JEWISH SUPERFAN — I mentioned KU Superfan Matt Rissien in this column a few weeks ago, but I just can’t resist reporting that he hit the big time early this week. Matt, the son of Aaron and Shelley Rissien and a KU senior, has been dubbed KU’s superfan because he’s frequently in the front row of KU games wearing a Jayhawk fuzzy hat. Like many KU fans he traveled to San Antonio, Texas, last week to cheer for KU in the NCAA tournament. Sadly, KU didn’t win the game, and Matt, as usual, was shown on TV many times. But since KU lost for only the third time this year, and the loss ended the KU season, the camera caught Matt when he was a little down. ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel (or one of his writers) caught the moment also and turned it into a comedy bit for the show. He’s not mentioned by name but the show did air footage, and a few jokes at Matt’s expense. Those who are on Facebook can catch a glimpse of the video at http://www.facebook.com?#!/video/video.php?v+960284614939&commer. (I’m sure there’s another way, but I’m not techno savvy enough to figure it out!) Matt, we hope this doesn’t deter you from wearing the hat in the future!
PREPARING FOR PASSOVER — Those charged with cleaning the house for Passover, shopping for seders and eight days of breadless meals and snacks, and cooking and baking those meals would be a lot more frantic and frazzled if not for the annual OU Guide to Passover. A special issue of Jewish Action, the family magazine of the Orthodox Union, this year’s Guide, for 5771/2011, is now available to help facilitate Passover preparation and observance.
There are also many new and interesting features with beautiful photos accompanying them — and the heart of the guide remains the same: listing food and other products that are certified Kosher for Passover by the OU.
The guide has two basic lists: one with items that must have an OU-P appear on the label, such as baking mixes, baked products, beverages, candy, condiments, dairy products, matzah products, meat and poultry, olive oil, snack food, wine and liqueurs; and one with items that do not need a special Passover certification, such as aluminum foil, candles, cleansers, and paper goods, where the regular OU symbol is sufficient for year-round use.
It can be viewed online http://images.ou.org/files/Pesach2011_.pdf. Hard copies can be ordered as well by contacting or calling (212) 613-8125.
HOLOCAUST HAGGADAH — Last week’s issue (March 25) included a story about Rabbi Berhhard Rosenberg’s new Holocaust siddur. This week we learned that the Kansas City native has also published The Rosenberg Holocaust Haggadah. Like the siddur, it’s available free online. The 143-page book can be downloaded from any computer for free and printed anywhere. Prayers are included in Hebrew, Hebrew transliteration and English translation. It can now be found at www.holocausthaggadah.com.
PADDY CHAYEFSKY’S “GIDEON” — At least two local Jewish actors will be taking part in a one-time only reading of Paddy Chayefsky’s “Gideon.” (Chayefsky was Jewish as well.) It will be presented by EARTh (Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre) at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at St. Teresa’s Academy, located at 5601 Wyandotte in Kansas City, Mo. This story, 3,000 years old, becomes the vehicle for exploring nothing less than Man’s relationship with God and God’s with Man. Chayefsky — the only author to win three solo Best Screenplay Academy Awards (for “Marty”, “Hospital,” and “Network”) uses his remarkable sense of language, humor, poetry and irony to examine this intricate web of faith and disbelief, of acceptance and defiance, of free will and destiny. The cast includes Ruth Baum Bigus and Victor Raider-Wexler. Admission is free; donations are accepted and encouraged. For more information contact or call (816) 289-3859.
IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS — I was contacted by a proud parent this week who wanted me to know about the excellent showing of several local Jewish high school students at the Kansas state DECA competition held just before Spring Break in Overland Park. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs who are in high school and college for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. These students, all from Blue Valley North, finished among the top three at the recent competition: First place finishers included Andrew Borowick and his partner, Reid Waldman, in the Financial Team competition (for the third time!), Joel Perowsky in Business Services Marketing and Andrew Grin in Retail Merchandising. Sarah Raider-Wexler and her partner, Hunter Jones, finished second in Hospitality & Tourism Marketing Team competition and Ryan Shapiro and David Tauber finished in third place in Business Law and Ethics Team.