Rabbi's Week in Review
I was interviewed by Tablet magazine this week for an article they are researching on the increase in converts to Judaism. Two days later, I met with one of our wonderful conversion candidates. Among the many rewarding experiences that have come with being rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami is working with our conversion candidates.
Choosing to seek out a Jewish life is a decision that generally comes after much thought. Those who ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion
This week’s Torah portion is a double portion, Parashat Tazria-Metzora (Vayikra/Leviticus 12:1-15:33). While both of the parshiyot discuss skin disease, as well as the physical structures of our homes being inflicted with mold and fungus, they did not describe a direct medical cure in antiquity. Rather, our Torah draws a nexus between these afflictions and the sin of bad words, of slandering others. The afflictions and damage associated with ill-chosen words have never been more relevant than at present.
Worship Event of the Week
Shabbat morning this week brings us together for learning, wonderful discussion and prayer — Saturday, April 17, 9:30 a.m. study followed by 10:30 a.m. Shabbat service. For the Zoom link, click here.
Weekly Feature
Kol Ami Member Spotlight — Paul Rosenthal
What brought you to KC, or what has kept you here?
I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. I had previous ties to Kansas City when I attended KCUMB Medical School after graduating from LaSalle University. Midway through my career, personal reasons drew me toward moving closer to family in Kansas. Exposure to cultural diversity without the congestion and the exorbitant cost of living often encountered in other cities are enticing features of KC. And the more temperate winters have been a relief compared to my days living in Wisconsin. Five months of winter with a likelihood of a white Thanksgiving and a white Passover can get old.
Tell us about your vocation.
At present, I am employed by a national physician-staffing firm for hospital emergency departments. My areas of specialty training and certification are in family medicine and emergency medicine. Working in a small community-hospital environment allows me to devote more time to patient care. There are challenging moments, but the rewards in being able to make a difference win out.
How have you been affected by the pandemic?
Being restricted from visiting family and friends has been difficult. In the health-care setting, I have been troubled by the devastating effects of COVID-19. Working in a rural community, I did not deal with the volume of cases that my colleagues in urban hospitals encountered, but moments of tragedy did not hurt any less. And there are collateral effects. First, there has been an overwhelming increase in mental illness, especially increased emergency-department visits for suicidal depression. This problem intensified when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place. Secondly, duress ensued when hospitals were at overcapacity. This created obstacles in arranging the transfer of patients with non-COVID-related conditions who required specialty resources. Hopefully, with people being immunized, in conjunction with remaining disciplined in wearing masks with proper social distancing, this will mitigate the effects of another resurgence, if it occurs. This has been a stressful year.
What originally drew you to Kol Ami?
Eight years ago, during the High Holidays, I was searching at the last minute for a shul to attend that did not require prepaid tickets. This led me to Kol Ami. During the services, I was impressed with Rabbi Doug Alpert — his reaching out to other ethnic groups as well as other clergy. The friendly atmosphere of the members provided a feeling of inclusiveness. When restrictions lift, I’m hoping for the resumption of in-person gatherings that we previously took for granted.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Much of my free time is occupied with keeping up with small projects around my home, and catching up with, and keeping track of, what is going on with my family, especially my three daughters. I enjoy reading about history and religion. I have developed an interest in Jewish history, and the sociological trends generating formation of the different Jewish denominations. When the weather is nice, I enjoy hitting the bike trails in Lee’s Summit with a group of neighbors. Every so often, during the winter, I’ll travel out west for a ski trip.
Kol Ami Events
Family Experience
Join us outdoors at Manheim Garden (42nd and Forest), this Sunday, April 18, at 1 p.m., as we explore how to act when we see injustice, and how we as Jews have fought injustice. Click here to RSVP to Erica.
Book Club
The Blessing and the Curse: The Jewish People and Their Books in the Twentieth Century by Adam Kirsch is our next one. Book Club meets on Zoom, 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, to dive into this literary critic's take on what 100 years looked like from great authors of Jewish faith and background. Click here.
Social Justice News
MORE2 Zooms In on Race
MORE2 is holding Zoom sessions on race on Tuesday, April 20. Participants have the option of attending online at 9 a.m. or at 6 p.m. (These sessions are REPEATED, so you attend one or the other.) The sessions are designed to
(1) assess/document where we are (in our eyes and how we are seen in the community); (2) set a vision for the future (the MORE2 Transformational Narrative); and (3) set goals that we will address to live into the Transformational Narrative (strategic planning). This is open to anyone who is connected to a MORE2 congregation or an individual member, even if you have not attended session 1 or 2.
Topic: Race Session III with Angela James
Time: April 20, 2021, 9:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 884 4447 8228
Passcode: 578606
OR
Topic: Race Session III with Angela James
Time: April 20, 2021, 6:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 870 8243 6304
Passcode: 888498
