Listening Post — 10-10-2019

A reception was held last week honoring Judge Howard F. Sachs (right) upon the 40th anniversary of his joining the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 25, 1979. He assumed senior status in October 1992. Andrew Starr (left) was among those who attended the event.

PORTION OF ‘LEST WE FORGET’ EXHIBITON EXTENDED   —  While the “Lest We Forget” exhibition at the National WWI Museum and Memorial featuring 70 portraits of Holocaust survivors closed Oct. 6, an abbreviated version of the exhibition featuring intimate portraits will remain at the museum through Sunday, Oct. 20.

The abbreviated version features seven portraits of Holocaust survivors from the Kansas City area and will be positioned in front of the main entrance to the museum. The exhibit is free and open to the public.


70 OVER 70 RECOGNITION  —  At least two members of the Jewish community — Berenice Haberman and Bert Berkley — will be recognized by the Shepherd’s Center at its 70 Over 70 fundraiser Tuesday, Oct 29. After retiring from AT&T in 2006, Haberman’s volunteer activities include National Council of Jewish Woman and Congregation Beth Shalom. Berkley, who is 96, spent his career working and managing Tension Corp. He has worked with a variety of civic organizations, including LINC, UMKC and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The second annual event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the KC Convention Center. For ticket information or to make a donation, visit https://sccentral.org/70over70/.


WHAT’S IN A NAME?  —  Sara Bunin Benor, a professor of contemporary Jewish studies at Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California, and Jason Bronowitz, a rabbinical student and statistician, are studying Jewish names. The researchers have several questions: Which names do Jews and non-Jewish associate with Jews? Who has a “Starbucks name?” Who gives their children biblical names? Israeli names? Who gives their dogs names like Babka and Afikomen? Porkchop? Interested participants can take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/JewishNames. Completion time is estimated at 10 to 12 minutes. Participants must be at least 18 to take part and participation is voluntary. For more information, contact the researchers at or 213-765-2187.