1892-1893 Lois Herstein
1894 Jacob Levine
1895 Jacob Cohen
1896 Morris Schiff
1897 Isaac Greenberg
1898-1899 Lois Levine
1900 Isaac Cohen
1901-1902 Max Frumkin
1903 Joseph Levine
1904 Jacob Cohen
1905 Morris Schiff
1906 Hyman S. Katz
1907 Hymon H. Kronick
1908 Isaac Hohen
1909 Morris Schiff
1910 Hyman S. Katz
1911-1912 Isaac Hohen
1913-1915 Samuel Richton
1916-1917 Hymon H. Kronick
1918-1919 Isaac Cohen
1920 Samuel Richton
1921-1922 Hymon H. Kronick
1923 Jacob M. Lenhoff
1924-1925 Barnet Arl
1926-1930 Harry Wein
1931 Max Feder
1932-1937 Harry Wein
1938-1939 Isadore Shapiro
1940-1941 Simon Kronick
1942-1945 Israel Ruby
1945-1946 Isadore Shapiro
1946-1947 Simon Kronick
1949 Harry Melcher
1950 Joseph G. Kronick
1951-1955 Harry Wein
1956 Joseph G. Kronick
1957-1962 Harry Wein
1963-1964 Eugene Wein
1965 Joseph G. Kronick
1966-1967 Benjamin Apkin
1968-1971 Albert Taskin
1971-1974 Benjamin Dolgoff
1975-1981 Burton Shapiro
1982-1986 Robert Bashevkin
1987-1990 Warner Smith
1991-1992 Mark Gold
1993-1995 Howard Wineberg
1996-1997 Bob Bashevkin, Warner Smith
1998-2003 David Ranzer
2003-2004 Hal Gordon
2004-2006 Joanne Ranzer
2006-2008 Amy Filson, Elma Sanders
2008-2009 Amy Filson, Darlene Radin
2009-2010 Darlene Radin
2010-2013 Grace Bowen
2013-2014 Pattie Lipman, Bill Levy
2014-2016 Pattie Lipman
2016-2018 Liz Miller
2018-Present Chris Kelly
Presidents of
House of Israel - United House of Israel - Congregation Beth Israel
March 27, 2020
Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends:
I wanted to share with the CBI community as well as the northern Berkshire Jewish community what our synagogue is doing in response to the coronavirus crisis.
On February 29th, the synagogue Board of Directors and Rabbi Rachel started discussing preparations for a possible COVID-19 pandemic. R’Rachel and I continued closely monitoring the situation in our county and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Over a period of two days - March 12 & 13 - the CBI leadership made a number of decisions we deemed necessary to protect the health and well-being of our community.
We decided to:
* Close the CBI Hebrew School through April vacation (since extended to align with the closure of public and private schools in Massachusetts)
* Begin live-streaming our Shabbat services (information on how to virtually attend services is available on our website, in the weekly email, on our Facebook page, and in R’Rachel’s recent message)
* Cancel the community second night Passover seder
* Cancel all other scheduled CBI community events (until further notice)
* Cease preparing and delivering meals through the Take and Eat program
* Direct our janitorial service to perform a deep cleaning and sanitization of the synagogue building
* Close our synagogue for two weeks (since amended to “until further notice” to align with “stay-at-home” directive issued by Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health)
* Transition our two “essential” employees - R’Rachel and Ollie Jones - to working remotely.
During the time while our synagogue is closed, we ask that any business you have be conducted by phone, email, and postal mail. We also ask for your patience as response times may be slower than normal.
We did not take these actions lightly; we knew doing so would cause a disruption of the usual kinds of connection we, as a community, have with one another. We made these changes out of an abundance of caution and to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us.
CBI leaders will continue to monitor the situation and we will communicate with you through all the channels we currently use. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send an email to cbinadams@gmail.com.
Recently, R’Rachel wrote, “When the work becomes overwhelming, we need each other more.” This is so very true. Please know we are using every tool at our disposal to help us stay connected so we may offer the support you need during this difficult time. Your wellness of body, mind, and spirit and your safety is our primary concern.
I urge you to reach out to fellow congregants, friends and neighbors. Make an offer to pick up some groceries for someone when you’re making a run to the store. Let your family members know that you’re thinking of them. Say “I love you” more. Practice loving-kindness in all you do. And ask for help when you need it.
I offer this: May the Holy One of Blessing grant skill, compassion, wisdom and protection to all those who are working to fight this sickness. May all who are ill be healed. May this virus be soon eradicated from our world. May we find light in the darkness and may we all be blessed with good health, love, and peace.
Shalom.
— Chris Kelly
