100 Anniversary Gala
Rabbi’s Message
One hundred years is a remarkable milestone in the life of any institution. We can be justly proud of the achievements of Temple Beth El over the years.
Not long ago, I had occasion to read through the minutes from the early years of the Hackensack Hebrew Institute. The dedication of the founders is just amazing. It is also amusing to note that their worries, like ours, were chiefly about money — only the sums were smaller in those days!
The common thread which runs throughout our synagogue’s history is service. The Hebrew Institute was founded to provide service to its members and service to the community. While our name has changed, that commitment has not.
Which leads me to thank this year’s committee whose commitment to the success of our Gala is so greatly appreciated. Your efforts are truly magnificent!
It is traditional to wish a birthday celebrant ad me’ah v’esrim: “May you live to 120!” It is my prayer that we will all be here to celebrate Temple Beth El’s 120th anniversary.
Rabbi Robert Schumeister
Sisterhood Message
For Sisterhood it is both a compliment and a challenge to be a part of this 100th Anniversary Celebration of Temple Beth El of Hackensack. To know that our roots as an organized and functioning Jewish religious community started in 1908 here in Hackensack is exciting and impressive. 1908 to 2008 is a long span of years by any human reckoning.
In the early 1920’s the organized Jewish community built the Hackensack Hebrew Institute on State Street, where not only religious services were held, but a school for children and adults flourished. It was set up as an Orthodox Jewish synagogue.
In 1947, the Sisterhood was formally organized by Rabbi Mordecai J. Simckes. At Sisterhood’s 1954 Annual Luncheon, the President of Sisterhood, Mrs. Harry Siegel, reported, “We are primarily a service organization, devoted to the perpetuation of Judaism as evidenced by the Synagogue and the Hebrew School. Fund raising is a by-product, a means to justify the end.’’
With changing demographics, the members built a beautiful modern building on Summit Avenue in Hackensack in 1971. The new Temple Beth El continued as the center of the Jewish community among the surrounding towns as a Conservative synagogue.
True to the Pirkay Avot, Sayings of the Fathers, we women of Sisterhood strive to live the ethical life, based on the Three Pillars: Torah (learning), Avodah (prayer and hope), and Gemilut Hasadim (good deeds and harmony with our fellow man).
May Temple Beth El be a beacon to the Jewish people of the Hackensack area for the next 100 years! And may the women of Sisterhood continue to be like snowflakes – beautiful and fragile – but look what they can do when they stick (work) together!
Miriam D. Hochheiser, Acting President, Sisterhood
Committee Chair Message
We are pleased to welcome you to this year’s very special event, the 100th anniversary of our congregation. The Gala Committee has planned an extraordinary evening that we hope will bring back memories of the Hackensack Hebrew Institute and Temple Beth El, as well as make new memories for you.
I would like to thank the Committee for their dedication and enthusiasm, and give extra thanks to the former members who worked with us. I especially would like to thank Pam Hecht for once again creating a beautiful Ad Journal Calendar. And with much gratitude to Amy Passarella and Heidi Wolk whose time and hard work gave us a wonderful program as a tribute to our congregation’s history.
We thank those who solicited and purchased ads for our Ad Journal Calendar and encourage everyone to patronize our business advertisers.
Andrea Zettler, Gala Committee Chair