By Meryl Feld / Editor
Jewish life in Kansas City is experiencing unprecedented times, as the community grapples with responding to COVID-19. Many organizations at the heart of the Kansas City Jewish community are closed to the public.
“As a community informed by Jewish values, our focus at this time is on Shimirat Ha’Guf: caring (guarding) for the body,” stated the Jewish Community Center’s President and CEO Jim Sluyter in an email and Facebook post. His statement, which echoed others made by rabbis and other executives in the community over recent days, was in reference to The J’s closure and cancelation of all programs and services, except for critical childcare services, until April 3.
Synagogues associated with the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City have cancelled religious school, in-person minyan, Shabbat services, adult classes and in-person community social events.
At least two synagogues have limited attendance at major lifecycle events, such as funerals. Kehilath Israel Synagogue is limiting weddings, funerals and Bar/Bat Mitzvah attendance to immediate family and some closest friends.
Many congregations and community organizations are utilizing technology to come together virtually to pray and share words of Torah. For example Congregation Beth Shalom is live streaming its morning and afternoon minyan services on Facebook. The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah is live streaming its Shabbat services as well as minyan and has provided links to prayer books being used in those services to its members.
Jewish organizations across the community are cancelling or postponing their programming and events. To protect some of the most vulnerable in our community, Village Shalom is no longer accepting visitors. Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy has shifted to a distance learning format.
In an effort to continue providing critical community resources for those most vulnerable and at risk in our community, The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has created the Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will go to those impacted by COVID-19 and to supporting much needed community services. To donate, visit jewishkansascity.org.
“Our tradition teaches: Kol Yisrael aravein ze ba-ze (All Israel is responsible one for the other – Talmud Sanhedrin 27b). This has been true for the Jewish community for thousands of years but resonates with new and urgent meaning given the quickly spreading coronavirus (COVID-19),” B’nai Jehudah wrote in their Coronavirus update.
For more information about individual congregations, Jewish agencies and organizations, visit their individual websites and Facebook pages.