obituaries
BRAUNSTEIN IRIS (nee Cupersmith) - March 15, 2023
of Wynnewood, PA. Beloved wife of the
late Martin Braunstein; loving mother of
Norman Braunstein (Helene) and Robin
Glenn (Michael); adoring grandmother
of Jenni (Derrick), Allison, and Jeffrey
(Jasmine) and great-grandmother of
Dana and a. n lieu of owers con-
tributions in her memory may be made
to the Ronald McDonald House of
Philadelphia (rmhcphilly.org)
JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com GOLDSTEIN
CARDONICK CECELIA (nee Chasen) on March 14,
2023. Beloved wife of the late Morris;
Loving mother of Larry Cardonick,
Eric Cardonick (Sara Lee), and Cindy
Benamy (Richard); Devoted grandmother
of Lauren, Jordan (Laura), Marissa, and
Alanna; Adoring great-grandmother of Ari
and Parker. Contributions in her memo-
ry may be made to the Phila. Protestant
Home, 6500 Tabor Rd, Phila., PA 19111,
https://pphfamily.org/giving/donate/ GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
BARBARA LYNN,, beloved moth-
er, cherished wife, treasured grand-
mother, shrewd businesswoman and
social butter y passed away on March
12, 2023, in Ventnor, New Jersey, her
“special place” at the age of 71. She
has left a loving family behind. They
include her daughters Stephanie
Blumstein and Abby Blank and her
precious grandchildren Chloe and
Ellie Blumstein. Her brother David and
his wife Ellen Frank and their children
Matthew and Sydney Frank. She is
also survived by her stepchildren Mark
and Josh Goldstein and their families.

J.S. GOLDSTEIN FUNERAL HOME &
MONUMENTS INC.

www.jsgfunerals.com ISENBERG
COHEN SANDRA B., 87, on March 13th, 2023.

Beloved wife of the late Albert Cohen;
loving mother of David Cohen, Robert
(Caryn) Cohen, Michael Cohen, and
Stacie (Michael Schultz) Cohen.

Adoring grandmother of Jessica (Adam),
Ale andra Tyler fi anc
ori Austin
Jesse, Chase and Micayla; great-grand-
mother of Leo and Max. In the memory
of her late husband, contributions in her
memory may be made to the Parkinson’s
Association at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
SARA F. (nee Bernstein). March 15,
2023. Beloved wife of the late Samuel
Isenberg. Loving mother of Ruth
Bernstein (Harvey), Adam Isenberg
(Laura), and Daniel Isenberg (Susan).

Devoted sister of Sheila Saxe and the
late Toby Pincus. Dear grandmother
of Samuel, Ilana, Sidra, and Rebecca.

Contributions in her memory may be
made to Leket Israel, leket.org.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
LEDERMAN ZELDA - March 15, 2023. Dr. Zelda
Hurwitz Lederman, a trailblazing phy-
sician passed away at age 91 after
a long and courageous battle with
chronic illness. Born in 1931, Dr.

Lederman was ahead of her time in
pursuing a medical career. Despite
obstacles, she never wavered in her
commitment to becoming a doctor.

She graduated Temple Medical school
in 1957 and completed psychiatry
residency at a time when few women
had jobs outside the home. Her career
spanned over sixty years as she re-
mained dedicated to her patients until
her late 80s.Beyond her professional
accomplishments, Dr. Lederman was
a devoted wife and mother who valued
family above all else. She was deeply
committed to and is survived by her
husband (Ivan), children (Jennifer
and Jonathan), grandchildren (Noah,
Rachel and Sophia), and beloved
dog, Obie. Dr. Lederman’s passing is
a great loss to her family and those
that knew her. She was a fi ghter to the
end, and her legacy will continue to in-
spire and uplift those whose lives she
touched. PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS
www.plattmemorial.com NAPPEN
ROBERT (Bob) WILLIAM, 80, of Boca
Raton, Florida, died on March 9, 2023.

Beloved husband of Madeline (nee
Hankin); loving father of Allan (Julie)
Nappen and Dara Nappen King; cher-
ished grandfather of Wesley, Aaron,
Evan,Brandon, Rachel, and Colby;
brother of Sheila and the late Barnett;
brother-in-law of Ina and George
Hankin and Mark and Helene Hankin
and loved by many cousins, nieces,
and nephews, employees/ associates
and contractors. Robert was born
in Philadelphia to his parents Albert
and Sadie in 1943. At an early age,
he showed the world his mechanical
ability when he came in 1st winning a
prestigious award as the number one
high school mechanic in Pennsylvania
by disassembling, diagnosing and re-
assembling an auto engine in record
time. Impressing the judges with his
accuracy, speed, and ability to diag-
nose things they hadn’t even been
looking for. A passion for cars ran
deep and followed him throughout
his life. He took this love with him
into his fi rst career owning and op-
erating multiple gas/service stations
with his brother. Robert married his
wife Maddie just before entering the
military. Their love story began when
Maddie was 14 and Robert was 19.

They grew their love into a family over
the next 56 years. Robert served in
the Army as military police for 2 years
beginning December 2, 1966. During
this time he also tinkered with cars on
the military base. Robert and Barnett
started 309 Development Company in
1969. His father-in-law Perch Hankin
offered to teach him the industrial
development business but Robert
chose to continue the partnership
with his brother as they shifted from
the gas stations into the construction
business. The business was formed
with his wife, brother Barnett and
sister-in-law. Due to health reasons,
Robert and Maddie bought out Barnett
and Marilyn’s shares of the busi-
ness and the business was renamed
Nappen & Associates. Over the last
50 plus years, Robert grew Nappen &
Associates into a leading development
and management company with ap-
proximately four million square feet of
industrial buildings. Robert remained
in the business until the day of his
death. Even on his last day he talked
about how the community of people
surrounding him in the business is
what led to its success. Robert was a
very humble man with a strong code of
ethics that was based on loyalty, hon-
esty and integrity that was known and
respected in the community. These
values have been shared with his chil-
dren and grandchildren as they contin-
ue his legacy of hard work through col-
laborative efforts. Robert’s love of cars
never waned. As a way to reconnect
with his love of cars, he purchased
several auto dealerships. At the time of
his death he remained dealer principal
of Cherry Hill Nissan, Montgomeryville
Acura and Montgomeryville Nissan.

He was known to be a man of quiet
compassion with love for so many.

He was a loving father to his children
and a father fi gure to so many others.

A mentor, a role model for honor, in-
tegrity, love of family, community, and
commitment to those he interacted
with. He was/is so loved and respect-
ed by his family and his community.

Robert’s mild manner was enhanced
with a sharp wit, sensitivity and vi-
brant sense of humor. Please join us
at shiva to share your stories of love,
respect, and laughter. Contributions in
his memory may be made to the Boys
and Girls Club of North Penn Valley
www.npvclub.org/donate, The Kelley
Anne Dolan Memorial Fund www.

dolanfund.org, or Magen David Adom
https://afmda.org/ GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
PATRICK MARY
(nee Mathason)
March 16, 2023. Beloved wife of the late
Stanley Patrick. Loving mother of
Jodi Holschuh (Douglas) and Scott
Patrick (Martha). Dear sister of Bruce
Mathason. Devoted grandmother of
Lisa Patrick and Charlie and Samuel
Holschuh. Contributions in her memo-
ry may be made to the National Kidney
Foundation, www.kidney.org
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
SHIFTAN IRIS (nee Haber) - Passed away on
March 11, 2023. Wife of the late Gary
Shiftan. Mother of Bruce Shiftan and
the late Karen (David) Pressel. Sister
of Stephen (Salli) Haber. Grandmother
of Rob and Adam Pressel, and Jared
Shiftan. Contributions in her memory
may be made to the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmsso-
ciety.org. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
ATTS ERNEST - March 12, 2023 of Ardmore,
PA; beloved husband of the late Elaine
(nee Hoffman); loving father of Eileen
Siegel (Dan), Lorrie Keammerer
(David) and Susan Lankin- Watts
(Alan Lankin); cherished grandfather
of Louis, Bradley, Jonathan, Douglas
and Benjamin and devoted brother of
arold atts. n lieu of owers con-
tributions in Ernest’s memory may be
made to Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El
(tbhbe.org) or a charity of the donor’s
choice. JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com Baltimore Jewish Times
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26 MARCH 23, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT



d’var torah
Ethics Evolve
Rabbi Jon Cutler
W Parshat Va Yikra
e begin the next book of the
Torah, Va Yikra – the Greek
name is Leviticus. It is the operating
manual for the Levites to operate the
Mishkan, or the Tabernacle.

We begin with the list of sacrifi ces
and the conduct of the Levites. There
are sin off erings, elevation off erings,
dedications, holy days and so on. We
learn the many details of the laws
of animal sacrifi ce. It is hard for us
to comprehend how, at one point in
Jewish history, the religious practice
was built around off ering cattle, sheep,
goats and birds on the altar to God.

In the Orthodox prayer book, during
the Musaf service, Jews still pray for
prostitutes, something the Torah explic-
itly forbids. When God gave the Torah,
it was given to a people who expected
cultic sacrifi ces.

The Torah put a limit on allowing only
certain animals from the herd and sacri-
fi ces carried out by the priestly class.

Maimonides taught the laws of sacrifi ce,
he admitted that humanity had evolved
and sacrifi ce was no longer necessary
in his day and age.

Our ethics have evolved over time.

The Torah discusses and allows slavery,
it allows capital punishment for crimes
ranging from witchcraft to profaning the
Sabbath, and it permitted the stoning of
a son who rebels against his parents.

Women were of second-class status.

It was under the auspices of rabbinic
law that the rabbis would reinterpret
these laws as their ethical under-
“Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them,
‘If any man of you brings an off ering to the Lord,
you shall bring your off ering of the cattle, of the
herd, and of the fl ock.’” (Leviticus 1:2)
the rebuilding of the ancient Temple in
Jerusalem and the reestablishment of
these sacrifi ces. Conservative Judaism
has made a liturgical change with a
theological twist. The Conservative
prayer book speaks of the Temple
where “our ancestors used to bring
these sacrifi ces.”
We no longer desire a Judaism based
on animal sacrifi ce. Jewish ethics have
evolved. Maimonides thought that animal
sacrifi ce was a compromise based on
the norm of how people lived in ancient
times. Animal and often human sacrifi ce
were the common practice.

Often these sacrifi ces were tied with
the worship of idols and a variety of
cultic practices, often sexual in nature.

Ancient temples employed sacred
standing evolved. Human ethics are
constantly evolving. And this has great
relevance for our day and age.

It is common today to judge people
in the past by contemporary ethical
standards. Thomas Jeff erson, one
of the great leaders of the American
Revolution, owned slaves. Stephen
Foster composed his song “Swanee
River” (“Old Folks at Home”) using racist
lyrics. The lyrics were rewritten when it
became the state song of Florida.

I have seen how ethics have evolved
in my lifetime.

I am old enough to remember the
Jim Crow laws in the South. When I
was a child, I traveled with my family to
North Carolina. I remember distinctly
two water fountains at the train station:
“One for Whites and one for Colored.”
I asked my father, how come? He did
the best he could to explain to me, a
10-year-old, about the Jim Crow laws.

This is unthinkable today.

My grandparents, caring Jews, would
not understand a bat mitzvah and would
fi nd a female rabbi or cantor unthink-
able. And, of course, gay marriage was
beyond their consideration. They were
not bad people. Ethical sensitivities and
standards have evolved since their day.

It's not right to judge people in the past
by the ethics of today.

Instead of judging the Torah for
endorsing animal sacrifi ce, or the rabbis
of the Talmud for their view toward
women, we ought to judge people
within the framework of their own time.

We ought to look at ethics not as
permanent and unalterable, but always
in process.

We need to appreciate how far we
have come in our ethical understanding
from earlier generations, and always
strive to do better. Ethics evolve. ■
Rabbi Jon Cutler is co-president
of the Board of Rabbis of Greater
Philadelphia and rabbi of Beth Israel
Congregation of Chester County.

The Board of Rabbis 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 refl ect the view of the
Board of Rabbis.

Mazel Tov!
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