Obituaries

CAPLAN — On Sept. 27, Doris Caplan (née Davis) of Baltimore at 102. She was predeceased by husbands Alex Walpert and Bernard B. Caplan; siblings Alice Berger, Norman Davis, Alvin Davis, Jesse Davis, Theresa Windesheim, Helen Rubenstein, Charles “Bucky” Davis and Mildred Davis; and parents David and Etta Davis. She is survived by grandson Evan Pickus and nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Contributions may be sent to Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 21208.

COOPER — On Sept. 26, Stanley Cooper of Baltimore at 84. He is survived by children Gale (Gilbert) Apodaca and Lisa (Ronnie) Pachino and grandchildren Alex Apodaca, Ross Apodaca, Steven (Marsha) Kushnir, Rashi Pachino, Michal Pachino, Evan Pachino and Conor Pachino. He was predeceased by wife Marion Cooper (née Slotkin); brother Bernard Cooper; grandson Erik Pachino; and parents Rose and Abraham Cooper.

Contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice.

ELLING — On Sept. 29, Rivka S. Elling (née Heifetz) of Baltimore at 67. She is survived by husband Howard J. Elling; daughters Malka (Gary) Gutin, Hadassah (Abie) Franco and Ruth Elling; sister Shira (late Yehuda) Harbater; and six grandchildren.

Contributions may be sent to Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital, 2401 W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215. HERMAN — On Sept. 19, Barbara Herman (née Stricker) at 83. She is survived by husband Rabbi Floyd Herman; children David Herman and Beth (Jeffrey) Newman; and grandchildren Caleb and Sarah Newman.

Contributions may be sent to Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville, MD 21208.

KRUPNIK — On Sept. 25, Ruslana Krupnik (née Rubinshteyn) of Baltimore at 68. She is survived by husband Moysey Krupnik; children Alla (Marc) Kaplan and Ilona (Alex) Indenbaum; sister Ludmila Rubinshteyn; and grandchildren Liana Kaplan, Jenna Kaplan, Zackary Kaplan, Daniella Indenbaum and Izabella Indenbaum. She was predeceased by parents Anatoliy and Yevgenia Rubinshteyn. It is with great sadness and pain that our family lost our beautiful Mamachka, adored wife and cherished Babushka. She is no longer in pain and we will forever remember her.

Contributions may be made to the Gastric Cancer Foundation, PO Box 338, Millbrae, CA 94030, gastriccancer.org.

LAZARUS — On Sept. 21, Harry H. Lazarus of Delray Beach, Fla. He is survived by sons Ronald E. (Linda) Lazarus and Brian S. (Carin) Lazarus and grandchildren Ethan Blaker and Rachel Davidoff. He was predeceased by wife Beverly Lazarus (née Kuff); parents Bessie and Julius Lazarus; and siblings Louis and Albert Lazarus, Eva Gershman, Rose Wolf, Clara Duckett and Selma Cassin. He raised two sons in Baltimore and attended Oheb Shalom prior to retiring in Delray Beach, Fla. He was a fixture in the clothing industry in Baltimore, becoming president of T.I. Swartz and later a senior executive with Jos. A. Bank and London Fog.

Contributions may be sent to The Associated Jewish Charities, 101 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201.

MINDEK — On Sept. 23, Laurie Hope Mindek (née Fink) of Columbia at 72. She is survived by husband Howard Mindek; children Tali Mindek (Nicholas and Desmond LaRosa) and Michele (Don) Peugh; brother Ian Fink; sister-in-law Madeline Mindek (Gary Gibbs); and sister-inlaw Linda Mclaughlin. She was predeceased by parents Ira and Teresa Fink. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and grew up in Oceanside and Baldwin, N.Y. She attended Roosevelt High School and Adelphi University, before earning a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. Her nursing career in mental health counseling started at Phipps Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, then Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She taught nursing clinical skills as an adjunct professor at PG County Hospital and Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University). Her career led her to running her own private practice in Bowie. In 1970 she married Howard Mindek, a photographer and professional musician and teacher. Together they raised two girls, Tali (37) and Michele (35), whom she loved very much.

Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, Hadassah or American Red Cross. NUDLER — On Sept. 21, Sylvia Nudler of Baltimore at 72. She is survived by brother Moshe (Miri) Rosenberg; niece Sivan Rosenberg (Tzach Kafri); nephew Yoav (Danielle) Rosenberg; great-niece May Rosenberg; great-nephew Yoni Rosenberg; and many other cousins and friends. She was predeceased by parents Boris and Paula Nudler.

Contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice.

PAUL — On Sept. 23, Florence Paul (née Koch) of Baltimore at 88. She is survived by children Ronnie Paul, Jesse Paul (Stacey Rosenberg) and Sandi Paul (late Stanley Kogan); sister-in law Roberta Koch; grandchildren Rachel (Robby) Rollins, Stephanie (Dustin) Knight, Matt, Aaron, Katie (Jorge Gorriti) and Jake Paul and Tessa Rosenberg; and great-grandchildren Sylvia Rollins and Leòn Gorriti. She was predeceased by husband Leonard Paul; parents Harry and Sylvia Koch; and siblings Celia Koch, Lillian Bender, Beatty Etterman and Jeremy Koch.

Contributions may be sent to the Maryland Food Bank.

POPOK — On Sept. 24, Alla Popok of Baltimore at 57. She was a loving, open-hearted person who loved her family dearly. She loved life and was a shining star who shined bright. She is survived by son Alex Pinchuk; sister Lana PopokVaughn; life partner Vladislav Shafirovich; and many loving friends. She was the aunt of Dominique, Julian and Jasmin G. Dorissa Vaughn.

ROTHENBURG — On Sept. 21, Beverly Harriett

Rothenburg (née Arnberg) of Baltimore at 76. She is survived by children Betty Rothenburg and Benjamin Rothenburg. She was predeceased by husband Theodore Rothenburg; sister Sharon Arnberg; and parents Daisy and Maurice Arnberg.

Contributions may be sent to Ahavas Yisroel Charity Fund, 115 E. Sudbrook Lane, Baltimore, MD 21208.

SINGER — On Sept. 21, Ira Singer of Columbia at 71. He grew up in New York, both in Levittown on Long Island and in Forest Hills, Queens, where he attended Forest Hills High School. He went on to graduate from Queens College before earning his master’s degree from New York University. He started his career teaching music in New York City and then in Prince George’s County. It was during this time that he married the love of his life, Linda. His career took him into the computer industry where he worked for Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle. He eventually taught Hebrew school music and was a choral director. As much as he loved teaching, the most important thing to him was family, specifically being around his wife and children. He is survived by wife of 46 years Linda Singer (née Lewis); daughters Tracy Singer (Dan Goldberg) and Amy Singer; mother Antoinette Singer; brother Harold (Carrie) Singer; and grandson Max Ethan Goldberg. He was predeceased by father Fred Singer.

Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, 405 Williams Court, Suite 120, Baltimore, MD 21220 or Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

STERN — On Sept. 26, Leona Stern (née Isselbaecher) of Columbia and formerly of N. Bellmore, N.Y., and Lake Worth, Fla., at 91. She is survived by children Sharon (Daniel) Freedman and Jeffrey (Bonnie) Stern; grandchildren Elissa (Jonathan) Schuyler, Scott (Pamela) Freedman, Michelle (Jay) Friedman, Jennifer (Adam) Levin and Samantha (Etai) Dvora; and great-grandchildren Mathew Schuyler, Brooke Schuyler, Hailey Freedman, Ryan Freedman and Maribelle Friedman. She was predeceased by husband Berthold Stern; parents Emmi and Albert Isselbaecher; and brother Kurt Isselbaecher.

Contributions may be sent to the United States Holocaust Museum or the Jewish Federation of Howard County.

WOLFSON — On Sept. 23, Robert R. Wolfson of Cockeysville at 92. He is survived by sons Joseph (Mary) Wolfson and Eli (Lynn) Wolfson; grandchildren Jill Wolfson Jacobson (Eric Jacobson), Sharon Wolfson, Chaim Wolfson and Natalie Wolfson; and great-grandson Jeremy Jacobson. He was predeceased by wife Elizabeth Wolfson (née Bodenheimer); brothers Zev (Ella) Amitai, Thomas Wolfson; and parents Julius and Charlotte Wolfson.

Contributions may be sent to Beth Israel Congregation, 3706 Crondall Lane, Owings Mills, MD 21117, or Chevra Ahavas Chesed, Inc., P.O. Box 2085, Ellicott City, MD, 21041-2085.

WASSEL — On Sept. 26, Sevelyn Wassel (née Amernick) of Owings Mills at 90. She is survived by children Jerold Marc (Shelbie) Wassel, Scott Eric (Mindy) Wassel and Cheryl Wassel (Tim Mulligan); siblings Rita Amernick and Marvin Amernick; grandchildren Danya Wassel (Georgina Wakefield), Molly Wassel, Jordan (Dani) Wassel, Brandon (Jessie) Wassel and Adam Wassel; and great-grandchildren Asa WasselWakefield and Lucas Wassel. She was predeceased by husband Dr. Bernard “Barney” Victor Wassel.

Contributions may be sent to American Cancer Society, 405 Williams Court, Suite 120, Baltimore, MD 21220.

WOOD — On Sept. 30, Mona Wood of Pikesville died of cancer at 85. She is survived by children Gillian (Edward) Meigs and Courtney (Jayme) Wood and grandchildren Jenny Meigs, Lucy Meigs, Skylar Wood and Hayden Wood. She was predeceased by husband Benjamin J. Wood who she was married to for 42 years. She dedicated much of her life to volunteering and found great joy in all the work she did on behalf of Hadassah — both the local chapter and the national organization. She was a life member, national board member and was fulfilled by supporting Hadassah through many of the organization’s initiatives and projects. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Contributions may be sent to www.hadassah.org.

The Baltimore Jewish Times updates obituaries regularly on its website, jewishtimes.com. Obituaries are not verified and may be condensed for space. To submit an obituary, go to jewishtimes. com/submit-obituaries.

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What’s happening at ... Kol Shalom

Kol Shalom educates preschoolers in nature

Annapolis’ Kol

Shalom has a solution for those concerned that social distancing is keeping their toddlers too cooped up: The synagogue’s Tree of Life Preschool takes place largely outdoors.

Even before the pandemic, the preschool spent a significant amount of time outside. With special training in the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches to education, Allison Charapp, the school’s education director, had put together a preschool program where the children would be outdoors about half of the day, celebrating nature while learning Jewish traditions and prayers.

There “was no real concept other than we knew we wanted a Jewish practicing preschool, and we wanted nature to be involved,” Charapp said.

When social distancing became the norm, the children began spending even more time outside, coming indoors only to eat or during bad weather.

Charapp explained that both the Montessori and Reggio Emilia educational styles allow children to play and explore to learn different concepts. “The children just have a lot more choice in how they approach their own learning than [in] a traditional classroom,” Charapp said. There are zero worksheets and significantly more free time

Top and bottom left: Tree of Life preschoolers; Right: Education Director Allison Charapp with her son THERE “WAS NO REAL CONCEPT OTHER THAN WE KNEW WE WANTED A JEWISH

PRACTICING PRESCHOOL, AND WE

WANTED NATURE TO BE INVOLVED.”

Allison Charapp

to work with the educational toys and materials of their choice.

Charapp said working with the children can bring her back to the type of innocence and enthusiasm that can fade with adulthood. “We went out to the sukkah this morning, and one little darling came up to me,” Charapp said, “and she was like ‘We get to do our mitzvah!’ And I was like, ‘That’s so cool!’ Because as an adult I was thinking, ‘Do I want to get pictures of this? How do I get that on the Facebook?’ Like, I’m thinking ahead. And they just bring you back to it’s just this beautiful moment.”

Kol Shalom Rabbi Josh Wohl had nothing but praise for Charapp and the job she has done, noting how “she goes above and beyond,” going so far as to drive individual children back to their homes when their parents are unable to pick them up. “She really works hard,” Wohl said. “She puts in 60-, 70-hour weeks, so I think the parents appreciate that, and they appreciate the individual attention.”

While originally from Pittsburgh, Charapp has been a resident of the Annapolis and Washington, D.C., area for the past 30 years, she said, having moved to the area to be with her then-fiance and nowhusband. She recalled being initially approached years ago by the synagogue’s rabbi and several different congregants to apply for the new position.

The synagogue opened its preschool program in September of 2015, following nine long months of planning and work to deliver their labor of love, said Charapp.

It has gone from an initial class of three students to over 30 last year, Wohl said. He added that there is currently a waiting list for parents to enroll their children, with both Jewish and non-Jewish families welcome to apply.

Wohl also felt the preschool helped to reinforce the Kol Shalom brand, which he described as “very focused on environmental issues, focused on nature, and I think we have a really good reputation in the larger community, and a lot of that is due to the preschool.”

“I find out every day how Judaism is so naturally tied to just living,” Charapp said. “It’s so ingrained, it’s so natural. And, through the eyes of the child, I’m seeing more and more ways that God is just this beautiful force … that we are able to work with, and just enjoy life.”

jberman@midatlanticmedia.com