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Dear friends, The term “sabbatical,” related to the word Shabbat (time of rest), refers to a leave from normal responsibilities. Its roots come from the Torah when God instructs Moses on Mount Sinai that the Israelites are to work the fields for
six years and on the seventh year the land will have a Shabbat, a complete rest. The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah has a tradition of supporting this as part of our obligation to our Rabbi. In 2017, Rabbi Nemitoff graciously accepted our request to postpone part of his sabbatical until 2020, enabling us to complete the renovation campaign with his leadership. Over the years, our rabbi has used his sabbatical to grow, personally and professionally. He spent time in Ethiopia, learning about the Falash Murra, first-degree relatives of Ethiopian Jews and volunteering at Mother Theresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying. And he spent time learning about new cultures, while he lived with the Hamer tribe. He has shared lessons learned from all three experiences with us, both in writing and in several of his High Holiday sermons. During his visits to Bulgaria, he brought Reform Jewish life to that community, taking lessons gained within our congregation and translating them for that unique and historic community. Along the way, he discovered ways to engage those marginally connected and to inspire them to find meaning in spiritual Jewish life. When he returned from those trips, he adapted those experiences to benefit us. Most recently, he spent several weeks in China, working with the liberal Jewish community in Shanghai. Many may remember his Kol Nidrei sermon, where he taught us the lessons he
learned while at the Great Wall. This is what a sabbatical is intended to do: permit our rabbi to regenerate his spiritual self, give to the world on (our and his) behalf, and to bring back lessons to benefit B’nai Jehudah. During February and March, Rabbi Nemitoff will be on sabbatical again. He will be returning to Bulgaria and to China...and may make a stop in Sudan. We know that he will bring back to us new opportunities to grow ourselves, based on his work on the other side of the world. Rest assured that all is covered during his absence. We are blessed with Rabbi Smiley, whose steady hand will guide us, along with Rabbi Leighton, and Jennifer Green Baer. If anyone needs rabbinic support, just call the office and either Rabbi Smiley or Rabbi Leighton will be there to assist. Rabbi Nemitoff will be writing to all of us in his Bisseleh Bytes, sharing more details and exact dates. We wish him well during his travels and look forward to welcoming him home when he returns in late March. Jocelyn [email protected] (913) 908-8588
UPCOMING SERVICE TIMES Friday, January 3
5:30 pm Bisseleh Nosh
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, January 4
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service
Bar Mitzvah: Elliott Gasser
Parashat Vayigash
Friday, January 10
5:30 pm Bisseleh Nosh
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, January 11
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service
Parashat Vayehi
Friday, January 17
5:30 pm Bisseleh Nosh
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, January 18
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service
Parashat Shemot
Friday, January 24
5:30 pm Bisseleh Nosh
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, January 25
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service
Bar Mitzvah: Bryan Persky
Parashat Va’era
Friday, January 31
5:30 pm Bisseleh Nosh
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service
A message from our president
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
GUCI Comes to B’nai Jehudah! Friday, January 24, we will have the opportunity to hear from a representative of Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI). GUCI is our Reform Movement camp and is located just outside Indianapolis, Indiana. Through activities designed to help build friendships within cabin groups and grade specific units, campers at GUCI become a part of a greater Jewish community. GUCI offers campers a wide variety of activity choices that allow them to exercise their bodies and minds, challenge their creativity and enhance their Jewish identities. From sports & fitness, to the performing and creative arts; from nature activities, to outdoor adventure programs, GUCI has something for everyone. A summer at GUCI is an unforgettable religious, cultural, recreational and social experience.
Hebrew Learning
We’ve been having fun and learning tons in Hebrew School. Students are learning the Alef Bet from a variety of hands-on, interactive teaching methods...including building their own letters with Legos!
What’s Happening in Religious School We are ready to kick off 2nd semester of the religious school program! Some important dates to mark on your calendar: January 5 Sunday Morning Program resumes 9:15 am – noon for grades Pre-K – 5 (1st day of pre-K; no class for 6th graders) Sunday Hebrew classes resume, 12:30 – 1:30 pm January 7 Tuesday Hebrew classes resume 4:30 – 6:00 pm January 8 Wednesday Hebrew classes resume 5:00 – 6:30 pm Kesher classes resume: Pizza by the Slice at 6:30 in the Community Commons, 7:00 – 8:15 pm classes January 12 Becoming Class for 6th graders and Parents, 9:15 – 11:30 am January 25 6th grade Shabbat Morning class, 9:00 am – noon January 26 Machane Jehudah Family Program 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Where Fun Meets Education Last month, Tal Shabo, Israel Emissary to Kansas City, connected our religious school students to life in Israeli by teaching fun Israeli games to our younger students and interesting Israeli expressions to the older students.
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B’NAI MITZVAH
Elliott Gasser will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah during the 10:30 am Shabbat Service on January 4, 2020. Bryan Mitchell Persky, son of Dana & Ken Persky, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah during the 10:30 am Shabbat Service on January 25, 2020.
Bryan is a 7th grade student at Oxford Middle School. He participates in Kesher, Baseball, and the Men of Excellence club at his school. Bryan’s Mitzvah Project was volunteering at Harvesters to help sort and repack food to go out to the community.
Exploring the Klein Collection
Cholent Pot Why is a very humble piece of crockery sitting in our Kikar among all the fine silver and one-of-a-kind works of art? This pot, one of the rarest pieces in the Klein collection, is designed for cooking cholent, the slow-cooked stew that an observant Jewish family eats as their main meal on Shabbat. This green glazed lidded pot bears a label identifying it as belonging to
the Perles family. We don’t know who they were, but thanks to this pot, we know that they kept the Sabbath and did not cook on Saturdays. The meal of potatoes, vegetables and meat was prepared for cooking and sealed into the pot with a flour and water paste. Some members of the household (a great job for a responsible child!) took the
covered pot to the community oven to cook before sundown on Friday. The deep walls of the large oven retained enough heat overnight to cook the stew. The next day after leaving shul, the family fetched their pot (labeled with their name to identify it among similar pots belonging to other families) and took it home to enjoy the hot meal within. It would certainly be a comfort on a cold day to know a warm dinner is waiting! Cholent pots like this one from Poland around the turn of the 20th Century, are rare and prized. Like many historic objects, the most common things in use were not considered by their owners to be special and so did not survive major life changes —like emigrating to a new country. However, the Perles’ pot survived beautifully! Today, families can cook cholent in a pot inspired by this very tradition: the electric slow cooker, or Crock Pot. Abby Magariel - Curator Educator
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Brotherhood Breakfast Café returns to a new location in the Commons space with our ‘renovated’ presence. With camaraderie and energy, we helped kick off the first day of Religious School with the traditional complimentary Pancake Breakfast. It was a flawless occasion even as we managed adapting to the welcoming, comfortable and engaging new space. On the next Religious School Sunday, we introduced the new B’nai Jehudah Brotherhood Breakfast Café. Highlights included the new coffee service, an updated menu, and great
ruach (spirit) generated in part by the return to the renovated building. With the help of many of the B’nai Jehudah family, we introduced our new logo design and signage. Please join us on Religious School Sundays for a welcoming and engaging setting, good food and great schmoozing! This article was written in advance of our Annual Breakfast/Meeting so we will write about planned activities in next month’s Bulletin. However, the Fishing Derby will be on the Calendar soon, planned (at this time) to coincide with the first day of Religious School. Brotherhood membership is growing significantly with a trend that includes an increasing number of younger (Shevet Achim) members. We encourage you to check us out and learn how Brotherhood is engaging members of all ages. Please contact us at [email protected].
Living and strengthening L’ Dor v’ Dor with family, B’nai Jehudah and Judaism.
BROTHERHOOD BRIEFING
Mitzvah Meals Monday, January 20
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Independence Blvd. Christian Church
606 Gladstone Blvd, KCMO 64124
SOCIAL ACTION
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JANUARY
Celebrating 40 Years or More Alice & David Achtenberg Leah & Lenny Bassin Bonnie & Herb Buchbinder Sibby & Mel Cosner Sue & Sidney Fink Adrianne & Ronny Greenberg
Janet & Mitch Kranitz Erlene & Sandy Krigel Sheryl & Mike Porter Deanna & Barry Roseman Tatyana & Anatoly Rubchinsky Kathe & Lou Stekoll Hope & Marshall Talbot Donna & Harvey Thalblum Ellen & Jerry Wolfe
Leadership Tomorrow is a paid internship program for Jewish college students. Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to $2,600 while working with some of the top-rated non-profit organizations in Kansas City. These internships are designed to provide learning opportunities and position students for future success!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Experience the Joy of an HBHA Education! Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy invites you to experience the joy of our school! Through our whole-child approach, HBHA helps students discover who they are, and gives them the freedom to determine how they can have the most beneficial impact on our society.
There are three great ways to learn more about HBHA: Take a Tour: Book your tour (for grades K-11) at hbha.edu. Taste of Kindergarten: Parents and children learn about all that HBHA has to offer! Select from one of these two events: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 OR Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Both events take place in HBHA’s Kindergarten pod from 6:00-7:15pm. Kindergarten Round Up: Rising Kindergarten applicants gain another taste of HBHA with our Kindergarten teaching team. Friday, February 7, 2020, 8:00am & 10:00am sessions. To learn more, or to register for these events, go to hbha.edu, or contact Tamara Lawson Schuster, HBHA Director of Admissions, [email protected], 913.327.8135.
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DONATIONS
RABBI NEMITOFF'S DISCRETIONARY FUND In Honor Of The Bat Mitzvah Of:
Abigail Reeves
Lisa & Matt Reeves
In Honor Of The Marriage Of:
Megan Klugman & Micah Bowron
Robert L. Bloch Charitable Foundation of Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Jamie Scheiman & Matt Reeder
Jody & Jeffrey Scheiman
In Memory Of:
Radyne Cohn
Paula & Rick Shteamer
Karen Gross
Janice & Sam Balot
Gerald Rabin
Anne Barnhill-Rabin
Marian S. Reich
Beverly & Larry Mallin
For Tzedakah:
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
In Appreciation of Shiva Ceremony
Louise Rosenberg
Judy and Larry Mayer
In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Bea Cohen
Irene & Howard Weiner
Martha Glickstein Cohn Bernard Glickstein
Judy and Larry Mayer
Lena Kleinstein
Gertie Millstein
Michael R. Koenigsberg
Sol Koenigsberg
Barney Kurz
Lisa and Greg Kurz
Simon Shanker
Marcia & Stuart Shanker
RABBI SMILEY'S DISCRETIONARY FUND In Appreciation Of:
Rabbi Sarah Smiley
Pat & Mel Pheffer
In Honor Of The Bar Mitzvah Of:
Daniel Munro
The Munro Family
In Honor Of The Bat Mitzvah Of:
Abigail Reeves
Lisa & Matt Reeves
In Memory Of:
Jimmie A. Kurz
Hal Kurz
Yetta Pheffer
Pat & Mel Pheffer
For The Stone Unveiling Of:
Sue Stonefield
Marcy Gaynes & Scott Nemeth
ADLER LEADERSHIP FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Lois Adler
Heidi Miller & Paul Adler
BUILDING FUND In Honor Of:
Jocelyn Fry
Arlan Koppel
BURGHEIMER EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Blanche Burgheimer
Joseph Burgheimer
Martha & Richard Pastcan
CHESED FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Gertrude Trudy Glassman
Melanie Glassman
Sue Stonefield
Marcy Gaynes
GENERAL FUND In Honor Of 50th Wedding Anniversary:
Darlene & Gary Zimmerman
Marlene & Mike Fishman
In Honor Of:
Lynn & Andy Kaufman
Wendy & Alan Feldman
In Memory Of:
Jerry Abrams
Lisa, Mitchell, Jessica, Danny, Shayna & Carolyn Hamburg
Maurine Ruth Agron
Ellen & Irv Robinson
Ilsa Cole
Beth & Steve Cole
Dr. Stanley Goldman
Marge Adler
Earl Katz
Bonnie & Herb Buchbinder
William Klein
Nancy & Roger Klein
Richard Kupper
Beth & Steve Cole
Jimmie A. Kurz
Ellen & Irv Robinson
Carolyn & Larry Satz
Walter Loeb
Nancy & Roger Klein
Miriam Sara Reich
Ellen & Irv Robinson
Sandra Rosen
Ellen Greenberg Jacobs
Louise Rosenberg
Cathy & Rob Winter
In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Eleanor Abrams
Lisa, Mitchell, Jessica, Danny, Shayna and Carolyn Hamburg
Marcus Bendorf
Brig Gen Harry H. Bendorf
Gloria Berenson
William Wallace
Jake J. Duny
Evelyn Harris
Pauline Gelhaar
Eugene Gelhaar
Cecil Greenberg
Mary & Mark Greenberg
Anna Hecht
Barbara & Scott Hecht
Goldie Kanarek
Hershl Kanarek
Rachel Kanarek
Raquel & Joseph Kanarek
Millie Krasne
Hale & Robert Krasne
Albert Levy
Mary & Mark Greenberg
Alexander Levy
Mary & Mark Greenberg
Donald Loeb
Esther Loeb
Sam Manvitz
Fayna Belzer
Jean Mooney Martin
Betty Jo Mooney
June C. Miller
Vicki & Alan Bronfman
Murray Newman
Eugene Newman
Timothy Peavler
Doris Gilgus
Betty Price
Galye & Bruce Krigel
Grandchildren
Leslee & Marc Price
Louis Price
James Roberts
Barbara & Scott Hecht
Florence Rosenblatt
Susie Kirschenbaum & Walter Stubbings
Steve Kirschenbaum
Sidney M. Seigle
Donna & Baruch Kaelter
Michael Patrick Sullivan
Trudie & Greg Goldberg
Sol Vegder
Nancy & Ronald Leu
Leah Warren
Bonnie & Herb Buchbinder
Florence R. Wasserman
Cynthia & Arthur Liebenthal & Family
Jane Weinberg
Maurice Weinberg
Jill Jacob
Gita Stein Wizig
Howard, Marissa and Hayley Wizig
RUDY & PHYLLIS GREEN YOUTH ACTIVITIES FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Herman Green
Phyllis & Rudy Green
HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE In Honor Of:
Michelle Cox
Ann Stern & Leonard Glass
LIBRARY FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
Frank Mallin
Jeanette Lewis
MEMORIAL & REMEMBRANCE FUND In Memory Of:
Jimmie A. Kurz
Rachel Kurz
MITZVAH GARDEN For Tzedakah:
Rita Blitt
Elizabeth Blackshire
Sheila & Ken Sonnenschein
Arlene and Leo Shalinsky Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
RENOVATION CAMPAIGN
In Memory Of:
Jimmie A. Kurz
Louise Rosenberg
Donna & Harvey Thalblum
SOCIAL ACTION/HUNGER FUND In Remembrance Of The Yahrzeit Of:
June Miller
Leona Miller
Kristy Blackman
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DONATIONS, continued
Daily Minyan Monday—Thursday 5:45 p.m.,
Sunday 9:45 a.m.
Federal holidays (when the office is closed)
minyan is held at 9:45 a.m. the morning
of the holiday.
For Jewish holidays, holiday services replace daily
minyan.
DONATIONS Donations to the synagogue are
always greatly appreciated. Due to the increased administrative and postage costs necessary to notify
recipients of your generous gifts, we ask that each donation be $18 or more
per requested notification. Thank You!
We Remember
Harvey Saver Step-brother of Pam Feingold Brooks
“Anita” (Anna) B. Kellmer
Grandmother of Rachelle Milgram Mother-in-law of Howard Eichenwald
Yetta Kessler Pheffer
Cherished Member
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12320 NALL AVENUE OVERLAND PARK, KS 66209
PHONE: 913-663-4050 WEB: WWW.BNAIJEHUDAH.ORG
Dated material -do not delay. Return service requested.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID Kansas City, Mo.
Permit No. 721
The next bulletin will be the February 2020 issue. The deadline for the February bulletin is January 5. If you have any questions about the Temple Bulletin please contact Jennifer Green Baer, at 913-663-2641.
RABBIS Arthur P. Nemitoff, Senior Rabbi Sarah Smiley, Rabbi Joshua Leighton, Rabbi
OFFICERS Jocelyn Fry, President Amy Bryant, Vice President Adam Cohen, Vice President Amanda Morgan King, Vice President Andy Navran, Secretary/Treasurer Ken Sigman, Immediate Past President ADMINISTRATION Jennifer Green Baer, Executive Director Michelle Cox, Music Director Dayna Gershon, Director of Formal & Informal Education Tricia Ghekas, Finance Director Abby Magariel, Michael Klein Collection Educator/Curator Jane Martin, Communications Director Emily Williams, Assistant Director of Education
EMERITUS Michael R. Zedek, Rabbi Emeritus
Clergy, staff and congregants joined together with thousands of Jews from across North America to learn,
get inspired, and weigh in on Reform Movement policies at last month's URJ Biennial.
Back row, left to right:
Rabbi Josh Leighton, Leslie Nemitoff, Jocelyn Fry, Adam Cohen, John Fry, Zach Bassin, and
Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff.
Front row, left to right: Michelle Adler-Wexler, Laura Payne, Ben Novorr,
Amy Bryant, Jennifer Green Baer, and Rabbi Sarah Smiley.
