STUDENT BECOMES CO-TEACHER — About 20 years ago Elizabeth Bigus was a 3-year-old preschool student in Barbara Abramowitz’s class at the Jewish Community Center’s Child Development Center. Turn the
clock ahead to now and who’s teaching alongside Abramowitz? That same girl who now goes by Liz and is about to begin her first year of medical school at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Both women think it’s pretty cool that they are teaching together in what might very well be Abramowitz’s last summer at the school.
“I not only had my own co-teacher as a teacher but in the same classroom I first had her in,” Bigus recalls.
Both women have vivid memories of that year.
“It’s incredible. She was in the first class I taught at the CDC,” Abramowitz said. “I can remember where she slept during naptime …”
“I remember having her and playing in the same classroom,” said Bigus, who also remembers Abramowitz babysitting for her family.
“Because I know she is such a great teacher, I am able to learn from her and go to her with any questions I may have or situations I might need help with,” Bigus continued.
Abramowitz can see that some of her teachings rubbed off on Bigus, even though she was such a young student.
“The best thing we can do for our little ones is boost their self-esteem. Now I can see how Liz is incredibly patient and sweet with the children. I can’t take all the credit but I think between all the teachers here we laid a great foundation. She’s turned into a wonderful young lady!”
CELEBRATING SHABBAT OUTDOORS — I sometimes joke with people that I hold memberships at every congregation in town. Obviously I don’t but I am often privileged to attend events and services at various congregations in the community. Last month I attended Shabbat Alfresco, the Friday evening outdoor service put on by Kehilath Israel Synagogue and Temple Israel on KI’s Saul & Mildred Kass Patio. It was lovely.
Last week I went to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah’s Shabbat in the Park because I wanted to hear Noah Arenson, the musical guest, and I had such a good time at one of those services last summer. I am terrible at estimating crowds so I’ll say there were easily more than 200 people there as Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff blessed the Polar Vortex for making it such a beautiful night. It’s possible the crowd was also enhanced by those who wanted to be together to pray and show support for Israel. So I found the Hashkiveinu particularly meaningful that night:
“Our world is in trouble so we ask ... ‘Let there be love and understanding among us; let peace and friendship be our shelter from life’s storms.’ ”
RABBI LARRY KAROL’S MUSIC — K.C. native Rabbi Larry Karol, currently of Las Cruces, N.M., wants to record a third album. His second album was released in 2005, while he was still the rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka. Since that time he has written 40 new songs and hopes to put 12 about the Jewish values of justice, peace, freedom, hope and joy on this newest release. But to make this project a reality he needs to raise money. So he has created a 30-day kickstarter campaign that ends Aug. 4. “With your help, I will be able to share this music with you in a way that will bring out the best in each song,” he wrote of the campaign. “The magic of file-sharing will allow me to include the voices of music colleagues from around the country.” To donate go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103569513/larry-karols-new-album-10-years-in-the-making/.
NEVER FORGET — Janet Price reports that the Lesky family, which has a branch here in Kansas City, is being reminded by Gene Greenberg, a former Kansas Citian, that August marks the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of the Lodz Ghetto in Poland. Many of their family, some of which eventually lived in, are living in or have relatives living in the Kansas City area, were in the ghetto and either died there or were sent to a death camp from there. Those who want to learn more about the ceremony may visit centrumdialogu.com.
IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT — Rabbi Moti Rieber was featured in a USA Today article on July 15 with the headline “Taking to the pulpit against climate change.” Besides being the rabbi for the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation, he serves as the director of Kansas chapter for the San Francisco-based Interfaith Power & Light, a religious response to global warming. You can read the whole article at www.usatoday.com and search Moti Rieber.