I was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan but have been a Queens resident for almost all my life 40 years of it with my late husband Steve. I have been blessed to have a most wonderful brother, Peter. Our parents were refugees from Nazi Germany (my mother by way of growing up in wartime England) and they worked extremely hard to provide my brother and me with a comfortable upbringing. I credit them for inspiring me to live a Jewish life, which is one of the reasons I am being honored by my Sisterhood. 

 

My husband and I were members of Temple Gates of Prayer for 25 years and became regular “shul goers,” helping to make an in-person minyan before the pandemic. I’m still active in Temple life, attending services in person on Shabbat and holidays and making a daily zoom minyan. I currently serve on the Board of Trustees.

 

I have been a Sisterhood member since 2012 and a member of the Planning Committee since 2015. As a member of the Sisterhood planning committee, I am the Recording Secretary and participate in designing Jewish learning programs and events, most of which focus on Jewish holidays. 

 

The synagogue has a Holiday Committee composed of committed Sisterhood members and I make myself available to help as one of the “worker bees” on temple events, Kabbalat Shabbat and some Shabbats.

 

I studied for three years with the WLCJ Bat Mitzvah program and became a Bat Mitzvah at the Women’s League Convention in July 2023. I also continue to study Intermediate Hebrew with Women’s League. Thank you WLCJ!

 

Outside the synagogue, I attend Jewish learning programs and lectures.

 

I am a graduate of Queens College - CUNY. I worked for 45 years in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical/data operations management.

 

After living in Flushing for 40 years, I made a life altering move to Floral Park, partly to be part of a wider Jewish community but also to meet people and partake of the many amenities and activities offered.  I am a member of the Hadassah Migdal group at North Shore Towers and serve as a co-chair on their New Membership Committee. I work part-time in the movie theater (open to the public) and get to meet even more people as well as see first run movies.

 

I have been deeply affected by my Sisterhood in that I feel part of a community of women, developing friendships with warm, caring and oh so smart women - I am awed by their intelligence, knowledge, creativity and dedication. Being part of the Sisterhood, we are benefiting WLCJ & Torah Fund.

 

My life has been positively changed by my synagogue just by becoming a congregant along with my husband Steve. It got me through a very dark time during the COVID pandemic. It has deepened my appreciation for Judaism, Jewish holidays and Jewish study. 

 

I would like to accomplish more in the future by continuing to lead a productive life in good health. I would like to continue studying Judaism, learning more Hebrew, learning to lead morning/evening services and learning to read Haftarah, among other things. Outside of that, travel more if possible, and, if God blesses me, with at least more 20 productive healthy years.

 

I thank the Sisterhood and Temple Gates of Prayer for honoring me as their 2024 Woman of Achievement.