Newsletters

Worship Event 
of the Week

Meditation, Shabbat Study and Service, and Seudah
We are excited to introduce Mindfulness Meditation into our Shabbat celebration. Beginning at 9 a.m. this Saturday, September 21, we gather at the home of Fay and Rabbi Doug and on Zoom for a session of mindfulness meditation led by Julia Billquist, followed by study at 9:45, prayer at 10:30, and then completing our celebration with a Seudah, a festive Shabbat brunch.

For those attending in person, an RSVP is needed to rabbidoug@kolamikc.org.
For the Zoom link, click here.

Kol Ami Event
of the Week

Last Call for
Honey Cake Baking
With Kol Ami 
Help prepare our holiday honey cakes (which we hand out after the service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah). We will serve a light dinner, followed by baking, and then packaging and labeling the cakes, at 6 p.m. Monday, September 23, in the kitchen at All Souls.

RSVP for this free event by this Friday, September 20, at kehilahvp@kolamikc.org.

Upcoming
Kol Ami Event

Community
Happy Hour
Mark your calendars for a community happy hour at Third Street Social (5031 Main, in Kansas City), 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, October 15. 

Yahrzeit
This Week

​​​​​​​September 18 
Daniel Karp – father of Ellen Karp

We Wish Mi Shebeirach
A complete healing of mind, body and spirit:

Robert Clinton
Kenneth Dantzler
Alan Dietchman
Renée Dietchman
Megan Garrison
Harriet Greenwald
Carrie Hollister
Karla Jacobs
Melvin Michael Slater

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. 

Rabbi's Week in Review



I sort of watched the debate last week. I was on a website that was providing occasional commentary and I would selectively unmute. I have read a good deal of follow-up and, yes, I do think there was a clear winner. That said, my thoughts turned toward what a win would like for the American people and for our Jewish people. As it turns out, they are really much the same.

Our Jewish values obligate us toward the strangers in our midst ... Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.

This Week's Torah Portion

​​​​​​​Parashat Ki Tavo
(Devarim/Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)​​​​​​​


We read this week of blessings to do what is right and curses for violating the mitzvot. The curses are truly horrific. 

Reading these inducements for good conduct or threats to prevent us from bad behavior, we contemplate what outside influence is really required to do the right thing. Are we able to see the inherent benefit in doing what is right? In this time of such acrimony, divisiveness and demonization, our challenge is those who act with a cruel heart and a disregard for the welfare of others. How can they be convinced that to act with compassion instead of cruelty is an inherently better way to live our lives?

High Holidays at Kol Ami

Rosh Hashanah Schedule
Guest cantorial soloist Patrick Buckley, of West Hartford, Conn., joins music director Karen Engebretson and the Kol Ami musicians for High Holiday services. Attendance is free; donations are appreciated.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 2 — Erev Rosh Hashanah service at All Souls with guest flutist Amber Underwood

10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 3 — Rosh Hashanah service at All Souls with guest speaker Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
 
A tashlich service at Theis Park begins approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Rosh Hashanah morning service.

9:30 a.m. Friday, October 4 — Rosh Hashanah second-day service at the Loose Park pavilion, on the east side of the park (51st Street and Wornall)

Social Justice Event

Voter Registration Opportunity 
Help us register voters at Northeast Middle School’s Back to School Night 5-7 p.m. next Tuesday, September 24, at 4904 Independence Ave., in Kansas City. No experience necessary! To volunteer, RSVP to Julia at engagement@kolamikc.org.