Celebrating the Life of Ed Lakin

Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks Non-Profit Organization Jewish Cultural Center, PO Box 14925 U.S. Postage PAID Reading, PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 readingjewishcommunity.org Reading, PA Change Service Requested Enriching Lives Volume 47, No. 9 September 2017 Elul 5777-Tishri 5778 Shalom0918 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish9 Federation1 of Reading/Berks7 Your Federation Supports: Jewish Education Celebrating the life Food Pantry of Ed Lakin Friendship Circle Ed Lakin was known to many as the more quiet, less flamboyant half of Chevra the partnership that turned Boscov’s Department Stores into a regional retail Community Shabbat powerhouse. But to the Jewish community and the other important causes he supported so generously, he was regarded as a giant. The names of Ed Reading Jewish Film Series and his late second wife, Alma, grace great institutions such as our Jewish community preschool and the Holocaust Resource Center and Library at PJ Library theCenterPAlbright College.iec Their philanthropy hase had a tremendous0 impact9 in so 18 Jewish Family Service many other ways. Ed Lakin passed away in August at the age of 94. His memory will be a blessing for his community for generations to come. Jewish Cultural Center Look inside this edition of Shalom for four pages of memories from the Lakin Holocaust Library family members, friends and associates who knew and loved him. & Resource Center Israel & Overseas Ruth Messinger to speak here Oct. 4 Camp Scholarships On Thursday, Oct. 4, at 5:30 p.m., you A minimum Community Campaign Israel Trips are invited to attend Jewish Federation of gift of $1,200 per person is requested to Reading/Berks’ 2019 Jewish Community attend the dinner. Jewish Community Campaign Leadership Gifts Dinner. The dinner, featuring Boscov’s Ala High School Our speaker is Ruth Messinger, Global Carte Kosher Catering, will be held at 555 Ambassador of American Jewish World Warwick Drive in Wyomissing. Emergency Support Service. To RSVP, no later than Sept. Ruth Messinger, served as the CEO of 26, send an email to info@ Lakin Preschool American Jewish World Service (AJWS), JFReading.org, register online at Richard J. Yashek Lecture an international human rights and ReadingJewishCommunity.org or call development organization dedicated to 610-921-0624. Transportation promoting social justice in the developing Following the Leadership Dinner, world from 1998 to 2016. She currently at 7:30 p.m., Messinger will present Maimonides Society serves as AJWS Global Ambassador, a lecture that is free and open to Your Jewish Legacy engaging rabbis and international the entire community. A gift to the interfaith leaders to work against poverty Institute Social Justice Fellow at Jewish Reading/Berks Community Campaign 92ND ST Y Programs and oppression. Theological Seminary of America and is welcomed but not required to Her work includes advancing social as Social Justice Activist at Joseph attend. Joint Distribution Committee justice in her own Jewish community Stern Center for Social Responsibility, Please RSVP for the community through her roles as the Finkelstein Manhattan JCC. Meir Panim presentation by Sept. 26. Annual Campaign Jewish Agency for Israel Learn about Curious George’s journey Yemin Orde By Amanda J. Hornberger up (younger siblings welcome) can attend School Education Programs Everyone is familiar with Curious a special program with Borden. She will George, the naughty but lovable monkey discuss writing, her life as an author, her Interfaith Unity Council in the famous children’s books. But did inspiration for her books as well as the you know that Curious George escaped interesting journey of Curious George and Israel Advocacy France during World War II with his Jewish his creators. Children will be invited to Youth Events creators, Margaret and H.A. Rey? Learn create passports to re-create the journey more about this fascinating story when of the Reys from war-torn Europe to the Great Decisions Series author Louise Borden comes to Reading United States. on Sept. 30. Afterwards at 6 p.m. adults are invited Jewish Community Borden is the author of more than to a special lecture and presentation by Relations Council 30 books, including “The Journey that Borden in which she will discuss in greater Saved Curious George: The True Wartime detail, the amazing story of Margaret Community Holiday Programs Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey,” the and H.A. Rey, authors and illustrators of focus of her visit. Borden’s other titles Curious George, and their experiences Women’s Philanthropy include “His Name was Raul Wallenberg” during World War II. The Reys’ journey is Jewish Federations (a recent PJ Our Way selection!), “Baseball a fascinating story of how the world almost is,” “Kindergarten Luck” and “A. Lincoln lost out on the joy of the curious little of North America and Me.” Borden has spoken at hundreds monkey and the man in the yellow hat. of schools and libraries and is excited to RSVPs to Exeter Community Library Counseling Services come to Reading! are required for both events. You may program. The 6 p.m. program is for adults only. Both events are free and will be Leo Camp Lecture Her visit is a collaboration with Exeter call the library to RSVP at 610-406-9431 Community Library (ECL), which will be or send an email to [email protected]. held at Exeter Community Library, 4569 Shabbat B’Yachad the host for two unique events on Sunday, pa.us. There is a limit of 60 children for Prestwick Drive, Exeter Township. The Sept. 30. Starting at 4 p.m. PJ Our Way the 4 p.m. event, and caregivers must events are sponsored by the JCC and and ECL invite children in grades 3 and remain with their child throughout the Exeter Community Library. Page 2 SHALOM September 2018 A community of quality By Richard Nassau Federation, along with the JCC and Jewish remain a very high-quality Jewish community. Development Director Family Service. It is impressive, but it doesn’t A community with people who make the When I travel, I try get to the quality of people that live here, our investment with their heart and dollars. to always make time heart. Ed Lakin, along with his late wife, Alma, to visit the local Jewish The people of our community, for me, understood this. Their generosity of spirit community. It might be a would be the most important thing to show and of heart demonstrated it. The light in t historical synagogue, the a visitor. The pride and connections fostered our community dimmed a bit with Ed Lakin’s local JCC or Federation, by Federation and embraced by our entire death in August. Ed and Alma were examples or a notable Jewish Jewish community. How the quality of our we could all use to show a visitor the type of landmark. I admit I like Berks County Jewish community can be seen community we are. The quality of our Jewish n learning about other in the people that live here. How that quality is community was easily seen through Ed’s communities. Though what I really want to know a result of our Jewish history, our community actions. A quality beyond statistics or even the about and understand are the people of that legacy. wonderfully large number of Jewish children e community. I want to hear about their makeup, What would you want to show a visitor to in Berks County reading PJ Library books. Jewish cultural experiences, their values and our community? How would you convey the We are fortunate that Ed and Alma Lakin their concerns. It is those type of things that are real quality of this community? How do you called Berks County home. They were very much more interesting and meaningful to me. illustrate the many things we do, with most special people with a strong Jewish legacy. I’ve thought about what I would show going unseen or unheralded? Our heart, along They will be missed. someone when they visit our community, with our dollar investments. We remain fortunate that today, many in m I would certainly show them our beautiful You could tell a visitor the true story our community continue this Jewish legacy. synagogues. I’d also want to take them to about how 100 young children are part of It is a legacy that stretches from before Ed Jewish landmarks in the area. I’d like them our PJ Library program. How every month Lakin called Berks County home to now. It to know about our history, where and how they each receive a Jewish themed book to is a legacy of Jewish culture and values and p our Jewish community started and grew. read on their own or with their parents. Again of heart. It is a legacy we should all be proud The Jewish legacy of Berks County is quite impressive, but what of the investment of. Berks County is a very special place. The extensive, both past and present. we’ve all made of time and money to make quality of our Jewish community (our legacy) o On our tour I could easily quote lots of sure that happens. is something I will gladly share at any time statistics, along with the many programs and The fact that I’ve learned from traveling with anyone, when I travel or with a visitor l services offered because of your support for around the country is that we have been and here at home. e v e Take a moment and look through Federation’s D TakeAnnual a momentReport, andenclose lookd throughin this Annual Campaign Federationissue. ’s Women’s Philanthropy AnnualYou’ll seeReport, Maimonides Society enclosehighlightsd in fromthis issue.

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