Listening Post — 11-14-2019

Who can resist a pic of a Halloween cutie? Here 8-month-old Arya Gilman Sucher is dressed as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She is the daughter of Laura Gilman and Dr. Daniel Sucher.

 

ELECTION RESULTS  — Three members of the Jewish community were on ballots in three different cities last year and two of them emerged victorious. Newcomer Jenna Brofsky will join the Fairway City Council representing Ward 4. She garnered 78.21% of the vote, defeating incumbent Adam Dolski, who earned 21.79% of the vote. Dolski has served since May 2017, after having been appointed to fill a vacant seat.  

With 41.78% of the vote, Dan Osman was unsuccessful in his bid to unseat incumbent Fred Spears in Overland Park’s Ward 4. 

Earlier in the election cycle, we missed that Andrew Osman, Dan Osman’s brother, was running unopposed for re-election in Leawood’s Ward 1. This will be his third term in office.

 


HALLMARK’S HANUKKAH MOVIES  — Jewish fans of Hallmark Christmas movies, as I am, make note that Hallmark’s first holiday movie with a Hanukkah theme premiers at 7 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 16, on Hallmark Channel. I don’t know much about it other than if you miss it Saturday night, you can record it or likely catch it a number of other times during this upcoming holiday season.


75 HEADSTONES TOPPLED AT JEWISH CEMETERY IN OMAHA (JTA)  — Seventy-five headstones were knocked over and some broken at a Jewish cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.

The vandals caused more than $50,000 in damage to the gravestones at Temple Israel Cemetery, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

The damage was reported by cemetery officials to police on Nov. 5. The vandals could have caused the damage anytime between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4, according to the report.

There are no suspects, according to Omaha Crime Stoppers, which offered a reward of up to $1,000 for a tip leading to the arrests of the vandals.

The local Anti-Defamation League said in a statement: “As ADL waits to learn more about the nature of this crime, we offer our support to Temple Israel, to law enforcement and to the families who experienced damage to the headstones of their loved ones. This is an inexcusable act in a place where we honor and remember the lives of our community members. Whether or not this was motivated by anti-Semitism, there is no question that it certainly causes deep harm to the Jewish community. We will continue to aid law enforcement in any way we can and support the recovery effort at Temple Israel.”


It’s getting cold out! Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is accepting new and gently used winter gear donations for its clients, many who will be experiencing their first winter ever this year! Members of the Jewish community can order items from JVS’ Amazon wish list at amzn.to/2NXTclm or drop off winter gear donations at the JVS office at 4600 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64110 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Joseph Lemna at 816-629-8943 or .