Day of Discovery, now in its fifth year, gives adults in the Kansas City Jewish community a chance to discover what types of educational opportunities are offered through the year. In just one day, Sunday, Aug. 28, somewhere between 225 and 300 people will take the opportunity to learn, study and “discover” with some of the community’s finest Jewish educators, rabbis and cantors.

“Some of the people that I see at Day of Discovery are truly lifelong learners,” said Day of Discovery Task Force member Henri Goettel. “Others may be sticking a toe in for the first time.”

Goettel has been a part of Day of Discovery since its inception. A teacher at Congregation Beth Torah, she believes that identifying as a Jew is not something that a person does just once.

“I think it is incumbent on us to continue to learn and grow with the growth and changes that occur in our lives,” she said.

The program is co-sponsored by The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Center’s Department of Jewish Life and Learning, CAJE/Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and area congregations. Rabbinical Association President Rabbi Herbert Mandl of Kehilath Israel Synagogue said the association has been sponsoring Day of Discover from its onset because “it’s a great opportunity to launch the new Jewish year with study on a variety of topics.”

Annette Fish, who serves as administrator/program director of the Rabbinical Association and is the staff person who works with the Day of Discovery Task Force explained that a variety of topics are offered in an effort to appeal to all age groups.

“We would be delighted to see more people in the 20 to 40 age group participate. We hope some of the new topics that we have not offered in the past will appeal to them,” Fish said.

A total of 30 different classes are being offered by 29 different educators. Fish noted that many of the courses offered this year were chosen in response to the evaluations organizers received from last year’s participants. Two examples of that are “The Holocaust: From Persecution to Annihilation,” taught by Fran Sternberg, director of programming for the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, and two courses on genealogy to be taught by professional genealogist Steven B. Chernoff, Ph.D.

Goettel thinks this year’s course selections are the best so far because they include traditional topics as well as timely ones, such as anti-Semitism and the Tea Party movement.

While she is a dedicated learner, Goettel said the classes are very accessible “to people who have never tried a Day of Discovery before.”

Personally Goettel likes the fact that Day of Discovery gives her the opportunity to study “with folks that I either don’t take the opportunity to study with other times or I simply don’t have that opportunity at all.”

For instance this year Goettel hopes to take the class on “How Your Advocacy Can Make a Difference for Israel,” being taught by Marvin Szneler, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee.

“I know that there are all kinds of opportunities to learn through the JCRB|AJC, I just never take the time to put them in my schedule. So here he is basically coming to me,” Goettel pointed out.

She’s also looking forward to studying with Rabbi Benzion Friedman and Esther Friedman of Torah Learning Center.

“Studying with Rabbi Friedman is an opportunity that I normally would not have as a woman,” she said.

Opportunities are widely available to study with Rebitzen Friedman, but, Goettel said, it’s another one of those things that she “just never makes the time to do.”

Day of Discovery quick facts

Date: Sunday, Aug. 28

Time: 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Place: Jewish Community Campus

Cost: $20 per person includes classes, breakfast, deli lunch and dessert reception; $12 per person, classes only, no lunch (Fees rise on a space-available basis after Aug. 22)

Register online at http://tinyurl.com/dayofdiscovery2011 or mail registration form found in brochure.

For questions or to inquire about confidential financial assistance, contact Annette Fish, 913-327-4622, , or visit kcrabbis.org.