Shabbat Study, Service and Seudah This Saturday, June 17, beginning at 9:30 a.m., we gather at the home of Fay and Rabbi Doug (or on Zoom) for Shabbat study, worship and our Seudah — our festive Shabbat brunch. For those attending in person and needing directions, please RSVP to rabbidoug@kolamikc.org. For the Zoom link, click here.
Social Justice News
Workers Rally For those interested and able to attend, there is a rally in support of low-wage workers: When: Wednesday, June 14 What Time: Noon Where: KCMO City Hall (414 East 12th Street)
Community News
JFS Support Groups Jewish Family Services is starting a support group for Jewish parents/caregivers of trans and nonbinary children. They will be meeting the second Thursday of every month, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. For information, click here. Also, JFS-KC is starting a queer youth support group for those aged 17 and younger. For information, contact Julia Billquist, LMLP, at jbillquist@jfskc.org.
Yahrzeits This Week June 17 Jerome Breinin – father of Rick Breinin Flora Hirsch – mother of Deborah Hirsch We Wish Mi Shebeirach A Complete Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit to:
Robert Clinton Kenneth Dantzler Sheila Denton Rev. Kendyl Gibbons Brian Guthrie LJ Karr Marc Ordo Ben Rubin Shefer Rudnick Michah ben Sarah 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.
We had a wonderful service this past Shabbat at the Manheim Community Garden. Every time we are out in the garden, it is a gift for us and a valuable contribution to our community.
Some thank-yous as I reflect back on our Shabbat time together. Thanks to Steve and Linda Sackin for being instrumental (as in, it would have never happened nor continue to happen without them) in all that is good about the Manheim Garden. Thanks to ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion Parashat Korah (Bamidbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32)
We read this week of the rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron by Korah, Dathan and Abiram. It is our challenge and obligation to see and know the difference between populist rebellion when it is only a self-interested pursuit for greed and power versus a rebellion against authoritarian threats who sew chaos in our most important democratic institutions and then do all they can to encourage vitriol toward those democratic institutions. Just as it was a crucial time for Moses’ compassionate leadership, we face a tipping point in our history.
Weekly Feature
From China to the United States to Kol Ami — a Mah Jongg Trajectory By Wynne Begun
The clacking of tiles, strange words, a little money changing hands, and women in the living room who seemed very serious but laughed often. Those are memories from my childhood. A more recent memory is a Jewish-Chinese wedding, where guests from Hong Kong played Mah Jongg as many of us danced into the night to celebrate the nuptials.
The game, played first in China in the mid-19th century and later popularized in the United States by Jewish women, has seen a resurgence among both Jews and non-Jews.
Mah Jongg appeared in the United States in the early 20th century. The story is that the game spread from Shanghai to Jewish women in New York who spent their summers in the Catskills, away from the heat of New York City. One theory is that it was introduced in the States around 1912 by a Standard Oil executive who traveled to China on business. By the 1920s, Abercrombie and Fitch was selling the trending Mah Jongg sets.
The game was popularized as well by Jewish immigrants who fled to Shanghai during WWII and eventually came to the United States. Jewish organizations even sold National Mah Jongg League cards — containing official rules and hands to be played — for fundraising purposes. The game is now enjoyed by both men and women throughout the country.
Thank you to Alan and Renee Dietchman, who have taken up the game and organized a Mah Jongg Club at Kol Ami. Lessons recently started for those wanting to learn how to play. If you are interested in joining the group, email office@kolamikc.org.
Our mailing address is: Congregation Kol Ami 4501 Walnut Street ℅ All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Kansas City, MO 64111
