Memorial Book 2020
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5781 CONGREGATION KOL AMI VIRTUAL CEMETERY It is a long standing Jewish tradition to visit the gravesites of loved ones in the period surrounding the High Holidays. While a personal visit to the cemetery is the preferred way to fulfill this mitzvah, circumstances may prevent such a trip. Thanks to the internet and a website called FindaGrave, those buried in Congregation Kol Ami plots, family members interred at other cemeteries anywhere in the world and those whose only memorial is in our minds and hearts, may be visited virtually. One feature of FindaGrave is the ability to create a virtual cemetery. A virtual cemetery gathers memorials of people who are interred in various physical cemeteries into one place. The Congregation Kol Ami Virtual Cemetery lists all interments in Kol Ami plots at Mount Hope and Mount Pleasant cemeteries. In addition, memorials for people who are buried around the globe, or whose ashes may have been scattered in the winds and waters of the planet, may be included in our virtual Kol Ami cemetery. The site may be visited by going to: http://tinyurl.com/KolAmiVirtualCemetery By clicking the name of an individual, you will be taken to his or her memorial page. There, you will find a photograph of the gravestone or other memorial (e.g. a plaque on a bench), as well as information taken from the stone, such as dates of birth and death. A few of the listings include biographical information entered by the creator of the memorial page. For questions about the virtual cemetery or to have a name added, please contact our temple office. YAHRZEIT Yahrzeit marks the anniversary of a death, a yearly commemoration in keeping with the Jewish commitment to the ongoing value of memory and the bonds which link us to those who have died. A Yahrzeit candle is lit at home at sunset the evening before the anni-versary, as the Jewish day begins and ends with sundown. The light shed by the candle as night falls reminds us that even as life ends, the remembrance of those who died will continue to illuminate the lives of the living. Light also symbolizes the soul and its endurance. “The soul of the person is the light of the Eternal.” (Proverbs 20:27) Yahrzeit is traditionally observed according to the Hebrew date of death, although many Jews follow the secular calendar in their observance. Those who are not certain and cannot determine the day when a relative died should select an appropriate date on which to observe Yahrzeit each year. While there are no specific blessings that are traditionally recited at home as the candle is lit, many prayer books have suggested prayers and readings. Psalms, prayers of one’s own choosing, readings, poetry and sharing of memories all serve to honor the memory of the one who has died as well as create intimate and comforting moments among family members who light the candle together. We have included two poems here. In Synagogue, Kaddish is recited on the day of the Yahrzeit, and/or on the Shabbat after the Yahrzeit. Before Kaddish the rabbi may read the names of the deceased whose yahrzeit is observed during that week. It is customary to visit the cemetery at this time. Fulfilling some mitzvah in honor of the dead on this day, such as giving tzedakah, study, or special acts of kindness, may bring a special comfort and feeling of spiritual connection. Special commemorative Yahrzeit candles are available from synagogue gift shops, Judaica stores and some supermarkets. (The candles burn for twenty-four hours and should be placed in a safe and visible spot on a heat-proof surface.) YIZKOR Jewish ritual serves as a vehicle for stopping the busy pace of our days to reflect and consider what is truly precious, enduring and powerful in life. The Yizkor prayers allow us to call forth the memories of those who have died, to remember and to honor those who have touched our lives and affected our history. As we ourselves remember, we recite the words of the Yizkor prayers in which we ask that God, too, may remember the souls of those who are no longer living, that God’s kindness, compassion and eternal comfort be extended to them. These prayers are recited in the synagogue four times a year: on Yom Kippur, and on the last day of the three festivals, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. Many Jews light a Yahrzeit candle at home as a memorial on the eve of the days on which Yizkor prayers are recited. Memory alone does not sufficiently honor those who have died. Just as we ask that God will remember and cause the souls of those we have loved to be bound up in the bond of eternal life, Jewish tradition invites us to combine our prayers with tzedakah, causing the words of our prayers to be bound to acts which are life affirm-ing and enduring. Originating during the Middle Ages in Europe, the Yizkor prayers were first recited on Yom Kippur to remember the martyrs who were killed during the Crusades. The custom took hold. Books and lists containing the names of martyrs and others who had died began to be read on festival days as well. The Yizkor Service is founded on the Jewish principle that sons and daughters bring honor to their mothers, fathers and ancestors and assure them immortality by remembering them, by living a moral and ethical life, by being sensitive to the needs of all humanity, and by bringing God into their lives. Rather than appearing before God with empty hands, the themes of the Yizkor service assure that we will come with full hearts and generosity of spirit. Similarly, the Yizkor prayers, in guiding us to reflect upon past relationships, reinforce the profound messages of repentance, prayer and charity which are at the core of the Yom Kippur service. A commonly held misconception of the Yizkor service is that it is only to be attended by those whose parents have died and that others should leave the synagogue at this time. While the service serves as a particularly poignant and respectful evocation on behalf of deceased parents, it may also be recited with the names of cherished relatives and friends whom we wish to remember. As we learn the origin of the prayers, whose original intent was to pay homage to the martyrs of Judaism, we discover the potential to commemorate the terrible tragedies of our own time. The recitation of the Yizkor prayers as well as the Kaddish prayer with which the service concludes, keeps alive the memories of those who were lost in the Holocaust as well as those who might otherwise be forgotten. It is our tradition at Congregation Kol Ami to remain in the sanctuary after Yizkor ends for the conclusion of Yom Kippur, the Neilah Service. May the recitation of Yizkor bring blessing to our lives and to the memories of those we lovingly recall on this day of atonement. WE REMEMBER WITH SORROWING HEARTS THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION WHOM DEATH HAS TAKEN FROM OUR MIDST DURING THIS PAST YEAR: Robert (Bob) Asher John Auerbacher Jane Friedberg Abbe Goodman Peter Honig Lawrence E. Kraus Harley Lewis Irwin Margolin Dr. Stanley Markovits Diana Munder Saul Rakoff Stanley Seidman Cantor Al Sturmer Memorial Book WE ALSO RECALL THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED, WHOSE MEMORIES LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS. FROM IN LOVING MEMORY OF Mathilda Abler ………………………Morton Abler Arthur Maslow Ralph Maslow Ely Goldenberg Jill and Zeff Abraham …………………Olga Abraham Morrie Selbst Doris Goodstein Samuel Abraham Lori and Rob Abrams …………………Jack Abrams Ceil and Mort Upbin Anna and Abe Frankel Ceila and Nathan Rubin Richard Frankel Akiva Abramowitz Rose and Haskell Barst Gene Davis Marcia Abrams Gerald Frankel Janet and Mark Ackerman ……………William Stern Sophie Stern Paul Ackerman 7 FROM IN LOVING MEMORY OF Alison and Andrew Adler………………David Adler Ruth Jacobowitz Howard and Nancy Adler ………………Beatrice Adler Shira Adler and Andy Kadison …………Shelley Adler Mae Kadison Norman Adler Leslie and George Akst …………………Philip Zahn Cele Zahn Albert Kaufman Betty Kaufman Weisberger H. Lawrence Kaufman Freida Brown Paul Akst Arthur Amron and ……………………Howard Amron Sara Pearl Leonard Pearl Norma Pearl Anonymous……………………………In rememberance of those who have no one to say Kaddish for them Margery and Jim Arsham……………… Shiah M. Arsham Harry Epstein Thelma Epstein Harriett Arsham Malcolm H. Baehr ……………………Sandra E. Baehr 8 FROM IN LOVING MEMORY OF Susan and John Baer……………………Cindy Katz Louis H. Taxin Gertrude R. Taxin Jo Taxin Amer Lawrence Baer Viola S. Baer Daniel Baer David and Jamie Banker ………………Roslyn and Sidney Geller Isidor Kramer Robert Banker Florence Shulman Harvey Shulman Warren and Amy Barest ………………Edna Barest Herman Barest Felice and Marc Baritz & Family ………Lawrence J. Meltz Elliot Baritz Bebe Miller Steven Miller Ralph Miller Sally Pear Joseph Pear Sidney Baritz Reva Baritz Myrna Barzelatto ………………………Marci Lynn Gelfand Helen Askinas Gerson Askinas Rayna Schechter Robert Werdlinger Minerva Rothberg 9 FROM IN LOVING MEMORY OF Nir, Laura, Maya, & Ben Barzilai ………David Barzilai Drora Barzilai David and Royce Battleman ……………Annette Gershfeld Seymour Sussman Anita Sussman Richard and Kathleen Bayliss …………Elli Bayliss Michael & Jeffrey, and Annette Morris Bayliss & Paul Schwab, David & Jason Lawrence B. Benenson …………………Charles B. Benenson Peggy Ann Coudert Robin and James Benerofe ……………Sidney B. Benerofe Shirley G. Benerofe Sylvia Winters Harry Winters Lena Reback Joy and Paul Berger ……………………Rose Harris Milton Harris Jack Berger and Randy Stein……………Joseph Berger Helen Berger Benjamin Stein Evelyn Schleifer Paul and Joy Bergins …………………Benjamin Bergins Celia Bergins Rose Harris Milton Harris 10 FROM IN LOVING MEMORY OF Michael