KOLLEL GETS ITS OWN PLACE — The Community Kollel of Kansas City was formed in 2007 and up until now the group of rabbis — now consisting of Rosh Kollel Rabbi Yehuda Sokoloff, Rabbi Binyomin Davis, Rabbi Elchanan Schulgasser and Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum — wandered throughout the Jewish Community Campus. The organization held classes at the Campus and studied and had office space at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. But now the Kollel has a home of its own. Its new office suite is located at 6400 W. 110th Street, Suite 204, very near the Overland Park Convention Center. The Kollel rabbis are now studying in their own beit midrash, which is home to one of the best Talmudic libraries in the Midwest thanks to a gift from Aaron Robinow. Weekly classes will now take place in the conference room at the new Kollel center. To see a complete schedule of Kollel classes, visit www.kckollel.org.
REACHING OUT FROM WITHIN TO HONOR FRIED — For 30 years, SuEllen Fried has helped prison inmates find ways to change their lives to become better spouses, parents, neighbors and citizens. In 1982 Fried co-founded Reaching Out from Within, along with Greg Musselman (who is now deceased), and since that time thousands of incarcerated men and women have participated in weekly discussions with a curriculum about child abuse, spouse abuse, addiction, anger management and other topics that touch the roots of violence in their lives. Fried will be honored for her 30 years of dedicated service to Reaching Out from Within at 6 p.m. Nov. 15, at the Overland Park Sheraton. For more information regarding tickets, table sponsorships, or the organization visit http://www.rofw.org.
CHANUKAH ART CONTEST — Students in grades K through eight are encouraged to enter the 16th annual Chanukah Art Contest sponsored by The Chronicle and The Chabad House Center. The grand prize is an iPad. Entrants will be divided into two age categories — grades K-4 and 5-8. Students must live in the greater Kansas City or surrounding areas (Lawrence, Topeka and St. Joseph) to be eligible. Photos of the winners will be published in the Dec. 6 edition.
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26. Art projects must be original and relate to the story or celebration of Chanukah. They may be either two- or three-dimensional (for example painting, drawing, craft or sculpture). The top finishers in each of the grade-level categories will be awarded an iTouch. A student is not eligible to win the grand prize two consecutive years.
Entries must include the student’s name, grade, religious school name (if applicable), home address and telephone number. Entries will not be returned. Entries will be available for pickup until the end of the year at Chabad House.
Entries may be dropped off now through Nov. 26 at Chabad House Center of Kansas City: 6201 Indian Creek Drive, Overland Park, KS 66211.
The decision of the judges (staff members of The Chronicle and Chabad House) shall be final.
For questions or more information, visit www.ChabadKC.org or call the Chabad House, 913-649-4852 or email .
WRJ SH’MA SMACKDOWN AT BETH TORAH — In response to the arrest last week of Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center, for leading prayer in a tallit at the Western Wall, the Union of Reform Judaism’s Women of Reform Judaism has stated that, “If government officials in any other corner of the world tried to prevent us from praying in our own voice, wearing our chosen ritual garb or worshipping freely, we would not be silent. We certainly will not tolerate it from Jewish extremists who have been empowered by the government of Israel to wrest control of our holiest site.” As a public response WRJ is suggesting women take part in a Sh’ma Smackdown by creating a video of women (just yourself or a small group) saying the Sh’ma. Send your videos and photos to WRJ at , where they will be compiled and posted on the WRJ Facebook page. After worship tomorrow night, Friday, Nov. 2, Congregation Beth Torah will video every woman who wants to participate in the Sh’ma Smackdown, wearing a tallit and singing the Sh’ma. Beth Torah will send the video to the WRJ, IRAC and the government of Israel.