We asked our community’s agencies and organizations to share with us what they’re looking forward to and will be focusing on in 2021.
This is the second in a two-part series. Part one ran in the January 7 issue.
JCRB|AJC
2021 will be JCRB|AJC’s 77th year serving the Kansas City community. In 2020, we went through a strategic planning process, as well as hired a new position, an education and program associate, which will drive enhanced impact in 2021. Our work in education and with youth has significantly increased; we are now on our second cohort of Leaders for Tomorrow, and have partnered with KU Hillel to create a Jewish advocacy and coalition building fellowship for college students.
We continue to build new relationships and strengthen existing relationships with faith leaders, minority groups, media, law enforcement, and other stakeholders in the Kansas City community, including advocating jointly on issues core to our mission.
As our country welcomes the 117th Congress and a new presidential administration, we are well positioned to continue to make the voice of the Jewish community heard as we advocate for issues important to our community. – Gavriella Geller, Executive Director
The J – Jewish Community Center
In February, The J is thrilled to present our first White Theatre production in more than 11 months. ‘Something’s Rotten” will be 100% locally produced, directed and choreographed by The J, as most musicals in the White Theater have been. However, this show will be offered to the community virtually, and the cast will wear face shields during production.
The Heritage Center has been operating virtually since March of 2020, but we are hopeful we can begin modified in-person activities in late spring as vaccinations pick up. Art classes for seniors will likely be the activity to resume first.
We also are excited about a new partnership with Jewish Federation for Jewish engagement and learning. The Jewish Experiences director of The J will work with a committee of lay leaders from both organizations to conceive and plan Jewish engagement and identity events, and informal and formal Jewish learning opportunities for the community.
The J looks forward to bringing back, as the situation allows, many community-wide events that were cancelled in 2020, such as its annual Member Pool Party, the Youth Triathlon, CrossFit Melee, and family engagement opportunities. Discussion also will resume on when we can once again host the Jewish Culture Festival, which brings together more than 7,000 Jews in a celebration of Jewish culture and identity.
While in-person activities could slowly resume, we also anticipate continuing all our virtual offerings, including Jewish films, exercise classes and Heritage Center activities, throughout 2021. – Jim Slutyer, CEO & President
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy
HBHA is ready to continue hybrid learning as we return for second semester in 2021. We will continue to focus on keeping their school community safe, while doing everything possible to bring students back to campus as frequently and consistently as possible. We are hopeful that by August 2021 things will be back to normal, with schools and teachers back to learning on campus full time.
The Upper School students continue their Social Justice Project work — this year’s focus is climate repair — in partnership with University Academy, and added a third partner to the program, Academie Lafayette. HBHA student families continue to gather online, and many of the Hebrew classes are virtually connecting with their peers from as far away as Venezuela and Israel.
Moving forward, HBHA will continue to develop best practices in virtual learning and online tools to expand its students’ global community, while making school events more readily accessible to the broader community. – Adam Tilove, Head of School
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City
The Rabbinical Association plans to offer virtual opportunities for the community celebrations of Purim and Passover this year and will continue to evaluate and discuss both virtual and in person options for the community Tisha B’Av observance in July and the annual community Day of Discovery and Selichot observance, both in August.
The community conversion class will maintain weekly virtually sessions this year, and the Rabbinical Association, in partnership with Jewish Family Services and congregations, offer curbside food collections for the Jewish Food Pantry. Kosher catered Shabbat Curbside Meals to Go have been offered since June and can currently be purchased monthly. – Annette Fish, Administrator/Program Director
KU Hillel
Our focus at KU Hillel continues to be supporting our Jewish students and the wonderful community here at KU. We believe in preparing the Jewish future, and we will continue to do that with our programming, leadership development and much more in 2021.
We have enhanced our partnership with Jewish Family Services to include our peer mentoring program, Sources of Strength. It focuses on mental health and wellness and our Hillel students will be trained on protective factors to help prevent suicide and build strength from within for all our students in the community.
We are also excited about our newly launched Jewish Advocacy fellowship with the American Jewish Committee. This is the first of its kind for college students. KU Hillel is partnering with AJC to equip students with the skills to advocate for global Jewry on campus and have nuanced conversations about Israel while fighting anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
In 2021, we will mark 20 years of Rock Chalk Shabbat, KU Hillel’s largest Shabbat experience. This one will be our biggest yet, with so many exciting details to come. We’re looking forward to having decades of our community join us from all over. – Suzy Sostrin, Executive Director
KU Chabad
KU Chabad will continue to offer its robust support program, Chabad Cares. Its goal is to remain emotionally close, even if we must keep socially distant. As part of Chabad Cares, Chabad will continue its signature emotional support services including soup deliveries, pastoral care, professional referrals and subsidies, and our popular mental health workshops.
Weekly Shabbat dinners will continue in a huge open tent following all CDC guidelines for in-person events. The popular JewishU platform will also offer six engaging courses for students to connect over the study of Jewish wisdom. In addition, there will be virtual classes and events with a special Shabbat-to-Go program where students can pick up a ready Shabbat kit each Friday to enjoy at home.
The world may be different, but the goal of KU Chabad remains the same: To create a thriving Jewish life and community on campus–safely and responsibly, and be available for every student, anytime. – Rabbi Zalman Tiechtal, Director
Jewish Family Services
Jewish Family Services continues to be resilient and prepared to face what 2021 has to bring. We look forward to more in-person work and connections with our clients later this year.
Our clients are being severely and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. It is threatening their abilities to pay rent, utilities and access food, as well as taking a toll on their mental health. We are doing our best to keep up with this increased need for assistance.
Many existing programs, especially those related to older adults, such as Help@Home and Tech-Connect, are being enhanced to help ensure individuals can maintain independent and healthy lives. Our mental health team continues to create tools and expanded resources for anyone facing increased stress or anxiety. In addition, this year we will be increasing our advocacy efforts, particuarly those related to health and safety.
The Jewish community has been extremely generous in helping JFS meet the evolving needs of Kansas Citians. This year, we hope to strengthen existing relationships and engage new partnerships with individuals, businesses and organizations to raise funds, host food drive, and increase awareness of our programs so together we can make an even greater impact to our community.
Jewish Vocational Service
2020 was a year of exceptional growth and change for JVS. In responding to the challenges of the past year, we developed new programs and service delivery models that will continue to serve us well into 2021. Our newly revamped Career Skills and Connections Program, offered in partnership with JFS, can provide support to anyone seeking a new employment opportunity, offering executive coaching and employment assistance for individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with a variety of work histories and experiences.
We also have new opportunities to provide services to immigrants and refugees. The Biden administration has indicated a willingness to increase national refugee arrivals from 13,000 annually to 125,000 annually, and we are already seeing asylum seekers resume the ability to enter the U.S. to seek safety from persecution. We are preparing ourselves for the exciting challenge of welcoming more new members of our community and helping them adapt to life in Kansas City. We hope our whole community will join us in helping our new neighbors feel at home.
We look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that 2021 will bring. We are so grateful for the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of our staff and community as we continue ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to pursue a bright future. – Hilary Singer, Executive Director