Obituaries
experience in Israel — in addition to an
athletic one. Every senior athlete com-
peting in the games arrives in Israel for
a week-long educational program learn-
ing about Israeli history and culture.

“He strongly believed it was not just
about going and competing; he wanted
a full immersion in Israel, culturally
and historically,” Michael Spivak said.

In an interview on the Maccabi USA
YouTube channel, Spivak said of the
pre-camp program, “We hoped that
would be enriching in some way for the
BROWN Bernice Brown (nee Belitsky),
age 97, passed away on May 30,
2022. Wife of the late Michael
Brown; mother of Clifford Har-
old (Marcia) Brown, Mark Allan
(Waynette) Brown, Paul Robert
(Shelley) Brown, and Karen Joyce
(Peter) Velocci; Sister of Jack
Belitsky; Grandmother of Daniel
(Colleen) Brown, Amanda (Daniel)
Linick, Jordan, Lindsay, Ryan, Ja-
son Brown, and Heather (Brandon)
Murro; Great-grandmother of Sadie
and Sam Brown, Nathan and Maya
Linick, Ryan, Ethan, and Maddox
Murro. Contributions in her memory
may be made to the Autism Cares
Foundation P.O. Box 180 Richboro,
Pennsylvania 18954 or to Dancing
while Cancering P.O. Box 13401
Chicago, Illinois 60613 or to a char-
ity of the donor’ choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
CLYMAN FLORENCE (nee Hirsh), May 29,
2022. Husband of Wilbert. Moth-
er of Jeffrey, Howard and Robert
Clyman. Grandmother of Joshua,
Samantha and Benjamin. Math
teacher at George Washington
High School for 30 years. Contribu-
tions in her memory may be made
to Gratz College, 7605 Old York
Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027, www.

gratz.edu. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
COOPERSMITH Julie B. Coopersmith (nee Koe-
hler) passed away on 05/28/2022,
74, Baltimore MD. She is survived
by her beloved husband Dr. Bruce
Coopersmith and her adoring broth-
er Karl Koehler. Julie loved theater
and studied acting in New York City.

She also spent many years in de-
voted service to animal care and
rescue-her work was featured in
Cat Fancy magazine. She was also
a highly talented interior decorator.

Julie was deeply dedicated to the
28 kids’ lives ... what we did not realize is
that it would also enrich our lives.”
Perhaps the most significant chal-
lenge Spivak faced as president came
during the Second Intifada in 2001.

Due to security concerns in Israel, the
Maccabi USA board was split as to
whether it was safe for American ath-
letes to attend the Maccabiah Games.

Spivak “felt strongly, after consult-
ing with all the board members, that
the organization should go through
with it” and participate. Eventually, the
principles of the Chabad move-
ment. She was truly a “Woman of
Valor” with a wonderful, wonderful
heart. Contributions in her memory
may be made to Chabad of Down-
town Baltimore and Chabad of the
Main Line and to The Baltimore
Animal Rescue and Care Shelter
(BARCS). GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
GENTER PAULINE (nee Freezman) on May
26, 2022. 94 yrs. old. Beloved wife
of the late Noah; Loving mother
of Beth Probinsky (Richard) and
Deborah Zolot (Andrew); Dear
sister of Oscar Freezman and the
late Dorothy Schwartz; Devot-
ed grandmother of Michael, Josh
(Jane), Rachel (Matthew), Allison
(Eric), and David (Danielle); Ador-
ing great-grandmother of Charlotte,
Nate, Poppy, and Willa. Contribu-
tions in her memory may be made
to a charity of the donor’s choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
KELSEN MICHAEL on May 24, 2022. Be-
loved husband of Karoline (nee
Hough); Loving father of Jack and
Samantha; Devoted son of Rhena
and Steven Kelsen; Dear brother
of Fran Kelsen. Contributions in his
memory may be made to Mont. Co.

SPCA, 19 E. Ridge Pk., Consho-
hocken, PA 19428, or Jack M. Bar-
rack Hebrew Academy, 272 S. Bryn
Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
PINCUS PERL (nee Plottel) on May 25,
2022. Beloved wife of Irwin; Loving
mother of Rhea Turteltaub (Adam)
and Marc Jonathan Pincus; Devot-
ed grandmother of Max and Ross.

Contributions in her memory may
be made to Jewish National Fund,
JUNE 9, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
games were held as planned, with the
American delegation present.

“It was a celebration of support for
Israel,” Michael Spivak said.

In 2001, in recognition of Spivak’s
“significant contributions to the State
of Israel and society through sports,”
he received the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the International Jewish
Sports Hall of Fame.

Spivak also became the first non-Is-
raeli named president of the World
Maccabiah Games in 2013.

www.usa.jnf.org/jnf-tree-planting- center, Nazareth Hospital, www.

giving.trinityhealthma.org/nazareth or UCLA Division of Geriatric Med-
icine, www.uclahealth.org/geriat-
rics/giving-division-programs GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
Beyond his work with Maccabi USA,
Spivak was involved in the Jewish com-
munity and was a board affiliate in
the Anti-Defamation League, Jewish
National Fund, Jewish Community
Centers of Philadelphia and Boys Town
Jerusalem. Spivak is survived by his wife, Ann
Taylor Hogge; siblings Joel and Lynn;
children; and grandchildren. JE
Gall Sigler is an intern with the Jewish
Exponent. Southampton Road, Phila., PA
19154. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
RICH SUSAN (nee Garber), on May 24,
2022. Beloved wife of the late Je-
rome F. Rich; loving mother of Rob-
ert Rich, Barbara (Rich) Meranus
and Michael Rich; loving grand-
mother of Jerry Meranus, Sophie
Rich, Lilah Rich and Sarah Rich.

Contributions in her memory may
be made to Planned Parenthood.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
ROSENBLUTH FRANCES (nee Baylinson) on May
31, 2022. Beloved wife of the late
Harold S.; Loving mother of Hal
Rosenbluth (Renee), Lee Rosen-
bluth (Nancy), and Amy Narducci
(Blaise); Dear sister of David Bay-
linson (Janice); Devoted grand-
mother of Jeff, Jessica, Travis,
Kyle, Megan (Chris), Benjamin
(Jessica), and Brandon (Alyssa);
Adoring great-grandmother
of Henry, Thomas, Nora, Charlotte,
and James. Contributions in her
memory may be made to Harold S.

Rosenbluth Mem. Fund, C/O Cong.

Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St.,
Phila., PA 19123
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
ROSSMAN Ronald Rossman on May 31, 2022.

Husband of Marlena (nee Rosen-
berg), father of Brooke (Jeffrey)
Hershman, and Heather Rossman
(Austin Faberman), grandfather of
Matthew and Allie Hershman, Seth
and Shane Faberman. Contribu-
tions in his memory may be made
to The Special Olympics PA, 2900
SHAW Debbi (nee Field). May 28, 2022.

Devoted mother of Lisa Aversa-
no (Anthony) of Ventnor, NJ and
Jonny Shaw (Joanne) of Newtown
Square, PA. Loving sister of Bar-
ry Field. Beloved grandmother of
Jason, Brandon, Jordyn. Contribu-
tions in her memory may be made
to the Dementia Society of Ameri-
ca, www.dementiasociety.org
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
great-grandchildren Isabella and
Andrealle as well as his brother
Joel Spivak and sister Lynn Clem-
ents. Bob was born in Philadelphia
on December 30th, 1936 to Helen
and Philip Spivak. Bob was a 202
graduate of Central High School
and is an honorary life member of
the alumni board. He graduated
from Muhlenberg College in 1958.

In 1968 he joined the insurance/
investment firm CMS and worked
there until he retired. Bob was
President of Maccabi USA for 20
years. He was awarded the Yakir
Maccabi Award, Maccabi World
Union’s highest honor in recog-
nition of his leadership. He was
inducted into the Philadelphia
Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and
the International Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame in Israel, 2001. He was
a delegate on the U.S. Olympic
Committee and a member of the
Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations.

His Board affiliations included the
Jewish National Fund, Anti-Defa-
mation League, Jewish Community
Centers of Philadelphia and Boy’s
Town Jerusalem. In addition, he
has been listed in “Who’s Who in
World Jewry” “Who’s Who in Amer-
ica – Eastern Edition” and “Who’s
Who in Society.” A dear friend and
a true mensch to all who loved him,
he will be sorely missed. Donations
in his honor may be made to Mac-
cabi USA in Bob’s memory, please
make a donation at www.maccabi-
usa.com. WEITZ
SPIVAK It is with great sadness that we
share the news of the passing of
Bob Spivak on May 24th, 2022 at
his home in Yorktown, Virginia. Bob
is survived by his wife, Ann Taylor
Hogge, children, Michael(Melaine)
and Greg, Merri, grandchildren,
Spencer, Peri, Rachael, Eric and
Emma, Zara and Cooper and
Arleen Roberta Weitz, passed
away May 27, 2022. Sister of Stu
(Marci) Weitz. Aunt of Adam (Dr.

Kasia) Weitz and David Weitz.

Great Aunt of Vienna, Liana and
Jasmin Weitz. Also remembered by
many loving friends. Contributions
in her memory may be made to Co-
lon Cancer Coalition, www.colon-
cancercoalition.org, Temple Sinai,
www.tsinai.com, or a charity of the
donor’s choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com



synagogue spotlight
What’s happening at ... Beth Sholom Congregation
Beth Sholom Congregation
Celebrates Storied Roots
SASHA ROGELBERG | STAFF WRITER
A rchitect Frank Lloyd Wright
died on April 9, 1959, just five
months before the comple-
tion of one of his final projects.

The project, along with being a last
of sorts, was also a first: Beth Sholom
Congregation, tucked away in the
suburbs of Elkins Park, became the
Chicago-based architect’s first and only
synagogue design.

Though the synagogue was founded
more than 40 years prior in 1918,
Beth Sholom is still known best for its
informal moniker as the “Frank Lloyd
Wright synagogue,” but its famous
building is not the congregation’s only
talking point.

With 450 member families, includ-
ing 70 families with children enrolled
in the synagogue’s Brodie Family
Early Learning Center preschool, Beth
Sholom’s membership has remained
robust. It has an active religious school,
an additional chapel, where most of its
services are held, and consistent pro-
gramming. On June 1-4, the Beth Sholom
Synagogue Preservation Foundation (a
separate, but related, entity from the con-
gregation) cosponsored historic pres-
ervation nonprofit Docomomo’s 2022
National Symposium in Philadelphia.

“We also have made a name for
ourselves in the preservation and
architecture world for buildings that
are significant and that are multiuse
because, certainly, Beth Sholom is a
synagogue first and a congregation
first, but we also do, and have the
ability to, host and be a space,” said
Beth Sholom Synagogue Preservation
Foundation Director of Tours and
Marketing Jill Rosen.

The space is home to two arts exhib-
its: one featuring local artist David
Hart and the other, Andrew Pielage,
a photographer specializing in images
of Wright creations. The preservation
foundation offers tours of the Wright
building, which was deemed a National
Historic Landmark in 2007.

Frankl Lloyd Wright and founding
Rabbi Mortimer Cohen discuss the
design details of Beth Sholom’s second
building in 1959.

Beth Sholom Congregation was founded in 1918, but it is known for its Frank
Lloyd Wright-designed building erected in 1959.

Courtesy of Beth Sholom Congregation and Synagogue Preservation Foundation
While the synagogue’s architectural
prominence has afforded it opportu-
nities to connect with outside orga-
nizations through its preservation
foundation, it also serves a spiritual
purpose for the congregation.

Features of the synagogue’s Wright-
designed building were constructed
with prayer in mind.

“The sloping floors are kind of you
being cupped in the hands of God as
you enter that physical space, and the
white carpet is kind of the sands of the
wilderness,” Rabbi David Glanzberg-
Krainin said.

When Wright designed the space
with Beth Sholom founding Rabbi
Mortimer J. Cohen, they considered
how light would filter in the space,
creating intricate, stacked glass work.

During the Ne’ilah service on Yom
Kippur, the last of the day’s five services
before break fast, Glanzberg-Krainin
is struck by the way the natural light
leaves the space after dusk, creating the
illusion that the gates are closing —
that time to be inscribed in the book of
life has run out.

“[Cohen] felt that you perceive God
more in less direct ways,” Glanzberg-
Krainin said of the inspiration for the
building. Few of the synagogue’s components
were by chance when Cohen was at
its helm. Founded at the tail end of
World War I, the synagogue, origi-
nally at Broad and Courtland streets in
Philadelphia, got its namesake as the
“house of peace,” according to syna-
gogue President Herb Sachs.

As decades passed, area Jews
acquired additional wealth and pros-
perity, resulting in many moving north
and to Abington.

“It was in the mid-’50s that they
staged their move to Elkins Park and
purchased land, and they moved the
congregation in stages,” Sachs said.

Cohen opted to move the religious
school first into the synagogue’s
now-administrative building. He also
pushed for the creation of a swimming
pool, hoping the space would become a
community center. Sachs would argue
that the space would, indeed, become
the community’s home, though the
swimming pool is now defunct.

But if the pool wasn’t an indication
of Cohen’s ambition, what followed
certainly was.

“He wanted to build a new vision for
an American synagogue, not a tradi-
tional synagogue building,” Sachs said.

With advice from several people,
Cohen contacted Wright, who agreed
to design a second building for the
synagogue. The two met at the Plaza
Hotel in New York, where Wright was
staying as he worked on his design for
the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Commissioned in 1953, the syna-
gogue’s new building was completed
six years later.

Though the synagogue’s future is
secure in its religious and preschool
programs, its past is immortalized in its
building, with a history that captures
a specific moment in the American
Jewish narrative.

In a period of integration for many
American Jews, a whimsical synagogue
that carried a similar panache as was so
common in churches was representa-
tive of their own complicated identity.

Beth Sholom was evidence of Jewish
assimilation, but it also augmented the
prayer experience, bringing Jews closer
to their spirituality and Jewish identity.

“Mortimer Cohen did not want to
just do things the old way, just to
build a traditional synagogue build-
ing,” Sachs said. “He wanted to do
something special.” JE
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
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