Beth Judea rabbi to retire at end of June
In 1981, Congregation Beth Judea of Long Grove was a small, growing synagogue and Rabbi Howard Lifshitz came to town to lead it. After 30 years, Rabbi Lifshitz will be retiring at the end of June from the pulpit he has loved.
“Many rabbis look to move,” he said. “I am very fortunate to come to a relatively small synagogue and watch it continue to grow. It gave me an opportunity to grow with it.”
Lifshitz has served as president of the Chicago Region of the Rabbinical Assembly as secretary and member on the board of directors of the Jewish Community and Family Service of Metropolitan Chicago.
He has participated in many Jewish Federation activities, in the Buffalo Grove Chaplaincy program, and in the Northwest Suburban Rabbis and Social Workers Group. He frequently is asked to speak in church groups, public schools and interfaith programs.
He will remain as rabbi emeritus to guide his successor, and will still share his wisdom and counsel with the congregation and the community. Lifshitz has demonstrated his ability to forge bridges between people without regard to geographical, ethnic or religious considerations.
Outside of Beth Judea, Lifshitz has been nationally recognized by his peers, and he has been called upon locally to represent “the Jewish perspective.”
For 30 years, Beth Judea has benefited from his learning and life experiences, his continuing education studies and travels, his storytelling and his sense of humor.
Lifshitz and his wife, Gail, have resided in Buffalo Grove since 1981. They have two adult daughters, Jessica, and Jennifer (Jeff) Goldstein.
To honor these many years of service, Congregation Beth Judea and the community at-large will honor the rabbi with a tribute weekend, May 20-22.
On Friday, May 20, there will be a family Shabbat dinner at 5:45 p.m., followed by Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. Co-Chairpersons of the dinner are Debbie and Joel Brodsky, Renee and Michael Klass and Maureen and David Stolman. An extended Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by the Sisterhood and the Men’s Club of Beth Judea.
On Saturday, May 21, from 3-5 p.m., there will be a Seudah Shlishit, the Third Shabbat Meal, which will be sponsored by the past presidents of Beth Judea and will offer everyone the opportunity to celebrate the Inaugural Program of The Rabbi Lifshitz Legacy Fund for Spiritual and Cultural Enrichment. The speaker and teacher will be Rabbi Marc J. Belgrad.
On Sunday, May 22, there will be a Gala Dinner (black-tie optional) beginning at 6 p.m. for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The co-chairpersons are Ann and Mitch Lerman.
For information, call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 or email Lisa Neiman at info@bethjudea.org.
Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.
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