CHANUKAH AT THE CAPITOL — Levi Parkhurst, a junior at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, entertained at Cedar Crest, the official governor’s mansion of the state of Kansas, at a pre-Chanukah celebration Monday, Jan. 19. Representatives from Chabad House Center of Kansas City, Chabad on the Plaza and Chabad at KU, traveled to Topeka, Kan., for the party, which was also attended by Governor Sam Brownback and his wife, Mary. Levi played “Ma’oz Tsur” (“Rock of Ages”) on his violin during the ceremonial lighting of the Menorah and entertained later with another piece.
CHIEFS FAN RECOGNIZED — Gary Friedman has been a KC Chiefs season ticket holder since 1963. You often see him on NBC Action News when the station wants to interview a die-hard Chiefs fan. Through sickness and health (Gary is a cancer survivor!) he has cheered his Chiefs on hoping this would be the year they would win another Super Bowl. His loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed as other fans and the Chiefs recognized Friedman not once but twice this season. Twice this month Friedman and his wife, were invited on the field for pregame festivities and featured on the Arrow Vision score board. As the HyVee Fan of the Game honoree, the Friedmans were awarded two roundtrip tickets to fly anywhere in the continental United States on United Airlines. Then on Dec. 18 the Friedmans were featured as one of the six nominees for the Tony DiPardo Fan of the Year Award. That award honors the spirit and enthusiasm for which DiPardo, affectionately known as “Mr. Music,” was best known. The winner was announced at the final home game last weekend and unfortunately Friedman didn’t win the big award, but he said the whole experience was great. “It was an amazing year for me to have both honors and being on the Arrow Vision twice this year,” Friedman said. While the Chiefs won’t be going to the playoffs again this year, we join Friedman’s cheering section. Go Chiefs!
SUCH A MENSCH — A regular reader wants us to know about the special work Pam Reiz does for the Russian community. Last week she organized an annual Chanukah party, as she also does for Purim and Pesach. “The parties couldn’t take place without the love and dedication Pam has for the group,” the reader pointed out. Every year she has someone help her make flyers in Russian and single handedly prepares a homemade feast of latkes, jelly doughnuts and all the accompaniments. Then she shleps it all over to Santa Fe Towers (where a large percentage of elderly Russian Jews live) with holiday paper goods and her hot plate to re-warm everything. She does this after putting in her time as a full-time geriatric nurse. “When Pam walks in, everyone in the lobby lights up, and starts calling ‘Pammy, Pammy.’” In addition to the meal, Pam provides everyone with his or her own menorah, candles, bags of gelt, Chanukah literature in Russian and dreidels, all sponsored by Chabad House. Reiz also visits these residents several times a month on her days off. You may remember her son, Rabbi Yudell Reiz, was just featured in an article in The Chronicle a couple of weeks ago.