Lillian & Charlie Steinberg

Lillian and Charlie moved to West Hempstead nearly 27 years ago after having spent 16 years in Far Rockaway.  Although initially members of the Young Israel of West Hempstead, they often spent many Shabbosim and Yom Tovim as guests at Anshei, particularly when Lillian’s parents, beloved Oma and Opa, spent time in West Hempstead. The warmth of the small congregation strongly appealed to Lillian and Charlie, and as they came to more fully experience the Anshei atmosphere, Rabbi Pearl became an integral part of their lives.  In fact, when Lillian’s father celebrated his 95^th birthday, it was Rabbi Pearl who called Opa up to the Torah for an aliyah as if Opa had been celebrating his bar mitzvah.

The Steinbergs soon became members of both community shuls, and enjoy a dual membership to this day. The warmth and sincerity that Lillian & Charlie experienced in the formative years of Anshei have continued to impress not only them, but the entire community, since the shul welcomed Rabbi and Rebbetzin Soniker.  Their friendliness, humor, and availability have added a very special dimension to the shul.

Through the years, Lillian and Charlie have drawn upon their backgrounds in education and community service to help the shul grow and foster its sense of chessed, ruach and achdut. For more than 30 years, Lillian endeared herself to both students and faculty as the HAFTR High School Librarian.  In addition to her professional duties, she spent much time, including personal time, assisting students in both their schoolwork and personal lives.  She was always ready to lend a hand and that trait is still evident to all as she assists so many in the Anshei community.  Whether helping elderly members, baking for the Sisterhood bake sales, cooking for the Chesed Committee, or even sewing/quilting the shulchan and shtender covers for the bimah, Lillian is always ready to help when needed.

Charlie was an elementary school educator in the NYC public school system for over 30 years.  As a testament to his dedication and devotion to his work, he currently maintains contact and friendships with many of the students he taught in the 1970s as well as many of his colleagues.  His concern for the education and well-being of children led him to become a member of the HAFTR Board of Education, a Board member and an officer at the school. Additionally, his time spent as Youth Committee Chairman for the White Shul in Far Rockaway makes him uniquely qualified today to assist Anshei’s youth department in becoming a nurturing, entertaining and educational atmosphere for all of the shul’s youth.  

Charlie has served on the Anshei Board and, for the past four and a half years, has served as Anshei’s E-Mail Coordinator.  Being of assistance to the shul in this way brings him pleasure and he does the best job he can – reviewing messages for errors, troubleshooting problems, requesting clarification where necessary, even adding missing details – all to bring information to the community as clearly and efficiently as possible.

Lillian & Charlie have imparted the importance of shul and community service to their children.  Not only do Shelley, David and Rachel live nearby, but they are all members of Anshei.  It is a great source of pride for the Steinbergs to watch David and Rachel volunteer much of their time to the shul as well, (David has previously served as Gabbai in the Shabbos morning minyan, continues as Gabbai in the daily minyan, and Rachel served as Sisterhood President), demonstrating their own commitment and dedication to the same values their parents tried to instill in them over the years. But perhaps nothing gives Lillian & Charlie as much joy as watching their beloved grandchildren, Erin and Simon, become involved in the Anshei family as they sit in shul, attend groups, say good Shabbos to the Rabbis, and kiss the Torah.

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