Louise Goldberg was born in the Bronx. When she was four years old, her parents, Annie and Rocco Loverro moved their family to what she perceived as uninhabited lands of potato fields - Bethpage Long Island. She graduated from Plainedge High School in 1965 and started working. After high school she met Charles Goldberg, a young man from Brooklyn, at a friend’s pool party. After dating for a few months, they realized that this was the “real thing.” However, there was one huge problem…religion. Louise was Roman Catholic and Charles was Jewish, so prior to their marriage, Louise converted to Judaism with Rabbi Paul Teischer of Farmingdale Jewish Center. This was the beginning of what would become a beautiful life together created by two individuals from different, yet similar, backgrounds, bonded by love. 

 

Louise and Charles began married life in Canarsie in 1970. This afforded Louise the opportunity to fulfill her desire to work in Manhattan and also meant an easy commute for Charles to his job as Guidance Counselor in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. While living in Canarsie they belonged to the Remsen Heights Jewish Center. Together, Louise and Charles were founding members of the Joshua Chapter of American Red Magen David, Israel’s Red Cross. A campaign began and eventually enough funds were raised to donate an ambulance for Israel. 

 

After attending a Bar Mitzvah at Wantagh Jewish Center, they discussed the meaningful nature of the service and the genuine warmth and friendliness from Rabbi Mordechai Rubin and the congregation. One year after the birth of their first child, Renee Eve, they purchased a home in Wantagh. Before beginning to unpack, they met with Rabbi Rubin. They wasted no time in becoming active members of the congregation. A few years later their second daughter, Sari Alyse, was born. Louise joined Sisterhood and various committees and, before long, was elected to the Sisterhood Board; Louise eventually became Sisterhood President and was next elected to the Congregation’s Board of Trustees. She served as Fundraising Vice President and Administrative Vice President. Louise became the first convert to serve as president of the Wantagh Jewish Center. She is currently chairman of the Bikur Cholim Committee, Chairman of Jewish National Fund/Trees for Israel, and Security Chairman. These are only a few of the many hats Louise has worn as a member of the Wantagh Jewish Center, now Congregation Beth Tikvah (CBT).

 

Louise’s daughters, Renee Eve and Sari Alyse, have also been involved in CBT. Among their activities were passing the lemon and clove on Yom Kippur. They embraced their parents’ active involvement in synagogue life, becoming involved in the youth group and board and Camp Ramah and Kinnus weekends. Renee and Sari ensured that the family hosted children on Kinnus weekends, as well as visitors to our community from the Israeli Scouts. Renee and her husband, Matt, have 2 daughters, Eliana Devyn and Jadyn Avery. Sari and her husband, Bob, have 3 children, Liam, Ava, and Riley. Louise is deeply grateful for this wonderful honor and looks forward to her continued involvement in the beautiful community at Congregation Beth Tikvah.