By Lacey Storer
Contributing Writer
For 12 years, PJ Library has helped families with young children in Kansas City connect to their Jewish identities, traditions and values. Now, the establishment of the Polsky Family PJ Library Endowment will ensure that the program continues to provide free books and music to Jewish children in our community for years to come.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Cairo Genizah can take the MeltonKC class “Exploring a Forgotten World: A Social History of Medieval Jewry as Revealed in the Cairo Genizah.” It will be taught by Rabbi Javier Cattapan of Congregation Beth Torah on Zoom from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for 10 weeks beginning Nov. 5.
By Marcia Montgomery
Associate Editor
What happens when a Jewish community’s genizah runs out of space? Is it really that important?
By Sam Kricsfeld
Contributing Writer
Historians believe that the events of Kristallnacht represented one of the most important turning points in the anti-Semitic policies of the German Nazi Party. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, anti-Jewish policy after the pogrom was concentrated more and more concretely into the hands of the SS (elite military unit of the Nazi Party). Additionally, the passivity with which most German civilians responded to the violence signaled to the Nazi regime that the German public was prepared for more radical measures.
With the coronavirus continuing to challenge us all, Jewish Family Services has come up with creative ways for its annual Hanukkah Holiday Project to take place this year. You can play a pivotal role in making the Festival of Lights bright for local Jewish families who continue to struggle economically.
The following bowlers in Sunday Morning Kansas City B’nai B’rith Bowling League achieved high scores at Ward Parkway Lanes on Oct. 25.
Aniya Henson, a senior at Fort Osage High School, won the title of 2020 KC SuperStar in a virtual finals’ show. Aniya had been a past KC SuperStar semifinalist in 2019. As the 2020 KC SuperStar, Aniya receives the Edward and Ellen Rose $10,000 scholarship.
Back by popular demand, The Faith Always Wins Foundation/SevenDays will host a virtual Interfaith Panel at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The topic: “Leaning on our faith for Inspiration & Hope” with a focus on healing in this post-election environment. A similar panel was part of SevenDays® 2020 virtual experiences in April.
Because of Rock Chalk Shabbat’s virtual setting on Friday, Nov. 6, students will not be able to share a festive dinner with their KU community at the Kansas Union like years prior. However, KU Hillel is providing students with to-go dinners to share with their friends while watching services.
By Larry Luxner
JTA
A virus forced the World Zionist Congress to go virtual for the first time since its founding in 1897.