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April 4, 2003
Celebrating a decade
Congregants and friends join Shaarey Tefilah gala.
BAILA LAZARUS EDITOR
Heritage Hall on Main Street was filled with the sounds of laughter,
applause, jazz music and a few tearful sniffles March 27 as friends
and family gathered to celebrated Shaarey Tefilah's 10th anniversary.
Master of ceremonies Sandra Miller introduced the five presidents
who have resided over Shaarey Tefilah's board over the last decade
– Art Hayes, Irwin Woodrow, Marie Dodek, Jeff Klein and Cliff
Unger. Each one spoke about their predecessor, with Woodrow starting
off the group and Randy Milner standing in for Dodek, who was out
of town.
Hayes, who was one of the founders of the synagogue, was the last
of the five presidents to speak. In front of the crowd of more than
100 celebrants, he reminisced about the past and gave his ideas
about the future.
"Thinking back on the past 10 years, it took a measure of energy
and a great deal of chutzpah for a small group of people to start
a shul," said Hayes. "I believe the reason [Jews] have
existed for hundreds of years is because we don't lose hope....
Though ever mindful of the past, our claim to the future is undeterred."
The strength to exist, he said, could be found within the very shul
he helped create.
"We can find the treasure of our future within ourselves ...
the treasure in the Torah, the embodiment of life for the Jewish
people.... May Shaarey Tefilah remain as the source of inspiration
... as we enter the next decade of our existence."
Rabbi Ross Singer, who has been the congregation's leader for almost
seven years, organized the event and thanked the volunteers for
their efforts.
"What I find wonderful about being the rabbi at Shaarey Tefilah
is that I can come up with all these crazy ideas and you make it
happen," he said, smiling.
The banquet, which was meant to be a fund-raiser, was "catered"
by Michelle Dodek and Sandra Unger. Entertainment was provided by
jazz vocalist Steven Koenig, son of synagogue member Susan Green.
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