Renowned author will discuss Judaism and the mysteries of life, death and the world beyond 

Temple Beth Shalom, the Jewish Community of Topeka, is inviting the community to participate in its virtual scholar-in-residence series on Feb. 5 and 6. The event features Reb Simcha Raphael, founding director of the DA’AT Institute for Death Awareness, Advocacy and Training.

Since 2005, J-Serve has provided teens with a unique opportunity to band together through service as a united global network committed to fulfilling the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, tzedakah, just and charitable giving, and tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world. Every year, Jewish teens worldwide join each other on this special day and throughout the spring to make their community and the world a better place.

As part of last week’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noted local history writer Brian Burnes recounted six visits the civil rights leader made to Kansas City. The story first appeared in the Jackson County Historical Society‘s E-Journal and was then republished on Flatland, the digital magazine for Kansas City PBS. The following is Burnes’ account of a 1961 visit to B’nai Jehudah.

Rabbi Nati and Sarah Stern welcomed Ephraim Simcha into the world at 8:58 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Rabbi Stern, who is the Kansas City director of NCSY and JSU, said he’s “very excited” to have had the first Jewish baby in the greater Kansas City area in 2021.

Over 300 individuals were in attendance for the community virtual Hanukkah celebration last month. In place of regular religious school classes at each congregation, families including religious school students, parents and grandparents joined together to enjoy a unique and engaging virtual community Hanukkah educational experience featuring the Bible Players, a Torah comedy team based in New York City. Through comedy and improvisation, the group presented the “Festival of Lights” — the story of Milton the Menorah, an insecure menorah who finds the spirit (ruach) and light to shine.