DELIGHTFUL EVENING — It looked like everyone, including co-chairs David Porter and Patricia Werthan Uhlmann, were having a wonderful time Sunday night as the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy celebrated its 45th anniversary. Two members of the original graduating class were in attendance — Debbie Sosland-Edelman and Harriet Puritz Almaleh. We were all treated to a video featuring some of the founders where we heard the hit line of the evening, delivered by Blanche Sosland. She reported that when they met with Hyman Brand for the very first time seeking his support, he called the group a bunch of “young punks.” Brand was so impressed with those “young punks” that in two weeks he raised enough money for the school to operate its first year.
ISRAEL ADVOCACY — The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has launched a new Facebook page that focuses solely on Israeli advocacy. Israeli emissary Lilach Nissim said friends of the page will be able to learn more about events that are happening, ask questions and get answers, and write their opinions freely. The page will also have facts about Israel and list a variety of sources for additional information. The page is called Advocacy KC Israel.
KOSHER FOR PASSOVER — I got a call earlier this week from a reader informing me that a recipe for Chocolate Chiffon Cake in the April 8 edition provided by JTA News & Features is not kosher for Passover because its ingredients include baking powder. So I did a quick online search and found out that while it would seem that baking powder would not be kosher for Passover, there are actually four brands certified with the OU-P available this year. Another article notes that there are many written debates as to whether or not Passover baking powder and baking soda should be permitted. If you search online you’ll find a variety of answers. So my best (uneducated) advice regarding the use of kosher for Passover baking powder is to ask your rabbi!
SPECIAL THANKS — Marcus Cain, the curator of the Kansas City Jewish Museum of Contemporary Art Epsten Gallery|Museum Without Walls went out of his way to help us find an image for this week, our annual Passover edition. We thank Marcus for all the extra effort he put forth on our behalf!
KOLLEL CAKES — I wish I would have known that the Community Kollel of Kansas City was selling kosher for Passover flourless chocolate cakes before I found out that pre-orders completely sold out in two days! They are being baked by Marsha Pener Johnston. Stay tuned as they will be selling custom made kosher cakes for Shavuot as another fundraiser. In the meantime if you want more information about this fundraiser or you wish to reserve a Shavuot cake, you can contact Rabbi Binyomin Davis at .
HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION PLANNED — The annual State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration Service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, May 2, at the Kansas State Historical Museum in Topeka. This year’s theme is “The Holocaust: Justice and Accountability,” and the keynote speaker will be Hildegard Trout, a Holocaust survivor. Musical performances will be provided by the Washburn University Choir and cellist Steven Elish. They will perform excerpts from the “Holocaust Cantata.” The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Kansas City Holocaust Commission. Seating is limited to the first 200 and the service lasts approximately 75 minutes. For more information, call (785) 272-6040.
JAPAN AID — Japan continues to be shaken by earthquakes and aftershocks and Jewish organizations continue to help the Japanese people. IsraAID/FIRST has now sent three medical teams to work there, the most recent one delivering urgently needed medicines to the Fuji Toranomon Hospital. IsraAID is a coordinating body of Israeli and Jewish organizations and other interested parties based in Israel who are active in development and relief work and are concerned about global issues.
JDC officials estimates they will raise $2 million which will provide emergency relief in the disaster stricken region. JDC has provided food, water, hygiene products, blankets, tents, emergency school supplies, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. It is also working in conjunction with IRC, UNICEF, Afya, Chabad and the IDF, supporting the field hospital in Minamisanriku through the purchase of medical equipment and life-saving drugs.