News

On December 15, Jewish Community Foundation fundholders and friends gathered online to celebrate “The Power of Kindness” at the Foundation’s 62nd Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers and Trustees. 

In the January 14 edition of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, the front page headline read, “COVID notwithstanding, plenty of action on tap for local Jewish community in 2021.” The community certainly had its share of action this year.

Family traditions during the holiday season can include everything from baking cookies to exchanging gifts, enjoying neighborhood light displays to watching holiday movies. Encore Director Maggie Osgood Nicholls especially enjoys the traditional Nutcracker experience, but she always wanted to make it resonate more with Jewish families. 

Renée Polsky Silver comes from a long line of volunteers. Her family members also have volunteered for Jewish Family Services for years. JFS salutes the Polsky family as its volunteers of the month.

According to KU Chabad, the University of Kansas’s student body includes an estimated more than 1,500 Jewish students. Over the past five years, the demographic of Jewish students has increased by 2.6%, with the community continuing to grow and expand. 

During the 2021 fall semester, KU Hillel moved locations and introduced multiple new classes and Shabbat services.

Jewish Family Services has helped more than 10,000 people facing life’s daily challenges made even more difficult by the pandemic. Those people include Leah Aviel, who uses a wheelchair and lives on a limited income.

Phil Johnson is used to the stage – the actor, writer, artistic director and producer has performed his entire life in musicals, at nightclubs and in theatres across the United States. But there’s something different about being the only person on stage throughout an entire performance. 

“Not long ago. Not far away.” is a sadly accurate subtitle for the Auschwitz exhibit at Union Station, reminding all visitors of not only the importance of Holocaust education but also the current realities of antisemitism– that it persists today, even right here in Kansas City. 

Jewish Family Services recently announced several staff promotions enhancing its relationships with key stakeholders and partner programs.

Formerly the JFS Director of Volunteer Engagement, Taly Friedman has been named Director of Corporate Relations. Friedman joined JFS eight years ago and has significantly grown the agency’s volunteer program.