Beineinu - Fall 2023

Beineinu

Beineinu… between you and me

The Newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Funded by a grant from The Center Family Foundation

f AhavathAchimSynagogue

l @aasynagogueatl

y Ahavath Achim Synagogue

D www.aasynagogue.org

V 404.355.5222

] 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

CLERGY

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

Rabbi Sam Blustin

Rabbi Neil Sandler Rabbi Emeritus

STAFF

Barry Herman Executive Director

Miriam Habif Gelfond Director of Outreach and Engagement

Annsley Klehr Interim Director of Education

Jackie Nix Director of Community Connection

Lauren Dube Director of Marketing

Chris Carr Director of Facilities

Investigator Joe Jones IV Director of Security

Beth Arnold Helmey Ahava ELC Director

Emily Kessler Serafin Ahava ELC Assistant Director

Catherine Ficke Executive Assistant to the Executive Director

Jill Rosner Executive Assistant to the Rabbis

Stan Vogel Finance Manager

Fern Schorr Receptionist

Wesley Coney Facilities

Anika Johnson Facilities

Ken Johnson Facilities

Marcus Thomas Facilities

Heidi Herman Ahava ELC Administrator

Susan Goff Ahava ELC Bookkeeper

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

Gary Alembik President

Mark Stern Executive Vice President

Josh Hanna Financial Vice President

Barbara Feinberg Vice President

Adam Hirsch Vice President

Nikki Novotny Vice President

Gerry Benjamin Immediate Past President

Beth Friedman Sisterhood Co-President

Sara Papier Sisterhood Co-President

Erin Thaler Ahava ELC President

Ahavath Achim cultivates a Jewish community of purposeful belonging. We inspire and support spiritual journeys by deepening relationships with one another. We believe it is at the crossroads of our spiritual paths that life’s purpose and God might be found.

Ahavath Achim creates a vibrant, inclusive, spiritual community that empowers individuals to connect Jewishly beyond themselves.

AA embraces interfaith families who desire to be part of our Jewish community. Our spiritual community serves all who wish to connect with us.

WEEKLY SERVICE SCHEDULE

CORRECTIONS

We would like to correct the following errors made in the last issue of Beineinu:

(pg. 17) Gary Alembik, Randy Crohn, Jay Empel, Michal Hillman, Bill Nerenberg, Nikki Novotny, Dorothy Rosenthal, and Miriam Strickman Levitas were left off the Interfaith and Inclusion Committee list

(pg. 17) Lousie Baum and The Employee Holiday Fund in Memory of Eva Iteld were left off the Volunteer list

(pg. 19) Cecile Waronker was left off the Chai section of the donor list

(pg. 22) Jay D’Lugin’s name was spelled incorrectly in the Czech Torah Restoration Fundraiser list

5784 High Holidays

The High Holidays are a time that calls for renewal and rededication. We engage in chesbon nefesh, an accounting of our souls, to review our year, check in on our emotional selves, and take stock of the connections we’ve made—with ourselves, with others, and with God. We note those places where we have inevitably fallen short and missed the mark, and we rededicate ourselves to those things that truly matter in our lives. This year, as we return to our beautiful Sanctuary, we delve deep into the idea of rededication, exploring how we might live lives truly in line with our values. We hope that you’ll join us, open-hearted and deeply present.

With the remodel of our Sanctuary finally completed, most services will take place in the Sanctuary. In addition to the main services, we will offer several shorter services geared towards families in the outdoor tent. Children’s programming will run parallel to our main service.

This year, as in recent years, we offer the option to participate in services virtually and in person. If you want to join us in person (for services or children’s programming), you do not need a ticket, but registration is required.

For information about the 5784 High Holidays, please use our online Hub (aasyn.org/high-holidays) as a source for everything you’ll need as you navigate your spiritual experience. You will have access to the live-streamed services on the days of services. We will continue to make updates as new information is made available.

Thanks to you, our holy community, our congregation is on sound financial footing today. Each year, we rely on you to help us sustain the loving and caring community we are creating. We need your help. Please consider participating in our Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign if you have not already done so. You may send in a check or donate online. Thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support.

Wishing you and your families shanah tovah u’metukah—a good and sweet year!

A Message from the President

Rebuilding a Kehila Kedosha

By Gary Alembik

1958, upon the completion of our new home at 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, the following Hebrew words were inscribed on the exterior of our building to the left of our iconic gold doors:

You have likely never noticed these words or the two kufs (ק“ק) that precede the reference to our congregation’s name (םיחא תבהא ק“ק).

The two kufs are abbreviations for the words Kehila Kedosha. Kehila Kedosha is a Hebrew phrase that translates to “holy community“ or “sacred congregation.” In Judaism, the concept of a Kehila Kedosha emphasizes the importance of gathering as a community to support and lift each other up in prayer, ritual, study, and acts of kindness.

When our Peachtree Battle campus was designed 65 years ago, our rabbis and leadership constructed a synagogue that embraced their vision of a Kehila Kedosha. The architecture was modern and grand. The building was planned to have a presence and accommodate a large and growing congregation. The main sanctuary included an impressive bimah (a raised platform) and a beautifully crafted wood and marble Aron HaKodesh (holy ark). The bimah was architected to include limited seating for the clergy and leadership and space for worshipers to congregate to read the Torah and perform Aliyot. The congregational seating was purposefully situated below the bimah. Services were to be led from above, and those in attendance were to participate in the service from below.

When developing the plans for our new sanctuary our Rabbis and leadership set out to create a holy space that is more aligned with the values of today’s Ahavath Achim and our vision of a Kehila

nIKedosha. Our architect was tasked with creating a prayer space that is inclusive, accessible, warm, and inviting. A lower bimah was constructed to bring prayer, Torah, our clergy, leadership, and ritual into the epicenter of our holy space. Our new sanctuary embraces the idea that when our holy community gathers to worship, we gather together as one.

The lower bimah is flanked by two ramps allowing easy access for participants with mobility issues. This bimah is equipped with an adjustable reading table that can be lowered to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The reading table is situated in the heart of our prayer space to invite and encourage participation. Our new sanctuary is furnished with intimate seating that forms a semi-circle around the lower bimah. A wooden ceiling has been installed to complement the sculptured wall relief that surrounds our holy ark. This ceiling was designed to blend the old with the new and to form a tent-like canopy over our prayer space. The opaque skylight has been removed, and the dome has been opened to allow natural sunlight to enter and offer warmth into our new holy space.

Our new sanctuary incorporates all the elements of our vision of a Kehila Kedosha. We have created a prayer space that is warm, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.

As we welcome the new year and you experience our new sacred space, I invite you to take this opportunity to rededicate yourself to your spiritual home and your Ahavath Achim family.

On behalf of your Rabbis and leadership, I wish you a shana tovah and welcome you to our new home!

A Message from the Senior Rabbi

By Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

his year is all about dedication. On the surface, one might think I’m talking about the rededication of our beautiful Sanctuary, Cohen-Kogon Pavilion and Srochi Auditorium. And you are right, I am. You can also roll into all of this the rededication of a sacred Torah scroll that the Nazis planned to display as a remembrance of the lost Jewish civilization but, thank God, instead we are rededicating this Torah to live again among a rich and thriving Jewish community. But the act of dedication is a sacred, holy task I ask you to reflect upon.

Every morning we read Psalm 30 which begins with the words, “A psalm of David, a song for the dedication of the house.“ The writer of this liturgical work offers a vulnerable look into life, its ups and downs, fears and tears, joys and strengths. It ends with a line that stirs my heart:

“You have turned my sorrow into dancing, you have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may sing to You and not be silent.“

When I think about what it means to dedicate our sacred space, I realize it isn’t about bricks and mortar - it’s about singing and dancing. I think about all the dancing that has taken place on the corner of Peachtree Battle Avenue and Northside Drive. I think about all the tears absorbed by the wood of the pews and the cloth of the cushions. I think about the commitments that generations of Atlanta Jews made to provide for the future of Judaism and how their efforts have afforded us the opportunity to raise our voice in song “and not be silent.” I think about the endless stream of children that have run through that building and found their own voices and Jewish souls.

Today, the singing and dancing continues. As our congregation continues to grow, our preschool and religious schools strengthen Jewish children, and as our staff and lay leadership finds new and innovative ways to connect with Jews

Teverywhere—within the building, out in the community, and online—I am in awe of the commitment and dedication of so many around me. They inspire me to work harder, to care more deeply, and to hope more fully. I am dedicated to our sacred community because thousands of people have had their voices strengthened by being a part of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. I’m hopeful and excited for the thousands more yet to come.

Our dedication is more than the opening of a space. It’s about remembering how that space has touched our hearts and emboldened our spiritual journey. As we come into a renewed sanctuary on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to crown God on God’s celestial throne—Kiesay, Ram v’Nisan— may we dedicate ourselves to the bright future of our community and the sacred Jewish work of healing and repairing the world.

Shanah tovah u’metukah—May this year be filled with sweetness, singing, and dancing.

The Rosenthal Family Rabbi Laurence, Brooke, Naftali, Ma’ayan, Ariela, and Avram Eli

A Message from the Rabbi Emeritus

Living a Life of Purposefulness

By Rabbi Neil Sandler

have previously shared with you some of the difficulties I experienced in the initial stages of my retirement. From speeding through the day with few breaks to collect my thoughts when I was a full–time rabbi, I slowed to a crawl with too much time to think. From producing one sermon and column after the other, I began to feel unproductive.

More importantly, I felt a lack of purpose. I could easily write a column (and have probably done so already) about my love for the pulpit rabbinate. I could enumerate the reasons here, but their sum is most relevant as I reflect on this time of year and how it should encourage us to act long after the holidays conclude. The word that comes to mind when I consider the sum of the parts of the rabbinate I loved is “purposefulness.”

The pulpit rabbinate afforded me the opportunity to interact with people in ways that often made a difference to them and me. Hospital rooms, living rooms in homes, my office, the grocery store, and other settings… all of them served as backdrops that contributed to the awareness of my purposefulness.

An awareness of one’s purposefulness can emerge from any setting or a combination of them… work, family life, friendship circle, or volunteer activities. But most of us don’t give the notion of purposefulness much thought. We just live our days moving from task to task.

A truth we must confront (and, I hope, appreciate) is that every single one of us either does or can live purposefully. Even in difficult moments, perhaps with a little help, we can recognize that our lives matter. Each of us makes a difference. The High Holidays, with their focus on ultimate issues, is a good time to reflect on the difference each of us makes to others and how we can gain or reinforce a sense of purposefulness.

IIn our High Holiday services, we will read the familiar words of U’ntaneh Tokef, “Mi yichyeh u’me yamoot—Who will live and who will die.” I have always suggested that we read these startling words in a metaphorical manner. Let me suggest this year that we might read them against the backdrop of my message. “Who will live?“—Will we recognize strands of purposefulness in our lives that we may have missed? Will we create such possibilities wherever possible in our lives now and truly live? “Who will die?“—Will we accept an unchallenging status quo that benefits no one? Will we just live on a numbing “automatic pilot?“

If you need to do so, will you join me in finding/ renewing a sense of purposefulness in your life this year?

Susan and I will be away for the High Holidays this year. I have begun to serve the Fitzgerald (GA) Hebrew Center monthly on Shabbat and the High Holidays. It’s a wonderful and haimish setting that brings me back to my early rabbinate forty years ago.

Susan, Ariel and Jamie, Aliza and Matt, and Josh and Rachel join me in wishing you and your loved ones Shana Tovah—a year of good health and well–being! And because I am a proud Saba, I’ll mention our grandchildren, even if they aren’t yet able to join us in offering you actual blessings— Remi (almost three years old), Avery (six months old), and a native Atlantan who will, God-willing, be born healthy and well by Rosh Hashanah. My cup more than runneth over! I hope yours does too.

A Message from the Executive Director

Launching our Legacy and Endowment Society

By Barry Herman

s has now become usual, sitting down to write this article for the Beineinu caused me to introspect and reflect on the last four years or so since returning to AA as its executive director. It was certainly a challenging situation that I found when I came back, but thanks to the team effort of our leadership, clergy, staff, magnificent volunteers, and YOU, our committed, loyal, and generous community and donors, we have emerged from the challenges of the pandemic with the wind at our backs, presenting a balanced budget for each of those years. Just as importantly, or perhaps even more so, there have been more than $3.5 million in new gifts to our endowment during that period of time. I do not have enough words to appropriately express how inspired and touched I am personally by those families who have shown their love and tangible commitment and faith in the long-term future of our Shul.

While I have presented these facts and statistics in my previous article, it is vitally important to present a balanced and realistic scenario. We simply MUST confront the realities and significant challenges that face our congregation and EVERY non-profit across all faiths, denominations, and causes.

Philanthropic advisors state that if 20% of your operating budget is not from an endowment by 2030 (only a few short years away), your organization will be in a financial crisis. Our current endowment and investments are nowhere near large enough to contribute 20% of our operating budget, even though we are one of the oldest congregations in the USA! To ensure a comfortable cushion that will continue to grow and sustain the congregation through the inevitable peaks and valleys of the economy, world affairs, politics, natural disasters, wars, and a myriad of things over which we have no control, our goal needs be that at least 30% of our operating budget should come from our

Aendowment. Based on research and consultation with those who know our congregation well, I believe a goal of $15 million in new legacy and/ or endowment commitments is realistically achievable in the next two to five years.

In the many years I have had the privilege to serve the AA, so many people I have known for decades have passed on or are now at an age where estate planning has replaced retirement planning! I have seen firsthand that when someone passes, all their contributions to the Synagogue, no matter what the Dollar amount may be, from dues to annual giving and everything else in between is lost, something that not everyone thinks about.

In my frequent daily conversations with our members, almost without exception, they all express that the future and continuity of our beloved congregation is important and indeed critical to them, not only the health and vibrancy of the AA, but also that of the Jewish people. It is interesting to note that some of the largest endowment gifts we have received in the past have come from people we had no idea had made provision for the congregation in their estate planning, many of whom had not been particularly active in congregational life over the years. That fact obviously makes planning difficult! It is personally so rewarding and touching to see that their love for our AA family ran so deep and was so important to them and their loved ones. I never tire of reading the notes, hearing the stories, and feeling the pride and love their families relay to me when informing me of a testamentary gift on behalf of their loved ones.

Here are some of the common themes given as reasons for those gifts:

• A commitment to being Jewish

• To make a difference

• To give back

• To live up to the values instilled by our parents and grandparents

• To make a difference

• To be a part of something greater than themselves

• To be recognized

• To feel connected with others of similar values

• To honor loved ones

• To support the shul because they value what it does for the community.

Continuity of a multi-generational family name

• To secure the financial future of the shul so that the shul will be around for years to come

• To be assured that the shul will always have quality clergy, staff, and resources to serve the community

The goal is to build our endowment and meet the $15 million goal in additional gifts or commitments we have set for ourselves, either through immediate endowment gifts or through legacy giving.

Legacy giving, or planned giving, is a way for philanthropic individuals to support nonprofits, often stipulated in a will. Whether a donor uses cash, appreciated securities or stock, real estate, life insurance, a retirement plan, a donor-advised fund, or another giving vehicle, the benefits of making a legacy gift can be attractive to both the donor and nonprofit, often having tax benefits for both the estate and heirs while also maximizing their gift to charities. Legacy giving is a powerful way to raise funds because many people can make this gift. It’s often the largest gift someone can make. Donors have numerous options for leaving a legacy gift. Most legacy gifts are after-lifetime, costing nothing today.

Endowments can take a variety of forms. Usually, the principal is held in perpetuity and the earnings are used to support a specific cause determined by the donor and often in the name of a loved one or to honor a family name. Many endowment gifts are immediate through cash, marketable securities, and a myriad of other vehicles. Some are the proceeds of a legacy gift as detailed above. Endowments are like an organization’s savings account, while the annual campaign is like a checking account. The AA Synagogue has a separate 501c3 endowment Corporation with its own separate board of directors that operates in consultation with the AA board of directors but independently of the AA Synagogue.

We will relaunch our Legacy and Endowment Society in the next few weeks. The goal is to meet with members of our congregation, get to know what is important to them, and see how we can facilitate the realization of their personal goals. We will make various resources available to help educate people on their options.

In the meantime, I invite you all to join Heidi and me, together with all the others who are already members of our Legacy Society or have already made contributions to our endowment. You can reach out to me directly at 404.603.5746 or bherman@aasynagogue.org.

I am excited and looking forward to helping the Legacy and Endowment committee to secure the future of our beloved and storied congregation who have been and continue to be, forward thinkers, innovators, and thought leaders of the Jewish community.

A Message from the Interim Director of Education

Welcome to Kesher F

By Annsley Klehr

or those of you who don’t know me, my name is Annsley Klehr, the Interim Director of Education, and I am a fifth generation here at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Don’t let that scare you off! It just means that not only did I come through the AA’s Saturday and Sunday School programs, and my children are here now, but I’ve also been around long enough to have many a perspective about our supplementary Jewish Education programs we call Kesher (Pre-K–6th grade) and Nesiah (7th–9th grade).

Curriculum

I am super excited to be here as Rabbi Sam and I have been hard at work. We believe in an emergent curriculum where children’s interests and background help to guide our lessons. It is our job as teachers to listen and give structure to these ideas. We believe in nurturing the whole child and viewing our relationships and interactions with others and our environment through the lens of Jewish values, such as G’milut Chasadim (loving Kindness), Bitachon (safety/trust), Tikkun (repair), Areivut (responsibility), Kavannah (intention), Ma’aseh (action), Tzedek (justice), Avodah (service), Sh’mirah (preservation), and Kavod (human dignity/respect). We create confident and curious Jewish learners in a safe space where they can take risks, question, play, learn, explore, engage, create, make meaning, and love. We foster the child’s sense of Jewish selfdiscovery by providing a nurturing environment where each person can explore and create their own identity.

While we will mostly keep the structure of our mornings from last year, we are introducing a new curriculum designed around the needs of our students and our Jewish values. Students will continue to be grouped in multi-age classes, and to not repeat learnings, we are creating a twoyear curriculum, allowing us to explore a greater variety of topics in more depth. Over the course

of the year, every class will learn in anticipation of the coming Jewish holiday through the lens of the Jewish values of that holiday. In the second year of the curriculum, we will explore a different set of holidays.

Okay, I know you’re wondering what I mean by this. Well, if all the classes are studying Rosh Hashanah for example, our Gan class (Pre-K–K) might study apologies and asking forgiveness, while our Ozrim (helper) class (1st–2nd graders) might explore how we treat each other. The Cosmim (magicians) class of 3rd–4th graders might delve deeper into self-reflection and selfawareness, trying to understand how to inhabit a growth and learning mindset. The Menches of the community (5th–6th graders) begin to learn and understand how to take responsibility and ownership of their actions. We’ll begin the year exploring these themes through the High Holidays, and each year will be divided roughly into four explorations.

Schedule

So, now I bet you want to know how we will make all that happen. Well, you’ll just have to come visit to find out. You are welcome to join us for havdallah, a class activity, hafsaka (break), chuggim (electives), or tefillah (prayer).

• 9:30 a.m.: Drop-Off

• 9:30–9:43 a.m.: Havdallah

• 10:15–11:00 a.m.: Circle Time/Class Activity/ Lesson

• 11:00–11:15 a.m.: Hafsuka Snack/Break

• 11:20–12:00 p.m..: Chug (Elective)

• 12:05–12:30 p.m.: Tefillah (Prayer)

• 12:30 p.m.: Dismissal

L’dor va’dor—We need you!

And speaking of visitors, we are looking for routine visitors to create long-lasting community and intergenerational friendships during our elective period. This is a chance for all ages of friends to explore materials, ideas, concepts, and projects together. If this is something that interests you, please reach out to me at aklehr@aasynagogue. org. If you have other ideas or interests, please feel free to reach out!

We can’t wait to share our year of learning with you!

A Message from the Director of Ahava Early Learning Center

The Great Ahava Synagogue Explore

By Beth Arnold Helmey

This June, the Ahava children and their teachers delved into a two-week study focused on our Synagogue. It was a wonderful exploration fueled in part by the work to transform the former Main Sanctuary into the beautiful and light-filled space it has become! Lots of questions were generated by the explorations through the spaces and by interacting with the Touch Table set up by Ms. Emily. Questions we heard included, “What is a synagogue?“ and “What happens at a synagogue?“ and “Who builds a synagogue?“

Throughout the two-week period, the children explored light and shadow, textures and color, community and connection, scents, and rituals. They engaged all their senses and connected to the spaces and materials in new and different ways. Looking at familiar spaces with fresh eyes and exploring new ways of being in the environment with awe and wonder are a large part of how the children at Ahava connect with the mission and vision of Ahava. Nurturing very young children’s spiritual development and community identity means offering them chances to connect with sacred spaces, traditions and rituals, and spiritual communities in concrete ways. This study was a beautiful way for children to make connections with the space, community, objects, and concepts central to our practices at Ahava! We encourage any members of our Ahavath Achim community to join us in our explorations by volunteering, donating, or just coming in for a tour of our amazing space and thriving Ahava community! We hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

Donations listed below were given between May 12, 2023 and June 30, 2023 and include tribute donations, Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Champaign donations, endowments, Legacy Campaign donations, Czech Torah Restoration Fundraiser donations, and other fund donations. Donations made to the Capital Campaign and Sisterhood are not included. We apologize in advance if anyone was excluded or placed in the wrong donation level.

Chai ($1–$499)

Douglas Adair

Sheryl Adair

Benjamin Adler

Stephanie and Brian Aftergut

Rhona ElizabethAlbrightAlterman

Marty and Richard Alterman

Ellen and Lee Altschuler

Kimberly Anderson

Judith and Samuel Appel

Bonnie Arnold

Julie and Mark Arnold

Harold Arnovitz

Amy Ashe

Frances Astren

Rosalind Aussenberg

Dana and Greg Averbuch

Jane and Herbert Axelrod

Ellen Azrael

Kimberly and Joel Babbit

Bernice Bach

Charlote and Michael Baer

Bette and Philip Balk

Marcia Ball

Claire Balser

Pat and Jack Balser

Elaine Bankoff

Lauren and Ben Barden

Janet Barnett

Linda Baron

Louise and Stanley Baum

Juli and Billy Bauman

Jill Reikes-Bauman and Steve Bauman

Marcia and Emil Baumrind

Cindy and Bruce Becker

Linda and Bruce Beeber

Elaine Beeber

Betty Behr

Gloria Benamy

Carol and Michael Benator

Faith Benda

Elaine Benuck

Renee and Jeffrey Berg

Cynthia Berger and Howard Schulman

Renee Berman

Julia and Terry Bernath

Alfred Bernstein

David Bernstein

Peggy and Rick Bernstein

Goldie and Louis Bertone

Veronica Beskin

Toby Block and Jerrold Greenberg

Lois Blonder

Martha Blondheim

Bitsy Bloom

Matt Blum

Mona Blumenthal

Allison Goldman-Blustin and Sam

Blustin

Amira and Michael Bobrov

Barbara Bock

Rita and Arthur Bodner

Sara and Lance Borochoff

Leigh Boros and Robert Hilliard

Phyllis and Melvin Boros

Marilyn Bravman

Susan Bravman

Ashli Breen and Jon Eisenstat

Margaret and Joel Breiner

Suzanne and Adam Bressler

Helen Browdy

Joan and Donald Brown

Ellen and Jonathan Brown

Linda Brown

Paula and Mark Budnitz

Amy and Adam Caplan

Charlenne and Richard Carl

The Frank Soifer Foundation

Michele and George Fox

Jody and Ramon Franco

Renee Franco

Richard Franco

Genie Freedman

Jane Freedman

Anita and Sidney Freedman

Margaret and Steven Freedman

Elaine

DeedeeCarpChereton

Dawn and Aaron Chevinsky

Mark Coan

Barbara and Alan Cohen

Beth and Don Cohen

Connie and Roy Cohen

Heidi and Jan Cohen

Jay Cohen

Marcy Cohen

Sarah Cohen and Michael Litzky

Susan and Doe Cohen

Terri and Rodney Cohen

Gail Cohn and Harvey Danits

Rachael and Jonathan Colton

V Jan Conway

Eileen and Adolphus Coolik

Estate of Sylvia Cooper

Frannie Spector Coplan

Suzanne Corbett

Myrna and Paul Cott

Evelyn and Milton Crane

Brenda and Stanley Daniels

Andrea Davis and Walter Davis Jr.

Jasha Delfiki

Margo and Douglas Diamond

Linda and Michael Diamond

Susan and James Dichiara

Nancy and Morton Dimenstein

Arlene Doloboff

Harriet and Sam z“l Draluck

Enid and Jerry Draluck

Laura Driscoll

Amy Drooker

Jeanne East

Sara and Brent Eden

Jane and Mark Eden

Lori and Todd Edlin

Sharon Eichel-Torreyson

David Eichenblatt

Suzanne and Seth Eisenberg

Stuart Eizenstat

Judith Ellis

Debra Elovich

Elise and Jay Empel

Marcia Epstein

Carole and Marvin Epstein

Terrry Erbesfield

Linda and Abram Estroff

Sally and Jerry E. Fanburg

Allison and Joel Feldman

Muriel Feldman

Robin Feldman and Chuck Edelberg

Arlene and Stanley Ferman

Diana Fiedotin

Rosi Fiedotin

Mindy Fine

Marc Fink

Michele and Bob Fischbach

Nina Fishman

Rosa Fitterman

Donna and Mark Fleishman

Lori and Jordan Forman

Nancy and Wayne Freedman

Nancy and Stephen Friedberg

Lisa and Tommy Friedlander

Edie and Gus Friendman

Lynn Friedman

Sylvia Friedman

Gloria Frisch

Jane Fryer

Samantha and Eric Funt

Karen and Bruce Galdin

Nancy and Ronnie Galanti

Marianne and Stephen Garber

Naomi and Christopher Gargano

Caryn and Larry Gartner

Barbara Geldbart

Frost-George LLC

Todd Gershon

Suzanne and Ervin Gerson

Maury Gerson

Darriel and Ronald Gerson

Arlene Rosenthal-Gill and Ed Gill

Celia Gilner

Lauren Gilsten

Liza and Michal Gilzenrat

Madeleine and Kenneth Gimbel

Riedy and Stephen Gimpelson

Joshua Ginsberg

Marlyn Ginsberg

Sara and Sandro Gisler

Judy BarbaraGlatzerFriedland Gold

Brandon Goldberg

Elsa and Jay Goldberg

Michael Goldberg

Sarah HersheneGoldberg and Alan Goldman

Marni and Daniel Goldman

Liz and Bobby Goldstein

Eve and Joel Goldstein

Marsha Goldstein and Robert Fine

Elise and Philip Goldstein

Robert Goldstein

Karen and Steven z“l Goldstein

Susan Goldstein

Arnold Goodman z“l

Felice and Philip Goodman

Joy Gordman and Alex Pollack

Jacquelin and Edward Gotlieb

Marilyn Gottlieb

Karen and Oscar Grablowsky

Edward Greenberg

Nancy and Mike Greenberg

Ruth Greenberg

Lynne and Thomas Greenfield

Susan and Leon Gross

Bette and Bob Grossman

Rose and Mike Haber

Wendy Haber

Nancy Habif and Scott Kleber

Sherry Habif

Valerie Habif and Neil Wasser

Charles Hacker

Beverly and Gilbert Halpern

Lynne and Jack Halpern

Steven Hamburger

Meryl Hammer

Fran and Edward Harrell

Natalie and Marvin Harris

Beatrice Hartman

Dorothy and Burt Haskins

Sarah Heckenberg and Donald Heckenberg Jr.

Edna Helfer

Eternal Life Hemshech Inc.

Linda and David Hendelberg

Sheree Henry

Helen Hersch

Andrea and Bruce Hershatter

Lila and Doug Hertz

Amanda and Adam Hirsch

Rae and Bruce Hirsch

Etta Hirsch

Phyllis Hoffman

Gail and Gilbert Holzer

Toby Holzer and Larry Pike

Jane Horowitz Bick

Barbara and Michael Horowitz

Martin and Michael Itzkowitz

Jean and Gary Jackson

Barbara and Steven Jacobs

Arlene Jacobson

Lillie Janko

Raizi Janus Shoop

Aliza and Matthew Jay

Nancy and Joel Isenberg

Daniel Johnson

Mira Josowicz

Susan and Robert Kahn

Roben Kantor and Gregg Smolar

Alan Kaplan

Barbara and Alan Kaplan

Frances M. Kaplan

Gloria and Leonard Kaplan

Anita Karnibad

Estelle Karp

Hazel Karp

Phyllis Levine

Stephanie Levine

Brita and Alvin Levy

Myrtle Lewin

Harriet Lewis

Lori Lewis

Xiaoliang Li and John Israel

Vicki and Robert Lieberman

Naomi and Paul Liebman

Wendy and Steven Light

Barbara Lincoln and Gary Rosenshein

Linda Nathanson-Lippitt and Alan Lippitt

Stephen Chaim Listfeld

Alice Little

Douglas London

Lisa and Hadley Lowy

Lisa and Alan Lubel

Peggy and Llyod Marbach

The Arlene Lipsky Marcus Revocable Trust

Charlotte and Joseph Marcus

Margaret and Gregory Musa

Esther Margol

Mindy and Andy Margolis

Rhoda and Stephen Margolis

Charlotte Marks

Natalie and Robert Marmer

Erna and Lawrence Martino

Julie Ann and John David Mayberry

Suzanne Mazel

Charlotte and Rap McBurney

Berta and Lev Mebel

Robin and Philip Medintz

Lyudmila and Mikhail Melomed

Joanne Mendel

Barbara Michalove

Betsy HarrietMichalove Miller

Cathy and Ronald Miller

Lori and Wayne Miller

Glenda and David Minkin

Susan Moray

Edward Rittenbaum

Karen and Scot Rittenbaum

Evelyn and Orvis Roberts

Flora and Bernard Rosefsky

Harold Rosenbaum

Ann and Charles Rosenberg

Barbara and Ishayahu Rosenblit

Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal

Joanne Rosenthal

Dena Rosenzweig and Richard Grossman

Jill and Robert Rosner

Susan Rothschild

Mark and Anita Rottner

Corrine and Daniel Rousso

Karen Routman

Vivian Rubenstein

Nadine and Barry Rubin

David Saidman

Susan and Gary Saidman

Alice Sanders

Susan and Herschel Saparow

Franeen Sarif

Adrian Sasine

Miriam and Daniel Saul

Karen and Michael Saul

Betty Schaffer

Cathy and Jeff Schaffer

Janet Schatten and Richard Friedman

Harry Scheinfeld

Lou Schloss

Jill and Jay Schlosser

Robert Schneider

Susan and Ray Schoenbaum

Fern Schorr

Jocelyn Schorvitz

Gladys and Robert Schussel

Joan and Alan Schwartz

C. M. Schwartz

Michelle Schwartz

Paula Schwartz

Anne and William Schwartz

Carol and Scott Schwab

Miriam

CatherineKarpand David Kasriel

Jean and Richard Katz

Barbara Kaufman

Megan and Adam Kaye

Jill Kersh

Elizabeth Kessler and Dennis Gilbride

Janet and Paul Kirschbaum

Barbara and Gavin Kleber

Rita and Ronald z“l Klee

Annsley and Benjamin Klehr

William Kleinman

Nancy Klenberg

Lanny and Ricki Kline

Bobbie Knopf

Judy and Martin Kogon

Sara and Ross Kogon

Sandra and Jay Kohlenberg

Sherri and Howard Kohr

Devra and Walter Kolesky

Roslyn and Darryl Konter

Meghan and Todd Koransky

Phyllis Kraft

Cheryl and Russell Kramer

Mark Kresch

Barbara Krinsky

Lori and Lee Krinsky

David Kuniansky

Janet and Hilton Kupshik

Mildred and Martin Kwatinetz

Evan Landis

Audrey and Michael Landy

Alyson and Brian Lapes

Helen Lefkoff and Robert Faulk

Julie and Nate Leibu

Gayle Leitman

Liane Levetan

Deborah and Jay Levin

Nancy and Marshall Levine

Rita and Michael LeVine

Vicki and Steven Morris

Lynne MelanieMoscowNathanson

Sloane and Howard Neiman

Shari Neumann

Dana Neuwirth

Herbert Neuwirth

Sara Fran and Wayne Neuwirth

Judy and JC Newton

Francine Norfuls

Brenda and Leon Novak

Diane and Walter Orenstein

Kenny MarcelleOrkin and Allan Oxman

Lorri and Aron “Chuck“ Palefsky

Hilly Panovka

Sheri and Alon Panovka

Annice Parker

Virginia Parks

Judy Paul

Peggy MarlenePerlingWexler Perlman

Suzzanne and Stephen Phillips

Robert BarbaraPitchersky and Richard Planer

Stanley Pollock

Norma Postnieks

Jana and Harvey Rabinowitz

Lynn and Glenn Rainbow

Lynne Raphael

Vickie and Bruce Reisman

Linda and Howard Reisman

Lois and Alan Reitzfeld

Michelle and Craig Rich

Miles Rich

Shirley Rich

Jennifer and Harvey Rickles

Michelle Rickels

Denise and Frank Rindsberg

Renee and Robert Rinzler

Jill and Joseph Segal

Madolin Seldes

Linda and Stephen Selig

Charles Shainker

Shelly and Howard Shapiro

Marilyn Shaw

Sherry Shaw

Iris and Louis Shemaria

Marsha Sherman

Carol and Jules Sherwinter

Karen and Richard Shmerling

Karen and Brian Shonson

Marilyn Shubin

Betty Ann Shusterman

Linda and Dennis Siegel

Mimi RichardSiegelSiegel

Jeffrey Siegelman

Leah and Paul Silberman Jenner

Eileen and Milton Silberstein

Carla and Arthur Silver

Barry Silver

Leslie and Gary Silver

Susan Silverboard

Sherry and Alan Silverman

Martha and Barry Siverman

Saba and Victor Silberman

Dara Simmons

Tracy Simpson

Joyce and Zale Smilack

Tammy Smith

Bethany and Taylor Smith

Janet Snider

Susan and Morris Socoloff

Rebecca and Michael Sokol

Gail Solomon

Sherri and Moe Soriano

Sarah and M Bradley Soshnik

Rosalind Spector

Nancy and Theodore Spetnagel

Merna and Allen Stein

Bert Stein

Iris and Benjamin Stein

Judy and Stanley Stein

Meryl and Robert Stein

Patty and Donald Stein

Marilyn and Stanley Steinberg

Gayle and Toby Steinberg

Merrill and Michael Stern

Sandi Stine

Judy and Gary Stolovitz

Roz and Steve Strauss

SW Lawncare Maintenance LLC

Nica and Lee Tallman

Emily and Aaron Tanenbaum

Susan and Stanley Tanenbaum

Pat and Jimmy Taratoot

Francie Teitelbaum

Alan Teperow

Betsy Teplis

Louis Teplis

Monica Teplis

Paul Teplis

Jeannie and Bob Tepper

Religious School Donation

Suzan Dollman Tibor

Heather and Mitchell Tonik

Robin Torch

Cynthia Tyler

Joan Vitner

Dena and Stanley Vogel

Bonnie and Bruce Walkes

Cecile Waronker

Betsy ElaineWashWecksler

Lynne LaurenWeiner and David Weinstein

Elle Weinstein

Erica and Mark Weinstein

Aurélie and Randy Weinstein

Reene Weinstein

Alyssa Weiss

Beth Weiss

Goldie Weiss

Cheryl and Michael Weiss

Rae and Ronald Weiss

Aletta and Greg Weitz

Carla and Howard Wertheimer

Adam Wexler

Alan Wexler

Andrew Wiesenberg

Adele Wineburgh

Susan and Jonathan Winner

Karen and Eli Wise

Ruth and Herschel Wisebram

Sara Wishnick

Irene and Alex Wolchansky

Pepi and Alan Wolkin

Honey and Howard Workman

Jane Yates

Judy Zaban

Janis Zagoria

Marvin Zagoria

Brenda and Andrew Zangwill

Barry Zipperman

Leona and Donald Zvitz

Alyson Zontich

Hollie and Barak Zukerman

Jeannette and Michael Zukor

Patron

($500–$899)

Sandy and Davis Abrams

Ann and Herb Alperin

Jessica Arluck and Douglas Ander

Spring Savitt Asher and Tom Asher

Reesa Azar

Karina and Josh Belinfante

Gloria Ana Berenson

Leslie Bloom

Elaine and Jerome Blumenthal

Linda and Richard Bressler

Melissa (Lisa) and Walter Cohen

Jay D’Lugin and Tyler Curtain

Taylor Davis

Helen Scherrer-Diamond and David Diamond

Tzeryl and Eli Ebrams

Norman Estroff

Judith Finkel

Robert Fischbach

Richard Franco

Beth and Jared Friedman

Stacy Blumberg Garon and Jon Garon

Renie and David Geller

Melinda Gertz

Scott Glazer

Kim and Adam Goldstein

Bernard Goldstein

Heleen and Steven Grossman

Helen Hersch

Gladys Hirsch

Rosalie Hirschberg

Kahlil Iny z”l

Tanya and Scott Jacobson

Rachael and Michael Joseph

Rhalda Kahn

Sally and Philip Kaplan

Shelley and Scott Kaplan

Leslie and Marilyn Kelman

Jana and Michael Kreisberg

Amy and James Landrum

Harold Lefkoff

Michelle and Jonathan Lerner

Renay and Alan Levenson

Esther and Michael Levine

Barbara Levitas

Patsy and Bill Little

Sandra and Bob London

Corinne and John Mateyak

Shirley and Alvin Minsk

Jennie and Macy Moret

William Planer

Ann and Morris Podber

Ana and Ryan Posner

Bonnie Puckett

Ryne Raymond

Ruth Reynolds

Lori Rich

Julie and Gary Roberts

Brooke and Laurence Rosenthal

Susan and Neil Sandler

Lisa and Jon Schnaubelt

Joanne Singer

Gary Snyder

Deborah Spector and Jeffrey Victor

Marcia Spielberger

Merna and Allen Stein

Meredith and Marshall Sunshine

Karla Tievsky and Seth Kirschenbaum

Renee Unell

Harold Vrono

Mark Waldinger

Jeffrey Wasserman

Nanette Wenger

Rina Wolfe

Susan and Larry Wolkin

Bronze ($900–$1,799)

Sheila and David Adelman

Dolores Berlin

Diane and Marvin Bernstein

Diane and Harold Cohen

Pamela and Alan Cohen

Stanley Cohen

Barbara and Kenneth Feinberg

Sandi and Gerald Friedman

Frances and Stuart Galishoff

Carolyn Gold

Margo and Lawrence Gold

Marlene and Mark Haber

Sherry Halpern

Caryn Hanrahan and Andy Siegel

Jillian and David Kantor

George B. Kaufman Foundation

Alison and Jeff Kaufman

Lori and Ronald Kirschner

Lana and Richard Krebs

Bonnie and Michael Levine

Miriam Strickman Levitas

Barbara and George Nathan

June and Gerald Neumark

Donna and Philip Newman

Sally and Alan Pinsker

Tally and Stanford Plavin

Ralda and Martin Reish

Barbara and Bruce Ribner

Bonnie and Gary Richamn

Virginia and Milton Saul

Susan and Stuart Schlansky

Julie and William Segal

Debra and Philip Siegel

Tamar and Mark Stern

Mona and Philip Sunshine

Lynn Sussman

Union of Reform Judaism

Mark Weinstein

Neal and Gabriel Yarm

Susan Ellman-Zweig and Arnold Zweig

Silver

($1,800–$2,399)

Lorraine (Cookie) and Fred Aftergut

Diane Bessen and Steven Weiner

Erica and Andrew Cozewith

Paul Feldman

Stacy and Emanuel Fialkow

Barbara and Jay Halpern

Lori and Richard Harber

Marsha and Michael Kalson

Elaine and Alan Kolodkin

Harriet Landau and Nathan Segal

Helaine and Andy Lasky

Ivan Millender

Lori and Stephen Oppenheimer

Sara and Mark Papier

Judy and Alan Schulman

Debbie Smith and Joel Lobel

Sherri and Robert Wildstein

Gold

($2,400–$3,599)

Irene Aronin

Lois and Laurence Frank

Jennifer Glazer-Malkin

Gail and Michael Habif

Sherry and Harry Maziar

Jo Pichulik

Dorothy Rosenthal and William

JudyNerenberg and Allen Soden

Cathy and Richard Swerdlin

Jill and Jeffrey Vantosh

Zoe and David Zelby

Leader

($3,600–$5,399)

Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz

Marlene Gelernter Besser

Susan and Hadley Engelhard

Sharon Funk and Joshua Hannna

Jusy and Michael Orkin

Rebecca and Andrew Zager

Benefactor ($5,400–$9,999)

Judith Alembik

Dorita and Hal Arnold

Carolyn Oppenheimer

Beth and Gregg Paradies

Lynn and Barry Prusin

Betty and Alan Sunshine

Sheila and Larry Wilensky

President's Circle

($10,000–$19,999)

Gary Alembik and Stephen Graves

Ellen Arnovitz and Michael Plasker

Tova and Mark Cohen

Elisa and Robert Ezor

Patricia and Robert Fine

Jimmy and Dale Glenn

Doris and Martin Goldstein

Gail Heyman and Lyons Heyman Jr.

Michal and Jack Hillman

Stuart Harvey Hillman

Ann Kaplan

Nikki Novotny

Rabbi's Circle ($20,000+)

Vicki and Gerald Benjamin

Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein

Sanford Orkin

Donald Reisman z“l

Endowment

Gary Alexander

Vicki and Gerry Benjamin

Adolphus and Eileen Coolik in honor of Max and Helen Kuniansky

Marilyn Ginsburg Eckstein

Sharon Funk and Josh Hanna

Robert Kagan and Paula Sunshine

Ann SanfordKaplanOrkin

Beth and Gregg Paradies

Barbara Schatten z“l

Mona and Philip Sunshine

Ilene Sunshine

Ann and Steven Sunshine

Legacy Campaign

Anonymous (5)

Dr. Jessica Arluck and Dr. Douglas Ander

Vicki and Gerry Benjamin

Tova and Mark Cohen

Stanley Cristol

Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein

Margo and Larry Gold

Betty and Leon Goldstein z“l

Charlotte and Harry Gordon

Steven Grossman

Heidi and Barry Herman

Celia S. and Col. Donald M. z“l Gilner

Ann and Theodore Kaplan Endowment

Fund

Shirley z”l and Ivan Millender

Lori and Stephen Oppenheimer

Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal

Ralph Sacks z“l

Betty Ann Shusterman

Debra and Philip Siegel

Arnold Whiteman z“l

Sherri and Robert Wildstein

Czech Torah Restoration Fundraiser

Torah

Goldstein Family in memory of Betty and Leon Goldstein z“l and their love of Torah and learning

Book

Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Family— Genesis

First and Last Parsha

Ruth Gershon and Sanford Cohen— Vezot Ha Bracha

Sally and Philip Kaplan—Bereshit

Special Parsha

The Alembik Family in memory of Aaron Alembik—T’rumah

Tova and Mark Cohen Families—Noah Bart and Niffy

Neal and Yael

Judith Finkel and Family in loving memory of Paul Finkel—Vayera

Doris and Marty Goldstein—Kedoshim

Nancy and Marshall Levine—Yitro

Nikki Novotny—Va’etchannan

Alice Singer Shapiro z“l and Family— B’Shallach

Cathy and Rick Swerdlin—Lech Lecha

Parsha

Dorita and Hal Arnold and Family

Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz

Jay D’Lugin, MD and Tyler Curtain, PhD—Mishpatim

Elisa and Bobby Ezor—Never Better!

Marianne and Steven Garber

Michal and Jack Hillman

Mark, Sara, Avery, and Micah Papier

Tamar and Mark Stern

Sherri, Rob, Evan and Elana Wildstein

Column

Irene Aronin in memory of Elijah and Nora Rize Wisebram

Ken and Barbara Feinberg

Betty and Alan Sunshine

Sentence

The Herb Alperin Family

Diane and Harold Cohen

Joel and Allison Feldman

Margo and Larry Gold

Liz and Bobby Goldstein in honor of their grandchildren Jordan Goldstein, Reese Goldstein, Taylor Nighbert, and Bryce Nighbert

Karen and Steven z“l Goldstein in honor of their grandchildren Ethan Beasley, Layla Beasley, Lundy Metcalf, Auden Metcalf

Heleen and Steven Grossman

Gail and Lyons Heyman in honor of their grandchildren Ella Godzanker and Zoey Godzanker

Mandy and Adam Hirsch and Family

Helaine and Andy Lasky

Jo Pichulik and family in memory of Louis Pichulik

Ralda and Martin Reish

The Rosenfeld Family: Jennifer, Joel, Nora and Emily

Janet Schatten and Dick Friedman in honor of their grandchildren Sam Schatten, Milo Schatten, and Andrew Schatten

Ariel Singer in loving memory of all her ancestors

Word

Sheila and Dave Adelman

Denise Adelman

Diane and Marvin Bernstein

Linda and Richard Bressler

Stanley J. Cohen

The Fialkow Family

Beth and Jared Friedman

Miriam and Avi Gelfond and Family

Brandon C. Goldberg

Helen and Frank Hahn

Mimi Hall and Russell Gottschalk

Josh Hanna, Sharon Funk and Family

Stuart Harvey Hillman

Bobbie Knopf

Michelle and Jonathan Lerner

Deborah and Jay Levin

Patsy and Bill Little and Sarah Katz

Joel C. Lobel, Debbie Smith, and Family

Janel CathyMargaretta and Ronny Miller

Eric Miller and Judy Marx

Hariett Miller

Lori and Wayne Miller

Annice Parker in memory of Pauline and Alex Parker and Leslie Parker

Angie Perry

Dina Pinsky and Mikael Elsila

Ryan and Ana Posner

Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal

Susan and Rabbi Neil Sandler

Nathan Segall and Harriet Landau

Bethany, Taylor, Holland and Meyer Smith

Allen and Judy Soden

Gail Solomon

Deborah Spector and Jeffory Victor

Marcia A Spielberger

Lynn Sussman and Nate Sussman in memory of Muriel and Al Rubin and Paul Rubin

Nica Hersch Tallman and Lee Tallman

Erin Thaler and Jacob Thaler in honor of the Thaler Family past, present, and future

Erica and Mark Weinstein

Mark Weinstein

Dr. Jonathan and Susan Winner

Letter

Anonymous

Mark and Donna Fleishman

Dennis Gilbride and Elizabeth Kessler

Madeleine and Kenneth Gimbel

Laurie and David Ginburg

Susie and Marc Greenberg

Richard and Marcia Jacobson

Mira Josowicz

The Klehr Family

Janet and Hilton Kupshik

Martin and Mildred Kwatinetz

Peggy and Lloyd Marbach

Barry and Lynn Prusin

Victoria Rashap and Daniel Bani

Barbara and Bruce Ribner in honor of the Aufruf of Rabbi Sam Blustin and Allison Goldman

Rabbi Laurence and Brooke Rosenthal

Jill and Robert Rosner in honor of their grandchildren Jana, Ryan, and Addison

Benjamin and Ava Smith

The Sokol Family

Merna and Allen Stein

Sharon Eichel Torreyson

Stanley, Dena, and Joseph Vogel in memory of Henry and Anna Vogel

Adele C. Wineburgh

Karen and Eli Wise

Rina Wolf in honor of Rabbi Sam Blustin and Allison Goldman