MEETING THE VP — Proud grandmother Adela Dagerman was in Washington, D.C., with her family last weekend to celebrate the graduation from Georgetown University of her granddaughter, Michelle Hammer, the daughter of Steve and Linda Hammer. The family gathered for lunch on Saturday afternoon at Café Milano, a Georgetown restaurant. Vice President Joe Biden was there also, celebrating his niece’s graduation. When Adela heard the veep was in the restaurant too, she took Michelle’s hand and led her off to meet the vice president, waltzing right past the secret service agents. Adela told the vice president that she was a survivor of Auschwitz, lost 72 members of her family during the Holocaust and wanted an invitation to the White House. He asked for her information, which she provided, and he said he would take care of it. She expects that invitation will arrive in the mail shortly!
MATCHING DONATIONS FOR JOPLIN — Many, many organizations — Jewish and non-Jewish — are finding ways to help the people of Joplin as you will see in the article in today’s issue. One effort that ends today, Friday, May 27, is sponsored by Spin! Neapolitan Pizza, which is co-owned by Gail and Richard Lozoff, Patrons at the four area SPIN! locations will be offered the opportunity to add a donation to their checks to assist victims of the devastating tornado. SPIN! will match the total donated up to $2,500. The contributions will assist Heart to Heart, which already has deployed its Mobile Medical Clinic along with volunteer medical professionals and supplies.
GIRL SCOUTS HELP MITZVAH GARDEN KC — A Girl Scout troop at Sunrise Point Elementary school, of which two of its 10 members are Jewish (Jordan Kaseff and Sophie Bell) have donated two wheelbarrows and 50 recycle tote bags to the KC Mitzvah Garden. The wheelbarrows were used during The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Mitzvah Days and the bags will be used to collect produce later in the season. Mitzvah Garden KC co-chair Ken Sonnenschein said while the garden has various benefactions, this is the first donation from a Girl Scout troop. Sonnenschein said he hopes the generosity of the troop will inspire others to get “more involved in growing good in Mitzvah Garden KC.”
NEW HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL — Next Sunday, June 5, Kehilath Israel Synagogue will dedicate a new memorial in commemoration of those members of the synagogue whose family members were murdered or suffered during the Holocaust. The dedication will take place at the Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery at 19th and Blue Ridge Boulevard at noon.
The monument was designed by Ed Tranin and the project was spearheaded by Sam Devinki. The monument will be engraved with names of those who perished during the Shoah. It will also have a special section to memorialize KI members who were rescuers serving in the U. S. Armed Forces during World War II.
The ceremony will conclude with the unveiling of the Holocaust monument. The monument is especially significant to those people who have no graves of their family members to visit. If you wish to attend and need a ride, please contact Allegra Shanberg at KI, at (913) 642-1880. The community is invited to attend the dedication.
CORRECTION
The correct number to call for reservations for “100 Voices” at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre is (913) 327-8196.