A Very Special Connection

Dear Rabbi Orenstein and Sylvia,

I came to work at Congregation Beth El in 2005 as the Rabbi Roston’s assistant. Of course, I had been connected to my Judaism my entire life, having grown up in a large Conservative congregation in Queens, NY. My husband and I were members of B’nai Keshet, the Reconstructionist synagogue in Montclair, from 1978 to 2007 when we became Beth El members.

How astounding it still it is for me to think about how early in my working at Beth El, I discovered that Rabbi Orenstein’s father-in-law, Sylvia Orenstein’s father, was Rabbi Israel Mowshowitz, my rabbi from that large Conservative congregation in Queens – Hillcrest Jewish Center. It was Rabbi Mowshowitz who performed my marriage to Marc in 1971. It was Rabbi Mowshowitz who always visited my Hebrew School classes regularly, especially to keep the kids on their toes! It was to hear Rabbi Mowshowitz’s sermons on Shabbat that my maternal grandfather rushed to services when he visited us.

Then, in the summer of 2006, Rabbi Orenstein was getting ready to officiate at High Holy Day services at a congregation in Montreal. My family and I were getting ready to celebrate my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding in Montreal in August. The rabbi who was marrying my children was the rabbi who Rabbi Orenstein would be working with at High Holy Days. In a conversation with Rabbi Bright of Montreal, Rabbi Orenstein told him that he would be marrying the children of congregants from Beth El. He then said to me, “Cheryl, I told Rabbi Bright about who you are –so the pressure is on!”

And one more connection….in February 2010 when Rabbi Orenstein turned 75 and the naming of our granddaughter Ashley coincided with his birthday celebration…we shared the simchas together at Beth El. It was so sweet. And to this day, we are connected to you. As are so, so many other people whose lives you have touched.

Happy Birthday, Rabbi!

With love,

Cheryl Slutzky

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