Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City, the new Reform congregation which held its first service in Overland Park on April 1, has signed a lease with Congregation Ohev Sholom to hold worship services, classes and events at the synagogue’s building located at 75th Street and Nall Avenue in Prairie Village. Temple Israel will conduct its first Shabbat service at Ohev tomorrow evening (Friday, Aug. 5) at 6 p.m. The one-year lease has renewable options. Since its inception it has been holding services at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal church in Overland Park.

Members of TI’s interim board of directors have also been making plans for religious education classes to begin in the fall. TI already has a membership of 50-plus families.

Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn, TI’s rabbi, is happy with the arrangement.

“In my many years here in Kansas City, I always found Congregation Ohev Sholom to be warm and welcoming. Rabbi (Scott) White has been a colleague and a friend, thus I am thrilled that our congregations have worked out an agreement. I know this arrangement will be beneficial for both congregations and I look forward to not only sharing space but sharing activities as well,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.

Ohev President Audrey Asher said the congregation is “very excited to have this shared relationship.”

“We look forward to having programs with them,” she continued.

Rabbi White agrees.

“When you measure Jewish demographic trends against the amount of bricks and mortar and staff that has to be maintained in this town, growing collaboration between congregations is the wave of the future. It’s already well under way in terms of holding combined programs, and I’m excited that my congregation is facilitating another stage,” Rabbi White said.

Interim Board Member Diana Resnick was in charge of finding a space for the congregation to meet. A realtor by profession, Resnick said the congregation was looking for a space in Kansas in a core area that is bound by 75th Street to the north, I-435 to the south, State Line Road to the east and Metcalf Avenue to the west.

Resnick said TI’s Erev Shabbat services will be held in Ohev’s sanctuary. Ohev will continue holding its Shabbat morning services in the sanctuary. Rabbi Cukierkorn will have office space at Ohev as well.

TI’s High Holiday services are scheduled to be held at Ohev’s Asner Hall, while Ohev conducts its holiday services in the sanctuary.

“Asner Hall is lovely and it can accommodate a lot of people,” Resnick said.

“They welcomed us with open arms,” Resnick continued. “It’s not easy to get another congregation to open their doors.”

Upcoming events

In addition to searching for a home, members of the TI interim board — including Resnick, Erin Margolin (president), David Seldner (secretary), Deb Trout (treasurer), Andrew Bergerson, Denisse Cukierkorn, Joyce Fulps and Linda Walts — have been preparing to have a full slate of programs beginning this month. The first will be a congregational trip to Joplin, Mo., on Aug. 12. TI congregants will worship and visit with members of The United Hebrew Congregation, who are still suffering the effects of the deadly May tornado.

“Joplin was one of my student pulpits (1991-92) while I was in rabbinical school. Although I am extremely saddened by the circumstances, I am pleased to be able to return with members of Temple Israel to Joplin and show our love and concern for the community by leading Shabbat services there,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.

The congregation’s current plan is to leave Kansas City, via bus, at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Joplin at 5 p.m. Following a tour of the area, the group will have dinner at a Chinese restaurant with members of The United Hebrew Congregation. Worship will begin at 7:30 p.m. The bus is expected to return here by midnight. For reservations and information regarding cost, contact Joyce Fulps at (816) 363-7000.

“The whole Jewish community is welcome to join us,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said. “Feel free to call me at (913) 940-1011 if you wish to join us or send things for people in need.”

Also on the agenda is a “Welcome Home Shabbat” planned for the end of August. The Reform congregation is planning its first official board meeting and election of officers on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Interim President Margolin is thrilled with how much progress the congregation has made in such a short time.

“We are seeking to be the area’s most inclusive and congregant-centric Jewish organization, where every member and family will feel needed and empowered as an integral part of our Jewish community,” she said.

Margolin believes TI is very lucky to have Rabbi Cukierkorn as its rabbi.

“He is a rabbi that knows all his congregants on a very personal level. He’s responsive and easily accessible. You don’t get that everywhere,” she said.

A new approach to Jewish education

Board Member Bergerson has been integrally involved in planning what TI is calling a new approach to Jewish education: the Jewish Morasha (Legacy) Program.

He explains that instead of conducting a weekly religious school on Sunday for children, TI will offer Jewish instruction through short, two-month courses. Margolin adds that classes will not be just for kids and they will be open to anyone, including entire families or individual adults, who want to learn more.

“We will have family learning days and other flexible learning options designed to allow our congregants to learn about Judaism in ways that meet the needs of busy families and their schedules,” Bergerson said.

“Learning is for everyone from small children through adults, no matter how much you know or do not know about the Jewish tradition,” he continued. “At the core of this education program stands direct access to Rabbi Cukierkorn for advice on all things Jewish. We call it concierge Judaism.”

TI’s plan, he said, is to make “Jewish education fun and relevant by basing instruction on what interests our congregants about Judaism.”

What kind of community do you want to live in?

Miriam Scharf has a vision of the kind of community she wants for her children and grandchildren, and she’s committed the next two years of her life to doing her best to make it a reality by serving as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

“I grew up in New York City,” she says. “There you have the luxury of participating or not. In a community like Kansas City, it’s up to us all to do our part, whatever that means, to have the kind of community we all want to live in.”

Three primary goals

Building on the work of task forces initiated by Bill Carr, her predecessor as president of the Federation, Scharf has set three primary goals.
“My number one goal is to engage the next generation in philanthropic endeavors in the Jewish community through leadership programs, involvement in decision making, educational programs, missions and whatever else it takes,” she said.

In tandem with that, Scharf understands the need to stay focused on financial resource development and to expand efforts to educate the community about the Federation’s role in sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world.

She also wants to make welcoming interfaith families a priority.

“Studies show that in some communities as many as 50 percent of Jewish families are interfaith,” she said. “In a community like Kansas City, I think we can do a better job of addressing some of the needs that interfaith families have, engaging the interfaith family in Jewish community activities and making them feel welcome.”

Where some may see challenges in achieving progress toward these goals, Scharf sees opportunity.

“No question there are challenges,” she says. “The area’s Jewish population is shrinking and aging while organizations seeking philanthropic support in the general community continue to expand.

“On the flip side, we have this gem in Kansas City — this vibrant, energetic, interesting Jewish community. It’s large enough to have wonderful programs and activities, but small enough to be manageable. We need to build on programs like Imagine Jewish Kansas City and other efforts to encourage more young professionals to settle here. And for those who feel the future of our Jewish community is important, we need to provide more opportunities to endow their gifts.”

No fear of fundraising

Scharf comes to the presidency with years of communal experience.

Upon moving here in 1977 with her husband Dan and their young children, she connected almost immediately with the Federation through Women’s Division’s leadership training program, serving in subsequent years on a variety of committees and as Women’s Division campaign chair and president.
On the Federation board of directors, she chaired the Israel and Overseas Committee and most recently served as campaign chair, which, as she explains, had a major impact on her attitude toward fundraising.

“Years ago, I felt intimidated asking for money” she said. “Now I feel most people are and want to be philanthropic. It isn’t that they are giving away money they can’t afford. All you’re doing is sharing your passion about the organization and explaining to donors why you feel they should support it. The emphasis isn’t, ‘Oh, I’m going to ask this person for money,’ but rather, ‘Oh, here’s an opportunity to showcase this fabulous organization.’ You hope what you say strikes a chord, they see it the way you see it and are happy to support it.”

Scharf says it’s an honor and a privilege to serve the Jewish community and that she is humbled by the trust and responsibility placed in her hands. Her message in a nutshell: “We have this fabulous community and it is up to all of us to take care of it to make sure it continues.”

Annual meeting set

Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
78th Annual Meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 7
6:45 p.m.
Oakwood Country Club
9800 Grandview Road
$15 per person, includes a dessert reception (under Vaad supervision)

Also Honoring:
Outgoing officers, directors and committee chairs
KU Hillel and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Community Program of the Year Award Winners
Neal Schwartz, Dan Fingersh Young Leadership Award Winner
Dayna Gershon, CAJE Teacher of the Year

Reservations required by Aug. 31. RSVP at www.jewishkansascity.org, or call (913) 327-8103

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and Jewish Federation of St. Louis continue to help victims of tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., through emergency relief fundraising efforts. To date, the two Jewish federations have raised $226,000 — $176,000 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and another $50,000 by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.

Kansas City, which considers Joplin a neighboring community, raised funds from board allocations, individual donations and from Jewish federations and foundations across the country.

“Because our network of Jewish federations is uniquely situated to respond quickly during an emergency, within 24 hours of the tornado, donations started pouring in,” said Todd L. Stettner, executive vice president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Federation.

And donations continue to roll in from across North America.

The money raised has directly assisted residents of Joplin via partner agencies Heart to Heart International, which continues to provide medical assistance and basic care kits to tornado victims; and Salvation Army and United Way, which have provided everything from immediate basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing to ongoing assistance, including mental health counseling, job training, and money to help with rent, utilities and to help rebuild homes.

“The response to our Tornado Relief Fund has been unbelievable,” said Bill Carr, ‘resident, Greater Kansas City Federation. “On behalf of the Jewish federations in Kansas City and St. Louis, I personally want to thank all of the individuals — from all over North America — who stepped up to help our neighbors in Joplin.”

Once the tornado hit — the deadliest in American history with 139 deaths and thousands of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed — the two Missouri-based Jewish federations acted quickly to begin raising much-needed emergency assistance funds.

“Jewish Federation of St. Louis worked immediately and closely with the United Way of St. Louis, which provided excellent guidance regarding Joplin’s community needs,” said President Sanford Neuman. “Our St. Louis Jewish community response has been amazing. While Jewish Federation of St. Louis collected emergency donations, our agencies and congregations not only raised money but collected needed supplies. For example, Congregation United Hebrew sent a pickup truck, cargo van and UHaul truck to Joplin loaded with urgent supplies requested by the Joplin Jewish community. Just like our colleagues in Kansas City, we knew it was important to get emergency assistance money and supplies to those who needed them, as quickly as possible.”

Working together, Barry Rosenberg, Jewish Federation of St. Louis executive vice president, and Stettner discovered that the one Joplin synagogue was intact, and the five Jewish families in Joplin who lost their homes had the assistance they needed. However, both Jewish federations acted as their community liaisons, providing information to Jewish service organizations and synagogues in their cities, and linking community partner agencies and individuals together for concerted volunteer efforts.

“This was a no-brainer for us,” said Carr. “It was an easy decision for us to act in our continued role to mobilize the community and provide a local ‘Jewish’ response to the challenges they face now and in the future as they rebuild their lives.”

To donate to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City tornado fund, go to www.jewishkansascity.org, or mail to The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Attn: Kansas-Missouri Tornado Relief Fund, 5801 W. 115 St., Suite 201, Overland Park, KS 66211.

To donate to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis Joplin tornado relief fund, go to www.JewishInStLouis.org/JOPLIN or make your check payable to Jewish Federation of St. Louis – Joplin Relief and mail to 12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146.

Jewish Federations of North America and its affiliate Jewish Federations are committed to care for victims of global natural disasters, and have emergency relief plans into place to aid those in need. Jewish Federations have so far raised more than $1 million to help those affected by the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan, more than $30 million to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, and $10 million for those affected by the southern Asia tsunami in 2004.

For seven years Congregation Beth Torah has hosted a women’s retreat for Rosh Hodesh Elul. For five years, the same three women, along with Rabbi Vered Harris, have come together to plan it. The women — Hedy Goldman, Judy Kass and Maureen Salz — each play a different role in making the event a success.

The Rosh Hodesh Elul Women’s Retreat — “Return to Sacred Places,” will be a time for women to prepare for the High Holidays. It begins at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Congregation Beth Torah. It is open to the community, costing $18 for members and $22 for non-members.

The title comes from artwork that Salz saw in Arizona of a Native American woman walking in a field. She was so spiritually touched by the subject, she bought it. Now the title is the call to bring women together.

“For me this retreat is the beginning of the High Holiday season,” said Rabbi Harris. “It gives me the time to prepare for everything as a woman, rabbi, mother and wife, as well as a guest.”

“Rosh Hodesh is traditionally a holiday associated with women,” she said, “and Elul is the month for preparing our souls for the High Holy Days.”
She believes the artwork chosen for the invitation touches on this.

“It captures for us what we are doing in Rosh Hodesh Elul,” Rabbi Harris said. “We are returning to the essence of our souls in preparation for the New Year and the rebirth of Yom Kippur.”

The first retreat came about as a way to go back to the tradition of celebrating Rosh Hodesh for women and to ensure spiritual time for the New Year. Twenty-five women attended the first retreat, which was an all day event. Last year, more than 40 women attended. Originally it was an all-day event, but in 2009 organizers found that holding it in the evening made it available to more people. While the event is a little shorter, it still gives the women a chance to gain inspiration from each other as well as enjoy each other’s company.

“Taking it from daytime to evening seems to have really made a difference for women to be able to participate,” Rabbi Harris said.

Now the four women who plan the event have the program set, each one playing an important role.

“Hedy makes everything beautiful. She is the supreme hostess. Maureen keeps us on track; she keeps us organized. And Judy keeps us real and her art work keeps us inspired,” said Rabbi Harris. “We all bring to the table a lot of laughter and humor.”

While Rabbi Harris says it is the three volunteers who keep the event going, Salz sees it differently, “If not for Vered we would not have this event. She makes it!”

Three core elements are important to the retreat. The first is discussion among the women about topics that help them get to know each other. This is held over a festive meal. In the past a caterer prepared the meal, but this year the theme is Jewish foods from around the year. The meal will represent each holiday with a different food, some prepared in the Ashkenazi style, others in the Sephardic traditions. Volunteers are doing the cooking.

Second is gentle, meditative yoga, a way to sooth the body and mind as women get ready to prepare for the hectic time the holidays bring. Shanna Haun leads the yoga, which is designed so that everyone can participate, with some poses done while sitting in chairs. The yoga is optional, since it starts at 4:30 pm, but they are hoping everyone will be able to participate this year and realize that it is not intended to be strenuous, but relaxing.

Finally, the women participate in a prayer service led by Rabbi Harris and Linda Matorin Sweenie, Beth Torah’s music director.

“Worship is always a highlight for me,” said Rabbi Harris. “Although it is an evening service, and not a time when we would traditionally read Torah, we always include a Torah service at the women’s retreat. This is a time when women who have never worn a tallit are invited to … learn to put one on.”

“We raise our voices,” she said. “We pray, really pray, from the depths of who we are. It’s beautiful.”
For further information call Rabbi Harris at (913) 498-2212.

JCCC HONORS OPPENHEIMERS — A new sculpture park to be located in front of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College will be named in honor of Marti and Hamilton G. (Tony) Oppenheimer. The park naming is in recognition of a recent pledge of $100,000 to JCCC.
Tony Oppenheimer, a senior vice-president and private client adviser responsible for business development for U.S. Trust, Bank of America in Los Angeles, and his wife, Marti, a jewelry designer, maintain residences in both LA and Kansas City. They have a long history of philanthropy and community involvement in both cities.
The Oppenheimers, major patrons for art on the campus, began donating sculptures to JCCC in the early 1990s. Over almost 20 years, they have acquired numerous important t works for the college including sculptures by Magadalena Abakanowicz, Stephen Balkenhol, Jonathan Borofsky, Louise Bourgeois, Barry Flanagan, Do Ho Suh, Judith Shea and Huma Bhabha. The museum’s lawn will serve as an ideal site for future sculpture acquisitions.
The Oppenheimers were featured on the cover of the 2010 Jewish Chronicle Guide to Jewish Life. Next year the Nerman will host a gala and exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Oppenheimers’ support of art at JCCC and the Nerman Museum.

NOT SO SCARY — When Sally Tranin’s grandchildren (Alex and Emily Tranin and Nathan and Lewis Greenstein) were young, they were afraid of storms. So Tranin wrote a picture book, illustrated by Larry Nolte, called “Kaboom,” to help them better understand storms. Tranin was kind enough to donate some books to the Salvation Army when she wrote it. Following this year’s stormy season, Tranin was asked if she could donate more books, which she happily did.

MORE LOCKS OF LOVE — Young girls in the Jewish community are learning about doing personal mitzvahs at an early age. Recently 3 ½-year-old Elia Remi Ellis had her first haircut ever at Michael Shae Salon in Leawood and chose to donate two 9-inch ponytails to Locks of Love. Mother Andrea Ellis said Elia’s hair was so long she was having horrible problems with tangles. As they discussed the need for a haircut, they impressed on the little girl, who attended camp this summer at the Jewish Community Center and is a preschool student at the Rose Family Early Childhood Education Center at Congregation Beth Shalom, how much she could help others by donating her hair to Locks of Love and how special it would be for her to do a mitzvah. Mom said it was an awesome moment and Elia is very excited and proud of her donation.

Correction

The review in last week’s edition (July 28) of Sunset Grill neglected to mention the restaurant’s address. It is located at 14577 Metcalf in Overland Park. The phone number is (913) 681-1722.

When Alan Gaylin decided to open a second restaurant at Corinth Square, he wanted it to be different than other restaurants in the area. He came up with the concept he now calls Urban Table, which opened Monday, Aug. 1, at 8332 Mission Road in Prairie Village. The Jewish man, along with partners Glenn and Jean Roberts, owns Urban Table’s parent company, Bread & Butter Concepts, which also owns BRGR Kitchen + Bar in Corinth.

Urban Table is the contemporary interpretation of the corner café and market.

“We thought if we’re going to do something else besides BRGR, let’s see if we can’t offer them something else that is going to attract them to stay in this market and in this center rather than going off to another restaurant in Prairie Village, Brookside or the Plaza or whatever,” Gaylin said.

Urban Table combines the best qualities of a dine-in or take-out breakfast kitchen, lunch shop and dinner destination. It opens at 7 a.m. and customers can choose to enjoy a full breakfast menu, a fresh pastry bar and an extensive coffee bar featuring Intelligentsia coffees — all either dine-in or carry out. Breakfast items are served until 4 p.m. daily.

Lunch is served beginning at 11 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. The menu includes “bistro gourmet-type” sandwiches, salads, chili and a seasonal soup that changes daily. Patrons order at the counter for both breakfast and lunch. Servers then deliver the food to the table.

“It’s a very casual atmosphere during the day and I think a lot of people will come and grab something and sit down and eat it as well as order something and sit down and eat. Others, we think, we’ll grab something and take it with them,” he said.

The bar features “impressive wine and craft beer lists.” All menu items will be “locally brewed and homegrown” using fresh, local and organic ingredients.

Gaylin said dinner is more of a “wine bar full-service operation.”

“The dinner menu includes many appetizers, bruschettas and fresh entrees created every day using fresh ingredients and pastas,” he said.
In addition to the food prepared to order, Urban Table has some retail components. Customers can purchase fresh flowers, or pick-up pre-made breakfast goods and salads. Retail products also include sauces, oils and flavored popcorns.

“We’re trying to respect our neighbors (Great Harvest) so we don’t do fresh breads. We don’t do fresh cheese because there’s a grocery store (Hen House) that has a gourmet section. We’re just limiting it to some fun things that they probably couldn’t get at an actual grocery store,” Gaylin said.

Gaylin said he added the retail aspect because “it’s fun and really cool to look at.

“We’re not retailers. It really goes hand-in-hand with what we do.”

Urban was chosen as a part of the name, Gaylin said, as a way to tell people that they were bringing something urban to the neighborhood. As for the table, Gaylin said they thought it implied multi uses because “you can eat there, you can take it home and eat at your own table.”

“It’s something unique to Kansas City. I don’t think that there is anywhere else in the market that does a combination of what we will do at this place. I think people will be really excited to be able to use it that way. Literally people can come by twice a day if they want. They can drop by in the morning and grab a coffee and a bagel or a pastry and they can come back and have a glass of wine or some cool apps for happy hour or you could come back for dinner. It’s really a neighborhood place where people can use it as many times as they choose to use it in many different ways,” he said.

Gaylin is the managing partner who does everything for the restaurants. He started coming to Kansas City as vice president of operations for Houlihans Restaurant Co. in the late 1990s, eventually moving here as the company’s chief operation officer. In 2005 he decided to become a Houlihans franchisee and moved to Arizona.

As Urban Table gets up and running, he will spend a lot of his time there. But when he has to go to BRGR, he can walk from one to the other in less than a minute.

“BRGR has been in business for 18 months now and I have a great team of managers and they run it well,” said Gaylin of the popular restaurant.

The Gaylins still officially live in Arizona, but purchased a home here right before they opened BRGR in March of 2010. As they continue to spend more and more of their time here, Gaylin said they look forward to becoming more a part of the Jewish community.
For more information visit urbantablekc.com or call (913) 948-6900.

The Vaad Hakashruth of Kansas City has hired Rabbi Mendel Segal as its new executive director. The local community service organization whose mission is the maintenance of kosher supervision here in town had been without a full-time executive director for more than a year. Rabbi Segal has been on the job since July 5.

Rabbi Segal, who was ordained as a rabbi by West Coast Rabbinical Seminary in Westwood, Calif., in 2003, most recently served as the manager of the kosher food department at the Hen House Market located at 11721 Roe Ave. in Leawood.

Rabbi Segal reports to the Vaad’s board of directors as well as Rabbi Daniel Rockoff, who is the rav hamachshir (supervising rabbi), and Rabbi Herbert Mandl, the chairman.
Karen Pack, president of the Vaad’s board of directors, said a one-year grant supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, the Jewish Heritage Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation and the Menorah Legacy Foundation, made it possible for the Vaad to hire a full-time executive in order to expand the organization’s services.

“The board of the Vaad is fortunate to have been able to hire Mendel,” Pack said. “Everyone is very positive about his talents and the enthusiasm he brings to this position.”
Rabbi Rockoff was out of the country and unreachable for comment. Rabbi Mandl believes the Vaad chose wisely in hiring Rabbi Segal.

“Mendel is highly respected in the community and liked by everyone. I think he’ll bring a very positive business approach and a very professional approach to the Vaad,” Rabbi Mandl said.

Rabbi Segal has been in Kansas City for a little more than four years. Following rabbinical school he lived in Chicago, where he was raised, and worked in both the jewelry and real estate industries. His wife, Dossie, hails from Kansas City and the Segals chose to move here, in part, to be closer to Dossie’s family. They are now the parents of three children — Levi (4), Donnie (2) and Sorah (1 ½).

Rabbi Segal’s job at Hen House was his first foray into the food business. He said he learned it from scratch and discovered he enjoyed it.

“I like feeding people,” he said.

The Vaad currently oversees and certifies close to 30 different types of food service suppliers, manufacturers and providers. As executive director, Rabbi Segal’s first responsibility is to “ensure proper relationships between the Vaad, the Jewish community and the accounts the Vaad services.”

“I will make sure proper systems and lines of communication are open,” he said. “I will also oversee the finance, marketing and, very importantly, that the Vaad grows so that we will be able to create new kosher opportunities here.”

He believes the experience he gained working for Hen House, a provider who used the Vaad to obtain and retain kosher certification, will be valuable to him in this new position.

“I’ve gotten to use a lot of food manufacturers all over the country and attended trade shows and built valuable relationships that I plan to use when I have to,” Rabbi Segal said.

Rabbi Segal is not a mashgiach (on-site kosher supervisor). He will supervise the Vaad’s mashgichim, making sure there are enough supervisors to cover all the accounts as well as making sure both the supervisiors, and the accounts themselves, are also properly trained in the laws of kashrut.

“Developing training programs is high on my priority list,” Rabbi Segal said. “That’s an easy thing to get lost in the shuffle, but we really want to take a look at what we have and come up with proper guidelines and training.”

While Rabbi Segal is educated as a rabbi, his professional work has all been in business and management. He is not the rabbinic supervisor of the Vaad, that position belongs to Rabbi Rockoff, but he believes his rabbinic training may still come in handy in this new position. His education has already been put to use for such things as reading Torah and leading shiva services.

“I’ve been very busy here so I don’t do it often, but I like making a difference.”

Rabbi Segal said he’s excited, and he admits, a little overwhelmed, to take over the new job.

“It’s a great opportunity to take an organization that has been in existence for a very long time and done well and be able to take it to the next level. We want it to keep growing and continue to give the community what it needs,” he said.

When native Kansas Citian Corey Helfand was in first grade, he played “the rabbi” in a siddur celebration at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. So his longtime HBHA friends weren’t surprised when he changed his focus at Washington University from pre-med to the rabbinate.

“I’m a pre-med dropout,” he said in a recent interview. “I did two years of chemistry and biology and decided the relationship was over.” Though his major remained Judaic studies and political science even while he was pre-med, he realized that his goal of helping people could only be achieved by going to rabbinical school.

“I took a year off after college to study in Israel,” he explained, “to determine if the rabbinate was really the right path for me.” A 2005 cum laude graduate of Wash U, Helfand graduated in May with 26 others from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and also earned a Master of Arts degree in Talmud and rabbinics and pastoral care.

At only 28, newly-ordained Rabbi Helfand is one of eight rabbinic graduates to receive full-time positions as senior pulpit rabbis; six others will be assistant rabbis. Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City, Calif., a 215-member Conservative congregation, located north of Palo Alto, will be Helfand’s new home.

The son of Richard and Vicki Helfand, Rabbi Helfand is no stranger to the organized Jewish world; he describes his parents as “engaged and empowered.” They are active members of Congregation Ohev Sholom and both volunteered at HBHA when Corey and his younger brothers, Ethan and David, were students. Richard is International Secretary of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Vicki is active with Ohev’s Sisterhood.

Rabbi Helfand also credits HBHA with sparking his interest in Judaism. “I had some great Hebrew teachers — Sari Havis and Edna Meltzer,” he said, “and I loved the curriculum.” He also cites his high school experiences in BBYO and USY — including USY Pilgrimage to Israel summer trip for teens and March of the Living — as developing his love for Israel and the Jewish people.

“Teens want something meaningful,” he said, “something out-of-the-box.” While a student rabbi at Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel in Riverdale, just north of JTS, Helfand started a Jewish Teens for Justice. Under the mentorship of Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, “We discussed hot-button issues that culminated in a teen service trip to New Orleans,” Helfand said, adding that the group also initiated get-togethers with a youth group from the East Bronx. He wants to do that at Peninsula Sinai as well.

That’s not all he has planned. Building on his experience as a Gladstein Fellowship rabbinic intern in North Carolina, Rabbi Helfand would like to expand his weekly Torah commentary to include one-on-one prayer, meet members and others on their turf, and initiate a “listening tour.”

“Corey’s leadership skills come from a rare combination of empathy, instinct and knowledge,” said Ned Gladstein, a JTS board member who created the Gladstein Fellowship in Entrepreneurial Rabbinics. “His listening skills are extraordinary, and enable him to understand the key points, as well as needs of people on various sides of an issue, to craft unique and effective solutions. He has gained the respect and affection of his congregants and peers alike, and, I’m sure, will continue to touch many people with his kindness.”

But Rabbi Helfand doesn’t want the synagogue to become his only focus: “I want the community to be my agenda. I want Judaism to be accessible.” He doesn’t want to wait for Jews to come to him and hopes to offer classes at participants’ homes or offices, or even local colleges. “I want to meet new people, not just synagogue members. Everyone wants to be heard,” he said. “And it’s my job to listen.”

The interview process is where this goal became most apparent for him. He was asked: “How are you going to fix all our problems?” He countered with “What do you love about this place?” And he discovered that many search committee members were passionate about their synagogue. “So many people have great ideas, but they don’t know what to do about it,” Rabbi Helfand said. “What you do (at a synagogue) should reflect your goals and mission.”

And in order to do that, he would like to conduct “listening campaigns” at Peninsula Sinai. “I’d like to train people to lead them, take notes and bring them back to leadership,” he added. He described one instance where someone asked about suffering in Judaism. “Was he asking about something theological or something personal?” he asked himself. “If it’s personal, I don’t want to miss that. If he’s hurting, I want to hear the story.”

Rabbi Helfand’s list of awards and prizes demonstrate that listening and follow-up are his great strengths. From valedictorian of HBHA to Dean’s List and the Steven Schwarzchild Prize for Outstanding Undergraduates for academic achievement at Wash U, Rabbi Helfand added several more awards at JTS. He won three prizes for outstanding work in Talmud as well as one for Hebrew literature.

“Since I began rabbinic school, I have reaffirmed my love of studying Torah, practicing the tradition, being a presence in the lives of others, and being part of a learning/spiritual community,” he said, “where you can learn as much, if not more, from those you teach.”

Married to Jennifer Ackerman of Dallas, the couple have an 8-month-old daughter, Eden Leora.

The couple met during Corey’s post-college year in Israel at the Conservative Yeshiva. She was studying for a master’s degree in public health at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. “Jenny’s twin brother learned two desks over from me at the same yeshiva. She would frequently visit as well as participate in programs at the yeshiva,” he recalled. “One afternoon, Jenny and I were sitting at the same table. The conversation turned to cooking and I mentioned that I bake challah. We had our first date a couple of months later; we baked challah for Shabbat. The rest is history!”

In addition to internships in Riverdale and North Carolina, Rabbi Helfand also worked at Congregation Hakrayot in Kiryat Bialik near Haifa for a year. He was the first American rabbi to intern at a Masorti (traditional Conservative) synagogue in Israel, serving with the congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Mauricio Balter. “Having met Jenny in Israel, I thought it fitting to spend our first year of marriage back in Jerusalem,” he said. And, “this was the first time I had taken classes in Hebrew, which I found to be challenging yet fulfilling.”

As to the challenges of being the young rabbi of an established congregation, Rabbi Helfand said, “Now more than ever, rabbis of today are more aware of the issues facing American Jewry, specifically in the Conservative Movement. I find that younger rabbis approach Judaism through social justice, community organizing, ethics and values. At the same time, the continuing struggle for any rabbi is to make Judaism exciting and enticing, without pushing anyone away.”

By the way, Rabbi Helfand almost became Cantor Helfand. His love of hazzanut (cantorial music) comes from his relationship with “Cantor Cyrus Spungen, of blessed memory, who helped me fall in love with Jewish liturgy and Torah,” when he became Bar Mitzvah at Beth Shalom.

“I actually applied to both rabbinical school and cantorial school. While I knew a tremendous number of the melodies (nusach) I knew almost no musical theory,” he smiled.

“Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll be a singing rabbi!”

Orit Kamara teaches Hebrew at Johnson County Community College. It’s no secret the junior college offers the course and it’s easy to find by searching JCCC’s online catalog. But Kamara said not many people really know it’s available.

JCCC started offering Elementary Hebrew 1 in fall 2009. When those who enrolled wanted to continue learning Hebrew at a higher level, Kamara met with JCCC officials and convinced them to begin offering Elementary Hebrew 2 in the spring of 2010. When classes begin on Aug. 23, this will be the fourth time that JCCC has offered Hebrew 1 with Kamara as its teacher.

Kamara, a native of Israel, moved to the United States 10 years ago because her husband, Efi, works for Amdocs. The Kamara family moved to Kansas City eight years ago. Their two daughters graduated from Blue Valley Northwest High School. Gili is now in the Israeli army and Lior is studying to be a veterinarian at Kansas State University.

This isn’t the first time JCCC has offered a Hebrew class. Alan Edelman, the associate executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and the director of CAJE, Federation’s educational arm, taught one at least 15 or 20 years ago. Kamara said the Federation’s first Israeli shaliach (emissary) Nisan Gez, tried to get JCCC to offer Hebrew once again when he first came here about five years ago.

The class almost didn’t get off the ground because it didn’t have a teacher. A student who had enrolled in the class and didn’t want it cancelled called Kamara, knowing that she tutored Hebrew, and suggested she apply for the opening.

Only beginning Hebrew was offered originally. It is described on the JCCC website as a basic course where students study the four areas of Hebrew language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

“This course requires intensive classroom interaction as well as additional out-of-class assignments. Exposure to aspects of Israeli culture will be integrated into this course,” the description states.

The teacher said the class is very much a college-level course with quizzes, tests and homework.

“You need to be on top of the work all the time,” Kamara said.

The class can accommodate 17 students and as of Monday, July 25, there were still four openings for the 5-hour credit course. Enrollment will be accepted only until the first day of class, Aug. 23. JCCC is not allowing any late enrollment this semester.

Cost for a credit hour at JCCC varies from $81 to $189, depending on the student’s residential status. For a Johnson Country resident, the course will cost $405. Kamara points out that the class is much less expensive here than at other universities. (For instance, an undergraduate resident at the University of Kansas, where Hebrew classes are also offered, pays $238.90 total per credit hour.)

Because some students don’t want the stress of a credit class but still want to learn Hebrew, Kamara said JCCC will begin offering a non-credit Hebrew class in spring of 2012. The eight-week course will begin March 28, 2012, and take place for two hours on Wednesday nights.

JCCC decided to offer the non-credit course because of the demand. The same is true for the Hebrew 2 class. Kamara said several students wanted to continue their studies and the college complied with her request to add a more advanced class, which began this past spring. Now Hebrew 1 is offered in the fall and Hebrew 2 is offered in the spring.

“Juco is always very supportive of their staff,” Kamara said. “They really worked with me to make it happen for a semester.”

Kamara now also teaches an independent study Hebrew 3 class. It came about when one of her students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where Hebrew is not offered, needed another consecutive language course to fulfill graduation requirements.

“I consulted with the dean and the head of the foreign language department at JCCC to help him find a solution to this problem. We decided to let him take Hebrew 3 as independent study. He was able to graduate and now is attending medical school,” Kamara said.

She said her class over the years has always included an unusual blend of students.

“It’s a very unique atmosphere. Students take this class because they really, really want to learn Hebrew,” she said.

Her youngest student so far was 17 years old and her oldest was a retired doctor in his 80s. Students of a variety of religions, including Muslims, Christians and Jews, have enrolled in her Hebrew classes.

“We’ve had some very positive dialogues in this class. These students really want to learn about each other,” she said.

The book Kamara uses is the same one that is used at Israeli ulpans (Hebrew language classes.) It not only includes Hebrew language instruction, but also information about Jewish traditions and Israeli culture.

“This book makes it easy to start Hebrew classes here and transfer to other places,” Kamara said. She’s already had students transfer to UMKC and KU.

Her Israeli accent, Kamara said, helps students learn the proper pronunciation of Hebrew words.

“They also like the fact that I can relate to Israeli culture and the students can ask me questions about things they can’t find in the book,” she said.

This spring, in conjunction with JCCC, Kamara will also lead a trip to Israel. The trip will last 10 days and the group — which can accommodate up to 20 participants — will leave Kansas City on March 8. The total estimated cost for this trip is $3,300, including the flight. It is a non-credit offering open to the entire community.

“I expect a wide range of ages and religions will be interested in being a part of it,” said Kamara, who tries to go to Israel to visit family once a year.

When you think of summer camp, you think of swimming, sports and arts and crafts. For 160 campers from 26 countries, eCamp is “the ultimate summer experience in Israel,” creating, inventing and designing projects in technology workshops with the 120 computers and exploring Israeli technology.

For Adam Sitzmann, son of Congregation Beth Shalom members Wendy and Jeff Sitzmann, being a counselor “was a way to get back” to Israel. Sitzmann, who is a graduate of Blue Valley West High School, participated in the one-month-long Israel Journey program in 2009 and subsequently heard about the eCamp from Nir Gad, who served as the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s shaliach (emissary) from 2007-2009. Gad is now the camp’s assistant director, which is in its fourth year of operation.

Sitzmann says he applied for the job on line and was accepted for the seven-week position.

“This is like my gap year, but it’s only for the summer,” explained the 18 year old, who will be a freshman in the fall at the University of Michigan. He plans to major in psychology.

“I make videos for the Facebook page for the parents every day. This is the first time the camp has video bloggers creating the daily activities of the campers. I also teach a lab in video filming,” says Sitzmann. On the Facebook page of eCamp, Sitzmann can be seen interviewing campers about their daily life.

“I love being in Israel. I enjoy being able to utilize my abilities to make movies and teach that to other people. It’s a great way to utilize my skills while being in a country where everyone I meet is Jewish. eCamp is a fun environment, working with specialized staff,” says Sitzmann.

Gad explains that the staff of 36 come from Israel and six countries, are all over the age of 18 and are all professionals in the fields they teach. The camp is held at Meir Shfeya, a residential youth village of Hadassah, near Zichron Yaacov, about two hours northwest of Jerusalem, and provides programs for each age group. Campers are 8 to 18 and come for one, two or three two-week sessions. The Kilobyte unit is for those entering grades three to seven; there are four campers to a room and one counselor for each six campers in this age group. The Megabyte unit is for those entering grades 8 and 9. The Gigabyte unit are for those entering grades 10 to 12.

The language of the camp is English. Campers attend three technology workshops (called labs) of their choosing (all done on computers except ones like digital photography, video filming and entrepreneurship), between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. with up to eight people. At the conclusion of each session, each camper has a final project. They also have one and a half hours a day “unplugged” when they participate in sports and recreation. They also have rest time, access to a canteen in which to purchase snacks, unit activities and camp-wide programs. The camp also brings entrepreneurs from Israel’s high-tech industries to share their experiences with the campers.

“Our goal is to get our campers to explore the success of the high-tech world in Israel,” says Gad. “We connect campers to Israel, introduce them to Israelis who will become their friends and show them modern Israel.”

For Sitzmann, being a counselor at eCamp is very unique because he is in a program where he gets professional experience in a workplace with creative people from all over the world.

“I feel immersed in the culture,” said Sitzmann. “On my day off, I went to another counselor’s apartment, I went to restaurants, I went windsurfing in the Mediterranean, I walked around Tel Aviv, I got to see neighborhoods and I got to live with Israelis.”

Gad is part of the staff of four who work out of an office in the town of Kfar Saba during the winter. The camp is a for-profit camp and self supporting. Its “parent” company, Oranim, has brought Jewish young people to Israel on educational programs for the past 26 years. Oranim was recently purchased by Egged Tours, part of the National bus company.