Morris
Black and Sons, Inc. (2008)
 Congratulations
to Bob and Laura Black and Steve and
Ellen Blumberg on the
100th anniversary of Morris Black and Sons which was founded
in 1908 by Bob's and Ellen's grandfather. Starting from a small
Bethlehem office, Morris Black and Sons has successfully reinvented
itself several times to thrive in the ever-changing building
supply market. Morris Black's centennial was recently featured
in the March/April 2008 issue of Lehigh Valley Magazine.
Mark
Shampain, M.D. (2007)
 Allergy
Specialist, Dr. Mark Shampain of Shampain and Associates, received
the American Lung Association's Mission Award honoring his
more than 26 years of support at the Association's November
2nd Masquerade Gala. Mark is board certified in both Pediatrics
and Allergy Immunology. He completed his fellowship at The
National Jewish Medical & Research
Center, Denver, CO. He has been in private practice in the
Lehigh Valley since 1981 and is on the staff at Lehigh Valley
Hospital and Health Network, St. Lukes Hospital, Allentown
Campus, Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown as well as Good Samaritan
Hospital in Pottsville. Previously Mark served as president
of the American Lung Association of the Lehigh Valley. He is
Medical Director of the ALA Camp for Children with Asthma.
Stefanie
Black (2007)
 Young
actress Stefanie Black, daughter of Laura and Bob Black,
is appearing as "Hannah" in the October 5th episode
of CBS' "Without
a Trace." Stefanie is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School
of the Arts and Playwrights Horizons Theater School. She has
performed at Williamstown Theater Festival, American Conservatory
Theater, Urban Stages, The Ontological-Hysteric Theater, and
The Rattlestick. She is a founding member of Apple Girl Productions
and Assistant to the Artistic Director of The Cape Cod Theater
Project.
Rose
and Lauren McAloon (2007)
 The
Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley Board of Directors
proudly honored the winners of the 2007 Martin Philip Scholarships
- Saucon Valley seniors Leah Hillman, and twins Rose
McAloon (left) and Lauren McAloon (right). The winners and their proud
parents received their
honors at the June
2007 JFSLV Board meeting.
Rose
and Lauren are the eldest of four daughters of Tom and the
late Cheri McAloon. The twins have been adjunct Brotherhood members
for many years as a result of their dedicated work
at Brotherhood brunches. Rose is headed for the University of
Pittsburgh while Lauren will be attending the University of
Delaware in the fall.
Joe
and Rita Scheller (2007)
 Good
Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital recently honored longtime
K.I. congregants Joe and Rita Scheller with its Raker Memorial
Award commemorating the anniversary of the founding of Good
Shepherd at a ceremony in Grace Lutheran Church in Allentown.
The award recognizes members of the community who, through
philanthropy and volunteerism, honor the legacy of Good Shepherd's
founders, the Rev. John H. and D. Estella Raker and their son,
the Rev. Dr. Conrad W. Raker.
Joe
is the former president and board chairman of Silberline
Manufacturing Co. Rita is a former teacher and has
been a member of the Allentown Art Museum's Society of the
Arts for 24 years, serving as docent and working on many committees.
Susan
Scheller Arsht (2007)
 And
while we're mentioning the Schellers, we'll also mention
that their daughter (and former longtime K.I. member) Susan
Scheller Arsht who "made aliyah" to
Utah with her family
was
honored
this month
by the United Jewish Federation of Utah for Distinguished Service
to the Community at its 2007 Annual Community Dinner. One telling
measure of Susan's achievement is that the Arshts arrived in
the Utah Community only within the last six years. Mazel Tov,
Susan.
Ben Schenkel (2007)
 Although
K.I. congregant Ben Schenkel, a 17-year-old junior at Moravian
Academy, missed a first-place finish by the small margin of
$100 during the "Jeopardy! Teen Tournament," he
is being placed in Jeopardy!’s Hall of Fame for earning
the most money — $40,000 — in a single day. His
total take-home winnings were $42,800. Ben is the son of Debbie
Schenkel and grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Carl Glassman.
Jason
Stakelon (2006)
Jason
Stakelon, former
K.I. Religious School student and son of former librarian
Anne Stakelon, recently appeared on NBC's hit game
show "1
vs 100." The episode aired
Friday December 1 at 8PM ET/PT. Jason is shown above
(left) with his family at his 2000 Vassar graduation
and (right) "beating the mob" (89 of them)
for $156,000.
Pat
Glascom (2006)
 Past
President Pat Glascom was named URJ Pennsylvania
Regional Council Regional Youth Committee Chairperson at the
recent
Biennial in Philadelphia. The chair of the regional
youth committee is a member of the Board of the URJ Pennsylvania
Council, appointed by the Council's President.
In addition to attending all PA Council meetings, the chair
shall
preside
over all scheduled youth committee meetings which are planned
in cooperation with the the Regional Director of Youth and
Informal Education and the NFTY-PAR Advisor. The Youth Committee
shall serve in an advisory and advocacy role with respect to
congregational and regional youth programming and youth issues.
The chair of the youth committee shall also serve in a liaison
capacity on the Regional Camp Committee.
Martina Obenski (2006)
 President-Elect
Martina Obenski was awarded the Megillat Kavod - the
2006 Scroll of Honor for her great service to
KI at the the
URJ Pennsylvania Council Regional Biennial at Loews Philadelphia Hotel,
November 16-19, 2006. Mike Stroock's nomination of Martina for the award
follows:
Although
there are several deserving candidates, Congregation
Keneseth Israel in Allentown, PA nominates Martina
Obenski for the Megillat Kavod award. In 2003,
as part of our 100th anniversary celebration, we kicked
off
our Second Century Endowment Campaign, with the
goal of doubling our endowment fund. The campaign foundered
until Martina took over leadership and almost single
handedly pushed us to achieve and even exceed our
goal.
One month after the campaign ended in October 2005,
she volunteered to co-chair the Search Committee
to find a new rabbi. She conducted all the phone interviews
and coordinated the rabbinic visits. Our new rabbi
has been fabulous, in no small part due to Martina’s
efforts. She now is President-Elect, and chairs
the Rabbinic Transition Committee and the Personnel
Committee. She is proof of the old adage: if you
want a job done well, give it to the busiest person.
I am very fortunate to have Martina as part of
my leadership team, and even more fortunate to
have her as a good friend.
Emily Rosenkrantz (2006)
Emily
Rosenkrantz, daughter of Susan Zarrow and David Rosenkrantz,
had the starring role as Anne
in The Diary of Anne Frank at Emmaus
High School.
Judy Belmont (2006)
Keneseth Israel’s Judy
Belmont, M.S., N.C.C., L.P.C., is the author of two newly released books - 86
TIPS for the Therapeutic Toolbox and 103 Group Activities
and TIPS.
The
publisher is PESI Inc. Pesi is also a seminar company for which
she presents seminars nationally to mental health professionals
for Continuing Education credits, offering "hands on" treatment techniques for various client populations.
Audrey
Nolte (2006)
 Audrey
Nolte, past president of KI Sisterhood and a current board
member of the Women of Reform Judaism received a Woman
of Valor Kavod Award at the first WRJ Atlantic District Biennial
in Lancaster, PA. She was nominated for her service to Keneseth
Israel Sisterhood, the temple library and her new position
as an area director for the Atlantic District.
Audrey
is also a past president of Temple Beth El Sisterhood in Pensacola,
Florida and a past co chair of the KI Mitzvah Corps. Audrey
is a professional librarian, serving Quakertown Community
School
District as an elementary librarian and the district's curriculum
coordinator for libraries.
Mike
Miller (2006)
 Michael
R. Miller, a partner with the Allentown firm of Concannon,
Miller & Co., was recently honored by the American
Institute of Certified Accountants for his 40th year of membership,
earning him a lifetime membership and membership in the elite
40-Year Honorary member Club.
Marilyn
Barkan-Wood (2006)
 K.I.
congregant Marilyn Barkan-Wood was among 15 persons over age 60
honored by Lehigh County county who have, quietly and without
fanfare, made selfless sacrifices for the benefit of others.
Battling
poor eyesight and diabetes, Marilyn counsels persons with obsessive-compulsive
disorder. She's overcome numerous personal tragedies, including
the loss of a son and two husbands, to earn advanced degrees at
Lehigh University and run her own counseling business in Whitehall
Township.
"There's
a lot of grieving in life," Barkan-Wood said, "but a
piece of me wants to go on and on."
Linda
Wimmer (2006)
 Linda
Wimmer (pictured with husband Jimmy) is due congratulations upon
her re-election to the Executive Committee of the North American
Board of Trustees for the Union for Reform Judaism. Linda, who has
served as a member of the URJ Board for the past 9 years, was re-elected
to her second term as a member of the Executive Committee at the
recent Biennial Convention held in Houston. The Union for Reform
Judaism (URJ) represents about 900 Reform congregations with an
estimated 1.5 million members throughout the United States and Canada.
Linda
Miller (2005)
Former
K.I. President Linda Miller's kugel expertise was featured
in a September 28, 2005 Allentown Morning Call article,
"It's Kugel Time".
Stuart
Shmookler (2005)
Longtime
Keneseth Israel congregant Stuart Shmookler (shown above in
non-legal garb) was named Best Attorney in
the annual Allentown Morning Call "Readers'
Choice" poll. (source" Allentown Morning
Call, September 25, 2005).
Bernie
Filler (2005)
 Jewish
Family Service of the Lehigh Valley honored K.I.'s Bernie
Filler as 2005 Volunteer of the Year. Bernie
has been an officer on the agency's board of directors for the
past eight years, serving as treasurer, vice-president, president
and immediate past president. (See
Bernie's award ceremony on the JFS-LV website.)
Bernie's involvement
with JFS-LV began in the late 1980s, when our agency assisted
him in making plans for his mother. He felt that the advice offered
was very helpful, and he decided that, after he retired, he would
"give back" as a volunteer.
"I feel
great satisfaction in helping other people," Bernie says.
"I enjoy working with the JFS-LV staff, and seeing the community
being served makes me happy."
In addition
to serving on the board, Bernie has assisted JFS-LV in many other
ways. He set up a computerized bookkeeping system, led agency
fundraisers, and helped raise funds for JFS-LV's new building.
He distributes Passover baskets made by Congregation Beth El for
JFS-LV clients. Bernie is also active at Congregation Keneseth
Israel, where his contributions as a volunteer, along with those
of his wife, Bunny, were honored last year. The year before that,
Bernie received special recognition by Keneseth Israel's Brotherhood.
Native New
Yorkers, Bernie and Bunny have lived in Allentown since 1963.
Bunny is a teacher at the Jewish Day School. The Fillers have
a son, Jed, of Salem, Massachusetts, who is a synagogue educator;
a daughter, Mara, of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, who is a French
teacher; and three grandchildren.
Bernie enjoys
gardening, working on his HO trains, doing repairs and maintenance
in the house, and spending time with his wonderful grandchildren.
When he retired, friends gave him a hammock and a carpenter's
belt, both of which give him great joy.
We congratulate
Bernie and thank him for his many years of dedication to JFS-LV.
Pat
Glascom (2005)
 Former
K.I. President Pat Glascom was awarded her second Megillat
Kavod by the Pennsylvania Council of URJ.
Pat Glascom
has continued serving both K.I. and the Lehigh Valley community
unselfishly in the past years. She chairs the Mitzvah Corps providing
comfort and support to those in need. Pat also chairs K.I.'s Youth
Committee, serves as the acting advisor to our 9th-12th grade
youth group, KITY, and teaches a course on Modern Israel for ninth
grade Ma'ayon. She is Parliamentarian at the Board of Trustee
meetings and in her spare time, she sings with the adult choir.
A woman of
personal strength and generosity of spirit, Patty is a source
of light and inspiration. She richly deserves this award for her
distinguished service to K.I. and the Pennsylvania Council.
In addition
to Patty's service to KI and the Lehigh Valley community, she
serves as a member-at-large of PA Council Regional Board, as well
as a member of PA Regional Youth Committee and Camp Harlam Alumni
Committee. She also serves as a facilitator for URJ Board Retreats.
Helene
Scarcia (2004)
 K.I.
is proud of 2003-04 Fundraising Vice President Helene
Scarcia who was recently elected to the Board of Directors of
the Adult Literacy Center of the Lehigh Valley. Mme Scarcia
was a French and Spanish middle school teacher in the Allentown
School District for 38 years. She is owner of Wing Flings Travel
Agency which she founded in 1996 and also teaches as a substitute
in the Parkland School District.
Audrey
Nolte and Linda Wimmer (2004)
 At
the recent Biennial Convention of the Union for Reform Judaism,
formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
and the Biennial Assembly of the Women of Reform Judaism held
in Minneapolis November 4-9, Audrey Nolte and Linda
Wimmer each
brought honor to our congregation.
Audrey
became a member of the Board of Directors of Women of
Reform Judaism at the 44th Assembly on November 8. Along
with 85 other women from around the world, Audrey will serve on
the WRJ Board for a term of four years. The WRJ Board is responsible
for making policies regarding the entire organization, which represents
more than 100,000 Jewish women in over 600 sisterhoods throughout
the United States and in Canada as well as in Panama, Netherlands
Antilles, Argentina, Brazil, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Israel, South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Women
of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, is the
women's agency which acts as the voice, the presence, and the
arena of action for the women of Reform Judaism. WRJ is an affiliate
of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Audrey,
our current Sisterhood president, began her participation at KI
in 1981 as a member of the Sisterhood. She also served as the
temple librarian and a teacher in our religious school until 1987
when she and her family moved to Pensacola, Florida, for five
years. While in Pensacola, she assumed the presidency of the Temple
Beth El Sisterhood from 1989-1991. After the Noltes returned to
Allentown 11 years ago, Audrey resumed an active role at KI and
became president of the KI Sisterhood in 2002. Her term as Sisterhood
president will be completed in May, 2004.
At
the plenary session of the 67th UAHC Biennial Convention on November
5, Linda was elected to serve her first full term as a member
of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of
the Union for Reform Judaism (formerly the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations until the adoption of a name change at this
year's Biennial).
Linda
has served on the Board of Trustees for the Union since 1995 and
was elected in June, 2003, to fill an expired term as a member
of the Executive Committee.
Linda
is currently a vice-chair of the Department of Jewish Family Concerns
and a co-chair of the Sacred Aging Project; a member of the Department
of Lifelong Jewish Learning, where she had served as vice-chair
of Adult Jewish Growth; chairman of the Art Committee; and a member
of the Trustees Committee.
Over
the past eight years she has also served on the Commission on
Lifelong Jewish Learning, the Task Force on Jewish Ethics, the
2001-2003 UAHC Strategic Planning Committee, and the Nominating
and Special Nominating Committees.
Mazel Tov to both Linda and Audrey for their work in behalf of
the Reform Movement and for the honor which they bring to our
congregation by their election to these prestigious bodies.
Ruth
Radin (2004)
 Ruth
Radin has returned to her musical roots and has composed works
that have been performed in the past year. In autumn 2002, her
saxophone quartet, "Tastefully Yours,"
a musical look at food, was premiered by the Amherst Sax Quartet
at the first concert of their 25th anniversary season. They have
appeared at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, as
well as on NPR, CBS and NBC. Ruth transcribed the sax quartet
for strings and the String Quartet of the Chamber Orchestra of
Philadelphia premiered that version at the Summer Solstice Celebration
in the Kimmel Center last June during a program devoted to works
by female composers.
On February
28th, 2004, Season Songs, written for female voice and piano,
with music and words written by Ruth, will be premiered by Christa
Warda, on the voice faculty of Muhlenberg College at her inaugural
recital there. Christa also is a member of the Keneseth Israel
choir.
Yan
Tseytlin (2003)
 Congratulations
to KITY President and Parkland H.S. senior volleyball player Yan
Tseytlin for being named Allentown Morning Call Player
of the Year and Lehigh Valley Conference Most Valuable
Player.
Yan
brings those same talents to K.I. and has helped to make KITY
grow and prosper. He will continue his education at Penn State
Main Campus.
Jeremy
M. Vaida (2003)
 Jeremy
Vaida is a Regional VP of National Federation of Temple Youth-PA
Area Region (NFTY-PAR) and immediate past president of KITY. Jeremy
attended a four day convention in Washington, DC of Reform youth
from across the country in February. KITY members who also attended
the convention were: KITY President, Yan Tseytlin and board members
Saul Miller, Meredith Mishkin and Abe Shmookler. KITY Advisor
Liz Corman and assistant advisor Brody Aberson attended a parallel
convention for youth workers. Below are Jeremy's reflections of
his experience:
Upon
arriving at the Grand Hyatt in Washington D.C., I was greeted
by an uproar of hellos, how are you doing, and welcome to NFTY
Convention 2003. It took one car and two trains to get there,
but I had made it to the most eye-opening NFTY experience I ever
had.
The
weekend started out with Friday night services followed by a video
presentation of the UAHC Israel Program. Regional presidents and
UAHC rabbis then talked about their views on the State of Israel.
As the weekend continued, I discovered that Israel would be mentioned
many times. In fact, the theme of the entire weekend was Libi
B'Yisrael or, literally translated, My Heart With Israel.
The
Convention continued with many activities, but Israel was always
in the background. Follow up programs and even pita lunches were
served to remind us of the impending crisis in our Jewish homeland.
The
Convention led me to discover that the Reform movement stands
on two key principles, Libi B'Yisrael, My Heart With
Israel, and Tikkum Olam B'Shem Adonai or, Helping the
World in the Name of God. These two principles are the corner
stones of modern Reform Judaism. The Reform movement, over the
years, has sent tens of thousands of Jewish youths to Israel,
significantly more than any other Jewish movement in the United
States. We also have one of the largest social action organizations
in the world, the Religious Action Center.
The
Reform Movement is sensitive to the pulse of modern day politics,
writing countless letters and lobbying for Jewish values to our
government representatives. We have, time and time again, demonstrated
our power and interest by rallying for Israel in its time of need.
Tikkun
Olam B'Shem Adonai is also crucial to Judaism as a whole
because it states that our world can be fixed. Not withstanding
disease, hate and death we, mankind, can still fix and better
the world that we live in. When God made us his chosen people,
he bestowed upon us not only a great gift but also a great responsibility.
This responsibility was Tikkun Olam B'Shem Adonai, to
look at the world, realize its imperfections and then go out and
fix them.
Though
some movements believe that study will ultimately lead to action,
I believe that actions speak louder than words. Only in the Reform
Movement is such a principle held in such high regard. Other movements
claim to be more observant and more learned in the Jewish laws
and traditions, but only we consider Tikkun Olam to be
its most important aspect.
It
is because of this principle that I am proud to be a Reform Jew.
We should not be afraid or embarrassed to state our religious
affiliation because we may not follow all the laws of Kashrut
or welcome the Sabbath in a traditional manner. As Reform Jews,
we hold dear Tikkun Olam B'Shem Adonai. Not just helping
the world but helping the world in the name of God.
Our
world stands on the brink of chaos and war. It is with this in
mind that we must strive even harder to follow the words of Torah
and make the world a better place. Tikkun Olam, or repairing
the world, can start by simply giving Tzedakah or going
on a trip for Habitat for Humanity. Tikkun Olam can be
found by giving a homeless man a bagged lunch or writing your
local representative. The key thing is not to lay dormant; not
to stand idle while your neighbor bleeds. Stand up, move out and
help the causes that you believe in. We cannot expect anyone else
to fix the world. We must, alone if necessary, stand up and fight
for the principles that we believe in. Do not be embarrassed by
your commitment to the Reform Movement. Instead be proud to say
that you are a Reform Jew. Go out and save the world, B'Shem
Adonai, in the name of God.
|
Mike and Barbara Bassano have been members for just one year, but they've already added so much to Temple life with their singing and culinary skills. (see our gallery set of 
Is it forty years already? It seems like yesterday that Jett Ulaner Sarachek was a K.I. confirmand, yet here she is - celebrating the 40-Year
Retrospective of Photographs by Jett Ulaner Sarachek, through Aug. 10, 2008 at Connexions, 213 Northampton St., Easton. Jett will discuss her work at 2 p.m. on August. 3. Exhibition hours are: noon-5 p.m. Mon., noon-7 p.m. Thurs., noon-9 p.m. Fri., 11 to 8 p.m. Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun. 610-250-7627. Just that smile is worth the drive to Easton.
With quiet elegance, K.I.'s Roberta and Lew Gaines have made their philanthropic mark in the Jewish community. Most recently, they presented the first Lewish and Roberta Gaines Scholarship to Parkland student Gregory Kuntz at the Jewish Family Service - Lehigh Valley's June Board meeting. Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a university-level engineering curriculum. As Lew said, "The percentage of Jewish engineering students has plummeted to about five percent. We'd like to do something to change that."
K.I.’s
9-year-old kitchen whiz Natalie Trachtman recently scored a
$1,000 savings bond for her Double Cheesy Mac recipe in Kitch
'N Kids ''3-A-Day'' dairy recipe contest. Future chef Trachtman
worked with her mother Abby to develop the recipe, but Natalie
had to make the recipe by herself at the contest finals. She
was well-prepared for the contest, having made the recipe three
times as a side
dish for family meals.
Recent
Penn State grad Yan Tseytlin has launched 
Dr.
Rob Palumbo and two colleagues from OAA Orthopaedic
Specialists in South Whitehall Township have joined with the
Gridiron Greats
Assistance Fund to provide free musculoskeletal care to former
National Football League players who can't afford treatment.
Keneseth
Israel is proud of Sandra Goldfarb who will be the 2008 recipient
of the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland
Award which is given by the National Women's Philanthropy of
the United Jewish Communities. The national award, presented
by the UJC umbrella organization, recognizes women who set
a high standard for philanthropy through volunteerism and financial
commitment. The award will be presented at the International
Lion of Judah Conference taking place in Jerusalem this November. 
