REMEMBERING MORTON SOSLAND — For the second time in less than a week, the Kansas City Jewish community prepared to say goodbye to a generous supporter of the Jewish and general communities.
A past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City (1970-1973), Morton Sosland is characterized in Sol Koenigsberg’s book “Challenges & Growth: The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, 1968-1989” as being greatly sought after to serve in a variety of nonprofit leadership roles throughout his life. The book describes Sosland as conscientious, responsible and took his commitments to the Jewish and general communities seriously.
Sosland was profiled in The Chronicle in 2011, prior to receiving the Jewish Community Relations Bureau’s Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award for his commitment to justice, his selfless service to the community, his civil leadership and vision, and his devotion to making Kansas City a better place for all. At the time, Sosland said, “I was taught as a child that I had obligations beyond running a business,” referring to Sosland Publishing Co. “We were brought up to know there was more to life than just yourself and your family and you had to reach out and help other people.”
In that article, his niece, Debbie Sosland-Edelman, noted he was generous with his time and resources and was probably best known for his work at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In the Jewish community, he was instrumental in achieving a large increase in donations to the Jewish Federation in response to the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He also helped his father raise money to build the Beth Shalom building at 95th Street and Wornall Road in Kansas City, Missouri, which was closed in 2011 and sold in 2013. It has since been demolished. He also served as president and/or chairman of Jewish Family and Children’s Services and the Jewish Community Foundation.
JCRB Board Chair Jason Krakow and Executive Director Gavriela Geller called Sosland a man of vital energy and tremendous business acumen.
“One of Morton’s strongest focuses was assuring the quality and quantity of the U.S. food supply and solving the world’s food supply problems,” Krakow and Geller said in a statement. “He felt that hunger was an injustice, and justice needed to be done. Morton Sosland has been a true friend, a wonderful example and a wise advisor to JCRB for many years, and he will be greatly missed. We offer our deep condolences to his family. May his memory be for a blessing.”
See the complete obituary on Page 22.
FAITH CLUBS — Faith Clubs in the Kansas City area are looking for more Jewish men and women to become members. Faith Clubs are based on the book “The Faith Club” published after 9/11 and written by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Groups are small, designed to accommodate three Muslims, three Christians and three Jews. Several groups in Kansas City are trying to find Jewish friends and are currently meeting with just three Muslims and three Christians. Paula Becker says that she and Julie Kaplan will attest that it’s “one of the most interesting and rewarding things we do.” If you’re interested in learning more, call Becker at 816-260-9997 or Kaplan at 816-588-4476.
YIDDISH GROUP SPECIAL GUEST — Every week, a group of Yiddish enthusiasts meets at Congregation Beth Torah. In two weeks, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, they will welcome a special guest, Alan Edelman. He will speak about “The American Jewish Paradox.” The discussion will cover the difficulties, or tsuris (Yiddish for troubles), facing American Jewish institutions and what can be done to connect members of the Jewish community with Yiddishkeit and Jewish life. RSVPs are not required but preferred to . Participants often bring lunch to the weekly gatherings. People at all levels welcome to join the group.