Yom Kippur Dance

The Yom Kippur Dance was one of the oldest – and for years – one of the longest-reigning dances in Kansas City, a tradition that goes back to the early days of BBYO.

The original Yom Kippur Dance actually took place on the evening following Yom Kippur, with the break fast serving as the dinner for the event. The dance was held to honor the past Yom Kippur Queen (also referred to as the “Belle of the Ball”). Two’s would put up seniors as candidates for the new queen. The candidates would sell tickets to the event to raise money for the chapter. The chapter members would vote on the candidates, and these votes, along with ticket sales results, would determine the winner. The practice was so successful that Nordaunian AZA #22 modeled their Matzo Ball after it.

Two’s named Betty Samazin as its first Yom Kippur Queen in 1934. The other candidates included: Marion Bell, Jean Goldberg, Rose Goldman, Ruth Rose, Rose Katz, Lottie Mandelbaum, Millie Miller, Frances Parness and Sylvian Strauss. Over 750 dancing couples attended that event at the Pla-Mor in downtown Kansas City, Mo. According to the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, each of the sweetheart candidates “passed through a large red heart while the spotlight revealed the loveliness of each.” Tickets costs $1 in advance; $1.25 at the gate. Tommy Christian’s Orchestra provided the music for the evening.

“Come early, help choose the A.Z.A. Sweetheart” and give your own sweetheart, even if she’s your wife, a thrill” is the way the dance invitation read.

Sam Gould, who was a member of Nordaunain from 1933 to 1938 said Two’s Yom Kippur Dance and Nordaunian’s Matzo Ball Dance were both widely popular in the Kansas City area. As to how popular the dance was in the those days, he said, “I think it was pretty much a communitywide event. I would say not as much as the Yom Kippur Dance. The Yom Kippur Dance usually got more of a widespread part of the community.”

The dance lasted was held from 1934 to 1983, then brought back on September 20, 1997. It was very much like the original dance with a few minor differences. The candidates were all juniors and sold ads for the ad book in lieu of ticket sales. The Yom Kippur Dance continued until 2003, when Shira Newman was crowned Yom Kippur Queen.

Yom Kippur Queens