congregation RODEF SHOLOM

congregation RODEF SHOLOM

Upcoming 150th celebration

Congregation Rodef Sholom, 1119 Elm St.,Youngstown, has scheduled a series of events as a prelude to its 150th anniversary in May 2017. The upcoming celebration will feature speakers and a musical program. Dr. Roger Berkowitz spoke Aug. 12 on “The Legacy of Dr. Sidney M. Berkowitz.” His late father led Rodef Sholom as its rabbi from 1947 to 1982. Other speakers are planned.

Friday: Samuel L. Salkin will speak at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary preceded by an abbreviated Shabbat service. A light supper will follow the presentation; it is free but reservations are required by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Call 330-744-5001 or email to rodefsholom@sbcglobal.net. Salkin will speak on “Yenem Velt: Small Town Life in Western Pennsylvania and Connections to Youngstown, Ohio.” He was born and raised in Greenville, Pa., and became bat mitzvah at Temple Beth Israel in Sharon, Pa. He is executive director of Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha, a centuries-old religious burial society that operates nonprofit funeral homes and cemeteries serving Jewish communities in northern California. A businessman and nonprofit leader and manager, his career has emphasized work with companies with explicit social and community misions.

Sept. 16: Rabbi Jonathan P. Kendall will speak at 6 p.m.; an abbreviated Shabbat service will precede the lecture. A light supper will follow the presentation; it is free but reservations are required by 4 p.m. Sept. 13. Call 330-744-5001 or email to rodefsholom@sbcglobal.net. His topic will be “The Precious Legacy of This Temple.” He is the grandson of the late Rabbi I.E. Philo, who served Rodef Sholom from 1912-42. Rabbi Kendall served congregations in California and Florida. For nine years he was chairman of West Coast Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal. He is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart, Fla. He became involved in local politics and was a delegate to the 2012 Democrat National Convention. He campained with Michelle Obama and Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the South; he currently is working on the Clinton campaign. Rabbi Kendall is the author of three books and was a columnist for 13 years with Scripps Howard Newspapers.