Mrs. Carol Kosman, A”H by Rabbi Dave
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In memory of Mrs. Carol Kosman, A”H By Rabbi Dave This Spring edition of News & Notes is Fay Kaufman: “Fond memories of a beautiful dedicated to the memory of our dear Mrs. and soft-spoken lady and Rebbetzin. Sincere (Morah) Carol Kosman, our dear Rebbetzin. condolences.” She passed away the day before Pesach at the age of 89. She stood side by side with Shulamis Heldoorn: “I am utterly devastated. Rabbi Kosman, zt”l, leading the Frederick Carol was my first Rebbetzin. She and the Rabbi community for more than 50 years as the were the people responsible for forming my vision beloved Rabbi and Rebbetzin. of what Yiddishkeit is and who the Jewish people are and can be. She had tremendous influence on a Mrs. Kosman grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, large number of people, and I will always be proud and the Kosmans married in 1953. They moved to and grateful to have been one of them.” Frederick in 1961, taking over a very special shul, Beth Sholom. Together, they raised generations Julie Farkas: “Baruch Dayan HaEmet. So sad of Jewish families as well as their own “A-MAZE- to hear this news. Morah Kosman, as we all called ING” seven children, their spouses, and many her because she was our teacher, was a mother to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So many so many of us who became religious in her home. members of the Frederick community are at a loss. May her memory and the love that we all have for her be a blessing.” You can read a sampling of some of the reactions upon hearing the news of her passing. These are Nathan Sadownik: “She was a lovely woman, only a few of the accolades that I received on the gentle and compassionate.” loss of this special lady: Moshe Steinerman: “Very sad news. She taught Ellie Blumenthal Kinland: “Mrs. Kosman me the aleph bais.” taught our children to love Judaism. She was Alan Feiler: “She was truly a lovely, gracious amazing!” person. Like the Rabbi. May their memories always Hugh Gordon: “I knew Mrs. Kosman for 60 be a blessing.” years. I was six years old when the Kosmans moved Gayle Goldberg: “Mrs. Kosman was a remarkable to Frederick. The Rabbi and the entire family woman who influenced many people with her warm exemplified the meaning of being Jewish for me. and caring ways. May her memory, as her life, be a This breaks my heart.” blessing.” Mel Pachino: “The world lost Jordan Hersh: “Shulie and I are so blessed to a true Tzadeket (a righteous have joined the wonderful, heimish community woman). She will be sorely that Carol and Rabbi Kosman built over so many missed.” years. Her neshama will always remain infused in this community.” Continued on page 15 If you would like to make a donation to the Shoresh Rabbi and Mrs. Kosman Memorial Scholarship Fund, please go to www.shoresh.com/donate/. I hope everyone is safe bottom. I was cooked. I real- and well. I know things are ly had no strength left. I had a little challenging right now resigned myself to missing and I’ll talk about that at the this most important piece of end of my message. My first the trip. Then I heard a knock inclination is to be extreme- at my door. It was Rabbi T, ly positive because that’s Alon Dek, and Rocky. They how I was raised in my par- said, “We are taking you down ents’ home. Additionally, to the Kotel - get ready!” For our founder, Rabbi Moshe those of you who don’t know Kosman zt”l, was the most Rocky, he is the only one be- positive person ever, so I am sides me who has been on all constantly channeling my in- by all. We had over 1,000 people attend and eight Shoresh Israel trips. He ner Rabbi Kosman to keep a big smile on raised a record amount of funds for our fall, has not only been our shomer, our guard, my face. winter, and spring programming. Thank but a very close friend, Rabbi, and mentor. Until the coronavirus situation fell upon you to our Chairs, Perri Goldenhersh The three of them escorted Debbie and me us, Shoresh was really at the pinnacle in our and Sarah Ottensoser, as well as their down some rough terrain in a wheelchair so programming. Our classes for the Davison committee, the Lyric, and O’Fishel Caterers that I could experience this most beautiful Middle School Jew Crew (in Baltimore and for making it a very special evening. The site before we left the Holy Land. I am truly Washington), the Fidler Teen Torah Center participants could not have been more ef- blessed to have such caring, special friends. classes (in Frederick, Baltimore, Gaithers- fusive in their praise. (See page 5 for just So, you see that it has been an amazing burg and Olney, Silver Spring, Ashburn and some of the wonderful feedback I received.) five months of programs and trips, now Leesburg, VA), as well as a college class, We also ran our own Purim festivities in leading into our real apex, Camp Shoresh. and adult classes were extremely well at- Baltimore and joined others in Columbia, Of course, we prepare all year long for our tended and played to great reviews. We are MD and Ashburn and Leesburg, VA. They summer camp. We work on hiring the best proud to spread so much Jewish connection were all so special and we cherish and love staff in the country, plan schedules, recruit to so many attendees. to join together with Jews from all walks of campers, as well as hire bus companies, buy Our annual Simchas Torah bash was life to celebrate special times. Hershey Park tickets, reserve Guppy Gulch truly amazing. Many people slept over at On a personal note, I have needed a knee water park, work on learning themes, etc. the campus while many others joined us replacement for many years, and I kept de- But now we are at a standstill. Our staff for different meals in the Edelman Sukkah, laying the operation being that I didn’t have and Board are still meeting via Zoom calls danced with the Torahs or just came and a four-month window for the major part of and trying to plan the summer, hoping and spent some time with their Shoresh family. the recovery. I finally had the operation in praying that this will all be over soon and It really is my favorite chag of the year. the beginning of February. However, that that we can bring our 41st year of Camp We had many Shabbatonim including meant I had to go to Israel with all of its Shoresh to more than 400 children and 100 ones in different cities with our camp fami- rocky terrain, steps, etc. on a really bum staff members. It’s hard being in a hold- lies, in addition to a pre-Israel trip Shabba- knee. I thought for many months that I ing pattern. We can handle anything that ton at our beautiful campus. would not be able to attend and participate comes our way during the camp season. We The highlight of the whole fall and win- and it really broke my heart. I contemplat- are very in tune and adept at helping our ter program was our eighth Fidler TTC trip ed daily, how can I miss this trip? How can campers and their parents. But right now, to Israel (see pages 8-9). Fifty participants I not be there with our teens as they par- anything we do or plan is based on the un- - high school and college kids accompanied ticipate in the experience of a lifetime? So, known. That’s the hard part. by our staff members - spent 10 days in the I summoned my inner strength and went. As we depart the beautiful Pesach sea- most fun, exciting, and spiritual setting. I’m not going to lie - it was extremely pain- son, I urge everyone to rededicate them- There is nothing like Israel that excites our ful, severe and challenging. selves to their families, reach out to friends teens to become more connected to Hashem I have to tell you though, that my wife who maybe you have not contacted in a and closer to the land of Israel. Thank you Debbie, the teens, the staff, and my children while to let them know that you are still to our lead donors, long- time friend and took such good care of me. Just writing this thinking of them. Last, but certainly not supporter Charlotte Weinberg for her brings me to tears. Everyone helped me on least, connect and reconnect to your beau- magnanimous challenge grant. Additional- and off the bus, took my bags for me, helped tiful heritage that our Jewish bubbies and ly, without Michael and Jennifer Klein me up and down stairs, etc. Such caring, zaidies gave us and passed down to us for this trip wouldn’t have been possible. Many loving mentches. The last day in Israel was thousands of years. I hope your Pesach was other donors stepped up in a major way and very emotional. We were in Jerusalem, meaningful. they all should receive much reward from staying in the Old City and we were going to the One Above. They have changed worlds daven at the Kotel (the Western Wall). That Sincerely, and for that, they can be very proud! would be our goodbye to the most holy area Rabbi Dave Our Night of Entertainment was enjoyed in the world.