BETH TORAH TIMES WINTER EDITION -Nov-Dec 2018

BETH TORAH TIMES 

Winter Edition 2018/2019 l Kislev 5779 

WWW.BTBRC.ORG

Leadership 

MARIO ROJZMAN 

Rabbi 

EDWIN FARBER 

Rabbi Emeritus 

DR. MAX A. LIPSCHITZ Z”L 

Founding Rabbi 

GASTÓN BOGOMOLNI 

Cantor 

WAYNE KEIL 

Chief Operating Officer 

MARSHALL BALTUCH 

Director of Development 

GABRIELA RASCOVSKY 

Religious School Director 

Membership Director 

JENI BUCHHOLZ 

Youth & Camp Director 

ANNE MANDELBAUM 

Early Childhood Academy 

Director 

SHERRY KRUG 

Administrative Assistant 

TERI SMOLKEN 

Controller 

MARLA COHEN 

BT2U Coordinator 

In this issue 

Messages 03 

From our Rabbi, Cantor, Co- 

Presidents, Director of Development, 

Chief Operating Officer, Early 

Childhood Academy Director & 

Director of Membership 

Lifecycles 13 

Officers 

MIKE SEGAL 

RICH BERGER 

Presidents 

JILL KOCH 

Executive Vice President 

STEVEN SCHECK 

Immediate Past President 

HOWARD CHAFETZ 

At Large VP 

MICHELLE KABAK 

Early Childhood Academy VP 

MINDY KURKIN 

Education VP 

DAVID ROSEMBERG 

Financial VP 

ETTA EPSTEIN 

Membership VP 

ERIC BERGER 

Operations VP 

MARK MOYEL 

Ritual VP 

PHYLLIS SHEINMAN 

Ways & Means VP 

EDGARDO IMAR 

Youth & Camp VP 

STEVEN WILLINGER 

Treasurer 

ANDREA BECK 

Secretary 

B’nai Mitzvah 14 

New Members and 

Candle Lighting Times 

/ Parashiot 

High Holy Days 5779 

Feedback 

Contributions & Yahrzeit 

Donations 

15 

17 

23 

News 28 

From Beth Torah Sisterhood, Scheck 

Family Religious School and Youth 

Groups. 

Donor Roster - High Holy 

Days 5779 

38 

2 BETH TORAH TIMES

A Message from Our Rabbi 

Pittsburgh 

Sermon Shabbat 11.03.18 

Last Shabbat morning around 

11:00am a volunteer whispered in 

my ear “there was an attack on a 

synagogue in Pittsburgh, they are 

saying at least 4 people are dead” 

I received the news like a sword in 

my chest! 

I have never been to the state of 

Pennsylvania, but I was born in 

Buenos Aires and the AMIA, the 

Jewish Federation, was bombed 

there and the Israeli Embassy was 

bombed there leaving between both 

attacks more than 110 dead and 

countless injured. 

And I revived all those terrible 

feelings of anger, impotence and 

sadness. 

I did not stay for Kiddush. 

I left for home as I wanted to be 

with my family and watch the news. 

Yes, the news on Shabbat! 

During this past week I was shocked 

by our sense of shock and surprise! 

This has happened countless times 

before! In recent years, right here in 

America: 

- Emanuel African Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South Carolina 

… nine black church members 

massacred by Dylann Roof. 

- Al Masjid Masque, New York City 

… the Imam and his assistant fatally 

shot on Aug 13, 2016. 

- Nov 5, 2017, 26 people killed 

at First Baptist Church in 

Southerland, TX. 

- Sept 25, 2017, one killed and 

seven injured at the Burnette 

Chapel Church of Christ, 

Tennessee. 

It has happened again and 

again! So how come now, 

suddenly, we are shocked? Why 

weren’t we shocked enough 

when those victims were black? 

Or Christians? Or as in an 

Orlando bar where the victims 

were Gay? 

ARE WE REALLY SURPRISED???? 

We don’t know that hate speech 

leads to hate crimes??? 

And yet I have been troubled 

this past week. While I was 

pleased with the response of 

the community when we called 

for a community vigil the other 

night, I found myself thinking 

about Charleston. Where was 

our voice when Dylan Roof 

opened fire in a church and 

killed nine African Americans 

three years ago? Sure, we shook 

our heads in dismay, rabbis gave 

sermons and people said, “How 

terrible,” but where were the 

vigils? Where were the local 

protests? And last year, when a 

gunman opened fire at Marjory 

Stoneman Douglas High School 

RABBI 

MARIO ROJZMAN 

in Parkland, why didn’t more of us 

take to the streets and challenge 

public leaders regarding gun 

control? Why did it take an attack 

on a synagogue to motivate us to 

speak out and organize a vigil? 

I am not foolish, I know why we are 

shocked. It is because it almost hits 

home: 

We are a conservative shul, Tree of 

Life is a conservative shul. 

We gather Saturday mornings at 

9:30, they gather at 9:45. 

Continues on page 44 


3

A Message from Our Rabbi 

“How long O Lord? The aftermath 

of the shooting in Pittsburgh’s 

Tree of Life” 

Ad Anah Adonai – How long O 

Lord – cried out the prophet – How 

long? How long must we endure 

these vile anti-Semitic attacks is 

the question on all our minds. 

It’s a painful cry that no Jewish 

community has been immune from 

since Pharaoh decided to enslave 

his Hebrew population in spite of 

all it had done from Egypt – saving 

it from famine and destruction. 

We all have opinions about what 

happened, why it happened, what 

might have triggered it. All have 

some validity, none can be proven 

right or wrong – every opinion has 

a kernel of truth we can learn from. 

The issue is too complicated and 

has a long, long history. What we 

need to do is look at our tradition 

and see what it teaches us and put 

it all in perspective. Tzay ulmad - 

let’s learn. In Moses’ Maimonides 

epic legal work called the Mishneh 

Torah he discusses the coming of the 

Messiah. He tells us that once the 

Messiah comes: “All the books of 

the prophets and all the writings will 

no longer be valid in the days of the 

Messiah except for Megillat Esther 

which will remain together with the 

five books of the Torah and the laws 

of the Oral Torah that will never 

lose their validity. Even though all 

memory of troubles will be dropped 

– but the days of Purim will remain.” 

Why even after the coming of the 

Messiah will we still read the book 

of Esther and still observe Purim? 

Because even when the Messiah 

comes you still need to look out for 

Haman!! That is how enduring anti- 

Semitism is. Even in the Messianic 

era we will have to keep an eye 

out for Haman There is a Rabbinic 

midrash which I believe explains 

this rather bizarre idea. The Rabbis 

say that if you are in the midst of 

planting a tree and someone comes 

and tells you that the Messiah has 

arrived, you should finish planting 

the tree and then go greet the 

Messiah. What are the Rabbis 

saying? I believe they are saying 

two things: a) don’t alter your 

lives – your work – your building 

for the future – because you think 

the Messiah has come. Because 

it’s probably a false alarm. b) Even 

if it is the Messiah you still need to 

plant trees, care for the world and 

build the future. Our partnership 

with God and our working to repair 

the world doesn’t end with the 

coming of the Messiah. The story 

of Esther will always be relevant 

because even if you think it’s the 

messiah – it probably isn’t – and 

even if it is people will still be 

people and Haman will still be 

lurking in the shadows. In other 

words, never, ever let your guard 

down. My fellow Jews – Jews have 

been attacked in France, in Belgium, 

RABBI EMERITUS 

EDWIN FARBER 

in England, in Istanbul, in Argentina, in 

Morocco, in Italy and of course in Israel. 

Each time we are upset and horrified - Jews 

being attacked and killed for the crime 

of being Jewish. But for us this attack in 

Pittsburgh is psychologically more traumatic 

for many reasons. It’s simply more personal. 

Let me illustrate why. When they first read 

the list of the names of the victims – the 

very first name was Daniel Stein. For many 

years a fine elderly and gentle man sat over 

there – (pointing to seat) many a Friday 

night or Shabbat morning with his wife of 

many decades. She passed away a few years 

ago but he kept coming – now even more 

regularly – to say kaddish. The other year 

he decided to move away to be closer to 

family and we miss him. His name is Daniel 

Stein. For one moment I wondered if this 

could have been the same man as I didn’t 

remember where he moved to. It wasn’t 

him – it was a different Daniel Stein. This 

attack was more personal because this was 

here in America in a city where many of us 

personally knows people. My colleague - 

Rabbi Jonathan Berkun’s father and mother 

would have been 



A Message from Our Cantor 

CANTOR 

GASTÓN BOGOMOLNI 

A great miracle happened ALSO there 

Jews of the Dominican Republic – another Chanukkah story… 

By Clauss Bienen, Martín Katz y Rachel Reuter 

Revised by: Rabbi Manes Kogan y Hazzan Gastón Bogomolni. 

This year, it is the 80th anniversary of the Evian Conference. 

In 1938 the Evian Conference was held under the auspices 

of American President Roosevelt with the participation of 

32 countries, in order to investigate the possibilities of help 

for the emigration of Jews persecuted by Nazism. Only the 

Dominican Republic under the government of General Trujillo 

offers 100,000 visas for refugees. 

In the year 1939 the DORSA (Dominican Republic 

Settlement Association) was founded in New York under 

the administration of Dr. Rosenberg, Dr. Rosen (expert in 

agronomy) and Dr. Hextor (principal administrator of the 

Joint). DORSA acquires from Trujillo the lands of the former 

United Fruit Company in the north of the country. The lands 

are dry, arid and of little agricultural value. 

On May 10, 1940, the first group of refugees arrived in Sosúa. 

There were 35 mainly German and Austrian people. The 

DORSA paid the cost of the trip of approximately 18 days, 

from Genua -Italia- to Santo Domingo. 

The first settlers lived in the old houses of the 

Fruit Company and began to develop a European 

agriculture under the instructions of the Diplomat 

Agronomist Frederick Perlstein. They grew tomatoes, 

cucumbers, carrots and cabbage but couldn’t find a 

market for these products. They worked and lived 

under extremely rudimentary conditions. Many of the 

settlers, unaccustomed to local weather conditions, 

fell ill with malaria. 

In 1941, a hospital, a pharmacy, a building for 

administration, a small synagogue, a school with a 

library, a common dining room, dormitories for men 

and women were started. Houses were built only for 

married couples with children, all in wood and very 

austere. 

In the same year more refugees arrived: Germans, 

Austrians, Poles, some Dutch and French. 



5

A Message from Our Co-Presidents 

Fellow Congregants: 

A few months ago, through the miracle of Facebook, I caught up with an old 

friend, who then sent me a photograph. It was a picture taken at my then 

synagogue in Orlando, Ohev Shalom. The year was 1951. It showed about 25 

Sunday School children, encompassing grades K-2. At the top of the picture 

were the teachers and a big sign that said “HAPPY CHANUKAH!” Incredibly, 

there I was, far younger, at the far right in the second row. For me, it was an 

incredible picture, and it brought back some great memories! 

I think that for most American Jews of my generation, and perhaps continuing 

right up until today, our memories as children always contain thoughts of 

Chanukah. I got my first bicycle on Chanukah. In fourth grade I was gifted 

two great books that I still own, with a note from my mother wishing me a 

Happy Chanukah. I remember my beloved mom and dad, of blessed memory, 

so pleased with the smile on my face when getting my presents. I remember 

my grandmother, who made awesome blintzes and latkes! I am sure that all of 

you have similar memories. Forget that the Rabbis said that Chanukah was not 

a major thing. For me, who grew up with relatively non-observant parents in a 

largely Gentile environment, Chanukah was a very big deal – it’s what allowed 

us to match up with Christmas! It was fun! You got eight presents (even 

though by number 8 the gift was always very small)! G-d bless the Maccabees! 

MIKE SEGAL 

I write all of this because by the time you read it Chanukah will be upon us and 

because I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for the good old days. When I was a kid we 

literally did not lock the doors at my house – no need. My friends and I rode 

our bikes around the neighborhood and beyond, and basically did what we 

wanted, so long as we were home by dinner. When I was 7, I was allowed to 

take the bus downtown to see a movie – by myself! 

I feel sad for what our world has become. The Pittsburgh shooting was another 

nail in the coffin of the world as I knew it. That world is gone – forever. However, 

we must keep going and adapt. Jews survive! Here at BTBRC we are working 

hard to keep you safe. I think you can be confident that we are laser focused 

on protecting all of our congregants. We are also, with your help, creating a 

culture of security where we all look out for each other. 

Thus, as Chanukah approaches let us count our many blessings. Let us 

celebrate, spin the dreidel, light the menorah, sing “Rock of Ages,” eat the 

latkes, and be happy just like it’s the good old days, in the safe haven of our 

beloved Beth Torah! 

RICHARD BERGER 

Enjoy the Holiday, 

Mike Segal 

Co-President 


A Message from Our 


In the Spirit of Chanukkah 

It seemed strange for a Talmudic sage to have asked ‘mi hanukah’ 

“What is Hanukah?” Surely our sages were profoundly steeped in 

all the minutiae of Jewish lore. Since the Talmud alludes only to the 

miracle of the cruse of oil, and completely ignores the spectacular 

Maccabean triumph, we must seek an ancillary meaning. The miracle 

of the cruse of oil symbolizes the miracle of man’s invincible spirit in 

the face of adversity. 

There are occasions in life when the lamp of hope flickers low, and 

its “fuel” seems to have reached its nadir. The pit of despair yawns 

deeper and deeper. Failure seems inevitable, as it did with the 

Maccabees before their indomitable spiritual stamina enabled them 

to gain the ultimate victory. A rebirth of strength emerged from some 

spiritual subliminal profundities. 

It is at such a time when the miracle of the spirit becomes a reality. 

This is borne out in the redemptive experience of the author of Psalm 

130 who, when all seemed hopeless, cried out Mimaamakim kratiha 

haShem, “Out of the depth have I called You, O Lord.” 

Rabbi A. Alan Steinbach 

ROCHELLE & ROBYN JOIN ME IN WISHING A HAPPY CHANUKKAH 

TO OUR ENTIRE BETH TORAH FAMILY. MAY WE REJOICE IN PEACE 

AND HAPPINESS ON THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY AND AS WE ENTER THE 

SECULAR YEAR OF 2019. 

Over the years, I have come across many articles that have become 

some of my favorites and the words below reflect one that enriches 

my synagogue life and I hope yours as well. Let’s make this “New 

Year’s Resolution” together. 

We may compare our synagogue to a wheel, with our executive 

officers and the board at the hub, the working committees as spokes, 

and the general membership as the rim. If any part of the wheel does 

not function properly, serious trouble results. On the other hand, if 

every part performs its task efficiently, we have one of the greatest 

inventions of mankind. Should any member consider himself more 

important than any other member, the alignment and symmetry of 

our organization is disrupted. If in a wheel one spoke is larger than 

MARSHALL BALTUCH 

the other spokes, the wheel has little value; or 

if the hub should expand beyond its limits, we 

then have an empty hoop, and no wheel can 

travel with a rim sans spokes. 

There are times when an organization (the 

wheel) will travel over rough roads and extra 

strain may demand lubrication. Nothing is 

more effective for this purpose than friendly 

cooperation. It reduces friction and supplies 

that “ingredient” which makes the difference 

between a well-oiled machine and a clanking 

mass which produces nothing but noise and 

discord. 

With this comparison in mind, let us all 

resolve to cooperate, and let us perform our 

part, whether it be at the hub, at the spokes, 

or at the rim. No part is so important that we 

can dispense with all other parts. No member 

is so insignificant that he will not be missed. 

Chag Chanukkah Sameach and a Happy 

Secular New Year. 

Marshall Baltuch 



7


Suzy Fischer Early Childhood 

Academy Director 

Our Early Childhood Academy is having another amazing year. All of our 

classrooms and filled and we have added additional rooms to meet the 

demand for our program. Our Suzy Fischer Early Childhood Academy has 

expanded to 19 classrooms, and growing. 

Our newly formed Parent Community, KOOLAM, has made a wonderful 

start this year with many fundraising and friend-raising events. Our 

weekly challah sales and Scholastic Book Fair has already raised funds. 

Our goal this year is to upgrade and enhance our playgrounds. Thank you 

to Sharon Lewen and Melanie Gorin, co-presidents of KOOLAM, for their 

commitment and leadership of this amazing ECA Parent Community! 

The Jewish holidays were enjoyed and celebrated by all our children with 

special events, Sukkah parties, food experiences, music and dance to 

enhance the beauty of the holidays and Create Jewish Memories for our 

children and families. 

December brings our favorite holiday, Chanukkah. We bring out the 

menorahs, candles, latkes and the joy of the holiday is felt throughout the 

school. 

Our Chanukkah De-Lights show on Decmber 7th , is a wonderful way to 

conclude the first months of school and get everyone in the holiday mood 

as our pk2, pk3 and Jr.K children entertain their families with Chanukkah 

songs and dances!! Our Toddlers and Twos also get into the Chanukkah 

spirit and invite all their families for a special Chanukkah party on December 

5th!! 

ANNE MANDELBAUM 

The ECA Staff send 

their wishes for a 

Joyful Chanukkah to 

all our Beth Torah 

Families. 



Membership Director 

Dear Families, 

By the time you receive this issue many things have happened 

at BT since the last Beth Torah Times. We had experienced 

meaningful High Holy Day time. We shared many shabbatot 

and social and communal events, from family programs 

(FunFest) to Latin Concerts (Entrelazadas). 

We continue to enhance the Beth Torah experience by 

growing the number of opportunities we can take advantage 

of as a community. The Social Action volunteers expanded 

their actions by re-instituting the Mitzvah Day with lots of 

offerings to contribute to the well being of other (Jewish and 

non-Jewish) communities. A new initiative of a Culture Club 

offers added learning opportunities to nurture ourselves in 

different fields; architecture, Jewish History, theater, music 

appreciation and more. The all-year- round programs (Café con 

Torah, Partners in Torah, Rikudim, Yiddish Club) started again 

this year. 

Yes, life goes on. We are about to enter a new secular year 

(2019) and we must admit that we live in a dynamic world of 

constant impact and change. We, as American Jews are being 

impacted by sick minds of intolerance and hatred. Once 

again more than ever, we should remain united and connected 

amongst ourselves and to our communities. Take adavantage 

of the many opportunities we offer to remain strong against 

every storm. 

GABY RASCOVSKY 

As always, please feel free to contact 

me at grascovsky@btbrc.org or 

305. 932.2829 x 7821 at any time. 

Sincerely, 

Gaby Rascovsky 

Membership and Religious School 

Director 



11

Lifecycles 

Lifecycles 

“Life is lived with people.” Rabbi Ed Farber 

MAZAL TOV TO: 

Liron and Jackob Dweck in honor of the birth of their 

daughter, Noa 

Miriam and Bruce Masia, on the marriage of their daughter, 

Alexandra (Ali) Lakofsky to Yehonatan Kor, son of Chedva and 

Avraham Kor of Rehavia Israel 

Sandra Cantor and Horacio Schutt, on the marriage of their 

daughter, Daiana Kucawca to Eli Tukachinsky 

Diane and Stephen Wander, on the marriage of their son, 

Josh to Alison Masterman 

Jan and Alex Hockman, on the recent marriage of their son, 

Jeremy to Cori Stone 

Renee and Jorge Lerman, on the recent marriage of their son, 

Benjamin to Tatiana Mesa 

Ilene and Moises Cohen, in honor of the birth of their 

daughter, Elizabeth and to the proud Grandparents, Lea and 

Salomon Cohen and Uncle Abe 

Jessica and Kevin Plotkin, on the birth of their daughter, 

Alison Daren and to the proud grandparents, Etta Birenbaum 

Epstein and Adrienne and Marc Plotkin and to Aunt Melissa 

and Uncle Oleg Zubarev 

Judy and Rich Berger, on the marriage of their son Jeremy to 

Chris Howard, son of Susan and Sheldon Howard 

Renata and Jeffrey Wolfe-Schlesinger, on the naming of their 

son, Daniel 

CONDOLENCES TO: 

Wendy and Steven Kravitz, Ellen and Larry Elbrand and Marlene 

and Michael Olin and Families, in memory of beloved mother 

and grandmother, Shirley Kravitz 

Cheryl and Nelson Ferreira, Jeni, Matt, Kayla, Addison and 

Dylan Buchholz and Londyn, in memory of beloved mother, 

grandmother and great grandmother, Gerri Toth 

Bernie, Kristy and Adam Singer, in memory of beloved mother 

and grandmother, Rosalind ”Roz” Singer 

Bergman Family, in memory of beloved mother, grandmother 

and great grandmother, Joan Bergman 

Sandra Moskovitz, Rob and Evelyn Moskovitz, Dan and Susan 

Moskovitz, Bradley, Justin, Josie and Logan, on the passing of 

beloved husband, father and grandfather, David Moskovitz 

Judi and Bob Billig, on the passing of beloved brother, David 

Dobin 


13

Mazal Tov to our 

B’nai Mitzvah 

November 3 RYAN ROTHENBERG 

Son of Shari & Jeff 

November 10 NOAH KURKIN 

Son of Mindy & Mark 

November 15 DYLAN WIGODA 

Son of Ruthy & Paul 

November 16 TALIA ROSENTHAL 

Daughter of Jeanne & Kerry 

December 9 NOA BEN DAVID 

Daughter of Oranit & Eron 

December 9 BRADEN PARRIS 

Son of Aileen & Steven 

January 5 MICHAEL PLEWINSKI 

Son of Fabiola & Brian 

January 12 CINDY HELLER 

Daughter of Carolina 

January 17 ANDREW SIMPFENDORFER 

Son of Susan Fox & Conrad 

Simpfendorfer 

January 19 PARKER SANDERS 

Son of Kerri & Jeffrey 

January 21 MATTHEW GOLOD 

Son of Vanessa & Sebastian 


Candle lighting Times 

for Shabbat and Parashiot 

November 24 VAYISHLACH 5:11PM 

December 1 VAYESHEV 5:11PM 

December 8 MIKETZ 5:11PM 

December 15 VAYIGASH 5:13PM 

December 22 VAYECHI 5:16PM 

December 29 SHEMOT 5:20PM 

January 5 Vaera 5:25PM 

January 12 Bo 5:30PM 

January 19 Beshalach 5:35PM 

January 26 Yitro 5:41PM 

Welcome our New Members 

ADRIANNE & ADAM BLOMBERG 

FERNANDA & MICHAEL NEWMAN 

VERA MUZYKANSKI & DANIEL CHTEINBERG 

ELENA & ABRAHAM SILBER 

LORENA & ABRAHAM ABRAMSON 

PATRICIA PEREZ & BRETT PALAT 

JUAN MONTOYA 

SANDRA MEHLER 

KARINA DUER & ISAAC KATZ 

DIANA GRAJALES 

KFIR AMSALEM & JULIANA SALTCHICK 

OREN MAROM & KARINA RYAN 

DAIVA SUMSLATE 

SHEILA VISHNEVSKY 

ENA & SOLOMON ENGEL 

AMY SHUTTER 

LUZ GEDULD

High Holy Days Feedback 


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19

ASK DR. KERUV 

Q: We have our family Chanukah party each year. This year 

we invited our daughter’s brother in law’s family to our party. 

His wife is not Jewish and the children are being brought 

up with no particular religion at this time. Our tradition is 

to give each child their own menorah to light the Chanukah 

candles and recite the prayers. Is it appropriate to give all 

the children menorahs even if they aren’t being brought up 

Jewish? 

Dianne Dreidel from Davie 

A: Dianne it is perfectly alright to give all the children 

menorahs. The story of Chanukah teaches us about religious 

freedom. Invite others to share in the joy of lighting the 

menorah. If you expose the children from an interfaith marriage 

to the wonderful custom of Chanukah perhaps the memories will 

be happy and long lasting, and hopefully will help influence the 

non Jewish spouse and children to partake in Jewish traditions in 

the future. You need to make the interfaith couple and children 

feel welcome in your home when celebrating Chanukah and 

other Jewish holidays. Chanukah is a happy holiday with lots of 

ethnic foods, games, and songs; what better way to show the joys 

of Judaism to a young family. 

Dr.Keruv 

This column will be printed in the Beth Torah Times each 

edition.If you have a question, please email 

drkeruv@hotmail.com or 

Mail to 

Dr. Keruv 

Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus 

20350 NE 26th Avenue, N. Miami Beach, Fl. 33180 


REGISTER AT https://btbrc.shulcloud.com/form/mitzvahday.html 


21


“...As my father planted for me before I was born, 

so do I plant for those who willcome after me.” 

- Talmud Ta’amit 

Contributions & 

Yahrzeit Donations 

Beth Torah gratefully acknowledges 

these gifts of Tzedakah, from 

March 2018 to August 2018 

The Officers and Board of Directors, Professional and Office staff join in expressing our 

Mazal Tov or Condolences to the following families: 

GENERAL FUND 

Received from… 

Diane and Stephen Wander, in memory of George Rodman, 

beloved father of the Rodman Family 

Goldstein-Okay Family in memory of beloved son, Alan 

Bernardo Selcer, in memory of beloved Moises Zaragoza and 

Samuel Zaragoza 

Raquel and Michael Scheck, in memory of beloved mother, 

Berta Berezdivin 

Phylis Meier, in memory of beloved father, Leo Simensky and 

beloved sister, Sandra Frank 

Phylis Meier, in memory of beloved Rebecca Simensky 

Ramsey and Henry Pevsner, in memory of beloved Ralph Baker 

and Pearl Barrett 

Herbert Goldberg, in memory of beloved son, Steven Goldberg 

Bob Shelley, in memory of beloved mother, Evelyn Shelley 

Burton Young, in memory of beloved mother, Clara Young 

Marta Jacofsky, in memory of beloved Carlota Dunayevich de 

Jacofsky 

Julio Barenboim, in memory of beloved Sara Barenboim 

Ramsey and Henry Pevsner, in memory of beloved Ruth 

Pevsner 

Annette Willis, in memory of beloved grandmother, Hannah 

Harriet Pearson, in memory of beloved Albert Johnson, Rose 

Johnson, Julian Pearson, David Pearson and Joan Harris 

Helen and Edward Decker, in memory of beloved Bernard Catz 

Anne and Harold Mandelbaum, in memory of beloved Joan 

Bergman 

Harry Zimmerman, in memory of beloved sister, Sylvia 

Zimmerman 

Bette Joy Field, in honor of Jeremy and Chris Berger’s wedding, 

son of Judy and Rich Berger 

Dora Katz, in honor of Elaine Fisher’s birthday 

Rhoda Stein-Lipschitz, in honor of Sherri and Jeff Niefeld’s 40th 

Wedding Anniversary 


23

IN MEMORY OF SHIRLEY KRAVITZ, BELOVED 

MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OF 

WENDY AND STEVEN KRAVITZ, ELLEN AND LARRY 

ELBRAND AND MARLENE 

AND MICHAEL OLIN AND FAMILIES 

IN MEMORY OF DAVID DOBIN, BELOVED BROTHER 

OF JUDI AND BOB BILLIG AND FAMILY 


Gisela and Rabbi Mario Rojzman and Family 

Laurie and Rabbi Ed Farber and Family 

Marcela and Cantor Gaston Bogomolni and Family 

Wayne Keil 

Rochelle and Marshall Baltuch and Family 

Ronna and Mike Segal and Family 

Judy and Rich Berger and Family 

Raquel and Michael Scheck and Family 

The Beth Torah office staff Teri, Sherry, Marla, Lea, Veronica 

and Catalina 

Marcia and Joel Hochberg 

Etta Epstein 

IN MEMORY OF GERRI TOTH, BELOVED MOTHER 

OF CHERYL AND NELSON FERREIRA AND 

GRANDMOTHER OF JENI AND MATT BUCHHOLZ 

AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF KAYLA, ADDISON, 

DYLAN BUCHHOLZ AND LONDYN 





Wayne Keil 





The Beth Torah office staff Teri, Sherry, Marla, Lea, Veronica 

and Catalina 

Arlene Keil 

Rhoda Stein-Lipschitz 

Etta Epstein 

Melissa and Oleg Zubarev 

Jessica and Kevin Plotkin 

IN MEMORY OF ROSALIND “ROZ” SINGER, BELOVED 

MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OF BERNIE, KRISTY 

AND ADAM SINGER AND FAMILY 





Wayne Keil 





The Beth Torah office staff Teri, Sherry, Marla, Lea, Veronica and 

Catalina 

Tina and Myron Cohen 

Lea and Salomon Cohen and Family 

Janet Hager 

Mindy Drath 

Scott Weisblum 

Lenore Elias 

Shelly Lipson 

Arlene Keil 

Judy and Joel Feinman 

IN MEMORY OF DAVID MOSKOVITZ, BELOVED 

HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER OF 

SANDRA MOSKOVITZ, ROB AND EVELYN 

MOSKOVITZ AND DAN AND SUSAN MOSKOVITZ, 

BRADLEY, JUSTIN, SARA, JOSIE, LOGAN AND FAMILY 





Wayne Keil 





The Beth Torah office staff Teri, Sherry, Marla, Lea, Veronica and 

Catalina 

Ronni and Bob Whitebook 

Judi and Ray Wilensky 


KETTLER & LEVY FAMILIES YOUTH CONNECTION 


Karen and Michael Matluck, in memory of beloved mother, 

Elaine Matluck 

Carole Fink, in memory of beloved husband, Jeffrey Fink, 

mother’s Elizabeth and Gertrude and aunt, Goldy 

Gareth Fink, in memory of beloved father, Jeffrey Fink and 

sister, Heidi 

Syd Nacron, in memory of beloved father, Emmanuel Rudy and 

beloved parents, Rosa and Rubin Najkon 

Justine and Stanley Warmbrandt, in memory of beloved son, 

Barry Warmbrandt 

Justine and Stanley Warmbrandt, in memory of beloved 

brother, Marvin Warmbrandt 

Ilene, Jay, Brian, Courtney and Austin Rechtman and Rachel and 

Patrick Banks, in memory of beloved father and grandfather, 

Edwin Rechtman 

Lenore Elias, in memory of beloved husband, father and 

grandfather, Alvin Elias 

Syd Nacron, in memory of beloved daughter, Rosemary Nacron 

Alyne and Abbey Kaplan, in memory of beloved Norman Wrubel 

Deborah Berkowitz, in honor of Fern Sher’s 89th birthday 

EVELYN and MONROE MITCHEL and FAMILY 

CONTINUING EDUCATION 


Berta Feldman, in honor of Elaine Fisher’s birthday 

Evelyn and Monroe Mitchel, in memory of beloved mother, 

Mary Goldberg and beloved uncle, Benjamin Benjamin 

SCHECK FAMILY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 


Susan and Sid Koslovsky, in memory of Alex and Millie Koslovsky 

and Gertrude Greenberg 

Steven Zucker, in memory of all deceased members of my 

family, and in honor of all of these wonderful souls 

Berta Feldman, in memory of beloved husband, Abraham 

Feldman 

Jane and Alan Axelrod, in memory of beloved Joan Leff 

Rabbi Ed and Laurie Farber, in memory of our parents 

SUZY FISCHER EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY 


Audre Niedenthal, in memory of my dearest beloved dad, Bert 

Bass 

KIDDUSH FUND 


Raquel and Manuel Rydz, in memory of beloved fathers, 

Moises Cohen and Felix Rydz 

Judy and Joel Feinman, in memory of beloved mother, 

Norma Reich 

Jean and Bruce Smoler, in memory of beloved Goldie 

Smoler 

Deborah Friedman, in memory of Ruth Newman 

SHIRLEY SCHREIBER FAMILY CAMP SIMCHA 

SCHOLARSHIP FUND 


Perry Phillips, in memory of beloved Louis Phillips and 

Miguel Berezdivin 

DR. STUART KLODA CAMP RAMAH AND YOUTH 

SCHOLARSHIP FUND 


Madeline and Joel Benes, in honor of Danny Whitebook’s 

birthday 

WARREN HENRY AUTO GROUP AND THE ZINN 

FAMILY LEV SHALEM MACHZOR FUND 


Arlene Keil and Family, in memory of beloved sister and 

aunt, Renee Glassman 

Bette Joy Field, in honor of my children 

SIDDUR LEV SHALEM FOR SHABBAT AND 

FESTIVALS 


Ron Smith, in honor of Rabbi Rojzman and Rabbi Farber 

and wishing you a healthy and Happy New Year 

Ronni and Bob Whitebook, in memory of Shirley Kravitz, 

beloved mother and grandmother of Wendy and Steven 

Kravitz and Family 

Ronni and Bob Whitebook, in memory of David Moskowitz, 

beloved husband, father and grandfather of Sandra 

Moskowitz and Rob and Evelyn Moskowitz and Dan and 

Susan Moskowitz and Families 

Jill and Brian Koch, in memory of Andy Rodman’s father 

Friends of Rosalind (Roz) Singer, in memory of beloved Roz 

Singer 


25

MIRIAM AND SEYMOUR FELDSTEIN LIKRAT 

SHABBAT FUND 


Arlene Keil, in memory of beloved sister, Isabel Lerner 

KERI BROOKE HEIKEN COLLEGE OUTREACH FUND 


Syd Nacron, in memory of beloved daughter, Rosemary Nacron 

PATTI MINTZ CAMP RAMAH SCHOLARSHIP FUND 


Shelly Lipson, in memory of beloved mother, Doris Dorfman 

and beloved brother-in law Robert Lipson 

SUZANNE LIPSON ISRAEL PROGRAMS FOR 

COLLEGE STUDENTS 


Evelyn Wagenberg, in memory of beloved Hilda and Marcos 

Yanovich 

BT2U 


Tina and Myron Cohen, in memory of beloved sister, Selma 

Silverman 

RABBI ROJZMAN’S DISCRETIONARY FUND 


Renee and Jorge Lerman, in honor of the marriage of their son 

Ben to Tatiana 

Sharon Miriam Blumberg, in memory of beloved Joel A Gellar 

Goldie Wigutow, in memory of her beloved husband, Sol 

Wigutow 

RABBI FARBER’S DISCRETIONARY FUND 


Christy and Bernie Singer in loving memory of Bernie’s Mom, Roz 

Singer 

Ilene and Jay Rechtman in honor of the birth of their grandson, 

Austin Ian Rechtman 

Ilene and Jay Rechtman in prayer for a speedy recovery for 

Morechai ben Laima 

Marc and Jackie Fine in honor of the baby naming of their new 

granddaughter 

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Muchnick in honor of the High Holy Days 

services 

Robin Wucher and Larry Willis in memory of Robin’s Uncle, 

Lloyd Wucher, on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony. 

Sylvan Marlen and Gorecki Korda in honor of Beth Torah 

Mindy and Marc Dickler in memory of Robert and Sandra 

Feldman 

You may also send your tax-deductible donations to these other funds: 

- SECURITY 

- MARSHALL BALTUCH USY SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

- SHELLEY FAMILY EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER 

- SPANISH MAJZORIM FOR IAMIM NORAIM 

- EVA AND HELMUT WELLISCH ETZ HAYIM - CHUMASH FUND 

- RABBI MAX A LIPSCHITZ YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

- PHYLLIS & STEVE SHEINMAN YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

- RUTH WAGNER SHAPIRO YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

- CAMPUS RENOVATION PROJECT 

- JENNY LERMAN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND 

- MORRIS STEIN MEMORIAL FUND 

- DR. SHULAMIT KATZMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR JEWISH EDUCATION 


News from Sisterhood 

Chanukkah means dedication, which 

represents the Maccabees defeating 

the Syrians and rededicating the Temple 

with the miracle of finding holy oil that 

miraculously lasted for 8 days, despite 

having only enough for one day. 

Our Sisterhood is a dedicated group of 

women and we honored our members at 

our Paid up Membership Brunch, along with 

honoring Rachel Lerfelt with our special 

Eyshet Chayel award. This award is given 

annually to a member of our Sisterhood 

who goes above and beyond at helping out 

at various events and programs. 

Our program included a special skit about 

Jewish pirates. Thank you to Judie Berger 

and Terry Jonas for writing the script and 

to our hard-working committee. A special 

thanks goes to our Beth Torah Temple 

Presidents, Rich Berger and Mike Segal for taking 

on the roles of two of the pirates. 

Our Chanukkah party, will be graciously hosted 

by our own Gisela and Rabbi Rojzman. Instead 

of a gift exchange, we have chosen to donate 

to Sharsheret by bringing special toys for the 

families of the women who are suffering from 

breast and ovarian cancer. 

On January 20 at 10 am, Sisterhood will be 

celebrating with a Tu B’Shevat Seder. This will be 

in lieu of our annual Women’s Seder at Passover. 

Special Todah Rabah to our Sisters who have 

honored us with donations. 

Chanukkah Sameach! 

Judy Berger and Etta Birenbaum Epstein 

Sisterhood Co-Presidents 


News from the Scheck Family Religious School 

Dear Families, 

Shalom, 

We hope this issue finds you well. 

Incredibly, school has been in session 

for about two months. In such a 

short time we have achieved many 

accomplishments. First of all, we 

proudly share that our classrooms 

have grown, not because we 

expanded the walls, but because the 

number of students has increased 

in every grade level. We opened the 

year by baking round Challah for 

Rosh Hashanah, and right away in 

mid October we shared the Shabbat 

table with families in grades K-3. The 

turnout reached the 150 people who 

celebrated Shabbat in shul. We also 

initiated our collective Mitzvah project 

with KFB and our students in those 

grade levels attended the Kosher Food 

Bank Facility to help stack the monthly 

items. During the month of November, 

students in grades 5-6 visited the 

Holocaust Memorial Museum to 

commemorate Kristallnacht and, 

of course, discussed the tragedy in 

Pittsburgh. As December approaches, 

we start re - evoking the miracles of 

Chanukkah and thinking of a relaxing 

break. It is our true hope to continue 

to illuminate and nurture our children 

with Jewish values and educate them 

as Jewish Civilians of the world. 

The end of the secular year is approaching soon and once again the 

year goes round and round as many things happen around us, some 

good simchas to share and yet other sorrows to despair. We want 

to greet our families with a prosperous and peaceful 2019 as we 

thank our teachers for their devotion to the sacred task of Jewish 

Education. 

Last, but not least, we want to congratulate the Kurkin Family on 

Noah’s Bar Mitzvah while we thank Mindy for the tireless hours and 

effort she invests in our school as the V.P of Education. 

Mazel tov, Noah and to the entire family. 

Sincerely, 

The Scheck Family Religious School Team 


29

News from the YOUTH GROUP 

USY & KADIMA 


. 

EXPERIENCE ISRAEL 

c- 

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TEL AVIV - MASADA - EIN GEDI - JERUSALEM - 

GALILEE - TZFAT - GOLAN - AKKO - TEL AVIV 

Discover the Old and the Modern Israel 

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Copyright © 2018 Momentum Tours & Travel, Inc. All rights reserved. 

MAY 19 - MAY 29, 2019 

Ed Farber 

Rabbi / Educator 

ONLY 5 SPACES AVAILABLE 

with 

Marshall Baltuch 

Trip Administrator 

GRANTS TO SUBSIDIZE EACH ATTENDEE BY THE 

HAROLD E. SIMON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, INC 

For More Information Contact Marshall Baltuch - mbaltuch@btbrc.org 


31



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35



37

Donor Roster 

High Holy Days 2018 - 5779 

“Each according to the Blessing which the Lord God has bestowed upon them” 

We thank the following people and their families for committing 

to our High Holy Days campaign. 

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP 

Lois & Sanford z”l Hildebrandt 

Marcia & Joel Hochberg 

Cheryl & Ruben Kloda 

Shelly & Arthur z”l Lipson 

Raquel & Michael Scheck 

Linda Shelley 

Robert Shelley 

Ronni & Bob Whitebook 

RABBIS’ CABINET MEMBERSHIP 

Anonymous 

Carola & Michel Cohen 

Marcia & Jeff Frantz 

Jeannie & Barry Lewin 

Syd Nacron 

Ana Karina & Jonathan Politano 

Laurie & Stephen Riemer 

Phyllis & Steve Sheinman 

Terri & Jeffrey Sonn 

Elizabeth Laduzinski & Jose Waingarten 

BT2U PROGRAM 

The Scheck Family 

ENDOWMENTS 

ETZ CHAYIM CHUMASH FUND 

Eva & Helmut Wellisch 

LEV SHALEM MAHZOR FUND 

Warren Henry Auto Group & 

Zinn Family 

LIKRAT SHABBAT SIDDUR FUND 

Miriam & Seymour Feldstein 

BETH TORAH FOUNDATION 

Dr. Shulamit Katzman z”l 

Educational Scholarship Fund 

NEW PERMANENT SEATS 

Tammy & Eric Isicoff 

Renee & Jorge Lerman 

Valentina & Ariel Saban 

Anica & David Shpilberg 

With much gratitude, we thank 

Marcia Frantz, for compiling our 

Annual Book of Remembrance. 

PILLAR OF BETH TORAH 

$25,000 - $35,999 

NER TAMID 

$18,000-$24,999 

Monica & Daniel Bajuk 

Lana & Michael Fischer 

Grosskopf Family 

RABBI MAX’S B’NAI MITZVAH 

CLUB – $13,000 - $17,999 

Amy & Howard Chafetz 

Linda & Gil Drozdow 

Kathy & Daniel Haime 

Marcia & Joel Hochberg 

Alison & Rick Mars 

Rosa Rok 


Raquel & Michael Scheck 

Carol & Michael Steiner 

Warren Zinn 

TEN COMMANDMENTS 

$10,000 - $12,999 

Ellen & David Block 

Esrubilsky Family 

Cheryl & Ruben Kloda 

Amy Dean & Alan Kluger 

Temy & Mario Kreutzberger 

Ronni & Robert Whitebook 

MENORAH 

$7,200-$9,999 

Adriana & Edgar Halac 

Gisela & Rabbi Mario Rojzman 

Alan Rosenthal 

Michele & Steven Scheck 

SHOFAR 

$5,000 - $7,199 

Jane & Alan Axelrod 

Elise & Gil Bonwitt 

Tammy & Eric Isicoff 

Adrienne & Jeff Scheck 

Hili & Marty Scheck 

Ronna & Mike Segal 

Michelle & Daniel Serber 

Robert Shelley 

Anica & David Shpilberg 

Hedy & Daniel Whitebook 

RABBIS’ CIRCLE 

$3,600-$4,999 

Morris Deakter 

Miriam & Seymour Feldstein 

Elinor Ganz 

Avra & Joel Glicksman 

Lois Hildebrandt 

Debora & Rafael Konitzki 

Joann & Roni Laskin 

Jeanne & Barry Lewin 

Shelly Lipson 

Robert Quittner 

Phyllis & Steve Sheinman 

Alicia Tasma & Hugo Silbergleit 

BENEFACTOR 

$2,500-$3,599 

Mark & Mildred Cohn 

Carolyn & Joshua Frank 

Amy & Marc Gittelman 

Barbara & Robert Goldfarb 

Fernando Halac 

Sharon & Glenn Kaplan 

Beverly & Joe Koplowitz 

Jodi & Carlos Lerman 

Renee & Jorge Lerman 

Jessica & Jorge Linkewer 

Ariela & Gary Mars 

Elizabeth & Marcos Morjain 

Evelyn & Robert Moskovitz 

Syd Nacron 

Adrienne & David Promoff 

Sergio Rok 

Raquel & Manuel Rydz 

April & Robert Snyder 

Robin & Larry Willis 

CHAI 

$1,800 - $2,499 

Anonymous (2) 

Laurie & Rabbi Ed Farber 

Nancy & Elan Feldman 

Marcia & Jeffrey Frantz 

Susan & Richard Golden 

Adriana Faerman & Glenn Gopman 

Jan & Alexander Hockman 

Barbara & Samuel Kaplan 

Jodi & Daniel Katz 

Robin & Brian Kettler 

Rebecca & Frank Kriger 

Ana Raquel & Abraham Linkewer 

Michelle Robinson & Wayne 

Lippman 

Anne & Harold Mandelbaum 

Masha Mayer 

Judith & Barry Nelson 

Sandra & Andres Oppenheimer 

Aida Politano 

Rochelle Roberts 

Isabel & Omar Romay 

Leila Selebrinsky & Marcelo Saiegh 

Barbara & Herbert Saks 

Lisa Gaeta & Harry Sendzischew 

Sisterhood 

Paula & Felipe Sommer 

Ilene & Jay Sosenko 

Susan & Marvin Tuchklaper 

Ruth & Howard Vernick 

Justine & Stanley Warmbrandt 

Eva & Helmut Wellisch 

Marilyn & David Zinn 

SHAMASH 

$1,000-$1,799 

Anonymous 

Judy & Rich Berger 

Gustavo Bogomolni 

Marla & Michael Cotzen 

Silvie & Peter Dreyfuss 

Deborah & Harvey Friedman 

Sandra & Eric Friedman 

Terri Schrifman & Stanley Friedman 

Elsa Glucksberg 

Vita Gopman 

Carina & Pablo Hoberman 

Stephanie & Mark Kleiner 

Wendy & Steven Kravitz 

Bettina Rubinton Linkewer 

Sen. Gwen Margolis 

Karen & Michael Matluck 

Phylis Meier 

Evelyn & Monroe Mitchel 

Julie & Andrew Rodman 

Melanie & David Rosemberg 

Jorge Rosenblut 

Libby & Richard Schechter 

Laurie & Greg Schenker 

Arlene Schnell 

Iris & Fernando Schlaen 

Linda Shelley 

Jean & Bruce Smoler 

Joanne Solomon 

Ellen & Howard Sprechman 

Nurit Edelman & Martin Talmasky 

Debra & Edward Zebersky 


39

CHAVER 

$500-$999 

Lynn & Mark Altschuler 

Anonymous 

Claudine Assous 

Rochelle & Marshall Baltuch 

Helene Berger 

Judith & Bob Billig 

Michael Blasberg 

Norma & David Blecker 

Myriam & Charles Block 

Donna & Ron Bloomberg 

Sharon Blumberg 

Virginia & Marcelo Buki 

Ruth Burstyn 

Graciela & Daniel Cababie 

Bernard Cohen 

Elaine Cohen 

Ilene & Moises Cohen 

Rebecca & Jay Cohen 

Ana & Enrique Covos 

Susan & Marc Einbinder 

Olga & Narciso Falkon 

Bette Joy Field 

Linda & Eugene Finkin 

Diana & Ernesto Frost 

Sheryl & David Fruitman 

Viviana & Alexander Furth 

Herbert Goldberg 

Carol Greener 

Ian Hagen 

Sheila & Brian Hunis 

Rosa & Jorge Jaskelson 

Arlene Keil 

Wayne Keil 

Jill & Brian Koch 

Mindy & Mark Kurkin 

Raquel & Natalio Leiserson 

Rhoda Stein-Lipschitz 

Adrienne Weinstein Lowy 

Viviane Manhard 

Helen & Samuel Marcoschamer 

Karen & Jonathan Morton 

Aida & Jose Nicenboim 

Audre Niedenthal 

Veronika & Ellis Norsoph 

Valeria & Dario Nul 

Marcia & Charles Orvieto 

Claire & Chaim Plewinski 

Maxene & Eugene Posman 

Gabriela & Fito Rascovsky 

Henri Rojzman 

Marci & Oren Rosenthal 

Edith & Arnold Schecter 

Caryn & Larry Schwartz 

Clarita & Bernardo Dov Selcer 

Jessica & Kevin Shacter 

Penni & Robert Sheir 

Helene & Stanley Sinclair 

Sue & Stanley Skopit 

Ruanne Spivack 

Sindi & Steven Strumwasser 

Denise & Ofer Tamir 

Lilia & Leon Wechsler 

Lizette & Josh Weingard 

Rita & Craig Weinstein 

Perli & Jerry Zuchowickiu 

DONOR 

$360 - $499 

Linda & Marcos Ackerman 

Anonymous (2) 

Lily & Shlomo Attas 

Prosper Azerraf 

Deborah Berkowitz 

Yvette & Enrique Ciklik 

Lea, Salomon & Abe Cohen 

Ellen Elias 

Berta Feldman 

Enrique Gajstut 

Ann & Norman Hurwitz 

Terry & Mark Jonas 

Kristina Laaniste & Esteban Koffsman 

Fayanne Kuttler 

Silvana Cotler & Oliverio Lew 

Pauline & Derek Lubie 

Esther & Marcos Mantel 

Alicia & Norberto Margulis 

Juliana & Efrain Martinez 

Sandra & David Moskovitz 

Sherri & Jeff Niefeld 

Sonia & Jack Rydz 

Tania & Daniel Scharifker 

BUILDER 

$180-$359 

Marjorie Aloni 

Nancy & Jonny Alpern 

Anonymous 

Joann & Gary Arnowitz 

Karen Nisnik & Edy Att 

Debora & Jorge Baran 

Elizabeth & Ricardo Bebchik 

Andrea Beck 

Sandra & Silvio Berlfein 

Lily & Jacky Blank 

Marcela & Cantor Bogomolni 

Veronica Etinger & Ignacio 

Borenszteyn 

Annette & Rabbi Geoffrey Botnick 

Candace & Richard Brook 

Susan & Eduardo Comella 

Lois Danis 

Sandra Edelboim 

Lenore Elias 

Etta Birenbaum Epstein 

Rosa Fernandez & Sergio Farache 

Judy & Joel Feinman 

Elena & Daniel Feldsberg 

Sharon Felix 

Victorine & Victor Fleischman 

Ruth Froom 

Isidoro Ghelman 

Joseph Goldman 

Marisa & Daniel Halle 

Mona Heisler 

Jacqueline Hodes 

Sandra & Edgardo Imar 

Marta Jacofsky 

Thali Gottesman & Maurice Kadosh 

Eileen & Charles Koch 

Elaine Krutchik 

Elena & Abraham Kubiliun 

Denise & Daniel Landman 

Sonya Lederer 

Jenny & Jeff Levinson 

Avital & William Lichter 

Sara & William Ludmir 

Marina & Gustavo Lumer 


Anne & Robert Marcovich 

Debbie & Ed Margolis 

Miriam & Bruce Masia 

Martha & Itzhak Miller 

Nicole & Jeffrey Musaffi 

Raquel & Jose Naftali 

Judith & Fabian Neiman 

Nancy & Marcelo Nudel 

Mindy Tucker Olofsen & Jan Olofsen 

Yael & Damian Ostrowicz 

Nicole & Alon Ozer 

Harriet Pearson & Perry Phillips 

Sheryl & Robert Podgorowiez 

Adrienne & Alden Pravder 

Mara & Robert Redstone 

Jolie & Harold Rivner 

Sergio Roitberg 

Judy Rosenblum 

Orli & Jason Rudolph 

Margo Brilliant & Robert Schwartz 

Fanny Segal 

Iris & Isaac Semaya 

Lauren Slater 

Debbie & Todd Snyder 

Terri & Jeffrey Sonn 

Carla & James Spector 

Pam & Burt Srebrenik 

Denise Stamm 

Linda & Steven Steiner 

Carmen & Yoel Vivas 

Diane & Stephen Wander 

Florence & Bob Werner 

Leslie & Steven Willinger 

SPONSOR 

$100-$179 

Julio Barenboim 

Esther & Isaac Bensussan 

Aileen & Eric Berger 

Judith Berger 

Julie & Jason Berkowitz 

Alexandra & Andres Berman 

Luis Dikes 

Suzan & Mark Farber 

Robert Feingold 

Carole Fink 

Simona & Joseph Goldfarb 

Rae Cutler & Donald Goodis 

Seymour Hammer 

Dina Hashman 

Marylin Holzberg 

Lois Koppel 

Pola & Abraham Mansdorf 

Anita Meuret 

Jutta Myers 

Sonia & Andres Naftali 

Ramsey & N Henry Pevsner 

Maria Rojas 

Edna & Barry Rosenthal 

Stephanie & Marc Schmulian 

Eileen Nissman Stern & 

Jeffrey Stern 

Dana & Jonathan Stern 

Evelyn & Jose Weisinger 

Carol & Robert Wolf 

Rebeca Yaker 

CONTRIBUTOR 

$18 - $99 

Anonymous 

Catalina Abello 

Sara Viviana & Gustavo Asman 

Brenda Auerbach 

Marilee & Eugene Bass 

Barbara Bergmann 

Sheryl Berkowitz 

Sara & Guillermo Bermann 

Vivienne Borkan 

Linda & Jerome Buchsbaum 

Celia Diamond 

Niurka & Yosef Echevarria-Cabret 

Asenath Elfenbein 

Rita & Jack Esquenazi 

Ronnie Estey 

Shelley & Isaac Farin 

Raquel & Abraham Feldman 

Sheila Morrell & Howard Fine 

Jonathan Fischer 

Julieta Ludman & Pablo Fried 

Michael Gilinsky 

Danielle & Spencer Goldenberg 

Pauline & Gerald Halpern 

Dorothy Herold 

Liliana & Marcos Iberkleid 

Raquel & Leonard Jacobskind 

Dora Katz 

Leslie & Russel Lazega 

Rachel & Harvey Lerfelt 

Jeffrey Levin 

Michelle & Yair Levy 

Sharon & Jason Lewen 

Maritza Lieberman 

William Marcus 

Tamar Mayer 

Thabatta & Igal Mizrahi 

David Parris 

Inez Mota & Leonardo Popiol 

Ilene & Jay Rechtman 

Ronald Rindler 

Feiga Rosell 

Dina & Avi Rosenblat 

Sheri Rosenthal 

Elizabeth Edmunds & Gregory 

Rothschild 

Ivana & Yankel Schwartz 

Oranit Shaked 

Brenda Silbergleit Nae 

Melissa G. & Ben Steinfeld 

Beatriz & Daniel Tkach 

Pearl Tucker 

Roxana Feldman & Oscar Waldman 

Steffi Wallace Keffer 

Ana & Jorge Weinstein 

Sonia & George Weisselberger 

Goldie Wigutow 

Toby Wolson 

Steven Zucker 


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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 

RABBI ROJZMAN MESSAGE 

There are lots of Nazis in Pennsylvania, There are 

lots of Nazis right here in Florida. 

They were getting ready apparently to have a Bris, a 

Bris that never took place. We had a baby naming. 

So I decided that I wanted to talk to that baby who 

did not have a Bris, because babies sometimes 

understand more than adults. 

I will call him “baby” because I don’t know his 

name (he wasn’t able to receive one that day) 

but brilliantly Zev Steinberg tried to think of a 

name. For those of you who may have seen this, I 

apologize in advance. 

Little boy, what’s your name – do you have one? 

Sweet baby, just eight days, what should we call 

you? 

Is your name Shalom? We long for peace in this 

troubled world. I hope you are Shalom. 

Is your name Nachum? Oh, how we need to be 

comforted in our grief. I hope you are Nachum. 

Is your name Raphael? Our broken hearts and 

bleeding souls need healing. I hope you are 

Raphael. 

Is your name Moshe? Our unbearable anguish and 

rage demands justice. I hope you are Moshe. 

Is your name Ariel? We need the ferocious strength 

of lions to protect our people. I hope you are Ariel. 

Is your name Barak? We need courageous warriors 

to vanquish our enemies. I hope you are Barak. 

Is your name Simcha? We need an end to sadness 

by bringing joy into our world. I hope you are 

Simcha. 

Is your name Yaron? We need an end to mourning 

by bringing song into our lives. I hope you are 

Yaron. 

Is your name Matan? We need the gift of children 

who will bring a better tomorrow. I hope you are 

Matan. 

You know baby, you should have been carried high 

into the congregation on Shabbat morning - past 

from loving hands to loving hands - on a cushioned 

pillow to receive your Jewish name. Instead your 

elders fell and were carried out on stretchers in 

plastic bags. Their names on tags. 

So little boy, what’s your name? Take them all if you 

will. Take a thousand names. Be Peace and Comfort and 

Healing. Be Justice and Strength and Courage. Be Joy 

and Song and a Gift to the world. Be every good name 

and every good thing. 

Baby, you are joining an amazing civilization. One that 

teaches humanity that God is one and only one. That 

every person is created in his image and cannot even 

infer that he is better than the other. A civilization 

that maintains that we need to take care of widows, 

orphans and strangers. 

And yet “bechol dor vador”, in every generation there 

were and there will be people ready to kill us. 

A week from today we will commemorate the 80th 

anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of the “Broken 

Glass” where Nazis torched synagogues. Kristallnacht 

was the beginning of the end for the Jews of Germany 

After Kristallnacht, Germans did not come to help 

the Jews clean up. Quite the contrary, the Jews were 

forced to pay for all the damage as the Germans 

claimed they had brought it on themselves! 

You know baby, when you heard all the screaming, 

you also heard the screaming of 2 police officers and 

2 S.W.A.T team officers as they worked to stop the 

murderer.They risked their lives as well. 

Never after a pogrom did non-Jews help the Jews to 

recover, but this is America. 

Listen Baby: A group called Muslims Unite for 

Pittsburgh Synagogue held a fundraiser. Listen to the 

words of Wasi Mohamed, from the Islamic Center of 

Pittsburgh. He told the crowd at the fundraiser that 

their work is not finished with the fundraiser alone. He 

said: “We just want to know what you need.” 

That’s America at its best! 

Like Rabbi Wolberg wrote, “Pittsburgh also reminded 

us of Jews at their best.” Most of those Jews who 

were killed were elderly. They were that synagogue’s 

minyonaires … they came every day to ensure that 

there was a minyan to say kaddish. We have people 

like that at Beth Torah! Every synagogue has people 

like that … people who honestly believe and live by 

the words: “Kol Yisroel areivim zeh la zeh – all Jews are 

responsible one for another.” There are plenty of Jews 

who live by those words. 


Yes, little baby, sometimes we are blamed that we take 

care of only our own. But it is not true! We don’t only 

take care of our own! 

Look what happened the day of your supposed Bris. 

After the attack, Robert Bowers, the killer who cried, 

“I want to kill all the Jews …” was kept alive at the 

Allegheny General Hospital, where at least three 

of the doctors and nurses who cared for him were 

Jewish. The President of the hospital, Dr. Jeffrey 

Cohen, who happens to be a member of the Tree of 

Life Congregation, told the media: “We are here to take 

care of sick people. We’re not here to judge you, we’re 

not here to ask if you have insurance or do not have 

insurance … we’re here to take care of people who 

need our help.” 

We read in the parasha of the week: 

“And Abraham died in a good old age, an old man, 

and full of years, and was gathered to his people. And 

Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of 

Machpelah.” 

Did you hear that??? 

Isaac and Ishmael together. 

Even after all their past, after all their differences, after 

all their complexities, after all their discrepancies, they 

together buried Abraham. 

The support, the love, the compassion, the kindness 

that we received from the community made us 

feel that we were not burying our eleven dead by 

ourselves. We were not alone. Ishmael was with us. 

Many others were with us. 

People from different faiths were with us and they are 

with us hugging us, embracing us. 

And if Ishmael and Isaac with all their differences were 

able to bury their dead together, why can’t Republicans 

and Democrats bury 11 American Jews together?? 

These days, rabbis are afraid to speak out or make 

moral pronouncements for fear of sounding too 

political. No matter what we say, we are criticized for 

sounding too much like a liberal or a conservative, 

a Republican or a Democrat. Many of us have been 

silent in the face of the horrors taking place in our 

country. Have we forgotten the words of Elie Wiesel? 

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the 

oppressor, never the victim, silence encourages the 

tormentor, never the tormented.” 

In the past two years there has been a 67% percent 

increase in anti-Semitic incidents in America and a 

ninety percent increase in New York. 

This needs to stop. 

So, I am mourning today the precious lives lost 

in Pittsburgh. But I am also mourning for the loss 

of civility, the rise of prejudice, the diminution of 

honesty, and the inability of our leaders to talk to 

one another. I am mourning because this is not the 

America we deserve 

Baby, tell them that you don’t want to hear more 

politicians telling you “our thoughts and prayers are 

with the families of the victims” Tell them that you 

represent the future and for this country to be a 

light to other nations and to have a future, we need 

the leaders to be leaders and not walking egos. 

We are a remarkable people, and we live in a 

remarkable country. So, we as a people, must stay 

strong, we as a country must remain optimistic. 

We dare not give into despair. We are a people 

dedicated to a Torah whose “ways are ways of 

pleasantness and all its paths are peace.” Do you 

know where you find those words? 

In the words of the Book of Proverbs that provided 

the Tree of Life Synagogue its very name: “Eitz 

Chayim He – it is a tree of life to those who grasp 

it and those who uphold it are happy. Its ways are 

ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.” 

I received yesterday morning a phone call from 

a dear friend, a member of our congregation, Dr 

Sosenko. He became a grandpa. You know what 

the new baby’s name is?? Ilan Chaim (a tree of life, 

after the attacked synagogue’s name) 

Baby take another name be CHAIM, BE LIFE! 

Life is a synonym of Judaism 

We believe in life, we are life. 

And we will be alive 

Am Israel Chai 

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE HURT BUT ALIVE 


45



47


RABBI FARBER MESSAGE 

in that synagogue that morning if they weren’t jetlagged 

from a trip they had just made. Good friends of ours 

from Kendall have a son who was literally walking by that 

synagogue on his way to a synagogue down the street 

when the police pulled up with sirens blasting and the 

gunman was running back into the synagogue. He took 

cover to avoid any stray bullets. This attack was personal. 

And it affected us more because in our minds – we were 

thinking – if it could happen there – it could happen here. 

How do I know that? Because immediately our leadership 

– like leaderships in synagogues across the country –called 

meetings to discuss in some cases – bringing security 

as many synagogues to my dismay have zero security 

arrangements – or in our case to strengthen an already 

strong security situation. I went to the Memorial service 

and vigil at the Holocaust Memorial and there were police 

and swat teams deployed to protect the few thousand 

who gathered there. So - this one was different because it 

happened here. On Chanukkah we will spin a dreidel which 

has the letters that spell out – a miracle happened there. 

It happened in Israel – there – not here. But in Israel their 

Dreidels are different – they say – a miracle happened 

here. Because they walk the streets where the battles took 

place – they live in the country where the persecutions 

began and the heroism of the Maccabees brought 

liberation. That’s what is happening here. When Jews 

are attacked in other countries – we feel it – we mourn – 

we’re concerned. But it happened there. This attack didn’t 

happen – Sham – there – it happened – poh – and when 

it happens ‘poh’ – here - the connection is stronger – the 

reaction is stronger the fear is greater. 

Now back to our learning about the planting of 

the tree even when the messiah has arrived and telling 

the story of Esther, Haman and Mordechai even after the 

Messiah is here. America is not only the greatest country 

that has ever existed in the history of the world – not only 

does the free world exist today because of America and the 

greatest generation – not only does any hope for the future 

of humanity depend completely on the power and the 

success of America – but America has been the greatest 

country outside of Israel for Jews to live and thrive. If 

we are shrinking because to many of our children and 

grandchildren have lost their connection to Judaism and 

the Jewish people – and because we have low fertility rates 

– that is not the fault of America – that is our fault and our 

fault alone – but that my friends is a different sermon for 

a different time. And we Jews know that America has been 

the greatest place for Jews and most minorities. And we are 

very, very proud of it. But we have forgotten the lessons the 

Rabbis taught us about planting the tree even if we think 

the messiah has come and reading about Haman and Esther 

even if we are sure the Messiah has come. The lesson of 

the book of Esther is – never – ever – let your guard down. 

Watch out for Haman. He is there is every generation – in 

every generation and in every place. He is looking for the 

opportunity to raise his ugly head and kill Jews because 

he has an ancient hate that is – a neurosis or a pathology 

– or it’s genetic or its cultural or religious or comes with 

mother’s milk. I don’t know – but I do know its eternal 

and nothing – nothing – will very make it go away. Strong 

opposition to it – condemning it – isolating it – making it 

persona non grata will limit it – push it into the shadows – 

force it back into hiding. But it won’t eliminate it and it will 

without failure arise again. Some American Jews have made 

the mistake of thinking that America is the messianic age 

for American Jews. We have arrived and we are free, safe 

and secure. Yes, we are freer and safer and more secure 

than we’ve ever been in the Diaspora. We said the prayer 

for Israel a few moments ago – it says – Bless the state of 

Israel – the beginning of our redemption. THE BEGINNING 

– not the final redemption. Because Israel understands 

that Haman is still there and although Jews are more 

secure now in Israel than they have been since the days of 

the Maccabees the Messiah hasn’t come. So Israel does 

everything in her power to secure the state and its citizens. 

Too many Americans have forgotten the lesson of Haman 

and planting the tree. The tree is real life – stay connected 

to reality even if you think the Messiah has come. Reality 

in America and throughout the world means – secure your 

Jewish institutions as best as you can. Laurie and I were in a 

synagogue in Vermont for a wonderful simcha a few weeks 

ago. We noticed that on Shabbat morning we walked in 

unnoticed -in the sense that there was zero security – no 

one at the front door to even notice our arrival. When we 

got to the sanctuary doors we were warmly welcomed. I 

asked the Rabbi who knows I am from Miami why there 

was absolutely no security at the door. She said – Ed – this 

is Vermont – not Miami. And I thought to myself – after all 

I was a guest and there are sometimes where my natural 

tendency to say what I think is curbed – so I thought to 

myself – I guess she thinks that anti-Semitism and mental 

illness and hatred somehow stops at the Florida Georgia 

border. Well it doesn’t. And the Messiah has not come – 

and there are Hamans out there. But here’s the other side 


of the truth. America is the dawn of redemption in the 

sense that it is the very best place there has ever been for 

Jews. Within 15 minutes of the attack in Pittsburgh police 

cars were sent out throughout Dade County to secure 

synagogues and any Jewish site that might have been 

open. This happened throughout the country. In Alabama 

Jeremy Schwartz reported to us about the police securing 

Hillel on Campus – the local synagogue - the JCC and Jewish 

fraternities on campus. There are four police officers in the 

hospital now in Pittsburgh who ran into that synagogue – 

putting their lives at risk – to save Jews. They would not like 

me saying it that way. Because they ran into that synagogue 

to save innocent lives – and they would have run into a 

church or a mosque or a mall. They would be upset that I 

said Jews because for them there are the innocent people 

and the criminals and that’s that. But we have a history 

and in our history the governments of the world were the 

instigators of the attacks on the synagogues – they were the 

corroborators with and protectors of the ones who bombed 

the JCC’s and the Israeli Consulates. The government – the 

law enforcement - in our history were more often than 

not the ones who instilled the anti-Semitism. That has 

never been and is not the case in America and that my 

fellow Jews – is the difference – and it is all the difference. 

And in America – the Christians and the Muslims and the 

secular Americans were universally horrified at this attack 

and rallied to our sides and that will help push back on the 

Hamans in this world. But heed the lesson of the Book of 

Esther and remember what the Rabbis said about the tree 

planting and the Messiah. Do not forget reality -do not let 

your guard down. A Mayor of a major city opposed using 

armed guards in our religious institutions because that isn’t 

America. He lives in a messianic vision that hasn’t come 

yet – in Hollywood they call it LaLa Land but at least they 

know its LaLa Land and I loved the movie but it wasn’t the 

real world. He is right – we shouldn’t have to put security in 

our Churches, Synagogues and Mosques. And we shouldn’t 

have to lock our homes at night – or have guards at our 

condos – or tracking devices on our cars or even now on 

our children. But until the Messiah comes and even after 

he comes – we will have to do it. Hopefully we’ll have to do 

it less and the number of times that Haman raises his ugly 

head will be less and less – fewer and fewer. And yes - that 

means we need leaders on both sides of the aisle that can 

disagree agreeably and tone down the heated rhetoric that 

can in no way help us. Harry Truman did three great things. 

He ended the war and saved at least 100,000 American 

soldiers lives and the city of Tokyo from total destruction. 

He recognized the State of Israel and in that way assured 

her existence. And he said – The Buck Stops Here – the 

responsibility stops in the oval office. To put a halt to this 

deterioration of our political discourse – to get it out of 

the gutter the leaders of the GOP and the leaders of the 

Democrats should have a meeting and then come out in 

one voice denouncing hate speech – commit to more civil 

but vigorous public debate of the key issues and in unity 

denounce any kind of violence or hate speech. If they can’t 

get together on this then they are not leaders. But it has to 

start with the White House because the buck stops there. 

The White House bears the greatest responsibility because 

it has the bully pulpit and it has the microphone. 

I found a message on my answering machine 

on the Monday after the attack. It was from a security 

company I never heard of. They said – Rabbi – we don’t 

know how to reach your synagogue – we know you have 

a security company and they are good – but we know 

that they are spread thin because of this terrifying and 

heinous attack. We want to know if we could send some 

security people just to help you out. We aren’t seeking 

your business or any payment – we just want to be part 

of the solution and let you know that all Americans stand 

in solidarity with you. That is the difference and that is 

why we will be ok – better than ok - here - as long as we 

remember that even in the land of the free and the home 

of the brave the anti-Semitic virus has not and cannot be 

erased – it can only be contained and Haman is there in the 

shadows. Our job is to keep pushing him to the margins 

– into the shadows and be prepared on the rare occasion 

when he snaps and is ready to end his own life to act on 

his overwhelming hatred of the Jew. I want to end by doing 

what we do in any Shivah house – we specifically say the 

name of the deceased and pray that we can make his/her 

memory into a blessing and then we say a prayer that ends 

in peace. These peoples are martyrs of the Jewish people – 

people who die for one reason – they are Jews. But they are 

martyrs with names: 

• Joyce Feinberg: Yiddis bat Ava Menachem -75, an 

intellectual and academic, who was knowns as a mentor 

and surrogate mother to her students. 

• Dr Richard Gottfried, Yosef ben Chaim, 65, A Dentist 

by trade, he volunteered his services to those who were 

uninsured at the Catholic Charities Free Dental Clinic. 

• Rose Mallinger, Raizel bat Avraham - 97, was the 

oldest victim, yet her age never stopped her from attending 

weekly services at Tree of Life. Spry and quick-witted, she 

was often seen walking in the neighborhood and stopping 


49

to chat with friends at the grocery store. 

• Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, Yehudah ben Yechezkel -66, a 

primary care physician, who with his signature bowtie earned 

a reputation for faithfully tending to the needs of his patients, 

friends and family. Even in his final moments, he ran outside, 

dodging a barrage of bullets, to help the wounded. 

• Brothers David and Cecil Rosenthal, David ben Eliezer 

and Chaim ben Eliezar - 54 and 59, considered by congregants 

as welcome ambassadors. They always sat in the back of the 

Temple and greeted people as they came in to worship. The 

duo had developmental disabilities and often spent their days 

at the nearby JCC. 

• Bernice Simon, Beila Rochel bat Moshe, 84, and 

Sylvan Simon, Zalman Shachna ben Menachem Mendel, 88 

exchanged their marriage mows at the Tree of Life synagogue 

and remained a devoted presence there ever since. Sylvan 

loved chatting with his friends and sharing jokes. Together, 

they were an inseparable couple known for walking hand in 

hand around town. 

• Melvin Wax, Moshe Gadol ben Yosef, 88, was at 

synagogue every Friday and Saturday, without fail. The first to 

arrive and the last to leave, he took on so many tasks – from 

chanting Torah to changing light bulbs. 

• Daniel Stein, Daniel Avrom ben Baruch, 71, was a 

simple man who loved his faith and family above all else. A 

loving husband, father and most recently grandfather, a role 

he embraced and cherished. 

• Irving Younger, Yitzchak Chaim ben Menachem, 69, was 

a familiar face at Temple, often doing the jobs no one wanted. 

When people came into Tree of Life for services, Irv, made 

sure everyone felt comfortable and welcomed. He didn’t 

know a stranger – everyone was his friend. 

Each of these individuals represented the good in humanity, 

embraced life and were guardians of their faith. They are a 

reminder to all of us that life is so precious and nothing is 

promised. May their memory be for a blessing. 

We end with hope. It is a poem written by Zev Steinberg 

and dedicated to the young boy whose arrive was being 

celebrated at the synagogue and whose Hebrew name was 

going to be announced that morning. The event did not 

obviously take place so Zev Steinberg wonders what the 

baby’s name will be. He entitles the piece – What’s your 

name: 

Little boy, what’s your name – do you have one? Sweet baby, 

just eight days, what should we call you? I have heard the 

sacred circumcision postponed for jaundiced yellow, but 

never before for bloodshed red. Is your name Shalom? We 

long for peace in this troubled world. I hope you are Shalom. 

Is your name Nachum? Oh, how we need to be comforted in 

our grief. I hope you are Nachum. Is your name Raphael? 

Our broken hearts and bleeding souls need healing. I 

hope you are Raphael. You should have been carried 

high into the congregation on Shabbat morning - passed 

from loving hands to loving hands - on a cushioned pillow 

to receive your Jewish name. Instead your elders fell 

and were carried out on stretchers in plastic bags. Their 

names on tags. Is your name Moshe? Our unbearable 

anguish and rage demands justice. I hope you are Moshe. 

Is your name Ariel? We need the ferocious strength of 

lions to protect our people. I hope you are Ariel. Is your 

name Barak? We need courageous warriors to vanquish 

our enemies. I hope you are Barak. The blood on Shabbat 

morning was supposed to be covenantal not sacrilegious, 

sacramental not sacrificial, sacred not unholy. The tears 

were supposed to be of boundless joy not bottomless 

sorrow. The cries were supposed to be “mazel tov” not 

the mourner’s kaddish. Is your name Simcha? We need 

an end to sadness by bringing joy into our world. I hope 

you are Simcha. Is your name Yaron? We need an end to 

mourning by bringing song into our lives . I hope you are 

Yaron. Is your name Matan? We need the gift of children 

who will bring a better tomorrow. I hope you are Matan. 

So little boy, what’s your name? Take them all if you 

will. Take a thousand names. Be peace and Comfort and 

Healing. Be Justice and Strength and Courage. Be Joy and 

Song and a Gift to the world. Be every good name and 

every good thing. And, Sweet baby, take one more name 

if you will – because I hope you will be blessed with a 

long, blissful, beautiful and meaningful life… I hope you 

are Chaim. 

Olam Chesed Yeebaneh – God will build a world of 

kindness –Enlighten the whole world with His Glory 

Do not stand apart from the community – Love your 

neighbor as yourself. My God, the soul you have placed 

in me is pure; to repair the world in the Kingdom of the 

Divine Mother. May we be God’s partners in bringing 

more kindness into the world and pushing darkness and 

evil back into the hole from which it has crawled out of. 

May this be God’s will. Amen and Shabbat Shalom. 



51


CANTOR BOGOMOLNI MESSAGE 

After the negative results in the field of agriculture, 

the settlers began to establish farms for the raising of 

dairy cattle. The farms at the beginning were handled 

collectively with negative results. 

In 1943, two experts arrived in Sosúa: Mr. David Stern and 

Mr. Douglas Blackwood. The first organized a restructuring 

of the farms, each of approximately 50 hectares with 

their respective water resources. To ensure drinking water 

for Sosúa and the farms, the aqueduct in the mountains 

(Chocco) was extended. Mr. Blackwood instructed them 

in the management and raising of dairy cattle. He quickly 

gained the confidence of the settlers, since they realized 

that tangible and commercially interesting results could 

be obtained. 

Each immigrant or settler had according to the statutes of 

the DORSA the right to obtain a farm with 15 animals, the 

prices were established by the administration. Each month 

they had to pay 10 dollars as amortization of the capital 

plus a small interest of 3% per year. Each settler was also 

entitled to a job in the two small industries: the dairy 

factory (C.I.L.C.A. - Compañía Industrial Lechera, C. por A.) 

and the livestock meat products factory. These two small 

factories functioned initially as cooperatives. 

In 1945 approximately 700 people lived in Sosúa, mostly 

immigrant single men. Many manage to leave the United 

States: some, unable to adapt to the environment and the 

management of a farm, others (especially professionals) 

looking for a higher education and a better standard of 

living. 

In 1947 another group of immigrants arrived from 

Shanghai, China. What a trip! From Europe to China and 

from China to Sosúa. They were approximately 35 people. 

The Benjamin, Strauss, Rothenberg, Floersheim and Hecht 

families were among them. 

The year 1950 is considered the last year of Jewish 

immigration to Sosúa. The last two families that were 

accepted as settlers were the Reuter and the Neuman 

families, both from Israel. 

Although Sosúa was planned as a refuge for Jewish 

immigration of at least 2,000 people only 800 arrived. 

As we said, after 1945, many went to the United States or 

Mexico and also a few returned to Germany. The problems 

of the first years - however - were overcome and Sosúa 

progressed and expanded in every way. 

Sosúa in those days, maintained a theater, a movie theater, 

a synagogue, a hospital with excellent service and a school. 

The latter very soon gained a very good reputation thanks 

to its director, the unforgettable Dr. Robischek, outstanding 

doctor of Vienna, known for his works of investigation in 

the bacteriological field in addition to a solid connoisseur 

of the Jewish sources. 

Pioneers cannot forget the “Oasis” or the Cafehouse, or 

Kneipe, or Taberna, a meeting point for friends. There 

they played cards, adjusted the last prices of CILCA, drank 

Dominican coffee or simply met people to chat over a little 

bit of tea. 

There was also the celebration of the Jewish holidays: 

Hanukkah, Purim and Passover. In the cultural sense, 

the settlers remained faithful to their European culture, 

mainly German and Austrian. It is interesting to note 

that despite the fact that almost all the immigrants from 

Sosúa were expelled from their home countries, under 

discriminatory and extremely humiliating conditions, they 

always maintained the cultural ties that bound them with 

the traditions and customs of their countries of origin. In 

Sosúa you could hear phrases like: “cooked or not-cooked 

at 12.30 we are going to eat” or, “in my country, Germany, 

things were like that”, etc. In the religious aspect, it could 

be said that the colonists were liberal traditionalists, with a 

strong tendency to assimilate to the environment. Children 

from the communities of Santo Domingo and Sosúa under 

the circumstances of the first years, many immigrant men 

married Dominican women and formed, in the cultural and 

religious sense, mixed marriages. The interesting thing is 

that these marriages, exposed from the point of view of 

the Jewish tradition, to a strong assimilation to the gentile 

environment, were able to preserve in their children and 

even in their grandchildren traits of the Jewish tradition 

and culture. In the first 30 years, some families managed 

to make some capital and sent their children to the United 

States to receive a better education. The majority of these 

children never returned to settle in the country again. 

Tourism in Sosúa ... Tourism (especially German) and 

foreign investment -especially in real estate- has changed 

the face of this town founded by Jewish settlers 80 years 

ago. Sosúa is today one of the picturesque villages in the 

northern part of the country, whose life is closely linked to 

modern tourism (all inclusive). 


The Jewish Community of Sosúa today ... Today there is 

little left in Sosúa of what it used to be. The remaining 

Jews, about fifteen families, maintain a small and beautiful 

synagogue. Next to it, there is a well-designed museum 

describing the origin of the arrival to the country, with 

photos of the SHOÁ survivors and their primitive life. They 

have their separate cemetery very well taken care of, in the 

Way of Llibre with about one hundred tombs of immigrants 

that rest forever in that land, descriptive tombs of a 

sacrificed and fruitful life. From June 1996 to May 1997, 

Rabbi Manes Kogan (Hillcrest Jewish Community Center, 

Jamaica, NY), the rabbi then of the Jewish Community of 

Santo Domingo and the first ordained Conservative Rabbi 

in the history of the DR, took charge of Jewish education 

and activity in the Community of Sosúa. At the beginning of 

May of 1997 a religious ceremony was realized where three 

beautiful girls (Shiara Strauss, Yifat Milz and Erika Benjamin) 

became Benot-Mitzvá. 

In January 1997, our hazzan Gastón Bogomolni, then a 

19-year-old Argentinean boy, recommended by Rabbi 

Manes Kogan, took the full time reins of this Community 

and began to carry out continuous Jewish activity for the 

first time in the history of the Community. Among these 

activities were: religious services, Jewish education for 

children (from 6 to 16 years old), talks with adults about 

the tradition and history of the Jewish People, teaching of 

Rikudei-Am (Israeli dances), teaching of Shirei Am (Jewish 

Folk songs), preparation for Bar and Bat-Mitzvah, etc. 

Gastón organized the community, from forming a directive 

until finding the solution to the administrative system. The 

difficult task of calling volunteers to collaborate with the 

task that involved everyone equally was also organized. 

Gastón also took charge of the Museum, took seminars 

to become its director and organized it. He also tried to 

reorganize the material in the oral archive, interviews 

with immigrants who were still alive. As a result of this 

work he helped to recover the kidnapped files belonging 

to the DORSA. Between the low social status and the low 

cultural life (without cinemas, without theaters, etc.), 

Gastón decided to organize a series of cultural activities 

through the Jewish Community, and thus provide in 

some way, culture to the small town of Sosúa and its 

surroundings. Among these activities were: “Concert of 

Jewish and Argentine music in Purim”, “A great miracle 

happened there”, (puppet work for Jánuka), “The Fiddler 

on the Roof”, (performed by the children of the community 

and presented at a Resort-Hotel), among others. After an 

arduous and hard work, unique and enriching, and once the 

Jewish life and a smile returned to the Jewish community 

of Sosúa, Gastón moved to the Jewish Community in Santo 

Domingo to continue the task and legacy that Rabbi Kogan 

who moved to the US. The leaders of Sosúa and Gastón kept 

in touch while he was now in the capital of the country. 

More than a few times Gastón made the effort to try to 

get some new leader or in his absence a madrich (Youth 

Counselor) to continue the important task that had been 

carried out in the Caribbean Jewish Colony. Unfortunately, 

many of the parents had already moved to the capital so 

that their children would receive a higher education and of 

a better level. 

Years went by, Gastón Bogomolni had already moved 

aside from the Dominican reality by moving to Barcelona 

in 1999. A new leader loomed over Santo Domingo but 

there was no connection with the Sosúa Jews. Those who 

were once teenagers had already become older and life 

moved them to the same universities outside Sosúa or the 

country, the most advanced of age began to be more tired 

and the community went back to ground zero. However, 

in 2006-2007, the old board of the directors chaired by 

the strongest hearts of the community, Ivonne Milz, Joe 

Benjamin and Edith Myers, decided to invest money to 

obtain a more arranged museum. So it was that after the 

effort of professionals left the museum has never seen 

before. Hazzan Gastón had being back several times in the 

last 20 years to visit the community of Sosua, has lectured, 

concertized, taken university students, etc. In spite of what 

many researchers tried to predict that: “The assimilation 

and the circumstances in which the Colony was created 

would, by themselves, gradually disappear Jewish life in 

the community”, Hazzan Bogomolni continues in touch 

with all the leaders of the community and is now acting as 

a consultant to once again get a new spiritual leader for 

the Jews who remained there, including the new ones who 

immigrated in the last 20 years. Bogomolni has also created 

a whatsapp group with all the 20+ students, whom many 

live here in South Florida and a reunion will be set soon too. 

A great miracle happened then, and with Hashem’s willing, 

a greatest miracle will happen today too! 

Click here to check out Pictures of the Jewish Colony of 

Sosua 

(If you would like to help to give light and life back to 

the Jewish Community of Sosua, please contact me 

cantorbogomolni@btbrc.org) 

Happy Chanukkah! 

Cantor Gastón Bogomolni 


53

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM 

Saving lives. 

It’s in their blood. 

And it’s in yours, too. 

Please join us for an inspirational evening at the 

THE ART OF 

Saving Lives in Israel 

The Art of Saving Lives 

Host Committee 

Judy and Kevin Abrams 

Lizzie and Murray Brown 

Roberta and Harvey Chaplin 

Moni and Jeff Cohen 

Susie and Jon Diamond 

Ann and Ari Deshe 

Hollis and Councilman Jeffrey Freimark 

Paula and Joel Friedland 

Ashley Finestone and Rob Tabatchnick 

Melissa and David Greenberg 

Andrea and Keith Hartley 

Tzippy Holand 

Elsie and Gene Howard 

Mandy and William Kakon 

Janie and Ron Kupferman 

Sheila Duffy and Richard Lehrman 

Debra Leibowitz 

Judi Berson-Levinson and 

Steven Z. Levinson 

Shari and David Lombardi 

Judy and Monroe Milstein 

Robyn Morse 

Erica and Mark Mutchnik 

Ronit and David Neuman 

Brenda and Andrew Nullman 

Marcelle and Andrew Rosen 

Perla and Councilman Seth Salver 

Lyle Stern 

Terri and Jeff Sonn 

Heidi and Aaron Tandy 

Orli and Jonathan Teboul 

Elise and Ron Udelson 

HONORING 

Janie and Ron Kupferman 

Judy and Monroe Milstein 

2018 Visionary Award Recipients 

SPECIAL GUEST 

Noam Gershony 

2012 Paralympics Tennis Gold 

Medalist, former IDF Apache 

helicopter pilot rescued by 

Magen David Adom. 

November 28, 2018 6:30 P.M. 

The Sagamore Hotel 

Kosher Cocktail Buffet 

Complimentary Valet 

R.S.V.P. by visiting afmda.org/Sagamore-Event 

Individual Ticket: $275 per person 

Young Leader (Under 40) Ticket: $180 per person 

For more information, please contact us at 

Miami@afmda.org or 561.835.0510. 

We proudly acknowledge the generous support of 

our Corporate Partners 

afmda.org 



55

ADDRESS 

Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus 

20350 NE 26th Ave, 

North Miami Beach, FL 33180. 

CONTACT 

Email: info@btbrc.com 

Main Office Phone: 305-932-2829 

WWW.BTBRC.ORG i facebook.com/BETH.TORAH

BETH TORAH TIMES WINTER EDITION -Nov-Dec 2018

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