By Jerry Barrish, , Seattle
I read Emily Alhadeff’s article on the Rosenzweig family (“The family Rosenzweig celebrates Sukkot,” Sept. 28), and it reminded me of how important Norm and Shirley were in my Jewish growth. I joined Congregation Beth Shalom in 1988, and both Norm and Shirley Rosenzweig acted as models for how to live a Jewish life and how to be active in a congregation and community. More than that, they became my friends. I served on the CBS Board with Norm in the early 1990s, when he agreed to become treasurer. In both board meetings and executive committee meetings, Norm was a model of decorum and was always listened to as a person who had been through these “important issues” before. After all, he served as president three times, including being the founding president of the shul.
During the years I was a member, both Norm and Shirley were there every Shabbat, and every week people would look forward to greeting them and interacting with them during kiddush. Neither of the Rosenzweigs ever seemed to revel in the spotlight; rather, the spotlight appeared to find them naturally. I came to treasure them as friends and as role models, and I saw their influence not only on the members but also on their own family, especially their son David. He seems to reflect his father’s quiet confidence and his mother’s graciousness. It comes as no surprise that David and his sisters, Michele and Betty, have set up a most appropriate way to remember their parents and to honor the service they have given to Beth Shalom. I can think of no more fitting tribute.