Community Update Regarding Coronavirus

Dear Friends,

Our Jewish community deeply cares about all members of the Greater Kansas City area and is keenly following the daily information about the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

As you are aware, the CDC has issued a recommendation for individuals over the age of 60, and those who might have a compromised immune system, to avoid attending large group gatherings.

Over the coming days, you may begin to see community gatherings and events canceled or postponed. These are difficult decisions, but first and foremost, we must protect the health and safety of our community members. Despite changes in scheduling, all of our agencies and synagogues are dedicated and committed to serving our population. To that end, I am saddened to report that we have decided to cancel the Women’s Seder scheduled for March 29 at B’nai Jehudah. 

We will continue to follow diligently the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) information and guidelines, and we will stay in communication with you regarding any scheduling changes. For now, Federation is assessing daily whether or not to move forward with each meeting/event. We are screening through criteria including: public health guidance, confirmed cases in our area, size of the group, population attending the event, location of the event, and decisions made by other organizations locally or nationally.

In these challenging times, it is good to remember the words of the Talmud Shevuot 39a: kol yisrael arevim zeh le zeh, “all of Israel is responsible for each other.” At Federation, we will continue to seek ways to unite our community against every common threat.

B'Shalom
Helene Lotman, President & CEO