Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City, the new Reform congregation which held its first service in Overland Park on April 1, has signed a lease with Congregation Ohev Sholom to hold worship services, classes and events at the synagogue’s building located at 75th Street and Nall Avenue in Prairie Village. Temple Israel will conduct its first Shabbat service at Ohev tomorrow evening (Friday, Aug. 5) at 6 p.m. The one-year lease has renewable options. Since its inception it has been holding services at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal church in Overland Park.
Members of TI’s interim board of directors have also been making plans for religious education classes to begin in the fall. TI already has a membership of 50-plus families.
Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn, TI’s rabbi, is happy with the arrangement.
“In my many years here in Kansas City, I always found Congregation Ohev Sholom to be warm and welcoming. Rabbi (Scott) White has been a colleague and a friend, thus I am thrilled that our congregations have worked out an agreement. I know this arrangement will be beneficial for both congregations and I look forward to not only sharing space but sharing activities as well,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.
Ohev President Audrey Asher said the congregation is “very excited to have this shared relationship.”
“We look forward to having programs with them,” she continued.
Rabbi White agrees.
“When you measure Jewish demographic trends against the amount of bricks and mortar and staff that has to be maintained in this town, growing collaboration between congregations is the wave of the future. It’s already well under way in terms of holding combined programs, and I’m excited that my congregation is facilitating another stage,” Rabbi White said.
Interim Board Member Diana Resnick was in charge of finding a space for the congregation to meet. A realtor by profession, Resnick said the congregation was looking for a space in Kansas in a core area that is bound by 75th Street to the north, I-435 to the south, State Line Road to the east and Metcalf Avenue to the west.
Resnick said TI’s Erev Shabbat services will be held in Ohev’s sanctuary. Ohev will continue holding its Shabbat morning services in the sanctuary. Rabbi Cukierkorn will have office space at Ohev as well.
TI’s High Holiday services are scheduled to be held at Ohev’s Asner Hall, while Ohev conducts its holiday services in the sanctuary.
“Asner Hall is lovely and it can accommodate a lot of people,” Resnick said.
“They welcomed us with open arms,” Resnick continued. “It’s not easy to get another congregation to open their doors.”
Upcoming events
In addition to searching for a home, members of the TI interim board — including Resnick, Erin Margolin (president), David Seldner (secretary), Deb Trout (treasurer), Andrew Bergerson, Denisse Cukierkorn, Joyce Fulps and Linda Walts — have been preparing to have a full slate of programs beginning this month. The first will be a congregational trip to Joplin, Mo., on Aug. 12. TI congregants will worship and visit with members of The United Hebrew Congregation, who are still suffering the effects of the deadly May tornado.
“Joplin was one of my student pulpits (1991-92) while I was in rabbinical school. Although I am extremely saddened by the circumstances, I am pleased to be able to return with members of Temple Israel to Joplin and show our love and concern for the community by leading Shabbat services there,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.
The congregation’s current plan is to leave Kansas City, via bus, at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Joplin at 5 p.m. Following a tour of the area, the group will have dinner at a Chinese restaurant with members of The United Hebrew Congregation. Worship will begin at 7:30 p.m. The bus is expected to return here by midnight. For reservations and information regarding cost, contact Joyce Fulps at (816) 363-7000.
“The whole Jewish community is welcome to join us,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said. “Feel free to call me at (913) 940-1011 if you wish to join us or send things for people in need.”
Also on the agenda is a “Welcome Home Shabbat” planned for the end of August. The Reform congregation is planning its first official board meeting and election of officers on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Interim President Margolin is thrilled with how much progress the congregation has made in such a short time.
“We are seeking to be the area’s most inclusive and congregant-centric Jewish organization, where every member and family will feel needed and empowered as an integral part of our Jewish community,” she said.
Margolin believes TI is very lucky to have Rabbi Cukierkorn as its rabbi.
“He is a rabbi that knows all his congregants on a very personal level. He’s responsive and easily accessible. You don’t get that everywhere,” she said.
A new approach to Jewish education
Board Member Bergerson has been integrally involved in planning what TI is calling a new approach to Jewish education: the Jewish Morasha (Legacy) Program.
He explains that instead of conducting a weekly religious school on Sunday for children, TI will offer Jewish instruction through short, two-month courses. Margolin adds that classes will not be just for kids and they will be open to anyone, including entire families or individual adults, who want to learn more.
“We will have family learning days and other flexible learning options designed to allow our congregants to learn about Judaism in ways that meet the needs of busy families and their schedules,” Bergerson said.
“Learning is for everyone from small children through adults, no matter how much you know or do not know about the Jewish tradition,” he continued. “At the core of this education program stands direct access to Rabbi Cukierkorn for advice on all things Jewish. We call it concierge Judaism.”
TI’s plan, he said, is to make “Jewish education fun and relevant by basing instruction on what interests our congregants about Judaism.”