“Kansas City should not only be the center on the United States map, but also a major center on the American Jewish map,” said Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, when describing his idea to start a Jewish Scholar in Residence Series at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. “Bringing the biggest rabbinic names to town will help to showcase how special our community is to those leaders … while giving us the chance to learn from the greatest leaders of our time.”
The Caviar Family Jewish Scholar in Residence Series begins on Nov. 9, when both Rabbi Avi Weiss and Dr. Ron Wolfson come to Kansas City. Most scholar-in-residence events will be held on weekends. They include Dr. Michelle Friedman (mental health issues) in December; Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, (founder of CLAL) in January; Rabbi Robby Berman (Halachic organ donation), February; Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin (rabbi of Efrat), February; Rabbi Steven Exler, March; Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, (UCLA Hillel Director) April; Rabbi Saul Berman (Jewish law professor at Columbia University), May/Shavout.
Each of these speakers has made a tremendous impact on the Jewish community throughout the United States. Rabbi Yanklowitz chose them because they “have the extremely rare combination of deep Torah wisdom, strong public leadership, creativity and a deep wrestling with contemporary moral problems.”
“They represent,” he said, “ the new ‘Open Orthodoxy’ that is capturing minds and hearts across the country as they address the great moral and spiritual challenges and opportunities of our time with the synergy of the most traditional and most cutting-edge approaches.”
The series could not have been developed without the help of Arnold and Carol Caviar and family.
“This endowment is just another example of the Caviars deep commitment to fostering Jewish life in our community in the most significant way,” said Rabbi Yanklowitz. “There is no better investment in the Jewish community than in the highest level of Jewish education.”
Arnold and Carol Caviar are equally enthusiastic about the rabbi and the series.
“We wanted to do something good for the community and for Kehilath Israel,” Arnold Caviar said. “Rav Shmuly reached out to me with the idea, as did (K.I. President) Steve Osman. It was important to both of them. I could see how bringing these well-known individuals to Kansas City would bring K.I. to the forefront of the community.”
“The Caviar Family is to be thanked for providing a gift to the entire community,” said Osman, “by making these world famous scholars available for everyone to enjoy.”
While the programs will all be held at Kehilath Israel, they are meant to be for the entire Jewish community.
“All of our learning programs and Shabbatons are open to the entire community,” said Rabbi Yanklowitz, “because the main goal here is to build the Kansas City Jewish community, create bridges in the community, deepen our collective discourse, and spark new flames for passionate action.”
“Over a seven-month period the series will bring nine of the most forward-thinking people in the world to our city,” said Osman. “They will be speaking on a variety of topical subjects that will amaze and challenge everyone in the highest Jewish tradition of pursuing knowledge. Everyone should mark their calendars so they can attend as many events as possible.”
The plan is to create an annual program that brings the greatest Jewish minds and leaders to town. With this in mind, a program is already in the works for the fall of 2013 with Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky.
K.I. board members Joy Koesten and Gina Goldstein are chairing the committee that is planning the activities surrounding each scholar’s visit. There will be special programs and meals associated with each speaker that are open to the community and will be announced in advance. Call K.I. for more information at 913-642-1880.