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Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum’s resume reads like a Who’s Who of Jewish institutions: first mashgiach and educational director of Aish HaTorah, founder of Darchei Noam/Shapell College of Jewish Studies, author of “Understanding the Talmud.” On top of all that, the Israeli Foreign Ministry sent the rabbi and his wife to the former Soviet Union for a very dangerous mission in the 1970s — to organize clandestine classes in Hebrew and Judaism for refuseniks.

It’s no wonder that Kansas Citians Allan and Rini Gonsher were so intrigued. They heard Rabbi Feigenbaum a few years ago when he was visiting his son, Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum, a member of the Community Kollel of Kansas City, and his family.

“When Rabbi Feigenbaum spoke here, he was on fire!” said Allan Gonsher. “He challenged, motivated, and inspired me — and many others who heard him — to go beyond our current Jewish practices and beliefs.”

So the Gonshers are bringing Rabbi Feigenbaum back to K.C., at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Jewish Community Campus’ MAC Room, next to the White Theatre. The event is just $5 for brunch and open to the entire Jewish community.

“We’re fortunate to be hosting such an outstanding Torah scholar and unique personality,” added Rabbi Yehudah Sokoloff, head of the KC Kollel.

The lecture is in memory of Charles and Dorothy Gonsher (parents of Kansas Citians Phillip and Allan Gonsher and Geoffrey Gonsher of Phoenix), and Rini Gonsher’s father, Harvey, and brother William Egherman.

“My father was a lifelong Zionist and supporter of Jewish education, not only for his children and himself, but for the whole community,” Rini said. “He and my mother visited Israel for the first time after all three of his children spent considerable time there, studying, vacationing and becoming immersed in Jewish culture.”

She added, “My brother actively supported the University of Florida Hillel, loved classes and being involved in Jewish life. They would have loved to have heard the rabbi’s lecture, so we opened it up to all Jews, in their memory.”

Rabbi Feigenbaum, who will address “Jews: People of the (Face)Book: Maintaining a unique identity in a shrinking cosmopolitan world,” has been educating adolescents and young adults for more than 30 years. Born in Cleveland, he spent many years studying in Israel, and received his smicha from both HaGaon HaRav Beinush Finkel, z”tl, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim, and Harav Chaim Yaakov Goldsvicht, z”tl, Rosh Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavne — where students combine Judaic studies and service in the Israel Defense Forces.

“Like the KC Kollel rabbis, Rabbi Feigenbaum transcends the ‘denominational divide’ to reach Jews of all different walks of life,” said Rabbi Sokoloff. “He speaks directly to the Jewish soul with a message for every Jew regardless of affiliation or age.”

About the rabbi’s previous visit, Allan added, “He spoke about substantive issues — how to do mitzvahs with greater kavanah (intent), what to learn from the Torah with more passion, and how to live as a Jew in a way that influences the world. It was more than Tikkun Olam, about which we frequently hear. It was exploring one’s Jewish insides to be a Kiddush HaShem (a sanctification of G-d’s name) in the world.”

In 1987, Rabbi Feigenbaum and his family moved to Toronto, where he taught at Yeshivat Or Chaim and Ulpanat Orot High Schools, lectured for Aish HaTorah and Ohr Sameyach, and was a senior lecturer at the prestigious Melton Centre for Jewish Studies. He also served as the scholar-in-residence and educational adviser for NCSY Shabbatonim across North America.

In September 2000, he became principal of Tiferes Bais Yaakov High School for Girls. Over the past two decades, he has lectured extensively in schools, synagogues and universities throughout North America, Israel and the former Soviet Union.

“What a fitting tribute to our parents, who moved to Phoenix with a dream, when there was little Yiddishkeit and a great deal of anti-Semitism,” Allan added, “to raise three boys to be honest, hardworking, Jewish men. My brothers and I all married Jewishly and are actively involved in perpetuating Judaism. This is a testimony to our parents. I would like to provide that same opportunity to inspire other Jews.”

In addition to the Sunday morning brunch, Rabbi Feigenbaum will also speak at Congregation Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner during Shabbos. For more information, contact Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum at 913-230-6448 or Rabbi Binyomin Davis at 913-481-5842, visit www.kckollel.org or the Kollel’s Facebook page at KollelKC.

In 2010, Beth Kaplan Liss decided to take her passion for philanthropy to a national level, and was selected to join the ranks of Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet. When Liss joined the group, she joined the ranks of 300 men and women, ages 30 to 45, all with impressive resumes and a strong desire to change the world for the better.

Three years later, Liss continues to pursue her passion to help others, and was recently selected from a number of candidates as the Cabinet’s education and leadership development vice co-chair for 2013-14, along with Daren Sukonick of Toronto.

Liss will lead the Cabinet Retreat, bringing her own experience in the education field to Cabinet members, teaching them about Jewish Federation’s work, and creating leadership development opportunities throughout the year.

“I have had so many incredible chances to learn and grow from my own time on Cabinet … it’s thrilling to be able to reach out to others and give them the tools and information they need to create their own meaningful experiences — in Cabinet, and in their own Jewish communities across the U.S. and Canada,” Liss said.

“National Young Leadership Cabinet is the premier leadership and philanthropic program within the Jewish Federation system. Cabinet members come from all over North America, and all share the same commitment to shaping a bright future for the Jewish people in North America, Israel and around the globe. It’s no surprise that Beth has been chosen as not only a Cabinet member, but also a leader within that group,” said Todd Stettner, executive vice president and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

“We’ve been so lucky to have Beth as an active Jewish Federation volunteer, locally as a board member, and nationally as a Cabinet member,” said Miriam Scharf, Jewish Federation president. “Her passion is contagious. We now have two other wonderful Kansas City women — Sarah Beren and Michelle Goldsmith — who are National Cabinet members as well, thanks, in part to Beth sharing her experiences with them.”

According to JFNA, Cabinet members and alumni are among today’s leaders in virtually every Jewish community in North America. What’s more, they are bringing back what they learn to serve as advocates and activists in their own communities.

Kansas City is no different. In addition to Liss’ position as a Jewish Federation board member, she sits on three sub-committees: marketing, engagement and leadership development, and Israel and overseas. She is a member of the Women’s Division Board, and is co-chair of the Women’s Division Lion of Judah division. She is also co-chair of Israel Together, a new Israel mission under development by Liss, co-chair Tracy Shafton, and a committee of six other women — all of whom attended JFNA’s Tribefest Conference together in 2012.

“Many current Jewish Federation leaders in Kansas City got their start as National Young Leadership Cabinet members. I encourage others in our community to learn more about it,” said Scharf.

“National Young Leadership Cabinet has had a profound impact on my life. In addition to helping me develop my own leadership path, it’s been a journey that builds deep and lifelong friendships. I now have friends all over North America who share my passion for Jewish life…they’re my chevre,” said Liss.

For more information about joining National Young Leadership Cabinet, please contact Vicky Kulikov, development associate, , 913-327-8112.

MORE2 RALLY AGAINST VIOLENCE — Two of our local rabbis, Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz of K.I. and Rabbi Doug Alpert of Kol Ami, took part in Monday’s rally against violence sponsored by MORE2 at Ilus Davis Park downtown. The organization planned it because “violence is killing our community.” Rav Shmuly explained that they “gathered together with the mayor as clergy of all faiths to unite against gun violence. It is crucial that Jewish leadership is at the forefront of speaking out against injustice and oppression. The Jewish tradition is unequivocal about the need to create safe societies that honor the human dignity of all people.”

MORE2 (pronounced more-squared) is committed to achieving racial and economic equity through grassroots organizing efforts that engage congregations in forging regional solutions to the most pressing problems of the metro Kansas City area. Ohev Sholom’s Susan Choucroun is the only person of the Jewish faith on the organization’s board of directors. Monday afternoon she said she was very gratified to see rabbis in attendance and taking action.

THE RABBI AND THE VATICAN — Rabbi Herbert Mandl had to postpone his trip to Rome to conduct research at the Vatican. The first part of the Mandls trip was to Israel to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of their oldest grandson. The day after the Bar Mitzvah, Barbara Mandl was injured in a fall and they returned to Kansas City for medical treatment. She is expected to make a full recovery and the rabbi hopes to reschedule the Vatican trip for early June. By then there will be a new pope and Rabbi Mandl is hoping to get an audience with him. “I now understand why I was told the outgoing pope was too ill to do audiences,” he said.

“HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDUH” — I learned this week, courtesy of Jewniverse, that this summer marks the 50th anniversary of Allan Sherman’s greatest hit, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” a song in the form of a letter from a kid at sleep-away camp to his doting parents. The catchy ditty climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard charts, and Sherman’s album, “My Son, The Folk Singer,” sold 1 million copies. If you like tidbits like this visit Jewniverse.com, which features extraordinary, inspirational, forgotten and just-plain-strange dispatches from Jewish culture, tradition and history. The daily newsletter is a project of MyJewishLearning.com.

Dr. Gershon Baskin, founder and board member of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information, will speak at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in the Whitfield Center at Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo. His topic will be “Peace in the Midst of Conflict.”

Baskin is widely credited as the person responsible for initiating the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas that successfully negotiated the 2011 release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas in Gaza from 2006 to 2011, and the prisoner exchange of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. He is expected to discuss the details of that prisoner exchange, as well as the importance of peace in the Middle East to the United States and the world; essentials of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement; and the impact of the Arab Spring in Egypt and Syria on prospects for Middle East peace.

The 56-year-old Baskin lives in Jerusalem and was born in Long Island, N.Y. He moved to Israel from the United States in the late 1970s and speaks Hebrew, English and Arabic. He worked with Jews and Arabs within Israel until the first intifada, when he began promoting dialogue and opportunities for cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. He is the founder of IPCRI, a jointly-run Israeli and Palestinian think tank that works with hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians in government and the private sector. IPCRI was first based in Jerusalem and in the late 1990s moved its offices to Bethlehem. Because of current travel restrictions, IPCRI has relocated to Tantur, near Jerusalem and next to the main Bethlehem checkpoint, in an effort to find an accessible and comfortable meeting place for Israelis and Palestinians.

Baskin initiated the founding of IPCRI in 1988 following 10 years of work in the field of Jewish-Arab relations within Israel working for Interns for Peace, the Ministry of Education and as executive director of the Institute for Education for Jewish-Arab Coexistence (established by the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister’s Office).

Following last month’s election is Israel, Baskin proposes re-starting peace talks with the Palestinians in his blog published Jan. 28 on jpost.com.

“The people of Israel voted for a moderate government, not for a government that will refuse to negotiate with the Palestinians for another four years. The most extreme right-wing party did not cross the threshold and Netanyahu’s Likud party lost seats apparently because of its extreme right-wing representatives,” he wrote.

“The Israeli public is not as right-wing as many thought before the elections,” he continued.

During the premiership of the late Yitzhak Rabin, Baskin served as an adviser on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to a secret team of intelligence officers established by Rabin. Baskin was a member of the Jerusalem Experts Committee established by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office during the Final Status Negotiations in 2000-2001.

Baskin holds a doctorate in International Affairs from the University of Greenwich. His dissertation was on “Sovereignty and Territory in the Future of Jerusalem,” parts of which were published as a book, “Jerusalem of Peace.” He is a member of the steering committee of the Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum, a member of the Board of ALLMEP — the Alliance for Middle East Peace and a member of the editorial board of the Palestinian Israeli Journal. Baskin is also a member of the Israeli Council for Peace and Security.

The event is free; however donations of $10 to $20 are welcome. For more information or to pose a question to Baskin, contact Jim Fleming at 816-213-1885 or .

If you want to come as close as is feasibly possible to learning the truth about Thomas Jefferson and his relationship with the slave Sally Hemings, read Kansas City area author N.M. Ledgin’s book, “Sally of Monticello: Founding Mother.”

It has been a known fact for a while that Jefferson and Hemings had an ongoing relationship. The controversy among historians is whether Jefferson took advantage of this Monticello slave or if it was a mutual, loving relationship.

Ledgin makes the case in his historical novel, written from the point of view of Hemings herself, that it was a real love affair. Ledgin, who is 83 years old, has been interested in Jefferson since he was in high school. He has done extensive research, basing his premise on books; all of Jefferson’s diaries; Jefferson’s precise recordkeeping; and his collection of letters. Everyone named in Ledgin’s book was a real person.

He said he asked himself one question when reconstructing Sally Hemings: “What kind of woman would Thomas Jefferson have given 38 years of love and loyalty to?”

“The answer is full of negatives and positives. She couldn’t have been an ignorant slave. She was a slave technically, but she had to be somebody who was challenging enough for him to carry on a relationship that resulted in eight children and loyalty on his part, because I’ve checked his daily records through his entire life and have never found any reason to suspect him of cheating on her,” Ledgin said. “And as far as the emotion of love is concerned, that comes through very strongly on both sides — especially on hers.”

Ledgin said he sifted through every fact he could find about Hemings and put them in the context of Jefferson’s personality, his habits and his quirks, and was able to then construct what he considers not only to be a believable relationship, but a real love affair.

Paris

At the age of 14, Hemings accompanied Jefferson’s younger daughter to France, where Jefferson was Minister to France. Hemings was a free woman there because France did not recognize slavery, and she was well aware of that fact. When they were ready to return to Monticello two years later, Hemings was pregnant.

Ledgin says she made a deal with Jefferson that she would return to Monticello as a slave if he would free all of their children at the age of majority. He agreed and carried out his promise.

“I’m impressed with the fact that she would re-enter bondage voluntarily, although she could have walked away in Paris,” Ledgin said. “You know there has to be a strong emotion involved for a free woman to agree to go back into slavery.”

Ledgin said he was disappointed in some of the material he has read about Hemings, making her appear to be more of a victim than the assertive woman he thought she might be.

“I felt that historians had shortchanged her and that she needed to be represented in a way that was believable in the context of Jefferson’s stature, intelligence, bequests, etc.,” he said “I’m finding that historians often overlook simple human logic. They don’t reason out human behavior as well as they might and this is what I’ve tried to do in my book.”

Brother- and sister-in-law

Ledgin said there is another fact that many historians overlook. Hemings was Jefferson’s wife’s half-sister, both having been fathered by the same man, John Wayles. So she was Jefferson’s sister-in-law.

“This is what people have overlooked and the logical playing out of the relationship is what the historians have neglected to do. I felt there’s a gap to fill and I wanted to bring her to life,” Ledgin explained.

“When [Sally] got to Paris, I think she felt an obligation to take care of her brother-in-law, who desperately needed taking care of because here’s a man who was a widower. Bingo, along comes this amazing young lady, only 14 and he’s 30 years her senior, but in those days, so what,” Ledgin said.

He pointed out that it was common for women to get married at the age of 13 in Virginia.

“I’m quite sure that by the time she was 14, having known her special status at the house in Monticello, her mother ran the place, and being sent on this very special assignment to Paris, I’m sure she declared to herself, ‘Well, I’m family. I’m going to take care of this man.’ And she did.”

Asperger’s Syndrome

Ledgin is also the author of the 2000 book “Diagnosing Jefferson,” which poses the theory that Jefferson had Asperger’s Syndrome, a neurological condition on the high end of the autism continuum.

“The fact that he was a man who needed to be taken care of also fits the Asperger’s diagnosis,” Ledgin said. “Asperger’s people feel very comfortable with familiar settings and with family and [Sally] was family. …

“So Sally was in awe and I think she felt she had a role to play in this man’s life. It was partly because of his condition that I felt the relationship was quite a logical choice for both of them.”

Ledgin brings to vivid life the characters and a credible assumption that Jefferson and Hemings were indeed very much in love with each other.

“Anybody who vets this book to check any of Jefferson’s records to see could this really have happened will have to say, ‘Yeah, he reconstructed the dialogue between the two of them, but yes, this is what happened on that day or that week.’ And that to me was an important point to make.”

“Sally of Monticello” is available through amazon.com as a paperback and for Kindle e-readers.

Ledgin often speaks to various organizations, retirement homes, even in people’s homes, with tales about Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Anyone who would like to invite Ledgin to speak can reach him at or 913-897-3220.

“I’m looking forward to an energetic conversation about a very dynamic moment in the nation’s history. Just when gridlock seems worst, that is the moment when breakthroughs might come,” said Time Magazine’s David Von Drehle, referring to his Feb. 13 appearance at the Jewish Community Campus.

Von Drehle, an editor-at-large at Time, will discuss, “After the Inauguration: The Future of the United States.” His presentation will cover a variety of topics including the president’s re-election, a new Congress and “what should we look for in the years to come?” The event is presented by Avila University, Rockhurst University, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. It is set for 7 p.m. at the Campus; there is no charge for the event, which is open to the public.

The journalist, who lives in Kansas City, Mo., covers national stories and politics, authors frequent cover stories, and has hit the campaign trail covering presidential candidates. He is the author of various books, including “Triangle: The Fire That Changed America” and the recently released “Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America’s Most Perilous Year.” His work has also appeared in “Deadlock: The Inside Story of America’s Closest Election.”

“I first became familiar with David’s work about nine years ago when the ‘Triangle’ book came out, which is a fantastic lesson in American and American Jewish history in the United States. I then followed him in the Washington Post, where his very eloquent and powerful writing, including obituaries, were magnificent and educational” said Marvin Szneler, JCRB|AJC Executive Director.

Von Drehle also wrote the cover story when President Obama was the TIME Person of the Year in 2008.

“I believe David’s presentation will be both very educational and enjoyable,” Szneler said.

H&R Block recently unveiled a living, interactive archive to celebrate almost 60 years of tax preparation and becoming the world’s largest tax preparation company. The company also cut the ribbon at the state-of-the-art office at its world headquarters in the heart of Kansas City’s Power & Light District.

“Almost 60 years ago, Henry and Richard Bloch did more than merely open a two-man operation to help people with their taxes. They launched an industry,” said Bill Cobb, CEO and president of H&R Block. “This wall symbolizes the hard work and dedication of the Bloch brothers, as well as thousands of associates to build this company into the world’s largest, most respected tax preparer.”

The wall showcases videos and pictures dating back to when Henry and Richard Bloch opened the first H&R Block office at 39th and Main streets. At the exhibit, the public can see artifacts and a 1972 commercial with Henry Winkler before he was on “Happy Days.” It is located in the lobby of H&R Block’s headquarters at 13th and Main streets, and viewing hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on regular business days.

In addition to the archive unveiling, H&R Block opened a state-of-the-art tax preparation office at its headquarters. This office boasts many high-tech features, including:

• iPad check-in for new and current clients

• Money Express, an easy-to-access 24-hour kiosk where card-carrying members can perform functions, such as paying bills, uploading cell phone minutes, and making check-to-card deposits

• An ultra-modern training facility, which can accommodate up to 40 people, that can serve as a virtual classroom where expert instructors deliver training electronically to tax professionals based anywhere throughout the country

• Block Live, which is an electronic station where tax professionals can service their clients anywhere in the world virtually

• Testing facility to pilot H&R Block innovations, delivery methods and new products.

“We are especially excited about the opening of this office because it continues to embrace the trailblazing spirit of H&R Block by launching the latest in tax preparation and financial services technology,” said Amy McAnarney, president of H&R Block retail client services.

COMMERCIAL FAVE — As the debate continued Monday about the best commercials in this year’s Super Bowl, my favorite was the one about the upcoming NFL draft. Deion Sanders is supposed to be the star, but many of us were watching to see if Corey Rittmaster would make the final cut and get air time. The K.C. native, real-life Chiefs’ fan and former member of Congregation Beth Torah, is the fan in the bar wearing Chiefs garb and was shown not once, not twice, but three times. If you missed the commercial the first time or want to see it again, check it out at http://youtu.be/_iw3hxTuK-c.

LITERARY TEENS — At least two teens from the Jewish community will be part of the Johnson County Library’s 10th  anniversary celebration of elementia, the Johnson County teen art and literature magazine. The celebration takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Central Resource Library and will feature an introduction from young adult author Walter Dean Myers who wrote “Street Love.” Jewish teens featured in the 10th edition of elementia include Congregation Beth Torah member Anna Wolock and Rachel Franklin, a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

A SUPER SUNDAY — The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Super Sunday, under the direction of Neal Schwartz and Tracy Shafton and carried out by dozens of volunteers, was a super success. The Sunday calling session collected just shy of $120,000 in pledges. Another calling session Monday night brought the total to $135,818.

VILLAGE SHALOM FEATURED IN WEBINAR — Village Shalom has lots of great ideas. One of them — Village Shalom University — was featured in the recent “Great Ideas” webinar hosted by the Association of Jewish Aging Services for its member organizations across North America. AJAS serves nearly 100 Jewish-sponsored nursing homes, senior housing communities, service organizations and outreach programs, all of which had the opportunity to view the online seminar.

Village Shalom was one of eight senior-care organizations selected to offer a seven-minute-or-less glimpse at an innovative program they have successfully implemented. Akin to “speed dating,” the webinar gave viewers an opportunity to learn about new concepts that might be pertinent to their own elder-care environments.

Village Shalom’s “VSU” program is a weeklong, university-style educational opportunity taught by and for Village Shalom residents, staff, family members and other members of the community. First implemented in 2011, the novel approach to lifelong learning received the 2012 Excellence in Innovation Award from another senior-care association, LeadingAge Kansas.

There is nothing more certain in Israel than uncertainty.

While things in the Jewish state may be more uncertain than ever before, its American-born ambassador assured the audience more than once during his presentation Monday night that Israel will survive and is not alone because of its friendship with the United States, Israel’s best and strongest ally.

The Ambassador of Israel to the United States Michael Oren was in Overland Park to speak at an event sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. Battling a virus, he was traveling in the Midwest to serve as the featured speaker at Kansas State University’s Landon Lecture Series on Jan. 29, where he was expected to discuss “Israel, The Ultimate Ally.” He was traveling throughout the Sunflower State with Roey Gilad, the consul general to the Midwest based in Chicago, and was also expected to visit Fort Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kan., before returning to Washington, D.C.

The 20-minute speech by one of Israel’s most well-known dignitaries was often a pep talk. Preaching to a mostly Jewish audience, he called attention to the fact that no matter what challenges occurred during Israel’s 64-and-a-half years, its people have continued to survive and thrive.

He emphasized that Israel is still strong, “despite facing challenges as daunting as ever” brought by people who want nothing better “than to see us wiped off the map.”

Oren has served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States since June 2009 and last visited the metro area five years ago. Speaking to an overflow crowd estimated at more than 550 that spilled into the Campus’ dining hall area, he gave dozens of examples about the strength and resiliency of the Israeli people, who now number close to 8 million people. For instance, there are now more people who speak Hebrew than Finnish and Danish, and Hebrew speakers will soon outnumber those who speak Swedish.

He believes Israelis can be most proud of the fact that from its creation it has been a sovereign and democratic state.

“Seconds after we declared our independence in 1948, we were attacked by six Arab armies that wanted to knock us back into the sea,” he said. “We had 600,000 people armed with handguns and we won.”

Oren proudly pointed out that Israelis are highly educated, rated second in the world in per capita education.

“After Canada, we are the most highly educated country in the world,” he said.

“Israel is the only country with more Nobel prizes per capita than Olympic medals,” he added.

The Jewish state, according to Oren, is now a “techno powerhouse.” He said every major American technical company has two research and development centers in Israel.

“All of your computers, all of your cell phones are working with components and parts and concepts developed in the State of Israel,” he said.

Oren has been called one of the five most influential Jewish leaders in America and one of the 10 most influential Jewish leaders worldwide. He has been instrumental in securing U.S. support for Israel’s defense and upholding Israel’s right to security and peace. He briefs Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders on issues vital to the U.S.-Israel alliance.

He touched on the unrest in the entire Middle East, the challenges of chemical weapons in the hands of the Syrian army as well as the serious issues the Iranian nuclear program poses for Israel’s security. Oren also mentioned the problems Hezbollah continues to cause.

“Rarely in Israel’s history have we faced so many insurmountable dangers at the same time,” he said.

He noted the negotiations with the Palestinians are yet another challenge the Jewish state faces, as Israel has tried for four years to get the Palestinians to sit down and talk.

“The government of Prime Minister Netanyahu is committed to achieving a comprehensive peace with the Palestinians … but we have to succeed in getting the Palestinians to negotiate with us.”

Oren said the Palestinians want to get the territory without getting the peace.

“They are having reconciliation talks with Hamas in Gaza. If you look at the Hamas covenant, it’s dedicated not only to destroying the State of Israel, it’s dedicated to destroying the Jewish people worldwide. It’s a genocidal organization,” Oren said.

Oren pointed out Israel is committed to negotiating directly with the Palestinians leading to a two-state solution, “living side-by-side with a Jewish state and a Palestinian state.”

“We are willing to start negotiations today in Jerusalem, in Ramallah, in Kansas, we don’t care as long as the Palestinians negotiate with us.”

During the question-and-answer period he reiterated that Israel doesn’t have pre-conditions for negotiations, but has positions it will not back down from. One such condition is the recognition of the Jewish people.

“We recognize the Palestinian people and we need them to recognize Jewish people with the right of self-determination,” he said.

It was the last question of the night that sparked the most emotion. Jan Present first announced that she didn’t trust the current U.S. administration’s support of Israel and then asked Oren what the United States could and should do to support Israel.

Some in the audience booed her question. The ambassador did not waiver as he reminded the crowd — something he had already pointed out in his prepared remarks — that the United States is indeed Israel’s biggest ally.

“We’ve never been entirely alone. Today we have the United States of America, the most multi-faceted, deepest alliance that this country has had with any country in the post World War II period. It’s an alliance based on common faith, based on deep spiritual ties, common democratic values and a very expensive strategic alliance,” he said earlier in the evening.

To answer the question, he simply said, “The United States does so much for Israel.

“It’s beyond the military aid, which is about $3 billion a year. That aid enables us to meet some of our challenges,” he said.

He noted that the United States was also one of the few countries to stand with Israel against the Iranian nuclear challenge.

“Do we have disagreements? Yes we have disagreements. There are no two allies in history who have not had disagreements. These did not begin with this administration.

“The true litmus of any alliance is not whether you agree all the time … it’s how you discuss your disagreements, how you get by them and how you continue to cooperate in meeting the challenges which confront both the United States and Israel.

“And on that score, I am completely confident that the United States is doing an outstanding job,” the American-born ambassador concluded, while the audience rewarded him with a round of applause.

The evening wasn’t strictly a rah-rah session for Israel. During the Q&A, Sam Devinki asked why Israel allows people to build housing in controversial areas. Oren then discussed the settlements, saying that if controversy would deter “us, I don’t think we’d have the State of Israel today.”

“Settlements are not the source of controversy. There was controversy 50 years before the first settlement was ever built,” he said.

He continued, “In 2005 we ripped out 21 settlements out of the Gaza strip to try to advance the peace process and it didn’t bring us peace. It brought us about 9,000 rockets.”

Another question was posed by Ellen Portnoy, whose daughter Lara Portnoy made aliyah last week. She asked what the government was doing about the problems young people are currently facing in Israel, specifically finding jobs and affordable housing. Oren didn’t really answer that question directly. Instead, he took the opportunity to discuss the role young Israelis had in last week’s election, in which almost 70 percent of Israelis voted and showed their support for Prime Minister Netanyahu.

An 11-year-old boy (Jake) who asked the ambassador, “What can Jewish children do to support peace?” was met with a warm response from the friendly audience. His question went along well with BIAV’s Rabbi Daniel Rockoff’s opening prayer of the evening.

“May the relationship between the (United States and Israel) continue to be one of mutual respect and shared value in the spirit of Moshe and Yitro. Bless and protect the people of Israel … and bless and protect the United States of America. Amen.”

Earlier this month the Vaad KaKashruth of Kansas City announced that Boulevard Brewing Company is now under its kosher supervision.

According to Andy Jenkins, the brewery’s community relations manager, the following Boulevard Brewing Co. beers are now being produced under the strict kosher supervision of the Vaad: Pale Ale, Unfiltered Wheat Beer, Bully! Porter, 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer, Boulevard Pilsner, Amber Ale, Dry Stout, Single-Wide I.P.A., Irish Ale, Boss Tom’s Golden Bock, ZON Belgian-style Witbier, Bob’s ’47 Oktoberfest, Nutcracker Ale, Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, Double-Wide I.P.A., Long Strange Tripel, Dark Truth Ale, The Sixth Glass, Bourbon Barrel Quad, Saison-Brett, Imperial Stout, Rye-on-Rye, Grainstorm Black Rye IPA, Two Jokers Double-Wit, Reverb Imperial Pilsner and Nommo Dubbel.

Jenkins said these beers are, or when seasonally appropriate will be, available in markets currently carrying Boulevard products.

Rabbi Mendel Segal, the Vaad’s executive director/rabbinic coordinator, confirmed that all Boulevard beers, unless otherwise noted, “are now being produced under our strict kosher supervision and will be marked with our symbol of assurance in the not-so-distant future.”

Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. The brewery’s mission is to produce fresh, flavorful beers using the finest traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard beers, which are known for their full flavor, distinctive character and unsurpassed quality, are currently available throughout Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Massachusetts, with partial distribution in Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Texas and Utah.

Jenkins said Boulevard Brewing had been considering kosher certification for a while.

“Ultimately, it was the nudging of a brewery investor, along with our expansion into various East Coast and West Coast markets, that finally precipitated us moving forward with the process,” Jenkins explained.

Rabbi Segal said the process took several months. The Vaad first met with Boulevard Brewery in April 2012. He added that the local Vaad’s hechsher is widely accepted, so fans of kosher beer all over the country should be comfortable drinking the beer under its supervision.

Rabbi Segal said this is an exciting development for members of the Kansas City Jewish community who observe the laws of kashrut.

“The craft beer industry as a whole has yet to really embrace kosher, which really highlights Boulevard’s commitment to certify their products,” Rabbi Segal said.

The local Vaad has been working hard to increase kosher options in the Kansas City area. Over the past year it has established some new kosher traditions in the area, including a regular pizza night at Johnny Brusco’s Pizza, located at 8909 W. 95th Street in Overland Park. Rabbi Segal expects the Vaad to make “more exciting announcements,” in the near future.