Highlights
Congregation Beth Sholom 2020 Highlights
- Membership
- Welcomed 6 new and 1 returning members this year
- Tzedakah
- Supported the Leesburg Food Bank with $938 in cash donations, 243 pounds of food (thru March), and lots of clothing and small home appliances.
- Religious Services, Observances, and Festivities – all via Zoom since July
- High Holiday Services, including Slichot, and Tashlich, via Zoom
- Two Shabbat services most months including special services for Purim, Shavuot, Tu B’Shevat, new members, board recognition, and patriotic holidays
- Bat Mitzvot of Sydney Cullen and Lexi Scholl
- Special Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Allen and Zoriy Zinger – via Zoom as well
- Oneg and Kiddush Sponsors – chaired by Anita Sherman
- Gloria Blankenship in honor of the yahrzeit of her father, Joseph Selsky
- Roz Weinrich in celebration of the Bat Mitzvah of Sydney Cullen
- Henrietta Lubin in memory of her mother
- John & Rosalie Scholl in celebration of Lexi Scholl’s Bat Mitzvah
As of Friday March 13th, we cancelled all future services in the Synagogue due to the pandemic
- Sisterhood was established early in 2019 by Dee Marcus.
- Currently 35 members
Sisterhood provided the refreshments for last year’s annual meeting - Organized the Tu B’Shevat Sedar with Marsha Stemerman as leader
- Spot Light Charity Event was held last January to benefit the Leesburg Humane Society
- Ongoing Charitable Activities during COVID 19
- Sisterhood Cookbook – chaired by Dorothy Strauss
- Knitty Gritty Crafters – Beverly Meyers is the organizer of this group that is making hats for cancer patients
- St. Jude’s Chldren’s Ranch – collecting cards
- Contact of Members as a Check in – Edith Freiwith is the chair
- Men’s Club was begun in late 2019 by Ben Solotoroff and they have 15 members
- Goal – Strengthen & growth of members in the Synagogue, Community and Jewish Life
- At the Jan 2020 Meeting officers were elected (Ben Solotoroff -President, David Litwack – Vice President, Bob Marcus – Treasurer and Arthur Lubin Corresponding Secretary)
- Building and Grounds – Regular Annual Maintenance
- Annual congregational meeting and monthly board meetings – Held by Zoom since April
- Education
- Rabbi’s Roundtable – now being held virtually via Zoom
- Adult Hebrew Class taught by Dr. Marnell LaRoe Hayes – cancelled after March 13th
- 4 week ‘Exploring Judaism’ class taught by Marsha Stemerman – cancelled after March 13th
- Fundraising
- ‘Honey from the Heart’ Rosh Hashanah Greetings Program chaired by Diane Weinbaum
- Mah Jongg Cards chaired by Andrea and Burt Kraft
- Book of Remembrance
- Yahrzeit plaques
- Shofar Ads
- Donations – cards in honor or memory, Book Fund, General Fund
- Springtime Appeal
- Community
Leesburg Food Bank – we continue to support the Food Bank financially. Some of our members volunteer weekly (Board member Barry Wright and his wife Cookie as well as member Francine Rizzotto)
- Publicity
- Daily Sun ads run from Mid-January through Mid-March
- Press releases for most services, Rabbi’s Roundtable, submitted to Orlando Sentinel, Daily Sun, Daily Commercial, and Jewish Heritage
- Stories in the Orlando Sentinel, Daily Sun, and Daily Commercial about various holiday observances and activities
- The Shofar newsletter
- Talk of the Villages website
