Co-Chairs Rick Hellman and Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hill welcomed people to the annual MLK Interfaith Service held Sunday, Jan. 12. This is the first year Hellman, a member of the JCRB|AJC advisory board, has served as the event’s co-chair. He takes over from his mother, Judy Hellman, who co-chaired the event for more than 30 years.MLK REMEMBRANCE — Despite the Chiefs game and the weather, the annual MLK Interfaith Service on Sunday was well-attended. Every year, this event kicks off one of the largest week-long celebrations in the country in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Co-Chairs were Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Hill, minister emeritus of Community Christian Church, and Rick Hellman, JCRB|AJC advisory board member. The event included musical performances by Lara Steinel, Laura Payne and Michelle Cox; Kansas City Boys and Kansas City Girls Choirs led by Ah’Lee Robinson; Trio Aztlan; and Millie Edwards accompanied by Tim Whitmer. The keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Angela Sims, the first female president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York. SCLC President Rev. Dr. Vernon Percy Howard, who is now a JCRB|AJC advisory board member, gave the opening remarks. Rev. Dr. Bobby Love gave the closing benediction.KOL HAKAVOD — Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City got the secular new year off on the right foot by celebrating the “power of the collective” as Chair Michael Abrams so aptly put it at its annual meeting. Approximately 160 people filled the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Campus to learn about the Federation’s work and its accomplishments over the past year. Among the highlights was raising $6.5 million in restricted and unrestricted funds allowing Federation to provide funding to 21 different organizations.As the evening, chaired by Lisa and Steve Ruben, drew to a conclusion Federation President and CEO Dr. Helene Lotman noted that the Federation’s work as the community’s convener is never ending.“As long as there are Jews in need, as long as there are Jewish children to educate and Jewish souls to nourish, our work will never be finished,” she said. “The generations before us laid the strong foundation on which we stand. It is our responsibility to build on that foundation, to adapt it for 2020 and beyond, and to leave it stronger for the next generation. Thank you for being a part of this community and for your commitment to this work. I look forward to collaborating with you.”SECURING OUR FUTURE — One of Federation’s themes for its annual meeting was securing our future. I had the opportunity to meet the featured speaker, Brad Orsini, prior to his presentation. One of the things I learned from that conversation with him and our own Director of Community Security Chuck Green is the importance of being prepared for the unthinkable — an active shooter event. I realized I am not prepared and I’m guessing many of our readers are not prepared either. Is it better to run, hide or fight? These security experts said every situation is different, but training can help people be prepared to make those split-second decisions. Here’s my mini editorial: If your congregation has not scheduled an active shooter training, urge leadership to do so immediately. Orsini and Green strongly believe training saves lives. And if you’re one of those people who believes lightning never strikes twice, think again. In these contentious times, we can never know when an unstable individual will decide to attack.Correctionhe wrong date for Drew Liss was published on The Chronicle’s list of Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates for 2020 in the Dec. 26, 2019, issue. The correct date for Drew Liss’ Bar Mitzvah is Saturday, Nov. 7, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
