Excerpt From Rabbi Londy s Eulogy for Dick Levin

Transcription

1 FEBRUARY 2014 VOLUME XLVIII NUMBER SIX Excerpt From Rabbi Londy s Eulogy for Dick Levin Dick Levin lived big and lived young. Dick had charisma. You could not avoid taking notice of him. It is not because he was loud. On the contrary, he was a man of great refinement, always dressed in a dapper way and spoke eloquently. He counted his blessings; he was a man who mastered the spiritual ideal of gratefulness...he felt blessed by being raised in this great city of Kansas City. He felt blessed by the opportunities and the successes that he had in business. He felt blessed by his loving family and could not be more devoted and proud of his children, their spouses, his grandchildren. He felt blessed because he had this tremendous capacity to make friends and to be a friend. He was not huggy kissy but he was a man who knew how to love. He felt blessed that he lived after being shot in the chest in the Philippines and enduring a long recovery. He felt blessed by the life he was able to build with his wife, Carol, traveling the world deepening his love for the arts. His collections of American paintings from the first half of 20th century adorn his home. Dick was a doer. He felt blessed that through dialysis he was able to live his life with independence and joy up to the very last week of his life. Community Foundation, the Jewish Vocational Services, and Menorah Medical Center. He was one of the pillars of this congregation. He dedicated his life to it. As Michael Levin said to me, this Temple was his child. The survival of the Temple was woven into his DNA. He was proud that he had played such an important role in building of this Temple...His passing is a wound on this congregation. He was the elder statesman people went to him for his advice and knew it was going to be cogent. He was a mentor to younger leaders. He was instrumental in establishing and maintaining our endowments he worried about them and protected them. When he wanted to say something he was a force to be reckoned with he did not care if others did not agree with him. He held his ground like a gentlemen. At one of my first experiences, when I came here July of 2011, as the interim, we had this informal board meeting. Dick was sitting in a chair in the front of the sanctuary. He began to give the history of the Temple. He was, as we know, incredibly sharp and eloquent with a dry sense of humor. continued on page 3 Who was Dick Levin the Jew? He was really a Jewish statesman in our community: doing sacred work in the community for decades through the Jewish Federation, the Jewish

2 THE NEW REFORM TEMPLE 7100 Main Street at Gregory Kansas City, Missouri Phone: Fax: Rabbi Alan Londy, D. Min. Board of Directors Daniel Fromm Meredith Angrist President Jamie Berg Michael Braude Ann K. Baum Debbie Coe First Vice President Ann Darke Gregg S. Davidson Lynnette L. Siegel Donna Holmes Second Vice President Tom Isenberg Edward Porter Diane Robinson Kit Smith Secretary Bill Wien Craig V. Wilson Howard Barewin Treasurer Thomas C. Barnett Michael Grossman Past Presidents Arthur L. Stern Paul Uhlmann, Jr. Life Directors Worship Hours February 7... February February February Europa, Europa Movie Night Our second movie of our Reel Judaism film series will take place on Thursday, February 13 at the Sulgrave Condominiums. Come at 7:00 pm for some socializing, a glass of wine and to select a snack before the movie beings at 7:30 pm. A Jewish boy, separated from his family in the early days of WWII, poses as a German orphan and is thereafter taken into the heart of the Nazi world as a 'war hero' and eventually made a Hitler Youth. Time: 112 minutes. Please RSVP to the temple office, or via at NRT7100@aol.com. Space is limited. NRT's New Travelogue Through the Modern Jewish World: Modern Germany and the Future of its Jewish Community.A Contemporary Miracle The Jews are a global people. The New Reform Temple Program Committee is offering a new series which will explore the history and current reality of Jewish communities throughout the world. Come and join us for our first event as Rabbi Londy shares with us, from his recent rabbinic mission to Germany with ten other American Reform Rabbis, his experiences and impressions of contemporary German Jewish life. His visit was sponsored by the German government in order to create bridges between American and German Jews today. He has returned with a passionate commitment to supporting the extraordinary German Jewish renaissance that is taking place in contemporary Germany. This informal evening of learning, conversation and socializing is part of a new pilot program intended to offer new informal adult learning opportunity at NRT. Several times a year, we will discuss the background and current challenges of Jewish communities around the world. The presentation will be provocative, informative, and inspiring. Rabbi Londy is hoping that our congregation can develop a productive connection with a Liberal Synagogue in Germany and help to nurture connections of our congregants with Reform German Jews who are pioneering a new German Jewish reality. Rabbi Londy is an active member of the Rabbinical Cabinet of the World Union of Progressive Judaism which supports fledgling Liberal Jewish Communities throughout the world. Dan and Kristen Fromm have gracious opened their home for this special event which will be held on Thursday, February 27 from 7-9 p.m. The Fromm s live at 6333 Verona Road, Mission Hills, KS Wine and desert will be served. RSVP by February 20 to or NRT7100@aol.com

3 Excerpt From Rabbi Londy s Eulogy for Dick Levin continued from page 1 But, I was struck that it was as if he was telling the history of his family. His relationship to the Temple was that integral to the story. He knew why he and his friends created this Temple. He wanted this congregation to survive. He was one of the early presidents of the congregation. And then during a time of crisis in the Temple, he returned for a second term, reconstituted the board, raised money and as people said; he saved the temple as he rallied people to the cause. I say without hesitation that Dick was a deeply religious man he probably would not have agreed. (But today I have the last word.) No he did not find within the traditional rituals of Judaism a great deal of meaning and he did not like to sit through long services. It was a reaction to the fact that he felt that traditional practices had been forced upon when he was young. But, he was vehement in the belief that Judaism had a prophetic mission. He wanted the Temple to stand for the ethical ideals of the prophets. He felt that our New Reform community needed to be connected to the rest of the community. He thought that Jews had to take care of each other. He was a proud Zionist caring about the security of Israel. He was committed to Jewish education go up stairs to the Levin Library. He was proud that his daughter, Ann, served for many years guiding our educational enterprise. He cared about the survival of the Jewish people and that his family maintains their Jewish identity. Let me show you how complex he was: Classical Reform Judaism did not believe in children becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah...but, as he got older he mellowed a little bit, and when Amanda became a Bat Mitzvah on this pulpit, he was all smiles. He was so proud. He thanked me for helping to make this happen. Some people were afraid of his directness. I thanked God for it I was honored by it. I feel that it was the most loving and respectful thing he could do. When he had something to say, he expressed it. His comments were not personal it was about beliefs and values. He was a truth teller. That was a deep part of his character. If he felt that you had done something wrong, he told you so to your face. It was not to be critical; it was to be a friend. A great leader of Kansas City Jews has passed. A great father of The New Reform Temple is gone. A loving patriarch of his beautiful family has gone to his eternal resting place. May God bless his soul! From Our Religious School Two weeks of winter break and a bonus Sunday off for snow has not hindered the spirits and activities at NRT religious school. On our first week back, Rabbi Londy and I met with parents interested in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience for their children. We have designed a very complete blueprint for an 18 month student workshop for 4th, 5th and 6th graders which parallels our mainstream religious school curriculum. The students will have the chance to work together in small groups as well as receiving individualized instruction to customize their Bar/Bat Mitzvah service. If you are interested but could not attend the meeting, please call Rabbi Londy for more information. Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness) is an important component of our school curriculum. When young people consider the needs of others even before themselves, they are demonstrating the Jewish value of Gemilut Chasadim, which will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives. In our religious school each month, a class picks a cause that speaks to them and the Tzedakah collect that month is given to that charity. We have donated our money to Wayside Waifs, Habitat for Humanity, Operation Breakthrough, the community food pantry at Jewish Family & Children Services and others. We are now collecting diapers and wipes for Happy Bottoms. Although the Tzedakah drive changes organizations each month, please feel

4 free to support our efforts whenever you wish by sending your contribution to the NRT office. The entire school gathered together to celebrate the Jewish New Year for the Trees with a Tu B Shevat Seder. Led by Rabbi Londy and Devra Lerner, the morning was filled with songs, lessons about trees and ecology, games, and of course, seder plates with varieties of fruits and grape juice. The students learned why Tu B Shevat is celebrated in the United States in winter when the trees are barren and it is cold outside. We also talked about the Jewish National Fund and how we can help Israel plant trees and bring water to the desert. The children took home a Tu B Shevat Chia pet to make and plant parsley for Passover. A form for ordering trees in Israel to honor or memorialize our loved ones was also give to each child. There is no doubt that every Sunday, NRT religious school is full of surprises! Students are happy to learn and discover Judaism and there is definitely a strong feeling of family and community. So much to look forward to with so many Jewish holidays approaching in the spring! Shelley Rissien

5 Newlyweds Make NRT Home by Laura Ziegler-Davis Barb Kovacs and David Leibson never met growing up in Kansas City even though they lived on the same street in Overland Park within a stone s throw of each other s houses two different times. It was decades later when a 16-year-old friend of Barb s daughter texted to ask if his mom could give Barb s phone number to a friend. That friend was David Leibson. Barb and David went on a blind date for coffee at Scooters. It was the best cup of coffee I ve ever had!! says David. Barb evidently enjoyed herself as well. David and Barb s wedding was the first wedding Rabbi Alan Londy performed as a new full-time rabbi at The New Reform Temple. David Leibson was born and raised in Kansas City. His father is a lifelong insurance agent and broker. When David graduated from University of Kansas, he followed his father s path and spent 11 years with The Prudential. He went on to be President and CEO of Mirror Image Photography LLC, and is currently with Freightquote.com a company that helps customers compare shipping rates across the country. when her kids were in grade school. It was like coming home, she said. David s Jewish roots are at Beth Shalom, but the couple is now sharing the intimacy and warmth of NRT. David said he made a conscious decision to join Barb at the Temple where she grew up. They began coming to services and special events. David says initially the lack of ritual, less Hebrew in the service, and the smaller size of the congregation were a shock to him. He says now he s adapting happily to the changes; NRT has become a new way of life for me! Most of the time David and Barb come together, but sometimes David will come on his own. One event he s particularly fond of - Sushi in the Sukkah, a new event since our gastronomically eclectic Rabbi Londy has come on. I suggest if you have never attended, you need to put this event in your calendar!!! David told me. Both Barb and David see themselves becoming more involved with The New Reform Temple. Barb says I see the Temple playing more of a community role in our lives as well as providing educational and spiritual enrichment. In addition to their affiliation with the Temple, David and Barb share an interest in health and fitness and workout at the Jewish Community Center. Also, they both enjoy the arts and spending time with family. Barb Kovacs was born in St. Louis. She moved to Louisville as an infant, then to Kansas City, where her father, Stan Mindlin was born and raised. She attended The New Reform Temple from kindergarten through 6th grade, but in 1975 Barb s family moved again, this time to Virginia. She was confirmed there, graduated high school, and headed to Ohio University where she got her degree in special education. After a couple of years teaching, Barb wanted a change and looked into sales. With an affinity for Kansas City and family here, she moved back to the area when Johnson County publisher Steve Rose hired her to work for the College Blvd. News in She returned to The New Reform Temple

6 Spiritual Checkup Make an appointment for a Spiritual Checkup with Rabbi Londy. The rabbi invites each member of the congregation to come to see him privately for a yearly spiritual checkup. This checkup is a low-key opportunity to reflect upon various dimensions of your life. Rabbi Londy wrote his doctoral thesis on this subject and has carried out these checkups for a variety of people in the congregations that he has served. If you have any interest in finding out more about the checkup, contact Rabbi Londy at the temple: or by at rabbialanlondy@earthlink.net Welcome New Temple Members! Stephen & Suzanne Block Wesley & Emily Fehsenfeld Kevin, Jessica, Leila & Aiden Hao Danielle Meyers Leland & Jill Shurin Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg Movie Night Our third movie of our Reel Judaism film series will take place on Thursday, March 13 at the Sulgrave Condominiums. Come at 7:00 pm for some socializing, a glass of wine and to select a snack before the movie beings at 7:30 pm. A documentary on television pioneer Gertrude Berg. She was the creator, principal writer, and star of The Goldbergs, a popular radio show for 17 years, which became television's very first character-driven domestic sitcom in Berg received the first Best Actress Emmy in history, and paved the way for women in the entertainment industry.. Time: 92 minutes. The Most Famous Woman in America You ve Never Heard Of. Please RSVP to the temple office, or via at NRT7100@aol.com. Space is limited.