After eight years in Kansas City, one of the original rabbis of the rejuvenated KC Kollel is moving on. In late July Rabbi Binyomin Davis, his wife Gevura and their five children will move to Philadelphia where the Davises will work for Etz Chaim, a Jewish education and engagement organization Rabbi Davis described as very similar to the KC Kollel. Rabbi Davis will be serving as the managing director. Gevura Davis will also be taking a professional leadership role in the organization. She has been associated with the K.I. Fred Devinki Eitz Chaim Religious School for the past four years, serving the past two years as its director.
The Kollel board, led by Jay Robinow, is currently searching for a new couple to replace the Davises.
“Rabbi Davis and Gevura have had a broad and deeply valuable impact in our community. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}They will not be replaced easily. We hope to successfully continue the momentum that they have generated. They have been great personal friends of our family and a tremendous asset to our community,” Robinow said.
Rabbi Davis said his family has made many wonderful friends in Kansas City.
“Hopefully we have been able to share our passion and love for Jewish learning and living. We would like to thank the KC Kollel board for giving us the opportunity to partner with them during this time,” Rabbi Davis said.
“We also want to thank all of you, the participants and supporters who have helped us build the Kollel into the thriving and successful institution the community enjoys. We do hope that we will be able to continue our deep friendships with so many people across the community into future years. It has truly been an honor serving the KC Kollel and the KC community.”
Gevura Davis said she has enjoyed their time here and will treasure the friendships they have made forever.
“We really feel we have grown and developed as people so much while we’ve been here, and our kids have loved it,” she said.
She is especially grateful to K.I. and the time she spent with the traditional congregation’s young students.
“It’s so special watching kids grow up and grow into their Jewish identity. One of the things I treasure the most is watching kids who I have taught since they were little having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah and joining the Jewish people. I am grateful to K.I., and all the parents, for trusting me to teach their children,” she continued.
K.I. President Craig Caplan said the synagogue wishes the Davises the best of luck in their new endeavors.
“I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for all that Gevura Davis has done for K.I. while serving as director of the K.I. Fred Devinki Eitz Chaim Religious School. Her guidance and connection to our children will be sorely missed,” Caplan said.
He added that the congregation will be forming a search committee immediately to find a suitable replacement for Gevura Davis.
“We hope to have some exciting news to pass on to the community once we have found our new director,” he concluded.{/mprestriction}