Listening Post - Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

As Passover draws to a close, we remember that 66 years ago, in 1952, six local Jewish GIs gathered in Seoul, Korea, to take part in a Passover service in celebration of the festival of freedom. The six men got together at the Jewish Community Campus for a new photo in March of 2012, which was published in the April 5, 2012, edition of the Chronicle. All told, they believe 800 Jewish soldiers were driven to the service in Seoul. Only a service was held, they were not served a Passover meal. Sadly, two of these six men have passed away since the 2012 photo was taken — Abe Levine in 2015 and Jack Hirsekorn in 2017. In both photos, 1952 at top and 2012 below it, the men are shown in this order: Back row: Abe Levine, Stan Silverman, Bob Hoffman and Jack Hirsekorn. Seated in front are Marvin Denton and Mel Cosner.

WALKS TO REMEMBER — Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Kansas is hosting “We Walk to Remember” on Thursday, April 12, starting at the AEPi house at 1116 Indiana St. in Lawrence, Kansas, in commemoration of the Holocaust. Members of the Kansas City Jewish community are invited to join the members of AEPi as they “walk the distance that many of our people had to walk in those horrendous moments during the Holocaust.” The events begin at 6 p.m. and concludes after the walk at the Kansas Union. For information, contact AEPi President Spencer Rosenak at or call 816-344-3777.

HATS OFF TO MOTHERS LUNCHEON HONORS ‘BIG SONIA’ — Sonia Warshawski is one of six mothers Open Options is honoring May 3 at its 15th Annual Hats Off to Mothers Luncheon. Open Options is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving people with disabilities in the Greater Kansas City area since 1977. The luncheon recognizes mothers who have demonstrated the remarkable ability to balance family life, personal achievement and service to our community. It will take place at the InterContinental Hotel on the Plaza. Reception and raffle begins at 11 a.m. following by the luncheon at noon. Hats are encouraged! Proceeds from this event have raised more than $1 million dollars to help support life without limits for people with an array of disabilities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. For more information or to register, call 816-983-2204.

SHOWING AT THE TIVOLI — The movie “1945” opens at the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow, Friday, April 6. On a summer day in 1945, an Orthodox man and his grown son return to a village in Hungary while the villagers prepare for the wedding of the town clerk’s son. The townspeople — suspicious, remorseful, fearful, and cunning — expect the worst and behave accordingly. The town clerk fears the men may be heirs of the village’s deported Jews and expects them to demand their illegally acquired property back.

Director Ferenc Török paints a complex picture of a society trying to come to terms with the recent horrors they’ve experienced, perpetrated, or just tolerated for personal gain. A superb ensemble cast, lustrous black and white cinematography, and historically detailed art direction contribute to an eloquent drama that reiterates Thomas Wolfe’s famed sentiment: “You can’t go home again.” Hungarian with English subtitles. Go to tivolikc.com for showtimes.