Rabbi Doug Alpert, spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Ami, will serve a second term as president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City. Rabbi Javier Cattapan of Congregation Beth Torah was also elected to serve a second term as vice president. Newly elected to the office of secretary-treasurer is Rabbi Sarah Smiley of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Rabbi David Glickman is immediate past president.
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City includes Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Reform rabbis and serves as the rabbinic voice in and for the Jewish community and the larger Greater Kansas City community. It guides the community in making religious decisions for community events, supports the rabbis in their personal and professional growth and develops and nourishes collegial relationships within the Association.
“Our rabbis set aside denominational differences and work in concord for the betterment of our Jewish community at large,” stated Rabbi Alpert. “I have discovered that our Greater Kansas City Rabbinical Association is unique in our ability to work cooperatively across denominational boundaries. We feel this is a real benefit for our entire Jewish community, and something of which to be proud.”
The Rabbinical Association was incorporated June 17, 2002. The Association existed as an unincorporated, entirely voluntary group for about 25 years prior to that time. The first regular gatherings date to the mid-1970s. Over the years, the rabbis in Greater Kansas City have established a pattern of community-wide collaboration and have been called upon to provide information, guidance and leadership on both Jewish and interfaith issues. Today, the rabbis meet monthly, functioning as a board of directors, dealing with issues brought to them by the community and issues and programs of their own initiative.
The Rabbinical Association sponsors several community-wide religious and educational events, including holiday programs for Selichot, Tisha b’Av, Purim and a second night of Passover seder. The Rabbinical Association offers a year-long community-wide course: Judaism for Conversion Candidates, a daylong program of Jewish learning — the community-wide Day of Discovery and a community Professional Development Day for local Jewish educators. The Rabbinical Association has partnered with Jewish Family Services in creating the Community Mental Health Coalition and JFS Food Pantry and supports and participates in community programs such as Yom HaShoah, Yom HaAtzmaut and the Jewish Arts Festival.
Over the next few months, the Rabbinical Association will be offering the following community programs.
Community Tisha b’AV observance
A community-wide Tisha b’Av observance and service will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Congregation Beth Shalom. The evening begins at 9:45 p.m. with a Tisha b’Av Ma’ariv service and will be followed by a d’var Torah and reading of Eicha. This is a meaningful service with beautiful, mournful melodies, some engaging teaching, and a time for communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. Participating in this observance are Rabbis David Glickman, Rabbi Beryl Padorr, Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick and Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda.
The community Tisha b’Av observance will continue on Sunday, Aug. 11, at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The movie “The Long Way Home” will be shown at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion with rabbis. A Mincha service will begin at 8 p.m. led by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott. A 10-minute Torah lesson, also led by Rabbi Grussgott, and a Ma’ariv service will follow. A light break fast will take place following the conclusion of the fast at 8:51p.m.
Community-wide course: “Judaism for Conversion Candidates”
Registration is underway for this year’s yearlong course, “Judaism for Conversion Candidates” beginning Aug. 15. Classes will be taught on a rotating basis by rabbis from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements and is intended to acquaint those considering conversion to Judaism with what it means to live Jewishly. Each student is required to secure a congregational rabbinic sponsor and meet the conversion requirements developed by their rabbinic sponsor. Classes are held on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. The location rotates among the synagogues. Students learn about Jewish holidays, home celebrations, life-cycle observances, rituals and Jewish prayer, Torah, Judaism’s view of God, and about our religion’s movements. Each class includes a 30-minute Hebrew component. Funding for this program is provided by The Menorah Heritage Foundation. An orientation session is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Jewish Community Campus.
Day of Discovery to kick off year of Jewish Learning
Learn, study and discover some of the community’s finest Jewish educators, rabbis and cantors who will lead sessions on a wide range of topics at this year’s Day of Discovery Sunday, Aug. 25. More than 30 classes will be offered throughout the day. Registration and a continental breakfast take place from 8:45 – 9:30 a.m., study sessions begin at 9:30 and lunch will be served from 12:15 –1:20 p.m. A dessert reception with door prizes will conclude the day. A listing of classes and information related to the day can be found the end of July at kcrabbis.org.
Community Selichot Program and Service
The month of Elul, prior to the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Day season, is a time for soul-searching and reflection as we prepare oneself for the Days of Awe. It is during this time that we observe Selichot, which translates as “forgiveness,” on the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah. The Selichot program and service will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Congregation Beth Torah. The evening includes a dessert reception, Havdalah, a program to be announced and a moving Selichot service that begins at 10:10 p.m. Through readings, meditations and beautiful music focusing on the themes of our fall holiday season, we reflect on the past year and how we will affect teshuvah for ourselves in the year to come. Be part of this transition as we change Torah covers and prepare our souls to welcome 5780. A community chorus is forming and those who would like to participate should contact Lezlie Zucker, music coordinator at Beth Torah, .
To learn more about the Rabbinical Association and the programs and services it offers, visit kcrabbis.org. For questions or additional information about the Rabbinical Association, contact Annette Fish, administrator/program director, or 913-327-4622.