C OMMUNITY / mazel tovs
S ENGAGEMENTS
SMOLEN-KRASNA COHEN-KROLL
Dr. Alan and Jill Smolen of New York
City announce the engagement of their
daughter Sophie to Michael Krasna. Sophie
is the granddaughter of the late Diane and
Norman Smolen and the late Sandra and
Arthur Feinberg. Michael is the son of Judi
and Gary Krasna of Boca Raton, Florida.

Sophie graduated from the University of
Maryland and works in NYC for Cushman
& Wakefield as a commercial real estate
broker. Michael also graduated from the
University of Maryland and works for AIPAC as a deputy political director in its
NYC office.

Sophie and Michael live in New York City and are planning a 2022 wedding.

Photo by Alan Smolen
Debbie and Richard Cohen of Lafayette Hill
and Madlyn and Steven Kroll of Pikesville,
Maryland, announce the engagement of their
children, Alison Cohen and Joseph Kroll.

Alison is a graduate of Lehigh University with
a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management
and marketing. She is a merchandise planner
for Ross Stores.

Joseph is a graduate of the University of
Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in supply
chain management and marketing. He is an
e-commerce manager for Unilever.

Sharing in their happiness are siblings Steven
Cohen and Cynthia (Eric) Glickman.

The couple resides in New York City and plans to be married in Philadelphia
in October 2023.

Photo by Kat Stanas Photography
COMMUNITYBRIEFS Grandson of Holocaust Survivor Releases Album Inspired by
Grandfather’s Life Experiences
PHILADELPHIA SONGWRITER Avi Wisnia released an album in November
called “Catching Leaves” that was inspired by his grandfather David Wisnia’s
legacy as a Holocaust survivor.

David Wisnia, who served as a cantor at two area synagogues, died June 15 at
the age of 94.

David Wisnia spent three years in Auschwitz-Birkenau after Germany invaded
Poland in 1939 — a day after he turned 13; three years later, his parents and
“Catching Leaves” album cover
Courtesy of aviwisnia.com
brother were murdered, and another brother was never seen again.

Upon arriving in the United States in 1946, he worked as an encyclopedia
salesman. He and his late wife, Hope, moved to Bucks County and, taking advantage
of his voice, served as cantor of Temple Shalom in Levittown for 28 years, then
cantor at Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation of Pennington, New Jersey for 23 more
years. Later in life, he began telling his story.

David Wisnia returned to Auschwitz several times later in life, singing at the
70th and 75th anniversaries of the camp liberation. Both times, he sang with his
grandson. On a 2020 trip to Auschwitz, David Wisnia abruptly turned to Avi Wisnia and
said, “You’re the proof that Hitler did not win.”
Avi Wisnia performed at City Winery Philadelphia on Nov. 28.

Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey Names Former Police Chief
as its Director of Regional Security
The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey named William “Bud” Monaghan
as its director of regional security.

Monaghan recently retired as chief of the Cherry Hill Police Department after
26 years and started his new position on Nov. 15.

In his new role, Monaghan will oversee the security and safety of the commu-
nity and staff at the properties and facilities of the Jewish Federation and its family
of agencies, as well as advise and coordinate on security for area synagogues and
Jewish day schools. l
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
www.jewishexponent.com 30
DECEMBER 2, 2021
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



C OMMUNITY / deaths
DEATH NOTICES
DEATH NOTICES
DEATH NOTICES
RANDEIS APFEL AUM
eatrice Apfelbaum nee itman , passed
away on November 1 , 0 1, at the age of
99. eloved wife of the late Herbert Apfel
baum and daughter of the late Morris and
Leah Rechtman itman. Loving mother of
Michael Apfelbaum and Marc Melissa
Lawrence Apfelbaum, adored grandmother of
Rachel, Eric, Hedley, Lachlan, eckett, An
naliese, and Marielle. Services were private.

Contributions in her memory may be made to
The Environmental Defense Fund.

https www.edf.org
LAUSTEIN Alan Stanley laustein, November 1 , 0 1.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Ros
alind nee Rusoff his parents Edward and
Anne and his brothers Morton and Fred. He
is survived by his son Dean, grandson Ma
and was adored by numerous nieces and
nephews. A graduate of West Philadelphia
High School Class of 19 , he was named to
Philadelphia s All City Football Team. During
World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air
Force as a all Turret Gunner on a 1
omber. He later went onto work for
years as a Treasury Agent for the IRS. Al was a
kind and good man. While he would claim to
not want to sit and chat, once he started talk
ing, you couldn t get him to stop his wit and
humor was sharp. He loved to be informed
and read several papers daily. He was an avid
fan of the local sports teams. Donations in
his memory can be made to the VFW Relief,
11 Hilltop Road, Media, PA 190 .

UDMAN Rita M. udman nee Chalal on November
1 , 0 1, Wife of the late Edward. Mother of
Dr. Derek Tepphanie udman and randon
Molly udman. Grandmother of Dean, Ford,
rooki and Sophie.

GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com Joan randeis nee Oppenheimer of Elkins
Park, age 8 , died the morning of Monday
November , 0 1 at Abington Hospital fol
lowing complications from surgery. She was
born in Mount Vernon, NY, November ,
19 8. As a child, she moved to Philadelphia
where she was raised by her mother Eleanor
and stepfather, Lester Oppenheimer in Cen
ter City. They relocated to Elkins Park from
where she attended, and graduated from,
Abington Friends. Following high school,
Joan attended Smith College but finished her
achelor s degree at the University of Miami
where she d moved following her marriage to
ill randeis in 19 1. After returning to the
area, she was the co founder of Chapter
Verse, an independent bookstore, located at
the Yorktown Inn. The family moved to Al
lentown, PA in 19 9 and soon after Joan de
cided to attend Villanova University School of
Law where she was elected to the Order of
the Coif. Her first ob out of law school was
with ethlehem Steel. Joan later practiced at
Schnader, Harrison, Segal Lewis, LLP in
Philadelphia and speciali ed in public utility
law. Throughout her life, Joan was an enthu
siastic fan of classical music, opera, theater
and film. Her recreational passions led her to
become a master gardener and a Life Master
in bridge. Joan s greatest love was for her
family. A devoted mother, mother in law and
grandmother, nothing brought her more oy
than a raucous game of Monopoly with her
grandchildren or teaching them the finer
points of poker in a penny ante game while
gathered together at the shore. Joan O. ran
deis is survived by her daughter Sally .

Kramer Howard of Cleveland Heights, OH,
son Daniel randeis Jennifer of Pittsburgh,
PA, grandchildren en amin, Samuel, Willi
am, Sophie, Eleanor and Jacob. Additional
survivors include Dennis O rien, Dodie
Tomkin, Ale Tomkin and many dear friends.

A celebration in her honor will occur at Con
gregation Rodeph Shalom, 1 N. road St.,
Philadelphia, PA 191
at 1 00 PM on
Sunday December 19, 0 1. Masks and vac
cinations are required. Memorial donations
can be made to the Mit vah Food Program of
the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia,
Planned Parenthood or the charity of your
choice. GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com HONOR THE MEMORY
OF YOUR LOVED ONE...

CALL 215-832-0749
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DEATH NOTICES
DEATH NOTICES
GOODMAN SCHWART
Robert . Goodman, on November 19, 0 1,
husband of Carol nee Levenson , father of
Rachel Goodman and Emily Danny Rappin
Goodman, brother of the late Stephen Good
man, sister in law Susan Goodman. Services
and Interment were private. Contributions in
his memory may be made to the Magee Re
hab Foundation, 1 1 Race St., Phila. PA
1910 mageerehab.org or the charity of the
donors choice.

JOSEPH LEVINE and SONS
www.levinefuneral.com ROVNER
FINKELSTEIN Norman Finkelstein passed away peacefully
on November 1 , 0 1, three days shy of his
9 rd birthday. His loving wife of
years, and partner for decades longer, MaryAnne
n e rodsky was by his side, as always.

Norman was born and raised in Philadelphia
by his parents, Herman and Sara n e
Shubin Finkelstein. He owned and operated
NF Glass Co. in North Philly for over half a
century, producing glass and mirror for many
of Philadelphia s restaurants, businesses and
houses of worship. He was also an owner of
the Erlanger Theater at 1st and Market. Dur
ing his bachelor years, Norman was a fi ture
at Jimmy s Milan. Those years yielded many
stories that cannot be shared, but it was at
The Milan where Norman met the love of his
life, M.A. in 19 8. After Norman s retire
ment, he and MaryAnne moved to Sarasota
County, Florida in 00 . In addition to Mary
Anne, Norman is survived by his daughter
Sharon Mitchel Greenstein, grandchildren
Jaclyn Jacob Polakoff and Taylor Mark
Woodcock, and great granddaughters Vivian
and Ale andra Polakoff. He was predeceased
by his brother Mark and daughter Patricia
Dan Marrs.

Julius Jules Rovner, age 91, father of
everly Rick Walanka, Richard Rhonda
Ry nar Rovner, Sharon Rovner, and one
other daughter. Grandfather of Rebecca
Adam Hauben and great grandfather of
achary and Drew. Contributions in his
memory may be made by planting a tree in
Israel through Jewish National Fund.

GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com HONOR THE MEMORY
OF YOUR LOVED ONE...

CALL 215-832-0749
Patty Jean Schwart nee Faidley on Novem
ber , 0 1. eloved wife of Stewart Lov
ing mother of Jennifer Jonathan Devoted
daughter of Roy and the late Geraldine Faid
ley Dear sister of onnie David Herrilko,
Joni ooth, and Shirley Henry Adoring niece
of Richard Angela Means. Services and in
terment were private. Contributions in her
memory may be made to Shriners Hospital
for Children, 900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa,
0 , www.lovetotherescue.org
FL GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com WOLF
Allen E., Wolf, on November 18, 0 1. e
loved husband of the late Dorothy nee
Rosen . Loving father of Ronald Wolf Joyce
Tenenbaum , Michael Wolf arbara and
Steven Wolf Sheila Tepel . Loving grandfath
er of Marc Wolf Joanne , Stuart Wolf Le i ,
Jason Wolf Stefanie , Samantha Epps Phil ,
Allyson Wolf, rett Wolf Lindsey , Greg
Wolf, and Elyssa Wolf. Contributions in his
memory may be made to the Jewish National
Fund. GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com GOLD ERG
Merle Merri Cantor Goldberg of Silver
Spring, MD and Coconut Creek, FL. Merle
was the daughter of the late Stanley and Al
berta ertie Cantor. She was the loving
mother of Stephanie Goo h and the adoring
Grandmom to Jayden and Aliyah. She is also
survived by her sister Wendy Santoro Jerry
and her nephews Eric Jennifer Jordan ,
Craig Jennifer Skirkanich and their children
rady, Chloe, Alec, Eli, and Hannah. She was
raised in Philadelphia and graduated from
Overbrook High School and the University of
CT. She completed a psychodrama intern
ship under Dr. Jacob Moreno. She earned her
MSW from the University of MD. She had a
long career in Maryland as a psychiatric so
cial worker speciali ing in later years in eat
ing disorders and wrote several books and
articles on the sub ect. Merle was a recog
ni ed leader in her field and was invited to
lecture all over the world. She was a true
friend who always put others before herself.

Services were held graveside at Montefiore
Cemetery on November . In lieu of flowers,
contributions can be made to the ALS soci
ety at donateALS.org
JOSEPH LEVINE and SONS
www.levinefuneral.com Honor the memory
of your loved one …
CALL 215-832-0749 TO PLACE YOUR YAHRTZEIT AD.

classified@jewishexponent.com GOLDSTEIN
Sylvia P. Goldstein nee Volusher , passed
away on November 19, 0 1. Wife of the late
Harry Goldstein. Mother of Diane Marvin
Horowit , Penny Irving Kenig and Linda
and Great
Goldstein. Grandmother of
Grandmother of 1 . Contributions in her
memory may be made to Lion s Gate, 1110
Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ 080 ,
www.lionsgateccrc.org, or to a charity of the
donor s choice.

GOLDSTEINS ROSEN ERG S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD
CALL 215.832.0749
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DECEMBER 2, 2021
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