Lynn (Stephen) Last. Grandmother
of Max Marcus and Benjamin Asher
Mester. Aunt of Amy Small and her fam-
ily, and Andrea Worsley and her fam-
ily. Contributions in her memory may
be made to Philadelphia City Rowing.

Georgette Trescott was born August
12, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY to Harry and
Martha Spears. Georgette attended The
City College of New York, majoring in
mathematics. She worked as a teach-
er in the New York City Public School
District for 40 years. Following her re-
tirement, Georgette served as a rep-
resentative for the NYSUT. Georgette
moved to Philadelphia in 2003, where
she spent the next two decades as a
loving mother, grandmother, and friend.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com d’var torah
The Courage to Continue
the moment of his death, the rabbi in me
automatically noted the Torah portion of
that week.

Parshat Shelach Lecha
Every year, I have revisited this Torah
portion to allow it to reveal more of itself to
irkei Avot 5:24-Teachings of the me. Shelach Lecha has been and continues
WAISBORD Sages, in the name of Ben Bag-Bag, to be the wisdom guide that has helped me
HERSH-Passed away on June 6, 2023.

Husband of the late Ingrid Waisbord (nee
teaches, “Turn it and turn it (the Torah) – to move forward in my life after a personal
Winster). Father of Daniel Waisbord,
you will find everything in it.”
life loss that is shared by so many. In the
Rhonda Kalchman (Steven) and the late
These words have rung poignantly true spirit of helping others going through that
Ivan Waisbord (the late Ava). Grandfather
of Ilana Waisbord Bohm (Mendel), Meredith
in my life, especially with the Torah portion same loss, I now offer these words.

Waisbord Ickowicz (David), Brittany
Shelach Lecha being read this week. True
Shelach Lecha contains the account
Kalchman Berman (Alex), Ivy Waisbord
to Ben Bag-Bag’s teaching, with each of the 12 scouts sent ahead by Moses
Kazatsky (Brett), Ingrid Kalchman
Greenberg (Jake), and Brooke Waisbord
passing year, this beautiful Torah portion to the Land of Israel. They were sent to
Morrison (Tyler), and Great Grandfather
has revealed that there is no end to what report back on what awaited our people
of 12. Longtime companion of Edna Price.

it can teach me about life’s journey. It is a when we arrived. Their reports are most
Contributions in his memory may be made
to Yad Vashem, www.yadvashem.org, or
beautiful fruit with many layers.

revealing. Jewish National Fund, www.jnf.org.

Eighteen years
ago, at
the start
of As I wrote in my first Jewish Exponent
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
Shelach Lecha, my dear husband passed article 18 years ago when my husband died,
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com away. Even while standing with him at Shelach Lecha was a personal message of
hope and encouragement to me as I,
too, had entered “a new and uncharted
land” from being married to being
widowed. I found encouragement in
that our people chose to follow the
IN MEMORIAM
minority report of Joshua and Caleb,
A RESOLUTION on the death of SHIRLEY GOODMAN PEARLSTINE
who encouraged our people to move
Beth Sholom Congregation bows its head in profound sorrow at the passing of one of its distinguished and be-
forward and enter the land.

loved members, and past Board member, Shirley Goodman Pearlstine. Shirley was a member of the congregation
for 68 years, and the loving wife to Samuel Goodman (z”l) for 33 years and Jules Pearlstine, Esq., (z”l) for 27
The other 10 scouts had a very
years. She was the devoted mother of Bruce (Judi) Goodman, Dr. Roberta (Dr. Steven) Schulman, and Mindy (John)
different recommendation. They said
Wexler, and stepmother of Susan Pearlstine and Neal (Sharon) Pearlstine, Esq. She was the loving grandmother of
that the land awaiting us was a severe
twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Shirley was the beloved sister of Sydney Muchnick (z”l) and
Blanche Cramer (z”l); and daughter of Morris and Anna Muchnick (z”l).

land that “devoured its inhabitants.”
After graduating from high school, Shirley trained to become a dental hygienist, and soon met her beloved Sam.

They said that the people of Israel
They married in 1953, beginning a beautiful partnership. During their early years together, she was a stay-at-
would never survive there, as we
home mom to their children, and when Sam opened a Home Improvement store on Broad Street, she kept the
were “as grasshoppers in the eyes of
accounting books. Following Sam’s passing, Shirley was blessed to have a second life partner in Jules with whom
she enjoyed traveling and entertaining. Family was always the priority, and there was always great love, mutual
those (giants) living there.” Moses and
respect and admiration among Shirley, her children, and their spouses.

the people of Israel chose to follow
Shirley’s huge heart was made manifest in the scope of her philanthropy. She was deeply involved in the work of
the words of the optimistic minority
the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. As a member of the Board of Trustees of Abramson Senior Care,
and we moved forward.

she was instrumental in several major campaigns and was one of the original architects of their Rainbow Ball at
which she was honored 25 years ago. Shirley held various leadership positions, including her work at Meadow-
Eighteen years ago, as a newly
lands Country Club. She served on the boards of the Women’s Division of Israel Bonds, Boys Town Jerusalem,
widowed person, the optimism of
Hadassah, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, the Elder Craftsmen Society, and 18 Doors.

Joshua, Caleb, Moses and our people
Shirley was a pillar of our Beth Sholom Congregation family, serving on our Board of Directors for decades and
propelled me to move with courage
then as a Lifetime Trustee, generously building for the future of our community. In 2010, she and Jules were hon-
ored at our Golden and Diamond Gala Dinner. The Congregation was fortunate to have such a devoted leader who
and optimism into a new land that was
was so dedicated to its success and that of the larger Jewish community.

also unknown and frightening to me.

Her soul is now with the Almighty and the illustrious model of her life provides a memory to inspire those who knew,
Widowhood terrified me.

loved and respected her. May the memory of Shirley Goodman Pearlstine be perpetuated in reverence and gratitude.

The teaching of this Torah portion
The Board of Directors of Beth Sholom Congregation extends to her family and friends its heartfelt condolences.

gave me the strength to forge a new
This Minute is published in remembrance of SHIRLEY GOODMAN PEARLSTINE
life for myself without drowning in
May her memory forever be a blessing in our midst.

fear and defeat. I came to understand
Done this 2nd day of March 2023
that optimism or pessimism was my
AMY CUKER, Secretary RUTH LEFTON, President
Rabbi Cynthia Kravitz
P choice to make. I decided to choose the
route of optimism inspired by the example
of Moses and the Jewish people in this
portion. It has served me well, and I am
grateful that our people teach this model
of optimism when faced with the unknown.

Here it is, 18 years later, and this portion
continues to speak with me and, hopefully,
others about how to find our way through
life after a difficult personal setback.

This year, Shelach Lecha revealed to
me that in addition to being optimistic, it is
also essential that we gather our bravery
and look straight into the eyes of those
“giants” called “our fears.” It is essential
that we understand our fears, learn from
them and work toward finding new and
positive ways of living. “Making friends,
getting to know our fears” and not ignor-
ing them is a necessary part of our life
journey. If done with openness and the courage
to gain greater self-understanding, it can
actually make us stronger. It can be fright-
ening, but without confronting our fears
— those “scary giants” in our lives — we
will always carry these giants on our backs
and be limited by their power over us.

And this is what I have learned from
Shelach Lecha about finding my way
through the often-difficult twists and
turns of this adventure called life; it’s a
fitting lesson for the 18th (chai) year of my
journey. Thank you, Moses, Joshua, Caleb
and the people of Israel! To life, L’Chaim! ■
Rabbi Cynthia Kravitz is the rabbi of
Congregation Hesed Shel Emet (Mercy
and Truth Congregation) in Pottstown.

The Board of Rabbis of Greater
Philadelphia is proud to provide diverse
perspectives on Torah commentary
for the Jewish Exponent. The opinions
expressed in this column are the author’s
own and do not necessarily reflect the
view of the Board of Rabbis.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 37