1950 EXODUS FROM ORIGINAL ADATH ISRAEL

From the Time Capsule- Part 2

This photo had no identification on it. Aside from the inset of Rabbi Newberger, does anyone know who is in this photo?


Standing, Left to Right: Jack Turner, X, Ben Cantor, Dr. Cyril Hutner, X, X, Joe Ostrower, X
Seated,Left to Right: X, Abe Neiss, Joe Klein, Dr. Henry Belafsky, Izzy Rabinowitz?, X

From the Time Capsule

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Woodbridge Veterinary Group & Hospital on Monday, 7/28, a time capsule and a book of records found during construction was handed over to Sandy Goldberg, a past president who was there as a representative of the congregation. The book of records seemed to contain only the signatures of those attending the 40th anniversary dinner dance. The time capsule had a brief typewritten history of the congregation, some newspaper clippings and a photograph.

The capsule was found when work was being done in the area of the rabbi's study. Apparently it was in the wall behind the cornerstone.

Time Capsule Found

As many of you know, the building that housed Adath Israel for many years was sold, and major renovations were done to convert the building for use by a veterinary practice. I just heard from my mother Miriam Winograd that during the construction work a time capsule was found and is going to be opened in a ceremony tomorrow, Monday, July 28, at 10:30 am.

From Hopelessly Nostalgic

Would you you consider coming to an Adath Israel reunion in 2009? I'm willing to organize it (never having done one before) - maybe "down the shore" for a weekend in the spring or fall. If you're at all interested, leave a comment here or send me an email at sharoncpw@gmail.com

- Sharon

CUB SCOUT TROUP from Alan Ziegler

First row: Mrs. Evans and her son Edgar (he did not pass 5th grade and I lost track of him); [I don’t know who the next 3 are]; Mrs. Gashorowski and her son Ronald (the tallest kid in our class from elementary school through high school, class of 1958; he became a local lawyer) and maybe his father.
Standing row: The parents of Bruce Tobias and Bruce (WHS class of 58 but no longer living);the Ostrowers and their fraternal twin sons Victor (became a medical doctor) and Gary (PhD in History); a kid whose name escapes me but I may remember it later (his parents are behind Eliot Burns, Pearl and Dick Burns (she was the pack Den mother and about 2 years later they moved to Detroit), Alan Ziegler and his parents Leonard and Sadie.

Al Cohen as Sgt. Schultz in Stalag 17

Al Cohen's acting talents and fluent German provided great comic relief in an otherwise serious drama.
He did require a pillow under his belt to achieve the classic Sgt. Schultz profile, though.

BOB & ABBY (MEISTRICH) BELAFSKY CELEBRATE

MAZEL TOV!

ABBY MEISTRICH & BOB BELAFSKY SENT THESE

Adath Israel Sisterhood “Fannie Get Your Gun” May 1, 1950 Evelyn Ellenbogen, Carol Cohen, Pearl Nedzela, Miriam Winograd, Tobia Weinstein, Min Meistrich, June Kaufman, Ann Hodes, Bernice Tenenbaum, Frances Katzenman








Bobby Belafsky’s Bar Mitzvah at Adath Israel May, 1960

Abby (Meistrich ) Belafsky, Bobby Belafsky, Dale Chodosh Footnote: Abby & Bob just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary

Essex House Luncheon February 21, 1959

Bertha Newberger, Helen Klein, Lil Gutman, Harriet Hornick. Min Meistrich, Bea Hutner

Gary Laden’s Bar Mitzvah

Front Row: Joyce Weinberg, Renee Lichtman, Elaine Neuss, Ellen Swerdel, Gary & Rand Laden, Abby Meistrich, Dale Chodosh, Patty Weiss Back Row: Paula Nedzela. Barbara Dern, Nancy Klein, Gary’s Cousin

Adath Israel at The Fallsview January 21, 1961

Front Row: Steven Weiss, Michael Ballon, Ricky Ballon
Middle Row: Bonnie Klein, Jane Tanzman, Renee Lichtman, Lorraine Stein, Ellen Swerdel
Back Row: Jane Goodstein, Gary Laden, Abby Meistrich, Paula Nedzela, Bobby Belafsky, Lonnie ? , Larry Ballon, Patty Weiss

STANDARDS FOR SYNAGOGUE PRACTICE

This is the last of the items of interest I found in Adath Israel archives at Rutgers. It was written in the 1940s.

SPRING, 1954

From Martin Staum:

Martin and Alan Ziegler

PICTURES FROM THEA CHODOSH BRODKIN

Linda Chodosh Fox forwarded these fabulous pictures from Thea:


Addy Lang, Linda Patnoi, Judy Weisenfeld, Susan Bernstein, Nancy Miller, and Phyllis Alpern

Thanks to Nona Levine Schwartz for identifying these people:First row: ? Maisie Cohen, ? Marlyn Turner; Second row: Sheila Belafsky, ?, Susan Bernstein,? ? Patty Dern, Rona Tanzman, Mark Belafsky, Billy Rabinowitz

Alan Ziegler says: First row: ? Maisie Cohen, ? Marlyn Turner; Second row: Sheila Belafsky, Alan Ziegler, Susan Bernstein, Lee Pargot, Patty Dern, LeRoy DuBrow, Rona Tanzman, Mark Belafsky, Billy Rabinowitz,on far right - possibly Elliot Burns

Linda Patnoi, Nancy Miller, Addie Lang, Sheila Belafsky

And can you name the guys who came to Judy's "Come As You Are" party? Morris says: Leroy DuBrow (center), Mark Belafsky; Fred Brodsky thinks it is his brother, Greg next to Lee (Richie) Pargot

Adath Israel does Broadway

PERTH AMBOY EVENING NEWS MAGAZINE SECTION March 28, 1959
With the New York stage in the midst of its biggest Oriental cycle in many decades, the Adath Israel Players of Woodbridge, one of the major theatrical groups in this area, will be right in line with the Oriental theme
behind the footlights with this year's production of "Teahouse of the August Moon."
In fact, the production will be authentic down to the last detail, thanks to the collaboration for the Japanese elements of a Japanese resident of Perth Amboy, Mrs. Haruko Mizenko of 757 Mary St. Through the use of a tape-recorder, Mrs. Mizenko has taught the players with Japanese roles their full parts in Japanese. In the play, much of the dialogue is in Japanese, explained to the audience through one of the actors, Sakini, played by Dr. Albert Richman of Woodbridge.
By memorizing Mrs. Mizenko's reading of their lines, the players with Japanese roles will be able to produce authentic Japanese dialogue for the four performances of the play, April 11 and 12 and also on April 18 and 19. Some of Mrs. Mizenko's Japanese articles will also lend an authentic note to the drama.
The play centers about the efforts of American occupation forces to bring Democ racy to Okinawa and to integrate the natives. The result, to a degree, is that the Americans are integrated by the Okinawans, rather than vice versa.
Mrs. Mizenko, a graduate of Tsuda College in Tokyo, was employed in liaison communications work by the U.S. Army in Japan after World War II. during which time she met
and married Anert Mizenko of Perth Amboy. At that time he was engaged in setting up lines of communication in Japan and Korea for the U.S. government. He is now an educational specialist at Fort Monmouth.
When Mrs. Mizenko began teaching the Japanese dialogue to those Adath Israel Players with Japanese-speaking parts in "Teahouse," she found she had to be especially careful of her interpretations as a result of word she has received from Japan.
Mrs. Mizenko communicates with friends in Japan by recording "letters" on tape and sending them to Japan. Her friends send back similar tape-recorded "letters." In one of these a Japanese friend noted that after eight years in the United States, Mrs. Mizenko was beginning to speak Japanese with an American accent.
"Teahouse" will be the 22nd production in the 15-year history of the Adath Israel Players organization and will be presented at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge. It is being produced by Emanuel Goldfarb and Mrs. Henry A. Belafsky and involves such unusual cast members as a goat and crickets, the latter being traditional good-luck syml)ols in Okinawa.
An added note of authenticity to the production, the use of some of Mrs. Mizenko's kimonos, was declined when the producers learned how fragile these standard items of japanese apparel are. They learned with some surprise that Japanese kimonos are never cleaned as a unit, as would be the case for any American dress or suit.
In is the practice in Japan, Mrs. Mizenko pointed out, to completely disassemble every panel and piece of the kimono, taking out all the stitches, and reducing the kimono to its original sections of cloth. These are then cleaned individually, blocked and ironed individually, and the kimono is then resewn patiently back together. Concerned over the extreme delicacy of these traditional Oriental robes, the producers and cast decided to use theatrical costumes, lest any harm befall Mrs. Mizenko's silken treasures.
--My father says these productions were great money-makers for Adath Israel. Both he and Jack Gottdenker now live at Seabrook in Tinton Falls, NJ.
My mother always painted the flats, which members of the Congregation sometimes took home afterward and displayed as art. You can read more about her work at http://harvey-s-cohen.com .

EMERGENCY FUNDING NEEDED

This telegram, in the Adath Israel collection at the Rutgers Library, is probably from the late '40's:

One From Harold

Click on this one, also from the Rutgers files:

BUY A BRICK

This seems to be a draft of a raffle ticket for our "new" synagogue in the late 1940's. I don't know if it was ever used - but it's a pretty clever concept:

(if you click on the image, you can enlarge it)

Freddy Kaufman's grandkids

Richard Feldman ( Nettie and Abe's), Freddy Kaufman, Robert (Bobby) Kaufman (Eddie and June's), Judy Kaufman ( Eddie and June's), Sherry Kaufman, Kenny Kaufman ( Jerry and Harriet's), Nancy Feldman ( Nettie and Abe's)

Charlie Kaufman (my father),

cousin Robert (then known as Bobby) Kaufman,

my sister, Lorraine Kaufman

Memories from Annette Kaufman Feldman

This was sent by my cousin, Nettie (Freddy Kaufman's daughter, who grew up on Tisdale Place, next door to us):

I was one of the Adath Israel Players. I played the lead ingenue role of "Elaine" in "Arsenic and Old Lace". I remember Rose Belafsky played one of the old ladies. David Kushinsky played opposite me in the male "love/hero" role. I am trying to remember who played the crazy guy who dug the graves in the cellar but I can't. They also put on "The man Who Came to Dinner" and I got the part of the Russian Duchess who had a heavy RRRRRRussian accent and served a platter of blintzes. Chuck Sokler played the guy who played the xylophone. I was the star of another play but the title escapes me.

I don't know who the rabbi was who conducted my brother Eddie's Bar Mitzvah which was in September of 1938. Very clearly I remember giggling when Eddie, in his speech to the congregation, said, "Today I am a man."

After the service the whole congregation came to our home on Tisdale Place for an outstanding kiddush, (truly a fabulous lunch), which my mother prepared all by herself. (pickled herring, pickled fish, all kinds of cheeses, breads and baked goodies, etc.) No caterers in those days! Then in the middle of the party while everyone was busy feasting, Eddie stole the keys to the family car, backed it out of the driveway and headed toward Green Street. I yelled for my father to come see what happened but by the time he went outside there was no trace of Eddie and the car. Eddie evidently turned left on Green Street. We waited in the street in front of our house for what seemed an eternity and finally up the street the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. It slowly came down Tisdale Place and we thought it would stop in front of our house, but it just kept going! It continued to Green Street and again turned left. Again we waited until we saw it appear coming from Grove Avenue. This time my dad yelled "Stop! Stop! Stop the car!" but it continued again to Green Street and beyond. You could hardly see Eddie behind the wheel because he was short and could barely see over the dashboard. And the for the third time the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. This time when my dad yelled "Stop the car!", Eddie yelled back, "I don't know how?" Whereby my dad yelled, "Just take your foot off the gas peddle and it will stop by itself!" (To this day I can't believe he backed it out of that particular driveway! The driveway had a slight curve, was close to the house, and Eddie not only couldn't see over the dashboard but he couldn't see out the rearview mirror, or side mirror if the car had one! But, you must also realize that in 1938 there were not very many cars around. (I guess that if the car was one that had to be cranked to start, it never would have happened!) I write lots of stories about the family. True happenings. And in my collection there is a story about "Eddies Bar Mitzvah".

(Nettie added Eddie's Bar Mitzvah might have been led by Mr. Najovitz)

The Survey - 1944

This was in the Alexander Library files, as well:

A Little Research

Well, I finally made it out to the Alexander Library at Rutgers on Sunday - where four small boxes filled with copies of Adath Israel records reside. The material is well organized in dated folders - mostly minutes of board meetings. I made some notes of random things, and xeroxed a few papers, but my hopes of finding copies of photographs were dashed.

The very first folder had minutes starting with March 3, 1931. In 1935, dues were $6.00 a year, Holiday seats were $5.00 for men, $3.00 for women. Really. By 1944,when Irving Hutt called one meeting to order, there was a discussion about hiring a cantor for the High Holidays - a 20 year old graduate of Yeshiva. His name was written in by hand - it looked like "Merrill Fisher". The Holiday tickets were then set at $7.50 for members(couples), $10.00 for non-members, $7.50 for single men, and $5.00 for women. No mention of children.

In October of 1944 the Congregation had a bank balance of $1428.48. Then in February of 1945 it was time to hire a full-time Rabbi - a letter was sent to the Reverand Alter Abelson of Rockaway Beach to "ask him to become our spititual leader" at a salary of $3000/year. By then the membership fee was not to be "less than $20 a year".

At the end of that year a letter was sent to United Synagogue of America informing them of plans to build a new synagogue "on ground 120' x 105' - with a request for them to submit plans or sketches for the new building.

Rabbi Abelson wasn't working out, I guess - he was to be replaced after May 31, 1946. I didn't find any explanation for his termination, but Rabbi Samuel Newberger was hired as of September 15, 1946 at a salary of $4000/year. (There's a receipt from around that time for a Lullove and Esrog for $6.25).

Perhaps the best quote from my two hour scan of the files is from December, 1947: "There is a drop of two pupils from the Hebrew School due to mothers afraid that the children are not getting enough vitamins and sunshine." And if you know who those kids were, let me know.

In April, 1948, the Adath Israel Players staged "Front Page", and made a few hundred dollars, and in 1950 the big hit was "Arsenic and Old Lace." The production for 1951 was "Born Yesterday". The Belafskys probably know more about those productions and others - the minutes didn't reveal very much.

In 1949, there were 31 Hebrew school students, 45 Sunday school students. That includes many of us, I guess.

By 1956, membership fees were to be "not less than $65.00", and included two seats for the Holidays. Widows of members could purchase seats for $15.00.

And by 1957, Harold Wishna reported 200 kids enrolled in all activities, with 123 in leagues (basketball, vollyball, etc.) There was even a boxing class starting in 1958! Anyone out there with PICTURES? I Googled Harold recently, and found him living and working in Florida. We had a lovely conversation, and he and Helen sound well and happy.

So, it's not much, but I'll post some of the xeroxed papers in a few days. I don't want to give it all up at once.

- Sharon

Program from a Hadassah Luncheon in 1948

I actually remember my Mother attending this donor luncheon of Hadassah at the (gasp) WALDORF! May be of interest to only a few, but it demonstrates how, even then, the Adath Israel sisterhood. was involved in helping the founders and settlers in Israel. This luncheon is quite important historically as:
On May 14, 1948, on the day in which the British Mandate over Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved a proclamation, declaring the establishment of the State of Israel...
Just 38 days following this luncheon.

KAUFMAN SIBLINGS and SPOUSES

Earlier this month we got together to celebrate Lorraine and Bob's 45th anniversary - Marvin and Barbara's 40th is coming up next week - Irv and I will celebrate our 34th in August.

a few pix from March 21, 1953

My Bar Mitzvah was held in Adath Israel on March 21, 1953... in 8 days that will make it 55 years ago to the day. I'm posting a few photos from that album, I hope they evoke pleasant memories...

WWII Ration Stamp Book

In my search for memorabilia to share, I came across this Ration book & a few different ration stamps. I note that a few say 'coffee'; a product that I know was in short supply. I can also remember how my Mom hated having to wear the available rayon stockings and how the phone would ring off the wall if one of the members of the Sisterhood found a stash of nylon stockings. The women would try to carpool there as gas was also severely rationed.

While not exclusive to Adath Israel. all the mail we sent was delivered using the penny postcard and the 3cent First Class stamp. I thought those with grandkids would enjoy showing them what mail used to cost.

THE CIRCLE PLAYHOUSE

Bob Gottdenker sent this from Jack's theater memorabilia (1967 or 68 ):

The Gottdenkers

FROM DON KLINE:

HiMy brother Norman Kline emailed me about the blog that I had not seen before, I was a member of the old Synagogue on School st. and a member of Young Judea(I think it was called). I was also the first to be Barmitzvah at the current synagogue and roamed through the concrete basement before any superstructure was placed above it. My Dad Irving was a member of the Adath Israel players and always was cast as a cop in "My Sister Eileen","You Can't Take It With You", and Arsenic And Old Lace. As I recall, the casts remained the same with Izzy Rabinowitz, his brother Ben, their wives, Rose Belafsky etc.I may have pics from the era and will certainly look for them. I recall Izzy racing up the stairs yelling charge! in the roll of the erstwhile Teddy(Roosevelt) in "Arsenic And Old Lace and Rose Belafsky pirouetting as the wanna be ballet dancer in "You Can't Take It With You".Don Kline

A few Adath Israel Members in WHS Senior Play '58

Adath Israel kids were in the 1958 Senior Play "What A Life." If the captioning is too small to be legible, The always beautiful Susan Bernstein is nearest the camera bottom right, I'm 2nd from right in the upper. I'm not certain if Mike Waters' family belonged to Adath Israel, but he was a friend to Phil, Bart, Kenny (Klein) and myself.

A bit of the family Alpern...

The top photo is (from left) my Grandfather, Morris then my Mother Claire 'Bubba' Ida and my Dad Harry.2d photo is Claire, Harry and my Sister Phyllis.

A NOTE FROM JOY ROCKOFF:


Hi Sharon,

Alan and I are now living in an Adult community in Monroe. Our house in Colonia just got to big and since our son Steve, as a Doctor, lives in Williamsport, Pa. He and his wife, Elaine with their four children didn’t get here to often. The grandchildren are three boys 17, 15, and 13. Their little girl is 10. We try to see them as often as we can.

Our daughter,Wendy, lives with her husband,Chris, in Long Island. She works in the city at an International Ad agency as the head of Human Resourses. They are both extremely busy as you can imagine.

Alan just can’t seem to retire. He loves working. After being a lawyer, Judge, Prosecutor, Judge again, retiring at 70, he is now the Executive Director of the State Commission of Investigation.[SCI] He is busier then ever. I retired as Sales Rep. for an employment agency about 15 years ago. I am now enjoying my retirement and my new friends here. However, I do keep in touch with the Goldfarbs who live at the Renaissance in Somerset. The Richmans live there, too (Florida over the winter). The Goldbergs live in Woodbridge in an Apt. complex off Route One. Sandy is working as a Travel Agent. The Melnicks live in Basking Ridge. However, Helen is not well and sadly is in a nursing home.

If you need more info, Sharon, let me know.

Fondly, JOY ROCKOFF

Random Memories...

Beginning to look through my old files for pertinent Adath Israel memorabilia I discovered the program for a tribute given by Adath Israel to Marion and Abe Neiss. It wouldn't be an overstatement to mention that without the Neiss's there might not have been the Adath Israel we came to inhabit and to love. I enclose all the material since a number of our Adath Israel members are memorialized therein. they were all 'doers' ...the vital element in bringing any dream from a dreamy haze into sharp-focused reality. I have a bit more such, however if such voluminous posting is too much or of no interest please let me know.

Morris

MY EULOGY FOR SARAH KAUFMAN, 2006

When I was growing up, my bedroom window looked across the driveway to Sarah and Freddy’s kitchen window. The light was always on, or so it seemed. The kitchen was where you came to schmooze, have a glass of seltzer that came from one of those pressurized bottles kept in cases on the tiny back porch, or have a cup of coffee and a little something. She fed you, sat with you, listened, talked, and it felt like a place you belonged. As in my house, the front and back doors were in frequent motion, with the comings and goings of family and friends, checking up, checking in. And if the kitchen wasn’t alight with conversation, it was on the front porch, with Sarah in her big recliner, surrounded by green plants, her telephone nearby.

It was from that big recliner that Sarah knit and crocheted intricate patterns for her grandchildren, wrote reports, read her books, did the Sunday Times crossword puzzled in what seemed to me to be record time. She didn’t know how to be idle. Sarah was a teacher. The lessons had no plan, they weren’t composed. She taught by example: how to work hard, how to be committed to your community, how to care about your heritage, how to give of yourself, how to be generous. She worked tirelessly to better the lives of others through Sisterhood and Hadassah, and was honored many times over for her work.

Sarah loved to laugh but she didn’t tell jokes. She recounted true stories, with a glint in her eye, a smile on her face. She shared the gossip, gave a little, got a little. She was devoted to all of her family, and her friends were always there for her – Miriam and Abe (Winograd) were treasures to Sarah. And her neighbors, Fred, Georgine, Dick, and Eleanor, made sure she was always safe in her home.

Sarah Kaufman was blessed with a long life, a good life. I believe she lived to see 94 years because of her fierce determination and her independence. She just didn’t know how to kvetch, how to complain. Even as her body showed its weariness, her spirit never flagged. She maintained her grace and dignity, her kindness to those around her until her last day.

I’ve had a recurring dream for many years – in it I’m looking through my bedroom window, it's evening, there’s a light on over the back steps, Sarah’s kitchen is lit up. I see shadows, movement. I imagine she’s making stuffed cabbage or gefilte fish, or a big pot of soup, catching up on the latest news with a visitor. Or I see her in her recliner on the front porch, reading, waiting for me. I had that dream Friday night.

I will miss her.

FROM DENNIS BRODKIN

My wife (a New Yorker)and I recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. Like many other Adath Israel alums ,Rabbi Newberger officiated at our wedding. I'll check to see if I can find a good pix or two to send of that great event. I'll also dig through my Bar Mitzvah slides and send to you so you can use your new scanner. We live in Mission Viejo, CA having left NJ in 1999. We moved out here to attend to some health issues that my Dad was going through. He passed away in 2000. My Mom is 86 and doing well; she lives in a nearby Leisure World community. I've kept her up to date on all of the postings and on her next visit to our house, I'll let her see for herself. I told her about the 2 pix of Bart( by the way, I tried to post a comment to those 2 pictures but it hasn't appeared; not sure if I did it properly) . Very bittersweet. She loves hearing about the "old days" at the center-what a special place. Judi and I are both still working. I'm a non-practicing attorney (did 20 years of practice in NJ) working for Wells Fargo Bank; Judi is an executive assitant with a local engineering compay. We have 2 daughters-both married and each has a daughter under the age of 2. We enjoy being grandparents ( the Woodbridge kids!!!), but unfortunately our kids don't live close by. Our older daughter lives in Portland, OR; both she and her husband are college professors. Our other daughter and her doctor husband live in Grand Rapids, MI.She is an elementary school library-information specialist who is taking a break from her career to raise her family (she's also pregnant with #2). They have both been regaled with my tales of Adath Israel so I have shared some of the blog with them. With all of the Chodosh women now living in SoCal, we often have opportunities to talk about Woodbridge. Not too long ago Thea had a dinner party and Alan Jacobsen and Nancy Deinstein were there as was Harriet Bernstein (and Thea's sisters). I've seen Ellen once in the last 40 years, just after her Mom died, but I believe she is coming out here this spring and hopefully we'll get a chance to see her again. We do chat via the internet, along with Marc Winograd and Bob Gottdenker. I'm also in touch with Norman Kline. Keep up the great work you are doing with the blog and I hope to send you some stuff soon. Take care. Dennis

STILL UNIDENTIFIED

These are some still frames from the 1949 video of the original Adath Israel on School Street. Can anyone identify these faces? I've added more labels to the video, but have had trouble uploading the file. I'll keep trying.
-Sharon

THE GUYS

Morris Alpern contibuted these pictures. Why don't guys dress this way anymore? They're very cool.


"At one point in the 50s a meeting was held at my house, 243 Green Street, to explore starting a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In the first photo, I recognize Phil Shore 2nd from right wearing sport jacket. then an unidentified boy, then Bart Brodkin and (I think) Fred Brodsky. In the second shot Bart Brodkin is facing the camera, next to him, partially obscured is Phil Shore, Mike Waters, Fred Brodsky and Harris Engelman.In the foreground, again I'm guessing, Billy Rabinowitz and (Stuart Edelstein?). The date on the envelope the prints are in is June 11, 1957. Sorry for the quality but color prints didn't seem to 'age' well"

- Morris