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A dream will come true for Andy Gruenebaum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12. That’s when the 30-year-old professional soccer player will officially take the field for the first time as a member of Sporting Kansas City. The team will face Mexican club Cruz Azul.

Gruenebaum is excited to be playing here in Kansas City on a regular basis, not just as a visiting player. 

“Being able to play in front of family and friends  — people that I grew up with playing soccer as a kid — and just coming all this way full circle and playing in that stadium in front of that crowd is all just special. (We are looking forward) to be able to live like normal people in the city that we were going to eventually end up in. It is something that we’ve dreamed of,” said Gruenbaum last week during training camp. His wife, Lacey, is also from this area.

For the past eight seasons the Overland Park native has played for the Columbus Crew. The Crew traded Gruenebaum to Sporting KC following the 2012 season in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. He joins Benny Feilhaber as the second Jewish player on the team. The team officially opens the season Saturday night, March 8, at Seattle.

The home game March 12 is part of a competition called the CONCACAF Champions League, which is a tournament featuring the top teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The MLS Cup champion’s official opener is actually at 7:30 p.m. March 15 against FC Dallas.

Grunebaum, the son of Congregation Ohev Sholom members Kris and Mike Gruenebaum, is fighting for the team’s top goalkeeper spot along with Eric Kronberg and Jon Kempin, another home-grown player. The regular goalkeeper spot became open after the retirement of Sporting KC’s MVP Jimmy Nielsen.

At the time of the trade, Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes spoke very highly of Gruenebaum.

“Andy is a very capable goalkeeper, someone who has been successful in Major League Soccer and has had a lot of games in the league,” said Vermes. “He is a great addition to our team and a complement to our goalkeepers. We needed someone with a lot of experience because we’re in multiple major competitions in 2014.”

A 2001 graduate of Blue Valley North High School, the 31-year-old, 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pound Gruenebaum will wear No. 30 for Sporting KC. He was drafted by the Columbus Crew right after graduating from the University of Kentucky. He said the Crew and Sporting KC are the only two pro teams he ever wanted to play with.

“I’ve been kind of spoiled to now be able to play for both,” he said.

In eight seasons with the Crew he made 82 appearances in MLS competition (including playoffs) with 277 saves, 18 shutouts and a 1.27 goals against average. He led MLS with 124 saves in 2012 and was a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year after being named the Crew’s MVP and Defender of the Year. Last season, he conceded the second fewest goals (28) among goalkeepers with a minimum of 15 games played.

Learning he probably didn’t have a future with the Crew at the end of last season led to a lot of sleepless nights for Gruenebaum during the offseason.

“I was worrying about where I was going to play the next year,” he said. “In the end landing here was a dream come true and really better than any vacation I could have taken.”

When Gruenebaum was younger, the local team was first known as the Wiz and then the Wizards. As the Wizards, the team won its first MLS championship in 2000, the same year Gruenebaum was named the NSCAA Kansas Player of the year as a senior at Blue Valley North and earned a spot on the Midwest Region team. 

“We had season tickets for the first few years when they were the Wiz and then the Wizards and we went to all the games,” he said.

He knows the organization has rebranded in recent years, changing owners, its name and its home field among other things.

“They are headed in the right direction and are really the flagship for other MLS teams looking to rebrand and give new life to the city and the game. I think it’s special to come play for this organization,” he said.

Gruenebaum has been a goalkeeper for most of his career.

“There were times coming up when I played a little bit of everything but I liked that position the best. You get to dive around and wear cool jerseys. It’s a little bit different,” he said. “You’ve got to be a little off to play goalie.”

Now in his ninth season as a pro, he’s not sure how long he’ll continue playing.

“That’s a good question,” he laughed. “As long as my body will hold up. As a goalkeeper you can play for a long, long time so I’m hoping that’s going to be the case. I’m taking it year by year and just surviving. I’m hoping to play a few more years for sure.”

What advice would he give other young players wanting to play pro soccer?

“I would say do a lot of yoga,” he said, laughing once again. “If I would have done that my body would feel a lot better than it does right now.” 

Seriously, he said he would tell these young players to simply have fun.

“It’s still a game. I know it’s competitive and the nature of soccer growing up is different and changing and evolving rapidly, some in a good way and some in a bad way. But I would say at the end of the day to remember it’s a game and it’s supposed to be fun and this is something that you are supposed to truly enjoy. If you are getting pressured and getting burned out, then you’re going to lose that joy and passion. It takes a support system to get there, too. You just can’t take life too seriously.”

Yes, fans, Gruenebaum still enjoys the game.

“It can be a grind and it can be a lot of things. But the biggest thing is to just remember at the end of the day when times are going tough that it is a game. This is something that you’re supposed to love doing and it’s not supposed to be considered work.”

He’s genuinely happy to be back in the Kansas City area.

“I’m really hoping to get involved with the community and just get to know people. I’m very easy going and relaxed and I love to meet new people. So I’m excited to get involved with the fan base and really just meet some great people.”

Twitter fans can follow him @gbaum30. Ticket information is available by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or

Beth Kaplan Liss has been selected as the 2014-2015 co-chair designate/2015-16 co-chair of Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Leadership (NYL). Liss will begin her two-year term in June, alongside co-chair Josh Green, of Sarasota-Manatee, Fla. Together, they will represent Jewish Federation young leadership across North America, which includes 154 Jewish Federations in the United States and Canada.

“We couldn’t be happier to see Beth taking on a role of this magnitude within Jewish Federation,” said Todd Stettner, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “It’s a very competitive selection process, and a well-deserved honor for Beth.”

“Beth is a role model both for Cabinet and Kansas City and no one has done more to earn this opportunity. The outpouring of support she continues to receive since this announcement demonstrates that many will be closely following her continued leadership rise, now moving onto the national stage,” said Robb Lippitt, current co-chair of JFNA’s National Young Leadership, a member of the JFNA Development Cabinet and a member of JFNA’s Marketing Committee. 

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” said Liss. “I am deeply passionate about the cause and — thanks to those who have come before me, and those who will come after me — I feel well prepared for l’dor va’dor,  to continue building our future.” 

The selection process is a rigorous one, and, according to National Young Leadership, it “signifies the continuity of excellence in leadership and the awesome responsibilities that go with it.” 

NYL is a local, national and international network of socially conscious Jews in their 20s, 30s and early 40s. Young leadership programs offer a wide variety of opportunities for next gen to find meaningful ways to get involved in Jewish Federation, from helping local people in the Jewish community to ensuring the safety of Jews overseas, from advocating for social services to strengthening Jewish life in Israel.

During their first year, the chairs designate focus on the NYL Cabinet campaign and participate alongside the chairs to gain experience in the leadership team. In their second year, they help shape the vision of National Young Leadership and help execute its mission, working closely with the NYL department to achieve their goals.

As co-chair, Liss will play a very active role among young leadership, working with next gen leaders from across North America. She will also represent NYL on JFNA’s executive committee, board of trustees, and Philanthropic Resources Development Cabinet. 

“It’s a great honor and privilege to be selected for this position, and I am confident Beth’s success in this role will be given back 100-fold to Kansas City. Our mission is to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world, and Beth continues to exemplify that mission,” said Patricia Werthan Uhlmann, board chair, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

“Kansas City has continued to play a national leadership role in the Jewish Federation system, as well as internationally, and we are fortunate to have someone of Beth’s caliber representing us nationally. Beth is a wonderful example of the kind of leadership that Kansas City is producing,” continued Uhlmann. 

Sarah Beren, executive board member, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, and current NYL Cabinet member agrees with Uhlmann, “Beth’s appointment is great for Jewish Federation young leadership. As a leader of leaders, Beth will bring her connections, passion, knowledge — and now a bright spotlight — to Kansas City.”

And Liss plans to do just that. 

“Kansas City has so much to bring to the national table. I am looking forward to sharing the perspective of a mid-sized Jewish community with the entire Jewish Federation network. We can all learn from each other.”  

As to what lies in her future? 

“Beth will go far in her work to sustain and enhance Jewish life. Her passion for Jewish community and the energy with which she has embraced the work of Jewish Federation make her unstoppable,” said Stettner. 

“Beth brings unrivaled passion and experience for the mission of engaging young Jews in the Jewish community and federation system.  Beth’s genuine warmth and sweetness combine with strategic and tactical acumen to make her a tremendous leader who consistently achieves positive results in whatever she takes on,” said Lippitt.

The arts have always been important to Vida Bikales, president of the board for The Barn Players Community Theater. Her parents ensured she grew up in a house full of music, theater and visual arts. In fact, they instilled a house rule that Vida and her siblings each had to start piano in the first grade and choose a second instrument by fourth grade. Vida’s brother, Eric Bikales, “was the one who hated to practice the most, and he’s the one who became a professional musician!” 

Vida, who retired from a career in pharmaceutical sales, chose to keep the arts in her life through serving as president of the board for Camelot Academy, a fine arts camp for kids started by her parents, and by volunteering at The Barn Players for the last eight years. Her brother Eric has had a long, successful career as a composer and performer, and he will perform at The Barn Players Theater on March 12  in honor of Vida’s 60th birthday. 

Vida and her boyfriend, Kerry Kirk, are each celebrating 60 years young this year and wanted to have a party that gave back to a cause so important — community theater. 

“Community theater is such an amazing outlet not only for talented people who have other careers, but is also a proving ground for people who do want to make performing arts their profession,” Vida said.

Thanks to The Barn Players, many actors get the experience and exposure to pursue their dreams, and for some, that journey takes them all the way to New York City. The Barn has produced Broadway performers and film actors, including Oscar-nominated actor Chris Cooper.

“We take our mission very seriously, which is to nurture artists (musicians and actors) while they practice their craft. We are proud to be a platform for an actor’s professional career if that’s what they choose,” Vida said. 

The Barn also offers theater classes for kids and hosts an original play festival each year that invites local playwrights to submit 10-minute plays and six are chosen to be produced.

“It is so gratifying to nurture both writers and performers. That’s really another thing that separates The Barn from other community theaters,” Vida said. 

“Community theater is also a training ground for audiences,” Vida explains. “When people watch the performances, they get hooked and seek other outlets for the arts. It encourages audiences to have a lifelong commitment to the performing arts.” 

“The Barn wants to be the home base for local actors. We want them to feel comfortable honing their craft and gaining experience. We cater to ages 8-88. It is truly a reflection of community,” Vida said.

Vida’s passion for the arts shows in her volunteer work and in her birthday party fundraiser on March 12. Her brother Eric has played at The Barn once before, but this time it’s for two good causes: The Barn Players Community Theater and his sister’s birthday. And the audience is in for a real treat. 

Eric currently resides in Nashville where he plays in a couple of bands and teaches music theory and music arranging online for the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Before that, Eric lived and worked in Los Angeles for 30 years where he composed music for television shows like “Boston Public,” “Ally McBeal,” “Scrubs” and “Party of Five,” among others.

“It was an honor working with so many world-class musicians. And hearing the music I wrote in the background of shows that end up on reruns then eventually in foreign countries is good for the longevity of my work,” Eric said.

He is back in Kansas with his former band Sanctuary for their induction into the Kansas Musicians Hall of Fame. And while he’s here, he is donating his talents for a show at The Barn where he will play two sets, all original works on the piano.

“I am a composer. I primarily write for other projects, other artists,” Eric said. “This is the first time I will perform my own music. It’s fun for me. The thing I enjoy most is sitting at the piano, which is where I started. I’ve come full circle.”

Eric has performed live with artists like Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder and Bette Midler and has produced Grammy-nominated songs for Phil Vassar and Gloria Loring. Eric will be selling his new CD, “Follow Your Heart” at the party and says he is getting radio play and good response from it. You can learn more at ericbikales.com. 

The party starts at 7 p.m. and music will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $10 and can be ordered on The Barn Players’ website or at the door.

“It will be a nice evening of cake, wine and music. You don’t even have to bring a present!” Vida said. 

The event is open to the public and all proceeds will go to The Barn Players Theater. The theater is located at 6219 Martway Street in Mission. For more information call 913-432-9100 or visit thebarnplayers.org.

BRUSSELS — A recent festive gathering in the capital of Belgium, saluting the vital importance of the relationship between Europe and the United States, highlighted the unique role of one Jewish organization, AJC, in deepening those ties. The occasion was the 10th anniversary celebration of the AJC Transatlantic Institute (TAI).

“We are here tonight to celebrate our shared values,” TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal told the audience of more than 250. Dozens of European Parliament members, ambassadors to the EU and Belgium, Jewish leaders from across Europe, and civil society partners, as well as AJC leaders from across the United States, participated in the gala, which took place in the same hotel ballroom where AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization headquartered in New York, launched its Brussels operation in 2004.

“Brussels is the political nerve center of Europe,” said Harvey Kaplan, a long-time leader in the Kansas City Jewish community, who traveled to Brussels for the celebration and related meetings with European policymakers. “Understanding what takes place here, what the European Union does, is enormously important for us because it touches directly on the challenges that confront Jews, indeed democratic countries, worldwide.” Kaplan is a member of the board of directors and former chair of the JCRB/AJC.

Before the gala, the large AJC delegation spent two and a half days in intensive meetings with European parliamentarians, Jewish leaders and policy analysts, discussing the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the impact of Muslim immigrants on Europe, and anti-Semitism.

Ambassador Pierre Vimont, executive secretary general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), briefed the AJC group on current EU foreign policy priorities. The EEAS supports EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton in conducting the common foreign and security policy of the 28-member state regional bloc. In that capacity Ashton has been the lead interlocutor on behalf of the P5+1 in talks with Iran on its nuclear program.

The AJC group also visited the European Parliament to discuss EU-Israel Relations. “It was gratifying to hear directly from a Dutch member of the European Parliament, Bastiaan Belder, who chairs the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Israel,” said Kaplan. 

But rising anti-Semitism across Europe, revealed in a penetrating EU survey last year, was a disturbing theme percolating throughout the mission. “Our conversations with the leadership of the Brussels-based European Union of Jewish Students, who shared the challenges confronting Jewish students on campuses across Europe, were eye-opening and worrisome,” said Kaplan.  

So is the potential outcome of the European Parliament elections, slated for May. A significant percentage of the parliament’s 766 members could be representatives of fascist, neo-Nazi parties. That would pose a challenge to the values of European democratic societies for the next five years.

Launching TAI in 2004 fulfilled a vision of AJC Executive Director David Harris, who has led the expansion of the organization’s global reach over the past 24 years. TAI was made possible by the visionary support of Rhoda Baruch and her late husband, Jordan. Establishing a permanent presence in Brussels was a prescient move, indicative of AJC’s global mission. EU membership has grown from 15 states to 28 over the past decade, an expansion that AJC has supported.

During its first 10 years, TAI has informed a broad range of European leaders in Brussels on a number of pressing issues of concern to the transatlantic community, including Iran’s nuclear program, the Israeli-Arab peace process, terrorism, human rights, energy security, integration of immigrants, and, not least, anti-Semitism in Europe. 

“Hate crimes are a growing problem in Europe,” Cecilia Malmström, European commissioner for Home Affairs, said in her keynote address to the TAI gala. “It is time for the EU and its Member States to act firmly against it.”

The EU has reported a rise in hate crimes against gays, Muslims, and Jews. “Anti-Semitic hate crime was experienced by one in every four Jews in Europe,” according to a recent EU survey, Malmström said. “Young Jews are afraid to go to school, even in my own country of Sweden.”

All EU Member States are “obliged to ensure that hate crimes are investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted,” she added.

Other speakers at the gala included Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders; Francois-Xavier de Donnea, chair of the Belgian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee; Israeli Ambassador to the EU David Walzer; and U.S. Acting Chief of Mission to the EU Robert Wood.

“Transatlantic cooperation today is vibrant, and the AJC Transatlantic Institute is making an important contribution to the strengthening of this relationship,” said Donnea.

For nearly a century, Hillel’s network of dedicated student leaders, professionals and volunteers have encouraged generations of young adults to celebrate Jewish learning and living, pursue social justice (tikkun olam and tzedek) and connect to their peers and the global Jewish people. By participating in life-changing trips and campus initiatives, students learn to make a meaningful impact on the future of the Jewish people and the world while they grow intellectually, socially and spiritually. Hillels, such as the one at the University of Kansas, work toward achieving the mission of enriching the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. On the following two pages you will meet nine students who actively participate at KU Hillel, who give their impressions as the campus network celebrates its 90th birthday. 

It is hard to describe the critical importance that Hillels across the country play in shaping collegiate into Jewish adults. College is a time of transition, and for many adolescents and young adults, it is a time that unfortunately leads to secularity. Therefore, it is paramount that Hillels be in place to provide a home for Jewish college students, many of which live far away from their real homes and traditions. I can personally attest to this through the importance KU Hillel has played in my life. KU Hillel has provided me with the tools for networking with those in my Jewish community and an opportunity to build lifelong relationships with other Jewish students. 

Reflecting on all of my proudest moments at KU, everything comes back to what I have accomplished throughout my involvement at Hillel. The countless hours I have spent at 722 New Hampshire have completely shaped my college experience. I consider the staff and friends I have made at Hillel to be my family and my participation in the organization has opened the door to a huge network of advisors and mentors.  As a senior this year, the idea of graduating and being on my own in the real world is daunting. Fortunately, because of my involvement in Hillel, I feel confident that wherever I go and whatever I end up doing, I will be connected to the Jewish community and my Jewish identity.

After my Bat Mitzvah I was completely uninvolved in Jewish life, and I hear this happening far too often. I remained uninvolved all throughout high school and the better half of my freshman year at college as well. I was struggling to meet people who had similar values to my own, and on that reason alone I started attending Hillel programs. I soon realized that I wanted to do more than just show up, I wanted to be on the other end of things. I first came to Hillel purely for the social aspect, but staying involved and connected with my Jewish culture is what ultimately keeps me coming back. Hillel exposed me to an immediate community of Jewish peers that I could connect with and continually provides opportunities that enable me to explore my Jewish culture through the lens of a Jewish young adult.

Without Hillel, it would be needless to say that my wonderful years in college would have been incredibly different. It’s one of, or if not the one sole reason why universities everywhere have such a vibrant Jewish life. It would be an understatement to say I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to become apart of such a tight knit community. From freshman year to my final semester, Hillel’s presence helped mold me into a well-rounded Jewish individual. As I’ve graduated and sprang into adulthood abruptly, I realize now more than ever that my experiences with the organization will forever leave an impact on whom I’ve become. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me and I hope its success will continue to grow l’dor vador. 

Three semesters ago, I arrived at my school, eager to get to know people and branch out from my high school social groups. I visited with several different student groups, but none caught my attention like Hillel. They reached out to me, as a freshman, from the start — they didn’t just wait for me to come to them. From the moment I stepped through the door, I knew I was a part of something special. Hillel not only gave me a chance to reconnect with my Judaism — something for which I was sincerely searching — but it also afforded me a chance to become involved in ensuring that Judaism will have a strong base for future leadership in my generation. 

The teachings of Hillel have inspired me to be the vibrant, determined, relentless Jewish, young professional woman I am today. I have been given the opportunity and support to accomplish any task of my desire without ridicule or judgment. I am free to voice my opinion, whether people agree or not, and to ask questions, even when they may not seem appropriate. Hillel doesn’t tell me who Stephanie Glassberg is, they give me the opportunity to learn who she is and what she wants out of her short time in this life. Thank you Hillel, for letting me be me.

To be honest, I first joined the University of Kansas Hillel not knowing the reasons why I did. I don’t know if I thought it would look good on my resume, wanted to add to my Jewish identity, or even just meet knew people. After the European Leadership Mission Trip (ELM) to Bulgaria and Romania, the true reason why I think, anyone would join Hillel became apparent. It is our responsibility not only as Jews, but as leaders in the worldwide Jewish community to help and support each other in any way we can. Hillel has allowed me to help Jews across the world by purely putting a smile on their face. Hillel has helped me bring Jews together throughout my campus for a simple Shabbat dinner. Hillel has allowed me to do exactly what I never thought possible.

Like many universities across the United States and world, the University of Kansas has a large campus with a lot of students. For me, getting involved with KU Hillel was the opportunity to not only enjoy and experience Judaism, but it also represented the opportunity to engage with a caring and accepting community that would support me throughout my many college experiences. For the past 90 years, Hillel has provided a strong community for thousands and thousands of young adults, just like me, to explore and understand their connection to Judaism and the Jewish community.  

My identity as a Jayhawk will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ll always sneer at the color purple, I’ll wait all year for basketball season and I’ll always refer to the entire KU community as “we.” With graduation looming and my impending adulthood, my thoughts are constantly directed toward my next steps in life. However, I like to constantly remind myself of the memories and personal growth I’ve experienced throughout the past four years. 

My Jayhawk identity has been supplemented with something just as special: my Jewish identity. Hillel is a unique organization, unlike any I’ve been a part of. I’m always welcomed with open arms and I’m always finding myself in the middle of Jewish geography when I meet someone new. Because of Hillel and its leadership opportunities, I’ve traveled to Israel, Bulgaria and Romania. I’ve gone out of my comfort zone too many times to count and I’ve become a better person because of it. In fact, when it’s all said and done, I may even consider myself a “Jewhawk.” 

GLASER GIRLS ACT, RAISE MONEY — Last week Overland Trail Middle School presented the musical “Annie.” The opening night performance benefitted The Abby Glaser Children’s Heart Fund. The Abby Glaser Children’s Heart Fund supports the study of the causes, prevention and treatment of viral myocarditis and sudden cardiac death in children. 

Abby Glaser was a 5-year-old girl from Overland Park who died unexpectedly in 2001 from viral myocarditis, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in children. The OTMS cast chose The Abby Glaser Children’s Heart Fund as its beneficiary as two of Abby’s sisters, Olivia Glaser and Grace Glaser, were actresses in the musical. Many local restaurants and businesses graciously donated toward this important cause.

ISRAELI BLUES BAND COMING TO KC — The Ori Naftaly Band will perform at The Trouser Mouse in Blue Springs on Friday, March 14. They’ve been voted the Best Israeli Blues Act.

In a very short time this extremely talented band has gained international recognition and support by the international blues community and by an extended fan base, located in the United States, India, Germany and other countries all over the world.

Within the course of two years The Ori Naftaly Band has twice toured the United States and the Netherlands, won the Israeli Blues Challenge Competition, and was the first Israeli band ever to have reached the semi-finals of the International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tenn. They have released two live studio albums and are currently working on their third new album.

Ori Naftaly — founder, producer, composer and lead guitarist of the band — has been leading and managing the band since November 2011, together with songwriter, composer and lead vocalist Eleanor Tsaig. Their album “Happy for Good” conveys the band’s journey since the beginning of its activity.

The Trouser Mouse is located at 410 S. 7 Highway in Blue Springs, Mo. Call 816-220-1222 for ticket information. The performance starts at 9 p.m. 

CANCER CENTER OPENS — The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Center at Truman Medical Centers opened for patient care last week. In June of last year, Truman Medical Centers announced the $2.3 million gift by the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation creating the first cancer care center in Kansas City, Mo, to bear the family’s name. 

The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Center at TMC focuses on state-of-the-art quality care, comfort, safety and providing a healing environment for patients and their families. 

“The opening of the new cancer center is another in a long line of examples of the Bloch family’s dedication to improving and expanding the quality, not just of cancer care, but all of healthcare in the Kansas City area,” said TMC President/CEO John W. Bluford. “TMC’s goal is to provide our community with the best healthcare, in the best environment, with the best clinicians and positive outcomes possible and this new center delivers on that goal to our patients.”

By Barbara Bayer, Editor

It takes a lot of courage — some would even say chutzpah — to quit a job and go off to rabbinical school at age 49. Yet that’s exactly what Celeste Aronoff is doing.

Aronoff, whose last day as director of communications and administration for Jewish Family Services is March 14, has sold her house and is tying up her life here so that she can begin classes soon at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles. AJRCA is a trans-denominational, pluralist institution dedicated to the training of rabbis, cantors and chaplains. Its mission is to develop religious leaders steeped in Torah wisdom and tradition, and capable of transforming Jewish communities into places where all Jews can grow toward wholeness and well-being. Rabbi Doug Alpert was ordained by the New York City branch of AJR in May 2012.

“The Academy for Jewish Religion is very much designed for people who are already established in their careers and their families, so the average age of the student population is between the ages of 35 and 65,” explained Aronoff in an interview last week. “That’s part of what makes that an appropriate seminary for me.”

In some universities across the country, students of Aronoff’s age are considered non-traditional. Aronoff isn’t fond of labels — for instance she considers herself a Jew, not a Reform, Conservative or Orthodox Jew — so calling her non-traditional could aptly describe this choice as well as the way she has lived her life up until now. She said much to her mother’s discomfort, she has never approached her life in a traditional way.

Since Aronoff doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into one type of Jewish religion, her options for rabbinical school were clear. Besides liking the weather in Los Angeles, she chose the California branch of AJR because she wants to be “in a place where there are a lot of opportunities to explore the possibilities in what contemporary Jewish life can be.”

“I think I was looking for a place where there are others who want to create something new and that is useful for other people,” she said.

Aronoff believes Judaism is an incredible ancient wisdom tradition and she wants to explore that as fully as she can at AJR, without the parameters or limitations of denominational philosophy and theology.

“I don’t want denomination defining how I explore and understand and access everything Judaism has to offer. So an opportunity to go to a school where I’m taught by people who are Orthodox and are observant or really liberal in their understanding of Judaism … people coming from all different perspectives … is really, really important to me.”

As a student and a teacher of Raja yoga (meditation generally based on directing one’s life force to bring the mind and emotions so into balance that the attention may be easily focused on the object of meditation), Aronoff, a graduate of Boston University and Shawnee Mission East High school, said she is as interested in exploring the mystical as she is the liturgical.

“I really want to get a firm footing in a real cross section of ways into Judaism. And I don’t think I’m so unique in that. I think we learn a particular way or we are familiar with a particular way. I just think Judaism is so rich, there’s been a thousand differences in Jewish practice and observances throughout that time and all of them fall apart and are reconstructed in different ways. I just don’t want those differences to be the limitations I go to school with.”

The Road to Rabbinical School

While just recently deciding to explore the rabbinate, Aronoff began “a really intentional spiritual practice” during her sophomore year in college. She said it has guided the trajectory of everything in her life since.

“This seems like the next natural step,” she said.

Although she has been spiritual all her life, it wasn’t until recently that she really began understanding that she could be spiritual and Jewish. In fact before she moved back to the metro area after being away for 25 years, she ran — and lived at — a meditation center in downtown Chicago.

“It just became more and more clear to me that the place I felt most at home was in the Jewish community. So I started thinking about that seriously in 2005 and I moved back to Kansas in 2007. I started working in the Jewish community and exploring Judaism. I took the full Melton class, I was in the Helzberg Leadership program and I’ve been exploring this more and more deeply, doing tons of reading, talking to people, getting advice …,” she said.

One of the people she sought counsel from is Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, a childhood friend who happens to also be the Jewish Community Chaplain.

“He is this incredibly glorious, spiritual, Jewishly engaged person,” she said about Rabbi Rudnick.

After discussing her spiritual inclination and how she wanted to be of service with Rabbi Rudnick, she said he told her he thought rabbinical school was the place for her.

Aronoff said she was unsure, because she knew becoming a congregational leader was not what she had in mind.

“What I want is the community and the connection and the education and that’s what he wanted, and got, from rabbinical school,” said Aronoff about her conversation with Rabbi Rudnick that took place about two years ago. “It really got me thinking.”

So she conducted research and spoke with others, including Rabbi Alpert, who was about her age when he went to rabbinical school, and Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner.

“Those three people in particular helped me formulate what moving forward, in terms of pursing a rabbinical education might look like, and I got really serious about this just a little less than a year ago,” Aronoff said.

Rabbinical School and Beyond

Aronoff is entering a five-year program and will be in classes only three days a week. So there’s a good possibility that she’ll work, at least a little, while in school, and hopes to look for a job once she gets settled in LA. 

“I’d love to continue working in the Jewish community,” she said.

She wants to continue her work in spiritual education with her rabbinical degree, and she’s excited to travel down the path to what that will mean.

“Honestly I don’t know what the five- or the 10-year plan is. As far as I’m concerned this is a ‘calling’ and God has a hand in all of this and I think my job is to listen to that call and move forward according to it. And everything that needs to fall into place will. I would be a lot more concerned about that being a good plan, except that’s how all of my life has unfolded and it’s worked pretty well so far. I’ve just learned to trust that,” she said while sitting among boxes ready to be moved out of her JFS office.

“I am so excited to help people understand that they don’t have to leave Judaism to have a rich and relevant spiritual life and practice,” she continued. 

“I think my own experience really speaks to that because that’s exactly what I did, which is exactly why I want to help people understand that it exists within this context. The answers I didn’t necessarily get myself are available. Maybe they aren’t always so obvious but they are available and they are available Jewishly,” she said.

She admits that separating herself from family and community to find connection with God and to find a way into spiritual experience was a very artificial way of doing things.

“I don’t think that’s a necessity. I think of Judaism essentially as a spiritual tradition. What made Abraham who he was? What made Moses who he was? It was that they had a unique relationship with God. That relationship with God then formed how they related to the rest of humanity. It changed them fundamentally and I think that’s one of the things Judaism gives us is that way into a relationship that is potentially transformative and powerful and at their best, tradition and community are the vessels that give us a structure that allows us a way in, not keep us from finding a way in.”

She said what really interests her about Judaism is the conversation about God.

“To me the foundation of Judaism from the very beginning is that there is God and there is humanity and there is an opportunity for a special relationship between God and us,” Aronoff said.

She believes Judaism talks about what the nature of that relationship is and can be, but that conversation isn’t always front and center in our religious lives. However, she believes it is the heart of spiritual experience.

“So many Jews think of spiritual experience as separate from their Jewish religious lives. … They try all different kinds of things because they are not finding that spiritual heart within the context of their religion. It exists within Judaism, it’s just not so easy to access these days. I don’t know if that’s a contemporary American Jewish thing, but that’s the place that really interests me and that’s how I want to continue working with people,” Aronoff said.

No matter what, Aronoff wants to continue serving people.

“If I can translate what I’ve learned in a way that’s useful for somebody else so that they don’t necessarily have to spend so much time searching, but just see some of the beauty and the richness in the world they are already living in, I would love to do that.” 

By Carol Katzman

Special to The Chronicle

It’s no coincidence that Purim Gala honors those who epitomize a devotion to the Jewish community and Israel, as shown by Mordechai in the Scroll of Esther — which says that he “...sought the good of his people and was concerned for the welfare of all …” After all, it was Mordechai and Esther who thwarted the threat to the very existence of the Jews in ancient Persia.

Today, those threats are in the form of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its eerily similar pronouncements to wipe Israel off the map. Add that to the instability surrounding Israel — civil war in Syria, 500,000-plus Syrian refugees undermining Jordan, missiles from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the continuing clash between Egypt’s army and Muslim Brotherhood.

So who better to highlight the importance of support for the state of Israel than Bonnie and Matthew Siegel at the Sunday, March 9, Purim Gala. It’s that “Mordechai moment” that drives them.

Since arriving here in 1986, the Siegels have immersed themselves in Jewish life. Though Matthew has been an AIPAC supporter since the 1990s, their role became focused in 2008 when their daughter left for college. They reached out to friend and KC AIPAC founder Larry Nussbaum for information about AIPAC on college campuses.

“Not only do our kids need information to defend Israel against delegitimization,” Bonnie explained, “but adults need that as well. AIPAC is one of the only organizations focused on Americans understanding that an anti-Israel campaign is also anti-Jewish.” 

Bonnie chaired the first several AIPAC Israel Forums, which have become annual events drawing close to 500 each year. The forum’s goal is to educate members of the community — Jews and non-Jews, Democrats, Republicans and Independents — about the value of Israel as America’s staunchest ally and to strengthen that relationship by lobbying members of Congress during AIPAC’s annual Policy Conference.

“The Siegels and AIPAC ask you to support Israel, realizing these are perilous times for the only democracy in the Middle East,” said longtime advocate Kathi Rosenberg, who serves on the AIPAC National Council with Bonnie. “Now, more than ever, Israel needs our understanding, our help and our support.”

Rosenberg added, “Regardless of where your politics lie or which organizations you support, we know that the more we educate people about Israel, its democratic institutions and its valuable contributions to the world, the more secure Israel will be.”

“When the Siegels joined the KC Chapter of AIPAC, I thought we were doing well, especially for a community this size, and that we had reached out to everyone who could help,” said Jeff Horen, another longtime activist. “But Bonnie and Matt saw more potential. They underscored advantages we had, such as an unusually large proximity to very friendly members of Congress. They dramatized how much more we could do to help Israel at this critical time.”

Rob and Miriam Glueck have been AIPAC activists for more than a decade. “About five years ago, the Siegels invited us to dinner and wanted to know why we commit to AIPAC,” Miriam explained. “While many organizations contribute significantly to the Jewish people, when it comes to Israel’s safety and security, we believe no organization is more vital and more effective than AIPAC. And the Siegel’s passionate and effective leadership has dramatically contributed to AIPAC’s growth here.”

Brad Fahlgren, AIPAC Midwest area director, added, “K.C. is one of AIPAC’s strongest cities, pound for pound.” Not only does this community consistently send 80-plus people to the annual AIPAC Policy Conference (starting Sunday in Washington, D.C.) but it also has set the bar in fundraising for the bi-partisan, pro-Israel organization in similar size cities.

Horen added, “A lot of this has happened because Bonnie and Matt think big. They are willing to reach out to anyone. They relentlessly push for more, and make me feel truly valued and appreciated. As a result, Kansas City’s Jewish community is helping to protect the modern state of Israel. I cannot think of a better way to change history!” 

And to recognize the Siegels for their Mordechai moment.

Tickets and tribute opportunities are still available for the annual fundraising event, sponsored by Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner, the only modern Orthodox synagogue in Greater Kansas City. Purim Gala begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction and cocktails at 28 Event Space, 1300 W. 28 St., followed by dinner and entertainment. For information, contact Barry Rubin at BIAV: 913-341-2444 or .

BETH SHALOM UPDATE — The Kansas City Star reported this week that Burns & McDonnell wants to tear down Congregation Beth Shalom synagogue’s former building at 9400 Wornall Road, and build a $130 million office addition next to its world headquarters at 9400 Ward Parkway.

Beth Shalom sold the Wornall property to VanTrust Real Estate LLC on July 8, 2013. At the time Congregation President Michael Abrams said the purchase price was more than $2.3 million.

When the sale was completed, it wasn’t clear what VanTrust planned to do with the property, but Beth Shalom officials were told the building would be demolished. 

The project is contingent upon receipt of all necessary governmental approvals, incentives and entitlements and a final determination of financial feasibility by both Burns & McDonnell and VanTrust. 

THE NEXT TIGER WOODS? — Four-year-old Eli Cowsert, the son of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah members Cara and Wes Cowsert, likes to hit golf balls, so his father took a video of him doing just that. Next thing you know former Kansas Citian and KSHB sportster Justin Unell saw the video on Facebook and now Eli’s famous! Unell, who now works for the Golf Channel, saw its potential, and the video, along with tips for children who want to play golf, aired Monday night. When local channels learned about Eli’s shot on the Golf Channel, they featured him too, first on Fox 4 and then KSHB’s “KC Live.” As Eli, who starts kindergarten next fall, said on Fox 4, he simply “loves golf.” You can see the Fox 4 story at http://fox4kc.com/2014/02/21/young-golfers-impressive-swing-catches-the-attention-of-the-golf-channel/. His appearance on “KC Live” can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=c4-overview&list=UUbsDxIx4FVqccaEKyVxeQvw&v=m5TP-30BKZA&app=desktop. At press time links weren’t available for the Golf Channel.

ATHLETES & ACADMICS — Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s Upper School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams were both awarded the Team Scholar Athletes for the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Feb. 20. HBHA’s students had the highest grade point average of all the teams — boys and girls — in the conference. There are nine teams in the conference composed of private and charter schools as well as one state-sponsored school.

In addition to winning these prestigious awards, the boys’ team took second place and the girls’ team took fourth place in the league’s final standings. 

53RD MAYORS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST — Shirley Bush Helzberg will be the featured speaker at the annual Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast that will take place Tuesday, March 4, at the Kansas City Convention Center. The breakfast benefits the Assistance League of Kansas City. For additional information or to register for the 53rd Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast, visit www.kccmpb.com or call 816-863-0992.

ISRAELI FOOTBALL — Two Jewish Kansas Citians, Sagan Zavelo and Jerome Smith, now living in Israel, are associated with the Israeli Football League. The IFL is the not-for-profit home amateur home for American football in Israel. There is currently no pro football in Israel.

Zavelo’s parents, Kim and Scott Zavelo, live in Lenexa and are members of Congregation Beth Torah. Before moving to Israel, Smith’s family, including Eileen and Mikaella, were members of Kehilath Israel Synagogue.

Zavelo is a starting defensive back and star special teamer for the Tel Aviv Pioneers, one of 10 IFL teams. He led the Pioneers’ defense in their most recent win, a 68-0 rout of the Naharya Northern Stars, returning an interception for a touchdown. The Pioneers are on their way to a playoff berth and a hopeful return to the IFL’s championship game, the Israel Bowl, at Kraft Stadium in Jerusalem on April 11, 2014.

Smith is a statistician and spotter for the league. He notes, “It has really been fun, and listening to Perto and Kevin Harlan on WHB while driving around KC really helped me with the transition from fan to participant.”

Zavelo is a KU graduate and moved to Israel two years ago. He is presently in business development with Tamooz, Inc. in Tel Aviv, a marketing and communications agency specializing in wind and solar energy. When not playing for the Pioneers, Zavelo also coaches the Ra’anana Crocs of the Israel High School football league, and will shortly be assuming duties as the general manager of the Israel National Football Team.

Smith and his family moved to Israel this past August. He has continued practicing intellectual property law.

Last week Todd Stettner, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation, announced plans to retire, effective Sept. 15, 2015. Members of the agency’s board of directors were informed of this decision Thursday, Feb. 13, while others in the Jewish community learned the news via email the following morning. A search committee will be convened this fall to engage Stettner’s successor.

Patricia Werthan Uhlmann, chair of the Jewish Federation’s board of directors, said Kansas City has been extraordinarily fortunate to have someone of Stettner’s caliber in charge of the agency.

“He works tirelessly to educate our community on national and international issues that impact the Jewish world,” Uhlmann said.

Uhlmann said Stettner is well respected within the Jewish Federations of North America national system, both for his work locally and abroad. During Stettner’s stewardship of the Jewish Federation, he has been responsible for creating partnerships with communities in Romania and Bulgaria and strengthening our ties with our Israeli partners.

“He has opened the eyes of many in our community to the importance of these relationships,” Uhlmann said, noting that his vision of connection to Jewish people all over the world through these partnerships has greatly enriched this community.

Over the years, Uhlmann said Stettner has elevated the local Jewish Federation’s image within the national and international system with innovative projects. Jerry Silverman, Jewish Federations of North America CEO, has similar praise for Stettner.

“Jewish Federations of North America honor Todd Stettner for his commitment, passion and leadership of the Kansas City community. Todd’s years as chief executive of the Jewish Federation has lifted the community. Todd’s leadership goes well beyond Kansas City as he has been a strong supporter of the Jewish Global agenda in Israel and around the world,” Silverman said.

One of the Jewish Federation’s main purposes is to raise money so it can support its mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world. Uhlmann said Stettner has done a magnificent job leading the community’s fundraising efforts.

“Todd understands what giving tzedakah does for the soul as well as for the community. He’s very inspirational in bringing others to the joy of giving tzedakah,” she said.

Stettner has worked in social service for 35 years, coming to Kansas City in August of 1999 and succeeding A. Robert Gast as the Jewish Federation’s top exec. He will celebrate his 15th anniversary with the agency a few weeks before his departure.

Stettner made the decision to announce his plans now after discussing it with Uhlmann and other members of the Jewish Federation’s board of directors.

“This gives them time to conduct a proper search. When you are looking to fill a position like this you don’t know how long it will take to find the right person,” Stettner said.

Knowing he will be stepping down in a year and half gives Stettner and the Jewish Federation a chance to wrap up some initiatives Stettner has been leading.

“For a while now we’ve been working on a new engagement and leadership program, which is currently launching. We also have some additional engagement activities that we’re reviewing and preparing to launch,” he said.

Stettner said a change of leadership in the Financial Resource Development department presented a “perfect time to work on a new three-year strategic plan” regarding Federation’s fundraising. Derek Gale recently took over for Gail Weinberg, who retired as head of that department at the end of last year.

“We hope to have the plan done shortly and begin to implement it,” Stettner said.

Several other staffers have also left the Jewish Federation recently, but Weinberg’s is the only position that has been filled. Stettner said the agency is taking time to regroup and determine what it wants the staffing structure to look like as it moves forward.

“All of these things will begin to take shape in the next year. We want this all to be done and in place before I leave,” he said.

Stettner will be 66 when he leaves the Jewish Federation, but he’s not sure he’s “retiring from the world of work.” He’s considering a variety of options.

“We like Kansas City, it’s our home now. If we move it’s going to be because we’re moving somewhere to retire, not because I’m looking to take a job at another Federation.”

Stettner said he would consider filling in as an interim exec in the Federation system. He’s also looking at consulting opportunities and teaching.

“I’m exploring all my options to see what the next phase of my life will be. I do want to continue putting my skills to good use,” he said.

Stettner’s departure will come at the end of Uhlmann’s term as board chair.

“We have a lot left to do together,” Uhlmann said. “We look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of this great community!”