The Rabbinical Association

Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City includes Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and non-Denominational rabbis who serve as the rabbinic voice in and for the Jewish community and the larger Greater Kansas City community.  It guides the community in making religious decisions for community events, and provides information, education and leadership on Jewish and interfaith issues. Additionally, it supports the rabbis in their personal and professional growth and develops and nourishes collegial relationships within the Association.  The Kansas City metropolitan area, Jewish and non-Jewish, is extremely fortunate to have this long standing Association of good will and united action.

Day of Discovery 2015The Rabbinical Association was incorporated June 17, 2002.  The Association existed as an unincorporated, entirely voluntary, sometimes very loose knit group for about 25 years.  The first regular gatherings date to the mid 1970’s.  Over the years, the Rabbis in Greater Kansas City have established a pattern of community-wide collaboration and have been called upon to provide information, guidance, and leadership on both Jewish and interfaith issues.  Today, the rabbis meet monthly, functioning as a board of directors, dealing with issues brought to them by the community and issues and programs of their own initiative.  View Brochure (PDF) | Rabbinic Board and Staff

Our Mission

The overall purpose and mission of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City is to maximize the diverse vitality of Jewish religious life in Greater Kansas City and to maximize the full-functioning of key religious institutions.

The rabbis do this by:

  Providing leadership and guidance to Jewish agencies and organizations
  Leading and supporting educational activities
  Overseeing, supporting and filling in certain gaps in social services, largely within the Jewish community
  Providing a unified voice to both the Jewish community and other faith communities in the area.

Our Vision

Day of Discovery 2017The vision of the Rabbinical Association is a vital religious Jewish community in Greater Kansas City, with strong communal institutions, with well informed and religiously principled practices, in which the Rabbinical Association can speak with authority of the rabbinate in a unified voice.

Program Goals

  • To further the professional and personal development of the rabbis in the association
  • To provide support for the full functioning of religious institutions
  • To provide guidance and stewardship for community religious life
  • To provide support for congregational life

Community Leadership and Guidance

Rabbis discuss, collaborate and respond to community issues and needs which strengthen Jewish Religious Practices while respecting diversity.

  • Kashruth and issues of observance and respect for dietary practices both at Jewish institutions and at public events in which Jews participate.
  • Mikvah — ritual bath for family purity and conversion to Judaism.
  • Chevra Kadisha — traditional preparation for death and burial.
  • Gittin — laws and traditions relating to husband-wife relations and divorce
  • Participate in the burial of indigent Jews.

Community Education and Social Service

Day of Discovery 2017Rabbis are teachers! Rabbis provide collaborative educational programs to both the Jewish and non-Jewish community. They respond to political and social issues and needs.

Community-wide Course: Judaism for Conversion Candidates — A year-long engaging and interactive course taught on a rotating basis by rabbis from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements. Introduces those considering conversion to Judaism with what it means to live Jewishly.

Day of Discovery: Explore the Joy of Jewish Learning in Kansas City — Learn, study, and discover some of the community’s finest Jewish educators, rabbis, and cantors, who lead sessions on a wide range of topics. Breakfast, lunch, dessert reception and door prizes included in day-long program.

Global Day of Jewish Learning — A worldwide event that brings Jewish communities around the world together once a year to celebrate our shared Jewish text through community based learning. Text study and informal discussions. Sponsored by the Aleph Society.

Community-Wide Tisha B’Av Observance — A meaningful service with beautiful, mournful melodies, engaging teaching, and communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. Includes: Ma’ariv service, Hebrew and English readings of Eichah (Book of Lamentations), songs and prayers.

Community-Wide Selichot Observance — The evening includes a dessert reception, Havdalah, program and service as worshipers spiritually prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Jewish Community Faculty Professional Day — KC-area congregational school faculty and HBHA teachers join together for a shared day of professional learning. An opportunity to enrich Judaic knowledge, improve practical skills, strengthen networks among colleague and dedicate time to high-level professional development.

Community-Wide Purim Celebration — We celebrate the joyous holiday of Purim at Village Shalom with a Purim “Seduah” (a festive light meal held on Purim day), an interactive Purim study, a creative reading of the Megillah (the book of Esther) and options for performing mitzvot by assembling Shalach Manot gift bags for others in the community.

Community-Wide Passover Programs — Exciting alternative programs encourage participation in a Passover Seder experience as well as motivate and promote an appreciation for observing and sharing holiday traditions and histories with others in the community.

  • The second night of Passover Seder is an opportunity for family and friends to come together as a community for the telling of the Passover story. Through engaging stories, song and discussion, we retell the story of the Exodus, Crossing the Sea, the story of our people’s journey from slavery to freedom and remember those around the world who struggle with injustice every day. A traditional kosher-for-Passover Seder meal prepared under supervision of the Vaad Hakashrut of Kansas City is served.
  • Passover workshops provide education, resources and sharing of ideas to assist the community in creating meaningful and lively at-home Sederim.
  • Kosher for Passover Seder Meals-to-Go provide the community with the option of purchasing a traditional holiday meal for their home Seder as well as enjoying Passover meals throughout the week.

Jewish Family Services Food Pantry Partner — In response to the ever-growing need for food assistance in Kansas City, congregations hold food collection drives throughout the year including the High Holy Day and Passover drives.

Chai Lifeline’s PROJECT CHAI, the Trauma and Crisis Intervention Department — Trained volunteers serve as first responders and provide “psychological first aid” in the aftermath of trauma when crisis or loss occurs.

Mental Health Coalition Partner with Jewish Family Services — Develops accessible and effective resources for those facing mental health challenges.

Inter-Religious and Inter-Faith Relations

There is great interest and curiosity in the country currently about different world faiths and about the relationship of religious organizations and institutions to civil society and community development. Organizations that were once exclusively Christian may now focus on their Judeo-Christian tradition, or may have become an interfaith organization, open to believers of all faiths. There has always been a need for representative Jewish religious leaders in metropolitan activities and the Rabbinical Association has been a logical place for people to turn with inquiries or requests for rabbinic participation in community affairs. The Rabbinical Association is called upon to participate in interfaith, inter-religious and community betterment activities.

Rabbis participate in numerous projects to promote interfaith understanding and community betterment:

  • Clergy Alliances
  • Support of Civil Rights
  • Mayor’s Prayer Breakfasts
  • Communal Prayer Services and observances (following the September 11, 2001 disaster)

Generous Funding Provided by:

Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
Menorah Heritage Foundation
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
National Center to Encourage Judaism

Featured image above: The Jewish community came together to spiritually prepare for the coming Days of Awe at a special program and service on Saturday night. Following class sessions facilitated by rabbis that focused on the theme: Hillel and Shamai: What We can Learn from Hillel and Shamai: Discord and Unity in Jewish Texts, a beautiful and inspiring Selichot service was led by area clergy and a community chorus. The ritual of changing the Torah covers to one specifically designed for the High Holy Days was led by each congregation’s designated leader. Pictured are Left to Right: Rabbis Alan Londy, Javier Cattapan, Arthur Nemitoff, Jonathan Rudnick, Hazzan Tahl Ben Yehuda, Rabbis Linda Steigman, Sarah Smiley, Beryl Padorr, Jonathan Kleinman, David Glickman, Monica Kleinman, Doug Alpert and Joshua Leighton.