Along with a reminder about our very special Erev Purim celebration and presentation on Thursday, March 13, 6 PM at HJ’s, we will celebrate Shabbat with Shabbat blessings and a bit of Torah on Zoom. Join us on Friday, March 14 at 6:45 PM. To participate via Zoom, click here.
Upcoming
Kol Ami Event
Second Night
Passover Seder Save the date for our annual four-course, catered, vegetarian, Passover Seder dinner. Members and Non-Members of Kol Ami are warmly welcomed, so please bring a friend! Learn more and register here
Details Date: Sunday, April 13 Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM, Seder from 6-8 PM. Location: Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112 Questions? Please email engagement@kolamikc.org
Yahrzeit This Week
March 16 Belle Pirchesky, grandmother of Elissa Bamberger, mother of Elizabeth Bamberger
We Wish Mi Shebeirach
A Complete Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit to:
Robert Clinton Kenneth Dantzler Alan Dietchman Renée Dietchman Megan Garrison Sally Gottstein Judy Krugman Yale Krugman Carol Ann Parker Steve Sackin Micha ben Sarah Jean Shifrin 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.
Mitzvah Moment
Mitzvah Moment Want to share a mitzvah you have received or have given lately? Email the deed to Julia at engagement@kolamikc.org with a picture (if possible) so she can share it in the newsletter and on social media.
This week we celebrate Purim. There has been a lot of back and forth in rabbinic chat rooms as to how we approach this holiday given our present-day contentious and polarizing climate. Should we be celebrating a victory over those who would destroy us (Haman) given our violent response as enumerated in chapter 9 of Megillat Esther- the Book of Esther...Click here to read the rest of Rabbi Doug's blog post.
This Week's Torah Portion Parashat Ki Tissa (Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35)
We read this week of the sin of the golden calf. In our narrative, the sin of idol worship is not only about how we did not honor our relationship with G-d, but how the people idolized Moses instead of seeing him as very human.
Featured Story: Visiting the Abayudaya-the Jews of Uganda: A Trip of A Lifetime by Fay Balk Referring to travel to unique and far-away places as a “trip of a lifetime” may seem like an exaggeration, but the experience that Rabbi and I had, visiting the Abayudaya (literally the People of Judah) - the Jews of Uganda - was a trip of a lifetime. These very poor, very remote, rural subsistence communities of Jews date back to 1919. Today they receive support from the organization, Global Villages Connect with whom we traveled on this extraordinary journey. Click here to read the rest of the story. and see pictures. Special Events
Purim and the Abayudaya: A Celebration of Jewish Resilience We are looking forward to a special Erev Purim event on Thursday, March 13, at 6 PM at HJ’s Community Center, 6425 Wornall Road. After telling our Purim story in the Book of Esther we will have a special presentation by Fay and Rabbi Doug on their experience visiting the Abayudaya - the Jews of Uganda. Through pictures and stories, they will share the experience of meeting these incredibly committed and joyful Jews, highlighting their resilience amid the harsh challenges of rural poverty.
A major theme of Purim is our existence as Jews in the Diaspora (outside of Israel); there may be no better example of Diaspora Judaism than the Abayudaya.
We encourage all who make Hamantaschen to bring these Purim treats to share. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to: engagement@kolamikc.org.
Haggadah / Passover Seder Study In preparation for Passover, Congregation Kol Ami and Rabbi Mark Levin are inviting you to a very special study opportunity on four consecutive Wednesdays 7-8 PM, leading up to Passover.
Rabbi Levin is an avid collector of Haggadot and brings his vast knowledge and insight into our Passover Seders. Topic: Haggadah Course Time: Mar 19, 2025 7 PM Every week on Wednesday, until Apr 9, 2025, 4 occurrences Please download and import this iCalendar (.ics) file to your calendar system. Join Zoom Meeting
Our mailing address is: Congregation Kol Ami 4501 Walnut Street ℅ All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church Kansas City, MO 64111
