“He is one of the giants in the field of audiology,” Geffner said. “He’s really revolutionized some of our thinking in the field.”

Katz created the “Handbook of Clinical Audiology” more than 35 years ago. The textbook is now in its sixth edition and has become a staple in the field.

“His handbook has been just that, a handbook of audiology used by everyone in the field,” Geffner said. “There is no question that it is one of the premier textbooks in the field.”

Katz said the idea came to him on a visit to his in-laws during Passover. Katz wanted a comprehensive hand-book for the field. He began to brainstorm ideas for chapters and the experts who would be best to write each chapter.

When Passover ended Katz asked colleagues to collaborate with him on the handbook. Katz edited the book and wrote a few of the chapters.

“It’s the most comprehensive text,” Katz said.

Katz took a practical approach to the handbook. He said he thought of things he wanted to know as a practitioner as well as things audiology students needed to know. Katz said he created the book to be a resource to help audiologists better serve their patients.

Katz has used that patient-centered focus throughout his career. Katz conducted research and taught audiology students at the University of Buffalo.

When Katz retired he and his wife moved to Kansas City to be near their children and grandchildren.

But Katz didn’t stay retired long. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas and started a private practice at age 70.

“This has been just terrific,” Katz said of his private practice. “I loved teaching, and it is wonderful, but this is extraordinary.”

Katz’s patients range in age from 5 to 80, although most are children. He said he loves to see the progress his patients make from session to session.

“It’s just a marvelous feeling,” Katz said.

Despite Katz’s long list of career accomplishments, he said the honor from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association took him by surprise. He said he was “just dazed” when he was informed of the honor in a phone call from the association’s president.

But the honor did not come as a surprise to those closest to Katz.

“He has an amazing dedication to wanting to help people overcome difficulties in communication and learning,” Katz’s son, Mark Katz said. “He is well known for the research he has done and the tests that he has developed.”

Katz’s daughter, Miriam Kaseff, said the honor came as no shock to her either.

“My dad is known throughout the world for his work,” Kaseff said. “I’m so proud of him and am thrilled that he is being recognized for his accomplishments.”

Katz’s book, the “Clinical Handbook of Audiology,” is used throughout the world and has been printed in several languages, including Italian, Portuguese and Chinese.

Geffner said she considered Katz a shoe-in for the honor when she nominated him.

“He had tremendous name recognition,” Geffner said. “There is nobody who doesn’t know Jack Katz.”

Geffner served as president of the association in 1999 and is familiar with the criteria for the honor.

“You have to distinguish yourself in your profession and show what you have accomplished has really changed the profession in a significant way,” Geffner said. “(Katz) has really made changes in the profession.”

Katz has made a name for himself as an all-star in the profession, but Geffner said one of his greatest qualities is his ability to remain down-to-earth and approachable.

“He’s never too busy for people. It’s amazing,” Geffner said. “He just makes himself so accessible to people.”

Katz entered his career with a focus on helping people, and that remains his focus today.

“One thing I would love to do is help the Kansas City Missouri School District,” Katz said.

Early intervention can make world of difference for students with auditory processing disorders, Katz said.

While many of Katz’ colleagues have fully retired he said he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Max Cardozo is a child of the Holocaust and lived in Nazi-occupied Holland. He published a book about his experiences, “A Child Underground” in both English and Dutch, in 2006. Six couples assisted him during that time and have been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem during the last couple of years. Those people will be recognized again in a ceremony in the Netherlands Nov. 15.

The story begins when Cardozo was born in 1937 and lived with his parents, Maurits and Anna (née Gompers), in Amsterdam. With them was Ido Fortuin, born in 1929, who Maurits and Anna raised and Max considers a brother. Maurits was a textile merchant, who traveled around the villages surrounding the city selling his merchandise. One of his clients was Adrianus (Arie) Broers. With the ever increasing anti-Jewish measures, Broers told Maurits that he could count on his help if ever his family would be in danger.

In the summer of 1942, with the start of the deportations of the Dutch Jews to the camps in the East, Maurits indeed turned to Broers who stood by his promise. Arie and Anna Broers took the family under their wings throughout the war. First, Arie managed to get false identity papers for Maurits and Anna Cardozo. From there he started searching for hiding addresses for all the Cardozos.

Max Cardozo told The Chronicle in 2006 that when the family was forced into hiding originally, the family of four stayed together. Soon, however, the family had to split up. By the time the Germans withdrew from Holland on May 9, 1945, Max Cardozo had changed hiding places six times, having been helped by five families (one twice). Max’s brother, Ido, who is eight years older than Max, moved more than 20 times during that three-year period. All four Cordozos survived and were reunited at the end of the war.

Max Cardozo is thrilled that those who helped him are getting the recognition they deserve.

“This is a great prestige in today’s Europe where there is big trouble,” he said.

He is even more thrilled that 22 primary schools in the Netherlands are now using his book as part of its curriculum to teach the Holocaust to their students.

Cardozo, a retired businessman who ran several businesses in the Kansas City area including Papa Chen’s Express and the five-store chain of flower shops called Roses Only, is ready to publish a second book this spring about his life tentatively titled either “Do Not Repeat Catastrophe” or “My Glass is Full.” He originally moved to the United States in 1955, living in the United States and other places around the world for the next 50 years. He came back to Kansas City full-time in 2005 to be near his family.

Part of his experience was recently reported in an article, originally published in a newspaper in Medemblik, Netherlands, and translated by Cardozo, about how children are learning about the Holocaust in preparation for the Dutch recognition ceremony next week.

The Dutch article points out that at least one of Cardozo’s rescuers did not discuss the Nazi resistance much and for years said almost nothing about his family’s role in hiding Cardozo.

“My grandfather (Reijer Keijzer) told my father, Dirk Keijzer, never much about the war in hiding and help his parents, sister Grietje and he gave to a Jewish boy,” Ingrid Keijzer was quoted as saying in the newspaper. Cardozo’s story is part of what she discusses when she gives classroom presentations to school children.

In the Netherlands, school children are told that rescuers came from all walks of life: farmers, growers, artisans, shopkeepers, workers, teachers and doctors. And all risked their lives and their families. The children also learned about the Germans compelling all people of Jewish descent to wear the yellow star in 1942.

Cardozo would like more schools and universities to use his book so that young people can understand what happened. He is worried that a Holocaust can happen again.

“I’m deathly afraid that in 2030 this will be repeated,” he said in a 2006 interview.

Evan Luskin sits at his desk at the Kansas City Lyric Opera, chatting on the phone about the budget. After hanging up, he says it’s “for the last time.” After 26 years, Luskin will leave the opera in June.

As general director since 1998, his steady financial hand has kept the opera in the black, despite the wavering economy.

“He knows the repertory and the artistic side, but his businesslike approach to running an arts organization has really been extremely helpful to us,” said Richard Bruening, president of the opera’s board. “There may have been operas we wanted to do and singers we wanted to have, but if it didn’t make fiscal sense, we didn’t do it.”

Luskin’s tenure has seen the opera develop its own endowment and a cash reserve.

“A problem that a lot of arts organizations face is that you start performing in the fall, but it takes a while into the year until all your fundraising dollars start coming in, but you’ve got to pay for two fall productions, and it can be a real cash flow challenge,” Luskin said. “We have some reserves in the bank, so that it gets us through the fall without our having to borrow money and pay interest. That provides incredible stability for the company.”

People ask him why he’s leaving now, when the opera has just moved into the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Luskin says he wants the opera to have a general director who can “come to Kansas City now, with all of these resources, and carry the company into the future,” he said.

At 65, he also wants to do other things, such as traveling and visiting his grandchildren, but will miss working with the people at the opera.

However, “I certainly did not want to miss one season in the Kauffman Center. It’s great fun being in there … I can think back to when I was a wee young intern at the New York City Opera. The one thing I did have was I could run around the theater, and it was just kind of fun to do that, to see what it was like sitting upstairs or downstairs. So, maybe I’m reliving my childhood — I get to do that again,” he said.

Luskin calls the move to the new stage a “catalyst” for the opera building its own new rehearsal space and scenery storage facility.

The opera’s latest production, Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte, is a “very intimate opera” that would have worked on the smaller Lyric Theatre stage.

“We’re still going to be able to do that kind of opera without it being swallowed up (by the larger facility) … it gives us that flexibility. Doing a big grand opera at the Lyric, we couldn’t truly do it justice with that stage, and now we can. It’s expanded the range and type of opera we can do,” Luskin said.

Before coming to Kansas City, he had studied a variety of subjects before earning an MBA in arts management. Luskin gained experience in Chattanooga, Tenn., Tulsa, Okla., and Detroit before settling into his role here.

His favorite part of the job is watching how the audience reacts to the performances.

“When you think about it, you spend months and years working towards opening night. It is so incredibly exciting, and you want to see how the audience reacts. It’s almost like you’re sitting there saying, ‘Come on, guys. Look at what we did. Isn’t this great?’ And you hear people applauding,” he said.

Other points of pride for Luskin are the continued improvement in the opera’s artistic standards as well as expanded educational programming for children, which includes a summer opera camp. Many companies use a group of sopranos when the score calls for a children’s chorus in operas such as Carmen, he said. However, because of their educational outreach, the Kansas City Opera has a good talent pool of children.

“I wish there was a lot more arts education in the schools, but at least we are providing some of it,” he said.

Bruening says he will miss working with Luskin.

“Evan is a joy to work with,” Bruening said. “He’s a very calm and thoughtful influence in the management of the opera.”

Luskin will remain an opera buff, even after he leaves.

“I guess I’ll still be able to go to the opera and enjoy it and watch it, but it will be different,” Luskin said.

The Lyric Opera

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City continues its 54th season with W. A. Mozart’s Così fan tutte performed at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts through Nov. 13.
Così fan tutte will be sung in Italian with English titles visible on personal monitors mounted on each audience member’s seatback in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
Ticket availability varies by performance. To purchase tickets, call Patron Services 816 471-7344 or 1-800-OPERAKC (673-7252). Patrons can select their own seat and print their tickets at home by visiting www.kcopera.org.

‘NUREMBERG’ DOCUMENTARY — Tonight, Thursday, Nov. 10, the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum are presenting “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today” at the Glenwood Arts Theatre, 9575 Metcalf Ave. The movie is scheduled to run at the Glenwood Arts through Nov. 17. Filmmaker Sandra Schulberg, who restored the original film (which was never seen in the United States) along with Josh Waletzky, will be on hand to answer questions after each showing on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12. Show times are 12:35 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:25 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. each day. Call the box office at 913-642-4404 for more information.

HOLLANDER CONCERT — Concert pianist and Kansas City native David Hollander will perform a free concert at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the lobby at the Jewish Community Campus.
The concert is in memory of his parents — Norman and Helen Hollander — who both were members of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra. Sybil Kahn reports that Norman played first chair of the cello section and Helen was in the first violin section. The Hollanders were also involved in activities sponsored by the Jewish Community Center and were instrumental in the founding of Kansas City Young Audiences (as was the late Norman Kahn). David Hollander will be in Kansas City in recognition of KCYA’s 50th anniversary, which will be celebrated at a sold-out concert featuring Idina Menzel Saturday, Nov. 12.
Students, their families and staff of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy have been invited to the concert as well as friends of the Hollanders. The concert is open to the community at no charge.

FIRE ALARM FINALE — MCHE executive director Jean Zeldin tells me that the “creative ending” to the Marvin Hamlisch concert on Nov. 3 was the result of steam from the Kauffman Center’s new heating system triggering the smoke alarm. Fortunately, Maestro Hamlisch was only four bars from finishing his performance and guests returned to the dessert reception in good spirits after a 5-minute evacuation. “Nothing could spoil what was an incredibly special evening,” said Zeldin. “Our main regret was that Hamlisch wasn’t able to revel in the enthusiastic standing ovation he certainly would have received. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding.”

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE — Suicide Awareness Survivors Support will host a Remembrance Service for those who have lost a loved one to suicide from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Stine & McClure Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, Kansas City, Mo. The Remembrance Service will coincide with National Survivors of Suicide Day, which is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. The local organization was formed by Mickey and Bonnie Swade after they lost their 31-year-old son Brett to suicide in December 2003. For more information, visit www.Sass-MoKan.com or email .

What a difference a couple of years can make. A little more than two years ago, the Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City was a very small, staff-driven organization. Today, it is led by a board of directors — with support from every religious movement represented in the community — and is striving to become an integral part of the community.

The Vaad’s mission is the maintenance of kosher supervision here. Since July 5 Rabbi Mendel Segal has served as its full-time executive director.

The winds of change started blowing back in 2006, when Karen Pack was president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. In her role as president it was common for people in the Jewish community to discuss a variety of issues with her. During that time she learned some people in the community were not happy with the structure of the local Vaad.

Pack, who now serves as president of the Vaad’s board of trustees, explained that five years ago the Vaad was comprised of a mashgiach (on-site kosher supervisor) and was overseen by the rabbi of BIAV, who is the rav hamachshir (the certifying rabbi, now Rabbi Daniel Rockoff), and Rabbi Herbert Mandl, the chairman. Both rabbis still serve in these capacities in addition to their full-time congregation jobs.

So a dialogue ensued to find ways to integrate the Vaad more into the community, find more efficient ways to run it and expand it.

“Everybody basically realized that a very important part of the community had been ignored,” Pack said. “It’s come together very well, but it has taken five years for us to get to this point. We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made.”

To get the ball rolling Pack said Steve Israelite volunteered his time to begin the research, which took about a year. Rabbi Amy Katz, before she left town, was involved in that process as well. That research led to two of the original recommendations — to form a community-based board of trustees and hire a full-time executive director.

A board of 17 people was put together, comprised of representatives from nearly all area congregations as well as several at-large members. Once the board was formed, plans began taking shape. Annette Fish, the administrator/program director of the Rabbinical Association, was also hired as the part-time interim director.

“Even though she was officially part-time, she put in a full-time effort. Without her diligence, hard work and dedication we would not be where we are today, or at a point where we were able to hire a full-time executive director,” Pack said.

Today’s Vaad

Pack is proud that the Vaad is now a full partnership of its lay leaders and its director, Rabbi Segal.

“The new Vaad is definitely a community effort, and this is a very positive change,” Pack said.

“We’ve had this continued support from the synagogues and members of the community and I think that reinforces the message that this is a community project and a community effort,” she continued.

Rabbi Rockoff is also happy the community has taken an interest in the Vaad.

“A successful Vaad is one of the hallmarks of a vibrant Jewish community. It serves as the kosher resource for residents of Kansas City as well as visitors who pass through while traveling. We are fortunate that our community has devoted itself to ensuring the success and continued growth of our Vaad for many years to come,” he said.

Besides increasing the involvement from the community at large, which Pack believes has succeeded, the board also wanted financial support from the Jewish community’s major funders. That’s been realized as well.

“They understand the value of having an organization that certified kosher food in the community. They respect it and they value it,” she said.

The kosher industry itself is booming. It is believed there are more than 12 million kosher consumers in the United States. There are more than 10,000 companies producing kosher certified products and more than 125,000 kosher certified products.

Locally, the Vaad oversees and certifies close to 40 different types of food service suppliers, manufacturers and providers.

Those vendors are being supervised by a director, Pack said, who is both well qualified and well liked. The fact that he is also a business person has been a plus for the Vaad.

“Mendel knows how to work with clients, how to work with new accounts while at the same time strengthening the relationships with previous customers and bringing in new customers,” said Pack of Rabbi Segal, who has been on the job about four months.

Since Rabbi Segal joined the Vaad, two new producers have come on board — Bernice’s Bakery and Strawberry Hill Povitica Company.

“We have others in the pipeline,” Rabbi Segal said.

Rabbi Segal said he has been working hard to strengthen the Vaad’s relationship with its current vendors.

“I’ve met with most of the vendors now re-establishing our relationship and making sure we’re happy with each other,” he said.

Recently consumers have been able to find more kosher goods at retailers such as Costco and at Trader Joe’s. Rabbi Segal said the Vaad hasn’t really been a part of getting more goods at these retailers, but said he would like to get more involved in that “and be able to help them and guide them.”

“I have suggested to Trader Joe’s that they get certain products in that I know they have in other cities,” he said.

Already Rabbi Segal has begun conducting training sessions with the Vaad’s mashgichim (currently there are three) and has increased the Vaad’s presence in social media, such as its website (vaadkc.org) as well as twitter (@vaadkc.) and facebook (Vaad HaKashruth Overland Park, Kansas).

“We’ve put on our website the types of kosher symbols that are reliable in general. More specifically, Trader Joe’s has a lot of products from all over the world and we’ve compiled a list of certification symbols for products Trader Joe’s carries that are reliable,” he said.

One of his goals is to make the website as contact rich and easy to use as possible.

“For example for a mother at HBHA who is not familiar with kosher but has to have a kosher birthday party, she can look at the site to find out where she can get everything she needs for that kosher birthday party. The website is tailored to our community,” he said.

Pack said going forward the Vaad wants to continue to increase its presence in the Jewish community and in the commercial food community. As it builds on its lists of commercial accounts, board members hope that increases its coffers so that the costs to agencies and individuals wanting to use the Vaad for kosher supervision will decrease.

In addition, Pack and Rabbi Segal said they hope the Vaad’s staff will grow so it can reach out farther into Missouri and Kansas, not only through its services but through educational programming.

Besides providing kosher food options at retailers, one of Pack’s dreams is to eventually get a kosher restaurant here that will appeal to both the Jewish and general community.

By strengthening the Vaad, Pack and other community leaders hope that more young Jews will be attracted to this area.

“Kansas City is being showcased as a community that provides a positive Jewish experience for families and is also affordable,” she said.

“As our kosher services expand it makes it that much more possible that these individuals will look to Kansas City as a place they want to move and raise a family,” she said.

Pack has already seen how the Vaad has been able to reach out to the community over the past few months, overseeing two events at Oakwood Country Club, where kosher events hadn’t been held in quite a while.

“Oakwood hosted a lovely kosher wedding and also served kosher desserts for the Federation’s annual meeting. It shows that whether it’s the private sector or the agency sector, the Vaad is becoming very involved in the community.”

These days, Idina Menzel is “defying gravity,” bringing her powerful voice to Helzberg Hall of the Kaufmann Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday evening Nov. 12. Perhaps best known for playing the role of the green witch Elphaba in the long-running hit Broadway musical “Wicked” (written by Jewish composer Stephen Schwartz), Menzel will appear with members of the Kansas City Symphony for a 90-minute, no intermission performance.

Menzel’s concert is a benefit for Kansas City Young Audiences celebrating its 50th Anniversary bringing professional performing and visual artists into area schools. KCYA also manages the Arts Partners program and the Community School of the Arts and is the largest provider of arts programs in the Kansas City area.

KCYA Executive Director Martin English said his organization is “thrilled” to have Menzel here to celebrate his organization’s half century in Kansas City.

“She’s a wonderful arts education advocate herself and she’s on a show (“Glee”) that’s all about arts education,” English said.

Menzel loves performing live, something she’s been doing since her teens when she sang with different bands at Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. It was a natural for Menzel, who grew up on Long Island, the daughter of Stuart and Helene Mentzel (she changed the spelling).

“I come from a Jewish family (although) we weren’t very religious,” she said during a recent telephone interview from Los Angeles, where’s she taping the popular television series “Glee.” Menzel said her grandparents came from Russia and Eastern Europe.

“I feel very connected to the culture and history of the Jewish people,” said Menzel, “but I’ve struggled and waivered with my connection to organized religion. Now that I’m a mom, we’re struggling with how Jewish we are going to be.”

Menzel is referring to Walker Nathaniel Diggs, her 2-year-old son with fellow actor and husband Taye Diggs. The couple, who first met when Menzel starred as Maureen in the musical “Rent,” have been married since 2003. Menzel said being a mom has been a powerful and rewarding experience.

“I’m a more well-rounded person,” Menzel said. “He’s changed my entire perspective. It’s put me more at ease. All these things that were so important aren’t as important, (and) it’s made me a better artist. I’m able to explore.”

Her son has become a great inspiration to Menzel in her own song writing. She sings with her son all the time and is now writing some children’s songs.

“I’ll ask him, ‘what should Mommy write about,’ and he’ll say an egg, so we sing about eggs,” said Menzel with a giggle.

But being a mom has also brought new worries for Menzel.

“I didn’t know how much your heart would feel — this aching heart of worrying,” she said. “There is so much love — and sometimes it’s heavy with love.”

Menzel’s been working on her dream of performing for a while. She’s a drama graduate of the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She was working on her career as a singer/song writer when Menzel was cast in “Rent,” which became a Broadway hit. She also received her first Best Actress in a Musical nomination. In addition to “Wicked,” the prequel musical to the “Wizard of Oz” story, Menzel has tread the boards on Broadway in such shows as “See What I Wanna See,” “The Wild Party” and as the character Amneris in “AIDA.” However, it was her performance in “Wicked” that shot Menzel into super stardom and garnered her a Best Actress Tony Award. Menzel has also dabbled in film, including “Enchanted,” as well as television — beyond “Glee” — having just completed an arc in “Private Practice.”

Menzel’s Kansas City show will be a mix of musical theater selections, some standards and a mix of her own music, some of which is on her “I Stand” album. However, the Kansas City concert almost didn’t happen, said KCYA’s English. When Menzel was called to make a longer filming commitment for “Glee,” in which she plays the recurring role of vocal coach Shelby Corcoran, the actress cancelled most of her concert engagements. But English said Menzel is so committed to arts education, she kept the Kansas City date — with one caveat.

“She told us she needed to do her symphony show instead of a new show she had put together, and she needed a symphony to do it,” English said. Quick conversations were held with the Kansas City Symphony and ta da, there’s a show.

“Kudos to the symphony for making this work,” English said.

So what does the future hold for Menzel?

“I’m developing a new musical, although I can’t say much about it right now,” she said. Menzel continues to write her own music and would love to do a project with her husband, who’s written his own children’s book “Chocolate Me!” that’s illustrated by Kansas City artist and longtime friend Shane Evans. And, she hopes, Broadway is calling her name.

“I’m dying to get back to the theater and do an original role,” Menzel said. “My love is to sit at the piano with a composer and hear how a song goes in Act One, Scene seven....”