AM YISRAEL CHAI — Some people never get a chance to celebrate the completion of a new Torah. I have been privileged to witness such a momentous occasion three times in the past four years — each time it has been an exciting and heartwarming experience. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Sunday’s Torah Completion Ceremony at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at KU did not disappoint and the very cold weather did not keep approximately 150 people including KU students and parents, KU dignitaries such as Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, the mayor of Lawrence and a large group of KU Chabad supporters from attending. As Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said, the completion of this Torah, which took seven months, tells the story of the vibrancy of the KU community. The Torah was written in Jerusalem and students and members of the community had opportunities to write letters all over campus and feel proud as they were reminded by the rabbi that, “One letter is as you have written the whole thing.” The Tiechtels have been in Lawrence for nine years now and have seen the Jewish community at KU grow by leaps and bounds, and he noted he was beyond delighted to share the day with everyone, also saying it will be a moment we will always treasure and remember. Indeed, it may be the one and only time I will ever see a school mascot, in this case Big Jay, help as the scribe, Rabbi Berel Sosover, writes a letter in the Torah! There was truly a lot of love, excitement and ruach in Lawrence on Sunday. Mazel tov!
POETRY READING — Poetry by Tina Hacker will be featured at 8 p.m. March 13 at the Riverfront Readers Series at the Writer’s Place, 3607 Pennsylvania in Kansas City, Mo. Hacker says the Riverfront Reading Series has been around since 1986 and the Writers Place is part of the Midwest Center for the Literary Arts. She will be reading poems from her newest book, “Listening to Night Whistles,” as well as new poems and others that are not included in the book. “As always, I include poems about the Jewish experience in America, the Holocaust and some fun poems about golems.” She will be reading aloud as well as selling and signing her two books.
DID YOU KNOW? — In the category of “you learn something new every day,” I have the VaadKC to thank for one of the most interesting tidbits I learned last week. In its regular e-blast, the Vaad has been introducing its followers to interesting and unusual products that bear the VaadKC kosher certification symbol. I learned that Robbie Fantastic Flexibles, owned by Irv Robinson, a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, is one of those companies. In fact the day I read it I probably had one of Robbie’s products in my refrigerator! Robbie opened its doors for business in 1970 with a simple yet innovative idea for that time — using perforated film to wrap produce. Today the company is still exploring and producing new top-quality packaging products. Based in Lenexa, Robbie designed the Hot N Handy® Pouch in response to the growing rotisserie chicken market. This innovative design has been an instant recipe for success in supermarkets, convenience stores, food service and more.
Perhaps you didn’t know that not only does the chicken require supervision, so does the packaging. The partnership between Robbie and VaadKC guarantees the chicken you carry home meets kosher standards inside and out.
MAZEL TOV — In our last Jewish Life Magazine, we gave you an update to the Boresow family. It’s time to update the clan’s size once again. Check out this week’s celebrations page to meet Harriet and Don’s 52nd grandchild.{/mprestriction}