On Saturday, June 21 at 9:30 AM, we gather at the home of Fay and Rabbi Doug or on Zoom for study, prayer, and our Seudah-our festive Shabbat brunch. For study, we continue our engaging discussion of “Why We Pray What We Pray.” If participating in person please rsvp to: rabbidoug@kolamikc.org Kol Ami Events
Mah Jongg Club
Kol Ami's Mah Jongg Club meets two Monday evenings a month at 7 PM. Email office@kolamikc.org for information.
We Wish Mi Shebeirach
A Complete Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit to:
Robert Clinton Kenneth Dantzler Renée Dietchman Liz Garrison Megan Garrison Yale Krugman Carol Ann Parker Edi Shifrin Micha ben Sarah Melvin Michael Slater Tzipporah mibet Avraham v’Sarah
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.
A couple of thoughts as we experience another challenging week in our world.
The war that began this week between Israel and Iran scares me as it does all of us in our Jewish community. It is yet another case of innocent civilians being put at risk by leaders who choose war over diplomacy. I think: how long will our Israeli brethren find air raid sirens and bomb shelters to be a part of everyday existence. I also wonder why our president, who up until this week was interested in negotiating a nuclear arms deal with Iran, had tossed aside a previous agreement for his own narrow political purpose...Read more.
This Week's Torah Portion Shelach-Lecha (Bamidbar/Numbers 13:1-15:41)
This week, we read abut the story of the twelve spies; scouting the land of Israel, only Caleb and Joshua amongst the twelve come back with a positive report. The people, having bought into the negative perspective of the remaining ten spies are told they will die out wandering in the wilderness before entering the land.
The people could not move beyond their slave mentality. Today we have a choice of being only about our victimhood, our historical trauma, or to commit to working about what and who we are for. Can we get beyond our own communal perspective to work for a better world for all people.
Remembering Our Friend
The following loving tribute was shared by our partner in justice, the Manheim Garden. Steve, a founder and leader of the garden, was the one who first connected our congregation to the Manheim community. May his memory be for a blessing.
"We lost a legend last month. Cancer took our dear friend, mentor, and the heart of Manheim Gardens—Steve Sackin. Kansas City is a little less kind, a little less wise without him. If you knew Steve, you knew his passion ran deep—for climbing mountains, for growing food, and for nurturing community. Nearly every day, he pedaled from Brookside to Manheim Gardens, showing up in all seasons—tending coldframes in the chill of January or planting greens in the heat of summer. His checkerboard beds of arugula, spinach, kale, and more were always thriving, always shared.
Steve didn’t just grow plants—he grew people, too. His quiet dedication, generosity, and love for this space inspired all of us to dig deeper, give more, and keep showing up. We will carry on in your honor, Steve. Thank you for everything."
Urgent Assistance Request
The Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund (MFAF) is urgently in need of donations of dry beans and white rice (no canned beans or instant rice, please)for the families working the Lafayette County orchards this year. MFAF is expecting that 350-400 migratory farmworker families will arrive in mid-July, adding to the 300-350 year-round workers. MFAF provides families with wrap-around services - food, hygiene items, healthcare, education assistance for children, legal assistance, and more.
As always, MFAF has an ongoing need for your donations of brown paper bags.
Our mailing address is: Congregation Kol Ami 4501 Walnut Street ℅ All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Kansas City, MO 64111
