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Vol. 98 No. 50
DECEMBER 9 - 15, 2021
Developer Sydney Engel dies at 98 Carolinas on the technical aspects of radar. “He loved his family. He loved Known for his passion and his wife. They were married for work ethic, Hewlett Harbor resi- 70 years,” Weiss said. “He was dent Sydney Engel had what relentless. If 17 calls had to be grandson Jon Weiss called an made, he made 17 calls. That’s “urgency not seen who he was.” today” to accomWeiss recalled a plish projects and story about his tasks, an attribute grandfather’s that led him to refrigerator, which build two successful he had for 30 years. companies, includHe had paid for a ing one he helped service warranty, found at age 74. and when the unit Engel, who loved broke down, he his family, always repeatedly called worked until the job the company. “He was done and was got a new one, he considered one of c a l l e d s o m a ny the most respected times,” his grandCourtesy Engel family and successful real son said. “He never estate developers of HEWlETT HARBoR stopped. He was his generation, died RESIDENT Sydney relentless, never on Nov. 27. He was Engel was considered gave up.” 98. Engel lost his one of the most Born in Brook- respected and success- mother when he lyn on May 10, 1923, ful real estate develop- was young and his he lived in a housefather was alone, so ers of his generation. hold in such dire he returned home financial straits from the Army in that he and his brother, Arthur, 1942 to care for his father, Louis, shared the one good pair of who had become ill. At the same shoes they had. Even as a young time, he established an insulaman, Sydney took on leadership tion company, which he named roles. He instructed his fellow Army Air Force recruits in the Continued on page 14
By JEFFREy BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
No matches required Cedarhurst Mayor Benjamin Weinstock lit the shamash candle of the grand menorah on Dec. 1, the fourth night of Hanukkah. Story, more photos, Page 7.
JFK Airport synagogue chapel is dedicated to the Poplacks By lISA MARGARIA lmargaria@liherald.com
Rabbi Alvin and Rosalind Poplack, who died within 66 days of each other 10 years ago, were remembered by their children and memorialized by having the chapel of the International Synagogue at John F. Kennedy International Airport dedicated to them at the synagogue’s annual Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 2, the fifth day of the Jewish holiday this year.
The Poplacks’ adult children, Dr. Shana Poplack, who lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Ariel Poplack, of Plantation, Fla., and Miriam Steinberg, of Woodmere, contacted the International Synagogue, which is on the fourth floor of JFK’S Terminal 4, hoping to do something special in their parents’ memory. Rabbi Poplack spearheaded the Jewish chapel’s reconstruction in the 1980s, and served as its chaplain from 1986 to 2002. “It was a labor of love for him,” his
daughter Shana said. JFK is the only airport in the world with four different chapels, including the International Synagogue. The others are Protestant, Catholic and nondenominational. Because Alvin and Rosalind were so involved with the synagogue, a memorial seemed to be the proper way to honor their memory, Steinberg said. The siblings contacted Rabbi Ari Korenblit, who currently leads the International Synagogue, to see Continued on page 17