John Lowenstein
John Lowenstein, a former Two’s AZA Aleph, was The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle’s March 1979 “Salute to Youth” honoree. The Chronicle asked him to write a brief reflection of his views on Judaism, the State of Israel, and/or Jewish youth. Below are his views.
By John Lowenstein, Youth Award Honoree
We can make a difference in the world in which we live. The history of the Jewish people is the story of a small group who have had a major impact upon the world. The Romans gave the Coliseum to the world. The Egyptians gave the Pyramids. The Jews contributed ideas and valued. One primary value has always been a concern for others.
Hillel summed it up, “If I am not for myself, who am I? If I am only for myself, what am I?”
Each of us is the sum total of the hopes, the efforts, and the sacrifices of all those came before us. Each of us enjoys the benefits of living in America because of the hardships our grandparents and great-grandparents endured, and the assistance they received. Each of us enjoys the benefits of living in a well-established and secure Jewish community. We have a responsibility to continue the commitment that others have made to us.
The most obvious and practical way that we can join together and combine our efforts to help ourselves and others, is to participate in the Jewish Federation campaign. Whether we assume our responsibility or not, we are all beneficiaries.
Kansas City is a better place for Jews to live in because the Jewish Community Relations Bureau contributes to better understanding between Jews and non-Jews. Kansas City is a better place for Jews to live in because the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy has made it possible for some Jewish families to live here who enrich the educational and religious life of our community. The Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Education Council, the Jewish Vocational Service, the Jewish Family and Children Services, the Jewish Geriatric and Convalescent Center, and Menorah Medical Center each help make Kansa City a better place to live in, for non-Jews as well as Jews.
The Jewish Federation also makes us full partners with our fellow Jews in Israel and in the in the rest of the free world. Federation demonstrated our support for Soviet Jewry, and other Jewish communities who are oppressed.
Recently, Federation has come to mean much more than tzedakah. Today, it is also concerned with social planning for the future. The first example of this in Kansas City is the Shalom Plaza, which is designed to help maintain the independence of the elderly. As a social planning organization, Federation not only is concerned with present needs, but is searching out future requirements.
Each of is a recipient. Each of us has a responsibility to be a participant. Participation means giving our time and energy as well as our money.
We can make a difference in the world we live in!
(John Lowenstein is a former Kohane Godol of Kansas City AZA No. 2)
