Opinions

By Helene Lotman
Guest Columnist

I recently read a very interesting article, “On Humility” by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The word humility is seen in all Jewish texts; in fact, it is the first step in learning Torah. Moses, the greatest hero of Jewish tradition, is described in the Bible as “a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Rabbi Sacks contends in his article that “humility is the orphaned virtue of our age.” He states, “there is an irrepressible human urge for recognition” and our culture has emerged out of various ways of “making a statement” rather than beliefs confessed in prayer.

The topic of teens and peer pressure is not a new phenomenon. Typically, the discussion focuses on sex, drugs and alcohol. The newest concern now, though, is the issue of observing social distancing. As soon as “Stay at Home” rules were eased, parents began expressing concerns about what type of protocol their teens are observing when getting together with friends. Your children might have every intention to follow the guidelines, but when they get to a gathering with friends, they see that many are not taking safety practices seriously. This is putting teens in a very tough situation. Do they say something and risk coming off as the “enforcer?” Do they stay and worry about their and others’ safety? Do they leave and risk being even more isolated from their friends?

Statement from Rabbinical Association in regard to Anderson County cartoon posting

We, the members of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, express our strong disapproval of the disgraceful cartoon posted on the Anderson County Review’s Facebook page depicting Governor Laura Kelly wearing a mask with a Jewish Star of David on it, next to a drawing of people being loaded onto train cars. Its caption is, “Lockdown Laura says: Put on your mask ... and step onto the cattle car.”

Dear Anderson County

Your paper’s misguided attempt to respond to a requirement meant to save the life of your relatives and friends is full of hate and shows Kansas in a light that is blinding to those of us that know Kansas is better than this. 

Letter to the Chronicle team

I wanted to let you and your staff know how much I enjoyed the I00 YEARS edition of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. I have subscribed to The Chronicle for decades and look forward to it every week.

By Sol Koenigsberg
Guest Columnist

 From 1845 to 1848 Mexico American war was fought following Texas’s 1836 war of independence from Mexico. As a result of its victory, the U.S. annexed Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Washington, and Oregon. Portions of what became Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and Montana were also annexed.

If we forget the Holocaust we are doomed

To me, the Holocaust is much more than a tragic event in Jewish and World history. To me, it was a wake-up call. In the pre-Holocaust era, European Jewry was rapidly looking to assimilate. Jews were holding some of the most prestigious positions in society, ranging from doctors to musicians to professors and even politicians, some Jews were so wrapped up in their social ranks that they did not even identify with their Judaism anymore. It’s said that the Jewish Germans were Germans first then Jews. They were more loyal to their country than their G-d.

Love and friendship

Marvin Fremerman’s entertaining article in which he mentions how much he enjoyed spending time with his older brother Bernie (who recently passed away) and Bernie’s friends at the old Center on Linwood touched a poignant memory for me.  Marvin forgot one of Bernie’s friends, my very handsome, funny, caring and intelligent uncle. Mel Planzer, younger brother of my father Ben Planzer. Only seven years younger than my Uncle Mel, I spent quite a bit of time at my grandmother Clara Planzer’s home, with Uncle Mel and his friends who dropped by, Milton Firestone, Ned Kane, Harold Klopper, Jack Krashin and Steve Price.