Kansas City Jewish Chronicle 07.30.2026

Need-to-knows about next week’s

JCC Maccabi Games

By The Chronicle staff

With 820 visiting athletes and 200 coaches coming, the entire Jewish community of Kansas City will be affected by the JCC Maccabi Games next week — not just volunteers and host families. Here’s what you need to know:

What’s going on?

The JCC Maccabi Games, the largest Jewish youth sporting event in the world, will be held across the Kansas City metro from Monday, Aug. 3, until Friday, Aug. 7. Attendees are coming from across the United States and internationally, with participants from as far as Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Mexico and Panama. This year’s local delegation is Kansas City’s largest ever.

The Games were established in 1982

and are a signature program of the JCC Association of North America, intended to be a Jewish identity-building experience to strengthen Jewish teens’ connections to global Jewry and build community in celebration of Jewish pride.

The J has been preparing to host the 2026 Games since November of 2024. It hosted once before in 1997, when nearly 800 teens came to compete.

With more than 1,000 people coming and a score of athletic events at multiple locations across the metro, the Maccabi Games posed a logistical challenge requiring significant community support. The community stepped up to the challenge – as of writing, more than 95% of the 1,100 volunteer shifts for Maccabi have been filled, and about 300 families have agreed to house one or more athletes and provide them transportation, hospitality and entertainment.

Jewish Community Campus closures

The J is the center of the Maccabi Games, where all athletes will be

See page 10

The Chronicle, The J launch Maccabi Games Hub website

The Chronicle and The J have partnered to share information and news about the Maccabi Games as they happen at maccabikcgameshub. com.

This website will be updated daily with news content from Maccabi Star Reporters – students from across the country who will cover sports events, interview participants and create multimedia content. You can learn about the team at maccabikcgameshub.com/starreporters.

The Chronicle staff and The J’s marketing team will be assisting these Star Reporters. The best content of the week will also be published in the Aug. 13 issue of The Chronicle. Game results and scores will also be available on the website.

Meshuggah Bagels celebrates 10 years of bringing New York flavor to Kansas City

By Kevin Deutsch Special to the Chronicle

When Pete and Janna Linde opened their first Meshuggah Bagels shop on West 39th Street in 2016, selling authentic New York-style bagels in Kansas City required more than just baking — it required an education campaign.

“For the first two years, we were truly educating people,” Pete Linde told The Chronicle. “It was literally ‘Bagel 101’ on what this strange round creature is.”

“We had a spiel for every customer” to school them about New York-style bagels,” added Janna Linde.

Meshuggah bagels, the Lindes told newcomers, are made without preservatives and with dough that is boiled before it is baked — a process that loads them with moisture and cre-

ates the skin that becomes the bagel’s crusty, chewy exterior.

Ten years later, as Meshuggah Bagels celebrates its 10th anniversary, no explanations are necessary for bagel-loving Kansas Citians. They have embraced Meshuggah Bagels and the touch of Yiddishkeit it brings to the metro.

“We’re really grateful that Kansas City has been so receptive and supportive,” Janna Linde said.

Meshuggah Bagels has dominated The Pitch’s annual “Best of KC” readers’ poll, securing the top spot for “best bagels” every year from 2017 through 2026. The local staple now operates four locations across the metro.

Their original Westport shop is still a hit with customers, as is Meshuggah’s downtown location in the Power & Light District, its full bakery and

a local bagel culture built around fresh bagels, lox, whitefish salad, schmears and the familiar ritual of picking up a dozen for home.

Like many Jewish-American success stories, Meshuggah Bagels’ origins can be traced back to a long-vanished Jewish world. Pete Linde’s lineage includes Jewish bakers from Eastern and Central Europe, with family roots tracing to Russia, Lithuania and Austria-Hungary. He suspects his passion for bagel-making is woven into his DNA — but it was a talent that lay dormant for decades.

Born in New York City and raised in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, a love of bagels was part of Pete Linde’s upbringing. But the thought of making his own had never crossed his mind.

“I never baked anything until we

Ambulance dedicated to Magen David Adom in memory of Milgrim, Lischinsky

By The Chronicle staff

An ambulance was dedicated to the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) in honor of the late Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky at a service at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, on July 17.

The ambulance was donated by the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, a Los Angeles-based foundation which supports Jewish advocacy, education, cancer research and more. Magen David Adom, the recipient of the ambulance, is Israel’s national emergency medical service, and AFMDA is its American support organization.

is originally from Prairie Village, Kansas, and graduated from the University of Kansas.

Jehudah Rabbi Stephanie Kramer opened the ceremony with a prayer.

Sarah Milgrim, age 26, and her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, were murdered last year in Washington, D.C., while attending an American Jewish Committee event. Milgrim

Speakers at the event included Milgrim and Lischinsky’s fathers, community member Robert Milgrim and Daniel Lischinsky; a representative of AFMDA, Debbie Dolgin; and president of the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, Elizabeth Goldhirsh. B’nai

“Sarah and Yaron dedicated their lives to make the world a better place,” Robert Milgrim said at the event. “... There is no more appropriate gift than this ambulance, which will carry on the giving spirit of Sarah and Yaron and which will save lives.”

Chevrolet van, is similar to many of Magen David Adom’s existing vehicles and will be shipped to Israel in the next few weeks. Decals on the ambulance door include sunflowers — Sarah Milgrim’s favorite flower — and the text, “Presented to the People of Israel,” followed by Milgrim and Lischinsky’s names

IN MEMORIAM

Blanche Sosland

THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

mourns the passing of Founders Society Member Blanche Sosland. As a dedicated philanthropist and an early supporter of the Museum, Blanche was committed to promoting the relevance of Holocaust history and its important lessons for future generations. The Museum sends heartfelt condolences to her husband, Neil, children, and grandchildren.

Jeffrey L. Miller, Council Chair

Allan M. Holt, Council Vice Chair

Sara J. Bloomfield, Museum Director

Jed Silberg, Associate Chief Development Officer, National Philanthropy

Take a look inside Village Shalom to see our remarkable Long Term Care community. Private suites and the finest in comprehensive skilled nursing services give peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

Learn more at VillageShalom.org or call Lori Carter, Admissions Coordinator, at 913-636-8888 to tour our welcoming senior living community. We look forward to showing you what peace of mind looks like. Welcome to The Village.

Village Shalom honors Dr. Irene Bettinger with dedication of Bettinger Place

By Village Shalom

More than a century after its founding, Village Shalom paused to celebrate one of the people who have helped shape its legacy with the dedication of its assisted living memory care community.

On July 15, residents, families, donors, past and present board members, staff, former colleagues and community leaders gathered to dedicate Bettinger Place, honoring Dr. Irene

Bettinger for her lifetime of leadership, service and unwavering commitment to older adults, memory care and the Kansas City Jewish community.

Dr. Bettinger’s relationship with Village Shalom extends far beyond her work as a physician. She and her late husband, Leonard Bettinger, devoted years of service to the Village Shalom Board of Directors, and both had the distinction of serving as board chair.

Torah Learning Center announces grand opening for building expansion, mikvah

Torah Learning Center (TLC) will host a grand opening event for its new building expansion and mikvah at noon on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Included at the event will be a kosher buffet lunch, remarks, a ribbon cutting and tour of the new facilities.

“This project has been years in the making, and we would love to celebrate this meaningful occasion with friends and members from across our entire Jewish community,” said Chaya Niedzwiecki of TLC.

The expansion of the TLC building at 8800 W. 103rd St. in Overland Park includes many facilities for its kosher food programs such as Kosher Meals on Wheels, The Wandering Table, Chai Pies and Graze by Brachie and Chaya. Food-related upgrades include an expanded meat kitchen, dairy kitchen, Passover kitchen, volunteer

workspace, refrigerator and freezer storage, many of which are already being utilized.

Other new additions include the addition or renovation of a multipurpose programming room, library and study space, mikvah for utensils, program offices and storage space.

Torah Learning Center has been in its current building since its founding in 1998 and has always been led by Rabbi Benzion and Esther Friedman, who are emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent to Kansas City in 1974.

Major building sponsors include Vic and Susan Bergman, the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, Jeff and Katie Dougan, Dreiseszun Family Foundation, Porter-Gill-Hill Foundation, Dr. Reus Chaya Hersh, Mabee Foundation, Mikvah USA and the Sunderland Foundation.

Chronicle submission deadlines

The following are the deadlines for articles, celebration announcements, Spotlight pictures, advertisements and editorials for upcoming Chronicle print issues. If you have any questions, please contact Sam Kricsfeld at samk@jewishkc.org.

Aug. 13 issue..........................................Aug. 6 noon deadline Aug. 27 issue........................................Aug. 20 noon deadline

To submit news to The Chronicle, go to kcjc.com/chronicle-submissions!

Together, they helped guide the organization through years of growth while championing exceptional care rooted in Jewish values.

Even today, Dr. Bettinger remains one of Village Shalom’s strongest ambassadors. Whether advocating for memory care, supporting fundraising initiatives, mentoring future leaders or encouraging others to invest in the organization’s future, her dedication has never wavered.

That enduring commitment was reflected not only in the crowd gathered to celebrate her, but in the generations of family members, friends, colleagues, residents and community leaders whose lives she has touched throughout her career.

Surrounded by her children, grandchildren, extended family and lifelong friends, Dr. Bettinger officially dedicated Bettinger Place with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. During the ceremony, Dr. Bettinger reflected on the values that have guided Village Shalom throughout its history.

“Village Shalom, for me, revolves around three main things: our history, our tradition, and our mission of tikkun olam — to repair the world,” she said.

Founded in 1912, Village Shalom has served the Kansas City Jewish community for more than 114 years while welcoming residents of all faiths. Throughout its history, the

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Village Shalom honors Dr. Irene Bettinger with dedication of Bettinger Place

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organization has remained grounded in the Jewish values of compassion, dignity and caring for older adults, while continually evolving to meet the changing needs of seniors and their families.

For Village Shalom board member and former Board Chair Bob Gershon, the ceremony carried special meaning. Just days after the dedication, his own mother would become a resident of Bettinger Place.

“Like every family facing this journey, we’re experiencing a mix of emotions,” he said, “but alongside those emotions is something equally powerful — confidence.”

Gershon shared that his confidence comes from knowing his mother will be surrounded by professionals who understand not only how to care for individuals living with memory loss, but how to help them continue experiencing joy, purpose and meaningful human connection.

“As a board member and former board chair, I’ve always had a strong connection to Village Shalom’s mission,” he said. “As a son, that belief is now even more deeply personal.”

Linda Clarkson, whose husband, Doug, is a resident at Village Shalom, offered a personal reflection on her family’s experience after her husband suffered a stroke last year.

“Village Shalom became our lifesaver for this new difficult chapter of our lives,” she said.

She described how the care her husband receives has allowed them to continue their journey together “as husband and wife, as friends — not as patient and caregiver.”

Clarkson also praised the staff’s compassion and the daily moments that

make Bettinger Place feel like home — from music and outings to quiet acts of kindness and reassurance.

Her closing words reflected the philosophy Dr. Bettinger has championed throughout her career.

“They still have purpose and are regarded by everyone at Village Shalom as the unique individuals they are,” she said.

The dedication of Bettinger Place recognizes far more than one remarkable career. It honors two lives of service and leadership that have helped shape Village Shalom’s mission for generations. Through their guidance, generosity and commitment to the Jewish value of tikkun olam, Irene and Leonard Bettinger have strengthened an institution that has cared for older adults in Kansas City for more than a century.

As President and CEO Simon Abrahms reflected following the ceremony, “Irene and Leonard Bettinger exemplify what it means to lead through service. Their commitment has strengthened Village Shalom for decades, and it is only fitting that future generations will know their story every time they walk through the doors of Bettinger Place. Their legacy is woven into the fabric of this community, and we are honored to celebrate it.”

Following the renovation of its third floor, Village Shalom is now welcoming new residents and families to its assisted living memory care community. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the organization will host “A Day in the Life of Memory Care,” an open house designed to introduce prospective families to the newly refreshed neighborhood, innovative programming and compassionate, person-centered approach that define Bettinger Place.

Torah Learning Center to have kosher offerings throughout week of Maccabi Games

Torah Learning Center (TLC) will offer kosher food opportunities during the week of the Maccabi Games for both visitors to Kansas City and community members.

Three of TLC’s kosher food programs will provide meals throughout the week: The Wandering Table, Chai Pies and Graze by Brachie and Chaya. All food is made under the supervision of the Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City.

“With the Maccabi Games just around the corner, we are so excited to welcome athletes, families, coaches and visitors to Kansas City,” said Chaya Niedzwiecki, community member and cofounder of Graze by Brachie and Chaya. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, and we're honored to play a small part in making everyone feel at home.”

The Wandering Table, a pop-up meat restaurant, will serve food on Sunday, Aug. 2 (noon to 9 p.m.); Monday, Aug. 3 (4:30 to 8:30 p.m.); and Thursday, Aug. 6 (4:30 to 8:30 p.m.).

The menu will include smashburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, grilled chicken or grilled salmon salads, chicken tenders, cinnamon buns and drinks.

Chai Pies, which makes kosher New York-style pizzas, will serve food on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pizza can be ordered by the slice or as 18” pies. Cheese, vegetable, barbecue, plantbased pepperoni, white and gluten free (12”) options are available, with all toppings being vegetarian. Mac and cheese, caesar salad, cinnamon

Torah Learning Center kosher food programs The Wandering Table, Chai Pies and Graze by Brachie and Chaya will offer kosher food opportunities during the week of the Maccabi Games.

buns and drinks will also be available. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, orders from host families will be prioritized.

On Friday, Aug. 7, Graze by Brachie and Chaya will offer Shabbat take-out options for groups of four or 12. Options include challah loaves and rolls, salads and dips, breaded gefilte fish, spiced salmon, sticky pargiyot (skewered chicken), barbecue beef, roasted chicken thighs, schnitzel, potato kugel, sesame noodles, “franks and blanks,” deli rolls and green beans. Cookie, vegetable and fruit platters are available upon request. Orders must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 5.

“Whether your members are hosting out-of-town guests, looking for Shabbos meals, or simply wanting to know where kosher food will be available during the week, we hope these resources are helpful,” Niedzwiecki said. More information and food reservations are available at torahkc.org/ maccabi.

NCJW selling honey for the High Holidays

By NCJW

The Greater Kansas City Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is selling honey for the High Holidays.

(Rosh Hashanah starts on the eveningofFriday,Sept.11.)

The honey can be bought as a gift for friends, families or clients. NCJW will send a festively-wrapped eightounce bottle of honey and a special holiday greeting with an explanation of the significance of this tradition.

Funds raised by the honey sales will go towards NCJW’s programs such as the Back to School Store

(which provided 450 students with school supplies and clothing), Stacey’s Closet (which assisted 267 students with needed clothing for school), the Period Project (which gave 2842 students menstrual supply bags) and others to improve the quality of life for women, children and families and safeguard individual rights and freedoms.

All honey orders must be received by Aug. 3.

Orders can be made at kansascity. section.ncjw.org or by contacting Laura Belozer at laurabelozer@gmail. com.

Melynn Sight combines post-Oct. 7 reflections with history and questions in new book

By Sam Kricsfeld Editor

Community member Melynn Sight was in Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks in 2023. Her subsequent discussions, learning, reflections and blog posts led her to write a book, “Once You See It: The Jewish Story, October 7, the Past That Shapes It, and the Lives Within It.” Sight and her husband, Dan, were in Israel as tourists when the Oct. 7 attacks occurred and heard the Israeli jet fighters heading toward Gaza in the days after as they waited to fly out of the country. Upon return, she began a blog to share her thoughts and respond to questions from friends and family.

“The questions often sounded simple, but the answers rarely were,” she said. “...Readers told me they had not realized how complex the region was. They appreciated that I tried to make the history clear and approachable while presenting the facts as fairly as I could. Their response first made me wonder whether the blog could become something larger and more lasting.”

When the last of the Israeli hostages were released in October 2025, Sight “felt the story had reached a natural turning point.” To create a lasting tribute to those affected by Oct. 7 and the subsequent war, she began the process of creating “Once You See It,” which

“quickly grew into a much larger exploration of Jewish history, identity, memory, belonging and antisemitism,” she said.

Sight worked to cover “thousands of years of history… exile, persecution, hatred, resilience and comebacks” while also ensuring she focused on “checking sources, comparing reports and being honest about what I knew — and what I didn’t.”

The title, “Once You See It,” comes from a realization Sight had as she researched Jewish history and Oct. 7 events and stories.

“The ‘it’ isn’t one fact or one point of view,” she said. “It is the larger picture: how the past continues to shape the present, how antisemitism can change its language and still resurface, and how much gets lost when we reduce people to headlines or see only one side of a story. I want readers to see the complexity, but especially the humanity. Once you see the people inside the story — their losses, fears and courage — it becomes much harder to look away or settle for simple explanations for complicated problems.”

Sight always intended for proceeds from the book to go to an Israeli

nonprofit.

“Through this journey, I came to understand tzedakah as more than charity. To me, it means ‘justice in action,’” she said. “This book would not exist without the people who lived through this tragedy, so giving something back was part of its purpose from the beginning.”

Through her Rotary work with Israel, Sight met the CEO of Tech2Peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization promoting coexistence through technology and dialogue. Then, she read in The Chronicle that Sarah Milgrim (z”l)

had worked with Tech2Peace.

“Sarah is also part of the book,” Sight said, and she chose Tech2Peace as the recipient of the donations. “[Tech2Peace’s] mission is connection. It makes room for both Israeli and Palestinian stories while continuing a part of Sarah’s story as well. It felt like just the right place for the book’s proceeds.”

Though the book is finished, Sight said the story is not over. She continues blogging about discussions that arose from the book.

“I knew why I wanted to write the book, but its purpose has become even clearer since I finished,” she said. “I want not only to remember what happened, but also to help people understand what it means — and the responsibility we all share for what comes next.”

To honor the people who survived Oct. 7 and emphasize the responsibility the Jewish people and the world have moving forward, Sight included a Hebrew phrase on the book cover which translates to “For them, for the future.”

“Those words remind me why I began and why I continue,” she said. Those interested in purchasing “Once You See It,” reading Sight’s blog or learning more about her can go to OnceYouSeeIt.net.

JFS receives memorial gift from Jacobs family

By JFS

Modeling tikkun olam through tzedakah, volunteerism and everyday actions has been a part of daily living for Judy and David (z”l) Jacobs’ families for generations. Although her husband passed away in 2020, Judy Jacobs consciously continues to serve as a role model for her children, grandchildren and the Kansas City community. Recently, she made a generous contribution to Jewish Family Services (JFS) in memory of her in-laws, David Jacobs’ parents. She felt strongly that it was important to honor his parents, Rae and Harry Jacobs (z”l), demonstrating to her children and grandchildren these important values from their Jacobs and Gondos family heritage.

In honoring Rae and Harry Jacobs, Judy Jacobs designated her gift to support social workers in JFS’s Older Adult program. Rae Jacobs, her mother-inlaw, graduated from the University of Illinois in 1914. She devoted her career

to social work and social justice and was highly motivated, expecting the same from her only child, David.

David Jacobs was a pathologist, involved in anatomic and clinical pathology and serving as the editor-in-chief and primary author of several pathology textbooks. Additionally, he donated financial resources to a food bank near his office at Providence-St. Margaret Health Center. In 2023, Judy Jacobs made a gift to JFS’s food pantry in his

memory.

Each year, about 500 older adults and their families receive personalized support from JFS Care Managers to address challenges related to healthcare, transportation, aging in place and overall well-being. Though JFS provides a wide variety of services to support older adults, the centerpiece of its Older Adult Services is its Care Management program. Case management provides personalized

assistance that builds on each client’s unique strengths and challenges to help them meet their healthcare needs.

JFS Care Managers (social workers) work with clients and their families to develop and implement a service plan to reduce hospitalizations and transitions to higher levels of care.

“JFS’s Older Adult program champions the services and standards that my mother-in-law devoted her life to,” Jacobs said. “I think my mother-in-law would be pleased to know that her family made a meaningful gift like this in her honor. I know David would be proud, too.”

Having now made two significant tribute gifts, Jacobs said, “I believe JFS is one of the most vital and best-run Jewish organizations in KC.”

More information about honoring loved ones or becoming a JFS Legacy Society member is available by contacting Debbie Bass, JFS’s chief gift officer, at dbass@jfskc.org or (913) 3278299.

50 years ago

Find more community history at kcjc.com/archive.

Using The Chronicle’s archives and community submissions, here are some recipes for you to try out. Email samk@ jewishkc.org with a recipe, and it might be published here!

Ribbon Jello Mold

Mrs. Larry Mallin, 1970

Ingredients

• 2 cups sour cream

• 2 pkgs. strawberry Jello

• 1 can crushed pineapple

• 1 pkg. frozen strawberries

• ½ cup nuts

• 1 ½ cups water

• ½ cup drained fruit juice

Instructions

1. Make Jello using drained fruit juice and water

2. Add drained pineapple, strawberries and nuts to Jello

3. Line oiled mold with small amount of Jello mixture; chill until firm

4. Cover layer with sour cream

5. Add more Jello and continue to make layers, congealing Jello after each layer, then adding sour cream

6. Cut into slices and serve

• Ambulance (pg. 2)

• Dr. Irene Bettinger (pg. 3)

• “Chad Gadjo” (pg. 9)

• Grand opening (pg. 3)

• Jacobs family (pg. 5)

• KU Chabad reunion (pg. 8)

• JCRB|AJC (pg. 10)

• Kosher food (pg. 4)

• Maccabi Games (pg. 1)

Get yourself, your family and your friends subscriptions to The Chronicle!

Scan the QR code below or go to kcjc.com/subscribe for more information.

MACCABIGAMES MESHUGGAHBAGELS AMBULANCE DRIRENEBETTINGER VILLAGESHALOM GRANDOPENING KOSHERFOOD NCJWHONEY JACOBSFAMILY MELYNNSIGHT ONCEYOUSEEIT KUCHABADREUNION LYNNKAUFMAN CHADGADJO JUDYSHERRY JCRBAJC ROCKCHALKSHABBAT

• Lynn Kaufman (pg. 9)

• Meshuggah Bagels (pg. 1)

• NCJW honey (pg. 4)

• “Once You See It” (pg. 5)

• Rock Chalk Shabbat (pg. 11)

• Judy Sherry (pg. 10)

• Melynn Sight (pg. 5)

• Village Shalom (pg. 3)

AJewishCryptogram

Jewish War Veterans

celebrations and community news

Wedding

Mina Tiechtel and Yisroel Gurary

Mina Tiechtel and Yisroel Gurary were married on May 27 at the Cutler

Engagement

Aaron Kanter and Samantha Goldstein

Aaron Kanter and Samantha Goldstein of Overland Park, Kansas, announce their engagement.

Aaron is the son of Herman and Ann Kanter of Leawood, Kansas. He has a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and is pursuing his master’s degree in information

Engagement

Noah Skolnick and Madison Visinsky

David and Lisa Skolnick of Mission Hills, Kansas, announce the engagement of their son, Noah Skolnick, to Madison Visinsky, daughter of Matthew and Tish Visinsky of Dallas, Texas.

Noah, a resident of Dallas, is the

Family Chabad Center for Jewish Life at KU in Lawrence, Kansas.

The bride is the eldest daughter of Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel of Lawrence and the granddaughter of Rabbi Shlomo and Shana Tiechtel of Brooklyn, New York, and Rabbi Sender and Chana Kagan of Miami, Florida.

The groom is the son of Rabbi Avraham and Dini Gurary of Montreal, Canada, and the grandson of Rabbi Chaim B. and Mindy (z”l) Halberstam of Brooklyn and Rabbi Yitzchok Meir and Chana Gurary of Montreal.

The wedding reception was held at the Hilton DoubleTree in Lawrence. The couple now reside in Brooklyn.

technology at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He has served for 13 years as a sergeant in the Army National Guard and currently works as a network engineer for Nemean at Fort Leavenworth. He is an avid runner and completed seven marathons over the past decade.

Samantha is the daughter of David and Peggy Goldstein. She has a bachelor’s degree in English (with a minor in secondary education) from Texas State University in San Marcos; a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University (KSU) in Manhattan; and is pursuing her doctorate in education in curriculum and instruction. She has taught for seven years in public schools and was recognized as an Outstanding Graduate Student in the KSU College of Education in 2025. Her first publication was in the National Council of Teachers of English’s English Journal in May 2025.

grandson of Jay and JoAnn Mintz of Greensboro, North Carolina; Karen Natapoff of Leawood, Kansas; and Dr. Leon and Irene Skolnick of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Noah has a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in supply chain management and business information systems. He works as an enterprise performance business consultant at Deloitte.

Madison, also of Dallas, is the granddaughter of the late Dr. Don and Sam Mauldin and John and Daydee Visinsky, all of Dallas. A graduate of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Madison has a Bachelor of Science in journalism and mass communications. She works as an escrow assistant at Republic Title of Texas.

The two will marry on Sept. 18, 2027, at the Dallas Country Club.

Two decades of KU Chabad alumni reunite in Chicago

By KU Chabad

KU Chabad alumni from nearly two decades of campus life gathered recently in downtown Chicago for an evening of reunion, memories and renewed connection.

Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel, directors of KU Chabad, hosted the event for alumni living in the Chicago area as part of a series of summer gatherings bringing together former University of Kansas students in different cities across the country. KU Chabad has served Jewish students in Lawrence for 20 years and now has hundreds of alumni living throughout the United States. The Chicago reunion brought together graduates from as far back as 2007, along with

members of the Class of 2026.

Throughout the evening, alumni reconnected with friends from their college years and met students whose time at KU came many years before or after their own. A video featuring photographs and footage from the past two decades brought back memories of Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, classes, trips and everyday moments at KU Chabad.

The program also included a Jewish-themed “Jeopardy!” game built around shared memories, favorite foods, memorable experiences and lessons alumni carried with them after graduation.

For many participants, the reunion

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offered an opportunity to reflect on friendships and experiences that began during college and continued to influence their lives years later.

Jordan Pollack, a member of the KU Class of 2012, grew up in Kansas City and now lives in Northbrook, Illinois. He met his wife, Leah, at a KU Chabad event while they were students.

“I loved reuniting with KU Chabad,” Pollack said. “It’s great to see a Jewish nonprofit succeeding and inspiring. Jewish education for young adults is critical.”

The Tiechtels said the gathering allowed them to see alumni at many different stages of life while hearing how their college experiences remained meaningful.

“When students graduate, they may leave Lawrence, but the relationships and memories do not disappear,” Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said. “It was deeply meaningful to sit together again and hear how the friendships, Jewish experiences and lessons from those years are still part of their lives.”

Nechama Tiechtel added, “Seeing alumni from so many different years together reminded us that each group becomes part of one extended family. They came from different classes and different eras, but they immediately connected through the experiences they shared at KU.”

The Chicago gathering was one of several alumni events held during the summer, reflecting the growing number of former KU students who continue to remain connected to one another and to Jewish life after college.

“Chad Gadjo”

By Natalie Goldman

Klein Collection Intern

“Chad Gadya” is a classic Passover song. The lyrics are cumulative, and the story they tell is of a father’s buying “one little goat,” which in the next verse is eaten by a cat, which is then bitten by a dog, and so on. Menachem Birnbaum’s 1920 book “Chad Gadjo” explores the darker side of this story.

community news

Lynn Kaufman and family donate $1M to Camber Mental Health Kansas City

Community member Lynn Kaufman and her family recently made a significant gift to Camber Mental Health Kansas City. The $1 million donation will be used to improve access to residential mental health treatment for youth in crisis and strengthen the therapeutic environment at the organization’s Kansas City, Kansas, location.

Camber Mental Health Kansas City, part of KVC Health Systems and formerly known as the Kaw Valley Center (KVC), is a youth residential mental health treatment campus in Wyandotte County. The Kaufmans’ gift will support enhancements to Camber Mental Health Kansas City’s environment and therapeutic programming, including art, music, equine-assisted therapy, horticulture, recreation and education and helping ensure youth in crisis have access to safe, trauma-informed care.

Camber Mental Health recently hosted an art dedication ceremony to honor Kaufman, a licensed clinical social worker and child therapist, and her service to children and families for more than 25 years.

“I was moved by KVC’s philosophy of treating children,” Kaufman told The Chronicle. “I saw genuineness, compassion and a commitment to seeing every child as a whole human being. After a whole career there, I still see the same qualities in the organization… Through my work, again and again, I saw that it was possible for children and families to find new

strength and healing.”

Throughout her 25-year career at Camber Mental Health, Kaufman supported thousands of children and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation. She blended clinical expertise with a relational approach grounded in empathy and emotional healing.

“Lynn’s work is defined by loving kindness in action,” said Jason Hooper, president and CEO of KVC Health Systems. “She has consistently shown up for children in their most difficult moments with patience, presence and

1933, and in 1943, during German occupation, was arrested by the Gestapo. He was murdered in a Nazi concentration camp (probably Auschwitz) in 1944 or 1945.

verses. Done in the German expressionist style, their sharp angles and contrasting colors enhance the scenes’ grotesque imagery. Birnbaum interprets the little goat as a paschal lamb, intended to be sacrificed but instead hunted by a black cat. The illustrations get darker (literally) with each successive verse until a single beam of light, representing God, strikes down the angel of death, visible only by its wings and hands. This rendition of “Chad Gadya” could be the artist’s way of highlighting the more serious side of the holiday of Passover and the more tragic moments in Jewish history.

deep compassion. That approach has shaped how so many of us think about care.”

A centerpiece of the art dedication ceremony was the unveiling of an original glass sculpture inspired by the “Grump Meter,” the emotional regulation tool Kaufman co-created with her daughter Janet. The tool helps children identify and express emotional intensity in simple, developmentally appropriate ways, giving language to feelings that can otherwise feel overwhelming or unmanageable.

The installation, created by Kansas City artist Stew Langer, transforms the concept of the Grump Meter into artwork that reflects emotional awareness, regulation and growth.

“Developing the Grump Meter to facilitate the emotional development of children and their families became my passion,” Kaufman said. “Making and sharing Grump Meters, parents and children worked together to improve individual and family relationships for the safety and well-being of all. The process is always creative and involves art.”

Kaufman said her work with Camber Mental Health/KVC aligns with her Jewish values.

Birnbaum, son of philosopher Nathan Birnbaum, was born in Austria in 1893 but lived for many years in Berlin. He emigrated to the Netherlands in

The book features the song’s original text, written in a mix of Aramaic and Hebrew, alongside a German translation done by Birnbaum’s brother, Uriel. On the facing pages are illustrations of each of the song’s 10

More information about the Michael Klein Collection at the Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah can be found at kleincollection.org or by calling (913) 663-4050 to schedule a tour.

“Judaism has been central to our family’s life, and our tradition’s values of repairing the world and repairing ourselves within have always been important to me,” she said. “Kaw Valley Center is not a Jewish institution, and for the 25 years that I spent there, I may have been the only Jewish employee. However, I experienced great mutuality of my values and KVC’s. We learned from each other.”

Need-to-knows about next week’s JCC Maccabi Games

continued from page 1

dropped off daily. The influx of more than 1,000 people per day for the Maccabi Games has led The J to heavily restrict campus accessibility.

From Monday through Thursday next week, The J’s fitness center will only be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Members will only be allowed to access the campus through its southwestern entrance off 117th Street. The entrance from 115th Street and the southeastern 117th Street road by Andretti’s will be inaccessible to non-Maccabi Games participants during those times.

With few other exceptions, the Jewish Community Campus will be inaccessible for non-Maccabi Games participants during the daytime from Monday, Aug. 3, to Thursday, Aug. 6.

Security

Readers may have noticed that The Chronicle has not reported the location of the opening ceremony or any sports venues besides The J. This is for security purposes. Following the Games, The Chronicle will do a comprehensive recap including location information and coverage of the opening ceremony.

Accessibility to The J only from 6 to 10 p.m. next week, Monday through Thursday

For some venues, attendees will pass through metal detectors. Bag checks will occur at all venues. A clear-bag policy will be in force at the opening ceremony and another large venue.

also required to attend one of four mandatory orientation sessions at The J, where they picked up their credentials and Maccabi Games t-shirts and were informed of the necessary actions and precautions to ensure the Games go smoothly and safely.

Kosher food accessibility

The J has ensured accommodations for athletes and attendees who follow strict kashrut. These athletes were assigned to host family volunteers who indicated that they keep a kosher home.

Additionally, three of Torah Learning Center’s kosher food programs will offer kosher meals throughout the week. The Wandering Table (offering kosher meat meals), Chai Pies (offering kosher pizzas) and Graze by Brachie and Chaya (offering Shabbat meals and more to-go) all have special offerings and hours over the course of next week. See page 4 for more information.

Judy Sherry receives award from KIFA

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) awarded community member Judy Sherry its “Beloved Community Award” at its annual fundraising event last month.

Sherry was awarded because of her involvement with Grandparents for Gun Safety (GGS), an organization she founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. In addition to advocating for gun safety, GGS also distributes gun locks through its Lock It For Love program.

“It is indeed an honor to receive the Beloved Award at KIFA’s annual event, and a wonderful opportunity for me to share the work of Grandparents for Gun Safety with a large and attentive audience,” Sherry said. “Clearly, our two organizations complement each other as we advocate for moral public policy both in Kansas and the country

Each athlete, host, volunteer and staff member will have credentials that they must present to access any facilities. Volunteers, hosts and staff also received background checks and are asked to limit sharing information on social media for the duration of the games.

through our elected officials. We share the vision of a humane society, enabling everyone to feel safe and thrive in their communities, and we believe in the power of interfaith action to help bring that vision to fruition.”

KIFA is an organization that works to educate, engage and advocate on behalf of people of faith regarding social, economic and climate justice issues. Members lobby at the state legislature regarding priorities such as immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights and fully-funded public education. Rabbi Moti Rieber is its executive director.

Host families and volunteers were

More information about the Maccabi Games is available at jcckcmaccabi. org and on social media, as well as The Chronicle and The J’s custom website at maccabikcgameshub.com.

JCRB|AJC hiring for two positions

Jewish Community Relations Bureau | American Jewish Committee (JCRB|AJC) is hiring for two leadership positions that will help advance its mission of combating antisemitism, building bridges across differences and strengthening the community.

Director of Better Together and Special Programs

The first new position will lead the growth of Better Together, a community-building initiative that equips participants with the skills to engage across differences through dialogue, curiosity and respect. This position focuses on expanding the initiative through strategic partnerships, facilitator training, program implementation and community engagement while supporting additional organizational initiatives. The ideal candidate will have experience in program management, nonprofit leadership, education or community engagement, along with exceptional relationship-building and organizational skills. This position is grant-funded through a partnership with the Menorah Heritage Foundation.

Director of Education and Programs

This position will lead JCRB|AJC’s educational initiatives to combat antisemitism and strengthen understanding of Jewish identity throughout Kansas and western Missouri. This position oversees signature student leadership programs, including Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) and Student to Student (STS); develops educational programming for schools and community organizations; builds relationships with educators and civic leaders; responds to incidents of antisemitism alongside the JCRB|AJC team; and helps advance public programs that foster greater understanding and engagement. The ideal candidate will have experience in education, nonprofit leadership, Jewish communal work or a related field, along with outstanding communication, public speaking and project management skills.

Those interested in learning more and applying can visit jcrbajc.org or email their resume and cover letter to jcrbajc@jewishkc.org.

community news

Rock Chalk Shabbat to celebrate 21 years

By KU Hillel

For more than 20 years, one Shabbat a year is different from all others at KU Hillel. Extra tables are set at one of KU’s Union spaces, alumni and friends return to campus, and Jewish Jayhawks gather to celebrate community, tradition and belonging at Rock Chalk Shabbat. This November, that tradition will reach a milestone as KU Hillel celebrates the 21st anniversary of Rock Chalk Shabbat, marking more than two decades of one of the organization’s most notable programs.

Third-time camp parent

By Bridey Stangler PJ Library

Dear First-Time Camp Parent, He’s home.

He lumbered into the house six feet taller, malodorous sleeping bag unceremoniously shoved into the suitcase, utterly destroyed Chuck Taylors swinging jauntily from his backpack.

In 2003, then-Executive Director Jay Lewis had an idea to get as many Jewish students in a room together to celebrate Shabbat. That idea launched “Shabbat 150” in 2003. By 2005, the program evolved into what is now known as Rock Chalk Shabbat, becoming one of KU Hillel’s most beloved traditions.

“Turning 21 is a major milestone on any college campus, so the excitement around our 21st Rock Chalk Shabbat feels bigger than ever,” KU Hillel Executive Director Ethan Helfand said. “At its core, Rock Chalk Shabbat is so much more than inviting our local community to an on-campus Shabbat experience. It’s a chance to embrace the entire KU Hillel ecosystem, gathering students, alumni, parents and Jewish Jayhawks everywhere and reflect on what makes this community unique.”

This celebration will honor the thousands of students, alumni and community supporters who have helped make Rock Chalk Shabbat possible over the past 21 years. The same spirit that inspired the first Rock Chalk Shabbat more than 20 years ago continues to shape the organization by creating spaces where Jewish students feel welcomed, connected, safe and empowered to lead.

“Rock Chalk Shabbat was always one of my favorite events as a student because it brought so many people together for one night and reminded me how special the KU Hillel community is,” KU alumna and current board member Sarah Schuster said. “Now, as a board member, it’s meaningful to help continue that tradition. I hope this year’s Rock Chalk Shabbat gives alumni a chance to reconnect while also celebrating the community that continues to make

Hillel such an important part of the student experience.”

As planning commences on this special anniversary edition of Rock Chalk Shabbat, the entire KU Hillel community is excited to reconnect with those who found their connection to KU through the event. Whether they attended Rock Chalk Shabbat as a student, supported KU Hillel as a donor or simply believe in the importance of vibrant Jewish life at KU, organizers share that they are looking to collect stories, pictures and memories from each of the past 20 years to share the impact that Rock Chalk Shabbat and KU Hillel have made.

“Since its inception, Rock Chalk Shabbat has been a celebration of what’s possible when students are inspired to build Jewish community,” Helfand said. “Every Jewish Jayhawk who helps bring this evening to life — from student to alumni — reflects KU Hillel’s mission of developing the next generation of Jewish leaders. If you want to see what the Jewish future looks like, I can’t imagine a better place to see it in person than at the Kansas Union this November.”

Today, KU Hillel continues to evolve to meet the needs of current Jewish students. Through leadership development opportunities and professional networking programs, KU Hillel has seen students use newly learned skills to plan programs together. In addition, KU Hillel is supporting Jewish Jayhawks by offering mental health support, internships, Jewish learning experiences, Israel engagement and community-building events.

Rock Chalk Shabbat will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, in the Kansas Union Ballroom. Those interested in finding out more information, sharing their KU Hillel story, sending in photos or making a gift supporting Jewish life on campus can contact Megan Pener at meganpener@kuhillel.org or (913) 219-6740.

He came home sunburned and freckled. His hair is just a bit lighter. As predicted, he did not trim his nails. I wonder how long he’s had that paint in his ear.

He lost seven shirts along the way, but his water bottle and siddur both made it home. I say “see-door,” as I always heard the word growing up. He says “sitter,” with the comfort and familiarity of a Jew who is on friendlier terms with his prayer book.

While he was gone, I noticed him wearing tzitzit in a lot of the camp photos. When I saw those pictures, I was pleased — and, I admit, maybe just a little bit nervous. Who is this boy with this Jewish tradition that he didn’t learn from me? I later heard, though, that campers got points toward prizes for wearing tzitzit. I think he maybe got a slushie?

He also came home with questions about tefillin (intrigued) and opinions about the moshiach (unconvinced). I haven’t heard his Hebrew since he came home, but I bet it sparkles.

In many ways, welcoming a child home from camp is like welcoming someone we don’t quite recognize. Who is this young man who meets me eye to eye? What does he think about in those rare moments of stillness?

At other times, though, I’m reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same: he’s still counting on “Fun Cereal Mondays” and saving up for a BMX bike. He still leaves wet swimsuits in the middle of the floor and parks his bike immediately in front of the door so you have to feint left to avoid crashing into it.

The impression that camp makes on a child is too deep to affect the passing youthful folly. (Alas.) After all, this is a person who climbed mountains, swam and ran, faced unexpected fears, asked difficult questions, laughed, joked and worked through complex problems without us, his parents. Finally getting a bullseye on the archery range doesn’t teach a kid to put away his socks. But it does teach him that it’s worth it to try new things and that it feels good to succeed at something hard.

Character development is a lifelong project, and I don’t expect our son, newly arrived home from camp, to show the fruits of it just yet.

I’m a product of Jewish overnight camp, and a great devotee of its potential for impact. I give OSRUI, my own camp in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, much of the credit for who I am and what I do today. So, I’m unsurprised that the Foundation for Jewish Camp reported Jewish overnight campers are 94% more likely to feel a strong connection to the Jewish community. I’m not just unsurprised — I’m betting on it, and no small amount of money either!

My dear first-time camp parent: I would bet that you join me in wondering why a child mature enough to be shipped off to another state is not also mature enough to put away his laundry without being thrice reminded.

But I would also bet that you are seeing the subtle changes in language, behavior and bearing that hint at growth beneath the surface; the questions that suggest they’ve been pondering big ideas for weeks; the rare moments of stillness.

I won’t have any sage advice for you next summer. We’re in it together now. We have sent our children off and away for their own adventures and made it through to the other side.

Baruch Hashem. He’s home.

Until next year, Second-Time Camp Parent Third-Time Camp Parent

Lament of the mothers-in-law commentary

When she converted to Judaism, my friend chose the Hebrew name of Ruth, honoring the biblical figure believed to be the first woman to voluntarily become Jewish. I agree that Ruth’s act was praiseworthy, but in my opinion, she deserves credit for something even more astounding: Ruth liked her mother-in-law! And her mother-in-law liked her! She even opted to stick around after they were both widowed and live with her husband’s mother, Naomi. Some of my friends dread spending just one afternoon with their son’s spouse, let alone a lifetime.

Having only one daughter and a son-in-law I actually like, I have no firsthand experience with the relationship between a mother and her son’s wife. But from my friends who have daughters-inlaw, I have heard enough tales of travail to know there is something tricky about this familial relationship.

Indeed, mother-in-law troubles are so universal that they inspire plenty of jokes. There’s that classic one-liner: “The definition of a mixed emotion is watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your new Maserati.”

Henny Youngman quipped, “I just got back from a pleasure trip — I took my mother-in-law to the airport.”

And Rabbi-Turned-Stand-UpComic Bob Alper tells about a son who presents three women to his mother, one of whom he plans to marry. When they leave, he asks,

“So, Ma. Which one do you think I’m going to marry?”

“Easy,” she says. “One in the middle.”

“That’s right!” the son exclaims. “How did you know?”

“Simple. She’s the one I didn’t like.”

As is so often the case with comedy, some truth lies beneath these jokes. According to the Psychology Today article, “Why Getting Along with Mother In Law Is So Difficult,” evolutionary biology is partially to blame. The traits men seek in a mate are different from those parents

deem important. For many males, physical attractiveness looms large in their selection, while parents — especially mothers — value more practical characteristics. Jewish men especially have been drawn to that archetypical shiksa, the blonde bombshell who is not Jewish.

Many of my friends assume that physical beauty was a factor in their son’s selection. “Sure, my daughter-in-law is good looking,” one friend tells me, “but he does all the cooking — and everything else around the house.”

Another friend complains about the time her daughter-inlaw arrived home from yoga at lunchtime. She made herself a smoothie, sat down at the table and began slurping, failing to offer her mother-in-law even so much as a slice of banana. Another friend came to town for her granddaughter’s dance recital. The daughter-in-law “forgot” to swing by from work and take her to the performance.

And most Jewish mothers with non-Jewish daughters-inlaw worry about passing on Judaism to their grandchildren. One friend signed her grandchild up to receive free Jewish books from PJ Library. Her daughter-in-law asked her to stop the subscription, not wanting anything “so Jewish” in the house.

If PJ Library were around in ancient times, I’m pretty sure Ruth would have welcomed such Jewish content into her tent. Indeed, thanks to this woman who converted, Judaism definitely continued. Ruth later had a son who had a son who had a son who turned out to be King David. Now that’s one daughter-in-law to be proud of.

Nancy Kalikow Maxwell is a Kansas City native and awardwinning author. Her book, Typically Jewish, is available through the Jewish Publication Society or Amazon. Her website is kaliwellinc.com and email is nancykalikowmaxwell@gmail. com.

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle staff, the Jewish Federation of Kansas City, or the Kansas City Jewish Community as a whole.

The in-between

By Alexis Greenberg

A lot of things in Judaism are black-and-white, polar opposites, set in stone, two distinct opposite experiences.

Last week, we went from a 25-hour fast directly into Shabbat, where many eat a Thanksgiving-esque meal each week. The experience of moving from Tisha B’Av into Shabbat is just one example of these opposites.

We have a holiday where it’s customary to stay up all night learning Torah, and another where we’re forbidden from studying. When we count the Omer, and during the three weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av, Halacha (Jewish law) says not to listen to any live music or music with instruments, but the rest of the year, we can listen to as much as we want.

I’ve been thinking a lot about palpable and straightforward opposites lately, and I’m starting to understand that a lot of life, and even Jewish life, is lived in the gray areas.

Growing up, I thought adulthood meant a lot more work and a lot less play. That the week was mundane and every weekend was a blast. For some people that is what adulthood looks like: the 80% work, 20% play life, where they live five days for two, and the weekend is where they thrive.

There’s nothing wrong with that if it works for you, but in my childhood mind, that was the only way to do it. Now, not only do I get to have fun on weeknights, inviting friends over for dinner, going out to ice cream or playing a card game with my roommate, but I also see how the fun finds its way into work and how work is involved to create the fun.

Yes, every night I make dinner (work), but I can put on some fun tunes and dance around while I cook (play). I sometimes spend an hour handwashing dishes from a large Shabbat dinner (work), but I get to have deep conversations with my friends and guests while I do (play).

I also used to think there were the things you did for yourself and the things you did for others. That a good deed was inherently selfless and couldn’t be self serving.

A lot of mitzvot are actually self-serving in a way. Yes, we put up mezuzot on our doorposts because it is one of the 613 mitzvot, but it’s also believed to provide your household

spiritual protection.

There are so many things in life that are like that. When I host a large group of people so they can all meet new friends and build community, it benefits me as well. I get to meet new people, feel the satisfaction of a successful gathering and enjoy my home being filled with chatter and the clinking of silverware.

As a child, most choices were a matter of right and wrong. In my young adulthood, choices are a lot less this-or-that. After college graduation, you can move far away from the community you’ve known your whole life and start fresh. Or, you can stay and give back to the community that raised you.

Annoyingly, those aren’t the only two choices. You can also pursue graduate education, take a break from school and career to explore the world or “find yourself.” The choices get less and less easy as life goes on.

As I notice what Jewish spaces are the most meaningful to me, what activities in my life bring me joy and fulfillment and what habits are sustainable in adulthood, the in-between is calling to me.

I love attending synagogue most weeks with others who have the same practices in their Judaism as I do, but I also love large events and organizations where everyone is welcome and I get to see the magnitude of our Jewish community. And the great thing is, I don’t have to pick one or the other.

As I continue to reach life-changing crossroads, I’m trying my best to remember to ignore the two-sides way of thinking and examine the options in the gray zone.

I’m lucky to have people in my life who remind me to think this way, to reexamine my one-track mind and realize both roads lead to new lessons and adventures. Not everything has to be all-or-nothing. I can incorporate the work and the play into one another, build new traditions and keep the old, and find the balance that leads to a happy, healthy life.

I hope you, too, can explore all the hidden and unique options, not just the polar opposites presented on paper.

Alexis Greenberg is a recent KU graduate with a master’s degree in project management. She is currently Jewish Federation of Kansas City’s digitalmarketingspecialist.

Meshuggah Bagels celebrates 10 years of bringing New York flavor to Kansas City

continued from page 1

got motivated to do bagels,” Pete Linde said.

Linde earned an engineering degree from Columbia University in Manhattan and a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He joined Ford Motor Co. around 1989 in Dearborn, Michigan, before transferring to the assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri, in 1997 and moving to the Kansas City metro. He spent 28 years with Ford and worked as a vehicle engineering supervisor before retiring as Meshuggah Bagels grew.

Janna Linde grew up in Independence and spent about a decade in the food industry, including work as a national director for Del Monte Foods.

The couple met in Kansas City in 2011 and married in 2014. On a 2011 trip to New York, the Lindes stopped at 72nd Street Bagel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, bought an everything bagel with whitefish salad and carried it into Central Park. It was Janna Linde’s first authentic New York bagel.

“I took a bite and I said, ‘This is crazy delicious,’” she recalled.

On later trips to New York, the Lindes carried an empty 27-inch suitcase and returned with it packed with bagels to freeze at home.

Pete Linde at the time complained Kansas City was a “bagel desert” and talked about opening a shop after retirement. While recovering from a knee injury that required a leave from her job, Janna Linde told her husband they should “just do the bagel thing now.”

Their initial plan was a modest wholesale operation that could draw on her grocery-industry experience while he continued working at Ford, provided he could first make a bagel worth selling.

His first effort was not reassuring.

“They were miserable, bumpy, ugly, doughy, gooey, tasteless things,” Pete Linde said. “They were terrible.”

Consumed by his mission to find the ideal bagel recipe, Pete researched traditional methods and filled a notebook with adjustments. His KitchenAid hand mixer came out late at night, and Janna Linde stopped eating dessert to save room for the next round of bagel taste-tests.

Pete Linde also sought guidance from a family friend who had operated a bagel shop in the Washington, D.C., area. Whenever he ran into a problem, he called or emailed for advice. He spent about a year refining the recipe,

recording every adjustment in a notebook while Janna Linde sampled each test batch.

It took 73 versions before they knew they had found the right one.

“One night, I took it out of the oven, and it was just great,” Pete Linde said. “We realized we had it.”

By November 2015, they had opened a 2,500-square-foot commercial kitchen in Pleasant Valley. They bought a used 10,000-pound Baxter revolving oven that had served a bagel shop on Long Island, along with equipment capable of shaping thousands of bagels an hour.

Their breakthrough came through the Jewish community. After learning about the Jewish Federation of Kansas City’s annual Bagel Bash on Christmas Eve, the Lindes invited organizers to tour the bakery and sample their product.

With help from local kosher supervisors, the Pleasant Valley kitchen was made kosher in time for the event. Meshuggah donated hundreds of bagels.

For many Bagel Bash guests, it was love at first bite. Jewish community members posted about the bagels online and called the Lindes to ask where they could buy them. Some bagel lovers showed up at the Lindes’ unmarked production kitchen hoping to make a purchase. The company also began filling orders for Jewish community events and made weekly sales to Ram’s Cafe kosher eatery on the Jewish Community Campus.

Three months later, the Lindes opened their first storefront inside a renovated house at 1208 W. 39th St. A line ran down the block, and sales exceeded their projections by 300% during the first week. The second weekend was just as busy.

New York-style bagels, the Lindes soon realized, were a hit in Kansas City.

Meshuggah’s production opera-

tion still provides for the Liberty, 39th Street and Power & Light stores, with a full bakery inside the Overland Park location.

Their dough is formed and allowed to rise overnight before being boiled, dipped in toppings and placed topping-side down on wet burlap-covered boards. After several minutes in the oven, the bagels are flipped onto baking stones to finish, producing the glossy, firm crust and dense chew Pete Linde remembered from home.

Pete said Meshuggah bakes an average of more than 1,600 bagels per weekday, with production at around 3,600 on weekends.

Meshuggah’s salmon, lox and whitefish come fresh from a fish house in New York, where each order is cut and packed the day the Lindes call. The fish travels through LaGuardia Airport in Queens and is picked up at Kansas City’s airport, then served to customers fresh, never frozen.

“I think that is one of our biggest secret weapons. Our fresh seafood is delicious,” Janna Linde said.

Meshuggah’s Jewish cultural ties extend to its distinctive logo and name. While brainstorming design ideas for their first shop’s logo, Janna Linde found a pen-and-ink drawing of three Hasidic men that caught her eye.

The Lindes showed it to an artist neighbor and asked him to use it as a starting point. He photographed Pete Linde, placed his face on one of the figures, made the image more cartoonlike and added a bagel.

“He showed it to us, and we were like, ‘OK, no changes required,’” Pete Linde said.

As for the business’s name, Janna Linde said she and her husband were driving and “kicking a bunch of names around” when “Meshuggah” came up. The Yiddish word, meaning “crazy,” was familiar to many of their friends,

and the couple believed it was a name that worked for their business.

Meshuggah expanded with its Overland Park shop in 2017, followed by the downtown location. Its original Liberty location developed a strong weekend following but closed in 2021. The business returned to the Northland in 2024 in a better-positioned location with a drive-thru. Its performance upended one of the Lindes’ early assumptions about where a traditional bagel shop could succeed.

“We realized we can have a location in Liberty, Missouri, in the right spot, that does as well as the middle of Kansas City,” Pete Linde said.

The company’s longevity is also due to the passion of its longtime employees, the Lindes said. Its head baker in Pleasant Valley joined Meshuggah a week after the first retail shop opened, while its head baker in Overland Park joined before the first retail location was finished. One manager has been at the 39th Street store for over six years, while another longtime manager has worked with the Overland Park operation for nearly half a decade.

“They’re part of our family,” Janna Linde said.

The couple wanted a profitable business that also allowed employees to build stable lives, a goal they contrast with the indifference of many large companies.

“The big corporations today, there’s so little of that,” Janna Linde said. “They just don’t care, and we do.

“We want it to be a business that’s profitable, but we want it also to be a place where people can make a life for themselves and make enough that they can live by it and stay with it,” she said. “We’ve managed to succeed with it.”

Kansas City’s bagel market now looks very different from the one Meshuggah entered in 2016. New bagel shops and bakeries mean the Lindes have direct competition after years in which they had little or none, confirming the demand for good bagels has grown well beyond customers who once needed “Bagel 101.”

The Lindes have responded to growing competition with seasonal products, including red, white and blue bagels for Independence Day; Kansas City Chiefs-colored bagels; and World Cup-themed offerings, while protecting the process that built their reputation.

“You have to keep things new and exciting,” Janna Linde said. “Mix it up and still stay true to our quality and roots.”

Joshua J. Daniel

Joshua J. Daniel passed away on July 2 at University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Joshua was born at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Chula Vista, California, on Sept. 1, 1991. Josh was the first of three siblings.

Joshua lived in San Diego, California; Lincoln, Arkansas; Pueblo, Colorado; Harvey, Louisiana; and Kansas City, Missouri. Joshua attended Miller Elementary in San Diego, then Indian Creek Elementary and Center Middle School in Kansas City. He attended Grandview High School for three-anda-half years and then graduated from Central High School in Pueblo.

Josh played football and wrestling in middle school and high school. He earned an engineering scholarship to the University of Missouri at Columbia for high school students.

Josh was a self-taught master classic rock guitarist. He also was a talented artist and enjoyed video games and technology.

Joshua loved his family and was always calling everyone to see how they were doing and ask if they needed anything.

He is survived by his mother, Kelley E. Block; father, James C. Daniel; sister, Cristina Joy McCoy; brother, Jeremiah T. Daniel; niece, Chanel N. McCoy; grandmothers, Bobbie J. Block and Bonni F. Cassells; aunts, Sherri Sloan and Patricia A. Mitchell; uncle, Robert W. Daniel, Jr.; and a host of cousins and other relatives.

Joshua will be truly missed. A graveside service was held on July 16 at Mount Moriah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to jdc.org or childrensmercy.org.

Mike Allen Goldman, 70, passed away on July 19, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 24, 1955, Mike made his home in Overland

obituaries

Park, Kansas, for 44 years.

Mike was a talented musician and songwriter, equally at home behind the drums, on guitar or singing lead. He was a mainstay of the Kansas City music scene, performing regularly at venues such as BB’s, Knuckleheads and Firehouse, where he was known and loved by fellow musicians and fans alike.

Mike began his career working in the clothing industry at Hearts Design before earning his degree in HVAC from Johnson County Community College. He went on to spend more than 20 years working in the HVAC field.

Mike married Carol Goldman (née Goldstein) on April 20, 1986.

Mike is survived by his wife, Carol Goldman; his sisters, Sandra Welsh, Deanna Roseman, Shirley Shaltout and Elaine Quinlan; his brothers, Steven Goldman and Jerry Goldman; his sons, Marty and Shawn Goldman; his grandsons, Kobe, Kyler and Gage Goldman, Ian Baughman, and Chase Fox; his granddaughter, Kayrizma Mure; and his great-grandson, Oakland Amari.

Mike will be remembered for his music, his warmth and the mark he left on everyone who heard him play.

Funeral services were on July 22 at Louis Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel.com.

Herbert Lee Stein

Herbert Lee Stein, 86, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 16, surrounded by his wife and children.

Funeral services were held on July 20 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in the Yukon Chapel, followed by burial.

Herb was born on May 28, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, to the late Morris and Fannie Stein. He graduated from Paseo High School in 1959 before earning a degree in accounting from Kansas City Business College. On June 23, 1963, he married the love of his life, Alice (née Katzeff). Together they shared 63 wonderful years of marriage, building a home centered around family traditions and Jewish values.

As Herb and Alice raised their three

children, they cherished taking family vacations, often piling into the family’s red station wagon and driving across the country together.

As a professional accountant, Herb served as controller at Feld Chevrolet for more than 20 years before continuing in similar roles at other Kansas City-area automobile dealerships. Additionally, he operated his own tax preparation and bookkeeping service for over four decades, helping countless individuals, families and small businesses with trusted advice and personal attention. His integrity and dependability earned the respect of clients, colleagues and friends.

Herb was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Shalom. As a young adult, he served as a BBYO advisor, mentoring Jewish youth and fostering lifelong friendships. He served as treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 61 and roasted the turkeys at the annual November Turkey Hike. In recognition of his exceptional service, he received the Shofar Award and was inducted into the Tribe of Mic-O-Say as an Honorary Warrior.

Outside of work and volunteer service, Herb was a lifelong New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan. A trip to a baseball game wasn’t complete without his small AM radio and single earphone, allowing him to watch the action on the field while listening to the live radio broadcast. He also enjoyed listening to talk radio, working on jigsaw puzzles and playing sudoku. In his younger years, Herb and Alice bowled together in a league at King Louie.

Herb was known for his warm

heart, kind spirit and unmistakably dry wit. He found comfort in the simple routines of life. He always had a recliner where he could watch television or settle in for another late night.

Above all, Herb was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with his family and celebrating their accomplishments. His steady presence, quiet wisdom and unconditional love will remain a lasting gift to those who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Fannie Stein, and his brothers, Albert Stein and Bernard Stein.

Herb is survived by his beloved wife, Alice; his dedicated children, Eric (Kathy) Stein of Wilmette, Illinois, Jennifer (Tom) Goedeke of Chesterfield, Missouri, and Adam (Paula Mahayosnand) Stein of Jersey City, New Jersey; his cherished grandchildren, Zach and Daniel Stein, Jessica and Trace Goedeke, and Isabella and Kaya Stein; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Debbie and Steve Mack; and many nieces and nephews.

The family is deeply grateful for the love, friendship and support shown to Herb throughout his lifetime. His memory will forever be a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, those who would like to honor Herb’s memory are invited to make a contribution to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care or to a charity of their choice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel. com.

P J I N T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D : R O E P A R K

T h u r s d a y , A u g u s t 2 0 | 5 p m J o i n t h e H e r b s t a n d M i s c h e l f a m i l i e s

f o r s n a c k s , s m i l e s , a n d s u n s h i n e a t t h i s p a r k p l a y t i m e h o u r

B U B B E & Z A Y D E ’ S B U B B L E S H A B B A T

F r i d a y , A u g u s t 2 1 | 4 : 3 0 p m T h e p e r f e c t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r g r a n d k i d s

a n d g r a n d p a r e n t s t o s h a r e t h e m a g i c o f S h a b b a t w i t h t h i s f r e e

e v e n t , f e a t u r i n g b l e s s i n g s a n d b u b b l e f u n !

P L A Z A C H A L L A H B A K E

S u n d a y , A u g u s t 2 3 | 3 p m J o i n P J L i b r a r y a n d C h a b a d o n t h e

P l a z a t o k n e a d , s h a p e , t o p a n d t a k e h o m e y o u r o w n c h a l l a h !