IN MEMORIAM

RENEE ETRA

Born in the Bronx into a very warm, Jewish family, Renee was married to Dr. William Etra for over fifty years. Their son, Ian, was an excellent student in Ramaz from pre-school through High School. She was very proud and supportive of her husband’s celebrated career as a urologist. In her own right, she was a gifted sculptor. Her beautiful sculptures can be found in many homes, including precious ones in her own home.

Renee’s artistic insights reflected a deep spirituality that characterized her relationship with Judaism. In fact, she loved KJ and she proudly occupied a seat in the Etra section of the Ladies’ Balcony in our synagogue every High Holy Day season.

DR. PHILIP FELIG

Dr. Felig was a special human being and Jew. A brilliant and innovative physician, he was beloved by his patients and widely respected in the medical community. He was a doctor from the old school who practiced patience with his patients, listening to them and giving them his full time and best advice.

A brilliant student of Judaism and worldly wisdom, he was also very dedicated to his family: to his dear wife, Florence, who survives him and to his three sons and daughters-in-law and, especially, to his grandchildren both here and in Israel. He liked nothing more than playing with his grandchildren and helping them with their Talmud assignments. He was a true star in Torah u’Madah.

He loved his association with KJ, sitting behind the bima in his characteristic, humble fashion, listening very carefully to sermons and davening with a full appreciation of his relationship with God.

We remember him as a great mensch and Jew.

LEA GLATSTEIN

Lea Glatstein was eighteen years old when she watched the Nazis march into Warsaw. Her father had the wisdom to flee with his family into Russia. There they were sent to labor camps in Siberia, where she did backbreaking work in awful conditions. From there she went to Israel, where she lived for ten years during a period of extreme austerity, and then at age thirty-nine came to the United States to start over again. She would work to support her family, and then come home and work until 1:00 in the morning, cooking and taking care of the affairs of the house. Through it all Lea showed exceptional resilience and determination; she never knew the meaning of the word “quit.” She was caring to all those around her, and she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Lea Glatstein died in her 100th year. She, and her late husband, Sam, were members of the congregation for almost 30 years.

ROZ ZUGER

Roz and her late husband, Martin, came to our congregation fifty years ago. She was honored for this at our Zoom Annual meeting in April. While she was never blessed with children, she was very close to her nieces and nephews and their children, some of whom came from far away to honor her at a graveside service on August 19. She was active in our Sisterhood and, most recently, thoroughly enjoyed Jordan Mittler’s Senior Technology classes in person and, now, in Zoom.

She died at the age of ninety in full possession of her wide-ranging intellect, through which she engaged with friends from KJ and with whom she enjoyed the Metropolitan Museum of Art — her second home — and many other cultural institutions and events in New York. She loved her association with our Congregation and her prayer experiences in our synagogue. We will miss her.

RON SCHWARTZ

For 25 years, Ron Schwartz was a quiet, gentle, and very regular presence in shul. Beloved by friends, who would often invite him to join them for Shabbat and holiday meals, Ron took advantage of all that KJ had to offer. He attended Torah classes, Beginners Shabbat dinners, lectures, book discussions, films, and more. A serious student with a thirst for knowledge, Ron was a regular participant in the Kollel morning learning program at Chabad of the Upper East Side, where he would often stay after classes or services to discuss matters of Jewish law and practice with the rabbis. A generous person, Ron was remembered by family and friends as a true mensch who cared deeply for the needs of others. Ron passed away suddenly on Hoshanah Rabbah, after ensuring the proper celebration of Sukkot by picking up his arba minim and being sure to make Kiddush and Motzi in the KJ sukkah. His life of dignity, kindness and piety serves as his legacy and is a lesson to us all.

MANFRED JOSEPH

Manfred Joseph was a Prince of a man and a Prince of a Jew. Together with his dear wife, Barbara, he raised a beautiful, religious family which adored him and respected him. When they were in their apartment in the city, he rarely missed a Shacharit Minyan. In their home in Lawrence, he practiced the same piety.

Generous to many causes, including KJ, he was a wonderful example of a modern Orthodox Jew. Modest, self -effacing and unobtrusive, but with a smile always on his face, he was a model of “walking humbly with God.”