Honoring those who served in Lawrence at Congregation Beth Sholom

A crowd of community members and members of Congregation Beth Sholom gathered for the synagogue’s 70th annual dinner on June 8 in Lawrence.

The night began with a dinner reception, which was followed by a program honoring men and women who have served the nearly 100-year-old synagogue and the Five Towns community.

Bruce Schneider, Congregation Beth Sholom’s president, kicked things off by recognizing Michael Novick with the Special Service Award. Novick, who was the synagogue’s executive director for nearly 16 years, retired this year. He was executive director during Hurricane Sandy and the coronavirus pandemic, and despite the crises, he worked to expand and strengthen the congregation’s programs and activities. Rand Levin succeeded him.

“It’s a mixture of sadness and excitement that I stepped down as executive director at Beth Sholom and begin my next journey in retirement,” Novick told the attendees. “It’s been my goal to strengthen and support Beth Sholom’s programs, activities and events and to be persistent in every way possible to you as mentors.”

Shani and Yaakov Hersh were presented with the Young Leadership Award. The couple helped initiate a favorite program at Beth Sholom, the Motzei Shabbos Parent-Child Learning Program, which Yaahov said their children had benefited from.

The night’s guests of honor were Barry and Suzanne Gurvitch. Barry served as the shul’s president for six and a half years, which included the most challenging time in its history, the pandemic.

Although Gurvitch and the congregation were not prepared for Covid, he spoke about the smooth transition from his administration to the current one that kept the synagogue operating, which he said he was most proud about.

“When I look back at the six-plus years of my presidency, I see many accomplishments, not the least of which was helping navigate us through Covid,” he said. “One of the most important things our administration accomplished, and the one that makes me proud, is continuity. Our shul could not be in better hands with Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich, Rabbi Avi Miller, Bruce (Schneider) and his administration.”

Suzanne Gurvitch, a lifelong Lawrence resident who recently retired after 33 years on the New York City Board of Education, has been active with the synagogue’s Sisterhood and book club, and served twice as Sisterhood president.

“I’ve been coming to visit this shul since I was a little girl,” Suzanne said. “Who would have thought that I’d be honored in this shul in this room? From my parents, I learned that involvement in the shul community is very important and an integral part of one’s life.”

Founded in 1928 as Congregation Derech Yosher — “Way of Righteousness” — Congregation Beth Sholom was considered the first Orthodox synagogue on Long Island, according to information it provided. Its original location 131 Washington Ave. in Lawrence.

The name was changed in the years before World War II, and construction on a new building, at 390 Broadway in Lawrence, began in 1949.

From 1960 to 1970, Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman led the growing orthodox population of the Five Towns until his retirement in 1988. Rabbi Kenneth Hain followed, and led the congregation through three decades, until his retirement last year.

Next month, Freundlich will mark his first full year as the congregation’s spiritual leader.

“We had no idea what to expect upon arriving here,” he said. “But we have found such warmth, authenticity, kindness, engagement, people and members interested in classes. We are so grateful and pleased to be here, and bless all of us with many good years of health together and continued growth in every way.”