As a special website feature, we will be interviewing members on a voluntary basis and posting their information on the website. This is to share the wonderful stories of our Temple members and allow us to get to know each other as a community.
|
|
On May 14, 2009, our very own Claris Mac’Kie, Executive Director of Family Renew Community, was honored as “Women of the Year” by The Flagler Women’s Lawyers Association. The award was presented at a luncheon held at Halifax Yacht Club. Greg Wagner, Past President of Family Renew, nominated Claris. Clif Josephson, a founder of Family Renew and current President, along with Judy Josephson, also attended.
Claris has been Executive Director of Family Renew since January 1997. Family Renew has three residential facilities housing 32 families PLUS two Secret Attic Thrift Stores, and is the major social action endeavor at Temple Beth-El.
In addition to her full time position, Claris is also chairperson of The United Way Agency Steering Committee, serves on the United Way Flagler Advisory Council and is on the United Way Board of Directors. Claris also serves on the Board for the Volusia Flagler Counties Coalition for the Homeless. Her list of accomplishments go on and on, from grant writing to mentoring and endless involvement in the world of Charitable Organizations.
We and the community are fortunate to have this special lady representing us. |
|
 |
I spent a lovely afternoon visiting with Bernard and Estelle Waller. I would like to share with you some of what makes them special. They truly earn our respect, and can serve as role models.
Bernard grew up in Germany. His father was a Pharmacist who served in the German Army during the First World War. The family was well integrated into the community. A close Christian family friend called early one morning to alert the family to leave their apartment because they were in danger. Of course they knew of Hitler, but Bernard’s father could not believe that he and his family were in danger, for he had a history of service in the Army during war time. Bernard’s parents did not leave the country. However with encouragement Bernard did leave and went to Bolivia and then settled in Chile.
During the time Bernard lived in Chile things became worse in Germany. Bernard did get papers for his family to leave Germany but it was too late. In interim his parents were sent to a concentration camp and perished. Of course this was a terrible time for Bernard.
Bernard lived in Chile for 30 years with his wife and two children and left for America when Chile became a Communist country. Years later when Bernard was than single he met a lovely lady, Estelle, and the rest is history. Bernard and Estelle after ten years of marriage retired in Daytona Beach, Fl. and traveled all over the world attending many Elderhostel trips and visited Estelle’s daughter in Israel many times.
During the years that Estelle and Bernard lived in Florida they became volunteers for the homeless center and Florida Oceanside Hospital in Ormond.
Estelle and Bernard are not a couple to complain about being bored, but a shining example of good use of one’s time on this earth. |
|
| Ron Robert was born in Bronx, New York where he was also married. Ron Robert moved to New Jersey and had two kids, a girl (who is now an electrical engineer) and a boy ( who is working in computer science) in Denver, Colorado. Ron has a Bachelor of Business in Administration in Accounting from Bernard M Baruch College and received his MBA from Monmouth University in New Jersey.
From New Jersey, Ron and his family also lived in Maryland and Indiana where Ron worked as an accountant. During these years, his beloved wife passed away after a long struggle with cancer. In 2000, Ron settled in Port Orange. He currently owns his own accounting firm and serves as Treasurer of his condo's owner's association.
In his free time, Ron enjoys Scuba Diving. His favorite types of dives are shore dives. He especially likes diving in the Bahamas. Locally he enjoys walks on the beach and swimming. His two favorite travel experiences are Israel and a cruise through the Panama Canal. Ron enjoys listening to country and also likes to dance. He participated in the longest conga line in history in Atlanta which was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. His favorite type of book to read is Science Fiction and his all time favorite book is The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Ron loves Star Trek and has attended a Star Trek convention with his son before. Ron is also a baseball fan and routes for both the Yankees and the Mets.
Ron regularly attends Friday night services as well as Daven and Torah Talk on Saturdays. He stated that he would like to learn more Hebrew. |
|
 | Ellen Rothenberg was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She attended the University of Florida and received her Bachelor of Arts in Design and Fine Arts. After college she worked for seven years as an illustrative fashion artist for Women's Wear Daily in New York City, NY. Ellen then moved to New Jersey after getting married and giving birth to her daughter, Stephanie, who is currently an art professor at SUNY-Buffalo campus. While living in New Jersey, she often commuted to New York City for jobs related to department store advertising. Ellen later divorced and moved to Atlanta, GA where she spent the next 20 years. In Atlanta she survived breast cancer and also became a fan of the Atlanta Braves. In 1998 she moved to Ormond Beach to be close to her parents who have since passed away.
Ellen is an avid reader and especially likes books by Joyce Carol Oats and Anita Shreve. She loves music and enjoys everything from Eric Clapton to Queen Latifah. Ellen also likes to go swimming.
Ellen is a professional artist and specializes in painting/drawing children (girls are her favorite), landscapes and clothes. She also does home portraits which you can see at her website: www.ellenrothenbergart.com. Her work has been featured at the Ormond Beach Public Library, the Halifax Art Show and she's won a prize for drawing at the Ponce Inlet Art Show.
Ellen regularly attends Friday night services . She is Temple Beth-El's resident artist and also is active in the WRJ Sisterhood.
Ellen enjoys the company of her cat "Callie", a calico cat, who she adopted from the Humane Society. She mentioned that she also loves dogs, especially beagles. Ellen's favorite tourist destination is Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
|
| Steven Katz Steven was interviewed at the Temple Beth-El retreat. Steven was born June 20, 1952 in Long Island, New York. His parents were from Manhattan, NY and his grandparents from Russia and Denmark. Steven received a degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and practiced accounting for 2 years. He then went to Life Chiropractic School in Atlanta in 1979 and became licensed as a chiropractor. In 1979 he moved to Flint, Michigan. In 1985 he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1996 he stopped practicing chiropractic medicine due to spinal injuries. He then achieved a master’s degree in health care administration from Tulane. He worked as a health care executive at LSU School of medicine. In New Orleans, Steven met his wife Miriam in 2004. In 2005 they moved to Port Orange where Steven took a job teaching clinical management courses at Palmer College (Chiropractic school). Steven and Miriam’s first night at Temple Beth-El was also the official introduction of Temple Beth-El’s Cantor Zev Sonnenstein. That night was filled with many Temple members and it was that night that Miriam told Malka that they would be married at Temple Beth-El. In fact they were married at Temple Beth-El on December 7, 2005. Steve has two sons from his first marriage. His eldest son, Nehemiah, went to the naval academy in Annapolis, Maryland and currently serves as a Lieutenant in the Marines in Falujah, Iraq. His other son Gideon is studying at University Technical Institute in Orlando. Steven has an African Grey Parrot named Picasso and two cats. . He plays Guitar and Piano, and in high school played trumpet in the marching band. His top 3 travel destinations include San Francisco, California, Paris, France, and New York City, New York. He has been happy to been able to inspire a congregation led Torah Study at Temple Beth-El. He also played a great role in organizing the recent Temple Beth-El retreat. |
|
|
Jennifer Ann Cleary.
I interviewed Jennifer at Temple Beth-El’s St. Augustine Retreat January 19, 2008. Jennifer was born in Trenton, New Jersey on February 13, 1980. She has one older sister. After living briefly in Euing, NJ, in 1988 her family moved to Langhorne, Pennsylvania. In 2002 she graduated with a Bachelor in Business Management from Westchester University. She then went to University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and in 2005 received a second degree in education. Jennifer met her husband Scott while living in Westchester and was married to him in Salem, Pennsylvania on September 12, 2004. Along with Scott she moved to Palm Coast in July, 2005. They have since relocated to Ormond Beach.
Jennifer currently teaches Kindergarten class of 20 at Holly Hill Elementary in Holly Hill, Florida. Jennifer is musically talented. She was classically trained in voice from age
6 -20. She enjoys singing Country music, Italian Arias and Show Tunes. She can also play clarinet, piano and guitar. Growing up Jennifer played Soccer and Softball.
Jennifer enjoys reading; some of her favorite authors include Jane Green and Emily Giffin. Jennifer rates Key West as one of her favorite tourist destinations. She and Scott have 4 cats and a Yorkie at home.
She learned about Temple Beth-El after a friend of hers introduced her to Malka Altman. Although growing up in a conservative household, she had not recently been involved in Temple life. She now sings in the choir and regular attends services and other Temple Beth-El functions. |
|
 |
Our first story is of Anita Ruth Chanarifka Samal Kratish who we interviewed at the Temple Beth-El Family Shabbat Dinner. Anita is the wife of Sam Kratish. She is mother to three sons and grandmother to 4 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. She was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts where her Great Grandparents settled. She attended grade school in Pittsfield, Jr. High school in Yonkers, New York and High school in the Bronx, New York. She lived several years in Miami, Florida as a full time dedicated mother to her three sons.
After her sons left home, Anita received a B.A. in Art from Florida International University. She also took art classes at Miami Dade Jr. College and studied art at a school in Avignon, France. She continues to pursue art as a hobby. In addition to art, she also worked in the field of Interior Design.
In 1995, Anita and Sam moved to the Daytona Beach area. She met Harriet Gable who urged her to join Hadassah. Since being in Daytona, she has painted with the Daytona Art League and especially enjoys painting landscapes.
In her spare time, Anita enjoys bowling, poker night, and scrabble. Anita is also a member of the WRJ Sisterhood. Her three favorite places that she has traveled to are Italy, Canada and Paris, France. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
