BULLETIN

BULLETIN
OF
JUNE 2012
BETH EL CONGREGATION
AKRON, OHIO
SIVAN • TAMMUZ 5772
Page 2
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Thank You To…
Beth El Congregation
464 S. Hawkins Ave.
Akron, OH 44320
www.bethelakron.com
Office: (330) 864-2105
office@bethelakron.org
Fax: (330) 864-9398
Affiliated
with
The United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism
The Jewish Theological
Seminary of America
Stephen Grundfast
Rabbi
rabbi@bethelakron.org
Stephen J. Stein
Hazzan
hazzan@bethelakron.org
Erin Katz
Director of Synagogue Education
educator@bethelakron.org
Barbara Good
Administrator
office@bethelakron.org
Andrea Steinberger
President
president@bethelakron.org
Martin Oppenheimer
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Harvey Sterns
Second Vice President
Richard Friedman
Third Vice President
Michael Rabe
Treasurer
Patricia Crane
Secretary
Laurel Gress
Baalat Koreh
Leonard Rose
Editor
This bulletin is published
12 times per year by
Bulletin of Beth El Congregation
(USPS 052-100)
Vol. LXVI No. 10
The Bulletin is published by
Beth El Congregation
464 S. Hawkins Ave., Akron, Ohio 44320
Periodicals postage paid at Akron, Ohio.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Bulletin of Beth El Congregation,
464 S. Hawkins Ave., Akron, Ohio 44320.
…Hope Winer and family for
sponsoring the Kiddush on April 14 in
memory of Harvey Winer.
…Florence Marcus and Jeffrey
Marcus for sponsoring the Bimah
flowers on April 14 in memory of
beloved mother, Theresia Lowy.
…Sidney and Andrea Steinberger and
family for sponsoring the Bimah flowers
on April 21 in memory of Inge
Steinberger.
…Lois and Burt Nobil for sponsoring
the Bimah flowers on April 28 in honor
of their 55th wedding anniversary.
…Becca and Aaron Moskovitz for
sponsoring the Kiddush on April 28 in
honor of the naming of their daughter,
Talia Marie.
…Joy Epstein and family for
sponsoring the Bimah flowers on May 5
in memory of Lillian Clayman.
…Debbie and Steve Newman for
sponsoring the Bimah flowers on May 5
in memory of Lois Shifrin.
…Joy Epstein and family for
sponsoring the Kiddush on May 5 in
loving memory of Bart Epstein.
…Marilyn Mirman for sponsoring the
Kiddush on May 12 in memory of
parents, Oscar and Ethel Mirman.
…Kelly, Michael and Abby Weissfeld
for sponsoring the Bimah flowers on
May 19 in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of
their son and brother, Edward.
…Kelly and Michael Weissfeld for
sponsoring the Kiddush on May 19 in
honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son,
Edward.
Anniversaries
JUNE
2
8
8
8
15
17
18
YEARS
Alvin and Gail Schlossberg ....... 55
Philip and Betty Gertz ................ 65
Stanley and Mary Ann Minster .. 65
Aaron and Sandra Moskowitz .... 60
Dr. Joel and Arlene Miller ......... 40
Alan and Patsy Siff .................... 50
Jerry and Marilyn Apple ............ 40
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
JUNE 2012
SIVAN • TAMMUZ 5772
Sunday – 8:30 AM
Weekdays – 7:30 AM
Friday Evening – 6:15 PM
Saturday Morning – 9:15 AM
Please note:
• Evening services, other than Friday
evenings, will be held only by request
and special arrangement. Please call
the office one week in advance to
make arrangements.
• Services on Friday evening, June 15
will be held at Chambrel of Montrose
at 6:15 PM.
Candle Lighting
Havdalah
June 1........... 8:45 PM
June 8........... 8:39 PM
June 15......... 8:43 PM
June 22......... 8:44 PM
June 29......... 8:45 PM
June 2 ........... 9:38 PM
June 9 ........... 9:43 PM
June 16 ......... 9:46 PM
June 23 ......... 9:48 PM
June 30 ......... 9:48 PM
Remember Beth El in your will.
For information, please contact
Arlene Rossen, Endowment Chair
330 867-1842
More Synagogue News?
If you would like to receive
periodic mailings featuring
Beth El information posted
on our Internet site, please
contact Barbara Good in
the synagogue office, 330864-2105.
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Eugene Sokol
Irving Spector
Morris Stambor
Arthur Winer
YAHRZEITS
0 2-8
June
Mollie Brotsky
Zelda Cohen
Edward G. Foster
Sam Freedman
Robert Garner
Burda Groden Giles
Israel Gloth
David Hoffman
Harry Horn
Ernest Klein
Sam Kodish
Elizabeth Krosner
Sol Levinson
Abe Liberman
Isaac Liberman
Joseph Marks
Nate Mervis
Esther Miller
Irving Narotsky
Gerald Pryweller
James M. Robinson
Myrna Scheinbart
Freda Senser
Harry Shapiro
Max Silverstein
David Sapp
Helen Schneier
Bessie Senser
Anna Shecht
Louis Sherman
Louis Shifrin
Rose Sinder
Bertha Stein
Esther Wish
Sarah Zwelling
June 9-15
Myer Caplan
Lillian Chapman
Helen Davidson
Ann Joan Freedman
Sophie T. Friedlander
Erin Geller
Lee Greenlick
Judith Ann Helfgott
Phyllis Jacobson
Nathan Kropko
Hyman Lerner
Paul Leventhal
Gustave L. Levinson
Alex Levitt
Isaac Lipson
Bela Lowy
Rose Luck
Mary Marks
William Neiman
Frank Nelson
Paula Cohen Padove
Sylvia Rosenthal
June 16-22
Harry Auerbach
Katie Backer
Louis Berenson
Fannie Berloff
Samuel Budzanover
Rose Cohen
Goldie Cohn
Carl M. Fertel
Sally Finkel
Betty Fitterman
Sarah Foster
Ida Gergel
Susan Glauberman
Morris Kaufman
Rosa Kobotsnick
Sybil Kriger
June 23-27
Shirley Borodkin
Norwin Brovitz
Manuel Cohen
Louis Gergis
Rifka Gertz
Paul Greenlick
Esther Kates
Jerry Kodish
Mary Kodish
Ruby Kodish
Robert Kranitz
Jennie Krupp
Dave Lowy
Milton Luck
Sadie Ekus Manes
Minnie Mirman
Ruth L. Mulfelder
Bernard Penner
Rose Pinsky
Max Robinson
Jack Rubens
Dr. Leo Rubin
Morris Sacks
Eugene Treiber
Cathy Wakser
Samuel Wakser
Mendel Weintraub
Katie Wolfand
June30-July 6
Rebecca Albert
Samuel C. Bershon
Barnet Beyer
Miriam Edith Davis
Nancy Davis
Mollie Dorman
June 2012
Sivan 5772
Sunday
Sanford Levenson
Harold Levin
Helen Levin
Alex Marks
Hyman Milkman
Annie Miller
Marlene Miller
Ben Nemeroff
Irving Osherow
Fannie Prizant
Sol Regal
Leo Romisher
Eleanore Rudick
Libby Schneir
Ben Slavin
Milton Slavin
Esther Weiss
Morris Zudick
Page 3
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Tammuz 5772
Thursday
Friday
1
Let Us Know
Rabbi Grundfast and Cantor Stein are eager to visit congregants in the
hospital, but can't go if they don't know. If you or someone you know is in
the hospital or sick at home and would appreciate a pastoral visit, please let
us know.
3
13 Sivan
Minyan 8:30 AM
10
20 Sivan
Minyan 8:30 AM
17
27 Sivan
Minyan 8:30 AM
24
4 Tammuz
Minyan 8:30 AM
4
14 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
11
21 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
18
28 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
25
5 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
5
15 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
12
22 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
Minyan 7:15 PM
Board of Trustees
7:30 PM
19
29 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
26
6 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
6
16 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
13
23 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
20
30 Sivan
7
17 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
14
24 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
21
1 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh
7 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
11 Sivan
Saturday
2
28
8 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
8
18 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
Kabbalat Shabat
6:15 PM
15
25 Sivan
Minyan 7:30 AM
Kabbalat Shabbat at
Chambrel 6:15 PM
22
2 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
Kabbalat Shabbat
6:15 PM
29
9 Tammuz
Minyan 7:30 AM
Kabbalat Shabbat
6:15 PM
12 Sivan
Naso
Minyan 7:30 AM
Kabbalat Shabbat
6:15 PM
Minyan 7:30 AM
27
Max Samuel Eckber
Harold Garson
Tillie Guren
Bernard Heller
Anna Kalish
Max Keane
Herschel Kriger
Florence Lessing
Samuel Leubitz
Miriam Levenson
Melvin Lichtman
Leah Lieberman
Louis Medvin
Milton Pren
Zelda Rosenthal
Dina Savage
Isadore Schlossberg
Rose Sholiton
Sol Slavin
Samuel Tucker
John Waits
Evelyn Weinberger
Sara Weinstein
Helen Yeszin
Services 9:15 AM
Confirmation
9
19 Sivan
Beha’alotcha
Services 9:15 AM
16
26 Sivan
Shelach
Services 9:15 AM
23
3 Tammuz
Korach
Services 9:15 AM
30
10 Tammuz
Chukat
Services 9:15 AM
Page 4
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
The Beth El Building,
a Steel Drum Band, NPR, JCC…
Beth El
Building News
Updates by Bonnie Cohen
A heartwarming story aired
on NPR recently featuring
students from Summit Academy
who perform in a steel drum
band. (Summit Academy is the
charter school that will be
moving into the Beth El
building). Students expressed
how the band helped them
improve their schoolwork and
overcome past experiences of
being bullied in other schools.
Hearing the teachers and
students
talk
about
the
transformational effects of the
band was very moving. It’s
wonderful to know that our
beloved building will be filled
with music and children’s voices
after we leave. Even more
comforting, was the idea that the
building will be a safe and
nurturing place for children to
grow and learn.
Since Beth El held its
congregational vote March 25th,
many people have asked what
items will be moved to the JCC.
Those questions are a daily
challenge for the dedicated staff,
officers and volunteers who are
helping
make
all
the
arrangements for the move.
With decisions being made
every day, it’s difficult to keep
everyone informed, so here are
some details about the most
recent developments in the
design process.
The architectural firm of
Braun and Steidl was hired to
finalize plans and interview
general contractors for the
project. At the same time, the
interior designer is integrating
all the beautiful and meaningful
artwork that Beth El cherishes.
We are making every effort to
reuse, refurbish, and recreate the
items to fit beautifully into our
new space. Some things will
have to be stored during the
construction period and great
care will be taken to properly
store and renovate our valuable
artifacts.
We have allocated space in
our new building design for the
following items: the stained
glass windows, the Tree of Life,
the original memorial plaques,
the needlepoint ark and four
needlepoint panels, the bimah
furniture, the Don Drumm
sculpture and the stained glass
front doors.
Obviously, there won’t be
room for everything, but we’re
trying to honor all those who
came before us while we strive
to make our space a spiritual and
beautiful environment.
A video documentary is
being created as a tribute to Beth
El
Congregation’s
66-year
history. The documentary will
be shown at the JCC on July
15th, the day we are planning to
march our Torahs and install the
new officers. Additionally, all of
the tribute plaques and pictures
will be included in a searchable
database.
When I attended a design
meeting recently at the JCC, I
was greeted by familiar faces of
staff members and several Beth
El members attending classes. It
was the first time, I began to feel
comfortable and “at home”
walking through the doors that
will soon be the new home of
our congregation. I met with the
interior designer (who helped
renovate our sanctuary 15 years
ago) and his reassuring words
made my day, “It’s going to look
fantastic,” he said. “People will
be amazed.”
Then, after hearing the story
about the Summit Academy
students, I was optimistic that
things are falling into place.
Especially the last line of the
NPR interview about The
Summit Academy steel drum
band giving a concert at the
JCC… It’s bashert!
I hope everyone will begin
to feel more comfortable with
the move as it gets closer. We
have a great opportunity to recreate
and
energize
our
congregation and it’s going to
look fantastic!
Please call the office at 330864-2105 and put your name on
a list to volunteer. Don’t miss
the chance to help write the next
chapter of Beth El history.
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Please join us
for a trip to the
Maltz Museum of
Jewish Heritage on
Sunday, August 5,
where we will view
its next special
exhibition: A
Blessing to One
By Erin Katz
Another: Pope
John II and the Jewish People. More than a
mere historical exhibit, A Blessing to One
Another, is an interactive experience that
allows visitors to follow in John Paul II’s
footsteps from his childhood to his role as head
of the world’s largest church. The exhibit is
divided into four major sections, reflecting the
four periods in the pope’s life.
This stunning experience follows John Paul
II’s life from child to leader of the world’s
largest church, focusing on his relationship
with the Jewish people begun as a boy. Visitors
will experience the world he knew in
Wadowice, Poland, life in Warsaw during the
war years, and the sweeping changes of the
Second Vatican Council and emulate his
historic visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem
by inserting prayers into a 20-foot long wall
replica. His personal artifacts and hundreds
of images, interviews and historical footage
make history come alive.
Tickets prices are:
Adults ................. $8
Seniors (60+) ..... $6
Students (12+) ... $6
Children (5+) ...... $4
Members ......... Free
Please RSVP by July 8. Tour begins at
11 AM and will last approximately 75 minutes.
Afterwards, please feel free to tour the
permanent exhibits. We’ll meet up at the Maltz
Museum, located at 2929 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
If you can provide a ride or need a ride, please
let Erin Katz know (cell: 330.414.2827; email:
erinkatz125@gmail.com).
Page 5
A Walk Towards the Future,
A Nod to the Past
The future of Beth El Congregation begins July 15
with a symbolic march from the synagogue’s current
building to its new home at the Shaw Jewish
Community Center (JCC).
This historic event will include the marching of
Beth El’s Torah scrolls to the new location, under the
escort of Akron patrol officers with musical
accompaniment. It will start with a parade of
participants meeting under a vintage chuppah in the
Beth El parking lot at 9 a.m. July 15.
The day will continue with the installation of
officers and the Beth El board of trustees at the
congregation’s central location at the JCC, after one
last morning minyan is held at the current building.
This significant date will include affixing mezzuzot and
the viewing of a historic documentary – created for the
occasion - on Beth El’s long, impressive history.
The march to the Akron Jewish Campus offers a
sense of renewal for the Beth El community, a move
back to the future for a congregation that began before
1918 on South Balch Street - in the Anshe Emeth site
that later become the first Akron Jewish Center. With
the congregation physically marching the 1.3 mile route
to 750 White Pond Drive and led by its old and new
generations of leaders, a spirit of rebirth is under way.
Beth El Congregation has been in its current
location at 464 S. Hawkins Ave. since its dedication in
Dec. 1951. Now, in the spirit of L’Dor V’Dor – “from
generation to generation” – a return to the center of
Jewish life at the Akron JCC site will begin on July 15.
Invitations will be mailed in June, and the
community is invited to help inaugurate the next
chapter in our Jewish community: the opening of a
modern, egalitarian Conservative synagogue that we
call home.
The newly elected officers are:
Andrea Steinberger ............................ President
Martin Oppenheimer ... Chairman of the Board
Dr. Harvey Sterns ........ Second Vice President
Richard Friedman ........... Third Vice President
Michael Rabe .................................... Treasurer
Trish Crane ........................................Secretary
Page 6
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
President’s Column
The Power of Synergy
Andrea Steinberger
Walk through the doors of our
synagogue any day this month and you
will find a flurry of activities related to
our upcoming move to 750 White Pond. Legions of
volunteers, along with our staff, have been working together
planning, emailing, packing, and sorting to try to get
everything in order for this historic move. Each portion of
this transition has required untold hours spent imagining
where things will go and how it will be once we turn the keys
over to Summit Academy in August.
How will we continue when the beautiful building we
leave behind is no longer a part of our identity? The answer
to this question lies with each of you reading this message.
What is a kehilla, or synagogue community? Beautiful
as our sanctuary may be, we know it is not the seats, the
tapestries, or the finish on the walls that are the essence of
our practice of Judaism. The joy we take from the community
is subtly different for each of us. I relish the daily opportunity
to daven in a language that is both modern and ancient. Many
of us enjoy the shared experience of coming together at the
end of the week to take time to reflect and enjoy our
families and take stock of all the blessings in our lives.
Beth El Congregation
Date: _____________
 Minimum ($6)
 Chai ($18)
 Double Chai ($36)
 Triple Chai ($54)
I am enclosing $__________
Contributions to Funds
______ In Memory of
______ For Recovery of
______ In Honor of
______ In Appreciation
______ Other













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
Here at Beth El, we are blessed with many members
who are driven to join hands with others to work
together to right some of the wrongs in our environment
and our world. Whatever kehilla means to you, I hope
you will agree that there is beauty in a shared tradition
that we can experience both as individuals and
collectively.
There is no doubt we will face challenges as we
adjust to our new surroundings, but along with change
comes the creative, forward-looking energy it creates. It
is inspiring to see how much we have already
accomplished working together to build our new home.
I hope you will attend the very special events on July 15
as we march our Torahs from South Hawkins to the
JCC and install our new officers and Board of Trustees.
We will celebrate our last 60 years with a wonderful
video, thank Gary for his strong leadership over the past
two years, and enjoy a lovely brunch together. It will be
a memorable morning marking another milestone in
Beth El's rich history. It will also be an opportunity to
finish one chapter and begin a new one as we write this
story together.
I urge each of you to join with me in the mission of
building this wonderful kehilla one person at a time.
Together we can create a synergy that will have the
power to change our world.
REMO 2000
Choir
Education
Max M. Federhar Memorial
Rabbi's Discretionary
Marks & Goldfarb Youth
Synagogue
Alexander & Lillian Medoff Memorial Music
Library
Prayer Books ($40 minimum)
Chumash (Torah Readings; $75 minimum)
Shabbat Flowers ($36 minimum)
Endowment Fund ($50 minimum)
Eleanor & Jerry Lippman Bar/Bat Mitzvah Books
Irving Botnick Education
Hakoah Club Education Fund
Scholarship Funds
 Lenore Gordon Scholarship
 Stephen Gross Scholarship
 Kloner Family Scholarship
 Simon Kopelson
Memorial Scholarship
 Louis & Becky Lockshin
Scholarship
 Lola Salzman Scholarship
 Rev. Phillip Salzman
Scholarship
 Beth El Scholarship
 Weinberger Scholarship
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Send your contributions to: Beth El Congregation • 464 S. Hawkins Ave. • Akron, OH 44320
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Hazzan’s
Column
A question I have been asked
several times during the past
number of months is why the
Cantors Assembly is choosing to
convene in Germany this year.
Certainly, the question is
understandable and it is one that
we wrestled with. Though more
than 65 years have passed since
the end of World War II, the
wounds from the unparalleled
atrocities of the Shoah remain
very much with us. On the other
hand, the Jewish community in
Germany today is vibrant and
growing. And Germany has been,
and continues to be, one of
Israel’s staunchest allies.
For hazzanim, there is an
additional important aspect. A
rich legacy of synagogue music
was born in Germany, one that
remains very much a part of
contemporary synagogue
repertoire. Perhaps the bestknown composer from that era
was Louis Lewandowski, who
lived from 1821-1894. He and his
four brothers accompanied their
father as singers during services.
After his mother’s death and
because of extreme poverty,
Louis moved, at the age of
twelve, from a small German
province to Berlin. There he
became a singerel (singer) for
Cantor Ascher Lion. With the aid
of Alexander Mendelssohn
(brother of the renowned
composer Felix), Lewandowski
received a thorough musical
training. He was the first Jew to
be admitted to the Berlin
Academy of the Arts. In 1844 the
Berlin Jewish Community invited
him to organize a choir and serve
as its director. Lewandowski is
the first person in the history of
the synagogue to hold the office
Louis Lewandowski
of Choirmaster. His artistic
development took an
extraordinary turn when Cantor
Abraham Lichtenstein succeeded
Cantor Lion and inspired
Lewandowski to arrange
synagogue song for four-part
Page 7
choral singing. Later he became
choir director at the New
Synagogue in Berlin. During that
period he published the volumes
of music he had composed for
Cantor and choir, covering the
entire yearly liturgical cycle.
So, what pieces of
Lewandowski are familiar to
most worshippers? Two come
quickly to mind. The first is his
setting of Tsadik Katamar
(excerpted from Psalm 92), which
is sung in congregations
throughout the world on Friday
evenings, including our own. You
are also well acquainted with his
setting of Psalm 150 (Hallelujah)
sung by virtually every
synagogue choir on Rosh
Hashanah. Many of our own
congregants have told me how
they eagerly wait for the point in
the service when the choir
presents this piece. Without
question, it is one of the most
stirring compositions of
synagogue music ever to be
composed.
I look forward to being joined
later this month on the Cantors
Assembly’s mission by five
members from Beth El.
Undoubtedly we will have much
to share with you upon our return.
I would like to acknowledge the
scholarship of Cantor Macy
Nulman from which I drew some
of the historical information
about Louis Lewandowski for
this column.
Observing a Yahrzeit anytime soon?
If you plan to attend an evening Minyan and want to make sure someone is there to
open the synagogue and/or lead the service, please call at least one week in advance.
We will always do our best to have someone lead the service. However, we ask that
you invite some friends to join you to ensure that we have the required minyan.
Page 8
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
It’s Exactly Like Moving Your Home!
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Beth El’s Knitzvah Group Goes
“Dayenu!”
It would have been sufficient for our Knitzvah
Group to donate over 30 blankets to The Battered
Women’s Shelter, Access, and newborn babies at
the Barberton Hospital!
And, it would have been sufficient to donate
38 shawls and lap blankets to nursing homes in our
area.
And, it would have been sufficient to add two
long distance volunteers to our group: Mary Beth
Waits from DC, and Faye Gerber from Boca
Raton.
But now our Knitzvah group is “going global!”
Our first global connection is founding member
Lea Schuldiner’s daughter, Ruth, who is studying at
Oxford. She made some beautiful squares for our
blanket projects.
Our second global connection is Carole Lepillear,
and her mom, visiting from France. Carole’s mom
came to help while she recovered from foot surgery
and together they made enough squares to create a
Page 9
Global!
beautiful afghan. Kate Waits, our “teacher
extraordinaire,” went to Carole’s house to teach her
how to put all the squares together. She did an
excellent job!
Carole commented that it was wonderful to have
a project to work on with her mom. She said that she
welcomed the idea of helping out while she was
recovering and said it was very therapeutic for her!
“Going global”… Dayenu … that would have
been sufficient. But helping others and feeling like
it’s therapeutic … that’s inspirational!
Join us for our next meeting on June 17 at 9:30 at
Beth El.
We are grateful for the generous financial
assistance of the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund.
For more information, contact:
Marsha Friedman - mef1035@gmail.com
Bonnie Cohen - bcohen718@gmail.com
Kate Waits - kw269@cornell.edu
Lea Schuldiner lea.schuldiner@hotmail.com
Page 10
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
Contributions
ALEXANDER & LILLIAN
MEDOFF MUSIC FUND
In Memory of
 Michael Cohen from Mr. and Mrs. Emory Geller
 Harold Miller from Mr. and Mrs. Emory Geller,
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Herst
 Harvey Winer from Sid and Shirley Zetzer
For Recovery of
 Susana Alfonso from Libby Portnoy
 Laurel Gress from Mr. and Mrs. Emory Geller
BETH EL
HAKOAH CLUB
EDUCATION FUND
In Memory of
 Harold Miller from Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Herst
KIDDUSH
FUND
In Honor of
 Marriage of Rob and Emily Richman from David
Sokol
KNITZVAH
FUND
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In Memory of
 Harold Miller from Jack and Hillary Crystal
 Sam Schneiderman from Ted and Rolinda
Schneiderman
For Recovery of
 Susana Alfonso from Dr. and Mrs. John Saks
LENORE GORDON
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CANTOR’S
DISCRETIONARY FUND
In Memory of
For Recovery of
 Leila Winer from Lillian Katz
LOLA SALZMAN
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
 Harold Miller from Hope Winer
CHOIR
FUND
In Memory of
 Abe Kodish from Idelle Kodish
 Mollye Cohen from Idelle Kodish
 Bertha Iczkovitz from Helen Tucker, Kevin
Tucker
 Nathan Jacobson from Ted and Rolinda
Schneiderman
 Harold Miller from Phil and Livia Kades
 David Welsh from Eileen Schneir
 Sadie Welsh from Eileen Schneir
For Recovery of
 Laurel Gress from Edith Aberte
EDUCATION
FUND
In Memory of
 Lola Salzman from Joe and Myrna Salzman
LOUIS & BECKY LOCKSHIN
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In Memory of
 Michael Cohen from Linda and Michael Osherow
MARKS AND GOLDFARB
YOUTH FUND
In Memory of
 Michael Cohen from Marcine Goldfarb
 Harold Miller from Marcine Goldfarb
For Recovery of
 Laurel Gress from Marcine Goldfarb
PRAYER BOOK
FUND
In Memory of
 Hyman Finkelstein from Burt and Lois Nobil
 David Katz from Carl Lieberman
 Eugene Meyer from Arnold Bleiman
For Recovery of
 Faith Springer from Linda and Michael Jacobs
 Laurel Gress from Carl Lieberman
In Honor of
 Special birthday of Judge Ted Schneiderman
from Burt and Lois Nobil
 Special birthday of Betty Gertz from Linda and
Michael Jacobs
 Birthday of Harvey Groden from Carl Lieberman
 Birthday of Gabriel Miller from Carl Lieberman
ENDOWMENT
FUND
In Memory of
 Celia Newman from Herb and Dianne Newman
 Sophie Rubin from Herb and Dianne Newman
Prayer books have been inscribed:
In Memory of
 Jerome Stan, Esther Stan Greenblatt and
Morris Greenblatt from Robin and David Levy,
Shelley and Joel Paikin and family
RABBI’S
DISCRETIONARY FUND
In Memory of








Stan Bober from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
Irwin E. Cohn from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
Daniel Goldstein from Gustave Goldstein
Rachel Hexter from Esther and Larry Hexter
Nate Jacobson from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
Abe Klausner from David Klausner
Elsie Kodish from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
Sam Marks from Leona Pollock
 Martin Polsky from Leona Pollock
 Morris Zetzer from Sid and Shirley Zetzer
For Recovery of
 Susana Alfonso from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
 Laurel Gress from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
 Karen Sandel from JoEllen and Joe Kodish
REVEREND PHILLIP SALZMAN
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In Memory of






Harold Cohen from Walter and Louise Cohen
Anna Heisler from Charlotte Heisler
Louis Krasnoff from Karen Sandel
Julia Liberman from the Nusbaum Family
Rose Recht from Charlotte Heisler
Joseph Weiss from Herb Weiss
For Recovery of
 Laurel Gress from Herb Weiss
In Appreciation
 To all who called, emailed, sent cards and made
contributions during my recent surgery, my most
sincere thank you from Karen Sandel.
SIMON KOPELSON
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In Memory of
 Mary Jane Baron from Ethel Kopelson
 Isaac Joseph Harary from Sarah Harary Ash
and family
 Zelda May from Freda Stile
 Harold Miller from Ethel Kopelson and family
 Esther Slavin from Marilyn and Dan Slavin
For Recovery of
 Richard Slavin from Gloria Slavin
In Honor of
 90th birthday of Rose Schwartz from Ethel
Kopelson
STEPHEN M. GROSS
MEMORIAL FUND
In Memory of
 Michael Cohen from Victor Gross
 Harold Miller from Victor Gross
For Recovery of
 Laurel Gress from Victor Gross
SYNAGOGUE
FUND
In Memory of
 Stan Bober from Sid and Shirley Zetzer, Evelyne
and Marvin Manes
 Michael Cohen from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stone
 Amy Dworkin from Greta and Hal Foster
 Donald Fuchs from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
 Elnora Glickstein from Susan Schneir and Alex
Amyot
 Ruth Gottlieb from Sheila and Marty Gottlieb
 Nathan Jacobson from Ziona Kaplan- Weber
and Bernard Matlaw, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION
SYNAGOGUE FUND CONTINUED
 Harold Miller from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stone,
Sid and Shirley Zetzer, Maxine Gertz, Michael
and Linda Jacobs, Sally Eichner, Edithe Aberte,
Joy Epstein and family, Lore and Mark
Singerman, Edith L. Zwiebel, Marty and Sherry
Hellman, Marilyn Mirman, Rivie Zimmerman
 Saul Senser from Alex Senser
 Pearl Steinberger from Sidney and Andrea
Steinberger
For Recovery of
 Susana Alfonso from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
 Eric Cohen from Bonnie and Randy Cohen
 Laurel Gress from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stone,
Libby Portnoy, Marty and Sherry Hellman,
Maxine Gertz, Sandra Levenson, Dr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Richman, Gabriel and Sherrie Miller,
Bonnie and Randy Cohen
 Arlene Rossen from Libby Portnoy, Rosalie
Crigger, Bonnie and Randy Cohen
 Karen Sandel from Arlene and Dick Rossen
 Rick Slavin from Bonnie and Randy Cohen
 Ronni Sterns from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
K'riat HaTorah
May
 Steve Botnick
 Janet Helfgott-Emmer
 Rabbi Stephen Grundfast  Dr. Martin Hellman
 Danielle Gurion
 Cantor Stephen Stein
 Eddie Weissfeld
Reading the Torah
Now, more than ever,
you are on the
Membership Committee
In Honor of
 Bar Mitzvah of David, grandson of Mr. and Mrs.
Bernard Kamenir from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
 Marc Merklin becoming managing partner of
Brouse McDowell from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence
Richman
 Birth of grandson, Joshua, to Andrea and Mitch
Ehrenberg from Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Richman
 Marriage of Rebecca Carter from Greta and Hal
Foster, Bonnie and Randy Cohen
Page 11
If you know of someone – a new neighbor or an unaffiliated friend or
relative – who would like information about Beth El Membership, let
us know. Call the office, (330) 864-2105, or Membership Chairperson
Andrea Minster, (330) 864-8496.
Beth El Offices Move to Jewish Center on June 21
As a prelude to Beth El
Congregation’s historic
move to the Shaw JCC in
mid-July, the synagogue
offices are planning to shift
to the new Jewish Campus
location June 21.
The good news for Beth El
congregants: The new
warm and inviting offices –
located at the Shaw JCC at
750 White Pond Drive -will provide the same ease
of access as at the Hawkins
Ave. address. Both the
telephone system and the
Beth El website will
remain the same. Visitors
will be quickly ushered to
offices for the Rabbi,
Cantor, and staff from the
main entrance of the
Jewish Campus building,
and signage inside the
building will direct people
to the Beth El location.
A transition team led by
Marty Oppenheimer and
including Steve Botnick,
Alice Schneider, and
Randy and Bonnie Cohen
has worked with the JCC,
under Todd Rockoff, and
Jewish Family Service
(JFS) staff to coordinate a
smooth relocation.
Beth El offices will be
located in some of the
existing space occupied by
JFS in the back hallway
near the main entrance, as
the JFS staff is consolidating
to a nearby area.
A corner office will be
reserved for Rabbi
Grundfast, with Cantor
Stein, Erin Katz, and
Barbara Good moving to
nearby offices along a
corridor at the campus.
Another room will be
dedicated for
administrative work, and
the site’s plentiful meeting
rooms also will be used as
needed.
The move is expected be
extremely efficient and
cost-effective and does not
require the shipping of
much heavy furniture or
supplies. For instance, the
Rabbi’s five-foot-high
bookcase will be shrink-
wrapped and sent to the
Jewish Campus along with
his books, and office
records will be boxed and
transported.
Storage closets will be
built in the back hallway,
and plans are in place to
move the two glass
bookcases in the library,
the black benches in the
lobby and some of the
lobby artwork to the
Jewish Campus location.
 
For more information on
the office move, contact
Andrea Steinberger or
Marty Oppenheimer at
president@bethelakron.org.
 
BETH EL CONGREGATION
464 SOUTH HAWKINS AVENUE
AKRON, OHIO 44320
This Month’s Special Features
PERIODICALS
POSTAGE PAID
AKRON, OHIO
Page
Building Beth El’s Future Together.............................................................. 1
The Beth El Building, a Steel Drum Band, NPR, JCC… .............................. 4
Education Program Notes ........................................................................... 5
A Walk Towards the Future, A Nod to the Past ........................................... 5
President’s Column ..................................................................................... 6
Hazzan’s Column ........................................................................................ 7
It’s Exactly Like Moving Your Home! ........................................................... 8
Beth El’s Knitzvah Group Goes Global! ...................................................... 9
Beth El Offices Move to Jewish Center on June 21................................... 11