News

Last week, after a stampede at a Lag B’Omer festival in Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City released the following statement via email:

Aviva Okeson-Haberman, the KCUR reporter who was killed last month by a stray bullet, was a Jewish woman from Springfield, Missouri.

The White Theatre at The J will celebrate its 15th anniversary season with Best of Broadway, a virtual benefit concert, at 7 p.m. on May 15. The concert will feature performances from some of the finest local stars and best Broadway shows held on The White Theatre stage over its 15 seasons. The concert is free, however, donations to benefit The J’s Arts + Culture programs are welcome.

The trauma caused by COVID-19 is bringing increased awareness to the importance of mental health care. In the past pandemic year, Jewish Family Services (JFS) has seen a 50% increase in the number of counseling sessions. JFS has responded by providing more resources and information with a focus on preventive initiatives.

(JTA) — The white supremacist who murdered three people outside Jewish institutions in Overland Park, Kansas, in 2014, died on the same day that the daughter and mother of two of his victims published a book memorializing their lives.

The Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC seeks a talented and dynamic professional to serve as its development director, to help manage all aspects of JCRB|AJC’s development plan, including fundraising, special events, relevant fundraising communications, and donor development.

The community is invited to attend the installation of the officers and board of directors of the Beth Shalom Sisterhood. The theme is “still going strong.” The ceremony is May 20 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Retired Rabbi Michael Weisser, guest speaker at Temple Israel’s virtual havdalah on May 8, has the distinction of having turned a Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon of Nebraska away from hate and onto a path that led to his conversion to Judaism.

Rabbi Nati Stern, of NCSY and JSU, will take a similar post in Houston

After three years in Kansas City, Rabbi Nati Stern will say goodbye to the area in June. He’ll sign on as the city director of NCSY and JSU in Houston this July.

As the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle went to press last week, a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges stemming from the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, last year.