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Dr. Helene Lotman, who has served as president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City since May 2016, will step down at the end of the calendar year. 

“May you live until 120" is a traditional Jewish blessing in remembrance of Moses’ long life. Jewish Family Services is celebrating the same numerical achievement of serving the Greater Kansas City community for 120 years.

The Jewish community welcomed Noa Dovrat to Kansas City in September, as she began her time as the newest Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) community shalicha (Israeli emissary).

Many people know that Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City supports not only our local Jewish community but also communities worldwide, working with organizations and agencies in Romania, Bulgaria and, of course, Israel. What most people might not realize is that Jewish Federation actually has a staff member on the ground in Israel.

Kansas City’s trained synagogue cantors, Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda of Congregation Beth Shalom and Hazzan Aron Hayoun of Kehilath Israel Synagogue, have each worked for decades to develop the skills needed to lead a congregation in melodical prayer.

Ben Novorr has returned to Kansas as the new director of youth and family programming at Congregation Beth Shalom.

The pairing of apples and honey is a staple during Rosh Hashanah. It’s tradition to dip apples in honey to show our hopes for a sweet and fruitful New Year.

More than 20 members of the Kansas City area Jewish community traveled last week to Mexico City on a Jewish Federation mission, where they experienced the city’s vibrant Jewish community, touring its institutions, participating in Shabbat services and dinner, and visiting the Memory and Tolerance Museum. 

Joshua Kreisler, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy graduate and Kansas State University student, recently completed a six-week internship in Washington, D.C., working for U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann and gaining firsthand experience of the nation’s governmental processes.

The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, the nearest Holocaust museum to Kansas City, recently received a Museums for America grant to help fund the digital preservation of its collection.