As President, on behalf of the Ritual Committee and the entire congregation, I would like
to express appreciation to the many individuals who were responsible for making and
keeping our High Holiday services so beautiful and dignified.
Thanks to Ritual Vice President Kenny Duftler, for overseeing all of our ritual activities.
To Adam Greenberg, our Executive Vice President. Thank you for managing so many of
our synagogue affairs and for your guidance on finanicial matters.
Thanks to Barry Birnbaum our treasurer and Financial Secretary Ira Balsam for
managing the High Holiday expenses and the billings for seating for Kol Nidre.
Thank you to our Vice President of House and Property Steve Gochman for taking this
difficult job as your first position in synagogue governance, and for your immediately
response and repair for every problem that has come your way. Through your sweating
out the air conditioning problems, we remain cool today.
To Nat Litman who… hung our beautiful High Holiday perochos and for his continued
‘behind the scenes’ assistance in many areas.
To our Vice President of Fundraising, Mario Wilkowski for the tremendous effort
performed on behalf of our Kol Nidre and our UJA appeal. We thank Mario and those
who assisted him, Susan Wilkowski, Rebecca Moldwin, Belle Hecht, Herb
Abromowitz and Haim Weinstein for their efforts on these appeals.
To our Vice President of Social Activities Rebecca Moldwin for coordinating a beautiful
Selichot Program.
To our Sisterhood President – Rona Birnbaum for break the fast refreshments and
special thanks to Robin Hauser for your assistance. Thanks also to Stella Peretz for
publishing the Yizkor Memorial list insert booklet and for overseeing our High Holiday
Greetings, and again to Robin Hauser for the flowers that adorn the Ark.
To Norman and Sharon Friedman for their generosity in providing plantings on our
lawn that keeps Ohav Sholom among the most beautful houses of worship. Thanks also
to Norman and Sam Joffe for their work planting the flowers.
To our ushers and team captains who gave unselfishly of their time in order to maintain
the decorum of the service and provide assistance to our congregants, led by Marlene
Neuringer and Steve Goldschein.
To Kenny Duftler for coordinating and overseeing our multifaceted youth services
during the long High Holiday davening. Thanks to our junior congregation leaders, Marc
Braunstein, Josh Strauss, Stephanie Stein, Rebecca Strauss and Rachel
Tannenbaum.
To Corresponding Secretary Ron Bekore for writing the High Holiday related articles for
the local newspapers.
To Adam Gartner and his assistant, Ken Gartner for the special holiday editions of our
electronic newsletter, The Shofar, and for posting the holiday information and Simchat
Torah songs on the www.ohav.org website.
To Nat Litman and Station Cleaners for the cleaning of our Tallesim.
To the many volunteers who set up seats, moved books, posted labels and assisted in
mailings led by Irwin Duftler and Steve Werbel: Alan Krieger, Chuck Halpern and
Steve Goldberg. Thank you.
To Harry Adwar, who once again cleaned, polished and repaired all our silver Torah
ornaments and crowns, Thank you.
To Men’s Club President Gary Friedman – for the comfortable new seat cushions on
the bima -- thank you from the very bottom of … whatever.
To ex-president, Peter Tannenbaum for his help during this transition.
Our special thanks to our Baal Shacharit, Gregg Duftler and Baal Musaf Cantor Blum
for truly inspirational and absolutely beautiful davening. The spirituality and joy of our
services were greatly enhanced by their presence.
Thanks to our superb Torah Readers: Jeff Hauser, Jeff Beris, Ariel Jurmann and
Gregg Duftler.
And thanks to our wonderful Haftorah readers: Ari Jurmann, Irwin Duftler, Jeff
Hauser and Mark Strauss.
Thanks also to our Baal Tekiah and Shofar Virtuoso for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
– Adam Greenberg. Everyone appreciated your Rosh Hashana performance and we look
forward to your encore at the Yom Kippur Neilah service. Thanks to Adam and Nat
Litman for sounding the shofar at our morning services throughout the month of Elul.
Thanks to Michael Braunstein, Adam Greenberg and Phil Salzman for opening our
morning services and to Seth Miller, and Gregg Duftler for leading the mincha services.
Thank you Carol and Steve Goldschein for your generous donation of our beautiful
new sukkah in honor of the birth of your grandson.
Thanks to all our Sukkah builders and decorators, Kenny Duftler, David Cepler, Janice
Cepler, Aaron Cepler, Adam Gartner, Nat Litman, Michael Braunstein and Steve
Goldschein.
Thank you to Bea and Joel Hoffman who graciously extended hospitality and gave their
home to Cantor Blum and his Family for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Thanks also
to those who opened their homes to Cantor Blum, Rabbi and Mimi Wohlberg, Judy &
Steve Simon, Zeva and Dan Meraz, Michelle and Ken Gartner, Pauline and
Stewart Ratzker.
Thanks to our office staff led by Rosemary Hart for the outstanding effort you have put
in for the high holy days.
Thanks to Patrick Illanes and our entire building maintenance staff for keeping the
Synagogue in such beautiful condition.
Thank you to our Ritual Committee, Kenny Duftler, Wally Sturm, Nat Litman, and
Mark Strauss.
To our Ritual Chairman David Zwerin: Thank you for overseeing the overseers and
helping wherever you see a need. You manage every synagogue issue from the most
strategic to the most detailed, with incredible enthusiasm and intensity, during the
holidays and throughout the year. Thank you for being there for us.
And of course, it’s with most sincere appreciation that I would like to thank our Spiritual
leader for the past 44 years, Rabbi Jeremiah Wohlberg – not only for the High
Holiday Sermons, but for all you do throughout the year. The beauty, warmth and
inspiration of our worship services are the envy of many from outside our community
and we are most fortunate to have you as our Rabbi.
Thank you