Funeral Details

Sarah Small died peacefully on December 25, the Eighth night of Hanukkah. Sarah was born on December 21, 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri to Clara and John Kraft. She graduated from Central High School and graduated from University of Missouri at Kansas City with a B.A. in History and Government, for her freshman year, Sarah attended the Teachers Institute of the Joint Program between Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York, where she studied with many of the leading Jewish scholars of the modern era. In August 1957, Sarah married Mendel Small, also of Kansas City, living in Cambridge, Mass as Mendel completed his degree at Harvard Law School. Sarah worked in a clerical position until Mendel graduated. The couple returned to Kansas City where Mendel began the practice of law and Sarah taught middle school in Shawnee Mission School District. They began a family, raising sons David and Michael at their home on Walnut Street. Sarah transitioned from public school teaching to child rearing and professional and voluntary service at Beth Shalom Synagogue and with National Council of Jewish Women. Sarah served as Beth Shalom Sisterhood President where she introduced the Bat Torah program of study. After teaching for many years, she became Educational Director. She also served as Chairperson of the Ritual Committee Board Member and President of Beth Shalom. Sarah worked closely with other lay leaders and the Rabbis and staff of Beth Shalom. Over forty-six years of loving and loyal marriage, Sarah served as a devoted support to Mendel and to her mother, Clara Kraft and many elderly family members. Their home was a hub for hundreds of meals and gatherings for family and friends, and as family members aged, Sarah supervised their personal needs and care. When her sons were in high school and college, Sarah earned a PhD in Education Administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She then established the Center for Academic Assistance - her own business, offering tutoring and coaching to students in general studies and bar/bat mitzvah preparation. Sarah then worked in the Shawnee Mission School District where she created and directed the International Marketplace, an innovative Social Studies program of immersive experiential learning. In retirement, Sarah traveled the world, visiting nearly every country in Europe, Russia, the Caribbean and Canada and Israel. Sarah loved learning and attended programs of adult study in the US and abroad and flew to family simchas (celebrations) from coast to coast. Sarah was a beloved and respected grandmother to her six grandchildren: Aliza, Arielle, Rachel, Gabrielle, Sharone and Ilan. After Mendel’s passing in 2003, Sarah moved to Deerfield, Illinois to be closer to Michael and Sheila and their children and within close reach of David and Debbie in Connecticut and her friends and family in Kansas City. In Chicago, Sarah was active in Hadassah and served as a docent at The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, offering tours and instruction to school groups. She developed a wide circle of friends of many ages and spent many hours with her grandchildren. Sarah was respected for her intellect, scholarship, and leadership. Always genteel and never raising her voice, Sarah earned the admiration and affection of many of the people she met. Jewish life, learning and observance were deeply important to her. Sarah maintained a kosher home, lit Shabbat candles, and belonged to and attended synagogue throughout her life. She is cherished for her thoughtful ways, her dry humor, her good counsel, her good taste, zest for life and her grace in challenging times. Sarah was predeceased by her beloved husband, Mendel Small, and her brothers, Simon Kraft and Jacob Kraft. She is survived by her sons, Rabbi David Small and his wife Debbie Chameides of West Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Small and his wife Sheila Small of Deerfield, Illinois, and six grandchildren: Gabrielle Small and her husband Eyal Salomon, Sharone Small, Ilan Small, Aliza Small and her partner Dean Antonio, Rachel Small and her fiancée David Tramonte, and Arielle Small. Shiva information may be found at www.chicagojewishfunerals.com. Donations in memory of Sarah may be made to: The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-4650 US, www.jtsa.edu; Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, 67 E Madison St Ste 1905, Chicago, IL 60603, ramahwisconsin.com, Hadassah, 40 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, www.hadassah.org; or a charity of your choice. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com