The J hosted its annual meeting Oct. 1 at the Jewish Community Campus, celebrating a year of accomplishments, including hosting the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games.
This year’s theme, “Champions of Our Community,” was reflected in the awards presented throughout the evening.
“Tonight, we’ll be celebrating a remarkable year for The J, but more importantly, we celebrate the people who made it remarkable,” said immediate past chair Michael Novicoff in his opening remarks.
One of the year’s most significant accomplishments was hosting the JCC Maccabi Games. Following 18 months of planning, The J and the Kansas City community welcomed nearly 1,000 Jewish teens from around the world for an Olympic-style sports competition, creating lasting memories for athletes, staff and community members.
The J's Immediate Past Chair Michael Novicoff opened the program.
Rabbi Craig Lewis of Congregation Beth Torah delivered the D’var Torah. Continuing the evening’s theme, board chair Kurt Kavanaugh reflected on the community’s “champions” and how their support and involvement put The J’s mission into action.
Board Chair Kurt Kavanaugh delivered remarks.
Several awards were presented throughout the evening:
- Otzma Award: Maccabi co-chairs Diane Azorsky, Erin Berger, Beth Liss and Michael Liss were recognized for their leadership and strength in guiding 18 months of planning and helping bring the Games to life.
- Program of the Year Award: The 2026 JCC Maccabi Games were honored for bringing athletes from around the world together and uniting the Kansas City community.
- Hesed Award: The White Theatre’s production of “Rent,” presented in collaboration with the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City, was recognized for fostering community connections and raising more than $16,000 to support the foundation’s work. The award honors loving-kindness.
- Lifetime Membership Award: Phyliss and Ed Belzer were recognized for nearly six decades of dedication to The J.
Jewish Family Services and Village Shalom received The J’s Community Partnership Award for providing meaningful experiences for Maccabi athletes. Teens completed hands-on service projects with Jewish Family Services and connected with Village Shalom residents through intergenerational activities.
“Two organizations. Two very different experiences. But the same message: This is what it means to be part of a community,” said Molly Hess, director of Jewish Experiences.
Jewish Family Services and Village Shalom received The J’s Community Partnership Award.
President and CEO Jim Sluyter highlighted The J’s mission to build a strong, vibrant and inclusive community rooted in Jewish values. He emphasized that the organization’s impact is measured not by statistics but by the programs and experiences that support families, children and older adults. He also thanked The J’s staff, leadership and members for their continued commitment to that mission.
Sluyter also recognized Phyliss and Ed Belzer for their longstanding connection to The J.
“This year we were thrilled to be able to honor Phyliss and Ed Belzer with a lifetime membership at The J for their lifelong support and membership. Phyliss and Ed have been members of The J since 1968,” he said.
Phyliss and Ed Belzer received the Lifetime Membership Award.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City elected four new board members at its 2026 annual meeting. Erin Berger, Carolyn Cohen, Michael Liss and Tammi Sonnino will serve their first three-year terms, which expire in 2029. Ben Hake, Sheryl Kaplan and Lisa Schifman were reelected to second three-year terms, also expiring in 2029.
Officers elected for 2026-27 include Kurt Kavanaugh, board chair; Lisa Schifman, first vice chair; Doris Mendel, vice chair of fund development; Sheryl Kaplan, vice chair of leadership development; Ben Hake, treasurer; Sarah Galler, secretary; and Michael Novicoff, immediate past chair.
“The crowd was filled with our dedicated board, past chairs and staff, and so many others that had given their time and resources to make Maccabi a success,” said Allison DeWitt, executive assistant at The J.
Allison DeWitt, executive assistant at The J, and her father, Bob DeWitt.
The evening concluded with Sluyter expressing gratitude to The J’s staff, lay leaders and volunteers. He recognized the generosity, dedication and care they bring to their work and the many ways their commitment makes a difference throughout the community.
