25 YEARS OF SERVING JEWISH BOYS — In September 1988, Jill and Ted Goldstein organized Cub Scout Pack 3153 as the “Kansas City Jewish Community Cub Scout Pack” along with its chartering partner Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Beginning with a handful of first-grade boys, the Pack grew to 21 boys in its first year under the leadership of Jill Goldstein, Cubmaster; Roger Eisenberg, assistant Cubmaster; Natalie Cohen and Suzanne Hankin, Den Leaders; and Ted Goldstein, Pack Committee Chair.

Since that time 448 individuals have been directly involved with Pack 3153, including 322 youth and 126 registered adult volunteer leaders. Currently about 35 boys are active in the Pack, which consistently earns the gold level recognition in Scouting’s Journey to Excellence (Quality Unit) program. The Pack offers the full Cub Scouting program while maintaining a Jewish flair — such as its annual Sukkah Camp-in Overnight event. The Pack is Shabbat and holiday observant, and is strictly kosher at all meetings and events including camp programs, which are subsidized by the K.I. Men’s Club.

Leadership of the Pack consists of fully Scout-experienced adult volunteers who have been trained in youth protection and leadership Scouting skills. Its current Cubmaster is Elly Goldstein.

Pack 3153 will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in grand fashion, beginning with Scout Shabbat on Feb. 8 in the K.I. Sanctuary, followed by a Kiddush reception sponsored by the K.I. Men’s Club and the Pack. The big celebration will conclude with the Blue and Gold Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 16, in the K.I. Social Hall. Pack alumni, members of K.I. and the community are invited to attend both functions.

This year, through the Pack’s religious award workshop program, a record 19 boys have completed the requirements for the two Cub Scout Jewish Religious awards, the Maccabee medal and the Aleph medal. These boys will be acknowledged at the Feb. 8 Scout Shabbat service, and will participate in the service along with the rest of the Pack, its leadership, alumni, friends and fellow Scouts.

The Blue and Gold Banquet and program will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, and this year will feature adult and alumni recognition. The White Cloud Indian Dance Team of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, one of Scouting’s honor programs, will perform following the dinner.

Questions and additional information regarding Scout Shabbat should be directed to Ted Goldstein at 913-642-8023 or . Questions and reservations for the Blue and Gold Banquet should be directed to Jennifer Conoley, Blue and Gold chairperson at 816-516-8290 or . Cub Scout Pack 3153 alumni (youth and adult leaders) are urged to contact Jill Goldstein at 913-642-8023 or . Cubmaster Elly Goldstein can be reached at 913-544-2354.

VIOLIN WITH A HISTORY — Joshua Bell will be performing with the Kansas City Symphony March 7-9, when he will be playing Lalo’s “Symphonie espagnol.” Only a few tickets remain to see the Jewish violinist. Those who are lucky enough to have tickets to one of his performances will likely see him play his 300-year-old Gibson ex Huberman violin. Believed to be one of only five or six instruments made in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari in Cremona, Italy, the violin has belonged to many, including the English violinist George Alfred Gibson. It is its connection to Bronislaw Huberman that drew Bell to this particular instrument. Huberman was a Jewish Polish violinist who lived from 1882-1947.

During Hitler’s rise to power, Huberman had the foresight to realize he could save many Jewish artists while fulfilling his desire to start a Palestinian Orchestra. Huberman auditioned musicians from all over Europe. Those selected for the orchestra received contracts and, most importantly, otherwise impossible-to-get exit visas from their homeland to Palestine. Huberman raised the money for the musicians and then their families, even partnering with Albert Einstein to set up an exhaustive U.S. fundraising trip in 1936. By the end of that tour, the money for the orchestra was secured and 60 top-rate players had been chosen from Germany and central Europe. All in all, it was a fantastically successful tour, barring one particular performance at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 28, 1936. That night Huberman chose to play the second half of his concert on his “other violin,” a Guarneri del Gesu. Following the performance he was informed that his Stradivarius had been stolen from his dressing room. Huberman never saw it again. Learn more about the violin’s history on Bell’s website, www.joshuabell.com. For ticket information, visit https://tickets.kcsymphony.org/single/psDetail.aspx?p=5421.

HAIFA SYMPHONY COMING TO KC — We learned late last week from the Israeli Consulate to the Midwest that the Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel, featuring standout Israeli pianist Roman Rabinovich, will be at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m. The performance is part of the Orchestra’s first U.S tour, which includes 26 cities from coast-to-coast. We hope to have more on that in the future. For ticket information, visit https://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/single/EventDetail.aspx?p=6472 or call 816-415-5025.

Some college students choose to relax during their winter break and vacation at a beach resort. Then there are others, such as a group of 20 students from KU Hillel who took part in the KU Hillel European Leadership Mission, choosing to wake up earlier than they do during a school day to learn all they can about the global Jewish community.

ELM, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Israel and Overseas Committee, is a high-level trip for top Jewish student leaders at the University of Kansas. The goal of ELM is to give students a deeper understanding of the economic and social issues that the Jewish communities in Bulgaria and Romania experience on a daily basis. The trip was led by KU Hillel Executive Director Jay Lewis, KU Hillel Director of Development Carly Stein and Jen Berman, an alum of KU Hillel who works for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

This is the seventh time the Jewish Federation has funded KU Hillel’s leadership mission — the previous six to Israel. All leadership missions are intended to give these students insight into the global Jewish community.

“It’s an investment in the future of our Jewish community,” Lewis explained.

Eastern Europe was chosen for this year’s leadership mission instead of Israel because the Jewish Federation is deeply invested in these communities as well as Israel. The change in venue would also give students a different perspective on global Jewry.

“The American Jewish education system does a nice job educating about Jewish life in the United States and what it means to be Jewish in the United States. We also learn a lot about Israel. But generally the only thing we learn about Jewish life outside the United States is Holocaust history,” Lewis explained.

“We think this was an opportunity to prepare these emerging leaders in our Jewish community and help them better understand Jewish global peoplehood and Jewish life outside the United States and Israel,” he continued.

This investment in KU students has proven to be a valuable one to the Jewish Federation, said its Associate Executive Director Alan Edelman.

“Our tradition teaches, ‘kol Yisrael areivim zeh la-zeh/ all of Israel (the Jewish people) are responsible for one another.’ The KU Hillel leadership seminar in Bulgaria and Romania, and in the past to Israel, operationalizes this important dictum by offering a service learning opportunity for these emerging Jewish adults who want to make an impact in overseas Jewish communities. By providing the funds to support the students participating in this program, the Jewish Federation shows its commitment to our overseas partners as well as to these students, who will become tomorrow’s Jewish communal leaders. An important aspect of being a ‘total’ Jewish leader is an awareness of world Jewry and taking action on their behalf,” Edelman said.

In Eastern Europe the group did a tiny bit of touring so it could better understand the history of the area. The majority of the trip was devoted to community service work within those Eastern European Jewish communities. They did such things as visit with seniors in their homes as well as senior living facilities and adult day care centers. They also visited with school students and Jewish leaders, both young and old. They visited three cities, the capitals of Bulgaria and Romania, Sofia and Bucharest, where the majority of the Jewish people live and Brasov, Romania, where the Jewish population is only about 200.

Lewis said the trip was transformative for every participant in probably 20 different ways.

“They absolutely got a good understanding about the Jewish community and what Jewish life is like in Romania and Bulgaria,” Lewis said.

Everyone, Lewis said, was inspired to see how hard people are working in Romania and Bulgaria to make sure Jewish life thrives there. Pearl Sonnenschein, a sophomore from Overland Park, said the third day of the trip while they were in Bulgaria had the greatest impact on her.

“We learned traditional Bulgarian dances with the elderly in the morning, and in the afternoon we visited senior citizens in their homes to learn about their lives during the communist era and the Holocaust. That day was the most impactful day for me because I gained a newfound respect for the elderly. I learned that every generation in the Jewish community is important to look after. We tend to give special attention to the younger ones because they are the next generation and will soon be the leaders in our community, but we must not forget the older generation. Their stories, experiences and life lessons are ones not to forget,” Sonnenschein said.

Stephanie Pollack, a senior from Overland Park, said the trip had a huge impact on her perception of Jews living around the world.

“This trip had an incredibly humbling impact on me. It opened my eyes to the connection Jewish people have with each other, near and far. Our visit to the Rosen Home in Bucharest, Romania, showed me just that. An elderly woman, Silvian, held my hand and cried when I told her I was Jewish traveling with a group of Jewish students my age. Her love for Judaism was almost as strong as mine, regardless of her age or geographical location. Now and in the future, I will be able to relate to a complete stranger across the world. Using the mitzvot of ‘loving a stranger,’ as the people in Romania and Bulgaria did for us,” she said.

Lewis said the students are all asked to “do something” after the trip is over.

“There is not one normative. It’s a short-term expectation, but it’s the long-term expectation that we put very clearly to the students. The reason why the Federation subsidized their trip and why KU Hillel is doing this and investing in them is that we are anticipating that they are going to be leaders in the Jewish community for the next 30, 40, 50 years. They need to bring this experience to their leadership roles and we are expecting them to be engaged and invested in the Jewish community,” Lewis said.

Having watched those who participated in six other leadership missions, Lewis believes that plan is working.

“They are definitely engaged in Jewish life wherever they are. Many of them tell us that out of all the things they did Jewishly at KU, this was the most impactful,” Lewis said.

Pollack, a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, said this experience will spur her to provide more for her Jewish community.

“These communities rely not only on their leaders but the young adults working as madrichs (teaching assistants). These people sometimes volunteer their time to make programs better and help the children or elderly enjoy each day being Jewish. This has inspired me to keep a closer eye on the problems we have here and be able to find a solution using the assets we have available. There are many things I hope to do in the future in Kansas City and Lawrence for my last semester at KU, the ideas coming from what I experienced in Bulgaria and Romania. The inspiration the leaders of their communities have given me is timeless and I am so thankful I was able to be a part of this mission trip,” Pollack said.

Sonnenschein hopes to share the information she learned on the trip with others in the Jewish community.

“We learned about how the JDC and the Jewish Federation of Kansas City have helped both Jewish communities in Romania and Bulgaria. Without them, the Jewish communities over there would basically have nothing,” Sonnenschein said.

She also learned that help doesn’t come solely in the form of money.

“Spending time with the communities there is another form of service, and a very important form of service. I learned that there are Jewish communities all over there world — some that are as prosperous as ours in the United States, and others that are on their way to being prosperous, like in Eastern Europe. But, as the saying goes: wherever you go, there’s always someone Jewish. And you have a special connection with that person, even if you live a million miles away from them.” Sonnenschein said.

Based on everything she’s learned, Sonnenschein, who is a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, said she plans to take on a greater role in the Jewish community here, especially after she graduates.

“Even though we have a fantastic Jewish community in the Greater Kansas City area, there is always room for improvement, and I want to be able to help with those areas,” she said.

The participants kept a blog during their trip. You can read more of their impressions while they were in Eastern Europe at Kansashillel.blogspot.com. Lindsey Havens, a sophomore from Chicago, also wrote a commentary about the trip in the University Daily Kansan, published Jan. 20. You can read it at http://kansan.com/opinion/2014/01/20/havens-service-trip-teaches-meaning-of-living-and-surviving-2/.

Imagine spending your entire career doing something you absolutely love to do. That’s the enviable position of Judy Jacks Berman, director of Congregation Beth Shalom’s Rose Family Early Childhood Education Center. She is celebrating 20 years with the school this year.

Jacks Berman’s “career,” began even before she graduated from high school. She and Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff of Congregation B’nai Jehudah, both at age 15, became the youngest senior counselors at the JCC’s Barney Goodman summer day camp. She’s been working with “little people” ever since.

Her professional career began 38 years ago after graduating from KU where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family life.

She married Steve Berman, now executive director of Congregation Ohev Sholom, the summer before her senior year. After graduation they moved to Los Angeles so Steve could attend graduate school.

Jacks Berman has worked with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years in preschools, as a summer camp director, for HeadStart and in a day care center.

“Very few people get to say that they love going to work every day and I’m still lucky that I do,” she says.

Her fondness for working with children began at Barney Goodman.

“The very first summer I worked as a camp counselor, I had 7-year-old girls and I loved it. They were great, they were fun, I loved them. Then the next summer they put me with 4-year-olds and … I fell in love with that age because they are such sponges and you can just watch them absorb and learn and explore and they’re so excited about anything you do,” she comments. “Their excitement is contagious. So once I worked with the little ones, that was it; it stole my heart and there was never any looking back.”

She says pre-K children are developing rapidly and it’s satisfying to know you’ve had an impact on their lives.

“The best thing about having been here for 20 years is to see the former kids, too, and they all remember me and they all come up and give me hugs. It’s so much fun to see where they are now and to hear about their lives.”

Jacks Berman believes Kansas City is lucky to have four “fabulous” Jewish preschools so that parents have options. But, of course, she thinks Beth Shalom is the best.

“I think our parents have chosen us because they really want an environment that’s warm and inviting and nurturing and where their kids feel like they’re really special, and I feel very fortunate that they have chosen us,” she says “We have the best faculty in the city. Our teachers are second to none and that definitely makes us so amazing. Our families are such committed parents, it really feeds it.”

Dana Schwartz, whose children attended Beth Shalom’s preschool, says Jacks Berman understands the developmental stages of children and the personality of each child.

“Judy has the keen ability to relate to all ages! Her smile, kiss on a child’s head, a huge personalized and loving ‘Boker Tov’ makes each person and parent feel like they are the most special person in the world, all the time, every day,” Schwartz says.

Marla Brockman’s children also attended Beth Shalom’s preschool.

“I was the early childhood education chair for seven years,” she says. “Kansas City has had some excellent preschool directors, but Judy Jacks Berman is the first early childhood professional who has come in and utilized the best practices in her field. She has professionalized the Beth Shalom program and has motivated her already outstanding faculty and staff to ever greater successes.”

Jacks Berman says half of the preschool comprises Beth Shalom congregants and the other half are either members of other congregations or unaffiliated. There are also a few non-Jewish families.

“They understand that we do the Jewish curriculum, so the kids learn all about Jewish holidays, traditions and customs, and they love the fact that  their kids are learning,” she says.

Changes in Preschool

Over the span of her career, Jacks Berman has seen many changes in preschool. She says expectations on preschoolers are much greater now because more is expected from kindergartners and they have to be prepared.

“What they used to expect of kids in first grade is now what they expect of them in kindergarten,” she says. “When I first got in the field 38 years ago, you never expected pre-K kids to read at all. … Now they have sight-word vocabularies that they expect them to come into kindergarten with and they expect them to know all their letters and all the sounds and how to count to 100. Years ago, they expected kids to be able to count to 10, now it’s to 100.”

So in anticipation of these objectives, Beth Shalom has instituted a new curriculum this year for math, literacy, handwriting and science, and in so doing had to increase the hours of preschool as well.

“I felt very strongly that I wasn’t going to give up the play that I felt was so essential and I really wanted there to be plenty of time for all of our Judaica programming, and I wasn’t going to give up any of the arts, so we had to increase our day,” Jacks Berman says. “Luckily, most of our kids have been in preschool for four years, so by pre-K, they really can handle a little longer day just fine. The kids have adjusted to it beautifully; they’re doing great and I feel like I didn’t have to sell my soul or something; I can still do everything that I totally believe in and enhance everything we’re doing.”

The hours for pre-K are now 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Jacks Berman also feels there’s a downside to the greater expectations on children.

“Unfortunately, I think there’s so much more competition in our society and it kind of ripples down to the kids somewhat. The kids aren’t competitive with each other, but the parents are competitive — what do their kids know; what have their kids achieved — and that’s a little bit sad to me that that’s trickled down even to the little kids,” she explains. “But unfortunately our society has gotten much more competitive. That’s probably one of the saddest changes.”

A special anniversary celebration will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Congregation Beth Shalom to celebrate Jacks Berman’s 20 years and to honor teachers at Beth Shalom’s Rose Family Early Childhood Education Center. Approximately 30-40 teachers (former and current) will attend the special Shabbat event, and alumni of the preschool, ages 5 to 25, are expected to visit with their former teachers and classmates.

“I’m just so honored that the synagogue is recognizing the last 20 years and I’m so thrilled to share this celebration with my teachers and to celebrate with all the kids that have been through the school. It makes it so special for me,” she says.

Jacks Berman and her husband Steve have two sons, Joseph, a rabbi in Boston, and Jeffrey, a lawyer in Los Angeles, whose wife Courtney is a rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College.

Are you one of those who thinks when you’re watching the Olympics on television …. “I wonder if he (or she) is Jewish?” Wonder no more because at least one athlete, cross country skier Noah Hoffman, is Jewish. And for those who play Jewish geography, he also has ties to the Kansas City area.

The 24-year-old skier is the son of Mike and Sharon Hoffman who live in Aspen, Colo. Mike Hoffman grew up in the metro area and is a graduate of Pembroke Country Day School. Mike went to college in Colorado and never moved back to the K.C. area. The skier’s grandmother, Hildy (nee Cohen) Flanigan, continues to live in the area as does his aunt, Martha Hoffman. He is the grandson of the late Edward Hoffman.

The 2014 USA Cross Country Olympic Team was officially announced Monday. On his blog (noahhoffman.com), Hoffman, who is currently training with the team in Italy and will be competing in his first Olympics, said he is excited to be a member of this team.

“I am impressed with the incredibly high level across the board of the athletes on the team,” said the skier who spends most of his time when he’s not competing training in Park City, Utah. He has been a member of the U.S. Ski Team since 2008 and is also a member of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail’s Team Homegrown.

Chris Grover, the U.S. head cross country coach, said, “We have a unique opportunity to make history in Sochi. Our team speaks to years of dedication, experience and hard work with veterans setting the stage to turn that work into great results. Additionally our younger athletes are fighting for results and have shown that they have earned their spots on this team. We’re ready for the challenge ahead.”

Hoffman is expected to compete in the skiathlon on Sunday, Feb. 9, (televised from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m. CST on NBC Sports Network and highlighted on the NBC broadcast from 1 to 6 p.m.); 15 kilometer, Friday, Feb. 14, (televised 4 to 6:30 a.m. on the NBC Sports Network); Sunday, Feb. 16 4 x 10 kilometer relay (televised live from 4 to 6:15 a.m. on NBC Sports Network and highlighted on the 6 to 10 p.m. NBC telecast); and Sunday, Feb. 23, 50 kilometer freestyle, 1 to 5 p.m. on NBC.

In an article published by FasterSkier on May 17, 2013, Hoffman admitted he may not medal this year.

“The Olympics are big in the U.S., and big for any skier’s career, but I believe it would be a shock to win an Olympic medal for me this year,” he said. “I have other very lofty goals that I hope to achieve, and only one of them, to be honest, has to do with the Olympics. I want to continue improving next year and continue striving towards my goal and continue reaching the top of the sport. One of them is to win an Olympic medal, but I don’t think that’s going to happen in Russia; more in South Korea [in 2018].”

On his website, Hoffman says his career goals are to win an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Championship, the Tour de Ski, and an FIS World Cup Distance Globe (the best distance World Cup skier for an entire season). He has postponed college in order to focus on skiing.

SUNDANCE DOCUMENTARY HAS KC CONNECTIONS — There’s been a lot written in the past week about the documentary “Selfie” that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. “Selfie” was produced by Sharon Liese, a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, directed by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Cynthia Wade and underwritten by Dove and a grant from the Sundance Institute. The movie “reveals how we have the power to redefine what is beautiful in all of us.”

Liese said Wade invited her to enter a competition that was offered to 60 filmmakers. “The challenge was to pitch a 3- to 7-minute documentary film about how women traditionally define beauty and how women of this generation are uniquely poised to redefine beauty because of social media.” She said she was attracted to the project because she had produced “High School Confidential,” a documentary television that chronicles the lives of a group of high school girls from freshman year to graduation.

“It’s pretty safe to say that I love documenting teenage girls through transformative times. This project gave me another opportunity to follow women and create something meaningful and empowering for women,” she said.

There are actually two versions of the film. Earlier this week the 7-minute film had almost 500,000 views and the shorter 3-minute version had close to a million hits. Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkm1Hg4dTI.

YAD VASHEM CONFERENCE — Monday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day and with that thought in mind we report that the Ninth International Conference on Holocaust Education is planned for July 7-10 in Israel. “Through Our Own Lens: Reflecting on the Holocaust from Generation to Generation” will take place at the International School for Holocaust Studies of Yad Vashem. This conference will bring together Holocaust survivors, scholars, educators and artists from three generations. It will provide a venue for those of the first, second and third generation, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who will engage in an educational, intergenerational and multicultural dialogue on how we will preserve the legacy and grapple with the challenges of Holocaust education in the years to come. Approximately 350 participants from 50 different countries are expected to attend. For more information visit https://secure.yadvashem.org/education/intl_conference/index.asp.

FAVORITE FOODIES — “In the Kitchen with Bonnie,” a multi-media foods series, is now available via podcast. Audiences can listen to the show, on-demand, at http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com/favoritefoodies/ or download at iTunes. “The podcasts enable us to deliver programming 24/7 via the computer and all mobile devices,” said Bonnie Rabicoff, producer and host. “We are pleased to provide an additional connection to show content.” “In the Kitchen with Bonnie” is a television, web, podcast and print production that takes place each week in the kitchens of Kansas City’s many celebrated chefs. The series began in June 2010 and highlights food products, preparation, presentation, beverage pairings and a behind-the-scenes chat with the chef. “In the Kitchen with Bonnie” can be seen on Educational TV, Time Warner’s “KC On Demand” (TV Channel 411), inthekitchenwithbonnie.com and Youtube. Audiences can listen to the series at the website and on iTunes. “In the Kitchen” is also featured each month in Eating Well in Kansas City, a magazine devoted to local, organic and seasonal foods.

Those who are passionate about Jewish social justice, listen up. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the executive director of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, will be at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah this weekend (Friday night, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25). The rabbi is widely recognized as the leading voice on Jewish social justice in the country. All events are free and open to the public. (See complete schedule below.)

Rabbi Jacobs has been executive director of T’ruah since April 2011. It is an organization of rabbis from all streams of Judaism that acts on the Jewish imperative to respect and protect the human rights of all people. Its mission statement states it is grounded in Torah and the Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization advocates for human rights in Israel and North America and was originally known as Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, which was founded in 2002. It was renamed T’ruah in January 2013.

Rabbi Jacobs has been named three times to the Forward’s list of 50 Influential American Jews, to Newsweek’s list of the 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America every year since 2009, and to the Jerusalem Posts’ 2013 list of Women to Watch. She holds rabbinic ordination (2003) and a master’s degree in Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a master’s of science in Urban Affairs from Hunter College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University. Prior to joining T’ruah, she worked at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and at Jewish Funds for Justice. She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters.

Rabbi Jacobs believes she is considered a leading voice on Jewish social justice because she thinks “there is a hunger for voices that connect contemporary social justice concerns with Jewish text and tradition in a way that is deep and authentic. This is what I strive to do in my rabbinate.”

The way Rabbi Jacobs connects Jewish text and tradition to tikkun olam is a big reason why B’nai Jehudah is bringing her here to speak.

“B’nai Jehudah and the Jewish community have a long history of engagement with the idea of tikkun olam, the things we do to make the world a better place. All of our congregations have been involved in things like helping to make our new JFS food bank real and viable. We all volunteer at various organizations and our heart has a very strong ethic toward repairing our world. And that’s wonderful and that’s good. But that’s one layer,” explained Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner.

Over the years Rabbi Shuval-Weiner has read about Rabbi Jacobs’ work, and heard her speak a couple of years ago. She was impressed by Rabbi Jacobs’ presentation and ideas, and how she adds another layer to tikkun olam.

“This idea of what it means to be people who live out a justice ethic became so clear to me that we are only beginning to scratch the surface in our community,” Rabbi Shuval-Weiner said.

“As we within a congregation are trying to understand what it means to do justice work, it just seemed that Rabbi Jacobs was the perfect person to come and teach us so that we could then engage in this conversation on a much deeper level and then figure out how do we become a congregation, a people who really live out the values that we profess to have.”

Among the things Rabbi Jacobs will teach about this weekend, Rabbi Shuval-Weiner said, include “what it means to live in this world in a manner that we understand God wants us to do.”

As Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff explained in his weekly e-blast to B’nai Jehudah members, it is Rabbi Jacobs’ goal “to call us to be an ‘Am Kadosh,’ a holy people.”

“Rabbi Jacobs and T’ruah sound the shofar to the human ills in our midst … and offer us ways to heal the brokenness we see,” he wrote.

T’ruah supports a variety of human rights issues. Right now Rabbi Jacobs said the Jewish community as a whole is at a critical moment in the question of where Israel fits into Jewish social justice.

“Most organizations that work in the realm of social justice focus on either Israel or the United States. But increasingly, Jews — especially young Jews — want our commitments to justice in the U.S. and our commitments to justice in Israel to go hand-in-hand. There’s a need for those of us who live here, but have deep commitments in Israel, to find ways to bridge these two commitments by dedicating ourselves to justice in both places,” she wrote in an email while visiting Israel last week.

The rabbi is, of course, honored to be recognized as such an influential woman among American Jews and notes there are many other “incredible rabbis and Jewish communal professionals and volunteers who don’t end up on these lists because their work is less public.”

“While it’s nice to see T’ruah’s work recognized, there are so many others who deserve recognition for the work they do day in and day out for the Jewish people and for human rights,” she said.

She’s looking forward to visiting Kansas City and hearing how members of this community think about human rights and Judaism, “and to share the work that T’ruah is doing to bring Judaism alive as a moral voice on the most pressing issues of our time.”

Community Editor Marcia Montgomery contributed to this article.

Legendary pianist Leon Fleisher has performed in Kansas City before. But he’s never performed at Helzberg Hall at the relatively new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, a concert hall he hears is both amazing and extraordinary. That’s not the only thing that excites him about coming to Kansas City and performing with the Kansas City Symphony. He finds it a great pleasure to work with its music director, Michael Stern.

“I’ve known him since he was a toddler. I’m enormously fond of him. I was very fond of and rather to close to his father, whom I miss very much,” said Fleisher in a recent interview from his home in Baltimore.

“I think you’re very lucky in Kansas City to have him as your music director.”

Fleisher will perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 7 and 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Feb. 9. He will also host a piano master class at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in Helzberg Hall. For ticket information, call 816-471-0400.

Stern said Fleisher has been one of his heroes for a long time.

“Of course, he has cast an enormous shadow over the entire course of music in our country for almost 70 years. I grew up with his legendary recordings, like so many others, but for me, the connection is more personal. I suppose his long friendship with my family when I was growing up, personal and professional, made it natural that he should be such an inspiration to me as a young student when I was developing my musical thinking. But that might have happened anyway — several generations not only of pianists but of all musicians in our country were lucky enough to have been inspired by him,” Stern said.

The Symphony’s music director went on to say that more than a pianist, Fleisher “is that incredibly rare artist who always combined unusual and truly original insight with a breathtaking ability to deliver the intent of the music on the page.”

“When Leon touches the keyboard, something magical happens, in the sound, in the weight of the notes, in the humanity of his communication. And when he is not at the piano, whether on the podium or in the teaching studio, that inspiration is no less palpable,” Stern said.

“It would be easy and accurate to see him as a link to a golden era of great musicians. But what is great about him is here he is, today, an incredibly vital musical force (with a wonderfully irreverent sense of humor) still making unforgettable music. When I officially assumed the post of music director of the Kansas City Symphony in 2005, he was our dream soloist in my inaugural concert. To have him back for the first time in Helzberg Hall, playing the Ravel Left Hand concerto as only he can, is a deeply moving moment for all of us onstage, an incredibly meaningful celebration of his 85th birthday and of his extraordinary musical spirit.”

Fleisher made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1944, and in 1952, he became the first American to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth of Belgium competition, establishing himself as one of the world’s premier classical pianists. At the height of his success, he was suddenly struck silent at age 36 with a neurological affliction later identified as focal dystonia, rendering two fingers on his right hand immobile. Rather than end his career, Fleisher began focusing on repertoire for the left hand only, conducting and teaching. Not until some 40 years later was he able to return to playing with both hands after undergoing experimental treatments using a regimen of rolfing and “botulinum toxin” (Botox) injections.

He’s been making music virtually his entire life and, he said, “it’s my life. It’s what gives me the greatest pleasure.”

He likes every facet of his work, whether it be playing, conducting or teaching. He said simply, “they are all different aspects of the same thing.”

He chuckles when he tells two stories about how he became a pianist. When he was very young, around four and a half, he remembers his mother giving him a choice — become the first Jewish president or a famous concert pianist.

“After careful consideration it struck me that being a musician was more accessible and I had a better chance of success,” Fleisher said.

While his parents owned an upright piano, Fleisher said neither of them were musical.

“But they were attracted to music and it was a manifestation of a certain kind of culture, I think. It spoke to them, I think, on a deep, emotional level,” he said.

Since his brother was older by five and a half years, he was given piano lessons. But Fleisher said his brother was never really interested in the instrument.

“He was rather cool about the whole thing, but it fascinated me. Those were the days when both doctors and music teachers came to the house and when he had his lessons I used to hide away in the corner and listen and watch very intently. Then when the lesson was over and he went out to the school playground to play ball, they tell me I went to the piano and did all the things that he couldn’t do that the teacher had asked of him. So they figured they were giving lessons to the wrong kid, so they gave them to me,” Fleisher explained.

The world-class pianist has received numerous honors and awards, including the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2007. In 2006, he was the subject of the Oscar and Emmy-nominated short documentary film “Two Hands.” In 2010, Doubleday published his memoir, “My Nine Lives: A Memoir of Many Careers in Music,” which he co-wrote with Washington Post music critic Anne Midgette. The book has received rave reviews, including this one by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

“Most musicians’ skills lie in their ability to be expressive in this non-verbal medium; Leon has the additional gifts of communicating ideas and concepts tactilely, viscerally, emotionally, spiritually and verbally. Generations of musicians, including this one, have been truly blessed to hear him perform and receive his teaching. In this candid memoir, Leon describes the many lives he has led and conveys one of the most significant of lessons: transforming adversity into triumph — and into wisdom.”

Fleisher’s bio notes that he is “85 years young,” which embarrassed the pianist when he heard the phrase. No matter how you describe his age, he said he has not yet considered retirement.

“I’m doing what I love, why should I stop it?” said Fleisher, who admitted he doesn’t travel and perform as much as he used to. “But it’s still probably too much.”

“I have students here at the conservatory, I teach at Peabody, which fittingly is the oldest conservatory in the country. I give about 40 to 50 concerts a year. We try to group cities within the same general geographic area.”

Before he comes to Kansas City, he will play in Galveston, Texas. When he leaves here he will return home for a few days before going to Rochester, N.Y., for a performance.

“God willing I’ll see you in Kansas City.”

On Friday, Feb. 21, Shabbat candles will be burning especially bright throughout greater Kansas City. That’s when people at all levels of Jewish observance are invited to participate in the Night of 100 Shabbat Dinners overseen by the JCC in partnership with local synagogues and HBHA.

“We took a cue from KU Hillel,” said Jill Maidhof, JCC director of Jewish Life and Learning, referring to that organization’s recent and highly successful Shabbat Around KU.

Coordinator Janna Rosenthal is working with organizational representatives who are encouraging people to gather privately at sundown on the 21st.

“We love that people who enjoy Shabbat together every Friday will do so this weekend,” Rosenthal said. “We hope that what distinguishes Friday, Feb. 21, is that participants will join new friends, new members of our community or their congregations, and even Jewish or non-Jewish co-workers to share the fun and beauty of Shabbat.”

Participating is simple: One can be a host or a guest. Let the JCC know if you plan to host a dinner and you’ll be added to the list of 100. If you need help finding a home to join or guests to come to your home, Rosenthal will match you up.

“This is an event for everyone because there are no rules”, she explained. “Some hosts will serve a traditional Shabbat dinner on a table with candles, challah and wine, while others may provide pizza that was just delivered! We don’t assume that people will bring any level of Jewish knowledge; we only seek to make it possible for anyone wishing to do so to connect with others and welcome Shabbat in a manner that’s joyous and meaningful for them.”

Rosenthal will provide user-friendly Shabbat guides for those who are not familiar with but want to experience Friday night rituals at their gatherings. She will also offer topics for informal conversation suggested by the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements. Those wishing to participate and/or seek Rosenthal’s assistance should call 240-417-6820 or email .

One group is well underway in planning a Shabbat gathering. The Kansas City Kollel is offering a Women’s Shabbaton beginning with a dinner on Friday, Feb. 21, at the home of Brenda Rosenthal featuring Kaila Lasky. A dynamic motivational speaker, Lasky tours the English speaking world, sharing her positive Jewish messages of how to attain a spiritual life and strengthen relationships with our friends, partners and ourselves. She is a featured lecturer for speakers’ bureaus of the National Jewish Federation, and gives regular “workout for the soul” classes in the tri-State region. Women are welcome to come to all or part of the Shabbaton. More information and registration can be found on www.kckollel.org.

Kollel Director Rabbi Binyomin Davis said, “We are delighted to participate in the Night of 100 Shabbat Dinners program, which is a great way for the community to share the light and joy of Shabbat. We hope that women from across the community will feel more than welcome to join us for our dinner and guest speaker that Friday night, in what we know will be a magical Shabbat experience.”

The Night of 100 Shabbat Dinners is one of several “100 More” events celebrating the Jewish Community Center’s century of programs and services in Kansas City. For more information about 100 More, visit the organization’s website at jcckc.org.

RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR — We send a belated but hearty Mazel Tov to Alan Gaylin, who was recently named Restaurateur of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association. Gaylin owns and operates Bread & Butter Concepts consisting of BRGR Kitchen + Bar, Urban Table, Gram & Dun and Taco Republic. Gaylin attended the University of Texas and worked as a server for Pelican’s Restaurant, advancing to the positions of general manager and director of operations. His restaurant experience continued after graduation, holding positions with various restaurant companies. He served as a senior vice president of operations at Kansas City-based Houlihan’s where he was part of the rebranding of the company. He hopes to establish Bread & Butter Concepts as a restaurant group that can grow throughout the Midwest and is an active part of the Kansas City community.

RABBI JACQUES IN THE NEWS — Temple Israel’s Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn is in the national news again. This time the Religion News Service featured him in a story headlined “Kansas City rabbi grows a congregation of Latin American Jews.” Published Thursday, Jan. 14, it explains how the Brazilian-born locally-based rabbi is catering to a growing number of Latinos who are choosing to convert to Judaism as they abandon the region’s dominant Roman Catholicism. You can read the entire story at http://www.religionnews.com/2014/01/14/kansas-city-rabbi-grows-congregation-latin-american-jews/.

‘LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’ RETURNS — “Listen to Your Mother Show: Kansas City” wants to read your story about motherhood. Stories are being accepted from all ages, genders and ethnicities about you as a mother, your mother or the mother-person who shaped your life for the second annual “Listen To Your Mother Show: Kansas City.” “Listen To Your Mother Show: Kansas City” is part of a national series of live readings of original stories about motherhood. This heart-warming and sometimes hilarious event will take place at Unity Temple on the Plaza on May 3. Ten percent of the ticket proceeds go to support Women’s Employment Network (WEN), www.kcwen.org. The show is being co-produced once again by Erin Margolin. The deadline for submission is Feb. 15. For more details, visit the website at http://listentoyourmothershow.com/kansascity/.

Little Raelee Linn Welch, the Jewish Chronicle’s First Jewish Baby of 2014, came into this world a little earlier than planned. That’s perfectly fine with her proud parents Lori Lentenbrink and Adam Welch, who along with Raelee received a variety of gifts from Chronicle advertisers. (See complete list at the end of the story.)

It turns out new mom Lori experienced some complications during her pregnancy. Lori suffered from cholestasis, a common liver disease that only happens in pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, it normally goes away a few days after delivery.

“Before she was born they told me they needed to get her out by 37 weeks but then I went in for my 36-week appointment and they said you need to go to Menorah right now,” Lori said.

A Caesarean section was performed on Lori and Raelee was born at 7:04 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Menorah Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces and was 16 ½ inches long.

“It was a high-risk situation but she’s perfectly healthy,” Lori explained. While Raelee was several weeks early, she did not spend any time in the neonatal intensive care unit and went home from the hospital on Sunday per a normal schedule.

Following the high-risk pregnancy, Mom Lori said she is now doing really well. Doctors will continue to keep an eye on her liver enzymes to make sure they stay stable.

Dressed in pink for her Chronicle photo shoot, Dad Adam described Raelee’s hair as “brownish blond.” Mom Lori really wanted a pink bow in her hair for the photo, but it just wouldn’t stay. Neither parent is quite sure of Raelee’s eye color just yet.

“They are kind of dark. I don’t know if she’s going to have brown eyes or if she’s going to end up with blue eyes. They are like a navy right now,” Lori said.

Lori said she has light eyes. She could take after her maternal grandfather in Texas, Norman Lentenbrink, who has blue eyes. Or her daddy Adam who has brown eyes.

Lori and Adam put a lot of thought into their baby’s girls name and how it is spelled.

“My grandmother’s name was Rae, so we wanted to do something a little bit more modern. And Adam’s middle name is Lee and his dad’s middle name is Lee so we just put the names together.

“Her middle name is Linn. My mom’s middle name is Lynn and Adam’s mom’s name is Marilynn. Then my best friend Lindsey passed away in April and we put the spelling of Linn toward Lindsey’s name in honor of her. She’s definitely got a meaningful name,” Lori noted.

Raelee will share her parents with older sister Madalynn, who is Adam’s daughter from a previous relationship, and two dogs. The family lives in Lenexa.

“We’re definitely going to have a full house. It’s going to be an interesting endeavor,” Lori said.

Lori has lived in the area since 1997 and her family belongs to Congregation Beth Torah. She hopes to go back to work as a server sometime in the future. Adam works as a service crew leader at Gameroom Concepts, a new division of Seasonal Concepts that opened this fall in Overland Park. Lori and Adam are engaged and have been a couple for almost four years.

Coincidentally, a Jewish nurse, Leah Anton, R.N., was in the delivery room when Raelee was born. Anton is a labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum nurse and helped care for mother and baby that first night.

Raelee and her parents received the following gifts from Chronicle advertisers as the 2014 First Jewish Baby:

BRGR Kitchen + Bar — $25 gift card

Carmen’s Café Italian & Tapas — Baby’s first pasta meal

Cigar & Tabac, Ltd. — “It’s A Girl” cigars

Cosentino’s Price Chopper — $25 gift certificate

Craig Sole Designs — Bouquet of flowers

Eyestyle Optics —New pair of sunglasses for the new mom

French Market — Gift certificate

Gates Bar-B-Q — $25 gift certificate

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy — $500 gift certificate toward 2019-20 HBHA kindergarten tuition and HBHA “Future Ram” bib

Irish Crystal Co. — Reed & Barton Silver-plated Pull Duck Bank

Italian Gardens To Go — Gift basket

Johnson County Community College Performance Arts Series — two tickets to a spring 2014 show

Marilyn Arnold Designs — Baby’s first pillow

Nothing Bundt Cakes — First piece of Bundt cake

Riley’s Phillips 66 — $25 gift certificate

Sheridan’s Lattés & Frozen Custard – Gift certificate

The Tasteful Olive — $25 gift certificate

Weber Creative Arts — Free family photo shoot and two retouched 8 x 10 photo prints