SHALOM SHIRTS — While world-renowned artist Mordechai Rosenstein was in town recently, he and Greg Azorsky decided to collaborate on a T-shirt for Azorsky’s Meshugge Shirts line. The Shalom shirts, featuring letters in light blue, orange, red and gold on a black shirt, will be sold at the URJ biennial in December in San Diego. The plan is for both Meshugge Shirts and Rosenstein to sell these shirts in other places as well. Down the road there will be several different versions of the Shalom shirt in various colors as well. Here Azorsky (left) and Rosenstein work on a prototype of the shirt. You can get a closer look at http://www.meshuggeshirts.com.
GOLDEN BLINTZ BRUNCH — Mazel tov to our friends at the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation who will be celebrating their 50th Blintz Brunch on Sunday, Nov. 3. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features a bake sale, silent auction and delicious blintzes. Check it out at 917 Highland Drive in Lawrence!
ARTIST OPENING — Artist Gerry Trilling opens her new show, “In Site,” at City Ice Arts, 2015 Campbell Street in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Nov. 1. The opening reception takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and an artist talk will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. The show runs through Dec. 7. “In Site” offers a shift in scale. More information about the artist and the exhibition can be found at www.cityicearts.com or by calling 816-820-4105.
SECOND ANNUAL JAZZBEATS — Several Jewish people are involved in the 2nd Annual JazzBEATS for Brunch and Jazz this Sunday, Nov. 3. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at the American Jazz Museum and will provide a sampling of Kansas City’s top jazz performers and a brunch. Performing this year will be Millie Edwards and Mark Lowrey. Proceeds from this event will benefit research through the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and support its Vision of Progress goal to double survival rate for pancreatic cancer by 2020. For more information, to purchase tickets or to make a donation visit http://www.pancurekc.org/.
KANSAS CITY BRANDEIS CHAPTER DISBANDS — After 61 years, the Kansas City Chapter of Brandeis National Committee (formerly Brandeis University National Women’s Committee) has disbanded. This chapter was the oldest and the last in the Midwest to do so. The causes cited are changing demographics and dwindling membership and participation.
“We had celebrated our 60th birthday a year ago; it was a big gala. Our chapter was [almost] as old as the state of Israel,” said Linda Lessner, former BNC president.
The biggest chapter fundraiser for Brandeis University used to be the Brandeis Book Sale, which ended in 2005. The next biggest fundraiser became “Movie Nite Out,” which has been held every year on Dec. 24 for the past 20 years. However, unlike the book sale, this is not the end of the annual movie.
“The spirit of the group will live on as Beth Shalom Sisterhood continues the longtime fundraiser, now named ‘A Nite at the Movies.’ ” Lessner said. “Many former Brandeis women, who are also Beth Shalom Sisterhood members, will bring their expertise to this event.”
Proceeds from “A Nite at the Movies” will go to Beth Shalom Sisterhood projects, both within the synagogue and throughout the community at large.
“We’re involved with the soup kitchen, we’re involved in Ronald McDonald’s Family Room, so basically it’s all of our Beth Shalom Sisterhood projects,” Lessner said.