WHAT MAKES US KVELL
An Awesome Responsibility
By Jordana Levine, President
Shana Tova! I am excited and thrilled to be writing my first letter for our Shema magazine as temple president. My husband, Stan, and I joined Temple Beth-El more than 22 years ago, after our daughter, Ayden, was born. We thought it was important to find a spiritual home; and after calling some local synagogues, we visited TBE and immediately felt like we belonged here.
I jumped headfirst into signing up for committees and found many ways to get involved. I didn’t heed my friend’s advice when she bought me a mug that said, “Stop me before I volunteer again.” Stan has also found many meaningful ways to get involved at Beth-El, and our connection to the temple has played an integral part in our lives throughout the years.
I am the first generation in my family to be born in the U.S. I grew up with stories of WWII, the incredible losses my family experienced and the sacrifices made to survive and then thrive. Central to those accounts was the importance of being Jewish and living Jewishly. A deep sense of pride and a love for our faith, our culture and our people were instilled in me. This affinity, coupled with my family’s experience, has propelled my commitment to be involved in Jewish life from an early age.
When I was asked to accept the honor of becoming temple president, I had a rush of emotions. I was so appreciative that people had enough confidence in me to take on this awesome responsibility. Additionally, we are very fortunate to have a long line of incredible past presidents.
Each is exceptional, thoughtful, dedicated and truly extraordinary—and to be in their company is a blessing.
I hope to live up to the work and leadership that each of them exhibited throughout the course of their presidency. Though I certainly was nervous when I agreed to take on this role—I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be—I am so full of pride and love for TBE! The members, our clergy, the Jewish principles that shape and guide us, all of this fills me with purpose and a desire to lead our congregation as we move onward.
I look forward to what’s ahead, and I invite you to reach out and connect with me at jlevine@tbegreatneck.org if you have any questions, want to share your ideas or just to grab a cup of coffee.
RABBI
A. Brian Stoller
ASSISTANT RABBI
Megan Brumer
CANTORIAL SOLOIST
Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry
RABBI EMERITUS
Jerome K. Davidson, DD
RABBIS EMERITI
Meir and Tara Feldman
CANTOR EMERITA
Lisa R. Hest
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stuart Botwinick
DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Karen Wasserman
OFFICERS 2024–25
PRESIDENT
Jordana Levine
VICE PRESIDENT
Sheila Aronson
VICE PRESIDENT
Joanne Davis
VICE PRESIDENT
Gary Kesner
VICE PRESIDENT
Barbara Podwall
VICE PRESIDENT
Danna Sobiecki
TREASURER
Matthew Moshen
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Julius Myer
SECRETARY
Randi Weiler
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Gary Slobin
Ronald M. Epstein
Leslie Abrams
Franklin S. Abrams
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2024–25
Andrew Aaron
Sheila Aronson
Doug Bernstein
Joanne Davis
Gary Kesner
Larry Khazzam
Stuart Lempert
Jordana Levine
Matthew Moshen
Julius Myer
Barbara Podwall
Philip Ross
Michael Sanders
David Schwartz
Danna Sobiecki
David Sutin
Grant Toch
Randi Weiler
TRUSTEES EX-OFFICIO
BROTHERHOOD
PRESIDENT
Sandy Caplan
SISTERHOOD CHAIRS
Sandy Lubert
Rochelle Rosenbloom
Jennifer Still-Schiff
PAST PRESIDENTS
Marjorie B. Kurcias
Stephen G. Limmer
Roger Tilles
Shelley M. Limmer
Franklin S. Abrams
Nina Koppelman
Leslie Abrams
Ronald M. Epstein
Gary Slobin
HONORARY
VICE PRESIDENTS
Howard J. Herman
William K. Peirez
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Jacalyn F. Aaron
David A. Cantor
Ann Finkelstein
Alan Greene
John Hirsch-Leiman
Shari Isacowitz
Gloria Landsberg
Jerry Landsberg
Gayle Monaster
Linda Rice
Amy Spielman
SHEMA
Sheri ArbitalJacoby, Managing Editor
Leslie Abrams and Howard J. Herman, Proofreaders
Hallie ArbitalJacoby, Designer
Leave Your Legacy Cover art from top: Albert Einstein, Bess Myerson, Gloria Steinem, Douglas Emhoff, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandy Koufax, Joan Rivers and Henry Kissinger. Designed by Hallie ArbitalJacoby
WI
Am Proud of Our Worship Team. Let Me Tell You Why.
By Rabbi A. Brian Stoller
e are heading into the High Holidays this year with the most outstanding clergy/worship team I have ever worked with! I am overflowing with pride and energy about collaborating with Rabbi Megan Brumer, Cantorial Soloist Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry, Accompanist Shy Kedmi and Choir Director Dr. Pam Levy, and I would like to tell you a little about why.
As I hope you know by now, Rabbi Megan is a delightful, pleasant and caring person. She is passionate about children and youth education; and during this past year, she led a dedicated team of congregants in imagining and designing our new religious school, The Kehillah Project.
In this innovative new program, our children will build friendships, take field trips to learn about and experience Jewish life around the New York area, and participate in social action projects to help the broader community. Rabbi Megan is also a collaborative, hardworking team player whom everyone on our staff can count on. We are blessed to have her in our community.
Our musical team—Stephanie, Shy and Pam—is combining to take music at TBE to a new and impressive level. Stephanie joined us as our cantorial soloist in May and made an instant splash with her joyful and energetic bimah presence.
An extremely talented and highly versatile musician, Stephanie has enhanced our musical experience not only with her passion and charisma in singing traditional liturgical music but also by introducing powerful selections from musical theater, cinema, jazz and other genres to add texture and dynamism to our prayer services.
Stephanie is not only creative and diligent in her preparation, but she is also a wonderful colleague and a genuine joy to work with.
We have enjoyed Shy’s majestic piano playing for nearly a decade; but these days, Shy is displaying his musical genius at a
whole other level. As a full collaborative partner in our worship team, Shy plays an integral role in envisioning, planning and leading our High Holidays and weekly Shabbat services.
As a well-established musician on the New York scene, Shy leverages his expansive network of musical talent and resources to elevate the work we do together and enhance the musical experiences we deliver to our community.
When Shy and Stephanie get in the room together, her amazing voice and his brilliant work on the ivories combine to make magic and transform our prayer services into genuine spiritual adventures. Shy also spearheaded our choir-director search last spring and, together with a group of choir members, successfully brought Dr. Pam Levy to our congregation.
As the newest addition to our team, Pam is key to our musical vision for TBE. She brings not only a deep mastery of music acquired through her training at Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music but also a personal warmth, humility and an incredible ability to teach people of any (or no) musical skill level to find joy and inspiration in singing.
Her work with the choir in preparation for the High Holidays and conducting them during the services will elevate and beautify the experience this year for choir members and congregants alike.
Like Rabbi Megan, Stephanie and Shy, Pam is also a creative and collaborative team member who is willing to do what it takes to help our choir be the best it is capable of being. She has blessed countless students at Great Neck North High School with her caring and inspiring instruction, and I know she will do the same for us at TBE.
As we begin the New Year, we should all be kvelling with pride about our TBE worship team. Our cup is overflowing!
As we begin the New Year, we should all be kvelling with pride about our TBE worship team.
Strengthening Our Youth and Family Programming
By Rabbi Megan Brumer
When thinking about kvelling, the first thing that comes to mind is how my parents talk about my sisters and me to every person who will listen, even if it means embarrassing us. Kvelling means being so proud of something that you just want to talk about it over and over again.
During this past year, there are so many things to be proud of here at Temple Beth-El. We have expanded our youth programming, strengthened the bridge between our Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) and the synagogue, created The Kehillah Project from scratch and so much more.
Looking back on my goals for the year, I hoped to get to know you and your family, bolster our youth and family offerings and develop the best religious school program, created by our families for our families. I think I reached— and exceeded—those goals.
I have loved getting to know each of you, hearing about your family and your hobbies, and spending time with you during onegs, at the baseball game and around the temple. I can’t wait to learn even more about you and your family as we navigate the future of TBE together.
Our youth happenings have expanded with the addition of fun family recreational gatherings like movie nights and art nights, as well as with meaningful social-action events such as a Midnight Run and a park cleanup. I am thrilled to keep working with both my Young Family Committee and Teen Family Committee to create even more youth experiences and invigorate our young community.
This fall’s launch of The Kehillah Project will certainly enhance our youth community. Our Religious School Working Group, led by Joanna Stolove and Jennifer Still-Schiff with significant contributions from Kasi Bowen, Ethan Brown and Michael Freeman, has worked tirelessly. After speaking with and listening to parents about their needs, this group incorporated those specifics while imagining and developing a customdesigned curriculum specifically for our community. I am so excited to learn and explore with our TBE students, helping them navigate their Jewish journey while creating a lasting connection with our temple. We have also renewed the bond between the ECEC and TBE. One of my favorite weekly activities, if not my absolute favorite, has been singing with our preschoolers. Each week, I have had the opportunity to go into the classrooms and sing and dance with our students, teaching them new Jewish music as well as silly movements songs. Our clergy also leads Shabbat Sing in the Rudin Chapel every week, where we sing, dance and welcome Shabbat together.
These and other events have made for an amazing year, and I can only imagine what new, inspiring developments will transpire in the coming year. I am eager to expand upon everything we’ve been doing and take it one step further. I look forward to working with our families and lay leaders to continue strengthening our programming here at TBE, so we have even more to kvell about next year.
Singing with TBE’s preschoolers is one of Rabbi Megan’s favorite weekly activities.
To Your Kvell-being!
By Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry
How perfect that my start as the cantorial soloist at Temple Beth-El coincides with Shema’s theme on kvelling! I have been kvelling over music since I was a little kid singing Whitney Houston and Cyndi Lauper songs into a hairbrush. Rumor is I could sing my Shabbat prayers at age three, though I cannot confirm as I do not remember. What makes me kvell the most is when people come together to make music. I love being a musician, because most musicians are great at collaborating, listening and reacting calmly “on the fly.”
One of my favorite memories of this is when I was waiting to go on stage to sing while an amazing student violinist was playing along with a track. At the same time, a band was setting up their instruments on another part of the stage in preparation for their performance which was scheduled after mine.
During the violinist’s song, his track glitched and completely stopped. Ever the young professional, he continued playing and was determined to finish the song a cappella (without accompaniment).
Moments later, the drummer of the band setting up hopped on her drum kit and proceeded to play the beat for him. Soon after, the bassist jumped in to hold down the base of the chords. Pretty soon, the entire band improvised the rest of the song; and the violinist was able to give a truly memorable performance. I was just sitting on the side kvelling, because I was able to be in the presence of such sharp, talented and generous individuals. I then did my short set, and the band started.
People really are capable of so much magic when we work together.
On my way out, I realized that I knew the backup part to the song their lead singer was performing. Having met the lead singer, I knew she was truly one of these collaborative people; so, I decided to take my mic back, turn it on and harmonize with her from off stage.
This was risky—and I would never have tried this if I hadn’t met her first—but it ended up being so much fun. She told me later that she felt the voice of a little guardian angel backing her up, and she loved it. We have been friends ever since.
Another musical kvell memory is one from high school. I was lucky enough to participate in All-Eastern Honors Chorus, and our concert was held at Carnegie Hall. We sang a particularly transformative song that I still love to this day, Morten Lauridsen’s O magnum mysterium
Our conductor told us that coming together in harmony, when done right, would make us feel like we were collectively levitating. He told us that if, at any point, we felt like that during the song we should take off our shoes and hold them up because we wouldn’t be needing them anymore.
During our few days of rehearsal, the piece got better and better until the day before the concert when we all knew we really had it.
By the end of the piece, the entire ensemble of at least 200 stood there holding up our shoes! It was a magical moment, because we knew that together we had just created magic out of thin air.
When it came time to sing the melody on the Carnegie Hall stage, the administration begged us not to do this—regardless of how good it sounded.
All of us complied, except for one kid in the tenor or bass section. To the audience, he must have looked totally crazy but the conductor let them in on the secret.
It was truly difficult getting through that piece without weeping from the kvelling! People really are capable of so much magic when we work together. Music taught me that.
I look forward to kvelling over music and simchas throughout the year at Temple Beth-El.
Possibilities at Every Turn
By Karen Wasserman, Director of the Early Childhood Education Center
As Temple Beth-El’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) looks ahead to another exciting school year, we reflect on how springtime was an exceptional gift for our entire preschool community.
Growth, change and possibilities were observable at every turn. The warm weather enabled our students to freely explore the playgrounds and nature with greater delight and self-reliance.
During the year, our preschoolers’ confidence was bolstered through thoughtfully designed classroom experiences, which empowered them with countless learning opportunities, deeper connections to their environment and their peers, and satisfaction in having acquired more physical strength and social-emotional resilience.
Through steadfast and measured guidance, our teachers delivered appealing and developmentally appropriate opportunities to enrich our youngsters. With the children’s growth and sense of wonder about the world around them visible, the entire school was buzzing with fresh energy.
Community was created within each classroom, among the families and as a temple school. Everyone savored the final days of school together, and our teachers were so proud of their young charges.
The words of songwriter Natalie Merchant’s “These Are Days” filled my head: “These are days you’ll remember. Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. And as you feel it, you’ll know it’s true. That you are blessed and lucky…and touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.”
The ECEC teachers are grateful to everyone in our Temple Beth-El community for having taken this past year’s journey with our children and ECEC families, and wish you all warmth, light, peace and laughter in the new year.
As this school year begins, we look forward to another term filled with possibilities and wonder. ▶
Students participate in a variety of activities to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut.
Going down the slide is always a favorite playground activity.
1) Little ones are captivated by petting zoo animals. 2) Children express their pride by waving homemade flags on Israel’s Independence Day. 3) Preschoolers revel in the wonders of nature. 4) Future scientists study caterpillars under magnifying glasses. 5) Worshippers add notes to their handcrafted Kotel. 6) Parents help create meaningful messages to place on The Kotel. 7) Face painting adds fun to Yom Ha’atzmaut festivities.
Building, Creating and Learning
By Rabbi Megan Brumer
Throughout this past year, our families with young children have gotten to know each other while participating in various fun, artistic and enlightening activities. We hope you will join us in the coming year as we continue offering opportunities for entertainment, creativity and enrichment. We especially hope our entire temple community will take part in our unique new religious school and share information about our programs with your young neighbors. ▶
Temple families remove trash from the stream as they clean up Whitney Pond Park.
ECEC and other TBE members with young children enjoy getting to know each other at Family Art Night.
Building a Cleaner Future
Our temple families came together this past April at scenic Whitney Pond Park on Northern Boulevard to care for our environment by cleaning up the grounds. Although it was raining when the event began, the weather cleared up and the afternoon wound up being gorgeous as the group beautified the property.
Participants collected trash from the stream banks, accumulating two sizable bags filled with baseballs, tennis balls, plastic bottles, Styrofoam and other garbage. The students gained a valuable lesson about what it means to actively work to ensure a cleaner future.
Creating Art and Community
The Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) and young families socialized in May during Family Art Night. After eating dinner, participants completed a variety of artistic endeavors, including painting canvases, molding clay and painting tiles.
Our temple families were able to interact and get to know each other through the shared medium of art, as they created community and bridged the gap between our ECEC and the temple community.
Learning in a New Way
We are all so excited for The Kehillah Project, our new Temple Beth-El religious school program. The Kehillah Project will be quite different from anything our students have previously been exposed to, as we focus on community throughout our program day.
On Sunday mornings, instead of simply dropping off their child, families, along with members of the larger TBE community, are invited to join the students and teachers in song and prayer for the first 30 minutes.
The program will be comprised of interactive components, learning and student-led prayers. One week, participants might focus on one prayer; the following week, they may focus on a different one, so students can truly learn and understand prayer together.
With input from our religious school families, innovative programming has been thoughtfully designed to engage, enrich and enhance our children’s Jewish identities. Interesting modules will include Hebrew Through Movement, a Tikkun Olam Shark Tank competition, learning about Israel through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and much more.
We believe in the importance of teaching through many approaches, allowing students to figure out how they best connect to Judaism and how Judaism can be incorporated into everyday life.
The Kehillah Project is planning to incorporate quarterly off-site trips that will allow its learners to be participants in the broader community. Attendees might visit Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation to interact with its residents or spend time at a Jewish museum to find out more about our history.
Learning beyond the classroom will allow students to engage differently and expand their understanding. We hope you will join us throughout the coming year as we shape this new program together.
Kvelling Over Our Teens
Compiled by Sheri ArbitalJacoby
DAVID KAGAN
Olga Kagan’s son, David, has been running a small business since he was 14. He teaches cooking classes, and every summer he bakes and sells homemade goods at area farmers markets, mostly in Great Neck. Often, he donates a portion of the proceeds to causes like food allergies, cancer and poverty, as well as to local groups such as the Great Neck South High School robotics team and students in need at Great Neck North High School. David also participates in his high school’s business club, DECA, for which he’s made nationals two years in a row. The multitalented teen recently sang “Hatikvah” at a TBE event and performed at Carnegie Hall with HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir and at Queens College with Shireinu Choir of Long Island.
NATHAN VERKMAN
BRUCE FIELD
Before beginning University at Buffalo this fall, Francine Silver’s son, Bruce Field, was in the final steps of becoming an Eagle Scout as he graduated from high school.
When Gabby Verkman’s son, Nathan, was a sophomore at Great Neck North High School, his concern about gun violence led him to participate in the Religious Action Center Teen Justice Fellowship. After joining teens from all around the country for weekly sessions regarding gun violence via Zoom, he completed a project during which he provided statistics on gun violence involving minors and spread the message by encouraging local children to decorate baseball hats with words and art promoting gun violence prevention.
Meet Our Cantorial Soloist
By Sheri ArbitalJacoby
Cantorial Soloist Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry joined Temple Beth-El’s worship team this past spring. Learn about this classically trained musician and lifelong participant in Long Island’s Reform Jewish community in the following interview.
Please share a little about your upbringing and how you have participated in Long Island’s Reform Jewish community.
My mother was raised in an Orthodox household. Knowing that she had two daughters as a single mom (for a while), she knew she wanted to give us a Jewish education in which women were treated as equals. Reform Judaism was the natural choice.
My parents chose Suburban Temple, now Temple B’nai Torah, in Wantagh—and I am so glad they did. I had a wonderful experience there. I met friends who I still keep in touch with, and I was introduced to Jewish music with the great mentorship of Cantor (now Rabbi/Cantor) Arlene Bernstein. This was my first interaction with a real powerhouse, classically trained singer. She convinced me to join the temple youth choir, where I learned how to sight read, and she encouraged me to stay with music and voice study. I mainly stayed in Hebrew high school as long as I did to see my friends and to continue working with her.
Since college, I have made it a point to sing in temples whenever I could. One of my first professional gigs was singing during the High Holidays at a synagogue in the suburbs of Boston. I did a special set of Sephardic music in my graduate school recital. Soon after completing my master’s, I accepted my first cantorial solo position. The rest, as they say, is history.
What sparked your interest in music? Music was always a part of my household. My biological father was a self-taught musician and songwriter/composer, one of each of my sets of grandparents had sung in their youth and everyone loved to encourage me to sing and dance along to everything from classic musicals to Cyndi Lauper and The Commodores.
I knew that I wanted to sing and perform since I was about four years old. I remember watching the kids in the Annie movie or on the Disney Channel and thinking, This is easy and fun work, I am going to do this. Little did I know there was much more to it than that, but I always had the spark of devotion. I still carry that with me even now.
Why did you choose to channel your love of music into becoming a cantorial soloist?
I love so many styles of music, and I love how Jewish music spans almost all those styles. I am in awe of the strength and agility of the cantors of old, and I also love the music coming from temples in the last few decades. Jewish composers are some of the best in the history of the world, and it is an honor to sing their music. One of the biggest honors is to sing prayers and songs like Kol Nidre and L’chi Lach. What a way to communicate to the community!
Where did you study music and in what areas did you focus?
I received my Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam,
New York, where I focused on classical voice performance and music education. My Master of Music is from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, in vocal performance.
You’ve been a cantorial soloist in Reform congregations for more than 10 years. Please tell us about that. My first position as a cantorial soloist was for the Falmouth Jewish Congregation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I originally saw the position posted on a job board for my school and its alumni. It was posted by one of my classmates who went on to become a full-time cantor. I asked a close friend who was a student at the time and also went on to become a cantor if she felt I would be qualified, and she encouraged me to send them an application with a demo recording. She even gave me some High Holidays pieces to learn.
Shortly after, I was asked to take the trip to meet them—and I got the job! I was lucky enough to sing at the High Holidays there for about seven years. After that, I was the lead singer in a temple band here on the Island, and I have been a substitute for cantors in the New York area—even once right here at Temple Beth-El.
You have sung in a variety of settings and styles, from opera and musical theater to participatory congregational worship. What are some of your favorites?
I am a total music nerd. At this moment, I love the new music coming from recording artists such as Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. I also love an expressive and vulnerable showtune or a nuanced and complex jazz song. Lately, I am obsessed with this Kurt Weill setting of the kiddush, as this seems to marry all the good stuff together. You can listen to this stunning arrangement at https://youtu.be/HfRBd2BSQhQ.
How exciting that you won Classical Crossover Magazine’s Classical Crossover Star 2023 competition! Please share a little about that experience—how did you get involved and what did you perform?
As a singer who is a “jack of all trades,” I didn’t like participating in competitions that focused on one specialized style, so I hadn’t competed in many years. I have always considered myself a crossover singer, as I use my vocal technique and apply it to different styles. I saw this competition posted on a classical singers’ forum and my eyes widened. I had been promising myself that I would submit for more opportunities, even if it seemed scary.
I decided to use it as an excuse to write a piece, as I did not see any other songs that I felt were truly authentic to me at the time. I wanted to write a song about not being grandiose and elevated, even though classical/crossover music is often very much like that. I wanted to tell people that they were deserving of wonderful things even when they were not at their best and most prepared.
I wrote a piece called “Broken and Blessed,” along with a songwriter friend. We were not quite finished with it on the due date, so we decided to just do an
audition cut of it and complete it later. I made a video and sent it in. I was able to make it to the semifinals and then the finals. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I was very taken with a lot of the performances I saw there.
For the finals, I was asked to sing “a Christmas song.” I knew that this was a part of the finals; but first of all, I never thought I would actually make the finals; and second, I figured I would just come up with a fun Hanukkah song. This, however, was in the fall after the October 7 attacks. How could I just sing a fun Hanukkah song as if nothing was different? Everything was different and there was no song for this.
I decided to write a second piece entitled “Under the Same Sky.” I needed to process what I was feeling and make some sense of a way to move forward—or at least my way forward. I was very happy that the song was well-received, and I was able to win the competition. I am very grateful for the experience.
What are you looking forward to at Temple Beth-El?
I really look forward to working with Rabbi Stoller, Rabbi Megan, Shy [Kedmi, the piano accompanist] and Pam [Levy, the choir director]. I love our energy together so far.
Please tell us a little about your personal life and what you like to do when you’re not in temple. I love being a new homeowner. I know it’s a lot of work, but I just love that we have a space of our own to make into whatever we want. I love hanging out at my house with my husband and two cats, Jewels and Diamond. It may sound boring, but the house is filled with love and laughs so it’s never a boring place. I love to hang out with my mom and sister on weekends whenever we can, and I have an amazing group of friends.
What would people find surprising about you?
I love to dance! I love Zumba, belly dance and Latin ballroom. I love making jewelry and crafts. Basically, I enjoy anything artistic and creative. Also, I still know a disproportionate amount of rap lyrics from the early ’90s. Don’t quiz me. OK, quiz me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I am very happy to be singing for the congregation this year! Everyone I have met has been so welcoming and great. I love to hear suggestions of what you would like to hear in services, as I am here for you.
Congregants sing and dance along with Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry at her first official Temple Beth-El service on May 31.
By Sheri ArbitalJacoby
TJEWS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD
hough comprising a mere .2 percent of the global population, Jews continue to generate significant impact, enhancing just about every possible aspect of our current existence. Be inspired by some exceptional individuals who have elevated our expectations about what can be accomplished when we're determined to achieve the impossible.
Among these marvels are several Nobel Prize winners. Given our minuscule population, remarkably, an impressive 22 percent of all recipients have been Jewish.
The following innovators represent firsts in almost every field. They have changed our lives with medical, technological, political, athletic and artistic advances. In imagining the unimaginable, they persisted with their passion, altering our everyday lives forever.
From remote controls to mobile devices, camera phones and computer processors, these members of the tribe have influenced our daily productivity—and we couldn’t navigate our modern world without their contributions.
Robert Adler (December 4, 1913–February 15, 2007), an AustrianAmerican inventor who worked for Zenith Electronics and held numerous patents, developed early sound-based wireless remote controls for televisions, which were the standard for 25 years.
Ralph Baer (March 8, 1922–December 6, 2014) was a GermanAmerican inventor, game developer and engineer who conceived the idea of playing games on a television screen around 1966, working through several prototypes until he arrived at a Brown Box that later became the blueprint for the first home video game console, licensed as the Magnavox Odyssey.
David Ben-Gurion (October 16, 1886–December 1, 1973) was the primary national founder of the State of Israel and its first prime minister.
Evelyn Berezin (April 12, 1925–December 8, 2018) designed the first computer-driven word-processor and developed the first automated airline reservation system for United Airlines— one of the largest computer structures of the time which controlled a 60-city communication network and had a onesecond response time—as well as the first computerized banking system.
Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888–September 22, 1989), called the greatest songwriter who ever lived, wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 20 original Broadway shows and 15 original Hollywood films, reaching the top of the U.S. charts 25 times and receiving an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Tony Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918–October 14, 1990), the first U.S.-born conductor to lead a major American symphony orchestra, won seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards and 16 Grammy Awards, including for composing for the Broadway musical West Side Story
Niels Bohr (October 7, 1885–November 18, 1962), a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922, founded the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the University of Copenhagen and helped establish CERN.
Barbara Boxer (November 11, 1940) was one of the first of two Jewish women elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 (along with Dianne Feinstein, see page 16), signifying the first time Californians elected a female senator, marking the first time any state was simultaneously represented by two women in the U.S. Senate and setting a record for the most votes in any U.S. Senate election in her third term in 2004.
Louis Brandeis (November 13, 1856–October 5, 1941), who starting in 1890 helped develop the right-to-privacy concept, became the first Jewish justice on the United States Supreme Court, was known as a militant crusader for social justice and was one of the most famous and influential figures ever to serve on the high court, holding the position from 1916 to 1939. ▶
Sergey Brin (August 21, 1973), whose family was among 150,000 Jews to leave the Soviet Union in the 1970s when he was six, is an American businessman and computer scientist who cofounded Google with Larry Page (whose mother is Jewish) while computer science graduate students at Stanford University.
Martin Cooper (December 26, 1928), considered the father of the handheld cell phone, is an engineer and pioneer in the wireless communications industry, especially in radio spectrum management, with 11 patents in the field, who placed the first public call from a handheld portable cell phone while working at Motorola in 1973 and led the team that brought it to market in 1983.
Paul Ehrlich (March 14, 1854–August 20, 1915) was a Nobel Prize–winning German physician and scientist who worked in hematology, immunology and antimicrobial chemotherapy, developing a cure for syphilis in 1909 and inventing the precursor technique to Gram staining bacteria, which made it possible to distinguish between different types of blood cells and led to the ability to diagnose blood diseases.
Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879–April 18,1955), whose intellectual achievements and originality have made his name synonymous with genius, was a German-born theoretical physicist best known for developing the theory of relativity and is considered one of the most influential scientists ever, receiving the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Douglas Emhoff (October 13, 1964), Kamala Harris’s husband, became the first U.S. second gentleman as well as the first man and the first Jew to be married to a vice president—and installed a mezuzah at the vice president’s official residence at the Naval Observatory, hosted a virtual Passover Seder on behalf of The White House and chaired a White House roundtable on anti-Semitism.
Dianne Feinstein (June 22, 1933–September 29, 2023), the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, became the first of two female U.S. senators in California in 1992 (along with Barbara Boxer, see page 15), was reelected five times—receiving the most popular votes of any U.S. Senate candidate in history in the 2012 election—and was the first woman to preside over a U.S. presidential inauguration.
Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856–September 23, 1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, developing therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association and transference, establishing its central role in the analytic process.
Betty Friedan (February 4, 1921–February 4, 2006), whose 1963 book The Feminine Mystique helped spark the second wave of American feminism in the 20th century, cofounded and was elected the first president of the National Organization for Women in 1966, aiming to bring women “into the mainstream of American society [in] fully equal partnership with men.”
Joseph Friedman (October 9, 1900–June 21, 1982), an American inventor with a broad range of interests and ideas, conceptualized his first brainchild, the lighted pencil, at 14; was issued his first patent for improvements to the fountain pen in 1922, which he sold to the Sheaffer Pen Company in the mid-1930s; and was granted another patent for inventing the flexible straw in 1937.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (March 15, 1933–September 18, 2020), who spent much of her legal career as an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, was the first Jewish woman and the second woman (after Sandra Day O’Connor) to serve as a justice of the U.S Supreme Court starting in 1993—and she was one of only eight Jewish justices out of the total 116 ever to serve on the high court.
Sylvan Goldman (November 15, 1898–November 25, 1984) was an American businessman and inventor who used a pair of large wire baskets connected by tubular metal arms with four wheels to create the first shopping cart, which was introduced in his Oklahoma City supermarket chain, Humpty Dumpty, in 1937.
Benny Goodman (May 30, 1909–June 13, 1986), who led one of the most popular swing big bands in the U.S. from 1936 until the mid-1940s, was the bandleader for one of the first integrated jazz groups and made history for launching the swing era in 1935 during a show at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles that was seen live by thousands and heard on the radio by millions more.
Hank Greenberg (January 1, 1911–September 4, 1986), the first Jewish superstar in American team sports, who played baseball for the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s and 1940s, was one of the premier power hitters of his generation and is widely considered one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, garnering national attention in 1934 when he refused to play in a pennant race on Yom Kippur.
Ruth Handler (November 4, 1916–April 27, 2002), an American business magnate and inventor best known for creating the Barbie doll in 1959 and cofounding the toy manufacturing company Mattel with her husband, Elliot, served as the company’s first president from 1945 to 1975, as spotlighted in the 2023 blockbuster film Barbie.
Philippe Kahn (March 16, 1952), a French engineer, entrepreneur and founder of four technology companies, created the first camera phone and is the author of dozens of technology patents covering Internet processing, artificial intelligence modeling and wearable, smartphone, mobile, imaging, wireless, synchronization and medical technologies.
Jodi Kantor (April 21, 1975) is a New York Times correspondent who received the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on sexual abuse by film producer Harvey Weinstein, helping ignite the #MeToo movement, and previously authored The Obamas in 2012, chronicling the first couple’s adjustment to The White House.
Henry Kissinger (May 27, 1923–November 29, 2023) was a diplomat and political scientist who became the first Jewish secretary of state from 1973 to 1977, served as national security advisor from 1969 to 1975 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam.
Calvin Klein (November 19, 1942), whose tight-fitting signature jeans revolutionized the fashion industry, became the first to be awarded for outstanding design in men’s and women’s clothing from the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the first to win three consecutive Coty American Fashion Critics’Awards for womenswear. ▶
Sandy Koufax (December 30, 1935) played 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and is widely regarded as the greatest Jewish athlete of all time, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, the first major league pitcher to throw four no-hitters, the first threetime winner of the Cy Young Award and the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Edwin Land (May 7, 1909–March 1, 1991), best known as the cofounder of the Polaroid Corporation, invented the first inexpensive filters capable of polarizing light, which led to the first instant camera that went on sale in 1948, making it possible for a picture to be taken and developed within a minute.
Fred Lebow (June 3, 1932–October 9, 1994) a Holocaust survivor who completed 69 marathons in 30 countries and served as president of the New York Road Runners for 20 years, founded the New York City Marathon with 55 finishers in 1970 and transformed it into one of the largest marathons in the world with more than 52,000 finishers in 2018.
Stan Lee (December 28, 1922–November 12, 2018) was Marvel Comic’s primary creative leader for two decades, expanding from a small publishing house division to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics and film industries with legendary characters including SpiderMan, X-Men, the Hulk, Black Panther, Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four.
Marcus Loew (May 7, 1870–September 5, 1927) was an American business magnate and a pioneer of the motion picture industry who formed Loew’s Theatres and eventually the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio to provide content for his cinemas.
Theodore Maiman (July 11, 1927–May 5, 2007), an engineer and physicist widely credited with the invention of the laser, was granted a patent and received many awards and honors for his work on the laser, which was successfully fired in 1960 and announced to the world by his employer, Hughes Aircraft Company.
Maimonides (1138–1204) was a Sephardic rabbi, philosopher, astronomer and physician, who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages and whose work comprises a cornerstone of Jewish scholarship.
Marx Brothers—Chico (March 22, 1887–October 11, 1961), Harpo (November 23, 1888–September 28, 1964), Groucho (October 2, 1890–August 19, 1977, residing in Great Neck from 1926 to 1931), Gummo (October 23, 1892–April 21, 1977) and Zeppo (February 25, 1901–November 30, 1979)—are widely considered by critics, scholars and fans to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century, attaining success in vaudeville, on Broadway and in 14 motion pictures from 1905 to 1949.
Marlee Matlin (August 24, 1965) is the youngest person to ever win the Academy Award for best actress and the first deaf performer to win an Oscar for her on-screen debut playing Sarah Norman in the romantic drama Children of a Lesser God in 1986.
Golda Meir (May 3, 1898–December 8, 1978), the fourth prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974, was the first (and only) female head of government of the Jewish state and the first in the Middle East.
Bess Myerson (July 16, 1924–December 14, 2014) was an American politician, model and television actress who in 1945 became the first (and only) Jew crowned Miss America.
Sally Priesand (June 27, 1946) was the first female rabbi ordained in the United States after graduating from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972 and served as a rabbi at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan; more than 1,200 women have since become rabbis.
Joseph Pulitzer (April 10, 1847–October 29, 1911), a HungarianAmerican politician and newspaper publisher, founded the Columbia School of Journalism and is best known for the Pulitzer Prizes, which are awarded annually to recognize excellence in American journalism, photography, literature, history, poetry, music and drama.
Aly Raisman (May 25, 1994), the twotime Olympian and team captain, brought her squads to victory, is the third-most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history, the most decorated U.S. gymnast at the 2012 games and the first American woman in Olympic history to win a gold medal in gymnastics floor exercise, performing her routine to “Hava Nagila.”
Joan Rivers (June 8, 1933–September 4, 2014), known for her self-deprecating, acerbic style and considered a female comedy pioneer, won an Emmy and a Grammy Award and became the first woman to host a late-night network TV talk show.
Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914–June 23, 1995), a virologist and medical researcher, developed one of the first successful polio vaccines and was immediately hailed as a “miracle worker” when the vaccine’s success was made public in April 1955, choosing not to patent it or seek any profit in order to maximize its global distribution.
Chuck Schumer (November 23, 1950) is a fifth-term U.S. senator from New York, the longest-serving U.S. senator from the empire state, the first Jew to become senate minority leader in 2016 and the first Jew to become senate majority leader in 2021, making him the highest-ranking Jew in U.S. government history.
Jerry Siegel (October 17, 1914–January 28, 1996) and Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914–July 30, 1992), high school friends in Cleveland, created Superman, the first comic book superhero for DC Comics. ▶
Stephen Sondheim (March 22, 1930–November 26, 2021), a composer and lyricist credited with reinventing the American musical, is regarded as one of the most important figures in 20thcentury musical theater, earning him eight Tony and eight Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, the Pulitzer Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Baruch Spinoza (November 24, 1632–February 21, 1677), a philosopher of Portuguese-Jewish origin who was a forerunner of the Age of Enlightenment, significantly influenced modern biblical criticism, 17th-century rationalism and Dutch intellectual culture, establishing himself as one of the most important and radical philosophers of the early modern period.
Mark Spitz (February 10, 1950), winner of nine Olympic gold medals in swimming, was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, earning seven golds, each in record time, setting a total of 35 world records between 1968 and 1972.
Gloria Steinem (March 25, 1934), a journalist, social-political activist, Ms. magazine cofounder and a founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus— with fellow Jews Bella Abzug, who beat a seven-term incumbent to represent Manhattan in Congress and Betty Friedan (see page 16), among others—is one of the most prominent feminist leaders of all time.
Levi Strauss (February 26, 1829–September 26, 1902) was a Germanborn American businessman who founded Levi Strauss & Co. in 1853 in San Francisco, the first company to manufacture blue jeans.
Barbra Streisand (April 24, 1942), one of the most recognizable Jewish performers with a career spanning more than six decades, has achieved success across multiple entertainment areas and is among the first performers to be awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.
Elie Wiesel (September 30, 1928–July 2, 2016), a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist and Holocaust survivor who authored 57 books, routinely spoke about the Holocaust, remaining a strong defender of human rights, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for speaking out against violence, repression and racism.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (January 25, 1978), who has been serving as the sixth president of Ukraine since 2019 and was named Time magazine’s 2022 Person of the Year, has demonstrated remarkable leadership during the ongoing Russian invasion, emphasizing the importance of the people and their resilience, challenging Russian propaganda narratives and symbolizing defiance and democracy.
Mark Zuckerberg (May 14, 1984) cofounded Facebook with his roommates in February 2004 while briefly attending Harvard University, and in 2008, at age 23, he became the world’s youngest selfmade billionaire, now allocating his funds toward one of the most well-funded philanthropies in history.
Repairing the World
Compiled by Sheri ArbitalJacoby
Jews are known for embracing the Jewish value of tikkun olam or repairing the world, and so many of our compassionate congregants spend their time and resources helping improve the lives of others.
The past few issues of our Shema magazine have featured Temple Beth-El members who impact the community by supplying food to those in need, advocating for educational equity and excellence, fundraising for Parkinson’s research, providing medical care to earthquake victims in Haiti, striving to end gun violence, offering accessible health care and enabling students to reach their higher education goals.
This edition focuses on several congregants who work tirelessly to aid immigrants relocating from around the world. From enriching the lives of Holocaust survivors to helping immigrants resettle after fleeing countries ravaged by war, members of our temple family utilize their voices, their passion and their skills to ensure a promising future free of persecution, where anything is possible for the next generation of Americans.
Assisting Holocaust Survivors
Sheryl Silverstein, DMD, board of directors, Selfhelp Community Services; vice-chair, board of trustees, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation; and board of directors, Nassau County Dental Society
My mother, Edith Silverstein, was a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi Germany after Kristallnacht, in 1939. As a growing child, and as an adult, I witnessed, firsthand, the post-traumatic stress and scars this left on my mother’s entire life.
I feel very honored to sit on the board of Selfhelp Community Services, because of its mission to serve as the last surviving relative to victims of Nazi persecution.
Founded in 1936, Selfhelp is the oldest and largest organization in North America providing comprehensive services to Holocaust survivors. The nonprofit offers comfort and dignity to more than 5,000 Holocaust survivors in the greater New York area through a myriad of services, including home health care, emergency financial help, counseling, assistance accessing benefits and entitlements, pastoral care, guardianship and much more.
I have always had a passion for helping older adults. As a community dentist for 44 years, and as a volunteer faculty attending staff member at Northwell Health, my primary professional focus was the treatment of medically compromised patients, senior patients and those with dementia. That’s why the mission of Selfhelp resonates deeply with me, and I have been a member of its board of directors since 2011.
While remaining committed to its historic constituency— survivors of the Holocaust—Selfhelp also uses its deep expertise to assist older adults of all backgrounds. Whether it’s providing affordable housing, compassionate home care or casemanagement services, everything Selfhelp does can be traced back to the services it provided to refugees and Holocaust survivors.
In the mid-1960s, Selfhelp built its first affordable housing residence for aging survivors. Today, Selfhelp is a leader in developing affordable housing for low-income older adults, including the formerly unhoused. During the height of the AIDS epidemic, Selfhelp expanded its home-care programs, creating a special division to tend to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
I believe in tikkun olam, repairing the world—and Selfhelp facilitates this mission. My involvement at Selfhelp ranges from serving on board committees, including the Social Service Committee and the Finance Committee, to participating on a board focused on affordable housing and assisting victims of Nazi persecution. Professionally, I’ve been privileged to provide dental care to low-income Holocaust survivors. Both my work as a dentist and my volunteer work have been incredibly meaningful—enabling me to do what I can toward tikkun olam. ▶
From left: Sheryl Silverstein is flanked by her husband, Edwin Ginsberg, and Selfhelp CEO Stuart Kaplan; Holocaust survivor and Selfhelp client Sonia Klein.
Saving Families from War and Persecution
Leslie & Franklin Abrams, Marcie & Gary Kesner, Shelley & Stephen Limmer, Welcome Circle volunteers for Upholding Humanity
As Welcome Circle volunteers, our small group took the phrase tikkun olam to heart and helped resettle two families in the United States—one from Ukraine and one from Venezuela.
It all began in October 2022 when we responded to a flyer asking for volunteers to form a Welcome Circle to sponsor and help settle a family of Ukrainian refugees, working with Upholding Humanity, a coalition of several local religious organizations and charities. After some discussion, we all agreed to take the leap.
Our group of friends had various skills—Marcie spoke Russian; Frank was an immigration lawyer; Gary had knowledge and experience with New York City government agencies and real estate; and Shelley, Leslie and Stephen organized the hunt for supplies of all kinds for the family.
Shelley and Stephen had hosted a family of Vietnamese refugees many years before and knew the satisfaction sponsorship can bring.
We were told that our family of Ukrainian Muslims, originally from the Crimea, would be arriving in early February. We spoke to them twice by Zoom and got to work.
We were warned that finding housing in the New York area would be the most difficult task. Luckily, Gary had a connection to a rent-stabilized building in Flushing, and the management graciously agreed to lease an apartment to Upholding Humanity for the refugees. We obtained new and used furniture, clothing and toys; outfitted the apartment completely; and stocked it with food.
At last, the big day arrived on February 6, 2023. We went to meet the family at JFK Airport. They came through the swinging doors—Memet; his wife, Sevilia; and two sons, Abdullah, 3, and Ali, 18 months.
None of them spoke more than a few words of English. Marcie had refreshed her college Russian and was able to communicate with them. Sevilia was feeling rather unwell in the airport. We attributed it to the long flight, but it turned out she was pregnant!
There was not a lot of government oversight; we all spent many hours arranging licenses, work authorization, Social Security cards, food stamps and other public benefits ourselves, making frequent trips with them to Manhattan, Brooklyn and other parts of Queens.
We also had to manage medical appointments, including a few emergencies, locate a suitable nearby mosque, find English classes and get them a TV, cell phones and service. They were devout Muslims and Sevilia could not be alone with a man, so we had to organize her appointments and travel accordingly.
Our group quickly became their “American family,” and we saw them frequently. They were extremely grateful for all we did, but more important for us was the satisfaction we felt in saving one family from a bloody war and settling them in a safe place with an unlimited future.
After only five months, they told us they were moving to Philadelphia to be with friends in the Ukrainian community. We were sad to see them go but happy that they were confident enough to cut the apron strings and fend for themselves in another city.
We keep in contact with them, and we’re happy that Memet has a steady job as a long-haul truck driver.
Then, one day this past January, we were called by HIAS, a nonprofit organization that provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers of all faiths. The conversation went like this: “We have a Venezuelan family arriving in five days. Do you think your group could assist?”
We sprang into action, buying new furniture, clothing, supplies, food, etc. Through a vigorous group effort, we were able to get it all done within a few days.
On January 24, 2024, we met the new family— Jorge, Maria and their two children, Jonaiker, 12, and Gabriela, 6. They spoke no English, but Frank speaks Spanish—so between that and Google translate, we communicated pretty well.
Franklin and Leslie Abrams and Gary and Marcie Kesner greet the Ukrainian family at JFK Airport.
The family was overjoyed to have a safe place to live and was incredibly grateful to us and the workers in the charitable organizations.
They are delightful, and from the start were extremely anxious to acclimate to life here. They had suffered greatly under the Venezuelan regime, losing practically all that they had, and fled temporarily to Colombia.
The U.S. refugee program is much older and more organized than the parole program for Ukrainians, so much of the paperwork and many of the various applications were handled by the organizations.
Again, we had to take care of furnishings, food, clothing and school enrollment, as well as all of the other tasks required to start life in an entirely new country.
We enrolled the children in nearby schools shortly after arrival—Jon in sixth grade and Gabi in kindergarten— and managed to get them into summer programs, which are hard to find.
Jorge immediately sought work as a metalworker and found employment through a contact Gary had. Maria took a course as a nurses’ aide. Previously, she had been a practical nurse, and she has found some work as a home health aide.
Our little group is in constant contact with our Venezuelan family—helping with shopping, English classes, babysitting, chauffeuring and lots of advice—basically offering any kind of help that’s needed.
And we are still in touch with our Ukrainians, too, admiring their bravery in moving to another city only months after arriving in the United States.
We all know that a small group of friends can’t really repair the whole world; but, on the other hand, the Mishnah says, “whoever saves one life saves the world.” We are so happy that we were able to save two families from war and persecution and give them a new life of freedom and opportunity.
After the second family moved into the apartment, Ukrainian Memet surprised our Venezuelans at home one evening when he stopped by to return a set of keys. Having limited English skills, he held out the keys and introduced himself by saying: “Gary. Frank. Steve. Amigos. Keys.”
Our Welcome Group’s hearts were warmed knowing that we enabled this special Ukrainian-Venezuelan refugee connection!
From top: Marcie Kesner, Franklin Abrams and Shelley Limmer welcome the Venezuelan family at JFK. Maria’s first birthday in America is extra special. Marcie and Gary Kesner and Franklin and Leslie Abrams assemble furniture before the immigrants’ arrival. The Limmers spend time with the Ukrainian family.
Getting to Know Jordana Levine, Our New President
By Stuart Botwinick
After 22 years of membership, during which she sat on countless temple committees and held innumerable positions, Jordana Levine was elected president of Temple Beth-El this past May. Read on to learn about our new leader.
Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself to the congregation. I grew up in Brooklyn and was active in my synagogue, Congregation Beth Elohim. I was also very involved in the local NFTY Reform youth group and spent many of my summers as a camper and then as a counselor at New Jersey Y Camps.
After graduating from the University of Delaware, I went on to receive a master’s in social work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University.
I started my career as a social worker at the Samuel Field Y (now known as Commonpoint Queens). I spent time in the New York City Department of Education, and I also worked with recent parolees who were dealing with addiction, with families handling a myriad of challenges as firsttime lease holders and more.
My husband, Stan, and I met in the summer of 1996. We were married in 1998 and will be celebrating our 26th wedding
anniversary this coming November. Our three children, Ayden, 22; Zachary, 20; and Jacob, 17, are my world.
I am the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, though so many members of our family perished in the war. My childhood memories rest within the stories that I was told—the experiences, the losses, the ultimate survival of my family—and the feelings of guilt and responsibility that came with that. These accounts helped shape and deepen my connection to Judaism and affirmed the importance of the land of Israel and its existence.
Jordana and Stan Levine, pictured with their children, Zachary, Jacob and Ayden, have been active members of Temple Beth-El for more than two decades.
Tell us about your journey to become president of Temple Beth-El. Stan and I joined TBE more than 22 years ago; and from the first moment, we felt at home. At the welcome brunch for new members, I remember everyone sharing what they hoped to get from joining TBE and how they saw themselves getting involved.
I was hooked! I walked away thinking about how many committees I could feasibly join and how I could sign up.
From there, I became involved in what used to be the group for families with young children, Familyhood, and I became the chair. I also helped with the parent committee in the Early Childhood Education Center.
In addition to chairing and sitting on several planning committees for the temple’s fundraising and gala events, I sat on the Search Committee for Senior Rabbi after Rabbi Davidson retired, cochaired the Cantorial Search Committee twice and cochaired the Search Committee for our beloved current senior rabbi, Brian Stoller.
After joining the Temple Beth-El Board of Trustees, I eventually became cochair of the Membership Committee. I sat on the Governance Committee, became a member of the Executive Committee and, most recently, served as a vice president during two terms of two different presidents.
year, speaks to the ideals and values that first drew me to TBE.
I have wonderful memories of participating in Mitzvah Day and Midnight Run, dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah and taking my seventh-grade students to the Hebrew Union College Soup Kitchen when I taught religious school.
At any given time when I am at TBE, I love looking around the room and feeling like I don’t have to show up with anyone, because I feel connected to so many people here—like they are family.
When someone asks you why you chose TBE, what do you tell them?
There are so many whys when it comes to why choose TBE!
Why? Because we have a dynamic, thoughtful, engaging, inspiring and learned clergy team.
Why? Because TBE stands for the guiding principles of Reform Judaism, and we are dedicated to the five pillars of the Jewish tradition, including Torah, Avodah, G'milut Chasadim, Kehillah and Israel. Our programming, worship experiences and events all reflect these pillars.
I hope to help guide our synagogue as we move forward with cementing our future through our visioning process.
Why? Because we are a warm, welcoming, inclusive community. There is a place for everyone here at TBE, and the opportunities for involvement and connection are open to all of our members. Why? Because we have a myriad of incredible learning opportunities for all ages. Our new, dynamic religious school program, The Kehillah Project, is a cutting edge, exciting and engaging experience for our TBE kids. We also offer comprehensive adult education opportunities, group outings, adult b’nei mitzvah classes and more. There is so much to do and be a part of here at TBE!
Last year, I was appointed executive vice president, essentially as the next in line for the presidency. These opportunities and experiences have helped pave the way for my presidency.
What are some of your favorite experiences and memories of your time at TBE?
Some of my favorite memories and experiences at TBE include our annual Tzedakah Project that I now cochair with Danna Sobiecki. Seeing our temple community come together to raise money, package ingredients and deliver food to our neighbors for the holiday season each
For planning the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, I love working with Temple Israel, the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc., and the First Baptist Church. I am passionate about creating programs that foster community connections and bring our teens together. I also adore (trying) to sing during the annual MLK erev Shabbat service, and I always have fun when Brotherhood hosts barbecues on our rooftop garden.
Of course, I loved watching my children have their b’nei mitzvah, going through confirmation and Ayden completing her religious school years through 12th-grade seminar. I love so much about TBE, and I am so proud to be a part of our synagogue and the work that we do.
What do you hope to accomplish during your temple presidency and how do you see the congregation as partners in supporting this vision? During my presidency at TBE, I hope to do several things: I hope to engage with our members, listen to their input and encourage participation and involvement at every level. I hope to help guide our synagogue as we move forward with cementing our future through our visioning process. And I hope to work with other community groups to not only continue fostering existing relationships but develop new ones.
In all these endeavors, the importance of a partnership between leadership and all our members is not lost on me. The connectivity, unity, support and collective efforts of our membership make us stronger.
CHERISHED JEWISH DELICACIES
Compiled by Sheri ArbitalJacoby
When thinking about treasured traditional tidbits, matzo ball soup, kugel and latkes immediately come to mind. So many more comforting classics instantly transport us back to childhood celebrations.
Here, members of our Temple BethEl family share their favorite chopped liver, chicken soup, salmon, gefilte fish and challah recipes, which are sure to be requested in your home, too.
Gloria Landsberg regularly bakes braided challah and creates hamantaschen-shaped challah for Purim.
Joy Palevsky’s Chopped Liver
Chopped liver has always been part of Shabbat and holidays. Whenever I go to my friends’ homes for special occasions, I bring a bowl of my chopped liver—and there are never any leftovers.
As people began eating less meat, I also started preparing the vegetarian version that follows this traditional recipe. Many of my meat-eating guests like the alternative just as much. Both recipes can be halved, doubled or made even larger.
2 lbs chicken liver, cleaned and drained
Olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 large eggs, hard boiled, cooled and peeled
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1. In a preheated 375F oven, place the chicken livers in a pan and roast until the livers are fully cooked, turning periodically. When the edges are slightly charred, remove the roasting pan from the oven and let cool.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan with enough oil to cover the onions and sauté until they are as brown as you like. Let cool.
3. Using either a chopping bowl and chopper or a cutting board and a large knife, chop the livers and eggs in small batches.
4. Transfer the chopped livers and eggs to a large bowl, spoon in some of the cooked onions, add a little salt and pepper, and combine. Continue chopping and adding small batches until all the livers, eggs, onions and spices are mixed together, adjusting the salt and pepper to taste.
5. Drizzle in additional oil, if the livers are not sticking together. The consistency should be almost spreadable, but not as smooth as a pâté. Let the chopped liver rest until ready to serve.
Joy Palevsky’s Vegetarian Chopped Liver
Even carnivores devour this vegetarian “chopped liver,” while still consuming the traditional version. Because the two look quite similar, it’s always fun watching people try to guess which is which.
This alternative version of the classic recipe can also be halved, doubled or made in even larger portions.
Olive oil
1 lb cremini mushrooms, washed and sliced
1 large onion, diced
1 large egg, hard boiled, cooled and peeled
1 Tbsp ground walnuts
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1. Preheat a large frying pan with oil and add mushrooms to sauté. When cooked to desired doneness, remove from the heat and let cool.
2. Heat another large frying pan with enough oil to cover the onions and sauté until they are as browned as you like. Let cool.
3. Using either a chopping bowl and chopper or a cutting board and a large knife, chop mushrooms and eggs in small batches.
4. Transfer the chopped mushrooms and eggs to a bowl and add some onions, ground walnuts and a little salt and pepper, and combine. Continue chopping and adding small batches until all the mushrooms, eggs, onions, walnuts and spices are mixed together, incorporating more walnuts to achieve the desired texture and adjusting the salt and pepper to taste. The consistency should be almost spreadable, but not as smooth as a pâté.
5. Let the mixture rest until ready to serve. ▶
David Kagan’s Chicken Soup
Regardless of the season, whether for times of celebrations or to heal one’s health, chicken soup has been a staple in Jewish homes for eons.
In fact, Moses Maimonides, the Jewish philosopher and physician, described the healing properties of chicken soup in the 12th-century.
This dish is regularly on the menu in my own home. It’s easy to make, easy to digest and easy to share with others. When preparing this soup, you can substitute store-bought broth, but I prefer the richer flavor that develops from using chicken feet and cold water.
To add variety to this classic, feel free to include matzo balls, noodles or a favorite herb.
1 whole fresh kosher chicken, preferably organic or free range, cleaned Chicken feet, washed, and cold water or store-bought broth
1 onion
2 carrots, sliced into rings
1–2 celery sticks
1 parsnip
1 turnip
Garlic (optional)
Fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme and dill, tied up
Kosher salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Matzo balls and/or noodles, cooked separately (optional) Cilantro, parsley or dill, chopped (optional garnish)
1. Add chicken and chicken feet to a large soup pot filled with cold water or broth, if not using the chicken feet.
2. Bring the liquid to a very light boil over medium heat. To prevent the soup from becoming cloudy, avoid bringing it to a hard boil. Remove any foam formed on the surface with a large spoon.
3. Add all the vegetables, the herbs of choice, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the chicken, until cooked through and the juices from the thickest part run clear when cut.
4. Remove the tied-up herbs and discard. For a flawless, refined broth, follow this optional step: Remove and set aside the solid content from the pot and pour the liquid through a fine strainer into another large pot or serving bowl. Discard the fragments that accumulate in the strainer.
5. Fill each bowl with broth and pieces of cooked veggies and chicken. While chicken feet are edible, discard them, if you prefer not to consume them.
6. For variety, add matzo balls or noodles and top with freshly chopped cilantro, parsley or dill.
Chicken soup has been a staple in Jewish homes for eons.
Phyllis Weinberg’s Baked Lemon Salmon
As the caterer of W Kosher Events at Temple Beth-El, I’m told that our congregants look forward to this fresh, moist and tasty entrée whenever we serve it for dinner at the synagogue. Using this recipe, you can now prepare this delicious dish for your family and friends at home.
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
6–8 oz skin-on salmon fillets
Zest from 1 lemon
1 Tbsp thyme, chopped
Kosher salt to taste
Ground pepper to taste
Lemon wedges for garnish
1. Preheat the oven to 275F. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with extra-virgin olive oil.
2. Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, mix the lemon zest, thyme and 1 Tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil. Spread the mixture over salmon. Season with salt and pepper to taste and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Bake salmon in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until it’s opaque in the center.
5. Place the salmon on a platter or individual plates and serve with lemon wedges.
Joy Allen’s Gefilte Fish
As a busy mom of three little girls, starting with frozen gefilte fish, makes preparing this recipe less daunting. My husband grew up eating this version of my mother-in-law’s classic every week, and it wasn’t Shabbat without it. Now, my family enjoys it several times a year.
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 (22 oz) loaf frozen gefilte fish
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Jarred beet horseradish to taste (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Meanwhile, line the bottom of a loaf pan or baking dish with the onions and carrots.
2. Remove the wrapping around the fish and place the frozen loaf on top of the onions and carrots.
3. Sprinkle the sugar over the fish and then pour the water over the fish, which will help caramelize the sugar and soften the fish as it cooks.
4. Cover the pan with foil, place it in the oven and cook the gefilte fish for 1 to 11/2 hours until it reaches the desired doneness and consistency.
5. Remove the pan from the oven and let the fish cool to room temperature.
6. Slice the loaf into 1-inch pieces. Place each slice on a plate. Discard the onions and garnish each slice with a carrot. Add a dot of horseradish on the side of the plate for dipping, if desired. ▶
Gloria Landsberg’s Challah
My father’s Aunt Frieda taught me how to bake challah when we were living in El Paso, Texas, before we moved to Great Neck in 1963.
Aunt Frieda was a natural cook! She didn’t use recipes or measuring cups and probably didn’t make anything the same way twice. But she always made delicious food using a bowl and a spoon.
I literally stood next to her in my kitchen, taking each ingredient, measuring it and writing down the details. Over the years, I have figured out how to make the challah nondairy, egg free and as onion bread and cinnamon-raisin bread by changing quantities, substituting ingredients and through a lot of trial and error.
Unfortunately, I still haven’t perfected a gluten-free version, which would help me because I’m allergic to wheat and can’t eat it.
Throughout the years, I have made this challah with countless Temple Beth-El religious school classes and have baked it into festive shapes to celebrate various holidays.
This recipe can either be made into four braided challahs or baked in six 71/2 by 51/2 by 21/2-inch loaf pans. To make fluffier loaves, I braid each loaf using six sections. If you find this too complicated, divide each loaf into three pieces to make
Place 6 cups of the flour into a large bowl. Add the yeast, margarine or butter, sugar, salt, the 4 eggs and the 21/2 cups of warm milk. Mix well with a large spoon and continue adding more flour, slowly, until the dough is not sticky to the touch, which may require more than 8 cups of flour. Toward the end, you will have to use your hands to knead the dough.
Lightly oil a large bowl. Put the dough in the bowl and turn over once. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until it rises to double in size.
After the dough has risen, put it on a floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Cover 3 with plastic wrap. Divide the remaining portion into 6 small pieces.
Roll each piece into a thin rope. On a flat surface, place the 6 ropes in the shape of a fan, gather the pieces at the top to form
To braid the 6 pieces of dough, bring the far left rope diagonally up to the top right, across all 5 pieces, so it’s pointing in the opposite direction than the other pieces. Next, bring the far right piece diagonally up across the other pieces to the far left to form a V at the top with the first piece. Fold the right side of the V down to the center of the 4 downward-facing pieces. Then move the far left downward-facing rope diagonally up to the far right to create another V. Bring the far left part of the V to the middle position in the bottom. Take the bottom-pointing piece from the far right to the top left to form another V. Bring the right part of the V down to the center of the downward facing pieces. Continue this pattern until all the pieces are braided at the bottom. Pinch the ends together to seal and roll the loaf sideways once or twice to tighten the braid.
Place the braided dough on one side of a greased cookie sheet, as each cookie sheet will hold 2 loaves. Cover with plastic wrap. Repeat Steps 4, 5 and 6 with the remaining dough, each in 6 pieces. Let each loaf rise for about 30 to 40 minutes. Brush with milk or egg yolk, if using, and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. Bake at 375F for 25 to 30 minutes, until each loaf is brown and
Jewish Romance Roundup
By Jennifer Still-Schiff
Kvelling means being so happy we may have tears! Sometimes an escapist book can make us laugh and happy-cry.
Did you know that plenty of Jewish writers bring representation to the romance genre? Jewish love stories aren’t a subgenre like the well-known romance tropes: friends to lovers, enemies to soulmates, opposites attract or time travel. Believe it or not, Jewish romance isn’t just a tiny subgenre, it exists across all of these types! Read on for some delicious examples.
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
A heartthrob actor and an opinionated writer meet, clash and come back together a decade and two failed marriages later for a revisit of their spark-inducing magazine profile. A reference to Sondheim musicals and multi-format writing—reviews, blogs and emails—made this a personal favorite. If you enjoy celebrity culture, here’s a behind-the-scenes peek at the sacrifices made in the name of buzzy social media.
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Sadie
on a Plate by Amanda Elliot
Speaking of mouthwatering, this main character is an aspiring star of a network food show. A Jewish chef, she finds the heart of her cooking when she delves into her background for ingredients and inspiration. But her costar is the real dish, if only he can figure out what he really wants.
Characters with disabilities are highlighted brilliantly in Meltzer’s romances—and earn their happily ever after by being real, not heroic, and by asking for help, which any of us should learn to deepen our personal connections. The Matzah has some of the most outrageous slapstick mishaps in romance lit—and also some delicious Hanukkahinspired cocktails that made my mouth water.
Preplanning at
Beth Moses Cemetery
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Two college students are stuck in a Groundhog Day–style time loop. Barrett, a freshman with “big Jewish hair” and a hunger to join the campus newspaper, bumps into a physics student who really sets her off-balance. Coexisting in a crazy repeating cycle brings them closer, but breaking free might tear them apart.
Solomon does it again for adult romance with Weather Girl and The Ex Talk, two workplace rom-coms with sassy humor and snappy enemy-to-lover dialogue.
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin
A young woman from an interfaith family struggles with her imminent Christmas engagement, wondering if she’s giving up an important part of herself. Snowed in with a large Muslim family in the middle of Ramadan, the women find new connections and perspectives—and learn to find their true selves and true loves.
In our tradition, when saying “Happy Birthday,” people may wish their loved ones the blessing that they live to be 120 years old. Few will see this age, and everyone will one day face the reality that our earthly journey will come to an end.
The sages of the Midrash, the early interpreters of the Torah, had important wisdom for thinking about our end of days. In fact, they advise us to purchase a burial plot even while we are still alive and well. It is sometimes said that doing so will actually bless one with a long life. On a more practical level, purchasing a grave avoids a burden for a loved one. Sometimes this is a parting gift to those around us.
Our Temple Beth-El family is blessed to have its own sections of the Beth Moses Cemetery in Farmingdale. In the coming year, the purchase price for our plots will increase as we continue investing in care and upkeep of the property.
Please consider purchasing graves for your family. Plots are only available for purchase by temple members but can be used for your extended family. Single graves are available, and there are also plots for any number of graves, including 20+. Stuart Botwinick, our executive director, is happy to tour the grounds with you.
For additional information, please contact Joy Palevsky in the main office at jpalevsky@tbegreatneck.org or 516-487-0900, ext. 110.
Kvelling Bee
By Len Schiff
ACROSS
Yogi
Esther's shvesters and ___!"
Messenger molecules
Lodge opening
59 Verdi princess
60 Hall fixture
61 Show or con
62 Long-cooked meat sauce
63 Mythic weeper
lines with this part of 18A
Measuring tool with a straight 17A
64 May pressure or review
Scoop shop near
Crane Lake
Draw lines with part of 18A
Big
Measuring tool with a straight
65 _____ Nachas, good name for a Jewish cowboy
Leo Frank musical by Jason Robert Brown 26 Double curve, as in yarn
66 Official org. promoting basketball education for kids
Rosenberg Roy Precedes smell ______!"
dope
Frank musical
Jason Robert Brown
Double curve, as yarn
Without a shred Humanities
67 "Ah, yes!"
DOWN
1 Actor Peck, to his friends
2 Ctrl+Z
3 "______, _______ against the dying of the light."
-Dylan Thomas
4 Exploits
The Year ___ ___ Lost the Pennant, Bill James novel (and source of a 1955 musical)
Packers' rivals. "______ Trust,"
1986 Billy Joel
Song
Frothy chocolate
Iridescent gems
5 Because of this, in legalese
9 Cat lady’s constant desire?
28 The Bride _____ Black (1968 film)
10 “That’s gonna leave ____ ____!”
“_____, loora, loora...”
Hebrew one
Where some put Metamucil
Casino Carlo 21 Bruce or Hugo, eg.
Syn. for 26 Down.
Qty.
Nachas, good name for a Jewish cowboy
1978 Act regulating digital surveillance of foreign intelligence
Bigotry
“Ah, yes!”
June a scallion on steroids
Sleazy
Pops
6 '30s-'40s country star Roy 7 Little chocolate caramel candy that, in this cruciverbalist's opinion, is always a little disappointing.
8 Fed. power dept.
9 Cat lady's constant desire?
10 "That's gonna leave ________!"
’30s–’40s country star Roy
11 "_____, loora, loora..."
7 Little chocolate caramel candy that, in this cruciverbalist’s opinion, is always a little disappointing
12 Hebrew one
26 Patsch (Yid.)
"This _____ grew in the telling"--J.R.R.
27 Mezzanine or balcony
28 The Bride _____ Black (1968 film)
29 Where some put Metamucil
30 Syn. for 26 Down
Iris Murdoch novel, "The ____, The ____!"
48 Bay _____, Brooklyn
49 Diving duck
50 How you might describe the lyrics to Cabaret or Chicago
Endures
53 It grows on you
54 Its alums include George Orwell, Ian Fleming, Boris Johnson and (per J.M. Barrie) Captain Hook
55 Head, to Bubbe (dimin.)
56 The ones who got away
Actress Arthur Python
8 Fed. power dept.
13 Casino Carlo
"The Year _______
Lost the
Pennant," Bill
21 Bruce or Hugo, eg.
25 Qty.
Tasty home for 24 blackbirds 34 Get an ___ effort
57 Foil’s foil
58 Ticked off
31 “This ___ grew in the telling”—J.R.R. Tolkien
33 Tasty home for 24 blackbirds
34 Get an __ __ effort
Watermelon pickled part
35 Watermelon pickled part 36 U.S. Office of Science & Technological Information 37 Saudi king, 1982–2005
39 Poems in praise of Newark, Paramus or Hoboken
US Office of Science and Technological
42 Nth or fin.
43 Kvetch
45 Iris Murdoch novel, The ____, The ____!
46 Endures
Saudi king, 1982-2005
47 Hittite or Heep
Poems in praise of Newark, Paramus or Hoboken
Life Members
Life Members of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck are pillars of our Jewish community and have each made a significant one-time financial commitment. This support provides essential resources, and these donors are granted membership for life.
Jacalyn & Andrew Aaron
Leslie (z”l) & Ronald Barshop
Sandra Atlas Bass & Morton M. (z”l) Bass
Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El
Elaine & Daniel Brownstein
Bonnie & David Cantor
Joyce Charno
Steven Charno
Karen B. & Arthur G. (z”l) Cohen
Jill & Lee A. Corson
Abby & Andrew Crisses
Serena & Robert (z”l) Cummins
Barbara & Maurice A. (z”l) Deane
Ruth Ann Drucker
Iris & Stephen Feldman
Louise & Fred Feldman (z”l)
Susan & Alan Finkelstein
Marjorie Gershwind Fiverson
Andrea & Robert Fortunoff
Jackie & Erik Gershwind
Mark Gershwind (z”l)
Judith & Frank Greenberg
Rosalie & Herbert Greenberg (z”l)
Helen (z”l) & Alan Greene
James Greene
Phyllis & Joseph (z”l) Gurwin
Heidi & Richard Horowitz
Eleanor & Irving (z”l) Jaffe
Sandra & Bruce Kafenbaum
Florence & Robert (z”l) Kaufman
Ruth & Alfred Koeppel (z”l)
Gloria & Jerry Landsberg
Lilo & Gerard Leeds (z”l)
Sylvia & Louis Lester (z”l)
Carol (z”l) & Lawrence S. Levine
Marjorie Boas Levins & Jack Levins (z”l)
Joan & Alan Libshutz
Shelley & Stephen G. Limmer
Ruth & Leonard Litwin (z”l)
Nancy & Marvin Lynn (z”l)
Meryl & Michael Mann
Nancy Marks
Joyanna Marx
Susan & Herman (z”l) Merinoff
Rona & Sidney A. Miller
Sue & Steven North
Laura (z”l) & Steven Pegalis
Lois & Robert Pergament (z”l)
Ruth & Myron Pomerantz (z”l)
Hannah & David Rabinowitz
Beverley & Morton Rechler (z”l)
Bonnie & Bennett Rechler
Linda P. Rice
Jane & H. Richard (z”l) Roberts
Ellen Ross
Marvin Ross
Edie & Marvin H. Schur
Angela (z”l) & Martin Schwimmer
Joan & Jerome (z”l) Serchuck
Phyllis & Howard Silverman
Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El
Sobelman-Siegel Family
Joan & Rollin Sontag (z”l)
Joan & Michael Harris (z”l) Spector
Emily & Jerry Spiegel (z”l)
Amy & Charles Spielman
Joan & Arthur M. Spiro (z”l)
Ann Stanislaw (z”l)
Louise & Michael Stein (z”l)
Helene & Daniel (z”l) Sterling
Susan (z”l) & Mark Stumer
Jerry Tilles (z”l)
Roger Tilles
Rose & Gilbert Tilles (z”l)
Sandra & Howard (z”l) Tytel
Jan and Michael (z”l) Wallace
Barbara Packer & Ira Weinstein
Joanne Wolff
Michael Wolff
Renée & Michael S. (z”l) Zarin
Jane L. & Ronald M. Zimmerman
Interested in learning more about our Life Membership program?
Contact Executive Director Stuart Botwinick at sbotwinick@tbegreatneck.org or 516-487-0900, ext. 107.
The Queens-Long Island Renal Institute, Inc., offers the finest quality of care, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromised dignity, in a bright, ultra-modern setting.
• In-Center Chronic Hemodialysis
• Home Dialysis
• Ex perienced Nephrologists and Dialysis Registered Nurses
• Comfortable, State-of-the-Art, Private Treatment Stations
• Personal TV/DVD and Free Wireless Access
• Homelike Reception Area
• Social Work Services
• Nutrition Counseling
• Individual and Family Health Education
• St retcher Capability
• Va let Parking and Medical Transportation Available
• Quality Start
Healing
Begins with Jerusalem Memorial Chapels
Religious
Update your contact info by emailing info@tbegreatneck.org.
LEAVE YOUR LEGACY
Our congregation stands on the shoulders of the leaders, role models, parents and friends who came before us. Each year, congregants who believe in Temple Beth-El and the future of our Jewish community pledge their support beyond their lifetime. Even if you are unable to donate today, we welcome your commitment of a gift in your final wishes.
As we add another series of names to the Rabbi Jacob P. Rudin Legacy Society’s donor wall, we would be honored to include yours. Leaving a legacy gift to the synagogue ensures our future.
Our society members’ names are beautifully displayed on the wall at the top of the main staircase, thanks to the generosity of The Nedjat Eshaghoff Foundation and dedicated by Nedjat and Eliza Eshaghoff.
To learn more about legacy giving or naming opportunities at TBE, contact Executive Director Stuart Botwinick at 516-487-0900, ext. 107, or sbotwinick@tbegreatneck.org. Please let us know how we can honor you.
the Rabbi Jacob P. Rudin Legacy Society
