Archived News

Steve Kluger has a lot to say and a compelling need to say it.
Kluger is an author with five books and four plays to his credit, including the novel “Last Days of Summer.” He also wrote the lyrics for a musical with the same title based on his book, a first for him.
Now, the Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KC Rep) will present the first production of the musical “Last Days of Summer” from Sept. 7 through Sept. 30 at the Spencer Theatre on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Radio station KLWN in Lawrence is home to the only two Jewish-themed radio shows in the state of Kansas, both hosted by KU Chabad’s Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel.
Rabbi Tiechtel started “The Schmooze” in 2012 on KLWN AM 1320/ FM 101.7. The half-hour show airs at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings and covers Jewish topics pertaining to things like that week’s Torah portion and cultural facts for the show’s mostly non-Jewish listener base.

“… All Israel are responsible for one another.”
Talmud Bavli, Shevuot 39a

Eighty-five years ago, Kansas City was facing an economic depression, pressing needs of local Jewish organizations and growing demands for overseas aid. Following those words in the Talmud that we are all responsible for one another, in the spring of 1933 a group of dedicated individuals created the Jewish Welfare Federation of Greater Kansas City — now the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City — a collective entity to raise funds to meet those needs.

FORWARD’S TOP COLLEGES FOR JEWS IN THE COUNTRY — Once again the universities of Kansas and Missouri are mentioned in the second-annual Forward College guide, a listing including 215 of the best colleges for Jewish life in the country.
KU came in at 114 with an overall score of 47.5 out of 100. MU is listed at 172 with an overall score 36.67 out out of 100. Both schools were noted for their active Chabad Houses and Hillels.
KU Chabad’s Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel was quoted by the Forward saying, “KU has a vibrant Jewish life, with Jewish students coming from across the country. Great Jewish Studies program, brand new kosher kitchen on campus, holiday and Shabbat programs, social events and so much with Chabad and Hillel, as well as vibrant Jewish Greek life.”
Mizzou Hillel’s Executive Director Jeanne Snodgrass explained why Jewish students should attend MU: “Jewish students at Mizzou have an opportunity to be part of a Jewish community that is active, engaged and connected. Jewish students participate in all aspects of campus life and come together at Hillel, where they have learning, leadership and mentorship opportunities as well as a space to explore their own Jewish identities and connections.”
To read more about KU and MU’s rankings, as well as the other universities profiled, go to forward.com/jewish-college-guide.

DEADLINES, THE CHRONICLE HAS DEADLINES — As the High Holidays are approaching very quickly, it’s time to remind you — our friends, readers and contributors — The Chronicle staff will be taking some time off during that season. It is especially important to stick with our long-standing Wednesday at noon deadline.
Surprised The Chronicle has a Wednesday noon deadline for the following week’s issue? We do, although we are often very nice about extending it. During the upcoming weeks as we all take time off, please remember to get those articles, photos, events and celebrations in on time. Advertising deadlines tend to be a little earlier during holiday times as well.
We will do our best to accommodate, but we cannot promise items that miss the deadline will be published in the next week’s issue.
Thanks for your understanding. If you have questions regarding our deadlines, contact me at or 913-951-8425.

The Jewish communities of Greater Kansas City and St. Louis released a statement late last week condemning the “anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, homophobic and racist rhetoric” of Steve West, who won the Republic primary earlier this month for Missouri House District 15 in Clay County. The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City disseminated the statement in a large ad in The Kansas City Star. It appeared on page 11A on Sunday, Aug. 19.
“We felt it was important to make a public statement that speaks out against hate and discrimination,” said Dr. Helene Lotman, president and CEO of the local Jewish Federation. “We want to make voters and the Missouri state legislature aware of the fact that there is a candidate out there who embraces hatred and bigotry.”

From the time he was a small child, David Helfand was told he would be a rabbi someday. But for many years the now 27-year-old said he stubbornly refused to accept it. Finally, in his early 20s he acknowledged his fate happily and willingly.
Having just completed his first year of rabbinic school at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at The American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Helfand is temporarily back home in Overland Park as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Shalom, as well as summer chaplain at Research Medical Center on Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri.

Grace Rudman hasn’t finished high school yet, but she’s already met with a senator and a congressman. They discussed how Kansas schools need to up their game concerning mental health and providing an equal education in suburban and urban schools.
This unique experience was organized by the Bank of America Student Leaders program, where Grace was one of five Kansas City participants this summer. The program is for incoming high school seniors, like Grace, and incoming college freshman who are involved in their community and want to help improve it.

Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City announced Paul Himmelstein as the 2018 Dan Fingersh Young Leadership Award winner. The award is bestowed each year to a volunteer under the age of 45 who has shown exemplary leadership in the Jewish community and consistent commitment to Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s annual Community Campaign.
Himmelstein will be recognized at Jewish Federation’s annual meeting and 85th anniversary celebration, which takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.

A Missouri Republican who has made anti-Semitic and other bigoted statements handily won a primary for the state's House of Representatives.
Steve West, who promotes anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on a radio show he hosts, defeated three other candidates Aug. 7 in the bid for a seat representing Clay County. He won with 49.5 percent of the vote; the second-place finisher had 24.4 percent.
"Looking back in history, unfortunately, Hitler was right about what was taking place in Germany. And who was behind it,” West said on KCXL radio in January 2017, The Kansas City Star reported Aug. 9.

The brand new Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house at the University of Kansas has been completed and members began moving in Aug. 15.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy — a long 10 years has gone by since the chapter returned to KU in 2008. Their goal since then has been to be a house fraternity. Now it has finally come to fruition.
“ZBT had a house back before the 1990s when we left campus and just to be able to come back after all these years is awesome,” said senior Jacob Milgrim, former president of the fraternity.