Beth Shalom West Twenty-Fifth Anniversary High Tea
written by Valerie Terke

On October 24th, 2004, close to 200 people, including synagogue members and friends, dignitaries from the Jewish community, and others, gathered at Beth Shalom West to celebrate the Silver anniversary of our
synagogue. This celebration provided us with the perfect opportunity to honour a number of people, including our past chairpeople, whose remarkable efforts resulted in today’s thriving, full-service shul; as
well as Rabbi Finkelstein, his wife Rivka, and their son Tani, who have been with us for the past thirteen years. It was a double celebration for the Finkelsteins: 2004 was also the year of Tani’s actual Bar Mitzvah (Tani actually had five Bar Mitzvah’s in three countries, which must be some sort of a record).

Gerry Levitz, immediate past president of the Vaad, brought greetings on behalf of the community; and Pierre Pollievre, the MP for Nepean-Carleton, gave an enthusiastic address. Three past chairs, Julian Lewin, Morris Presser, and Ed Fine, each reminisced about the past, and all provided encouraging views about the future of our vibrant synagogue. There was also some great entertainment, provided by the talented 12-year-old singing sensation, Jakie Young. Jakie was accompanied by his father, Cantor David Young of Toronto’s Beth Torah Congregation, as well as by our very own Aviva Lightstone and son Noam.

The tea was also used as a fund-raiser: an Ad book raised approximately $8,000, which will be used to fund future synagogue programs. The event was co-chaired by Rosalyn Fremeth, Maxine Rabinovitch and myself.

This highly successful and unforgettable occasion couldn’t have taken place without the help of a large group of volunteers. I would like to list them, and thank them publicly here. They are the following people:
Florence Antecol, Elaine Brodsky, Ed Borts, Judith Borths, Sara Beutel, Linda Bonder, Bob Dale, Rabbi Finkelstein, Sophie Frenkel, Elaine Friedberg, Annie Garmaise, Vera Kadar, Marsha Kaiserman, Oren Karp,
Esther Kulik, Aviva and Noam Lightstone, Faigie Muroff, Anna Rabinovitch, Helen Rauch, Mara Muzikansky, Shirley and Hymie Schildkraut, Sheila and Stephen Senman, Gavin Segal, Dan Sher, Tova Shuster, Sol Shuster, Marion Silver, Golda Feig Steinman and Candice Wilder.

Yasher Koach to all of you, and thanks again for all of your help.

(click on the pictures below to view an enlarged version)

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Last Updated – Monday, November 1, 2004