THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY GIFT — For his 75th birthday, Ed Porter received what he called “the perfect gift” from his wife, Karen and his children and their spouses: Deb and Mike Gill, Barbara and Ron Hill and Ed and Carol Porter. The family established the Ed Porter Adult Jewish Education Fund at the Jewish Community Center. “I was surprised and really touched,” said Ed. “To have my children carrying on the values I’ve tried to model is the best present a father could ask for.”

JEWS IN THE TV NEWS
BUSINESS — I don’t know why, but Jewish people always want to know if someone else, especially celebrities, are Jewish. We have discovered that NBC Action News (channel 41) may have the largest percentage of Jewish people on staff than any other newsroom in town. We’ve done stories about Najahe Sherman, Gary Lezak and Justin Unell. We know Jeff Penner and Sloane Heller are Jewish as well as photographer Eric Schutlz. Most recently The Chronicle’s former editor Rick Hellman joined the staff as news desk assignment editor. We recognized one of his assignments recently when Congregation Beth Torah and Pleasant Green Baptist Church, who have worked together for years feeding the needy during the winter holidays, were featured in a story. Rick tells us Rob Low at Fox 4 is also Jewish. We wish Rick lots of luck in his new job!

MED STUDENT SEEKS
PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW — Rachel Myers, a member of Congregation Beth Shalom and a first year medical student at the University of Kansas, is seeking a grant related to testing for Jewish genetic diseases. The proposed project is called “Jewish Genetic Screening: Evaluation of the barriers and strategies to increase education and awareness for young Jewish adults.” If she is awarded the grant, she hopes to determine several things including when genetic testing for Jewish genetic diseases is most appropriate, how much information individuals have and want prior to screening and how the level of awareness and screening rates can be improved amongst the varying Jewish denominations to increase prevention. To accomplish this task, she plans to interview patients participating in screening, physicians, genetic counselors, religious figures and other community members that have a connection to or interest in Jewish genetic diseases. As part of the grant-seeking process, she needs to show she has established contacts worth interviewing. If you have undergone screening, have a Jewish genetic disorder, are a carrier of a particular gene, or know of anyone else that may be affected, Myers would really appreciate conducting a brief interview. She is the daughter of Allison and Alan Myers.  Contact me at or 913-951-8425 if you would like to get in touch with Myers.

PETITION FIGHTS FOR GROSS — A petition to secure the release of Alan Gross from his Cuban prison cell has appeared on the White House website, http://wh.gov/DJO. Gross has been in a Cuban prison cell since Dec. 3, 2009. This appears on the website, “It is time that he is brought home. This administration has spoken out on Alan’s behalf, but it is time to do more. It is time to do whatever it takes to get Alan released and returned to his loved ones. His wife had to sell their family home. One of his daughters and his 89-year-old mother have cancer. His wife has had surgery. Alan has lost over 100 pounds during his imprisonment and has developed some serious health problems. He is 62 years old and his family fears that if Alan has to serve out his 15-year sentence imposed by the Cuban court system, they may never see him again. Alan’s family needs him home with them as soon as possible.” The petition needs 25,000 signatures by Jan. 24 so that it will be reviewed by White House officials and receive a response. Messages in support of Gross may also be sent through a link that will go directly to the appropriate staff at the White House so they can learn how many people are concerned about Gross’ plight. That link is: http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/contact-american-jewish-issues-outreach-team.

The headlines are very similar, but appear 31 years apart. Gabriel Yehudah Goodbinder, born Jan. 2, became the first Jewish baby of 2012. He is the son of Jay and Darcy Goodbinder. Darcy was the first Jewish baby on Jan. 6, 1980, and was featured on the front page of the Jan. 11, 1980, edition of The Jewish Chronicle.

Gabriel was born at 9:45 p.m. at Shawnee Mission Hospital. He has light brown hair and hazel eyes.

“His eyes haven’t differentiated yet,” Jay said.

He weighed 6 pounds, 3.4 ounces and was 18 inches long. He is the first child for the Goodbinders, who were married Nov. 1, 2009.

Darcy said Gabriel’s actual due date was Jan. 16.

“We definitely discussed the possibility that he could be the first Jewish baby, but we had no idea. My mom was always two weeks early with her children, so we thought that I probably would go early,” said Darcy, who has three siblings. Her mother, Patti Kroll, is Congregation Beth Shalom’s Polsky Religious School director.

Like all new parents, the Goodbinders are not getting much sleep. But Darcy praised Jay for his helpfulness in allowing her to get in as many naps as possible. She recently retired as the chef in the Heritage Center’s kitchen. Jay is a chiropractor at the Neuropathy Center.

“We’ve been very excited this whole pregnancy. We think it’s a blessing and a miracle,” Darcy said.

“It’s changed your paradigm on life,” Jay added.

The “First Baby” contest is sponsored each year by The Chronicle: The Goodbinder family will be treated to prizes from the following advertisers:
Cigar & Tabac, Ltd.: “It’s a Boy” cigars
Cosentino’s Price Chopper: $25 gift certificate
Craig Sole Designs: Bouquet
Gates Bar-B-Q: $25 gift certificate
HyVee, 91st and Metcalf: $25 of diapers or baby food
Irish Crystal Co: Reed & Barton frame
Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series: Two tickets to “Stuffed and Unstrung — Henson Alternative,” Feb. 18
Knocky’s Liquors: $25 gift certificate
Riley’s Phillips 66: $25 gift certificate
Sheridan’s Lattés & Frozen Custard: Gift certificate
Theatre for Young America: Baby’s first live theater performance
Urban Table: $25 gift card

Yevgeniy Shenker was 3 years old when he came to Kansas City with his parents from Russia in December 1990. Twenty years later, as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, he was severely injured serving his country in Afghanistan.

On Jan. 24, 2011, Shenker lost his left leg in an accident involving an IED. His mother, Larisa Shenker, said she doesn’t think they will ever know for sure exactly the details of the accident. His right leg, right arm and back were also severely injured.
Larisa said this isn’t the first time Geniy, as he is known by friends and family, has faced adversity.

“When he was younger he spent six months in jail and was kicked out of school. But he eventually graduated with a 4.0. I’m proud of what he’s done for the country and himself,” Larisa said.

Geniy joined the Marines following his graduation from Blue Valley High School in 2007. Larisa said the Marines has been good for Geniy, and she expects he will re-enlist for another four years soon.

Geniy’s recovery

To date Geniy, who turned 24 in November, has had more than 20 surgeries. The past three — in June, July and November — all were unexpected. Each time his mother has been there to help him and give him moral support.

“He can drive now because he can use his right leg,” Larisa reported.

Geniy faces another surgery this month. After he recovers from that, he will begin therapy to learn how to walk with a prosthetic left leg.

While not in the type of physical pain her son has had to endure, this past year has been painful for Larisa as well. After Geniy was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., the Marines flew Larisa and ex-husband, Geniy’s father Arkadiy Shenker, to be by their son’s side. Two months later, Geniy was transferred to Navy Medical Center in San Diego, commonly known as Balboa Hospital. He’s been in an out of that hospital since then. Larisa has been with Geniy through every surgery and recuperation period.

“I am so proud of him. His spirits are great,” said Larisa, who became a U.S. citizen in 1995. Geniy obtained his citizenship just before he joined the Marines.

Larisa expects Geniy will be in San Diego at least another six to seven months. When he’s not in the hospital recovering from surgery, he lives in an apartment off the base, with his mother. They go back and forth to the hospital regularly for medical and therapy appointments.

Economic woes

Now Larisa faces challenges herself. An assistant manager at Taco Bueno in Olathe, she took a leave of absence through the government’s Family Medical Leave Act following Geniy’s injury.

“The Marine Corps has paid for most of my trips back and forth over the past 11 months. I’ve been home maybe three or four weeks total during that time to help take care of my mother, Flora Kruglyak,” Larisa said.

She will run out of leave time at the end of January. Without a regular salary, she fears she will soon lose her home.

“I am proud of what my son has accomplished and I want him to have his home to come home to whenever he decides to come home,” she said.

Larisa readily admits she is having difficulty making ends meet. That worries her.

“I just want him to have his home here,” she repeated.

Starting kindergarten is certainly one of the milestones in any child’s young life. It’s a milestone for parents as well, and one that often scares them. In an effort to make this transition a smooth one for both parents and children, a panel discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Jewish Community Campus in the Heritage Center. The event is free and childcare is available. To learn about childcare, visit jcckc.org/youth-programs/childcare/.

The event is co-sponsored by the KC Jewish Preschool Director’s Council, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and The PJ Library. The panel features pediatrician Michael Blum, D.O., HBHA kindergarten teacher Nicole Hollingsworth and Betsy Low, LSCSW, child and family therapist at Jewish Family Services.

Maxine Benson, director of Child Development Center programs for the Jewish Community Center, said the CDC started the program about six years ago as an informational gathering for Pre-K parents because “they would tell us how hard it was to leave the CDC.”

“Here we are like one big family and parents are involved with teachers,” Benson said. “Parents are worried about that transition to kindergarten where they are not so welcome into the classroom and the school will not be as interested in their opinions or input.”

Because that transition can be as difficult for the parent as it is for the child, Benson said CDC administrators thought an information session could address both aspects of transitioning to kindergarten.

“We wanted to make this as seamless for the parents as we made it for the children. We do a pretty good job about getting kids revved up about leaving preschool,” she said.

“Sometimes children still have difficulty adjusting because they are meeting lots of new children and new teachers. Sometimes it’s very, very different, but it was actually more difficult for some of the parents to make that transition,” Benson said.

“The program initially started not so much to ease the way for the children as it was to ease the way for the families. Children can pick up on all that anxiety … and they can start to think maybe this isn’t the great thing I thought it was,” she continued.

Benson thought the program was a good one, but described attendance as only so-so. But when she talked about it with other preschool directors, they thought it was a great idea.

“Judy Jacks Berman suggested it would be good to expand the program into a community program,” Benson said.

Now in its third year as a community program, the preschool directors, along with HBHA’s Tamara Lawson Schuster and Karen Gerson of The PJ Library, have crafted the program to include a social worker, a pediatrician and a kindergarten teacher.

“I tell parents you are getting a million-dollar panel for free,” Benson explained. “We are able to give you a panel of knowledgeable experts from our community who present fabulous information, for free.”

For the past few years, HBHA’s Nicole Hollingsworth has presented the kindergarten teacher’s view.

“I encourage all Pre-K parents to attend this event as a plethora of information is shared to help them prepare their kiddo for kindergarten. This event also gives tips for the family as the transition to kindergarten can be a big change for all. A smooth kindergarten transition is key to a successful start to a child’s formal education,” Hollingsworth pointed out.

Benson said Dr. Blum gives an overview of where children should be physically when they enter kindergarten, as well as how to work out the kindergarten physical exam so that insurance will pay for it.

“He also talks about readiness from his standpoint and always addresses the question from a pediatrician’s point of view when to send the child ahead or make the decision to hold back,” Benson said.

The third piece of the programs comes from JFS’ Low. She will address “the common sense ways to get your child ready to make the move to kindergarten as well as ways parents can keep their anxiety level down,” Benson said.

“She provides wonderful tidbits of information that will make that first day a breeze and help a child get over the hump,” Benson said.

Benson said she always hears nice comments from parents who attend the program. It’s also a great way for the various preschools from different religious denominations to do something together.

“We can cull from the community the best of the best this way,” Benson said. “It shows the community working a collaborative effort as it should. We’re not there to sell our programs. We want to make this easy for the parents. It’s just a really nice program.”

In addition to Benson, Berman, Schuster and Gerson, the planning committee includes Stacey Belzer and Susan Goldberg, B’nai Jehudah Preschool; and Devory Wineberg, Gan Chabad.

Reservations are requested for the program, however walk-ins are also welcome. To RSVP or for more information, contact one of the sponsoring organizations.

One thing is certain about Mandy Patinkin — his Jewishness is part of every role he portrays.

“It’s who I am,” said Patinkin in a telephone interview from New York, where he is currently performing on Broadway with longtime friend Patti LuPone. The powerful performing twosome will bring their show, “An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin,” to Kansas City’s Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts through Theatre League (Jan. 17-22) just days after closing the show on Broadway. (For ticket information call 816-994-7222 or visit www.theaterleague.com.)

“My Jewishness and humanness are intertwined,” Patinkin continued. “It’s rachmones and compassion for others. It defines my character. If Jewishness, you take away from who I am.”

Now 59, Patinkin got his theatrical start through the Jewish Community Center near his childhood home in Chicago. At the suggestion of his mother, the teenage Patinkin became involved with the Young Men’s Jewish Council.

“I wasn’t interested in school, and I got involved in a play and I found myself,” Patinkin said. “It was about telling someone’s story. ... It saved my life.”

After attending Kenwood High School, Patinkin landed in our own backyard at the University of Kansas. During his two years at KU, Patinkin appeared in “Man of La Mancha,” “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” and as Tevye the milkman in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“This is where I started,” Patinkin told AP. “This is the last place my father saw me perform.”

While at KU, Patinkin was chosen as Teen Angel in nationwide 7-Up commercial; he left Lawrence and relocated to New York to attend Julliard School of Drama. After Julliard, Patinkin performed with the Baltimore Center Theatre Group as well as in BBC Radio productions.

Patinkin has been back to KU on a few occasions, but won’t get the chance this time.

“I wish I had free time to visit my alma mater,” he said.

Patinkin has had a diverse career spanning the Broadway stage as well as film, television and recording. He won a Tony Award for the role of Che in the musical “Evita,” where he and LuPone first connected. Patinkin went on to tread the boards in such other shows as “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Falsettos” and “The Secret Garden.” His film roles have included “The Princess Bride,” in which Patinkin made the phrase, “prepare to die” famous, “Yentl” and “Ragtime.” The small screen of television took Patinkin’s signature voice and face to the masses through such roles as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in the hospital drama “Chicago Hope,” for which he won an Emmy. Patinkin portrayed Special Agent Jason Gideon in the ensemble cast of the TV series “Criminal Minds.” Currently, Patinkin is in production of the Showtime series “Homeland,” playing Dr. Saul Berenson, a member of the CIA who is — of all things — the Middle East Division Chief emeritus.

Patinkin said all the characters he has played have been Jewish in one sense or another. He’s found all the roles he’s played — whether on stage or screen — to be compelling, however Patinkin is particularly enjoying this turn in “Homeland.”

Patinkin is excited about bringing this current show to Kansas City audiences in eight performances. It’s a show he and LuPone have been doing off and one for the past nine years.

“It’s a figurative journey of two souls both spoken and unsung,” Patinkin explained. “It’s a concert format but it’s not the usual fair. It’s designed to be very entertaining. There are some familiar big show tunes and some that aren’t so familiar. Most importantly, it’s with my dear friend Patti LuPone. We love each other dearly and it’s a celebration of our lives.”

Theatre League Executive Director Mark Edelman has been promoting shows for 35 years, during which time he estimates he has used the words direct from Broadway at least 10,000 times. This particular show may represent the most direct path a show coming from Broadway to Kansas City has ever taken.

“I don’t’ think I’ve ever presented a show as direct from Broadway as ‘An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin,’ because that show is closing on Broadway on Jan. 13 and opening at the Kauffman on Jan. 17, four days later. It’s pretty tight,” Edelman said.

How does Patinkin keep a show that was conceived nine years ago fresh for audiences who have never seen it?

“We keep changing it, too,” Patinkin said. “When you pick the right material you keep it fresh.”

And there are stretches of time when the pair doesn’t perform together.

“I long for it when I’ve been away from it like a vitamin” he said.

Patinkin has a life beyond the footlights. Happily married to actress/writer Kathryn Grody, Patinkin enjoys his family time which includes sons Isaac, 29, and Gideon, 25.

“My older son is getting married,” said Patinkin, pride welling up in his voice. “It’s on his time clock. I hope it’s before I die,” he said with a laugh.

Gideon, a singer and songwriter, has his first CD coming out.

“Every now and then my youngest son performers with me and I love it, but he’ll be in New Zealand rolling out his CD,” Patinkin said.

Patinkin will continue doing concerts through the end of March, take personal time in April and in May, it’s back to filming the Showtime series, which takes place in the post 9-11 world of terrorism. He likes the role of Berenson, a mentor/father figure to the lead character CIA Agent Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes. Patinkin describes the series as a psychological thriller.

“It has some very serious questions about who are the terrorists,” Patinkin said. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life … These writers thrill me. It’s extraordinary and I’m a very extraordinarily lucky man to be part of it.”

Lisa Payne doesn’t see herself as an extreme couponer. But she does believe she knows quite a bit about being thrifty, and she’s sharing her expertise with anyone who wants to listen one Sunday morning a month at Congregation Beth Torah.

On top of that, she will present “How to Stretch a Dollar,” at 11 a.m. two consecutive Sundays, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29. A columnist and author of “Once Upon A Garage Sale…,” Payne will discuss ways to spend less money and boost your household’s bottom line. Topics will include garage sales and “extreme couponing.”

Payne came up with this idea to share her couponing expertise, and help others at the same time, as she thought about Schmooze & News, a gathering held every Sunday religious school is in session at Beth Torah. After family services, adults schmooze and catch up with friends, often while reading various Sunday newspapers.

“I was hoping and am working toward this being a ‘mitzvah’ time, a time when people can do a good deed with the ads in the Sunday paper,” Payne said.

How can people do this? Payne gives several examples.

“They can leave the coupons that they do not want for their own use for the use of others in the community,” she explained.

“We can strategically buy things with these coupons, especially when using the coupon will make the item free or 50 percent or more off its usual cost.”

Another way people can do a mitzvah is to leave recently expired coupons — just a month or two out-of-date — at Beth Torah.

“Those will be given to military families through www.operationexpiration.net or other agencies,” Payne said. “The overseas commissaries will allow the use of expired coupons as long as they are between 60 and 90 days old.”

There’s a box in the ulam (foyer) for the donations. It’s helpful if the coupons are already cut and divided into two categories: food and non-food. Payne will cut and separate the coupons if necessary. Then she will package them and send them off to help military families.

Payne, who has only been doing this since October, uses her own money to mail the coupons once a month. But anyone can do it.

She said she has taken on the cause because she figures most people won’t actually send them off themselves. But they may take the time to drop them off if they are going to the synagogue.

“I often send about 300 at one time,” she explained.

But she hopes this cause gains momentum.

“I am not intending this to be a one-man show. I really want to make this a community effort,” she said.

She says she personally uses coupons, along with purchasing and conducting garage sales, because she believes “if you don’t spend money on some things, then you will have money for other things.”

Payne may be more interested in the current coupons than the expired ones. Besides sending these along to the military, they can be used to purchase items right now that are needed by such organizations as Harvesters or battered women’s shelters. She is able to use the expertise she has gleaned to get the good deals like you see on TV shows to help these organizations. Then she donates those items to charitable organizations.

“I think it’s important to buy things for those who don’t have the time, money or resources to do it themselves,” Payne said.

Payne decided to share what she knows with others because of what she had learned attending CCO meetings at Beth Torah. CCO is the acronym for Communities Creating Opportunities, a grassroots community organizing effort to bring together the congregation and make systemic change in what matters most to our congregants. Through these meetings Payne had learned that many people are struggling financially due to the bad economy.

“I thought this was a good opportunity to explain couponing and being thrifty,” she said.

“It’s important when people are having trouble making ends meet that they feel in control. Couponing is a good way to help control expenses,” she continued.

Kelly Somberg, a member of the congregation’s social action and CCO committees, came by to help Payne cut coupons one Sunday morning in December.

“CCO is just a very small part of this,” Somberg said. “But this is a good way to be supportive of others in these hard economic times.”

Payne’s couponing has certainly helped her budget.

“I’ve learned how I can purchase many things for free. By studying the Walgreen’s and CVS advertising circulars, I was able to get two pages of items for free,” she explained.

“I am not an extreme couponer, but it is fun when the cashier says the total will be one penny,” she continued.
She urges people to be knowledgeable before they shop.

“WalMart always matches prices. And there is really only one place in this city that double’s coupons, and that’s Hen House. But you really need to know your prices at the stores to see if the coupon is worth it,” Payne said.

Payne isn’t sure how much time she spends couponing every week. She estimates she spends one to two hours organizing her coupons and another one to two hours shopping. But she points out once again this project is not just about her.

“I’m hoping this develops into something bigger than me. I am hoping for a community of like-minded people to get together and shop and share tips,” she said.

Finally, through her two classes in January Payne said she can help individuals learn how to save money themselves through couponing.

“Saving money is always a smart choice and allows people flexibility and control over how they spend money,” she said.

The Jewish Community Center has announced it plans to add classrooms to its Child Development Center.

The JCC will take over the space in the lobby of the Jewish Community Campus that was formerly used as a library by the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. HBHA gave up that space when it redesigned the area it occupies prior to the beginning of the current school year.

Schreiber said in March the JCC will initiate a construction project to build three new classrooms. The project will include a brand new Pre-K suite as well as enhancements to the existing CDC space.

“This is a rare opportunity for an additional 50 children, ages 2 to 4, to get a coveted spot in our top-rated early childhood program, which has been sold out with a waiting list for over 20 years,” said JCC Executive Director Jacob Schreiber.

Schreiber said the project will be complete by August, before the 2012-13 school year begins. The CDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and has earned five stars in the Quality Rating System. It serves children ages 12 months and walking through Pre-Kindergarten in both full-time and part-time classes.

CDC’s enrollment currently stands at 176 students, which Schreiber said is capacity. He expects the additional classrooms will increase enrollment to 226 students, filling three 2-year-old classrooms, three 3-year-old classrooms and four Pre-K classes.

Letters have already been sent to those on the CDC waiting list regarding the school’s expansion.

“We expect to fill quite a bit of our new spots from our waiting list,” Schreiber said.

He suggests anyone wanting to save a spot for next year or learn more about CDC enrollment in general contact Maxine Benson at 913-327-8051 or .

Schreiber said the JCC is currently raising funds to help pay for this expansion.

JOKE OF THE WEEK — Our joke of the week come’s directly from the Torah Learning Center’s weekly email blast:
Little Michael and his family were having dinner at his Bubbe’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Michael received his plate, he started eating right away.
“Michael! Please wait until we say our blessing,” said his mother.
“I don’t have to,” The boy replied.
“Of course, you do,” his mother insisted. “We always say a prayer before eating at our house.”
“That’s our house,” Michael explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!”

COVER GIRL — Congregation Beth Torah member Shelby George, a senior at Blue Valley North High School, was recently featured on the cover of The Cheer Leader Magazine. In that same issue she was featured as a “rising star” and was also a nominee for Cheerleader of the Year. Shelby is a BVN Cheer Captain this year and in the magazine’s profile she said she loves “the feeling of being out in front of the lights competing with all of my teammates and sharing together what we’ve worked so hard for.” Shelby is the daughter of Vicki George and Bill George. Mom Vicki reports that, alas, she was not voted Cheerleader of the Year.

SEARCHING FOR COUSINS — Jack Heller, a resident of Tampa, Fla., and a retired professor of music, is searching for relatives he believes may be in Kansas City. Many years ago he had an uncle who lived in Kansas City who had two daughters. Heller’s uncle’s name was Sollie (Hirsch) Pohl (changed to Paul). Sollie died of a fatal heart attack in 1960. Heller remembers Sollie’s daughters’ names as Merrie Lee Paul and Deborah Ann Paul. If you know anything about these ladies, Heller would love to hear from you. He would be especially thrilled to have a conversation with Merrie Lee and/or Deborah Ann. Heller can be reached at 813-975-5711 and .

UNICORN FUNDRAISER — The Unicorn Theatre (which has been led by Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin since 1980) and radio station 90.1 KKFI will hold a “Blues on the Block” fundraiser at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the theater on the Jerome Stage. The fundraiser will feature music from Shannon and the Rhythm King Band, Crosseyed Cat and Rich Berry. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show and there will be free BBQ and a cash bar. To purchase tickets, call Unicorn Theatre at 816-531-PLAY (7529), ext. 10, online at www.UnicornTheatre.org or in person at the box office located at 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.

“Kosher Jesus” by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Gefen Publishing House, $26 hardcover, January 2012.

Jerusalem — Shmuley Boteach is not only a very fast-speaking rabbi, but he is very charismatic, knowledgeable and engaging and one of the world’s leading relationship experts. His 26 books (including the best-seller, “Kosher Sex”) have been translated into 20 languages.

MediaCentral, the Jerusalem resource agency for foreign journalists, recently invited the rabbi to speak about his newest book, his first published in Israel. Rabbi Boteach was in Israel on a private visit.

The rabbi declared that this book is “the true story of Jesus the Jew.”

“Christianity is perceived as an enemy of the Jewish people, personalized in Jesus, who became a diety,” he declared. “I wrote the book to create the theological bridge between Christians and Jews.”

He said some Jews even feel it is inappropriate to mention the name of Jesus in a synagogue. “Most Jews are deeply suspicious of the relationship with Christians.”

On the other hand, he asked if Christians know the Jewish Jesus. Christians have to discover the Jewish Jesus who was teaching Jewish values.

The rabbi explained that Jesus was a man who felt the rabbis of his time were hypocrites and Judaism was corrupt. He asked, why then did the rabbis want Jesus dead? Because he allowed people to pick wheat on the Sabbath, they did not know he was a Torah-observant Jew all his life, he predicted the destruction of the Temple, he claimed to be the messiah and he claimed to be divine, calling himself the son of man and referring to G-d, as my father.

“There was nothing blasphemous so who wanted him dead? The Romans wanted Jesus dead.” The rabbi also questioned why the Romans were not mentioned in the New Testament and why is Pilate white washed. “They were the brutal occupiers, mass murderers.”

Rabbi Boteach admitted “Christians will not accept everything I wrote in this book but everything he (Jesus) taught came straight from Jewish sources.” For example, he pointed out sources of Jesus’s “Sermon on the Mount,” from Psalms 35 and 24, and Lamentations 3.

“Christianity is an extension of Judaism. Jews can accept him as a teacher and martyr,” he said.

“This is why Jews are easy prey for missionaries — if you don’t know what Jesus said about Jews in the New Testament.”

“I expect there will be a lot of resistance to this book,” said the rabbi, “but the research was very compelling…. Christians don’t have to reject the divinity of Jesus. We can look at Jesus in different ways. This is my rendition of the Jewish Jesus.”
Summarizing the book, he said, “This is a serious and honest look at the Jewish Jesus by a well-known rabbi which leads to an honest conversation.”

At times during his presentation he digressed from the topic of his book. For example, he mentioned Mel Gibson, whom he characterized not as an anti-Semite but as the “Jew hater” and his “blood libel film,” “The Passion of the Christ.”

But he did praise evangelicals for their stalwart support of Israel. He noted that over the past 30 years there has been a change no one could have predicted — that being a new political alliance between the Jewish community and the Christian evangelicals. “The Jews are not sufficiently appreciative of the Christian evangelicals,” he said.

When Jewish professionals gather in discussion of The PJ Library, a program that provides free, high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis, the Kansas City version of The PJ Library is almost always mentioned as a model.

The PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and is made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations. In Kansas City it is supported by the Jewish Federation. All families raising Jewish children in the Kansas City area from 6 months of age through age 8 are welcome to enroll. The program is offered free of charge.

Karen Gerson, director of informal education for CAJE, the educational arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, said one of the main reasons the program is so successful here and talked about nationwide is because it is very collaborative. That collaboration has helped ensure high enrollment.

“We have almost 70 percent of our 6-month through age 8 group of kids enrolled in the program. Depending on the day we have around 650 enrollees and we have about 1,000 children that fall within this age group. It’s really unheard of to have this big of a number engaged and involved in this program,” Gerson said.

Here in Kansas City The PJ Library is popular not only with families with young children, but with their grandparents and aunts and uncles as well. As it begins its fifth year here in March, it has also developed a very devoted committee of volunteers who are ambassadors representing the area’s congregations as well as the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and the Jewish Community Center’s Child Development Center.

Twice a year those ambassadors will check the list of members in that age group with the list of PJ Library enrollees. Anyone not on The PJ Library list will be contacted in some way by the ambassador. That could mean anything from a personal phone call from the ambassador, a message of some type from a professional in the organization or simply a flyer about enrolling in the program.

“We really work hard to make sure that all those that are engaged and involved in synagogue or preschool life here in Kansas City are given the opportunity to take part in PJ Library. Other cities don’t have a system in place where professionals work together as closely as we do here. Our system works well here because we all see that a community program like this is a win-win not only for the community but for the individual institutions as well,” Gerson said.

There’s even a member of the committee who is what Gerson calls “under engaged,” meaning a person who is not a member of a congregation. That person serves as PJ Library’s liaison with those who do not have children enrolled in a Jewish preschool or are members of a synagogue.

“In the past we have never publicized the program in the secular world. We have recently brainstormed some things that we can do there, also. So that person’s role is also to work to get the word out about PJ Library in the secular world,” Gerson said.
In addition to the monthly books and CDs that are mailed from the national headquarters, Kansas City’s PJ Library sponsors several programs throughout the year. Last year those programs took on a collaborative spin as well and the plan is to continue that direction in 2012. For instance this Sunday’s concert featuring Sheldon Low is being co-sponsored by all the Jewish preschools.(See below for more information.)

“That helps us in a number of ways. First of all, preschool teachers and the preschool professionals will be there. Parents and children always like to see a familiar face at events. They also really help promote it and they want their families to be there and it makes it more community minded when we have the backing and support from the congregations and institutions,” Gerson said.

This year PJ Library will continue its partnership with HBHA’s My First Book Club.

“It’s monthly on Wednesday afternoons for 3- to 5-year-olds to help promote the Academy and see what life is like as a kindergartner there. PJ Library books, PJ Library activities and a snack are provided there as well,” Gerson said.

The newest program this year is being coordinated with The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

“In January we’re starting PJ in the Ark. B’nai Jehudah has a beautiful ark in the library where the program will take place. There will be three opportunities on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. where any 2-year-old to pre-K child, whether they are B’nai Jehudah members or not, is welcome to attend a story time and art activity and snack, all using PJ Library books,” she explained.

Another popular PJ Library program takes place in February for grandparents or grandfriends and children ages 2 to pre-K. It’s planned by a committee comprised of grandmothers and their daughters.

“It’s an opportunity for grandparents to have special time with their grandchildren and for the parents to have a couple of hours on their own,” Gerson said.

This program will be held at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. For the past four years most, but not all, of the programs were held at the Jewish Community Campus.

“We’re trying to get out there and showcase the community to families with young children,” Gerson said.

Sheldon Low performs PJ Library concert Sunday,  Jan. 8

Sheldon Low will perform a concert aimed at children ages infant to age 8 and their families on Sunday, Jan. 8, in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Campus. Doors open at 3:45 p.m., the concert begins at 4 p.m. and is expected to last an hour. It is free and open to the community. Second grade students from the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy will join him for a few songs.

Low is considered the newest face in Jewish music performing rock concerts, Shabbat Services and leading artist-in-residency weekends in Jewish communities throughout the United States. During the past three summers he has performed at a variety of Jewish summer camps throughout the country and frequently appears on stage with Jewish rock musician Rick Recht. He has released two albums, “On One Foot” and “It’s All Challah to Me.”

While his professional bio says he was born and raised in St. Louis, Low did live in Kansas City for a while and actually attended the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy for a couple of years when he was very young.

“It’s really nice to be able to bring back a professional entertainer who has roots here,” said Karen Gerson, director of informal education for CAJE, the educational arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

Gerson said Low’s style is very similar to Recht’s, who is a popular entertainer who played to a large PJ Library crowd last January.

“We’re really excited that we are able to provide two family-friendly concerts in a row that are intergenerational. We’re noticing that grandparents and aunts and uncles are attending these big events and everyone is welcome,” Gerson said.