Day of Discovery, to be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Jewish Community Campus, is offering 19 different courses over two sessions. Each course will be led by one or more community leaders.
In addition to the two sessions, there will be a discussion with keynote speaker Liz Hirsh Naftali, an author and great-aunt of a child who was held hostage in Gaza.
Interested participants can register for just the morning sessions or for the entire day, including a kosher lunch provided by Kim Matsil of Kim’s Kreations and a copy of Naftali’s book, “Saving Abigail.”
The deadline for registration is Oct. 21, after which only walk-in registration will be available at an increased price. More information and registration is available at dayofdiscoverykc.org.
Session 1 (9:15 to 10:30 a.m.)
Dictating Art: The Nazi Regimentation of Culture
Dr. Shelly Cline (Midwest Center for Holocaust Education)
Dr. Cline will share how the Nazi regime controlled cultural institutions, suppressing “un-German” art while promoting state-sanctioned works to enforce authoritarian ideology.
Fragments of Sinaiism: Jewish Politics from the Other Mountain
Dr. Samuel Hayim Brody (University of Kansas)
Dr. Brody will examine Jewish politics through the lens of “the other mountain,” Sinai. This talk considers Judaism’s 3,000-year tradition as a resource for understanding power, community and how societies should organize.
From Access to Belonging: Nurturing Inclusive Jewish Spaces for Every Mind, Body, and Soul
Lindsey Lipsky (Sasone)
Lipsky will teach about the Jewish values of inclusion alongside practical strategies to ensure neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities feel a sense of belonging in the community.
How to Win Hearts and Minds: Effective Communication Strategies for Combatting Antisemitism
Jordan Kadosh (ADL Heartland)
Kadosh will share Anti-Defamation League research-based strategies for disrupting antisemitism through persuasive communication in everyday encounters.
How We Cope with the End of the World: Lessons from Two Amateur Jewish Executives
Ethan Helfand (KU Hillel) and Neta Meltzer (Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC)
Helfand and Meltzer will share insights on the intersection of leadership, wellness and hope (and humor) while facing today’s overwhelming challenges.
Jewish Life in KC: The Latest Trends and Data
Jay Lewis (Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City)
Lewis will present demographic data and trends shaping the needs and future of the Kansas City Jewish community.
People Are Like…
Rabbi Michael Zedek (St. Paul School of Theology)
Drawing on his new book, Rabbi Zedek will convey unforgettable stories of how to become and grow as a mensch.
Spirits in the Scrolls: Jewish Tales of Supernatural & Otherworldly Beings
Andi Edwardson (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism)
Edwardson will explore mysterious and magical Jewish texts and folklore about angels, demons, dybbuks, golems and other supernatural beings in Jewish mysticism.
Spiritual Practice in a Time of Anxiety
Rabbi David Glickman (Congregation Beth Shalom)
Rabbi Glickman will share how Jewish wisdom offers ways to live through times of fear, wars and social division.
War in the Middle East - An Analysis
Bill Greenberg (Retired US Army Officer)
Greenberg will discuss Israel’s wars with Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis, and consider possible future developments.
Second session (10:45 a.m. to noon)
Both Wounded and Healing: The Jewish Story of an All-Night Wrestling Match
Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick (Jewish Family Services)
Using the biblical story of Jacob wrestling an angel, Rabbi Rudnick will lead attendees on how to grapple with personal issues and what healing means in the context of becoming more able.
Harnessing AI Creativity for Jewish Learning
Sara Glass (Weiner Religious School at Congregation Beth Torah)
Glass will explore ways to use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT responsibly for creative Jewish learning and teaching while aligning with Jewish values.
Have We Lost Our Minds? How the Mindset of the Kansas City Jewish Community Has Shifted on Controversial Topics
Sam Kricsfeld and Lacey Storer (The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)
Kricsfeld and Storer will present on more than a century of Chronicle editorials to see how community opinions on controversial issues may have shifted over time.
Prayer is Never Boring If You Know How
Rabbi Mark Levin (Congregation Beth Torah)
Rabbi Levin will discuss the Siddur, the complexity of Jewish prayer and the gateways to personal meaning embedded in the daily or weekly prayer service.
A Reason to Celebrate: Harnessing Judaism’s Joy
Rabbi Elizabeth Bonney-Cohen (Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy)
Rabbi Bonney-Cohen will share Jewish texts of joy, hope and inspiration that offer reasons to delight in Jewish identity and ways of holding onto goodness, even amidst a bleak backdrop.
The Rise of Nazism
Dr. Benjamin Schneider (U.S. Army Command and General Staff College)
Dr. Schneider will discuss the origins of Nazism, tracing it back to the Napoleonic era through Hitler’s rise to power.
Was Spinoza a Heretic or Just Really Annoying?
Rabbi Mark Glass (Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner)
Rabbi Glass will examine Baruch Spinoza’s excommunication and whether it was because of being heretical or because of politics.
Why Are So Many People Critical of Israel, and How Can I Respond?
Alan Edelman (Volunteer)
Edelman will provide talking points on how to respond to anti-Israel rhetoric and criticism and answer questions and concerns from attendees.
Why Would God Allow a Tragedy Like October 7th to Happen?
Rabbi Moshe Grussgott (Kehilath Israel Synagogue)
Rabbi Grussgott will examine Jewish theological responses to tragedy (theodicy) in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
