Shabbat Blessings on the Patio (or in the Foyer) This Friday, May 12, beginning at 6 p.m., we celebrate Shabbat with Shabbat blessings and a bring-your-own picnic on the patio at All Souls. (In case of inclement weather, we will move inside to the foyer.) Our music director, Lara Steinel, will lead blessings, and will also bring the fixings for a make-your-own ice-cream sundae for dessert — ice cream, sprinkles, chocolate syrup and whipped cream — to top off your Shabbat Seudah, festive meal. (Gratitude and thanks to Lara from Rabbi Doug for making the celebration special and enabling him to share the simcha of his great-niece’s bat mitzvah with his family.)
Upcoming Kol Ami Event
Mahjong Club Meetup The Mahjong Club will hold an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at All Souls’ Conover Hall. On the agenda: an overview of the game and its "Jewish connection,” where and when to meet going forward, and what options are available for instruction on how to play. Email office@kolamikc.org if you can attend in person or prefer to meet via Zoom. Community Event Ga’avah Fundraiser Ga’avah KC is raising funds for the KC Pride Alliance weekend, with a screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch Wednesday, May 10, at Screenland Armour (408 Armour Road, North Kansas City). Premovie entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. (Kimberly Kircher, DJ Jones Crosley and a special drag performance by Melinda Ryder), followed by the film. Click here for tickets.
Yahrzeits This Week May 10 Pauline Milgrim – mother of Robert Milgrim
May 11 Ida Ordo – mother of Brad Ordo Maxne Stade-Wheaton – mother of David Wheaton
May 14 Mort Finkel – great-grandfather of Rebecca Hollister
We Wish Mi Shebeirach A Complete Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit to:
Robert Clinton Kenneth Dantzler Sheila Denton Rev. Kendyl Gibbons Amanda Goldstein Frank Karr LJ Karr Marc Ordo Rachel Perera Michah ben Sarah Edi Shifrin Carol Swartz Joel Weeks
If you would like a name to continue to be listed or if you have a new name to include, please send an email to healing@kolamikc.org.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves spoke at our Friday service about some positive changes in how KCPD approaches a number of very challenging issues facing our police force, and she also glossed over other significant problems.
On the positive side, assigning a liaison (Officer Alex Saragusa) to work specifically with marginalized communities is a much-needed step. I asked for his contact information and will ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion Parashat Behar-Bechukotai (Vayikra/Leviticus 25:1-27:34)
This week’s Torah portion is another one of the double portions. As we end the Book of Vayikra/Leviticus, we read of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. We learn of the importance of relinquishing control, that we serve in the role of stewards of G-d’s created world and, ultimately, not as owners.
Kol Ami News
Kol Ami and Ga'avah Show Up for AIDS Walk KC By Ellen Karp
Most of the team (photo by Brad Ordo)
About 16 team members participated in Saturday's AIDS Walk. The weather cooperated, the dogs were out in high spirits, the event organizers cheered us on with great music, and we raised $425 for KC AIDS Walk. We sported really cool Ga'avah T-shirts designed by our own Brad Ordo, along with our classic vintage Kol Ami shirts. Thanks to our Kol Ami and Ga'avah members and friends who took part.
Meet Our New Kol Ami President, Pat Clinton By Ellen Karp
Pat (right) with her family (from left: son-in-law Brent, daughter Erica and granddaughter Tilly)
Ellen Karp: Tell us a little about yourself — your background, vocations/avocations, interests. Pat Clinton: I moved here from Iowa City after teaching nursing at the University of Iowa for 30 years. I spent many years advocating for children’s health care, family health, and promoting the role of the nurse practitioner at state and national levels. I have long supported social-justice issues, starting with opposition to the Vietnam War in the late ‘60s. I learned more about social injustice as an ER nurse on the South Side of Chicago. When developing a curriculum with colleagues for a doctoral program, we focused on public health as it relates to social justice.
How did you become associated with Kol Ami? I retired in 2014 and moved here in 2017 to be close to my daughter, Erica, and her family (Brent and Tilly). After meeting Rabbi Alpert, I was taken with the focus on diversity, inclusion and social-justice issues. I have most enjoyed working with our partners, especially Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and the Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund. I derive more reward by engaging with these groups than anything I could do for them.
What is your perspective on Kol Ami's future? I think we are positioned to fulfill our mission and values in ways we have yet to fully realize. Thanks to great leadership from our past presidents, we are in a good position financially to take on some strategic initiatives. We are seeing new members who are looking for a community that represents their values. I hope we will continue to grow, not necessarily in huge numbers but in participation in the work of the community. I’m looking forward to getting to know and work with more congregants, and moving us forward.
Our mailing address is: Congregation Kol Ami 4501 Walnut Street ℅ All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Kansas City, MO 64111
