Gabriella Sonnenschein, 23, is working in Tel Aviv as part of the Masa Top Interns program. She contracted COVID about a month after arriving in Israel.
A gap year in Israel comes with restrictions and reservations
By Lacey Storer / Contributing Writer
For many Jewish young adults, spending a year after high school or college in Israel is the dream of a lifetime. That dream was put on hold this year for some, but others managed to make it a reality despite the pandemic.
Thinking about my transition to editor of The Chronicle sent me to one of the large plastic tubs that sit on shelving in our basement. This particular container holds a lot of my childhood memorabilia.
When Rabbi Mark Glass, Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner’s (BIAV) new rabbi, learned about the synagogue located in Overland Park his first reaction was, “Where?” After all, a rabbi who grew up in Manchester, England, and had spent just a few years in this country’s Northeast couldn’t be expected to know much about the Midwest, and Kansas in particular.
Holocaust survivor Regina Dollman (seated) and her daughter, Lori Dollman, getting their Hanukkah gifts from JFS’ holiday project. Dollman receives support from several JFS programs, including Help@Home and Care Management.
By Lacey Storer / Contributing Writer
Regina Dollman is a Holocaust survivor in our community. She is aging and suffered a major health setback last month, but with support from Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City (JFS), Dollman is able to stay in her home, something that is extremely important to her. As she always says, “Home is home.”
The Barstow School JSU President Susanna King joined with other local JSU presidents to pack unBoxes to be delivered to Jewish students taking part in JSU’s Unboxed program, which is designed to appeal to their curiosity, creativity and competitive spirit.
By Barbara Bayer/ Contributing Writer
Like other Jewish organizations, Jewish Student Union (JSU) needed to find a way to connect with its members when COVID-19 made it impossible to program in conventional ways. So its director, Rabbi Nati Stern, created a subscription box service for Jewish students in the Kansas City area.
The Nov. 3 election proved to be a mixed bag for Kansas City-area Jewish candidates seeking state legislative seats in Kansas.
Democrat Ethan Corson won his bid to represent District 7 in the Kansas Senate, but fellow Democrat Joy Koesten lost in her race for the District 11 Senate seat.
Pictured are KU AEPI brothers Ryan Speckman and Jared Katzen during a recent JewishU class as they explore the meaning of relationships using the metaphor of two flames merging into one.
Over the last few months, as students went through their fall semester in college, they faced many new learning environments, and with them, many challenges. While they put their best efforts forward to succeed, it definitely was an uphill battle for some. It is with this in mind that the men of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a vibrant and active Jewish fraternity at the University of Kansas, were excited to partner with KU Chabad for a special learning program that provides a much-needed boost and support during these challenging times.
The Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program, based at JFS, provides spiritual care and connectivity during difficult times — illness, aging issues and loss of life.
While there won’t be an official wrapping party this year for the annual Hanukkah Holiday Project, JFS staff, including Taly Friedman, Melissa Kingston and Vicki Johansen, are ready to wrap gifts for clients who will receive them in December.
In just about a month, families will gather together to mark the start of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. This year Hanukkah begins at sundown Thursday, Dec. 10.
Yet there are hundreds in our Jewish community facing difficult times financially who will struggle to make the holiday bright.
