STAENBERG ADDS MATCHING GIFT — Earlier this month the Jewish Community Center (The J) informed its members in an e-blast that “Capital Campaign Visionary Michael Staenberg has added a $600,000 matching gift to his previous challenge.” With this addition Staenberg has increased his pledge for the The J’s upcoming expansion to a total of approximately $3.7 million — $100,000 to spruce up the Fitness and Sports area, $600,000 for renovations to the Theatre Galleria and the main Jewish Community Campus lobby, and another $3 million toward the renovations and additions to the Fitness area, which will be called the Staenberg Family Recreation Complex. Construction on the complex is expected to begin soon.
BROADWAY DELI CLOSES — According to an article in the Kansas City Star last week, Broadway Deli closed Oct. 26. The Chronicle featured the deli soon after it opened in June 2018. It was not kosher, but featured such Jewish faves as matzah ball soup, potato latkes, kugel and sandwiches piled high with corned beef and pastrami. Owner Bill Fromm was quoted in the Star as saying the restaurant was never profitable. A Facebook post on Monday said, “We have very much enjoyed our friends and deli family and all the new relationships and friends we have made through this time that we have been open. Everyone will be sorely missed. We thank you for your patronage.”
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS — Thanks to the support of Congresswoman Sharice Davids’ office, the Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605 book, “For Those Who Served Our Country: A Tribute to Greater Kansas City’s Jewish Veterans,” is now in the Library of Congress with the control number 2019396604. 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. It was spearheaded by Roslyn Braeman Payne with the support of the Jewish Community Foundation. The book may be purchased by going to the foundation’s website, jcfkc.org.
JEWISH THEMED COMEDY NOW AT MTH THEATRE — The comedy hit “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy!” featuring actor/comedian Peter J. Fogel, opened at MTH Theater at Crown Center earlier this week. It runs through Nov. 24.
We’re told, with “one part lasagna, one part kreplach, and two parts Prozac, you don’t have to be Jewish or Italian to appreciate this show. All you need to know is what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache!”
Using various dialects and wacky sound effects Fogel introduces the audience to “a myriad of astounding characters we know, love and tolerate from our own families.”
Written by award-winning author Steve Solomon, this comedy is based on his life growing up in a wacky family noted for its bi-ethnic diversity and aptitude for dysfunctional behavior, along with all the people in his life whose sole purpose was to drive him into therapy … and they succeeded!
Performances are on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
For ticket information, call 816-221-6987.