JWV CELEBRATES UNIVERSITY WITH COMPLETION OF TRIBUTE BOOK — MO-Kan Post 605 of the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) observes its 70th anniversary this year. To celebrate the occasion the Post is hosting an event at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, at the Jewish Community Campus in the Multi Activity Room.
In conjunction with the observance, the book “For Those Who Served Our Country: A Tribute to Greater Kansas City’s Jewish Veterans” will be available. The book includes historical information about Kansas City and its Jewish community, the military history of our country and the names of almost 5,000 veterans who have served or who are currently serving.
Steven Schorr, commander of the Post during this past year, observed, “It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of a group of people who are in this book.”
“It has been a wonderful experience to participate in this magnificent work. We are honoring all of the veterans who have served our country,” stated Ron Minkin.
Sheldon Turetsky, also a former Post commander, said, “I am so very proud and pleased with the quality of this publication.”
On behalf of the Braeman Family, Roslyn Braeman Payne, who spearheaded this project, also added her congratulations to the Post on its 70th anniversary.
For the book project, the JWV partnered with the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City (JCF). Josh Stein, JCF’s director of philanthropy, said the Foundation was delighted to be a partner to this project with the Post. Proceeds from sales will go into a special endowment fund at the Foundation to support the activities of local veterans through MO-KAN Post 605.
An online preview of the book is available on the Foundation’s website, jcfkc.org/vets.
The price of the book is $25 ($20 for veterans and their spouses). Checks should be made to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City or payment can be made by credit card on the Foundation website.
For more information contact Bill Greenberg at or the Post phone at the JCC, 913-981-8892.
BEST SWIM LESSONS — After tabulating hundreds of votes, KC Parent magazine recently announced the businesses its readers chose as KC Parent Family Favorite 2018. There are multiple winners in each category. The J’s swim lessons were one of three voted best in the area for Favorite Swim Lessons. Needless to say, a J spokesman said, “we are so excited and proud of our staff.”
LONGTIME SOCIAL JUST PROJECT CONCLUDES — After 25 years of bringing dinners to SAVE Home nearly every Sunday Night, Congregation Beth Torah’s long-running social justice project has come to an end.
According to Beth Torah’s Lauren Aaronson, who spearheaded this project, SAVE Home opened in 1986 as the first AIDS-specific hospice in Missouri to provide a place where those with AIDS could die with dignity and care. Beth Torah volunteers brought dinner to SAVE Home for the first time on May 9, 1993. As AIDS became a more manageable chronic disease, SAVE Home transitioned to a 24/7 group home for eight people with HIV/AIDS who had higher needs than independent, permanent supportive housing could provide.
For many years, the majority of funding for SAVE Home came from a competitive grant from HUD, applied for through the Kansas City Continuum of Care. In January, SAVE, Inc., was notified this funding would not continue and the staff and board of directors of SAVE, Inc., set about making new transition plans for SAVE Home. Alternative housing has been arranged for the remaining SAVE Home residents.
Aaronson reports SAVE Home will close temporarily in late June as it transitions to a drop-in shelter for young adults, aged 18-25, who identify as LGBTQ. While 7 percent of all U.S. youth identify as LBGTQ, 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. As it gets up and running, SAVE Home will be the first and only facility of its kind in Kansas City to offer an entire continuum of housing options and services for LGBTQ transition-aged youth from street outreach to permanent supportive housing.
Once SAVE Home re-opens, Beth Torah may again explore how the Reform congregation might help SAVE, Inc., with this new effort. Until then, kol hakavod — many thanks for a job well done to Aaronson and the Beth Torah volunteers for their work these past 25 years feeding the residents of SAVE Home.
‘LIFE IN A JAR’ — Remember ‘Life in a Jar,’ the play that depicts Irina Sendler’s heart-stopping rescue mission to smuggle children out of the ghetto and into the safety of adoptive families, convents and orphanages during World War II? The teacher who brought Sendler’s story to the public’s attention, Norman Conard, was honored this week with the 2018 Irena Sendler Memorial Award.
Conard is a renowned educator who together with his high school students, brought Sendler’s untold story to public view, illuminating her historical importance and enabling the world to celebrate her in her own lifetime and in perpetuity. Conrad is the first American to receive the award.
Sendler was a Polish social worker who saved several hundreds of Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation, but who lived in total obscurity after World War II until being rediscovered through Conard’s student history assignment. The award in her name honors Polish citizens committed to strengthening Polish-Jewish relations and preserving Polish Jewish heritage and Holocaust memory. Conard was chosen as a special recipient to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sendler’s passing and to honor her life’s work, since it was his assignment — combined with the intrepid work of his students — that brought her daring efforts out of the shadows.
“It is an honor to accept an award from Taube Philanthropies and the Ministry of Culture,” Conard said. “The life of Irena Sendler is one of great heroism and bravery. Getting to know this wonderful person was life-changing.”
In the fall of 1999, Conard encouraged high school students from Uniontown, Kansas, (population 247) to research Sendler’s work and present their project to the National History Day program.
Since the play was developed, it has been performed almost 400 times throughout the world, including at least one time in Kansas City, was adapted into feature and documentary films and released as a bestselling book.
WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS — The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle wants your photos.
The Chronicle welcomes submitted pictures of family gatherings, holiday observances, milestone events, personal accomplishments and just about anything depicting life in the Jewish community.
We’ll publish submitted pictures as space allows in the weekly “Snapshot” section.
The Chronicle makes it easy to get your picture in print. High-resolution pictures are preferred. All pictures will be reviewed and approved based on quality, content, timeliness and space limitations. Be sure to identify all persons in the picture and background information is always appreciated.
Email submissions to .