Kansas City Federation hosts Professionals Exchange with Bulgaria, Romania and Israel

Jewish communal professionals from Romania, Bulgaria and Israel are in Kansas City this week participating in an exchange sponsored by the local Federation. The initiative, now in its second of three years, was undertaken by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and its overseas counterparts in order to bolster the global Jewish community through the sharing of best social service practices and ideas for educational programming.

The professional exchange – which includes delegations of educators, social workers, community planners, and funding partners – is the result of ongoing partnerships established between the Federation and Jewish communities in Romania, Bulgaria, as well as the city of Ramla and the Gezer Region in Israel.

JDC has worked closely with Kansas City organizers to connect with the international communities and create the program.

Last year, a ten-person delegation from Kansas City visited Jewish institutions in Eastern Europe, accompanied by representatives from Romania, Bulgaria, and Israel. This year, participants from abroad are here, taking part in workshops and seminars to share the best ways to help their own communities, leveraging the available financial and human resources. Seminar topics include Jewish education, property management, social work and gerontology, and community building. The group toured Jewish Kansas City, visiting historic landmarks, congregations and agencies.

"For Kansas City to be able to host professionals from these countries with such incredible backgrounds is a dream come true," said Patricia Werthan Uhlmann, Chair of the Federation's Israel and Overseas Committee and JDC Board Member. "It's important to continue the friendships we've made."

The Professional Exchange members are also getting a real taste of the Midwest, visiting the Truman Library and City Hall, where they will meet with Mayor Kay Barnes.

The delegation’s visit prompted coverage by a local radio station. Three members of the Exchange – Zvi, JDC Country Director for Romania; Jorge, JDC Country Director for Bulgaria; and Ilan, Director of the Ramla Foundation for Education, Culture and Development – joined Federation Executive Director Todd Stettner as guests on the KCUR radio show "Up To Date" with host Steve Kraske, a Kansas City Star Columnist.

One highlight of the week was when the group met at Chabad House to assemble Manna Fund food boxes for Jews in need in Kansas City. The Federation established the Manna Fund, a food assistance effort, as a direct result of last year's exchange to Bulgaria and Romania. The program is modeled after a similar effort run by JDC in Eastern Europe and worldwide.

A trip to observe Jewish student life on campus at the University of Kansas' Hillel also proved inspiring. "This Exchange is a model for other communities at a time when meeting overseas needs is so important," Uhlmann said. "It's about mutual learning and friendship, too."