Hillel Foundation sponsors traditional Shabbat dinner

More than 100 Kansas University students gathered Friday night at the Kansas Union Ballroom to learn about Judaism.

The first-ever Shabbat dinner, sponsored by the Hillel Foundation, was aimed at teaching fraternity and sorority members about the Jewish faith, though other students also were involved, said Lisa Raschke, associate director of Hillel.

The traditional Jewish dinner, which is a time of reflection, also included a performance by Shiray Shabbat, a musical group that includes KU students, faculty and alumni. After the meal, Jewish comedian Joel Chasnoff performed.

Sara Rubin, above, lights a candle representing day from night, during the Kabalat Shabbat ceremonies. She played host to a table of non-Jewish students who were invited to the event.

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Brain teaser: Hughes quiz, Day 3

This is one in a series of questions to test your knowledge on Langston Hughes, as part of the celebration of his 100th birthday. A new question will appear each day through Feb. 14. Each day’s answer will be posted at langstonhughes.ljworld.com.

3) Which relative of Langston Hughes was killed at Harpers Ferry?

Answer to Friday’s question: Langston Hughes’ grandmother Mary Leary Langston.

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Redistricting: Graves favors district map that keeps Lawrence whole

Topeka Gov. Bill Graves said Friday he would like Lawrence to remain whole in any congressional redistricting plan.

An interim legislative committee, led by Republicans, has voted to split Lawrence between the 2nd and 3rd congressional districts. Lawrence is now in the 3rd District.

But Graves, also a Republican, said he wants Johnson and Wyandotte counties to remain in the 3rd District and for Lawrence to remain whole.

He said he has seen proposals that would put Lawrence in the 2nd District and also preserve Riley and Geary counties in the 2nd.

“It’s not an unreasonable map,” he said.

Lawmakers are redrawing district lines to accommodate population changes recorded by the census.

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Aging: KU Med Center plans studies of state’s elderly residents

Kansas is one of the oldest states in the nation as far as the age of its residents, and Kansas University is at the forefront of trying to figure out the policy implications of that.

Later this year, officials will release Kansas ElderCount, which will provide a county-by-county snapshot of the state’s elderly population and how they are doing.

The project is led by Mercedes Bern-Klug, associate director of community education at the Landon Center on Aging at the KU Medical Center. She made the rounds recently of legislative committees to talk about the project.

The findings of Kansas ElderCount will help lawmakers craft legislation to help seniors and disabled individuals. “We need to understand who the elderly are and their status in order to make sure resources are available for them to care for themselves,” state Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said.

The project’s Web site is www2.kumc.edu/coa/eldercount.