A HEARTY MAZEL TOV — We send much deserved congratulations to Rabbi Scott White, my friend since religious school days way back when, on the honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree he received last week from the Jewish Theological Seminary in recognition of his 30 years in the rabbinate.
Here’s what they had to say about Rabbi White during the ceremony:
“In your native Kansas City, Missouri, you nurture connectedness within your congregation, across the larger community, and with Israel.
“You held pulpits in Rhode Island and North Carolina before returning to Kanas City in 1994 to join the faculty of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Overland Park, Kansas, where you taught for 10 years while rotating between two weekend pulpits. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}For a decade, you have been spiritual leader of Congregation Ohev Sholom in Prairie Village, Kansas, whose membership strengthens itself through the minhag of sharing meals, honoring those in military service, expressing mazel tovs monthly, and searching for the divine. You have served rabbis, organized a dozen missions to Israel, and regularly taught community-sponsored courses on Israel and the Mideast. You also cofounded, under the aegis of Habitat for Humanity, the House That Abraham Built, in which Jews, Christians and Muslims work side by side building homes — five so far — for needy families.
“You attend the needs of Jews with the love one has for his home.”
We are told during his visit to New York he had many opportunities to eat delicious kosher food and spent time schmoozing with old classmates. As he reported to his congregation upon his return, he enjoyed saying a Shehechiyanu “for the privilege of having one of the times of my life!”
THE J OPENS POOL ONE WEEK EARLY — Don’t wait for Memorial Day weekend to kick off your summer. One of the outdoor pools at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, The J, is opening early this year.
The 50-meter pool and the Alef Bet Cafe, featuring health food options, will open Saturday, May 16, from noon to 6:30 p.m. The Zero-Depth pool will open the following weekend like most pools in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The J is opening its outdoor pool one week early to make up for being closed on Sunday, May 25, in observance of Shavout. Both its 50-meter and Zero-Depth entry pools will be open from noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Monday, May 25, Memorial Day.
In additional to recreational swimming, The J also offers the largest Masters Swim program in the area that’s free with membership and a swim team for children ages 5 to 18. Membership to The J’s swimming pools also includes membership to Fitness & Sports, as well as other community center amenities.
For more information, visit thejkc.org or call 913-327-8000.{/mprestriction}