Rev. John Steinbruck

The Rev. John Steinbruck, who participated in the Soviet Jewry movement and continually worked to improve the lives of the disadvantaged in Washington, died March 1 in Delaware. He was 84 years old.

Steinbruck was pastor at Luther Place Memorial Church from 1970 to 1997. There, he worked together with members of Washington Hebrew and Adas Israel congregations to get the homeless off the street, fed and cared for. He was instrumental in forming N Street Village, a haven for homeless women.

“He was somebody who was passionate in his search for social justice at all times,” said Schroeder Stribling, executive director of N Street Village. Steinbruck worked for “justice and inclusion for everyone with a special passion for people who were disadvantaged, dismissed or discarded.”

During the 1970s, Steinbruck threw mattresses down in the aisles of his sanctuary in an attempt to ease the blight of homelessness in the city. Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Rabbi Joseph Weinberg, who died in 1999, assisted his members in bringing blankets and serving meals. The two clergymen became great friends and worked together for years.

Elaine Kremens knew Steinbruck for more than 20 years, often seeing him when she volunteered at the homeless shelter connected to his church. Kremens, along with other Adas Israel Congregation members, helped out at the shelter weekly and provided a meal once a month.

Inspired by his work, Kremens went on to spearhead Adas Israel’s creation of apartments for nine formerly homeless men and women who suffered from mental illness. It was Steinbruck who came up with the name, The Anne Frank House, for those apartments, she said.

“He was very, very outgoing. He was the kind of guy who could accept all kinds of people from all backgrounds,” she said.

Rabbi Avis Miller, formerly of Adas Israel, called Steinbruck “a force for good. He was truly a remarkable example of the difference one person can make in bettering the lives of those less fortunate.”

When Steinbruck was told by Brant Coopersmith, a former director of the American Jewish Committee, about the vigils opposite the Soviet Embassy, he quickly got involved. Steinbruck and some of his parishioners and fellow clergy members took turns at the vigil during the next years 20 years, in particular making sure it was manned during the Jewish holidays.

He also had congregation members send letters and cards to refuseniks. His congregation adopted at least seven refuseniks, including Natan Sharansky.

Steinbruck visited the former Soviet Union to meet with refusemiks and was part of Jewish Community Council’s delegations to the World Conferences on Soviet Jewry. He also traveled to Israel in 1969 as part of an interfaith trip. About that trip, he wrote, it was “a life watershed. Nothing was ever the same thereafter.”

Steinbruck wrote about his experiences and his paper was included in the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington’s exhibit, Voices of the Vigil. He moved to Delaware with his wife, Erna, following his retirement, and continued his social justice work there.

Steinbruck will be added to the Roll of Honor of the Archive of the American Soviet Jewry Movement at the American Jewish Historical Society.

spollak@washingtonjewishweek.com
@SuzannePollak

Miriam Paskow Crowell
On March 6, Miriam P. Crowell, 91, of Chevy Chase. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Jack Crowell; beloved sister of the late Daniel Paskow. Also survived by other loving family and friends. Contributions may be made to the Dr. Jack and Miriam Crowell Memorial Scholarship Fund at George Washington University.

Michael J. Horowitz
On March 4, Michael J. Horowitz, of Silver Spring. Beloved husband of Victoria Rocha; loving father of Catherine and Jonathan Horowitz; brother of Sheryl (Russell) Berse and Debbie (Marc) Levy; son of Renea and the late Oscar Horowitz. Contributions may be made to the National Park Foundation, Donor Services, myaccount.nationalpark.org or the Maddux School, ivymount.org/maddux.cfm.

Lawrence Samuel Press
On Feb. 27, Lawrence S. Press, 83, of Montgomery County. Most beloved husband of Barbara; loving father of Pamela and her husband, Adam Salem; adoring grandfather of Max and Sam Salem; and brother-in-law of Betty Becker. He was predeceased by his parents, Irving and Celia; and brother, Richard. He was a city planner for the National Capital Planning Commission and then went on to be deputy general manager for the Department of Housing and Community Development. Contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders, Jewish Federation or a charity of choice.

LoisAnne Stein
On March 2, LoisAnne Stein “Bunnie,” of Bethesda. Beloved wife of William Stein; devoted mother of Heidi Hess-Webber (Randy Webber) and Michael Scott Hess; beloved sister of Martin Getz; cherished grandmother of Michael, Shea and Tanner Hess Webber. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Janet Segal Kirshner
On March 15, Janet S. Kirshner of Hightstown, N.J., formerly of Bethesda, died after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy and macular degeneration. She was 90.

Born in Washington, D.C. on July 7, 1924, Janet was an intelligent, driven and accomplished woman. She graduated from George Washington University in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and received a Master of Arts in counseling and personnel administration in 1949.

Throughout her adult life, she was an active member of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, the National Woman’s Committee of Brandeis University, the Beth El Congregation of Montgomery County and the Commission for Women for Montgomery County. She also was a program coordinator for senior citizens of the Jewish Community Center from 1979–1996.

She lived in the Washington, D.C. area for the first 80 years of her life until the death of Joseph M. Kirshner, her husband of almost 55 years, in 2004. She moved to Hightstown, N.J. to Meadow Lakes, a senior living community, where she spent the last 11 years of her life. As a resident, she remained an active participant in the community by continuing to improve the lives of those who live at Meadow Lakes.

She is survived by daughters Sandra K. Spetgang of Gaithersburg (Isaac) and Judith A. Kirshner of Princeton, N.J. (P. Joseph Campisi, Jr.); grandchildren Aviva and Ari Spetgang, and Jessica, Emma, Natalie and Samantha Campisi; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, 1500 E Jefferson St, Rockville, Md. 20852.

Jonathan Henry Pincus
Neurologist academician Dr. Jonathan Henry Pincus died on Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 79.  At the time of his death he was serving as Chief of the Neurology Service at the DC VA Medical Center, as Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University and as Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University School of Medicine.  His areas of specialty were metabolic neurological disorders such as Leigh’s Disease, mechanism of action of anti-seizure drugs such as Phenobarbitol and Dilantin, and Parkinsons Disease and other movement disorders.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Hannah and Dr. Joseph B. Pincus, a prominent pediatrician, he attended Amherst College and obtained his MD degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.  He spent 25 years at Yale University rising from a Resident to a full Professor of Neurology. In 1986 he was appointed Chair of Neurology at Georgetown University becoming Chairman Emeritus in 2000.

Dr. Pincus was a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and served for two years as a vice-president and was a member of the American Neurological Association where he served as a counselor for two years.

In addition to the more than 150 articles published in peer reviewed journals and as chapters and editorials, he co-authored a well-known textbook, Behavioral Neurology, with Gary Tucker, four editions, used extensively in residency training programs in Neurology and Psychiatry; and published a popular book, based on extensive research on the neurological basis for violent crime, entitled, Base Instincts – What Makes Killers Kill.

A loving husband to wife Joan (Maslansky) and father to Daniel, Jeremy (Sherry) and Adam (Ayelet) and brother to Dr. Matthew (Naomi) Pincus, to step-daughters Alyson (Daniel) and Debra, and to 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Abraham M. Muhlbaum, a research physicist for the U.S. Navy and a Holocaust survivor active with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Washington-area remembrance groups, died Feb. 19 in Falls Church, of complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Mr. Muhlbaum, who was born in Berlin in 1922, fled Nazi Germany to the Netherlands in 1938. After the Germans invaded that country, the Muhlbaums’ situation became perilous again. When police arrived at their Amsterdam apartment in 1943 to deport the family to a concentration camp, Mr. Muhlbaum fled by escaping over the rooftops.

Over the next few months, while working as part of the Dutch resistance, Mr. Muhlbaum was able to help his family reach safety. By forging a telegram, he was able to have his family, interned in camps in the Netherlands and then Germany, travel by train to British Palestine as part of an unusual prisoner exchange. German pilgrims known as Templars, imprisoned by the British, returned to Germany in exchange for a number of European Jews.

He himself remained on the run, using false identity papers. After escaping arrest once in the Netherlands, he began to make his way through France with the intention of reaching the United Kingdom via Spain. He was arrested near the Spanish border in 1944, and though he managed to conceal his Jewish identity, his efforts at escape meant he was interned as a political prisoner, with no one told of his disappearance or fate. He was held in several camps, including the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp on French soil, near Strasburg, and then on to Dachau, in Bavaria, from which he was liberated in 1945.

Mr. Muhlbaum, then 23, was able to return to the Netherlands and restart his education. Building on his pre-war interest in radio, he found work for Philips N.V. in Eindhoven while studying for a degree as a radio technician, as well as sitting for exams to earn a high-school diploma. He continued his studies at the University of Technology at Delft, from which he earned the equivalent of a master’s degree in physics in 1958.

That degree in science caught the attention of an American consular official when Mr. Muhlbaum sought a tourist visa in 1959. With the space race with the Soviet Union picking up speed, the U.S. was seeking scientific talent, and so Mr. Muhlbaum was encouraged to extend his visit, which culminated in his employment with the electronics giant Westinghouse in Baltimore, and then, for several years, as research associate at Johns Hopkins University, where his research included studying the behavior of electronics in simulated outer space environments.

Extending his field to oceanography with further study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s’ program in Woods Hole, Mass, Mr. Muhlbaum went on to work for many years as a physicist for the U.S. Navy, beginning in 1968 at the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, then located in Suitland, Md., and later at the Naval Surface Weapons Center in White Oak, Md. His work for the Navy included designing, developing and testing sonobuoys — sturdy hydrophones that can be dropped from airplanes or ships to detect sounds underwater, such as those emitted by submarines. The research frequently took him out on the Atlantic on Navy vessels and aircraft to test the systems.

In the early 1980s, Mr. Muhlbaum was recognized for his wartime efforts as part of the resistance in several ways: In 1980, he was awarded the Resistance Memorial Cross (Verzetsherdenkingskruis) by the Dutch government, as well as a special pension, which allowed him to resign his job with the Navy and take a series of tutoring and teaching positions for institutions such as the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville.

Concurrently, he began speaking to a variety of organizations about his Holocaust experience, and served as the chairman of the Speakers Bureau of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of the Washington Area, a group that is today administered by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. As a volunteer, he worked for the museum for many years as well, drawing on his knowledge of German, Dutch, Yiddish and French to help translate documents for the museum’s archives.

He is survived by his wife, the former Henriette Cnopius, of Falls Church, and a son, David Muhlbaum (Elizabeth), of Bethesda, as well as two granddaughters, Sarah Holland and Lily Sabine. His brother and sister, who reached safety during World War II thanks to his efforts, live in Israel.

JERUSALEM — Yehuda Avner, a speechwriter and adviser to four Israeli prime ministers, died Tuesday.

Avner, who wrote a memoir about his government service called The Prime Ministers, was 86.

As the speechwriter and adviser to Levi Eshkol, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Menachem Begin, Avner was present at many of the most historical and private moments of the state and its leaders.

His son-in-law David Sable called Avner “Begin’s Shakespeare.” Sable wrote in a statement that Avner “was a true servant of the Jewish people. The statement said that in Avner’s role as adviser “to the Generation of Legendary Leaders of Israel he was never political, never took personal gain, never shied from conflict.”

An emigre from England to British Mandate Palestine in 1947, Avner also served as Israeli ambassador to Australia and the United Kingdom.
— JTA News & Features

Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew died on Monday at the age of 91. The Cambridge-educated lawyer is widely credited with building Singapore into one of the world’s wealthiest nations.

According to Haaretz, in his 2000 book From Third World to First: The Singapore Story, Lee recalled how Israel helped set up the country’s army when Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.

The job of building Singapore’s army was given to Maj. Gen. Rehavam Ze’evi, and the military delegation was headed by then-Col. Yaakov Elazari. Then Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin told the Israeli team that the operation would be successful when Singapore could run its own military.

Israel and Singapore maintain close military ties to this day.
— Additional reporting by Haaretz and Reuters

Rita Phillips Franks
On March 28, Rita Phillips Franks, of Silver Spring. Beloved wife of the late Dennis Franks; devoted mother of Linda Franks Caplan (Steve), Alan Howard Franks (Sue Ross Franks) and Martin Val Franks; dear sister of Sidney Phillips (Frieda) and the late Maurice and Lewis Phillips; cherished grandmother of Danielle Rebecca Franks and Jonathan Sebastian Franks. Also survived by her great-granddaughter, Dakota Franks. Contributions may be made in her name to a charity of one’s choice.

Robert B. Friedman
On March 28, Robert B. Friedman, of Chevy Chase. Beloved husband of Annette Friedman; devoted father of Lisa Twigg (Roger), Debra Bernhardt (David) and Mark Friedman (Shari); cherished grandfather of Jay, Joshua, Brooke and Kayla; beloved brother-in-law of Diane Friedman. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Contributions may be made to Ohr Kodesh, JSSA Hospice or to the Edward J. Friedman Foundation.

Dr. Theodore Alan Miller
Dr. Theodore Alan Miller of Bethesda died on February 20th of natural causes. He was 82.

A District of Columbia native, he was born on June 30, 1932 and grew up first in Anacostia and then in the Crestwood neighborhood of northwest Washington. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School, the University of Michigan, and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

After serving in the Air Force, he maintained a downtown Washington dental practice for nearly 50 years and was a career-long member of the D.C. Dental Society. He was also a proud member of the Maimonides Dental Society as well as a regent and past president of the Washington chapter of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity.

He was a lifelong congregant at Adas Israel, celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at what is now the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. An avid golfer, he was a member first of the Washingtonian Country Club in Gaithersburg and later Norbeck Country Club in Rockville. He was also a skilled gardener and very proud member of the Democratic Party.

He is survived by his wife, Ethyle (Wieder), sons Daniel (Bethany) and Michael (Lauren) and daughter Judith.

Bernard Segerman
On March 21, Bernard Segerman, 87, of Chevy Chase. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Rita, daughter Fran (Mark) Goldstein, Son Charles (Hallie) Segerman, and five adoring grandsons; Michael (Caroline) Goldstein, Andrew Goldstein, Ethan, Will and Lenny Segerman. He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1927 to Ida Seplowitz Segerman and Abraham Segerman. He graduated New York University in 1949 with a degree in journalism, later teaching business at NYU and then a successful career as a merchandising manager for Federated Department Stores. He married Rita Goldberg in 1954 and moved to Long Beach, Long Island. In 1963, the Segerman family moved to the Washington, DC area, where he joined his brother-in-law, Bernard Katz, building garden apartments until Mr. Katz’s unexpected death. He joined The Artery Organization in 1965 working with his brother-in-law, Henry Goldberg. In 1972, after leaving The Artery Organization, he developed “The Braemar”, one of the first high rise condominiums in Ocean City, while also developing land and building garden apartments in the DC metro area. He returned to Artery in 2005 and continued to have an office there until this day. The Segerman family joined Adas Israel Congregation shortly after moving to the DC metro area and Bern held various leadership positions and also served as President of the congregation from 1991 to 1993. He chaired numerous Israel Bond drives and led many missions to Israel as a member of the Young Leadership Division. He also served as the President of the Somerset Condominium Association for four years. He loved playing golf and tennis at Woodmont Country Club where he was a member since 1986. He was an avid reader and also enjoyed playing bridge as often as possible, as well as solving crossword puzzles. Bern will be remembered for his warm and inviting attitude, his optimism, his perseverance, his ability to see the big picture, and his smile. Memorial contributions may be made to Adas Israel Congregation, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Development Department), Congregation B’nai Tzedek and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Stacia Iona Super
On Feb. 23, Stacia Iona Super, 68, died after a 15 year fight with colorectal cancer, at Casey House in Rockville. Her husband of 36 years, Patrick A. Curtis, was at her side. She is also survived by her son, Adam S. Curtis and his wife Kathryn Miller, her brother Bernard Super and his wife Sharon England, her nephew Marty Kreis and niece Michele Kreis. Stacia was born on November 28, 1946 in Washington, D.C. to Tilla Rebecca Hyams and Sol Benjamin Minowitz. Mr. Minowitz died shortly after on December 17, 1947. In 1950, Stacia and her mother traveled to England where Tilla married Arthur Saul Super, formerly Chief Rabbi of Leeds. In 1951 the family moved to Israel where Arthur legally adopted Stacia in 1957. Stacia had the first bat mitzvah in Israel in 1959. The family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1960 where Arthur Super was editor of the Zionist Record and Chief Rabbi of the Johannesburg United Progressive Jewish Congregation. Stacia attended the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 1971. Stacia moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1975 to attend the University of Chicago and then the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned her PhD in Social Work. She met her husband Patrick in the doctoral program at the Jane Addams School of Social Work. Stacia and Patrick were married in 1979. Their son Adam was born in 1987. The family moved to Maryland in 1990 where Stacia set up a private psychotherapy practice, retiring in 2014. Stacia was an active member of the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis where she was honored for her contributions to the Center in 2014. She was integral in organizing an Annual Ethics Conference, which the Center has now named after her. Stacia was also Chair of the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Committee on Confidentiality. Contributions may be made to Montgomery Hospice.

Judy Weiner
Congregation B’nai Tzedek is saddened to announce the passing of Judy Weiner, mother of Tali Lucas on March 29. The funeral will take place on Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Danzansky-Goldberg (1170 Rockville Pike) with interment to follow at the Garden of Remembrance. The family will receive visitors on Monday following the funeral at the home of John Weiner (9 Eaton Overlook, Rockville). May the memory of Judy Weiner be for a blessing

Bernice Tannenbaum, a former national president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America who earned the group’s highest honor for her legacy of contributions, has died.

Tannenbaum, a former JTA vice president and national secretary, died on April 6. She was 101.

She joined Hadassah in 1944 and became its national president in 1976, serving until 1980. Tannenbaum initiated the organization’s practice of periodically holding its annual convention in Israel, convening the first such Jerusalem gathering in 1978. She also launched Hadassah’s first strategic planning initiative, resulting in key structural changes.

She served as chair of the Hadassah Medical Organization from 1980 to 1984. In 1983, she founded Hadassah-International, which is now represented in 21 countries. She served as international coordinator of Hadassah International for 10 years.

As chair of the American Section of the World Zionist Organization, Tannenbaum spearheaded the U.S. campaign for repudiation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, equating Zionism with racism, which came to a successful conclusion with its repeal in 1991. In 2000, she played a central role as spokeswoman for Hadassah’s successful campaign to achieve NGO consultative status at the U.N. Economic and Social Council.

She was co-president of the World Confederation of United Zionists for 15 years, then honorary president. She served as vice president and national secretary of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, vice president of the United Israel Appeal and national vice president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

In 2003, Tannenbaum received Hadassah’s highest honor, the Henrietta Szold Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service, and in 2009 the Hadassah Foundation established the Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize, which recognizes innovative contributions to advance the lives of women and girls in Israel and the United States.

“We mourn the loss of a great leader not only of Hadassah but of the Jewish people,” said Marcie Natan, Hadassah’s current national president. “Bernice was one of the most beloved and productive Hadassah figures of the past half century. She was a tower of strength and a fount of wisdom. The legacy of accomplishment and inspiration that she leaves is immeasurable.”

Tannenbaum studied at Brooklyn College, earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature and art.

– JTA News & Features

Beloved wife, mother and sister, Estelle R. Turtil of Leisure World, Silver Spring, passed away peacefully on March 26 at 86 years old. Estelle was born Aug. 17, 1928 in the Bronx, N.Y. and was raised with her three younger sisters by her immigrant Jewish parents, Isidore and Anna Heifferman.

She attended George Washington High School and the City College of New York. During the 1940s, she worked in numerous clerical positions in Manhattan and married Joseph Turtil on Jan. 13, 1951. They followed Joe’s engineering career path from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, Arizona and finally, Maryland, raising four sons along the way.

In 1974, Turtil began volunteering for numerous organizations, including the newly founded Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) in Rockville; subsequently joining the staff and becoming the head bookkeeper. She initiated JCA’s employee pension and tax-deferred plans, and lovingly, but firmly encouraged co-workers to participate.

Having put their sons through college, she retired in 1991 and set out with Joe to tour the United States, Europe, Israel and the Caribbean. Turtil loved listening to her family and friends, for which, along with her smile, she was especially adored. She also enjoyed cooking, reading, roller-skating, dancing, the opera and theatre; and chocolate.

She is survived by her loving husband Joseph; their four sons, Dr. Lawrence Turtil and wife Emily, Steven Turtil, Robert Turtil, Richard Turtil and Stacy Wong; two grandchildren, Alexandra and Jacob; and her three sisters, Laura Heifferman, Sybil Gold, Lillian Roberts. Funeral services were held at the Interfaith Chapel of Leisure World on March 27; followed by funeral services and internment in the Turtil Family Plot, at the Parklawn Cemetery, Rockville. In her memory, charitable contributions are requested be made to the JCA at 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852.

Wladyslaw Bartoszewski
Via Facebook

WARSAW – Former Polish Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, a former prisoner of Auschwitz who was named Righteous Among the Nations, has died.

Bartoszewski, who was also a social activist, journalist and historian, died Friday. He was 93.

In 1940, Bartoszewski was sent to Auschwitz because of his social activism. He was released in 1941 following efforts by the Polish Red Cross. In 1942, he became involved in the work of Zegota-The Committee for Aid to Jews, a Polish World War II resistance organization set up to help Jews during the Holocaust.

He served twice as the minister of foreign affairs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and as ambassador to Austria for five years beginning in 1990. In 2007 he became secretary of state in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Flags on the Polish Parliament and the Presidential Palace were lowered to half-mast in his honor.

On April 19, Bartoszewski participated in the celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, and three days later he took part in the celebration of the anniversary of the independence of Israel.

“It is the end of the twentieth century,” Piotr Cywinski, director of the Auschwitz Museum, wrote on his Facebook page.

Piotr Kadlcik, a former chairman of the Union of Jewish Communities in Poland told JTA, echoed the same sentiments.

“It is the end of an era,” Kadlcik wrote. “Without these people it will be much more difficult to remember all aspects of our common history and to talk about it with dignity, without vindictiveness and stereotypes.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his condolences in a statement on Saturday night.

“In Israel he will remain forever in our hearts as one of the Righteous Among the Nations who risked his life to rescue Jews from the Nazis,” Netanyahu said, noting the designation from the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. “In my meetings with him, I was deeply impressed by his humanity and erudition. His light will continue to shine.”

Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said on Saturday that Bartoszewski “was a very brave and effective ambassador of reconciliation of states, nations and societies, Polish-German and Polish-Israeli reconciliation.”

– JTA News and Features

J. Joseph Belson
On April 23, J. Joseph Belson of Silver Spring. Beloved husband of Estelle Belson; loving father of Neil, Jerry (Shelly) and Lee Belson; cherished grandfather of Emily, Robbie and Jenny Belson. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington or to the charity of your choice.

Harvey L. Berman
On April 24, Harvey L. Berman of Florida and formerly of Silver Spring. Beloved husband of Bonnie Berman and the late Herta Berman; loving father of Jeffrey Berman, Steven (Shelly) Berman, Alan Berman and William (Stacie) Berman; dear stepfather of Lisa Landers and Beth Woods; adored brother of Jay (Lois) Berman and the late Marilyn (Maurice) Targove; cherished grandfather of Brandon, Daniel, Lauren, Julia, Hanna, Bradley and Matthew Berman. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or charity of one’s choice.

David A. Brooks
On April 19, David A. Brooks of Bethesda. Beloved husband of Harriet Brooks; devoted father of Dr. Betsy Brooks, Dr. Renana Brooks and the late Professor Robert Brooks; cherished grandfather of Isaac, Meir and Professor Shimon Brooks and Tova Brooks Lerman, Rachel and Dr. Benjamin Machta, Neshama and Neilah Rovinsky; great-grandfather of Noa and Orly Brooks and Ora and Shalhevet Lerman. Memorial contributions may be made to the Transportation Fund at Congregation Beth El.

Kathy Baskin Davidson
On April 22, Kathy Baskin Davidson of Silver Spring. Beloved wife of Joseph Davidson; devoted mother of Beth and Michael (Lucia); cherished grandmother of Gabriel; adored sister of Mark and John. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tifereth Israel Congregation or Shephard’s Table.

William (Willie) Mazer
Congregation B’nai Tzedek is saddened to announce the passing of William (Willie) Mazer, father of Roslyn Mazer on May 3. The family will receive visitors on May 7 and May 8 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by services at 6:30 p.m. on May 7 only at the home of Roslyn Mazer and David Holzworth, 4930 30th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. Donations can be made to B’nai Tzedek at bnaitzedek.org/secure/make-donation. May the memory of William Mazer be for a blessing.

Joel Brodsky
Congregation B’nai Tzedek is saddened to announce the passing of Joel Brodsky, son of Lois Brodsky, brother of Mimi Kress and father of David, Alex and Rachel Brodsky. Shiva will take place at the home of Mimi and Michael Kress (6630 Marywood Road, Bethesda) on May 14 with a minyan at 7:30 p.m. and on May 16 with a minyan at 8 p.m. May the memory of Joel Brodsky be for a blessing.

Eva W. Chaiken
On May 9, Eva W. Chaiken, 95 of Arlington. Loving wife of the late Albert Chaiken; sister of Mac Waldman. Her life was filled with the joy of family, friends and tennis. Eva was a graduate and supporter of Hunter College and one of the founders of the Israel Tennis Center. She was a major contributor to the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia and Agudas Achim Congregation.

Elka Shoenholz Charney
On May 6, Elka Shoenholz Charney of Gaithersburg. Beloved wife of the late Isack Charney, a holocaust survivor; beloved daughter of the late Mary and Leo Shoenholz; loving mother of Shirley Charney Feldman and mother-in-law of Bruce Feldman; sister of Barbara Schuleman. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alley Animals, Inc., P.O. Box 27487, Towson, MD 21285.

Estelle D. Cohen
On May 4, Estelle D. Cohen, 87, of Silver Spring. Beloved wife of the late Lester Cohen; devoted mother of Alice (Jerry) Levin and Lloyd (Judy) Cohen; cherished grandmother of Molly (Alan) Van Grack and Anna Levin. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gilchrist Hospice, gilchristhospice.org or a charity of choice.

June Finkelstein
Congregation B’nai Tzedek is saddened to announce the passing of June Finkelstein, mother of Marilyn Linchuck on May 10. Shiva will continue on Thursday evening in Baltimore. May the memory of June Finkelstein be for a blessing.

Helen Hope Kottler ‘Leni’
On May 4, Helen Hope Kottler at the age of 93 surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her daughters, Linda and Doreen and her grandson, Jason Snider. She is survived by her husband and best friend Morris Kottler, her son David Kottler and her 14 beloved grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In her younger years, Leni was a proud actress, with a magnetic presence. She always carried that charisma and passion throughout the rest of her life as a devoted wife, mother and a loving grandmother.

Florence Krieger
On May 7, Florence Krieger, a 50 year resident of Bowie. Wife of the late Charles Krieger; mother of Donna Krieger Baugus and the late Stuart Krieger; grandmother of Brian Baugus and Robin Horowitz; daughter of the late Samuel and Bessie Horowitz; and sister of the late Murray Harris of New York. She was a longtime employee of Olchak Market Research in Bowie. She and Charles were very active in the Jewish War Veterans and longtime members of Temple Solel. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Solel, 2901 Mitchellville Rd, Bowie, MD 20716 or Heartland Hospice, 4 East Rolling Crossroads Catonsville, MD 21228.

Elaine Orloff
On May 5, Elaine Orloff of Silver Spring. Beloved mother of Alise Susan Orloff and Brian Scott Orloff, devoted wife of the late Milton Orloff, daughter of the late Edward and Sadie Chucker, and loving sister of the late Beatrice Wexler, Dr. George Chucker, and William Chucker. Survived by brothers Joseph Chucker and Dr. Francis Chucker. Survivors also include many cherished relatives. Elaine was a wonderfully caring person who was adored by all and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Silver Spring Jewish Center, 1401 Arcola Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902 or to the charity of choice.

Gail Schaumberg
On May 7, Gail Schaumberg of Rockville. Survived by her significant other, Samuel Stone. Beloved mother of Steven (Deborah) Schaumberg, Lisa (Brian) Sweeney and Erika (Phil) Satlof; and dear grandmother of Skylar, Ryan, Madison, Peyton, Parker and Nathan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund, www.jnf.org.

Yizkor memorial services are usually somber, but an especially heavy sorrow hung over prayers on Monday at Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim in Silver Spring. Even at moments when congregants usually turn to each other to chat, no one spoke. “Our synagogue was so quiet. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts,” said congregant Joan Eisenberg.

The day before, Rachel Adisy Suson, 36, wife of the congregation’s rabbi, Steven Suson, died after suffering a stroke in April.

“We are a congregation in mourning,” Eisenberg said.

In April, before her stroke, Rachel Suson defended her doctoral thesis in counseling psychology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. She would have been graduated last weekend, said Rabbi Suson.

“She was studying Jewish identity,” he said, “how people are motivated to practice Judaism and how it affects their happiness.”

She co-authored a chapter in Handbook of Multicultural Mental Health (2013) called “The Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Mental Disorders among American Jews.”

Rachel Adisy was born Sept. 11, 1978 in New Milford, N.J. She held undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. She received a master’s degree in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson.

She and Rabbi Suson met on a Birthright Israel trip in 2003. They were married in 2007 and have a daughter, Mara, now four years old.

The family moved to Silver Spring in 2012, when Rabbi Suson was hired by Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim, a Conservative congregation.

Congregation President Dan Gorin described Rachel Suson as quiet and introspective – and busy. “She was pretty stretched. She was a mother. She had her doctoral work and her practical work.”

“She was clearly very educated,” said Judi Unger, a past president.  And as a Jew, she was thoroughly modern. “She referred to herself as rabbanit – as an educated person – rather than as rebbitzen, the wife of a rabbi.”

“It’s a tremendous loss for us,” said the congregation Vice President Dale Kay, reached Tuesday as he was arranging the funeral, “and we’re all mourning.”

In addition to Rabbi Suson and daughter Mara Leona Suson, Rachel Adisy Suson is survived by her parents, Leon and Maria Adisy. Burial is at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Adelphi. Shiva will be
observed at the family home through Tuesday morning, with services at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Contributions may be made to Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim. Arrangements entrusted to Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home (endorsed by The Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington).

dholzel@midatlanticmedia.com
@davidholzel

Sandra Kahn Alpert
On May 17, Sandra Kahn Alpert of Chevy Chase. Beloved wife of Clement C. Alpert and the late Myron L. Madden; devoted mother of Brian (Judy) Madden, Shelley Madden, Dale (Alan) Sorcher, Andrew (Maria Zimmitti) Alpert and Jonathan Alpert; cherished grandmother of Michael (Mindy Saraco) Madden, David (Rachel Gurstein) Madden, Ben (Jenny Marron) Madden, Jill, Leah and Ethan Sorcher and Nina, Zoe and Louis Alpert; adored great-grandmother of Ruby, Sender, Emmanuelle and Lucas Madden. Also survived by caregivers, Sarah Guzeh and Sophia Daley. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Sandra K. and Clement C. Alpert Fund for Family Education at Adas Israel Congregation or the charity of your choice .

Neil Warren Randall, M.D.
Neil Warren Randall, M.D., of Naples, Florida for the past 14 years, passed away on May 18. Born in White Plains, New York. Attended the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he served on the Board of Trustees. Diplomate  of Gastroenterology in the American Board of Internal Medicine. Practiced medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania; and in private practice in Naples. Member of the Board of Trustees of Beth Tikvah congregation, Naples. Beloved husband of Linda Zell Randall for the past 22 years. Loving father of Todd Frederick Randall, Jason Brett Randall, and Glenn Michael Randall. Cherished son of Leroy and Libby Randall. Dear brother of Gary Randall, Paul Randall (Dr. Kae Brickerd), and Amy LeDeaux (Dr. John LeDeaux). A memorial service will be held on May 31 at 2 p.m., at the NABOR Conference Center, 1455 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples, Florida. Contributions may be made in his memory, payable to Cheryl R. Kraus, P.A. FBO Randall Family Trust, 1072 Goodlette Rd. N., Naples, Florida 34102.

Anne Meara
Via imdb.com

Anne Meara, the wife and comedy partner of Jerry Stiller and the mother of actor and director Ben Stiller, has died.

Meara died May 23 in Manhattan at the age of 85.

Meara and Stiller were married for 61 years. Born and raised as Roman Catholic, Meara converted to Judaism in 1962, according to The New York Times.

The couple’s relationship was the basis for their best-known comedy routine about Hershey Horowitz and Mary Elizabeth Doyle, a short Jewish man and a tall Catholic woman who had nothing in common but loved each other deeply. The couple appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 36 times.

In addition to her longtime comedy pairing with Jerry Stiller, Meara maintained her career as an actress, receiving an Obie Award, Golden Globe, four Emmy Award nominations and a Tony Award nomination.

She appeared on several television series, including Rhoda, Archie Bunker’s Place, Sex and the City and Oz. She also appeared on the soap opera All My Children.

She had a memorable role as teacher Mrs. Sherwood in the 1980 movie Fame, and also shared the screen with her son Ben in The Night at the Museum.

“Anne’s memory lives on in the hearts of daughter Amy, son Ben, her grandchildren, her extended family and friends, and the millions she entertained as an actress, writer and comedienne,” a statement from the family said.

— JTA News & Features

Betsy Chriqui

Magen David Sephardic Congregation notes with great sorrow the passing of Betsy Chriqui. Mother of Charmaine Berman, Michael, David, Gigi Chriqui. We pray that Hashem will comfort the family of Betsy Chriqui A”H in their hour of bereavement. May her soul rest in everlasting peace and her name be a source of blessing. Amen. If you would like to send a donation to Magen David in memory of Betsy Chriqui A”H, a condolence card will be sent to the family on your behalf. Please use the link magendavidsephardic.org/donations-and-payments.html to donate.

Sylvia Evelyn Abramson Heft

On April 23, Sylvia Evelyn Abramson Heft, 93, of Bethesda. Heft graduated from Roosevelt High School in Washington. She is survived by three daughters and two son-in-laws; eight grandchildren and nine great-children. Frances and David Eisenberg (sister-in-law and brother-in law); and many nieces and nephews. Children: Gwen and Carl Oppenheim, Harriet and Marty Feldman, Barbara Heft. Grandchildren: Adam (Nancy) Oppenheim, Eric (Ronni) Oppenheim, and Peter (Katie) Oppenheim; Sheila (David) Berlinger, and David (Jessica) Feldman; Gregory Auerbach, Evan (fiancée: Giovanna Sanchez), and Meredith Auerbach. Great-Grandchildren: Annabel Oppenheim, Harold Oppenheim, Ethan Oppenheim, Kailyn Oppenheim; Janel Berlinger, Sonya Berlinger; Andrew Feldman, Brandon Feldman; and Rachel Auerbach. Sylvia’s husband was Arnold Heft (predeceased in 2014). Her predeceased parents were Anna Abramson of Chicago, Illinois and Sam Abramson of Silver Spring.

Sol Zalel Rosen

On May 26, Sol Zalel Rosen, 79, of Washington. The son of Louis and Sarah Rosen of Brooklyn, New York, Rosen graduated from the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. A prominent Criminal Justice Act attorney, his solo law practice handled mostly criminal and employment cases. Rosen was a loyal member of Adas Israel Congregation for 35 years. He is survived by a sister, Gloria Aronoff of Boca Raton, Florida and nephew, Lewis Aryeh Leib Weinger of Tekoa, Israel.

Barbara Davis Widem

On April 12, Barbara Davis Widem, 87, of Bethesda. Widem graduated from the University of Chicago and Rutgers University with a master of library science. She worked at the University of Maryland Library and Montgomery County Public Library System. Widem received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries, Capital Area Chapter and was noted for her unique, extensive collection of books and artifacts relating to the Biblical story of Noah. The collection is on permanent display at the Dennis and Philip Ratner Museum of the Bible in Bethesda. She is survived by a son, Jonathan Widem, his wife, Jill and three grandchildren: Kelsey, Nathan and Samantha. Her husband, Paul Widem, and daughter, Ann Widem, are deceased.

Henry H. Brylawski celebrating the 125th anniversary of Adas Israel synagogue with his wife Molly in 2001.
Photo courtesy of Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington

Henry H. Brylawski of Washington, died peacefully at his home on June 2, six days shy of his 102nd birthday.

Brylawski was born on June 8, 1913, in Washington where he spent his entire life except for service overseas during World War II. Brylawski graduated from Central High School before receiving his law degree from National University Law School (now The George Washington University). Following military service during World War II, Brylawski worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington for more than 50 years.

Brylawski served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington from 1969-1971 and was instrumental in the organization’s work to save and move Adas Israel synagogue in 1969. He later chaired the D.C. Joint Committee on Landmarks, the predecessor of the Historic Preservation Review Board. There he had a major hand in getting D.C.’s earliest preservation laws.

In honor of his 100th birthday in 2013, Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed the date “Mr. Henry Brylawski Day,” and the Washington Jewish Week wrote an article.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Molly and his oldest child, Tom. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen B. Miller (David); son, Samuel (Gail J. Sonnemann); daughter-in-law, Bruna P. Brylawski; six grandchildren, David, Michael, Julie, and Susanna Brylawski and Nicholas and Alec Miller; and five great-grandchildren, Henry, Charles, Michael, Lila, and Talia. He is also survived by his brother, Alan; sisters-in-law, Eugenia S. Siegler and Harriet L. Schwartz; and loving caretakers, Ginalyn Landichio, Mercy Avila, and Ella Nabe. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Brylawski’s memory can be made to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, the Community Hospice, or the charity of your choice.

Moses Samuels
Photo courtesy of Myanmar Jewish Community

Myanmar’s Jewish community is mourning the passing of its long-time leader Moses Samuels, who died on May 29 in Yangon at the age of 65.

Of Iraqi Jewish descent, Samuels continued the work of his father in caring for the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue and Jewish community for over 35 years.

During his leadership he advocated for a better understanding between different faiths and peoples and invited leaders from different communities to the synagogue to exchange dialogues and share the history of the Jewish community of Myanmar.

He treated everyone with equal respect and dignity with an open door — no matter if they were Jewish or Buddhist, Muslim or Christian, Hindu or Baha’i.

Samuels lived with his wife Nelly Samuels for 44 years and had 3 children: Dinah, Kaznah and Sammy.

His son Sammy, graduate of Yeshiva University – New York, will continue to carry on his shoulders the burden of his heritage and the future Jewish community in Myanmar.

Magen David Sephardic Congregation notes with great sorrow the passing of Edmond Cohen. Father of Talia Edery. The funeral will take place in Israel. We pray that Hashem will comfort the family of Edmond Cohen in their hour of bereavement. May his soul rest in everlasting peace and his name be a source of blessing. Amen. If you would like to send a donation to Magen David in memory of Edmond Cohen, a condolence card will be sent to the family on your behalf. Please use the link magendavidsephardic.org/donations-and-payments.html to donate.