Two Jewish brothers who were reported missing in the wake of a deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., are safe. Joplin is located approximately 140 miles from Kansas City.

JTA reports all the members of the small Jewish community in Joplin have now been accounted for, but many lost their homes and possessions in the tornado.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis said that at least four Jewish families have lost everything and are living in shelters.

Approximately 50 Jews live in Joplin, according to the St. Louis federation, in a population of some 50,000.

The United Hebrew Congregation, the only synagogue in Joplin, which has approximately 40 member families, was unharmed by the tornado. Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn of Temple Israel, who served as a student rabbi at the Reform congregation for the 1991-92 school year, spent most of Monday and Tuesday on the telephone reaching out to friends in the Joplin area.

Rabbi Yehuda Weg, the Tulsa-based director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Oklahoma, told Chabad.org Tuesday that several Jewish-owned homes were “totally flattened.” He had driven to Joplin the previous night with a list of Jewish community members in need and a car full of supplies, joining volunteers from the American Red Cross and local disaster agencies, according to Chabad.org.

The United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin, a Reform synagogue, was not damaged. The synagogue reportedly has existed in the city since at least 1919.

As of midafternoon Wednesday, May 25, the killer tornado, which is being called the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history, had claimed 125 lives in Joplin. Hundreds are still missing. The tornado cut through Joplin

Sunday evening, one of several tornadoes that hit the Midwest over the weekend due to a system of severe thunderstorms that also have caused massive flooding.

The search and rescue efforts were still in full force Wednesday afternoon, and the situation regarding the type of donations and help wanted continued to evolve.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City began taking action early Monday morning to help the victims of this tornado as well as the one that destroyed areas of Reading, Kan., on Saturday, May 21. On Wednesday, in Joplin’s case, monetary donations were still considered to be the highest priority. Federation has established the Kansas-Missouri Tornado Relief Fund. It can be accessed at www.jewishkansascity.org, or by going directly to the donation page at www.jewishkansascity.org/tornadorelief2011.aspx. People can also make a donation over the phone by calling (913) 327-8100.

The Union for Reform Judaism has also established a disaster relief fund. Donations can be directed to the general URJ relief fund or can specifically be earmarked to address the needs in Joplin (http://urj.org/socialaction/issues/relief/).

The United Hebrew Congregation is being served by student rabbi Ariel Boxman. Boxman is beginning her second year of serving the congregation as she enters her fourth year at HUC-JIR.

Boxman was expected to fly to Joplin on Wednesday and stay there until Monday. She was already scheduled to be there this coming Shabbat.

Rabbi Cukierkorn had initially planned to go to Joplin on Monday, but his contacts there advised him to stay in Kansas City and come when things settled a bit. He is planning a trip to Joplin on Monday.

“I was told Monday it is almost impossible to get around town because there are live electric cables and there was the potential for more flooding,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.

The Kansas City rabbi continues to stay in contact with members of the Joplin Jewish community. He plans to deliver donations, and anything else they ask for when he travels there next week.

Boxman is planning to blog about relief efforts in the Joplin Jewish community as well as offering her observations related to her experience there. Look for her posts on the Reform Movement blog at http://blogs.rj.org/reform/.

Jewish Federation staffers, including Todd L. Stettner, executive vice president and CEO, worked to keep area congregations and Jewish organizations up-to-date on how they all could work together to provide Kansas City’s Jewish response for tornado victims. Over the past few days Federation began working closely with Heart to Heart International, a local medical relief organization, and Salvation Army to support immediate medical assistance, as well as long-term recovery efforts.

“Both of our partner organizations request financial support at this time, in order to more quickly and effectively meet the needs of tornado victims,” Stettner said.

On Tuesday the Jewish Federation’s board of directors took an emergency vote to immediately allocate $5,000 to the current medical relief and the ongoing recovery assistance relief.

“This was a no-brainer for us,” said Jewish Federation Board President Bill Carr. “With one of two hospitals in Joplin wiped out, and the fact that they are our neighbors, it was an easy decision for us to act in our continued role to mobilize the community and provide a local ‘Jewish’ response to the challenges they face now and in the future as they rebuild their lives.”

Carr said so far Federation has gotten a great response to its Kansas-Missouri Tornado Relief Fund, “over and above what the board voted to allocate.”

“I personally want to thank all of the individuals in Kansas City who have already stepped up to help our neighbors, and I invite all who are concerned to help as recovery efforts progress,” he said

Carr said the Federation will continue to work to keep Kansas Citians informed about hands-on volunteer opportunities to assist. At this time Federation is communicating those opportunities to the local congregations, agencies and organizations. Federation officials suggest members of the Jewish community to contact their congregations, local Jewish organizations or go to www.jewishkansascity.org to find out what the most urgent needs are and where help is most needed.

Blood is also needed. Visit www.savealifenow.org, to find blood donation locations.

Many of us think of Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 30, as the official beginning of the summer season and a day off from work. But it is actually a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Those who never forget the real meaning of the holiday are member of the Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605.

On Sunday, the group will conduct a service at Mount Carmel Cemetery in cooperation with Congregation Beth Shalom. At that time the names of approximately 46 Jewish vets who passed away this year will be read. Then on Monday, a Color Guard will participate in the Liberty Memorial Parade.

Former JWV Commander Mike Katzman will serve as the parade’s grand marshal for the third consecutive year. He will present the wreath to the Gold Star mother, a mother who has lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.

Katzman, who became the post commander in 2003, said the local post was established by Louis Pelofsky in 1948. The soon to be 91-year-old vet who believes he is now the oldest JWV member living in town, explained that the JWV is the oldest continuous organization for veterans in the United States. The organization is important to the community, in Marvin Denton’s opinion, “because it reminds everybody that Jews fought in the wars.”

“In 1896 the Jewish War Veterans were the first chartered veteran’s organizations in the United States. It was formed because in the Civil War Jews were accused of not fighting,” said Denton, who served in the Army infantry during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.

In fact JWV is the oldest chartered U.S. veterans’ service organization and pre-dates the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 18 years and the American Legion by 23 years.

Post Commander Larry Gordon said JWV has proudly represented the patriotism of Jewish military personnel in all military conflicts since its inception, including the current conflicts, where 40 Jewish men and two women have lost their lives serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The organization represents the interests of Jewish veterans and active duty members to members of Congress and the president.
Gordon said the local post currently has about 64 members. About three years ago, at what Katzman believes is the height of the post’s membership in recent years, it had 78 members.

“Every year we lose some because some pass away and others don’t want to pay dues anymore,” said Katzman, who was stationed in Texas in World War II at an Army Air Corp gunnery school.

Gordon said he’s not sure exactly what the average age is of JWV members. He believes they are all “at least 50 and most are in their late 70s or older.” Most of the members are veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict. So far there are only two members from the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gordon is active in JWV because he wanted to keep up with Jewish military affairs.

“I also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Jewish vets; and enjoy, at the age of 66, being called a ‘youngster’ by other members,” Gordon said.

Denton enjoys all the JWV activities and said he and the others are proud of the organization and what it stands for.

“When I came back from Korea, the fellows I was with got down on their hands and knees and kissed the ground we walked on. People really don’t understand that this is the greatest country in the world,” Denton said.
Gordon said the post is currently facing the same challenges as other JWV posts and other military veteran organizations.

“That is declining membership and interest. The number of Jewish military personnel has declined since the end of the military draft in 1973,” Gordon said. “We plan to continue to be a presence in the Kansas City Jewish community and will work to maintain or increase membership.”

But that may be difficult. Katzman said they have trouble finding vets of the recent conflicts to invite them to join the group because of privacy policies. Denton added that it is also hard to get vets from the Vietnam era to join.

“They are not interested in joining. I have several friends who are Vietnam vets and good buddies and they won’t join,” said Denton, who doesn’t care to speculate why these vets are not interested in the organization.
The post stays active, Katzman said, planning many events during the year. For instance the post provides American flag presentations at funerals of deceased post members, color guards for various events including the annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Service.

One of its biggest undertakings during the year is the Holiday Gifts for Vets (GFV) program. The post delivers more than 400 gift bags of personal items to veterans at the VA Medical Center and Domiciliary at Fort Leavenworth and the VA Medical Center in Kansas City. It’s such a big project that it will soon begin its fundraising efforts for the 2011 project.

The local post also recently made it a top priority to support Jewish servicemen and their families. Thus, any local Jewish person who has recently completed or is now on active military duty is asked to contact Commander Gordon in order to be added to Mo-Kan Post 605’s mailing list.

JWV elects officers

Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605 re-elected its current slate of officers for the 2011-2012 year. The following officers will serve for the coming year beginning in July:

Commander: Larry Gordon
Sr. vice commander: Marvin Korn
Jr. vice commander: Sheldon Turetsky
Judge advocate: Lloyd Hellman
Adjutant: Steven Schorr
Quartermaster: Herbert Gruenebaum
Chaplain: Norman Kaplan
Service officer: Robert Friedman
Americanism officer: Larry Jabenis
Membership: Marvin Denton

All Jewish veterans of the U.S. military are invited to join the Post. Non-veterans may also join as patrons. Contact Marvin Denton at (913) 649-7710 or Larry Gordon at (913) 492-3431 for further information.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback made his first-ever visit to the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Tuesday, May 24. Brownback entered the Jewish Community Center Social Hall to a rousing rendition of Hebrew songs by the fifth grade choir, directed by Devra Lerner.

After the songs, Brownback gave a short address to the HBHA student body, faculty and parents. The governor praised the school for its work in education and raising good citizens, and spoke about the morals and values that the American Midwest and Israel share. These values included a strong belief in God, a love of the land, and valuing the heart along with the mind. Brownback mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current visit to Capitol Hill, in which he received several standing ovations from the U.S. Congress.

The governor went on to praise the “Arab Spring,” which has seen the toppling of oppressive dictators across North Africa and the Middle East. He said President Obama’s recent call for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders, “would put Israel in a compromised state of security.” He went on to say that democracy, not the establishment of new states, should be the primary objective for the United States in the Middle East.

After his speech, Brownback was given a chanukiah made from Israeli pottery shards, and constructed by an HBHA lower school student. He also received a bag of HBHA memorabilia.

The students were excited about the governor’s visit.

“It was pretty cool to have someone with so much authority visit our school and us being able to perform during his visit was so much fun,” fifth-grade student Joe Porter said.

Brownback’s visit was also appreciated by Eric Kaseff, president of the HBHA board of trustees.

“I feel that it was important for the governor of the state to visit and show support for the school, and it was a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet their governmental leaders,” Kaseff said.

HBHA Headmaster Howard Haas had the same sentiments.

“It was extraordinarily positive for our school that the governor took that time to show his support today. It was great for the school and the Jewish community, and I personally feel honored to host such a personable leader of our state,” Haas said.

Following the assembly, Brownback went on to tour HBHA middle and high school classrooms.

In an interview with the Academy Voice, HBHA’s school newspaper, Brownback remarked about his most lasting experiences while visiting Israel. He said, “Looking over the Old City at night and seeing that incredible Star of David in the city that had not been there for nearly 2,000 years was amazing. Also, as a Christian, I was touched when visiting the Jordan River, seeing the place where Jesus is said to have been baptized, seeing Mount Nebo, where Moses saw Israel before dying, and seeing Jericho, a holy site to Christians, Jews and Muslims. That day really epitomized the importance and sanctity of the land in Israel.”

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Sinai and celebrates the late spring harvest. One of the traditional ways to celebrate Shavuot is to stay up all night studying Torah. For more than 15 years the Kansas City Jewish community has been doing just that at an annual communitywide Shavuot program held at Kehilath Israel Synagogue and sponsored by the Rabbinical Association and area congregations. This year’s program will be held June 7. (For more details, see below.)

This year’s keynote speaker will be Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, an internationally acclaimed author and speaker.  He is also a professor of liturgy, worship and ritual at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. The topic of his speech will be “The Many Paths to Jewish Spirituality.”

KI Senior Rabbi Herbert Mandl said as many as 500 people attend this event every year, and he thinks that’s incredible for Kansas City, especially here “where they roll the sidewalks in.”

“When (Rabbi Joseph) Telushkin was here two years ago he said there wasn’t a place in New York City that carries those types of numbers all night. He really enjoyed himself,” Rabbi Mandl said.

Rabbi Mandl said they always try to make sure the event appeals to all denominations of Jews, and Rabbi Hoffman has a large following here. He was supposed to speak here last year but at the last minute had to cancel due to illness.

Congregation Beth Torah’s Rabbi Mark Levin noted that Rabbi Hoffman is the author of “some 30 books, including the renowned siddur commentary, ‘My People’s Prayer Book.’ He is a renowned scholar whose work has influenced many Jews from all movements. His work is transdenominational, and pertinent to the Jewish lives of all members of our community.”

Rabbi Hoffman said he is proud that he can appeal to all denominations. He said his speech here will focus on Jewish spirituality as opposed to spiritualty for Jews. He explained the difference.

“There is a generic spirituality out there, which is what we all know of as seeing a sunset or climbing a mountain … all of which is the kind of spirituality people are used to,” Rabbi Hoffman said. “That is not necessarily Jewish spirituality. It is spirituality for Jews and for other people. It’s generic. The question is: Is there anything that is specifically Jewish spirituality that comes deeply from within Jewish tradition. I believe there is and I will be discussing that.”

Rabbi Hoffman believes American Jews are moving from being an ethnic people to a spiritual people. He has explained that when the Eastern European influx of Jews to the United States happened at the beginning of the 20th century, “we were very much engaged in Jewish peoplehood, not for a transcendent purpose but just because we liked being Jews.”

“We were nostalgic for Eastern Europe, for Jewish food, for Yiddish, Jewish jokes, that sort of thing. Eventually that became a deep concern for saving Jewish lives, Jews behind the Iron Curtain, Jews in Israel and what became what might be called a foreign affairs agenda of saving Jews and making sure Jews were safe and sound. “

He said that by 1990, when the population study took place, the American Jewish community discovered that the ethnic approach had resulted in a loss of Jewish identity.

“The reason we were losing Jews here is because ethnicity only lasts three generations. The first generation is the people who still speak the language, the second generation is determined to become Americanized and fight their parents’ ethnicity. The third generation can’t believe how foolish their parents were and love to get whatever they can from their grandparents. By the fourth generation nobody cares. We have now entered that fourth generation,” he said.

Now, Rabbi Hoffman said the question is: Why should anybody be Jewish when there is no automatic nostalgia for anything that was past.

“The answer for that has to be something of compelling rationale for Judaism and part of that rationale is spirituality. That’s the one thing that people do seek and they are seeking it everywhere. You can see it on shelf after shelf of bookstores or the variety of virtual books on Amazon. Every survey that we have demonstrates the search for meaning in life. The question is can religion provide meaning and that’s the spiritual question I will be talking about.”

Communitywide Shavuot program

The Jewish community will join together for an evening of prayer, study and celebration at the annual all-night Shavuot program Tuesday, June 7, at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The evening begins at 8:30 p.m. with two Mincha services led by Rabbis Herbert Mandl and Scott White and will be followed by a catered dairy buffet dinner.

At 10:30 p.m. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman will deliver the keynote, “The Many Paths to Jewish Spirituality.”

A panel discussion and study sessions will continue throughout the night. A sunrise service and breakfast will conclude this holiday celebration.

A catered dairy buffet dinner including blintzes and cheesecake will be served at 9:20 p.m. The cost is $14 per adult and $10 per student (age 21 and under). Mandatory advance reservations are required by Wednesday, June 1, and should be sent (make checks payable to Rabbinical Association) to Rabbinical Association, 5801 W. 115, Suite 113, Overland Park, KS 66211. Reservations received after June 1 will cost $18 per adult. There is no charge to the community to attend the study programs only, which begin at 10:30 p.m.

For additional information, visit www.kcrabbis.org. If planning to attend the study program only, please respond to Annette Fish, administrator/program director for the Rabbinical Association, or (913) 327-4622.

Motivated is the best word to describe Michael Bodker. This high achieving teen, who is co-president of Nordaunian AZA and president of Kansas City United Synagogue Youth, has energy to spare. He focuses this energy on Jewish causes and tzedakah.

“I want people to know that I am very motivated to create connections among Jewish teens in Kansas City to keep them connected to Judaism and each other throughout their college years,” Michael said. “Hopefully they can help create a Jewish community wherever they end up like the environment we grew up in.”

Michael said he learned from Todd Cohn (the former local NCSY adviser) the importance of getting teens involved. “Todd had a strong enthusiasm in getting Jewish teens involved in Judaism on every level,” Michael said. “It did not matter what youth group.”

He, in turn, is active in both BBYO and USY because he sees them as fulfilling two different roles in the Jewish teen community. “I have always believed that we have to strengthen Judaism from the bottom and have all Jewish teens make a Jewish connection,” he said.

“USY and BBYO are very different so I am involved in both,” he said. “I like BBYO because it brings in many more public school teens who would not be involved in Judaism.”

Michael believes BBYO appeals to the social aspects of Judaism. He has enjoyed working with many in the organization, including his co-president Andrew Grin, and planning “exciting programs.” Nordaunian’s yearly social calendar ends with Matzo Ball, the annual event he has helped plan the last two years that took place last month.

Michael’s interest in USY, the Conservative Jewish youth movement, allows him to focus on his “strong commitment to Judaism.” He especially loved the many conventions he attended every year.

Since he attended the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy through the eighth grade and Blue Valley North for high school, Michael sees the need to help all Jewish teens form strong Jewish identities.

His trip to Israel through The Jerusalem Journey, a trip sponsored by NCSY and JSU, reinforced his belief in being involved in both BBYO and USY. While in Israel, he saw the connections that everyone had to Judaism. “I love it,” he said. “Israel is great, amazing. Israel itself was the best part because of the political history and the current events.”

Michael credits both youth groups and his experiences in Boy Scout Troop 61, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, for helping him develop strong leadership skills. In addition he said Stefanie Williams, the director of informal education and youth activities at Congregation Beth Shalom, taught him “how to be enthusiastic about everything I do.” She also made him understand that his “actions have the ability to make someone’s life better.”

Williams thinks Michael is an inspiration to other members and a true leader. “He is one of the busiest people I know, yet he accomplishes everything he sets his mind to and always at a level beyond anyone’s expectations.”
“He inspires others to do more and to be proactive. He is a friend to all because he is compassionate and warm, hilarious and brilliant all at the same time,” Williams continued.

Michael excels in academics, sports and community service. His list of accomplishments is long and includes membership in the National Honor Society, co-captain of the BVN tennis team, letter winner in debate, BVN Student Council class treasurer for the past two years, and works as a lifeguard at the Jewish Community Center. With all of this, the activity he is most proud of is his involvement in helping others.

“I have learned how we can influence the community through charity giving,” Michael said about his time as a member of the Jewish Community Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek board for teens. “It gave me the inspiration to plan One Homeless Night,” which is his proudest high school memory.

One Homeless Night, an event when high school students raise money for charity by spending a night outside, had never been done at BVN. But this year, Michael pushed for the event and planned it. More than 100 students participated and raised $1,000, which was donated to Synergy for its teen homeless programs. The students listened to speakers talk about teen homelessness and learned what they could do to help.

“It was so much fun,” Michael said, “that now sophomores and juniors are planning it again for next year.” He is proud that this program will live on after he leaves high school.

But leaving high school will not stop him from being involved. The son of Stuart and Tensy Bodker, Michael will attend the University of Michigan in the fall with the intention of studying finance and economics. He plans to stay involved through Hillel and AIPAC.

His commitment to the Jewish community is also recognized by others, as he is this year’s recipient of the Evelyn Wasserstrom Outstanding Youth Award.

“He’s never afraid of looking silly — he jumps right in and does whatever it takes to get the job done,” said Williams. “There is never a dull moment with Michael, and we are all so incredibly proud of him!”

Mark Sunday, June 5, on your calendar for an event you won’t want to miss!

It’s “Boogie to Broadway,” an evening of entertainment put on by Jewish Family Services featuring three inter-faith choirs singing their hearts out to be recognized as the champions. However, the real champions of the evening will be the more than 500 seniors and their families that benefit from the older adult programs that JFS provides in the community.

This musical event will take place at 7 p.m. in the White Theater of the Jewish Community Campus. Proceeds will benefit for the older adult programs provided by JFS. Co-chairs for the event are Gail Lozoff and Paulette Giarratana.

“A lot of people have a lot of fun preparing for this, and we’re so excited to have such talented choir members and directors donating their time to JFS,” Lozoff said.

Now in its third year, “Boogie to Broadway” has added some new twists this time around. Rav Hazzan Jeffrey Shron of Kehilath Israel synagogue will serve as the master of ceremonies. He’ll be joined by Patrick Buckley, musical director of Kol Ami, Cantor Sharon Kohn, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, and Linda Sweenie of Congregation Beth Torah, each directing one of the competing choirs.

To create a truly interfaith event, these Jewish directors are paired with three church choir directors; Amanda Palacios, music educator at Christ the King Parish; Matthew Shepard, associate director of music of Village Presbyterian Church, and Sarah Brinkley, director of choirs at  Atonement Lutheran Church. Together, all six choir directors will lead more than 75 people of all ages and different faiths in this music extravaganza. The winning choir will be selected by popular vote of the audience.

The fun event provides a perfect setting to share the work of JFS with the public, Lozoff said.

“Most people don’t really know what JFS does until someone in their family develops a need to use JFS services, then it is very eye opening,” Lozoff said. “So many of our services can make peoples’ lives easier, and we’d love for the entire community to know about our awesome programs and feel secure that we’re here to help!”

Among the services that will benefit from funds raised during Boogie are JET Express and Help@Home, both designed to help older adults live independently for as long as possible. JFS also provides aging-related services through the Jewish Senior Network and counseling services to assist with health needs, mobility requirements, bereavement, isolation, and much more.

The choirs have been rehearsing for weeks to get ready for the big night. The choirs include siblings, husbands and wives, parents, children and even grandchildren. Each choir chose its own name – Orange Crush (Buckley and Palacios choir), GreenSleeves (Sweenie and Brinkley choir) and Brilliant Blue Machine (Kohn and Shepard choir). In addition to the choirs’ musical numbers, the choir directors will join together for a special performance while the votes are being counted.

Tickets for “Boogie to Broadway” are on sale through the Jewish Community Center Box Office, (913) 327-8054 or email . There are two-tier seating options for the June 5 event. The last time Boogie was held at the White Theatre it sold out, therefore JFS has opened up the back of the theatre (the MAC Room) for additional seating. These seats are half price due to the proximity from the stage.
Tier One: $20 adults; $10 children 12 & under (theater seating in the White Theatre)

Tier Two (limited number of seats in the MAC room which opens up to view the stage at the back of theater): $10 adults; $5 children 12 & under.
For additional information about Boogie to Broadway, contact Adrienne Kizer at (913) 327-8250.

MEETING THE VP — Proud grandmother Adela Dagerman was in Washington, D.C., with her family last weekend to celebrate the graduation from Georgetown University of her granddaughter, Michelle Hammer, the daughter of Steve and Linda Hammer. The family gathered for lunch on Saturday afternoon at Café Milano, a Georgetown restaurant. Vice President Joe Biden was there also, celebrating his niece’s graduation. When Adela heard the veep was in the restaurant too, she took Michelle’s hand and led her off to meet the vice president, waltzing right past the secret service agents. Adela told the vice president that she was a survivor of Auschwitz, lost 72 members of her family during the Holocaust and wanted an invitation to the White House. He asked for her information, which she provided, and he said he would take care of it. She expects that invitation will arrive in the mail shortly!

MATCHING DONATIONS FOR JOPLIN — Many, many organizations — Jewish and non-Jewish — are finding ways to help the people of Joplin as you will see in the article in today’s issue. One effort that ends today, Friday, May 27, is sponsored by Spin! Neapolitan Pizza, which is co-owned by Gail and Richard Lozoff, Patrons at the four area SPIN! locations will be offered the opportunity to add a donation to their checks to assist victims of the devastating tornado. SPIN! will match the total donated up to $2,500. The contributions will assist Heart to Heart, which already has deployed its Mobile Medical Clinic along with volunteer medical professionals and supplies.

GIRL SCOUTS HELP MITZVAH GARDEN KC —  A Girl Scout troop at Sunrise Point Elementary school, of which two of its 10 members are Jewish (Jordan Kaseff and Sophie Bell) have donated two wheelbarrows and 50 recycle tote bags to the KC Mitzvah Garden. The wheelbarrows were used during The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Mitzvah Days and the bags will be used to collect produce later in the season. Mitzvah Garden KC co-chair Ken Sonnenschein said while the garden has various benefactions, this is the first donation from a Girl Scout troop. Sonnenschein said he hopes the generosity of the troop will inspire others to get “more involved in growing good in Mitzvah Garden KC.”

NEW HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL — Next Sunday, June 5, Kehilath Israel Synagogue will dedicate a new memorial in commemoration of those members of the synagogue whose family members were murdered or suffered during the Holocaust. The dedication will take place at the Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery at 19th and Blue Ridge Boulevard at noon.

The monument was designed by Ed Tranin and the project was spearheaded by Sam Devinki. The monument will be engraved with names of those who perished during the Shoah. It will also have a special section to memorialize KI members who were rescuers serving in the U. S. Armed Forces during World War II.

The ceremony will conclude with the unveiling of the Holocaust monument. The monument is especially significant to those people who have no graves of their family members to visit. If you wish to attend and need a ride, please contact Allegra Shanberg at KI, at (913) 642-1880. The community is invited to attend the dedication.

CORRECTION

The correct number to call for reservations for “100 Voices” at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre is (913) 327-8196.

Cantor Paul Silbersher can give you several definitions of the word retire. Then he’ll tell you even though he’s officially retiring from Congregation Kol Ami as its spiritual leader, he probably won’t really retire at all. He’ll just take on another project.

You see the 81-year-old Silbersher has already officially retired once, in 2000, as the cantor of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. As cantor emeritus, he continued to work there part-time for the next three years.

Then in 2003 when Kol Ami was in its formative stages, he was asked to become the Reform congregation’s spiritual leader and has served in that capacity for the past eight years. While he uses the professional title of cantor, he is also a trained rabbi. He will be recognized as such following his retirement, said Kol Ami President Constance Bernstein, when he will begin using the title rabbi emeritus.

Bernstein said many congregants will miss Cantor Silbersher tremendously.

“He has such a magnificent voice,” she said. “His singing and cantorial skills are things we’ve grown to love and expect, and we will miss it sorely.”

Bernstein said the congregation is currently negotiating with a person to take over the spiritual leader duties at Kol Ami. She hopes the congregation will be able to make an official announcement in the near future.

Becoming a Jewish clergy

Cantor Silbersher’s career took a few twists and turns before he became a rabbi, or even a Jewish professional for that matter. At first he wanted to serve as a naval aviation cadet during the Korean War. He was accepted into the program, but the swearing-in ceremony was halted — because the program was suddenly full — just before he was about to be sworn. Instead he spent eight years in the Naval Reserve.

Next, in the late 1940s and early ‘50s, he worked as a page for the NBC television network. At that time network pages were often trained as young executives; the young man had hopes of becoming a director or a producer.

But things changed at NBC and pages were no longer being promoted. So he considered theater like his older brother. He did choose to be a performer, but on a congregational stage.

Although Cantor Silbersher was raised in a Conservative Jewish home by parents who kept kosher, he decided to enroll at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music (which is now called the The Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music). When he completed his cantorial studies, he decided he wanted to take on rabbinic training as well, so he enrolled in the pre-rabbinic program at HUC in Cincinnati.

As cantorial and rabbinical students often do, Cantor Silbersher served various congregations in Ohio, Connecticut and New York while he continued his studies. His rabbinical studies hit a few bumps in the road and he chose yet another path, earning a master’s degree in social work.

“I had a private therapy practice and at the same time I began to do interfaith weddings,” Cantor Silbersher explained. He also worked in several school situations as a social worker.

Eventually his rabbinical ordination was done privately by Rabbi Jack Bemporad and Rabbi Irving Baumol. At that point Cantor Silbersher took over the helm of a small congregation, The Fellowship for Jewish Learning in Stamford, Conn. When he came to Kansas City, he turned it over to Rabbi Mark Golub, who is now most well known as the president and CEO of Shalom TV.

As a Jewish clergyman, he has performed many interfaith weddings over the years, but said he discontinued that practice during the Vietnam War.

“I wasn’t willing to perform them then because I felt the couples who were marrying out of the faith were using it as a vehicle for anger,” he explained.

Once the war was over and he felt young people weren’t angry any more, he resumed performing interfaith marriages.

“I’m always open to the serious folks,” he said of his practice to marry interfaith couples, which he continues today.

Settling in Kansas City

He came to B’nai Jehudah in 1979.

“It was the largest congregation I ever served. Before that the congregations I was at had 300 to 350 families,” he said of B’nai Jehudah, which served as many as 1,900 families during his tenure there.

Cantor Silbersher was almost 50 years old when he arrived here and only two of his four children were still living at home.

He was no longer the cantor at B’nai Jehudah when Kol Ami came calling, but he was still working part-time there as well as serving as director of spiritual care at Village Shalom. The idea of joining a new congregation and getting it started from the ground up was something that greatly appealed to him.

“I loved the idea of being creative and the inclusiveness of new ideas,” he said.

He loves teaching and will continue to write his thoughts about Torah on a regular basis through The Chronicle. He has many wonderful memories of teaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, often conducting phone lessons before school started at 6 in the morning — recalled by many as Sunrise Semester — so the kids could get extra practice.

He has former students, now adults, who also fondly remember the time they spent studying and worshipping in the Mayerberg Chapel when The Temple was at 69th and Holmes.

“We used to call the kids who were missing from B’nai Mitzvah class, tell them we hoped they were well and OK, and wish them a Shabbat Shalom. They told me it made them feel good,” Cantor Silbersher said.

“These were lifetime connections we made,” he continued. “I got to know them during their formative years.”

Kol Ami’s Bernstein said Cantor Silbersher “does wonderful Bar Mtizvahs.”

“All of our Bar Mitzvah students have just excelled and learned a great deal from him,” she said.

While he has no plans to tutor any more students, he may continue taking part in other lifecycle events — whether they be happy occasions or sad ones.

“I will be open to discussing possible opportunities with the board and the new spiritual leader,” he said.

Bernstein said there is a possibility that Cantor Silbersher may indeed continue in some role with Kol Ami, possibly teaching a Torah study class.

But actual retirement is not likely. Yes, he plans to have more time to play tennis, a sport he has always loved. He’ll also try to get himself back into shape by walking and spending time at the Jewish Community Center’s sports facility.

But the better bet is that he will spend a considerable amount of time at Hope Academy Charter School in Kansas City, Mo. He is a founder and a vice president of the school, located at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 2803 Swope Parkway. The school serves students ages 16 to 21 who have chosen to return to school after dropping out. It is sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“Education is where it all begins. If you can’t read and write, you don’t have a chance,” Cantor Silbersher said.

The school has held three graduation ceremonies and, he said, everybody there has something to cheer about.

“It’s something to experience,” said Cantor Silbersher, who plans to cheer along with them for years to come.

Retirement open house scheduled

Congregation Kol Ami will hold a reception in honor of Cantor Paul Silbersher’s retirement from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at the congregation. The community is invited, but RSVPs are requested. Reservations should be sent to Carla Lieberman at or by calling (913) 499-8671 after 5:30 p.m.

Village Shalom Father’s Day Run/Walk

Good work is its own reward. But sometimes it can return many years later as an unexpected blessing, as Leslie Caplan has discovered.

As a young professional in the 1980s, Leslie joined the associate board of Shalom Geriatric Center (SGC) at the urging of her uncle Jerry and cousin Lewis Nerman, both members of the organization’s board of directors at the time. The associate board, a group aimed at developing volunteer and leadership opportunities for young Jewish adults, wanted to initiate a fundraising event to engage the community and support dementia-care programs for SGC residents.

Though it was her first experience as a member of any board, Leslie boldly suggested conducting a benefit race similar to one at the preschool where she worked. Fortunately, the idea had legs and the associate board undertook its first May Day Run in 1987. A few years later, the race date was moved to Father’s Day and it became the Beat the Heat Run/Walk.

In 2011, the race is known as the Village Shalom Father’s Day Run/Walk. Now marking its 24th year, the 5- and 10-kilometer event will take place Sunday, June 19, at Village Shalom. (For more information, see below) It is still sponsored by a vibrant associate board. And Leslie’s mother, Betty Caplan, is now one of the senior adults who is directly benefiting from programs that the race’s proceeds support.

Betty attends Village Shalom’s Great Days Social Club adult day-care program. She is there seven days a week, from morning until early evening. When Betty was diagnosed with early-onset dementia several years ago, Leslie and her brother Craig began searching for a place where their mother could spend her days involved with people and activities, but continue living in her own home with caregiver assistance.

“We looked at several places,” said Leslie, “but Village Shalom was absolutely the best choice. We wanted her to be with people who are Jewish, and she already knew some of the other day-stay participants — the Jewish connection was very important. Plus, Village Shalom provides transportation for her. No one else was able to offer that.”

Betty is not the first member of the Caplans’ family to receive care at Kansas City’s Jewish retirement community, Leslie noted: “My grandmother lived at Shalom Geriatric Center, and my aunt was at Shalom Plaza,” which were Village Shalom’s predecessors. “I have nothing but praise for all of the staff at Village Shalom. They’ve just been so caring to Mom. They’re very compassionate — they really care about the work they’re doing.”

“The program is wonderful,” said Craig. “It’s the difference that has allowed her to keep living in her own home. Especially with dementia care, it gives her activities to occupy her mind and a social environment, which you can’t do at home.”

Leslie added, “And it’s not just the day-stay program, but the other services that Village Shalom offers. For instance, it’s been extremely helpful to have Mom go to the salon at Village Shalom to get her hair and nails done. Those kinds of things were difficult for her live-in caregiver to manage.” Now they are simply a part of Betty’s familiar Village Shalom routine.

Village Shalom’s Great Days Social Club “is a much-needed service in the community,” explained Linda Harmon, director of the program. “We can accommodate up to 30 people on any given day, but we usually have 15 to 20. Some of our day-stay participants stay late and have dinner with us” before returning to their homes for the night, she said. An option to arrive for breakfast in the morning has been added recently.

“We also offer overnight respite care when there is a room available (in Shalom Suites for residential dementia care),” Harmon said. “People often use this when the home caregiver needs a break or is going out of town for the weekend.”

The day-stay experience has made all the difference for Betty who, according to Leslie, “is sleeping better at night.”

Leslie and Craig also rest easier knowing their mother is receiving the care she needs through the day while they are at work and her at-home caregiver is attending college classes.

Little did Leslie expect that the race she helped to initiate nearly two-and-a-half decades ago would be of such enormous help to her family so many years later.

“It never crossed my mind back then that Mom would end up with dementia, or that she would benefit from the work I was doing with the associate board. I’m so glad that the race is still going, and that Village Shalom is still there.”

Annual Run/Walk set for Father’s Day

The 24th annual Village Shalom Father’s Day Run/Walk begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, June 19. Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Funds raised through race sponsorships, donations and registration fees will help to provide essential support for Village Shalom’s programs and services — like Great Days Social Club — that directly benefit individuals and their families confronting the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Not only does the race attract members of the Jewish community who want to help support Village Shalom, but as an officially sanctioned race by the Mid-America Running Association, it draws hundreds of runners from all over the area, who will use their official times from this race to apply for other events.

Besides the 5k/10k run/walk that is the core of the race, participants and family members can also enjoy a children’s arts-and-crafts tent sponsored by U.S. Toy/Constructive Playthings, face painting and a pancake breakfast served by Chris Cakes.

For sponsorship opportunities, to register for the race or to make a donation, visit the race website, www.fathersdayrun.org, or call Sally Beyers, Village Shalom director of development, at (913) 266-8412.

If you are a member of the Jewish Community Center you are keenly aware that the agency has undergone a thorough reorganization from the top down over the past few years. That reorganization resulted in making the agency more fiscally responsible as well as more appealing to members and prospective members. JCC members will celebrate those successes at its annual meeting Sunday, May 22, when it installs Gary Weinberg for a two-year term as president.

“I think Bob (Grant, the outgoing president) has done an exceptional job of taking the Center, with the help of a superb staff, to turn it around financially and programmatically and really getting it going on the right track,” Weinberg said.

He said while every new board president always has new ideas and agendas, he doesn’t plan to make any significant major changes.

“My most important goal is to support Executive Director Jacob Schreiber and the staff. I’m going to have our board do that as well,” Weinberg said.

Grant believes he is leaving the JCC in good hands and that it is currently “in a period of wellness.” Weinberg notes that the JCC’s “phenomenal staff” has had a lot to do with that, having made significant sacrifices over the past several years to help reduce costs and enhance the programs that are effective.

“Financially we are in very good shape. The same can be said about our programming and our leadership,” Grant said.

In fact Weinberg said membership has increased each month over the past 40 months.

“I don’t think we’re back to historic highs, but we’re trending that way. We have more than 2,500 member units now,” said Weinberg. The all-time membership high was 2,700 member units.

Weinberg would like the new board to design a new strategic plan. The JCC’s last strategic plan was completed 17 years ago.

“But before we can begin the process, we have to have the board agree it wants to. One of the things I don’t want to do is tell our board what to do. I want to make sure it’s a collaborative effort,” Weinberg said.

Collaboration is a big word around the JCC right now. Weinberg said he believes one of the most important things the agency can do in the future is engage in more collaborative programming.

“We need to look to the community and see how to facilitate and enhance community conversations. We want to really work with other agencies and congregations and leverage the assets we have in the community,” Weinberg said.

Ken Sigman, the JCC’s incoming first vice president who will become president in 2013, added that collaboration is necessary because resources aren’t the same as they were years ago.

“I think the Center is in a very unique position in that it is an organization that serves the many in not just the Jewish community but the non-Jewish community,” Sigman said. “If we are collaborative and if our programs and our staff are exceptional in delivering services, we can be successful in making people feel that this is the place to be.”

Most recently, the JCC co-sponsored the annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration with Kehilath Israel Synagogue and it is also co-sponsoring the 8th Day concert on Lab b’Omer (Sunday, May 22) with the Torah Learning Center. More programs in the areas of adult education, and possibly even camping, are on the horizon.

JCC Mezzuzzah Society gives donors advisory roles

The Jewish Community Center sees itself as a premier Jewish life enterprise, offering programs of excellence that enhance wellness, meaning and joy for the community. It has established the Mezzuzah Society to provide what it hopes will be the wisdom, stature and financial support required for the JCC to achieve this mission.

The Mezzuzah Society was conceived a little more than a year ago and already has 20 members. Members make a two-year investment in the agency and the donations go directly to the JCC’s operating budget. They help fund current programs, new initiatives and scholarships.

Donors to the Mezzuzah society give the same amount for two consecutive years. Categories are Guides: a minimum of $2,500; Builders: a minimum of $5,000; and Visionaries: a minimum of $10,000.

Jill Maidhof, the JCC’s associate executive director, said this is the first time the JCC has ever attempted an annual giving campaign. Gary Weinberg, who will be installed as president on Sunday, May 22, said until now Kansas City was one of only a few JCC’s in the country who did not conduct an annual giving campaign.

Weinberg said The Mezzuzah Society is important, not only because it’s beginning to develop a culture of annual giving at the JCC, but to also recognize the importance of the donors.

“We want to make sure our donors feel somewhat empowered, that they really have some insight into how successful we are. It also lets them learn what our issues are so that they can contribute their thoughts and help guide us because they care about the organization,” Weinberg said.

“It’s a vehicle to really be able to encourage that investment, talk to the people that are making that investment and then recognize them for doing it,” he continued.

The first meeting of the Mezzuzah Society was held this week. Maidhof said the meetings give these donors, who are considered to be consuls and advisors to the executive director and the president, the chance to hear first hand “the challenges and opportunities facing the Center.”

“Not only does this provide them with insider information, it also gives them an opportunity to provide some substantive input on those issues,” she said.

As Weinberg pointed out, oftentimes donors are asked for money but never given a chance to be engaged in the spending process.

“We want to engage those people and see what they think,” Weinberg said.

The Mezzuzah Society, said Ken Sigman, who will be installed this week as first vice president, helps provide funds so that the JCC can extend its services out to as many people as possible, even those who can’t afford them. This past fiscal year the JCC gave out more than $350,000 in scholarships.

“These funds help augment that. There are people due to the economic downturn that still haven’t recovered. This allows us to have a fund to make the Center appeal to those who can’t afford it right now but eventually we hope will be able to,” Sigman said.

It’s also important, Maidhof said, because funding from traditional sources continues to decrease while at the same time competition for those funds continues to increase.

“So we have to be self-reliant and replace those funds,” she said.

Maidhof said the JCC also needs to invest in itself to be able to make it better.

“It’s more and more critical that we have the right staff in the right places and that they are trained to really make people feel that this is a real special place,” Sigman added.