The fate of the old B'Nai Jehuda building

As was announced in the June 20, 2003, issue of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, the old building of the Temple B'Nai Jehudah at 69th and Holmes was sold for $5 million with the understanding that it would be demolished to build the University Academy Charter School. Congregation B’Nai Jehudah moved to Overland Park at 124th and Nall last year.

On the same page, it was announced that a new reform congregation, Kol Ami, or Voice of My People, was founded to fill the void in the center of the city. This congregation was founded by a group of families who left Temple B'nai Jehudah when they felt disenfranchised by the executive committee. Details were published by The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle in their October 4, 2002, issue. The new congregation hired Cantor Paul Silbersher as their spiritual leader. Michael Shopmaker was elected as the first president during a meeting held on June 12.

A few months earlier another congregation, Or Hadash, was founded by a group of families who had also left Temple B'nai Jehudah. The congregation has similar goals except that it will be the first reconstructionist congregation in the city. Debby Simon was elected as the first president of this congregation.

Rumors are in circulation that a couple of other groups intend to form new synagogues in secret, but those are only rumors now.

In 1979 Rabbi Zedek tried to organize a Russian group at the Temple B'nai Jehudah. His attempt was not successful for many reasons, but in recent years none of the local synagogues wanted to follow his lead.

Maybe it's time to do something for more than 10,000 Jews (including about 1000 Jews from the former Soviet Union) who do not go to any synagogue? And if it is so, who should do it?