Archived News

A SPECIAL HONOR FOR JUDY HELLMAN — Judy Hellman has received several honors over the years because of her tireless efforts to improve interfaith and racial relations as part of her service with the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. Through the efforts of her granddaughter, Sarah Hellman, a junior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and in honor of her 80th birthday, Hellman was recently inducted as an honorary initiate into the Chi Delta chapter of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society at the University of Missouri. She was also presented a medal, which is traditionally given to active lifetime members for service to the community. Hellman still works on behalf of JCRB|AJC, where she holds the title of special projects director. 

Even if you’ve already seen “The Nutcracker,” this year’s production is a must see! The Kansas City Ballet is presenting the world premiere of “The Nutcracker,” with new choreography, sets, costumes and lighting under the artistic direction of Devon Carney.

David Robinow, a 2015 graduate of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, was a classmate of Ezra Schwartz, the 18-year-old American yeshiva student killed by a terrorist on Nov. 19 as he was volunteering in the Etzion settlement bloc in the West Bank. Robinow is on a gap year program at Yeshivat Ashreinu in the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, which combines Torah study with volunteering and hikes. Robinow was also supposed to be volunteering with Schwartz but was behind schedule due to studying later than normal that day according to his mother, Margie Robinow.

Community leader Mark R. Jorgenson will receive the prestigious Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award at the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee 2015 Human Relations Dinner. The gala dinner will be held on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.

COMMUNITY HANUKKAH CONCERT PLANNED — The community is invited to a Hanukkah concert on Saturday night, Dec. 12, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. The concert features Rabbi Esteban Gottfried and Beit Tefilah Israeli.

Most American Jewish organizations — from the American Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform national groups — were critical of last summer’s deal with Iran that continues that country’s support of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, restores more than $150 billion in frozen assets, and does not prevent Iran from developing long-range missiles that could potentially carry nuclear warheads.

Dr. Vadim Braslavsky hopes people in Kansas City who rally to support Israel will also do so with their checkbooks. The Israeli ER doctor is raising funds to help a victim of terror her recently treated.

Last week I attended two events on the same day, each with different purposes but with one thing in common. They were highly emotional. In each event you could plainly see the blood, sweat and tears that were an integral part of the each event.

Classical music lovers in Kansas City will have a rare opportunity to hear Noah Geller, concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony, play a solo benefit recital at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, the last night of Hanukkah, in a concert presented by Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City. The performance will be at the Rolling Hills Campus, 9300 Nall in Overland Park, where Temple Israel currently holds its worship services.

A JEWISH THANKSGIVING — Many years ago when Rabbi Rick Shapiro, interim rabbi of Congregation Beth Torah, was studying in Israel he was homesick for an honest to goodness American Thanksgiving. So he and his HUC classmates in Jerusalem gathered together for a Thanksgiving meal. At that time Rabbi Shapiro decided to write a service for the occasion — a Thanksgiving Seder.