Sharing gratitude and condolences

The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council (GKCIC) extends its condolences to the families of those who were killed by the attack at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, and prays for the speedy recovery of those who were injured.

The GKCIC is dedicated to bringing people together of all religions and backgrounds. We commend the first responders and so many others who rushed to the aid of victims, and who demonstrated mutual respect, value of life, and simple kindness that are the foundation for a peaceful society.

By the time this letter is printed, the Council will have had an interfaith service, where people of all backgrounds from the Kansas City area were invited to mourn the loss of life in Boston, pray for the recovery of the injured, and share our gratitude for all who assisted.

The GKCIC is comprised of lay leaders and clergy from more than 15 different religions who meet during the year to educate and promote accurate and fair portrayal of the faiths within our community.

One way to honor the victims is to commit oneself to learning and developing a deeper understanding of each other’s religions, cultures and backgrounds. This, in turn, can help us move closer to shalom (peace).

Sheila Sonnenschein

GKCIC Convener

Melton clarification

The newest class offered by melton@HBHA, “Five Books, Five Agendas,” taught by Melton Director of Education Rabbi Morey Schwartz, had its successful opening session on Monday, April 15. Texts by Josephus, Rabbi Ovadia Sforno, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Jehudah Berlin and E. Theodore Mullin — as well as thought-provoking commentary by Rabbi Schwartz — immediately established the fact that participants will be viewing each of the five books of Torah very differently over the next several weeks.

Jacob Schreiber (Jewish Community Center president & CEO) has called to my attention two errors in the April 11 article announcing “Five Books, Five Agendas.” First, Club Room 3 is a JCC room, not a Jewish Community Campus room. And second, the state-of-the-art teleconferencing system that makes it possible for Kansas City Melton students to study with Rabbi Schwartz was purchased by the JCC, not the Jewish Federation, as indicated in the article. I apologize for both errors. melton@HBHA sincerely appreciates the JCC’s willingness to allow the use of its resources to make possible this unique class.

Henri Goettel

Director, melton@HBHA