School’s out and while summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, the Mitzvah Garden KC crew has already been working for months in hopes of growing a bumper crop of foods that will help the less fortunate in Kansas City.

“We hope Mitzvah Garden KC creates an environment of nurturing to provide physical and spiritual sustenance throughout our Jewish and wider community,” said Ken Sonnenschein, who serves as co-chair of the garden along with Larry Lehman and Andrew Kaplan. “As our motto says, it takes a garden to grow a community.”

This is the second year for the newly expanded Mitzvah Garden KC. Sonnenschein said it all started in the fall of 1999 when volunteers from Congregation Beth Torah built 10 raised beds for gardening at Village Shalom as part of their mitzvah day. Last year the garden expanded to include ground at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

“We have gone from 840 square feet to 10,000 square feet and now 15,000 square feet,” explained Lehman. “It has been wonderful synergy among the leaders and the various Jewish organizations who have participated by donating time and equipment and funds to make Mitzvah Garden KC possible.”

The goal of the Mitzvah Garden KC is to provide healthy food alternatives to those less fortunate in the community; to create a sense of community among the Jewish congregations of Kansas City; develop a self-sustainable and long-living charitable program for all ages; and to create an experiential learning environment for both religious and secular studies. Plantings include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, pumpkins, onions and gourds.

Mitzvah Garden KC sells some of its produce to help buy seed and plants for the next year. But most of the produce is donated to help others in the Jewish community through the Simcha Box Program a collaborative effort between Jewish Family Services and Yachad: The Kosher Food Pantry.

“Last year we also donated produce to pantries at Center of Grace and St. Anthony’s. We estimate that we were able to produce over 3,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables last year and we hope to produce even more this year,” Lehman said.

When the garden expanded last year, it also expanded its scope of both volunteers and funders. Sonnenschein, who has been involved with the garden since its inception, said those expansions have been “awesome” and has allowed the garden to grow in every way.

One of the major funders of Mitzvah Garden KC is the Herman Levikow fund of the Menorah Legacy Foundation, which is under the guidance of Gayla Brockman.

“The condition of the funding was that we participate in the foundation’s Beans&Greens Program, which enables people with Snap cards (food stamps) to receive $2 of fresh produce for every $1 they spend at nine different farmers markets. Last year we participated in the Sunday market in the Rosedale neighborhood of Kansas City, Kan., which is an area without a grocery store that is known as a food desert,” Lehman said.

This year, Beans and Greens has a mobile market. So instead of staffing booths at farmer’s markets, the mobile unit will pick up produce from growers like Mitzvah Garden KC, store it and deliver it to the markets.

“Our hope in participating in this is that it will help provide us enough ‘seed’ money for planting next year,” Sonnenschein said.

The garden has several new things this year. One is a gourd house that people will be able to walk into that will have gourds hanging from the walls and ceiling. Also new this year, Sonnenschein said, are birdhouses at the gardens which will encourage insect-eating Purple Martins to make their homes there.

“We already had one family move in, but their home was damaged by wind,” he said.

In addition a vineyard has been planted at the entrance to the garden to compliment the fig trees already growing there.

“We are moving toward having a demonstration of the seven species (shivat haminim) mentioned in the Torah,” Sonnenschein said.

Another exciting thing, Sonnenschein said, is the work taking place “toward creating a sustainable irrigation system using collected rainwater to water the garden and be a demonstration project for other community and home gardeners.”

Lehman said that last year the garden had some raised beds that were available for preschoolers to plant flowers and vegetables, which are being reconstructed for use again this year.

Along those lines, Lehman said one of the garden’s essential components is education. He explained that Jewish holidays related to planting and harvesting are often celebrated at the garden. Study sessions related to planting and the Torah are also held.

“It has been wonderful for children who visit us to understand the original significance of horseradish, the seven species, corners of our fields and other important agricultural lessons,” Lehman said.

A small, but devoted, core group of individual who volunteer their time at the garden on a regular basis. At the end of last year’s planting season, Mitzvah Garden KC chose two “extraordinary volunteers who made special contributions to the garden” by awarding them with the Golden Trowel Award. Last year’s Golden Trowel winners were Gayla Brockman, Emily Greenbaum, Brenda Ruppel and Ben Sharda.

Sonnenschein added that there is always an open invitation for anyone to come and help.

“The groups who have helped us this year and last have been essential in our bigger projects that have involved construction and planting. We are usually in the garden on Sunday mornings and as the weather warms up our starting time will be earlier,” Lehman said.

“There is no limit to our capacity to grow the good in our world,” Sonnenschein added.

To be placed on the Mitzvah Garden KC mailing list, which is already sent to more than 240 members of the community, contact .

Mara Strom Sachs watched helplessly as footage of the recent tornado damage in Joplin, Mo., rolled across the television. A blogger and author of Kosher on a Budget, Sachs is aware of the power of social networking.

So after contacting Ariel Boxman, Joplin’s student rabbi at United Hebrew Congregation, Sachs immediately posted information on her blog and e-mailed members of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner with a list of how people could help.

“The devastation from the tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., and Reading, Kan., is heart-breaking and incomprehensible. Since I live just a few hours north of Joplin, the tragedy is even more palpable. I desperately want to help,” she wrote. “And I know you do, too.”

According to Sachs, Boxman arrived in Joplin on May 25, just two days after the tornado struck. The synagogue is standing, but professionals need to assess structural and internal damage. Contact has been made with all of the UHC congregants and there have been no reported fatalities within the Jewish community.

“However, many of the UHC congregants lived in the area of Joplin that suffered the worst damage. The homes of the president of the synagogue, many board members and a number of congregants were completely destroyed,” Sachs added. “These families are now staying in temporary shelters and area motels.”

UHC has been named a center for distribution of supplies to those within — and beyond — the UHC community. This initiative is being called “Yesh Tikvah – There is Hope!”

To coordinate the program from Kansas City, Sachs enlisted the help of BIAV’s Rabbi Dani Rockoff and President Andy Ernstein. BIAV will serve as a drop-off point for needed supplies, such as over-the-counter first aid supplies and medications, especially ibuprofen and/or Advil, disposable diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, diaper rash cream, baby food including baby cereal, jarred food and baby formula — especially the ready-made kind. Sachs noted that “water in Joplin isn’t potable right now, so finding safe water to mix with formula can be a major issue.”

In addition, donations of baby bottles and nipples (new only), personal care items, such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other items, as well as new pillows and blankets are needed.
Sachs also said that $10 gift cards to Walmart would be welcomed. “While most of the big box stores in Joplin were destroyed by the tornado, there are two Walmarts still standing. Gift cards will be donated to UHC so that families may replace their belongings that were destroyed.”

The plan is to pack all like items together to make it easier for distribution. And Sachs’ readers at her blog, www.kosheronabudget.com, have already begun to send donations. So in addition to the items listed, boxes are needed.

When Congregation Beth Shalom’s summer camp opens on June 6, families also can drop off items for Yesh Tikvah at the Lamar location as well. “A huge thank you goes to Judy Jacks Berman, director of the Rose Family Early Childhood Center, for her incredible support and enthusiasm for this campaign,” Sachs added.

“The plan is to gather donations and drive them down personally to Joplin on Sunday, June 19. Three weeks from now, the needs will be just as urgent, but the media and national attention will have moved on,” Sachs added.

Boxman, the Joplin student rabbi, is also accepting monetary donations for the congregation. Make checks payable to UHC and mail them to United Hebrew Congregation, P.O Box 661, Joplin, MO 64802.

Many other organizations are accepting donations as well. Checks and credit card donations can be made out to Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, (marked Yesh Tikvah), Congregation BIAV, 9900 Antioch, Overland Park, KS 66212, or call Barry Rubin at (913) 341-2444 to donate by credit card. Checks and credit card donations for tornado relief are being accepted by a variety of organizations including: Union for Reform Judaism (www.urj.org); Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City (www.jewishkansascity.org), Orthodox Union (www.ou.org) or Heart of Missouri United Way (www.uwheartmo.org).

In addition to the Yesh Tikvah project, those wishing to help can check out the Federation’s list of volunteer opportunities, including putting together basic care kits and donating blood (type O is the most urgently needed).

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is being called an “it” rabbi.

He’s been named by Newsweek magazine as one of the top 50 rabbis in America. As co-founder of Mechon Hadar, an education institution seeking to empower Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah learning, prayer and service, he is gaining quite a following.

“You’ve got to read his book,” said Jill Maidhof, the associate executive director of the Jewish Community Center who is also serving as interim head of its adult Jewish learning department.

The book is “Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities.” The author will be the keynote speaker at three events June 12 and 13 when the JCC launches the expansion of its adult education program, to be known as the Department of Jewish Life and Learning.

Rabbi Kaunfer is a graduate of Harvard College. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he also completed a master’s degree and is pursuing a doctorate in liturgy. He is also a Wexner graduate and inaugural Avi Chai fellow.

The rabbi believes Jews who are engaged in the Jewish community are those who will see that it thrives in the future. Engaged Jews, he said, are people who are invested in taking their lives seriously and are not simply spectators.

“Some of the nature of engagement in the name of Jewish life is very passive these days. Show up and listen. Show up and sit. But not really take full control in terms of diving in to what it means to be an active, participating Jew,” he said.

Those who are truly engaged, he explained, are people who have a sense that their Jewish practice and expression actually is important and impacts their lives.

“As a result they want to find full expression of what it means to be Jewish,” he said.

One way people are expressing their Jewishness is by forming or participating in what Rabbi Kaunfer calls independent minyanim. These are independent communities that meet with some frequency, usually once a month or more. They are also independent endeavors run by volunteers, not clergy, and are not affiliated by any existing denomination.

Some may think these minyanim sound a lot like chavurahs, but Rabbi Kaunfer said there are significant differences. One is that the chavurahs of the ‘60s and ‘70s often began as a counter-culture movement and made significant modifications in the words and modes of prayer.

Today’s independent minyanim movement, he said, are by and large using a traditional service.

“The innovations they are making in the prayer mode are less about the words from a change standpoint and more about focusing on participatory singing and striving for an excellence in quality that indicates a high level of engagement with what it means to be praying,” he said.

“There’s obviously a lot of similarities between independent minyanim and chavurahs and we don’t see ourselves as doing something uniquely new,” he continued. “That’s the beauty of being Jewish. It’s continuing a line of traditional innovation.”

In fact independent minyanim is an old Jewish practice, the rabbi said. Most function as a Jewish community, where they invite each other over for meals and have a communal as well as a prayer aspect.
Rabbi Kaunfer believes independent minyanim can enhance the organized Jewish community, as opposed to being a detriment to it.

“The people who are motivated to start these minyanim are, by their nature, engaged and seeking Judaism and are living a Jewish life and practice. I think that’s important for the future of Judaism,” he said.

In fact, depending on where you live in the United States, Rabbi Kaunfer said people who are active in an independent minyan are also active in a synagogue.

If you’re still a little confused about what an independent minyan is and how it can enhance a community, Rabbi Kaunfer put it another way, comparing starting an independent minyan to starting a blog. Say you don’t like the way NBC News, for instance, reports the news, so you start your own news blog.

“Your blog doesn’t really put NBC News out of business or even diminish the contributions of what it does,” the rabbi said. “But it does allow people to say I want to jump into to this game myself and bring my own self to the expression of what I think is important.”

In still other words, he explains it’s just a whole different way of approaching what it means to be Jewish.

“One model we have allows us to select from existing options and either complain about it or love it. The other approach is to take a look at the existing options and see in what way you can contribute to expand the options. That’s what independent minyanim do.”

Leah Jordan, a rabbinical student from Kansas City who interned at Congregation Beth Torah, loved studying with Rabbi Kaunfer this past year at Yeshivat Hadar, the egalitarian yeshiva he co-founded in New York City a few years ago, and thinks members of the community will enjoy hearing him speak.

“Rav Elie, as he’s known at Yeshivat Hadar, has great insight into independent minyanim and what Judaism and Jews want and need in prayer and community in the modern world,” Jordan said.

The Jewish Community Center’s Department of Adult Jewish Learning is becoming the department of Jewish Life and Learning. It will be formally launched Sunday, June 12, when Rabbi Eli Kaunfer will be featured at three events.

Following Rabbi Kaunfer’s speech on June 12, (see below for details), Jill Maidhof, the JCC associate exectuve director, explained that the JCC will offer a taste of the education options it will offer this fall.
“We are providing modules, sort of like speed dating, where people can choose between 20 different modules and preview what learning opportunities will be offered in the fall,” she said.

Maidhof said the JCC is excited to be offering a larger variety of choices this fall. The class offerings reflect what was learned during surveys taken this past winter, including “the silos that we’ve identified as being spirituality and personal wellness.”

That includes Ayeka – which means in Hebrew where are you — and has already begun.

“It has to do with exploring our personal relationships with God and bringing God into our everyday lives,” Maidhof said. “We have formal adult education and informal experiences, family programs, current events and contemporary history, Israel and Hebrew on the agenda as well.”

That’s not all.

“In addition to Melton, we will be offering guided meditation, a cooking activity and we’re doing a current events. We’re excited to have Milton Katz, who is teaching a wonderful program about exploring the Holocaust through art,” she continued.

In addition to the “infomercials” participants will hear June 12, a brochure featuring all the class offerings will be mailed to members of the Jewish community, to both members and non-members of the JCC, at the beginning of August.

“We hope it will go out to anyone who has ever been serious about Jewish life and learning,” Maidhof said.

Following the taste of Jewish Life and Learning, Rabbi Kaunfeer will conduct a short question and answer period. As the afternoon winds down, he will meet with those who have made reservations to attend a dinner where he will continue to speak about empowered Judaism.

Beside his public presentations, arrangements have been made for Rabbi Kaunfer to meet with agency and congregational leaders as well as the local rabbis.

Maidhof said with the expansion of its Jewish education program, the JCC hopes to become more collaborative with other agencies and congregations. The coordination of conversations between the various organizations is one way to begin the collaboration.

“We think this is a great model and a very exciting series of conversations, which we hope will lead to future conversations and collaborations. This is just the beginning,” she said.

Maidhof, who is currently serving as the interim director of Jewish Life and Learning, said the JCC is currently conducting a nationwide search for a permanent director of the department.

“We are accepting resumes. There is no time frame for hiring that person. We are more committed to hiring the right person than to meet a convenient time frame,” she said.

Empowered Judaism events planned

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer will speak at three events sponsored by the Jewish Community Center’s Department of Jewish Life and Learning.

The first event will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the Jewish Community Campus. After Rabbi Kaunfer gives the keynote address, “How Can I Pray What I May Not Believe?, participants can choose from more than 20 interactive previews of fall programming, presented by the faculty of the new Department of Jewish Life and Learning. Topics will include Jewish spirituality, guided meditation, text study, history, books discussion, ethnic cooking, Israel, current events and more. For a listing of previews, visit jcckc.org. The program is free and child care is available on a space-available basis.

At 5 p.m. that same day, dinner with the rabbi begins. Rabbi Kaunfer will share remarks and respond to questions about his book, “Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities.” Pre-paid reservations, at $10 per person, are required. No child care is provided for this event.

Monday, June 13, Rabbi Kaunfer will give the keynote address, “Cutting Class for Moral Reasons: When Jewish Texts Conflict with My Values,” followed by commencement exercises and dessert bar at the Community Celebration for 2011 Melton Graduates. The free event begins at 7:15 p.m. at the Jewish Community Campus and is open to the public. Child care is available on a space-available basis.

Reservations for any or all of these three programs, and childcare, may be made by contacting Gail Odgers at (913) 327-8002 or .

This week marks the second month in a row that Randal Strong-Wallace has an exhibit opening featuring his model roller coasters. “Project 31: The Roller Coasters of Worlds of Fun,” opened Wednesday, June 1, at Union Station. The exhibit is free and will be displayed at Union Station until Aug. 11. It will be open during normal Union Station hours, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The exhibit features hand-built working models of all five coasters that were at Worlds of Fun in 1980 (31 years ago, hence the Project 31 title). The five coasters are: the Orient Express, Screamroller, Schussboomer, Zambezi Zinger and even the park’s kiddy coaster, the Silly Serpent. The scale models are 1:48 scale, which is the same scale as Lionel trains.

In addition to the models, there are historic photographs of the coasters; an actual wheel from the Orient Express; an original 1980 park map and copies of the original blue prints for the Zambezi Zinger.

Strong-Wallace, a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, has been making roller coaster models since he was a young boy, and working models since 1990. The exhibit is dedicated to his late grandmother, Thelma, who took him to Worlds of Fun for the first time in 1979 when he was 11 years old. They made the trip from Wichita, Kan., where they both lived.

He explained his grandmother is also responsible for his interest in building roller coasters.

“She was attempting to make me a roller coaster cake for my birthday when I was in fifth grade, long before any of these cake building shows were popular. She made a coaster car out of construction paper, but it didn’t work for the cake. I found it and asked if I could keep it,” Strong-Wallace said.

Then he built a paper track and structure to go along with the car and played with it for hours.

“I kept making paper and balsa wood models throughout my teen years,” he said.

Besides the local exhibits, people can see his creations on his website, www.modelcoasters.com.

“A few years ago I decided to put a model coaster I had just finished, ‘The Flash,’ on YouTube. It became quite popular. Then the questions came, like ‘How did you build your model?’ and ‘What materials do you use?’ So late last year I started the website to provide info regarding my creations,” Strong Wallace said.

On the website you will find a photo gallery of his models and links to You Tube videos. Soon he hopes to implement a ‘how to build a model section,’ which will include video tutorials and resources for supplies.
The Project 31 exhibit debuted early last month at the Blue Djinn Gallery in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. It happened almost by accident, Wallace-Strong said.

“I had wanted to have an open house so my friends could see the roller coasters,” he said. “But I thought there would be too many people for my house and for my neighborhood.”

He thought it would be nice to make arrangements to have a First Friday exhibit in the Crossroads district. But that was easier said than done.

With no exhibit space secured, Strong-Wallace just continued his daily activities. While he was shopping at Doc’s Caboose — a local model train store he frequented — he started a casual conversation with the store’s owner, Doc Snyder. Snyder just happens to also own the Blue Djinn Gallery in the same building. Coincidentally, an artist had just cancelled an exhibit at the gallery, so there was a spot for Strong-Wallace. Even better, the space was offered free of charge.

“I owe Doc Snyder a huge thank you for providing a special place to kick off the Project 31 exhibit in Kansas City,” Strong-Wallace said.

The Union Station exhibit also happened by accident. Tony Cook, Union Station’s marketing and public relations manager, learned about the Blue Djinn Gallery from Snyder. He invited Strong-Wallace to move the exhibit to Union Station for June and July. Strong-Wallace jumped at the opportunity.

“I wasn’t looking forward to taking the models home and Union Station is a great place for people to see them,” Strong-Wallace said.

The first exhibit was greeted with great enthusiasm.

“Doc doesn’t have exact records, but we know we had 100 to 150 the first night. He believes that’s either the biggest or second biggest opening the gallery has ever had,” Strong-Wallace said. “I thought I’d know just about everyone who came, but I only knew about half of the people. The others read about it in the Star or The Chronicle.”

Strong-Wallace spent every Saturday during the exhibit at the Blue Djinn Gallery. He enjoyed meeting the people and said “it was a blast” discussing his roller coasters and answering the visitor’s questions.

When the exhibit leaves Union Station, it will be on display one more time this summer at Worlds of Fun. The one-day exhibit is Aug. 13 during Coaster Mayhem. The exhibit time has not yet been announced.

“I never dreamed this hobby would get to be so big,” Strong-Wallace said.

Strong-Wallace builds the models strictly as a hobby and he never imagined in his wildest dreams he would have public exhibits.

“My website is for fun and to showcase my models. I don’t build models for anyone else. I think it would take some of the fun out of my hobby.”

He won’t go as far to say he’d never build models for anyone else. But he’s still happy to build them for his own enjoyment.

And yes, he still loves Worlds of Fun, the park that’s the backdrop for this exhibit.

“I am a season pass holder and I go an average of twice a week,” he said.

JOPLIN IS STILL IN OUR HEARTS AND ON OUR MINDS — We have more information about the Jewish community in Joplin in today’s issue. Joplin is the focus of Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn’s regular column this week. The main focus of the other article is on an effort being organized by blogger Mara Strom Sachs. But I need to point out that many, many members of the Jewish community — both professionals and volunteers — are working tirelessly to help both the Jewish community and all the Joplinites that have been affected by the killer tornado. When you read these articles, you might think that they are somewhat contradictory. It reminds me of the often quoted saying if you have three Jews, you’ll have three opinions. (By the way, Rabbi Scott White will be teaching such a class at the Jewish Community Center this fall!) One person says the best way to help is this way. Another expert says you should help another way. There’s still a lot of confusion in Joplin and the bottom line is there is more than one way to help in this situation. If you like to give money, it will be appreciated and there are many different avenues in which you can do so. If you feel better donating goods, do that. If you prefer a hands-on approach, I’m sure there will be an organized Jewish effort for that sometime soon as well. (Maybe there already is and we just don’t know about it.) The bottom line is you should do whatever it is that makes you feel good. As the Nike commercial says, just do it!

A HAIRCUT TO REMEMBER — Gabrielle Fulford, who will be a second-grade student at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in the fall, recently cut at least eight inches of her hair and donated it to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program. The hair will be used to create a real-hair wig, which will be distributed for free through American Cancer Society wig banks across the country.

Gabrielle is the daughter of Michelle Cohen and Mark Fulford. Cohen said this is the second time her daughter has done this and probably will do it again in the future. “We talk about doing mitzvot and it’s not necessarily donating money and donating your time but it’s donating something that you have that can benefit someone who needs it. It’s a relatively easy thing to do and a very meaningful thing for her to do,” Cohen said. Meanwhile Gabrielle is getting a lot of compliments on her new short do.


JCF NOW ACCEPTS ONLINE DONATIONS — The Jewish Community Foundation, which generally specializes in long-term and not emergency funding, now accepts credit card donations through its website, www.jcfkc.org. Donations may be made in any amount to any of JCF’s 700 funds, including agency and congregational funds, Donor Advised Funds and B’nai Tzedek Funds. Virtually every Kansas City Jewish agency has a fund at the foundation and now it’s even more convenient to give tzedakah to the causes close to your heart. J-LEAD membership may also be paid online. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are all accepted. Secured charitable gifts can be made by visiting www.jcfkc.org.

Two Jewish brothers who were reported missing in the wake of a deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., are safe. Joplin is located approximately 140 miles from Kansas City.

JTA reports all the members of the small Jewish community in Joplin have now been accounted for, but many lost their homes and possessions in the tornado.

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis said that at least four Jewish families have lost everything and are living in shelters.

Approximately 50 Jews live in Joplin, according to the St. Louis federation, in a population of some 50,000.

The United Hebrew Congregation, the only synagogue in Joplin, which has approximately 40 member families, was unharmed by the tornado. Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn of Temple Israel, who served as a student rabbi at the Reform congregation for the 1991-92 school year, spent most of Monday and Tuesday on the telephone reaching out to friends in the Joplin area.

Rabbi Yehuda Weg, the Tulsa-based director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Oklahoma, told Chabad.org Tuesday that several Jewish-owned homes were “totally flattened.” He had driven to Joplin the previous night with a list of Jewish community members in need and a car full of supplies, joining volunteers from the American Red Cross and local disaster agencies, according to Chabad.org.

The United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin, a Reform synagogue, was not damaged. The synagogue reportedly has existed in the city since at least 1919.

As of midafternoon Wednesday, May 25, the killer tornado, which is being called the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history, had claimed 125 lives in Joplin. Hundreds are still missing. The tornado cut through Joplin

Sunday evening, one of several tornadoes that hit the Midwest over the weekend due to a system of severe thunderstorms that also have caused massive flooding.

The search and rescue efforts were still in full force Wednesday afternoon, and the situation regarding the type of donations and help wanted continued to evolve.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City began taking action early Monday morning to help the victims of this tornado as well as the one that destroyed areas of Reading, Kan., on Saturday, May 21. On Wednesday, in Joplin’s case, monetary donations were still considered to be the highest priority. Federation has established the Kansas-Missouri Tornado Relief Fund. It can be accessed at www.jewishkansascity.org, or by going directly to the donation page at www.jewishkansascity.org/tornadorelief2011.aspx. People can also make a donation over the phone by calling (913) 327-8100.

The Union for Reform Judaism has also established a disaster relief fund. Donations can be directed to the general URJ relief fund or can specifically be earmarked to address the needs in Joplin (http://urj.org/socialaction/issues/relief/).

The United Hebrew Congregation is being served by student rabbi Ariel Boxman. Boxman is beginning her second year of serving the congregation as she enters her fourth year at HUC-JIR.

Boxman was expected to fly to Joplin on Wednesday and stay there until Monday. She was already scheduled to be there this coming Shabbat.

Rabbi Cukierkorn had initially planned to go to Joplin on Monday, but his contacts there advised him to stay in Kansas City and come when things settled a bit. He is planning a trip to Joplin on Monday.

“I was told Monday it is almost impossible to get around town because there are live electric cables and there was the potential for more flooding,” Rabbi Cukierkorn said.

The Kansas City rabbi continues to stay in contact with members of the Joplin Jewish community. He plans to deliver donations, and anything else they ask for when he travels there next week.

Boxman is planning to blog about relief efforts in the Joplin Jewish community as well as offering her observations related to her experience there. Look for her posts on the Reform Movement blog at http://blogs.rj.org/reform/.

Jewish Federation staffers, including Todd L. Stettner, executive vice president and CEO, worked to keep area congregations and Jewish organizations up-to-date on how they all could work together to provide Kansas City’s Jewish response for tornado victims. Over the past few days Federation began working closely with Heart to Heart International, a local medical relief organization, and Salvation Army to support immediate medical assistance, as well as long-term recovery efforts.

“Both of our partner organizations request financial support at this time, in order to more quickly and effectively meet the needs of tornado victims,” Stettner said.

On Tuesday the Jewish Federation’s board of directors took an emergency vote to immediately allocate $5,000 to the current medical relief and the ongoing recovery assistance relief.

“This was a no-brainer for us,” said Jewish Federation Board President Bill Carr. “With one of two hospitals in Joplin wiped out, and the fact that they are our neighbors, 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.”

Carr said so far Federation has gotten a great response to its Kansas-Missouri Tornado Relief Fund, “over and above what the board voted to allocate.”

“I personally want to thank all of the individuals in Kansas City who have already stepped up to help our neighbors, and I invite all who are concerned to help as recovery efforts progress,” he said

Carr said the Federation will continue to work to keep Kansas Citians informed about hands-on volunteer opportunities to assist. At this time Federation is communicating those opportunities to the local congregations, agencies and organizations. Federation officials suggest members of the Jewish community to contact their congregations, local Jewish organizations or go to www.jewishkansascity.org to find out what the most urgent needs are and where help is most needed.

Blood is also needed. Visit www.savealifenow.org, to find blood donation locations.

Many of us think of Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 30, as the official beginning of the summer season and a day off from work. But it is actually a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Those who never forget the real meaning of the holiday are member of the Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605.

On Sunday, the group will conduct a service at Mount Carmel Cemetery in cooperation with Congregation Beth Shalom. At that time the names of approximately 46 Jewish vets who passed away this year will be read. Then on Monday, a Color Guard will participate in the Liberty Memorial Parade.

Former JWV Commander Mike Katzman will serve as the parade’s grand marshal for the third consecutive year. He will present the wreath to the Gold Star mother, a mother who has lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.

Katzman, who became the post commander in 2003, said the local post was established by Louis Pelofsky in 1948. The soon to be 91-year-old vet who believes he is now the oldest JWV member living in town, explained that the JWV is the oldest continuous organization for veterans in the United States. The organization is important to the community, in Marvin Denton’s opinion, “because it reminds everybody that Jews fought in the wars.”

“In 1896 the Jewish War Veterans were the first chartered veteran’s organizations in the United States. It was formed because in the Civil War Jews were accused of not fighting,” said Denton, who served in the Army infantry during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.

In fact JWV is the oldest chartered U.S. veterans’ service organization and pre-dates the Veterans of Foreign Wars by 18 years and the American Legion by 23 years.

Post Commander Larry Gordon said JWV has proudly represented the patriotism of Jewish military personnel in all military conflicts since its inception, including the current conflicts, where 40 Jewish men and two women have lost their lives serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The organization represents the interests of Jewish veterans and active duty members to members of Congress and the president.
Gordon said the local post currently has about 64 members. About three years ago, at what Katzman believes is the height of the post’s membership in recent years, it had 78 members.

“Every year we lose some because some pass away and others don’t want to pay dues anymore,” said Katzman, who was stationed in Texas in World War II at an Army Air Corp gunnery school.

Gordon said he’s not sure exactly what the average age is of JWV members. He believes they are all “at least 50 and most are in their late 70s or older.” Most of the members are veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict. So far there are only two members from the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gordon is active in JWV because he wanted to keep up with Jewish military affairs.

“I also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Jewish vets; and enjoy, at the age of 66, being called a ‘youngster’ by other members,” Gordon said.

Denton enjoys all the JWV activities and said he and the others are proud of the organization and what it stands for.

“When I came back from Korea, the fellows I was with got down on their hands and knees and kissed the ground we walked on. People really don’t understand that this is the greatest country in the world,” Denton said.
Gordon said the post is currently facing the same challenges as other JWV posts and other military veteran organizations.

“That is declining membership and interest. The number of Jewish military personnel has declined since the end of the military draft in 1973,” Gordon said. “We plan to continue to be a presence in the Kansas City Jewish community and will work to maintain or increase membership.”

But that may be difficult. Katzman said they have trouble finding vets of the recent conflicts to invite them to join the group because of privacy policies. Denton added that it is also hard to get vets from the Vietnam era to join.

“They are not interested in joining. I have several friends who are Vietnam vets and good buddies and they won’t join,” said Denton, who doesn’t care to speculate why these vets are not interested in the organization.
The post stays active, Katzman said, planning many events during the year. For instance the post provides American flag presentations at funerals of deceased post members, color guards for various events including the annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Service.

One of its biggest undertakings during the year is the Holiday Gifts for Vets (GFV) program. The post delivers more than 400 gift bags of personal items to veterans at the VA Medical Center and Domiciliary at Fort Leavenworth and the VA Medical Center in Kansas City. It’s such a big project that it will soon begin its fundraising efforts for the 2011 project.

The local post also recently made it a top priority to support Jewish servicemen and their families. Thus, any local Jewish person who has recently completed or is now on active military duty is asked to contact Commander Gordon in order to be added to Mo-Kan Post 605’s mailing list.

JWV elects officers

Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605 re-elected its current slate of officers for the 2011-2012 year. The following officers will serve for the coming year beginning in July:

Commander: Larry Gordon
Sr. vice commander: Marvin Korn
Jr. vice commander: Sheldon Turetsky
Judge advocate: Lloyd Hellman
Adjutant: Steven Schorr
Quartermaster: Herbert Gruenebaum
Chaplain: Norman Kaplan
Service officer: Robert Friedman
Americanism officer: Larry Jabenis
Membership: Marvin Denton

All Jewish veterans of the U.S. military are invited to join the Post. Non-veterans may also join as patrons. Contact Marvin Denton at (913) 649-7710 or Larry Gordon at (913) 492-3431 for further information.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback made his first-ever visit to the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Tuesday, May 24. Brownback entered the Jewish Community Center Social Hall to a rousing rendition of Hebrew songs by the fifth grade choir, directed by Devra Lerner.

After the songs, Brownback gave a short address to the HBHA student body, faculty and parents. The governor praised the school for its work in education and raising good citizens, and spoke about the morals and values that the American Midwest and Israel share. These values included a strong belief in God, a love of the land, and valuing the heart along with the mind. Brownback mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current visit to Capitol Hill, in which he received several standing ovations from the U.S. Congress.

The governor went on to praise the “Arab Spring,” which has seen the toppling of oppressive dictators across North Africa and the Middle East. He said President Obama’s recent call for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders, “would put Israel in a compromised state of security.” He went on to say that democracy, not the establishment of new states, should be the primary objective for the United States in the Middle East.

After his speech, Brownback was given a chanukiah made from Israeli pottery shards, and constructed by an HBHA lower school student. He also received a bag of HBHA memorabilia.

The students were excited about the governor’s visit.

“It was pretty cool to have someone with so much authority visit our school and us being able to perform during his visit was so much fun,” fifth-grade student Joe Porter said.

Brownback’s visit was also appreciated by Eric Kaseff, president of the HBHA board of trustees.

“I feel that it was important for the governor of the state to visit and show support for the school, and it was a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet their governmental leaders,” Kaseff said.

HBHA Headmaster Howard Haas had the same sentiments.

“It was extraordinarily positive for our school that the governor took that time to show his support today. It was great for the school and the Jewish community, and I personally feel honored to host such a personable leader of our state,” Haas said.

Following the assembly, Brownback went on to tour HBHA middle and high school classrooms.

In an interview with the Academy Voice, HBHA’s school newspaper, Brownback remarked about his most lasting experiences while visiting Israel. He said, “Looking over the Old City at night and seeing that incredible Star of David in the city that had not been there for nearly 2,000 years was amazing. Also, as a Christian, I was touched when visiting the Jordan River, seeing the place where Jesus is said to have been baptized, seeing Mount Nebo, where Moses saw Israel before dying, and seeing Jericho, a holy site to Christians, Jews and Muslims. That day really epitomized the importance and sanctity of the land in Israel.”

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Sinai and celebrates the late spring harvest. One of the traditional ways to celebrate Shavuot is to stay up all night studying Torah. For more than 15 years the Kansas City Jewish community has been doing just that at an annual communitywide Shavuot program held at Kehilath Israel Synagogue and sponsored by the Rabbinical Association and area congregations. This year’s program will be held June 7. (For more details, see below.)

This year’s keynote speaker will be Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, an internationally acclaimed author and speaker.  He is also a professor of liturgy, worship and ritual at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. The topic of his speech will be “The Many Paths to Jewish Spirituality.”

KI Senior Rabbi Herbert Mandl said as many as 500 people attend this event every year, and he thinks that’s incredible for Kansas City, especially here “where they roll the sidewalks in.”

“When (Rabbi Joseph) Telushkin was here two years ago he said there wasn’t a place in New York City that carries those types of numbers all night. He really enjoyed himself,” Rabbi Mandl said.

Rabbi Mandl said they always try to make sure the event appeals to all denominations of Jews, and Rabbi Hoffman has a large following here. He was supposed to speak here last year but at the last minute had to cancel due to illness.

Congregation Beth Torah’s Rabbi Mark Levin noted that Rabbi Hoffman is the author of “some 30 books, including the renowned siddur commentary, ‘My People’s Prayer Book.’ He is a renowned scholar whose work has influenced many Jews from all movements. His work is transdenominational, and pertinent to the Jewish lives of all members of our community.”

Rabbi Hoffman said he is proud that he can appeal to all denominations. He said his speech here will focus on Jewish spirituality as opposed to spiritualty for Jews. He explained the difference.

“There is a generic spirituality out there, which is what we all know of as seeing a sunset or climbing a mountain … all of which is the kind of spirituality people are used to,” Rabbi Hoffman said. “That is not necessarily Jewish spirituality. It is spirituality for Jews and for other people. It’s generic. The question is: Is there anything that is specifically Jewish spirituality that comes deeply from within Jewish tradition. I believe there is and I will be discussing that.”

Rabbi Hoffman believes American Jews are moving from being an ethnic people to a spiritual people. He has explained that when the Eastern European influx of Jews to the United States happened at the beginning of the 20th century, “we were very much engaged in Jewish peoplehood, not for a transcendent purpose but just because we liked being Jews.”

“We were nostalgic for Eastern Europe, for Jewish food, for Yiddish, Jewish jokes, that sort of thing. Eventually that became a deep concern for saving Jewish lives, Jews behind the Iron Curtain, Jews in Israel and what became what might be called a foreign affairs agenda of saving Jews and making sure Jews were safe and sound. “

He said that by 1990, when the population study took place, the American Jewish community discovered that the ethnic approach had resulted in a loss of Jewish identity.

“The reason we were losing Jews here is because ethnicity only lasts three generations. The first generation is the people who still speak the language, the second generation is determined to become Americanized and fight their parents’ ethnicity. The third generation can’t believe how foolish their parents were and love to get whatever they can from their grandparents. By the fourth generation nobody cares. We have now entered that fourth generation,” he said.

Now, Rabbi Hoffman said the question is: Why should anybody be Jewish when there is no automatic nostalgia for anything that was past.

“The answer for that has to be something of compelling rationale for Judaism and part of that rationale is spirituality. That’s the one thing that people do seek and they are seeking it everywhere. You can see it on shelf after shelf of bookstores or the variety of virtual books on Amazon. Every survey that we have demonstrates the search for meaning in life. The question is can religion provide meaning and that’s the spiritual question I will be talking about.”

Communitywide Shavuot program

The Jewish community will join together for an evening of prayer, study and celebration at the annual all-night Shavuot program Tuesday, June 7, at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The evening begins at 8:30 p.m. with two Mincha services led by Rabbis Herbert Mandl and Scott White and will be followed by a catered dairy buffet dinner.

At 10:30 p.m. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman will deliver the keynote, “The Many Paths to Jewish Spirituality.”

A panel discussion and study sessions will continue throughout the night. A sunrise service and breakfast will conclude this holiday celebration.

A catered dairy buffet dinner including blintzes and cheesecake will be served at 9:20 p.m. The cost is $14 per adult and $10 per student (age 21 and under). Mandatory advance reservations are required by Wednesday, June 1, and should be sent (make checks payable to Rabbinical Association) to Rabbinical Association, 5801 W. 115, Suite 113, Overland Park, KS 66211. Reservations received after June 1 will cost $18 per adult. There is no charge to the community to attend the study programs only, which begin at 10:30 p.m.

For additional information, visit www.kcrabbis.org. If planning to attend the study program only, please respond to Annette Fish, administrator/program director for the Rabbinical Association, or (913) 327-4622.