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Rabbi's Week in Review
 

This week we enter into the new (secular) year 2024. While it is not within the spiritual rhythm of our Jewish calendar, it does provide a time to consider what will happen in the year to come, and how we can impact the coming year for good. Coming off a difficult 2023 with the threats to democracy in our own country and the horrific violence impacting our Jewish brethren in Israel as well as innocent Palestinian civilians, I am thinking ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.

This Week's Torah Portion

Parashat Shemot (Shemot/Exodus 1:1-6:1)



We begin the Book of Shemot, the Book of Exodus. We read about the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who defy Pharaoh's order to have every firstborn Jewish male killed. One pervasive perspective amongst our biblical exegesis is that the two midwives were Egyptian. We learn from their act of civil disobedience on our behalf of the need to reach out beyond our own communities, to build coalitions and create partnerships to achieve a more just world.

Weekly Feature

Member Spotlight:
Renee and Alan Dietchman

Kol Ami: What brought you to Kansas City or what has kept you here?
Alan: I came to Kansas City in 1972 after college to do community work in Kansas City, Kansas, for two years, and then I returned to Philadelphia. In 1978, I returned to KCK and helped start a community legal service and acted as a legal assistant. That led me to law school at UMKC, where I met Renee, and we decided to settle in KC.
Renee: I came to KC to attend law school. I met Alan and some good friends there. But I didn't like law school. I applied and was accepted to grad school in psychology at UMKC — a much better match.
 
What originally drew you to Kol Ami?
We were looking for a place to go to High Holiday Services and discovered that Doug Alpert was the rabbi at Kol Ami. We were friends with him in law school and thought it would be fun to go to a service where he was the rabbi. Once we started to go to services and meet the members, we felt comfortable with the attitudes and goals of the congregation. 
 
Tell us about your vocations.
Alan: I was an attorney for a legal service for auto workers for 27 years doing mostly consumer and real-estate law. I enjoyed it because I worked on issues helping individuals who felt they were taken advantage of.
Renee: I’m a licensed psychologist. After grad school, I worked at a few interesting places. Then I went into private practice and worked primarily with children and family court.
 
What are your avocations?
Alan: I’ve been playing mah jongg a couple of times a week. In addition, I’ve been getting together with friends to brew and bottle beer a couple of times a month. I’m hoping to do some volunteer work with the World War I Museum and the Kauffman Center.
Renee: I also enjoy mah jongg, but my true avocation is working with dogs. I’ve been involved in showing dogs, but my heart is in protecting dogs in need. I’ve worked with a couple of rescue groups where I’ve done a little of everything — picked up dogs from high-kill shelters, fostered, bathed and groomed, showed dogs at adoption events, and scooped up poop. Currently I volunteer with Great Plains SPCA. I also volunteer at the Kauffman Center, where I get to hear free concerts!
 
How or why did Kol Ami’s Mah Jongg Club come about?
There has been a connection between Jews and mah jongg for years. Many of us remember our mothers playing. We've been playing for about 1-1/2 years. The game is fun and a good way for members to socialize. One of the nice and unexpected aspects of Mah Jongg Club is that people of differing ages join and play.