The Great Neck News, Friday, September 2, 2016
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COMMUNItY NEWS
Temple israel women lead services Multi-generational women of Temple Israel of Great Neck showcased their level of Hebrew learning garnered over several months of study as they led the congregation’s third Shabbat Kol Ishah, literally “a woman’s voice.” More than 60 participants led virtually all aspects of the special Sabbath recently, starting with the Friday evening service and ending with closing prayers on Saturday night. The weekend of services was orchestrated by the congregation’s cantor, Raphael Frieder, who taught and prepared each of the participants to chant their part. The cantor conducted weekly classes and private lessons with the participants to enable everyone to master the material. “I came away with a finer appreciation of the exactitude in pronunciation and melody which the chanting demands,” said one of the participants, Susan Buckler. “I have an even greater appreciation for our cantor after trying to get each small phrase just right.” This weekend of services represented the seventh lay-led Sabbath, which began in 2009 with a series of yearly services featuring men of the congregation, women of the congregation, and both women and men. One of the most poignant elements of these lay-led Sabbath services is the opportunity to lead prayer with family members or friends. This year, the congregation heard the voices of several mother and daughter teams, including Eleanor Yomtobian-
The participants in Temple israel of Great Neck’s all-woman led weekend of services, with their teacher and coach, the congregation’s cantor, Raphael Frieder. Askari and Serena Askari; Nataly and Amelia Blumberg; Simone and Sheeryn Kahen; Esther, Talia and Eden Katz; and Rebecca Yousefzadeh Sassouni and Emma Sassouni. It also featured a team of three sisters, Susan Abouf, Carol Shamoon Seidenberg and Linda Shamoon Young; and three generations of the Rokhsar family: Guity Rokhsar, her daughters Lillian Rokhsar and Rachel Geula, and Rachel’s daughter, Rena. Another team consisted of four women from the current Adult Bat Mitzvah class: Lila Bernstein-Schoen, Minoo Dilmanian, Josephine Haghani and Marjan Taied.
“I found two things particularly moving in this year’s Sabbath service,” Frieder said. “The first was the camaraderie that developed among the participants during the preparation period. That feeling of warmth and support affected the whole congregation. Second was the sense of ownership and empowerment that the participants demonstrated. It was wonderful to see.” This year’s service was coordinated by a Steering Committee including Sherry Husney, Pargol Khadavi, Lori Oppenheimer, Neda Sedgh and Deanna Stecker. Participants also included Ellen Birnbaum, Amy David, Mahin Farhangian, Aliza Fine, Wendy Fried, Becky Fried-
man-Charry, Lesli Giglio, Madelyn Gould, Judy Greenstein, Annie Hirsch, Lauren Horowitz, Andy Katz, Ronnie Katz, Eve Keller, Elise Kestenbaum, Jennifer Khoda, Brenda Kopelowitz and Alise Kreditor. They were joined by Karen Lewkowitz-Miller, Veronica Lurvey, Nelly Mizrahi, Cheryl Eisberg Moin, Rahel Musleah, Ofra Panzer, Edie Robbins, Patty Schneider, Sarah Schweber, Harriet SpitzerPicker, Barbara Spun, Diana Stein, Sima Taeid, Irene Tannenholtz-Marcus, Debbie Volk and Gail Zahler. Temple Israel of Great Neck, Long Island’s largest Conservative egalitarian Jewish congregation, is located at 108 Old Mill Road.
Temple Israel Park district tennis team wins big forms group for singles Jewish singles in Great Neck have a new place to turn to network and make friends. Temple Israel, one of the region’s largest Jewish congregations, has formed the Singles Circle, for people in the community ages 45-69 to gather regularly. Prospective members of the group will meet soon to plan social activities and discussion topics, and select events they wish to attend. “There are many single people in the community and Temple Israel is providing a great way for us to meet,” an organizer of the group said. For further information about the Singles Circle contact the group at tignsinglescircle@gmail.com. Temple Israel of Great Neck, a Conservative egalitarian synagogue, is located at 108 Old Mill Road.
The Great Neck Park district Master Team of the Women’s interclub Tennis League finished as winners in their division for the 2016 season, making them the Master Team champions two years in row. Pictured from left are Brenda Kopelowitz, Elaine Sonenberg, Arlene Levine, Cooky Blaha, Sharyn Bagell, Shelley van Blerkom, Ellie Brook, Phyllis Meltzer and Neela Weber. Teammates not pictured are Bonnie Rechler, Marie Franzoni, Barbara Horton, Runi Ratnam, Amy Schwartz and Cathy vigilis.