Bar and bat mitzvah celebrations are as unique as the young adults they honor — full of joy, personality and meaningful moments. In 2026, décor trends are leaning into personalization, immersive experiences and interactive design, all while honoring Jewish heritage, tradition and community.
I was one of two local rabbis (the other was Rabbi Moti Rieber) who were amongst the 600 clergy who traveled to Minneapolis a few weeks ago to witness firsthand what can only be characterized as a reign of violence and induced fear inflicted on everyday residents by ICE (ICE is used as an encompassing term that references both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection).
By the time you read this you might be:
See me at 20, charging through my college campus with hand-painted signs, writing letters, following megaphones, clapping, chanting, calling for justice for fill-in-the-blank. I was full of the just fire of youth.
Happy (secular) New Year in 2026! Only in Judaism do we get four New Years to celebrate. The ancient Jewish calendar organized time around the spiritual, agricultural, legal and ritual rhythms of life.
The new year is a natural time to reflect on your charitable goals and clarify how you want to make an impact. With a bit of thoughtful planning now, your charitable giving in 2026 can feel more intentional and aligned with the results you’d like to achieve.
As we prepare for the JCC Maccabi Games return to Kansas City this year, I find myself reflecting on how meaningful this moment is for our community as well as for my own family.
Around two years ago, my grandfather came to me with an interesting predicament. He teaches religious school for a group of middle and high school students in Florida, and several of them didn’t believe their prayers did anything or went anywhere.
If you’re ambivalent about how to answer, then we’ve about reached the point of no return. Artificial brightness that mimics daylight already obliterates the night sky.
As we close out 2025, it’s time to reflect on the year that was and plan for the new year. The team at Jewish Family Services is grateful for the support the agency has received allowing staff to serve the community.
