On January 7th, 2012, we will celebrate our 33rd Anniversary Dinner. This year we have the pleasure of honoring Dr. Michael Lowenthal & Dr. Shari Jacobs Lowenthal with the Hakarat Hatov Award, Saul & Julie Adler with the Keter Torah Award, Michael & Ilana Talitian with the Chesed Award, and Becky Davis with the Shirley Bogdonoff Aishet Chayil Award.

These individuals have been chosen for their outstanding contributions and service to our shul and community. In conjunction with this year’s dinner we are compiling a commemorative journal in their honor.

Your ads, as well as the ads you are able to solicit will pay tribute to our honorees while at the same time play an integral role in our shul’s fundraising efforts and continued growth.

Dr. Michael Lowenthal & Dr. Shari Jacobs Lowenthal
Hakarat Hatov Award

Every time Michael Lowenthal hands a child a piece of candy in shul, a family legacy endures.

The gesture, made almost every Shabbos, is done in the zchus of Shari Lowenthal’s grandfather.  Zaidy Ernu, as he was known, gave of himself fully to his shul in Rego Park, NY, acting as a minyan organizer, wine and candle provider, and of course, Candyman.

Their family history is replete with stories of dedicated shul volunteers and tzedaka organizers, both past and present. It is no surprise then that Doctors Michael and Shari Lowenthal are being awarded with this year’s Hakarat Hatov Award for their devotion to Anshei Shalom and their commitment to sustaining its growth and vitality.  They are just following in their family’s footsteps.

Though they are modest about their own contributions to Anshei, the Lowenthals have made plenty. Shari, a pediatrician in Queens, has worked with Sisterhood for many years, serving on the dinner and welcoming committees, and the Mishloach Manot Round Robin committee. She also works closely with the Chessed committee to prepare meals for families in need.

Michael, an internist in Great Neck, has taken a particular interest in the health of the shul’s members and programs.  He maintains the shul’s defibrillator and medical equipment (the latter of which has been used several times), spearheaded installation of the shul’s Purell dispensers, and has organized several CPR training courses. He is also co-head of the Youth Committee and played a large role in the formation of the shul’s Junior Congregation, which his son Dovi attends. 

When Michael and Shari joined Anshei Shalom 10 years ago, they were immediately impressed with the congregation’s warm, welcoming nature and diverse mix of people. Through the years they have happily watched as the shul has grown and become the spiritual and community center for so many families. And their first impressions of the shul never did disappoint.  Michael and Shari take pride in the fact that Anshei continually comes together both in times of sadness and celebration, with Rabbis, members and friends always poised to pitch in when needed. Such ongoing acts of chessed are consistent with the examples set for Michael and Shari by their parents, and they believe it creates a perfect environment in which to instill the importance of chessed in their three children: Shaina, 13; Jake, 11; and Dov, 9.

The Lowenthals are so grateful that Anshei Shalom welcomed them so graciously 10 years ago, and are honored to call Rabbi Pearl their Rabbi, mentor, and friend. Their fervent hope is that as Anshei grows it continues to be a warm and welcoming shul that can be a spiritual and community center all its members.

Saul & Julie Adler
Keter Torah Award

Julie and Saul Adler have been residents of West Hempstead for the past nineteen years where they have brought up their four children, Dov, Rikki, Sophia and Mencahem. They have spent their time focusing on their family, community, and shul.

Julie has supported the Anshei Shalom Chessed Committee and has served as Secretary on the Sisterhood board. She has been an active member of the Shoshana Chapter of Amit serving as secretary and treasurer.

Saul has served as the shul’s Gabbi and Vice President. He has also served on the Yeshiva Har Torah board of directors for several years.

Julie and Saul would like to honor their parents, family and friends by accepting the Keter Torah Award at Congregation Anshei Sholom’s Annual Dinner.

Michael & Ilana Talitian
Chesed Award

Describing Ilana & Michael Talitian as “active members” of the West Hempstead community does not nearly do justice to the level of commitment and involvement they have demonstrated in the six and half years they have lived in the community. While best known as the driving force behind Anshei’s Welcoming Committee, Ilana figures prominently in several of the shul’s committees and programs, and Michael is a key member of the Sefardic Minyan. Together, their dedication to Anshei is only surpassed by their affection for a community that continually inspires them to work towards its growth and success. Ilana and Michael have shown themselves to be true Baalei Chessed and as such, the Anshei Shalom Chessed Award is truly a well-deserved honor.

The Talitians were drawn to West Hempstead, and specifically Anshei, because of its small, close knit feel and because of the shul’s Sefardic Minyan. They gave birth to their second child, Nava, only two months after moving into West Hempstead and say they were completely overwhelmed by the number of strangers who showed up on their doorstep with food and warm wishes. They felt immediately welcomed and wanted to return the kindness shown to them. In time, Ilana became involved with the Chessed Committee, cooking for new mothers and new families, the annual dinner committee, the shul’s Mishloach Manot Round Robin and of course the shul’s Welcoming Committee. Michael quickly became involved in the Sefardic Minyan, organized the shul’s Seudat Shlishit meals for a time, served on the committee to rewrite the shul’s constitution, assisted the West Hempstead Minyan Sqad for people sitting shiva in the community, and also often volunteers behind the scenes.

Growing up, Ilana says she was taught that a shul is a place to which one gives, not from which one takes. The Talitians both point to Ilana’s father - someone who as they recall held every position in his shul except for Rabbi - as a constant source of inspiration. Over the years he has demonstrated a level of commitment and enthusiasm for volunteering which they hope to model for their own children: Josh, 8; Nava, 6; and Coby, 17 months.

When not busy with shul activities, Michael is an Inventory Control Engineer at CSU Industries and Ilana is a Speech-Language Pathologist for Birch, a special education preschool. Though the community has grown exponentially since they moved here, both say they still love community’s small-town feel and admire its religiously diverse, non- judgemental tone, which they feel is unusual for a metro New York community. They are proud to be part of a shul where members work together in acts of chessed, often at the last minute, to cook meals for families they do not even know. Ilana and Michael hope new and old members alike continue to feel at home at Anshei and plan to continue helping others feel as welcome here as they did.

Becky Davis
Shirley Bogdonoff Aishet Chayil Award

Becky and her husband Nick moved to West Hempstead nine years ago and Becky quickly became involved with the concerns of the Sisterhood. From happily cooking when asked for the Chesed committee, baking her much requested Chinese cookies for the sisterhood bake sales, and offering her home to host events, it was a “no brainer” to ask Becky to be the Sisterhood
president.

Becky has served as Sisterhood President for the past two terms, having served in this capacity for more than four (4) years. Under her reign, the Sisterhood has overseen bake sales, movie nights, monthly coffee klatches, annual Simchat Torah and Shavuoth kiddushes for the congregation, trivia night and other fun events, and the involvement of new members has grown.

Her friendly and welcoming demeanor has truly made others feel at home in the Congregation and in the neighborhood. Looking to connect long-term members and new
members, Becky has helped launch the popular Shabbat afternoon “Meet and Greet” where
both the newer and more established members of the congregation get a chance to meet and
socialize, thereby helping Anshei Shalom retain its “small shul” appeal.

Becky and her husband Nick, (who currently serves on the Anshei board and is also a member
of the West Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department), are the proud parents of three children
– Sam, Caity and Jesse. Becky’s involvement shows that she has a clear understanding of the
importance of giving back to the community. The granting of the Shirley Bogdonoff Aishet
Chayil Award could not go to someone more deserving.

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