Beth El Sisterhood

Congregation Beth El, Camden’s first Conservative synagogue, built and occupied a wonderful synagogue and school building on Park Boulevard, opposite Farnham Park, in the 1920s which it occupied until 1968, when the new building on Chapel Avenue in Cherry Hill was occupied.

In March of 2006 I received a package of information from Rabbi David Herman, the son of Cantor Louis Herman, whose voice for many years inspired the faithful at prayer, and Mrs. Yetta Herman, who was involved for many years in Jewish education at Beth El. Besides David’s own story of people and events at Beth El and in Parkside, there were copies of the 80-plus pages of Beth El’s history through 1970. He also furnished me with two lists of names, from around 1971 or so, one being the names of all the children and teenagers who were members of Beth El at that time, and the one on this page, members of the Beth El Sisterhood. Even though by that time Beth El had left Camden, many of the names on these lists had and have ties to Camden.

What struck me is that I’m on that list, along with my brother Mark and sister Hilary, and that there are people I know and knew on it, as well as the mother of many boys and girls I went to school and socialized with are on it. I thought it would be fun to put both lists on the web site, just to see who find it.

With that in mind, if you find yourself or a relative on this page, comment below!

March 2006

Camden Jews Pick Captains for Drive

Camden Courier-Post — June 15, 1933

At an executive meeting of the United Committee for Relief of German Jews, held at Beth El Synagogue last night, the captains who will be in charge of teams for the purpose of raising $10,000 for relief of German Jews, were announced by Leon H. Rose, general chairman. In urging the appointees to intensive efforts, Rose said:

“Six hundred thousand Jews are in distress. They are ousted from office, discharged from employment, denied civil and economic rights, persecuted and systematically forced to starve to death.

“There is raging in Germany one of the coldest and cruelest pogroms against the Jews ever known to history.

“We must help. We must rescue those helpless ones. Our weapon for immediate retaliation is money, and we must supply those arms. By the widest stretch of the imagination, it is inconceivable how any Jew in this community can exclude himself from this cause.

“Thousands of German Jews, especially among the young, see a prospect of restarting their lives in Palestine to which some of them already have made their way. Determined, concerted Jewish effort can make it capable of providing a permanent home for a considerable part of German Jewry to whom the rest of the world, with few exceptions, is closed.

“Immediate funds are needed. I appeal to you as self-respecting Jews who understand the suffering of your own race to come to the aid of your stricken brothers and sisters. Give them all you can.”

Those named and the organizations they represent are: Jacob Leventon, Congregation Beth El; David Lefkowitz, congregation Sons of Israel; Morris Josselson, Congregation Beth Israel; Benjamin Friedman, B’nai Brith; Mrs. I.S. Siris, Hadassah; Philip Miller, Hebrew Parent Teachers Association; Herman Odlen, Federation of Jewish Charities; Mrs. Rose Goldstein, Independent Social; Harry W. Markowich, Zionist Organization; Norman Heine, Junior Council; Julius Samson, Upsilon Lambda Phi.

Mrs. William Laub, Council of Jewish Women; A. David Epstein, Sigma Alpha Rho; Mrs. Aaron Heine, Beth El Sisterhood; Samuel Shane, Talmud Torah; M. Snyder, Workmen’s Circle; M. Bard, F. of S. U.; Louis Tarter, Independent Progress Lodge; Mrs. Zelda Lutz, Jacob J. Hernfeld Link; Dr. I.S. Siris, Jewish Welfare Society; Mrs. M. Shapiro, Hebrew Ladies Charities.

Saul Lippman, Mizrachi; Mrs. Samuel Litow, Welfare Social Club; D. Breslow, Gordonia.; Dr. Reuben Cutler, Mizpah Lodge No. 245; F. & A. M.; Meyer Adelman, Camden Level Club; Mrs. Etta Rosen, B’nai Brith Auxiliary; Mrs. L. Weiss, Ladies Auxiliary of Progress Lodge; Miriam Morris, Junior Charity Workers; Mrs. A. Stoolman, Deborah Society; Mrs. M. Leider, Welfare Social.

Moses Bord was appointed captain of the workers. A mass meeting will be held June 20, at the talmud torah building, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue, and will be addressed by members of national, state and municipal governments, as well as outstanding Jewish leaders from New York and Philadelphia.

Mother-Daughter Banquet Slated by Sisterhood Here

Camden Courier-Post — February 17, 1938

A mother-daughter dinner has been planned by the Beth El Sisterhood for Monday next. The affair will be held in the Beth El auditorium, Park Boulevard and Belleview Avenue, and has been arranged under the direction of Mrs. Meyer B. Chertkof, of Collingswood, and Mrs. Max Sherman, of this city.

The dinner is slated for seven o’clock. Mrs. Philip Lipis, program chairman for the year, will act as toastmaster and Mrs. Harry Lutz, president, will greet the members and their guests.

The program will include solo and ensemble song and dance numbers. Dolly Aughenbaugh will sing and dance strut style. Tresa Casey will give a Russian dance, Mary Heimerl, acrobatic and Anna Mae Etherington, tap.

Members of the sisterhood also will participate in the program. Mrs. Max Greenstein will be the pianist. A playlet will be presented entitled, “Blame It On the Movies.” The cast comprises Salina Seigle, Dorothy Cutler, Sara Cutler and Miriam Cantor. Miss Nettie Reiter will sing accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Otto Reiter.