Introducing New Members

We welcome …

Since January 2020, an unprecedented difficult time for Jewish community, BEKI has welcome a host of new members. Here is a little about these new members of our congregation …

Bret Kupfer and Emily Rock

Where do you live? Westville

Anyone else in your household we should know about?
Milo (2), Jonah (8 months as of 11/23)

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in?
Kids’ havura, and hopefully more.

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? It is a place of community for us, and opens up access to Judaism for our kids and shows them what a Jewish community is because it is something they can rely upon around the world.

What can you tell us about your Jewish past—childhood, Jewish education, whether you have been a synagogue member before? Bret grew up in Tolland, CT, and his family were members of Congregation B’nai Israel in Rockville, CT (the founders of Rein’s Deli were also members). Marshal Press was the rabbi, and he was great. It was the congregation Bret attended Hebrew school at, and had his bar mitzvah. Emily’s family were members of Wise Temple in Cincinnati. It is a Reform synagogue, where she attended Hebrew school, had her bat mitzvah, and then was an assistant teacher.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness?
Bret looks forward to everything Passover.

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Bret wants to know who is a UConn basketball fan.

Is there something else people should know about you? Bret once shared a Lyft ride with Mick Jagger’s cousin. We also want to thank Emma Sokoloff-Rubin for encouraging us to check out BEKI.

Richard L. Levine

Hello, my name is Richard L. Levine. I live in Branford, CT. I am the only one in my household. Sometimes there are study groups that I would like to join. My main contacts with BEKI so far are High Holy Days and Kaddish. I am rejoining BEKI after many years. My bar mitzva was at Beth El, long before the merger. My family had been members from Beth El’s founding. My favorite aspects of being Jewish are the Torah and other teachings, and pride in Jewish contributions to mankind.

Sarah Silverman (and Elan Weinstock)

Where do you live? Knollwood Drive in Upper Westville

Anyone else in your household we should know about?
Partner named Elan; cat named Odette!

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? I like to be involved in davening, Torah reading, morning minyan, and learning.

What can you tell us about your Jewish past? I was a synagogue member as a youth, and part of an independent student minyan in college. I also started an independent minyan in Berkeley, where we lived for 5 years. Starting a minyan is a lot harder than it seems, but (in my opinion) ultimately rewarding. But there is a lot of schlepping boxes around.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness? I would say my favorite part of being Jewish is celebrating Shabbat.

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Though it is a millennial cliché, I do have encyclopedic knowledge of the Harry Potter series if anyone likes to talk about that. I also enjoy studying Jewish texts, especially midrash and halakha.

Is there something else people should know about you? Professionally I specialize in instructional design and online teaching if any educators ever want some support during this turbulent time in education.

Ali, Herbie and Lily Rosen

Where do you live? Beaver Hills in New Haven
What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Young Child/Family Programming, Community Service Initiatives
At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Brings a diverse array of people together, making them feel comfortable and welcome when coming together for prayer and community service. We are really hoping to gain friends from the tight-knit community of BEKI.
What can you tell us about your Jewish past—childhood, Jewish education, whether you have been a synagogue member before? Ali grew up Modern Orthodox in Los Angeles, CA, and I, Herbie, grew up Reform in Rochester, MN. We both had very different Jewish upbringings/exposures, but what we both love about our Jewish pasts was the sense of community we felt when attending shul or being campers at Jewish summer camps. We want our daughter to get that same sense of community, and have an opportunity to see Jewish values being put into action through community-based projects and celebrations.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness? Tikkun olam. We also love hosting our extended family for Passover. Shabbat dinners are important to us, and our daughter adores Challah.

Gary and Sheri (Sharon) Hochman

Live at? We live at 74 Knollwood Rd., North Haven

Anyone else in your household we should know about? We have two adult daughters. Our older daughter, Andrea Hochman, lives in Atlanta, GA. Our younger daughter, Dani Cohen, and her husband, Jay, live in Fairfield, with their identical twin daughters, Emma and Hayley. We moved to North Haven to be close to our new granddaughters.

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? As newcomers to the New Haven area, we’re seeking Jewish friendship, having moved away from a close 40-year relationship with our Jewish community in Lincoln, Nebraska. Gary was involved in the annual synagogue Sukkot and latke parties with the synagogue’s men’s group, as well as a weekly bicycle group that met at a coffee shop on Sundays for more than 35 years. Sheri was part of a book club, educational lunch group, and Mahjong group. Sheri is interested in social activities and celebrating holidays.

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? We hope to enjoy fellowship with BEKI congregants, both at services and Shabbat dinners. Gary plans to help with the BEKI website and community activities. Sheri is interested in community services, and Sisterhood.

What can you tell us about your Jewish past? We recently moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, where we were members of Congregation Tifereth Israel for 40 years. Gary is a Kohen and was raised in the Reform movement at Sinai Temple in Springfield, MA, where he celebrated his bar mitzvah, went to Hebrew school, and took part in NFTY life. Gary’s professional life as a documentary filmmaker and journalist provided multiple opportunities to work in Israel (Cave of Letters, Qumran, Jerusalem, Shrine of the Book, Yavne, and Bethsaida), where he specialized in projects involving archeology and Jewish history and culture. Sheri was raised in Milwaukee and was a member of Emanu-El B’Ne Jeshurun and was a counselor at the JCC Rainbow Camp in Fredonia, Wisc. Her grandmother and aunt were childhood friends of Gold Meier. Sheri taught Jewish holiday traditions at Sunday school for a few years at Tifereth Israel.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness? Our Jewish life revolves around food and holidays. There’s no baked good that could reasonably be turned down.

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Gary is a documentary filmmaker, formerly with PBS, who has a lifelong fascination with all aspects of photography and video production. He has been fortunate to have worked on every continent, including Antarctica, and he has done considerable work in Israel and Poland (Sobibor). His interests include history, archeology, paleontology, world politics, playing tennis, taking bike rides, and hiking. He can frequently be found around good food and wine…and an occasional single malt scotch. Sheri is a former paraeducator, and likes walking, hiking, reading (book clubs), and lunch groups. She is on a continued hunt for good coffee and the best bakery. Before COVID, we were avid movie, theater, and music attendees. We look forward in enjoying New Haven’s cultural offerings when safety permits.

Tani Cohen-Fraade, Abby Fraade, and Raziel (Razi) Fraade

Live in? Westville, New Haven

Looking forward to? We are excited to get involved in kids programming and community education!

Value about Jewish life? It has the capacity to bring people together and create a home in our community. It also provides a support system as well as a place for people to become/continue being lifelong learners.

Jewish past? We both attended Jewish day schools as kids and have spent time in Israel and in farming communities. We were members of Altshul in Brooklyn before moving to New Haven.

We love? Communal singing and music! Also sharing food experiences and Torah learning.

Looking for people to enjoy? Local beer/cider tasting?

Annie and David Norman-Schiff

Live? Downtown New Haven

Also in our household? We have two cats with New York Mets themed names (Casey Stengel and Joan Whitney Payson)

We also … Annie works as the Youth and Family Programming Director at BEKI, but she hopes in her free time to help with programming for people in their 20s and 30s. David is also interested in 20s/30s programming and wants to explore a bit more to see how he can help. As a former middle school trumpet player, he can blow the shofar.

We value … We value warmth, inclusiveness, social opportunities, and the feeling of synagogue as a shared religious home.

Our Jewish past includes … We both have long backgrounds in organized Jewish life, without having become members of a synagogue family as an adult until now. David grew up in a strong Reform synagogue, and was very involved in Hillel. Annie was also very involved in a Reform synagogue growing up, and was steeped in Jewish summer camp, youth group, and Hillel. We’ve grown and changed in our shared Jewish lives, beginning to keep Kosher at home together when neither of us did growing up (although we benefited from David’s Bubbe’s advice, and her set of glass meat plates).

Our favorite aspect of Jewish life? We would each likely answer differently on different days, but David makes a mean brisket. Annie’s favorite holiday is Shavuot, because she loves late nights, text study, and cheesecake.

Would love to talk about? David always wants to talk to movie lovers—he enjoys everything from foreign films to documentaries to horror. Annie wants to meet more knitters.

Josh Weinstein

Where do you live? Westville

Anyone else in your household we should know about?
Max DuBoff, Linden Grazier, Yogurt the dog

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Prayer and sustainability transformation.

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Connects us to a supportive and embracing community at the various points of meaning in our life (and on a regular rhythm). Also, opens up opportunities to share experiences with our wider Jewish circle in New Haven and our non-Jewish neighbors.

What can you tell us about your Jewish past? Diverse Jewish past growing up in a Conservative Jewish community in York, PA, Jewish Day School in Lancaster, PA, Modern Orthodox community in Atlanta, GA, and others.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness—a prayer, a holiday, a teaching, a baked good? Psalm 104: We and all life are connected to each other and on a shared mission.

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Any of the following! Birding, cycling, kayaking on the rivers, improv on my trumpet, and hiking with my dog.

Is there something else people should know about you? Excited about community work and finding ways to unite our diverse Jewish community of New Haven. Taking a step back from this work for a while as I try to steer my ship to where I’m going next in life.

Bonnie Pepper, Aaron Barkon, and Sammi Barkon

Where do you live? Spring Glen, Hamden

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Social justice issues and religious school.

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Provide community and spiritual connection.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness? Family togetherness, community, shabbat with friends, Jewish music, and Purim.

 

Michael and Della Leapman

Where do you live? East Rock, New Haven

Anyone else in your household we should know about? Children (Charlie and Simone)

What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Education, Torah reading

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Religious ritual practice, friendship, belong to a community, education, community service.

What can you tell us about your Jewish past? We both grew up in Maryland in homes with strong Jewish connections and attended a Jewish Day School from K-12. We were both synagogue members growing up.

What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness—a prayer, a holiday, a teaching, a baked good? Jewish learning, humor, food (sweet noodle kugel, pickles).

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Outdoor adventures with our kids

Is there something else people should know about you? Della is a great Torah reader!

Max DuBoff

Where do you live? Lower Westville
What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Services, tikkun lam, programming, and food: I’m Co-Chair of the Ritual Committee, BEKI’s liaison with Columbus House for the Tikkun Olam Committee, on Kiddush Team 1, a BRS teacher, a frequent Torah reader and service leader, and organizer of periodic musical events.
At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Wow, great question. It provides community that gives our lives a sense of purpose, which Judaism is a great outlet for because of the richness of its tradition.
What can you tell us about your Jewish past? I grew up Conservative and became very influenced by traditional egalitarianism and a chavurah minyan in college, while still being involved with Conservative shuls. Mordecai Kaplan, whom I discovered in college, most shaped my vision of Judaism. When I was in fifth grade I asked my parents if we could keep kosher, and it’s been a long, slow, and deeply rich journey since then.
What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness—a prayer, a holiday, a teaching, a baked good? Music! I became more interested in Judaism in high school through music, and it’s remained a core part of my connection. I listen to and think about lots of Jewish music, and try to help incorporate it into our synagogue life.
If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Board games, but especially historical board wargames.
Is there something else people should know about you? I’m in a PhD program in classics and philosophy at Yale. I research (and am always happy to talk about!) practical ethics in ancient Epicureanism, esp. issues of life and death, as well as some contemporary reproductive ethics.

Julie Leviter, Daniel Wiznia, Aviv Wiznia

Where do you live? Woodbridge

Anyone else in your household we should know about? Just sweet little Aviv!
What aspects of synagogue life do you hope to be most involved in? Children’s havura, children’s activities, Hebrew school

 

At its best, what do you hope Jewish congregational life does? Builds a community for Jewish life events and education
What can you tell us about your Jewish past? Julie was raised in a Conservative and Dan in both Conservative and Orthodox settings.
What’s your favorite aspect of Judaism or Jewishness—a prayer, a holiday, a teaching, a baked good? The community, Eretz Yisrael.

If you could find a fellow member who shared a particular hobby or interest of yours, what would it be? Tikkun olam
Is there something else people should know about you? We are a very musical family, and enjoy bringing music into everything we do.

Aaron Baum and Laura Van Metre Baum

Live in: Westville

Others in the household:
Mira (7) and Yael (4)

 

 

 

 

We also welcome…

Robert Feder

Miriam Gerber and Linus Lu

Michael Schaffer and Tricia Napor

Menachem Elimelech and Naomi Shiloh

Konstanze Kunst

Guy Levine

Allan Rubenstein

Sidney Cahn