Couple is first to marry at Village Shalom’s Appleman Synagogue

Most people don’t think of Village Shalom when they are considering wedding venues. But that’s exactly where Roberta Pollack and Sam Goller chose to marry this past Sunday, Sept. 4. It is believed they are the first couple to be married in the Appleman Synagogue. The reception was held there also, in the adjoining social hall.

Neither Roberta nor Sam reside at Village Shalom, but they both thought it was a beautiful place to cement their relationship that began almost five years ago. Both have connections to the senior living community, but have different reasons why they felt it was a good place to marry.

Roberta liked the idea of making it accessible for Sam’s grandmother Rose Stolowy, a resident of Village Shalom who just recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a party on the premises.

“Grandma lives here and even though she’s mobile, if it’s pouring rain or 100 degrees, it becomes inconvenient for her to attend,” Roberta said prior to the wedding. “And no matter where you go, you still have to walk in a parking lot and through hallways … and I thought it would be good to make it convenient for Grandma.”

Besides Grandma Rose, Roberta has volunteered at Village Shalom for many years in a variety of ways — among those through the Jewish Community Center’s Ma’asim Tovim program and Hadassah, of which she is a board member — and thus feels close to many residents.

“When I walk in and the piano is playing in the lobby it just feels warm and festive. I also wanted to be inclusive to a generation that doesn’t usually get to participate in something like this,” Roberta continued.

Sam said he liked the idea of getting married at Village Shalom simply because “it’s a nice, community Jewish space.”

The couple also scheduled their aufruf to take place at Village Shalom.

A communal space

Eileen Miller, Village Shalom’s director of resident services, point out that the retirement community would be pleased to host more life-cycle events.

“We’ve celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of a resident here as well as a number of Brit Milah ceremonies for babies of staff, residents’ families and community members,” she said. “We have also hosted a number of shiva and memorial services for our residents who have passed away.”

Miller said Village Shalom will make the community spaces available to residents, their families and to community agencies “that fall within our mission of enhancing life for older adults.”

“There is no charge for the space itself for those agencies that are within our mission,” Miller said.

Depending on what services may be needed for the event, users can expect to be charged for such things as security, special room set ups, catering and rentals.

Miller said Village Shalom was excited that the Goller-Pollack wedding was held there. Anyone considering holding a life-cycle event at Village Shalom should contact Miller to learn more about how to make a room reservation. She can be reached at 913-266-8431 or .

The big day

Roberta and Sam expected 24 family members to come from Arizona, Texas, Florida, Chicago, Maryland and Connecticut. Between the two they have four children, three in collage — Garet Goller, Jordan Pollack and Stephanie Pollack. Imrie Goller is a student at Shawnee Mission East High School. A Kansas City native, Sam is the son of the late Albert and Shirley Goller.

Approximately 100 people were invited to attend the ceremony. They were particularly excited that Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz was coming to perform the ceremony. She served as an assistant rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom before becoming the rabbi of Temple Beth El in Springfield, Mass., in 2008.

Their friendship with Rabbi Katz first developed when Roberta was taking Melton classes that Rabbi Katz taught. The relationship was cemented after Roberta began serving as the Katz family nanny.

“She was in between child care and I was in between jobs so I lived in their house practically,” Roberta said.

“We went to Massachusetts when she was installed and we’ll go there for Gabriel’s Bar Mitzvah. She’s more than a rabbi. We have a personal relationship,” Roberta said.

Sam got to know Rabbi Katz through Roberta.

“We had Passover and Shabbat dinners there,” Roberta continued.

Giving back

Roberta and Sam chose to invite all the Village Shalom residents to join them for cake during the reception. The kipahs they used for the wedding are being donated to Village Shalom for continued use. They also purchased five new music disks for the player piano located in the main building’s lobby.

Grandma Rose, who has lived in Village Shalom for about four years, thinks the Jewish space at Village Shalom is very beautiful. But she said she would be thrilled no matter where the ceremony actually took place.

“My Sam is happy. That’s what I’m excited about,” Rose said.