Updated, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday:
Two of the four rabbis killed in a terror attack at a Jerusalem synagogue Tuesday had deep ties to the Kansas City Jewish community.
Rabbi Kalman Levine was part of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s first graduating class in 1976. And Rabbi MoshehTwersky’s nephew teaches at the Jewish school in Overland Park, Kan.
The two men died Tuesday in Jerusalem.
“Both of these men personified Jewish ideals and values and were deeply committed to their families," says Rabbi Daniel Rockoff, President of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City. "They will be deeply missed by their spouses, children and grandchildren, and by the global Jewish community.”
Students at Hyman Brand wrote letters of condolences to Twersky's nephew, Meshulam Twersky, who teaches Hebrew and Jewish studies at the school.
The original post continues below.
A 55-year-old rabbi who grew up in the Kansas City area was among the dead in a terror attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem Tuesday.
Two Palestinians reportedly armed with knives, axes and a gun killed four rabbis, including Rabbi Kalman Levine, in the attack. All the dead held dual citizenships; one was a British-Israeli citizen and three were American-Israeli citizens.
Levine was born Cary Levine and was one of the first graduates of Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Overland Park, Kan. He emigrated to Israel as a young man, where he became a rabbi, was married and had nine children. He is survived by his children, wife and five grandchildren.
His parents Bernard and Joan Levine still live in Kansas City, Mo.
At his funeral Tuesday in Israel, Levine was eulogized as an especially loving, humble and devout person.
He was buried, according to Jewish custom, less than 24 hours after death.
