SHOWING TONIGHT ONLY — The documentary “Finding Hillywood,” is showing at 7:30 p.m. tonight only, Thursday, June 26, at the Glenwood Arts Theater at Metcalf South Shopping Center. The award-winning documentary was produced and directed by Leah
Warshawkski, the granddaughter of Sonia and the late John Warshawski. This is the first feature-length movie Warshawski has directed. She specializes in producing documentary-style video content, television shows and short films in remote parts of the world.
Set amongst the hills of Rwanda, “Finding Hillywood” chronicles one man’s road to forgiveness, his effort to heal his country, and the realization that we all must one day face our past. It’s a unique and endearing phenomenon film about the pioneers of Rwanda’s film industry.
Peter Clothier of the Huffington Post says, “(‘Finding Hillywood’) reminds us that the human spirit is boundless in its capacity for redemption, and that it is our creativity that provides us with the means.” Learn more about the movie at www.findinghillywood.com.
JOHN’S TAILORING TO CLOSE — Speaking of Sonia Warshawski, we learned this week that Sonia has decided to close the tailoring shop at Metcalf South that she and her husband opened in the mid-1980s. She was evicted because the center’s new owners are making plans to tear down the old shopping center for another project. Sonia, a Holocaust survivor who came to Kansas City in 1948, will close her shop on July 2. Her granddaughter Leah tells us they are planning to have a networking event/store sale from 5 to 7 p.m. today (Thursday, June 26.) Then they will go upstairs to watch the movie “Finding Hillywood” mentioned above. Leah and her husband are also doing a documentary about her grandmother called “Big Sonia.” “Big Sonia” is a feature documentary about a tiny women with a huge personality. At 88 years old, Sonia still drives herself into work every day at John’s Tailoring in Metcalf South Mall. To make this documentary happen, the movie makers need funds to complete the production. To make a donation or to learn more, visit www.bigsonia.com.
PRETTY IN PINK — The Natalie M. Foundation will present Pretty in Pink, The Not Quite Senior Prom, at 7:30 p.m. June 28. It will take place at Pinkie Couture, located at 7105 W. 105th Street in Overland Park. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. Tickets include two drink tickets, snacks, live music by the M80s, a silent auction, photo booth and more. The Natalie M. Foundation was founded by Natalie Nearenberg and her daughter Myra Nearenberg serves as its president and executive director. The Natalie M. Foundation raises funds for schools that have been impacted by budget cuts. For more information call 913-469-9088.
RABBI WITH LOCAL TIES RETIRING — Rabbi Stephen Karol, a Kansas City native who got his pre-rabbinical religious education at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah where he became both a Bar Mitzvah and a confirmand, is retiring from Temple Isaiah in Stony Brook, N.Y., in July after serving as its rabbi for 12 years. Prior to that, Rabbi Karol served Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, N.Y., for four years and at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom in Hingham, Mass., for 21 years.
He won’t be taking much time off as he plans to enroll in a Talmud course at the Hebrew Union College in New York City in August. He will also be a student at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University — taking and eventually teaching courses with other retirees.
“I plan on doing some writing, having a blog, spending time with my daughter and son-in-law and my nephew and future niece in New York City, and teaching about Judaism at a couple of churches in the area. I also hope to do some traveling and plenty of relaxing!” writes Rabbi Karol about his future plans.
BBYO ADVISERS WANTED — KC BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) is looking for energetic, outgoing, Jewish adults to volunteer their time as advisers to BBYO chapters here. Advisers must be four years out of high school and at least 21 years old. Advisers function as a liaison between high-school age teens, parents and staff by attending chapter meetings and programs and promoting leadership by inspiring and motivating teen members of the chapter. Advisers serve as positive Jewish role models by sharing observations with the youth, exploring challenges and seeking solutions with (not for) the teens, and encouraging BBYO members to strive for excellence. Training will be provided but past membership in BBYO is helpful. Volunteer time is during the school year (mostly weekends.) Opportunities for travel outside of Kansas City for BBYO conventions and camp staff are available as well. Free memberships to the Jewish Community Center are available for BBYO advisers. Contact Annie Rifkin ( or 913 327 8071) to apply or to get more information.
ISRAELI BAND COMING TO KANZA HALL — Israel’s top reggae band, Zvuloon Dub System, will play at Kanza Hall in Rosanna Square at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 6. Doors open at 7. Tickets are on sale at oneblocksouthkc.com or at the door. According to its website, Zvuloon Dub System in an eight-piece band comprised of some of the cream of the crop of Israel’s underground musicians. The band was formed in 2006 and its name is adopted from one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Its debut album, “Freedom Time,” has been hailed by critics. The album consists of nine previously unreleased original songs, and a “groovy reggae version of ‘Voodoo Chile’ by Jimi Hendrix. It presents the band’s vision of contemporary roots reggae and dub.” Lead singer Gili Yalo was born in Ethiopia and walked through the desert when he was 4 years old on an exhausting journey with his family to Israel, the Promised Land. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in Ramla, but now considers himself a role model to the challenged youth of all origins.
ANOTHER EMMY FOR HARRY — Kansas City native Harry Friedman, the long-time executive producer of “JEOPARDY!” won the Emmy for Outstanding Game Show at the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday. Cousin Gary Friedman tells us that Harry’s mother, Rose Friedman, was a religious school teacher at Congregation Beth Shalom.
The win marks America’s Favorite Quiz Show’s 14th award in this category, the most of any game show in history, and adds to its Guinness World Record title for the most Emmy awards won by a TV game show (31 Emmy Awards overall). It has been nominated for Outstanding Game Show 29 times throughout the show’s 30-year run in syndication.
“I’d like to thank NATAS, as well as everyone who voted for us this year,” said Friedman, who holds the Guinness World Records title for Most Emmy Award nominations for a game show producer. “It’s an honor to receive this award from our peers, and to be nominated alongside the other excellent programs in this category.”
Earlier this year, “JEOPARDY!” host Alex Trebek claimed his own Guinness World Records title for Most Game Show Episodes Hosted by the Same Presenter (One Show).
“JEOPARDY!” America’s Favorite Quiz Show and its host, Alex Trebek, are celebrating 30 years of “answers and questions.” The top-rated quiz show in syndication, “JEOPARDY!” has become a pop culture phenomenon and holds the Guinness World Record for the most Emmy awards won by a TV game show (31 Emmys). In 2014, JEOPARDY! won the inaugural Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Writing for Quiz and Audience Participation; it is also the recipient of a 2011 Peabody Award. JEOPARDY! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company; it is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp. For more information, visit Jeopardy.com.