An icon is lost

We lost a pillar of our community when Rose Evelyn Sporn died on Sept. 21, 2011.

Many people have called me who knew that she had devoted her life to the education of children. Letters from Rabbi Hadas and Rabbi Margolies wrote about her creative work. Many of your grandchildren were enchanted with her “Kiddie Kapers” plays. She put Jewish Women International on the map with her “Dolls For Democrary” program. Through her poetry and songs she left a legacy for President Harry Truman and Thomas Hart Benton. Randall Jessee (WDAF) once wrote her a letter saying: “You have done so much for many people of all faiths and races. You are one of the few people who really serves your city. Many times this is unknown to all but a few closest to you.” Bill Yearout (KCMO) also wrote letters to her, saying “Only one time in so many years does God create a talent like yours ... there will never be another Rose Evelyn Sporn in this century.”

She will be missed.

Sunie Levin
Leawood, Kan.

Oppose a Palestinian state

Editor’s Note: Bob Magoon wishes to share this New Year’s greeting he received with the entire Kansas City Jewish community.

My friends,
I would like to wish you a happy New Year. Here in Israel now it’s a complicated time, as I am sure you know.
The Arabs, who already have 26 Muslim countries, want to have one more country — their 27th country — inside of our very, very tiny country. Imagine what would happen if al-Qaida demanded to have a country created inside the U.S.A. Americans would never, ever agree to such a ridiculous thing.
It is our luck that our prime minister now is Benjamin Netanyahu, who is an excellent speaker. He has explained in a very clear way that (creating another country) is absurd. We already gave Gaza to the Arabs. Many wonderful and Zionist Jews in this area were thrown out of their homes. What did the Arabs do with Gaza? They send rockets from there to Israel and try to kill us, as always.
So the world must understand that Israel is the only Jewish nation. The Muslims have 26 countries. They can build another state there if they want, just not here.
Once again, I wish you all a good and happy year. For Israel, I wish a safe and quiet year.

Tirtsa Roi
Jerusalem, Israel