Summer 2014

Sisterhood of Janina
Summer, 2014
Dear Sisterhood Member:
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We’ve, my family and I, returned from a fabulous trip to Greece, led by Marcia Ikonomopoulos.
Museum Director of KKJ. We visited Salonika, Ioannina, Athens, and in between, Volos, Metsovo, Larissa,
Trikala, Meteora, and too many more to mention. Our trip ended on a cruise, stopping at Mykonos,
Santorini, Crete, Patmos and Kusadasi (Turkey). We all had a blast…weather, except for gale force winds
on Mykonos, was sublime and the food, of course (what bad can you say about Greek food?!) was
scrumptious! Marcia is a wealth of information and kept us well versed on the historic and Judaic aspects
of the sights, along the way. Accompanying us on our trip was Hella Kunio-Matalon, the daughter of
Heinz Kunio, a Holocaust survivor, who met with us at the Jewish Museum of Salonika. There was an
impromptu book-signing of Heinz’s book, “A Liter of Soup, 60 grams of Bread”, a diary of his life in the
camps during WWII, which was very moving.
On our bus ride to Janina, we tried singing the songs (on our bus) from the Pasha song sheet (given
out at all past Pasha weekends). Even though we were accompanied by Elias Matalon, Hella’s husband
who is in the Salonika choir, I’m afraid we didn’t make the cut on “The Voice”! But, we tried, and had fun
trying…even if there was no dancing in the aisles! Janina was the most emotional part of our trip. We met
at the synagogue and saw many of the Jewish community…in fact, thanks to DNA testing, we found my
family was related to Stella Koen, wife of Samuel Koen who conducted the services. Afterwards, at a
lovely dinner in our hotel, there was music and dancing, a delicious dinner, with ever-flowing wine,
bringing everyone to the dance floor – for a most memorable close to our trip to Janina, which will never be
forgotten.
In Athens, one of the men on our trip who was born in Patras, Greece, in an extremely emotional
moment, relived his Bar Mitzvah on the original bema from Patras, which Nikos Stavroulakis, the founder
of the Jewish Museum of Greece, personally retrieved from Patras to be a permanent exhibit at the useum,
which he created.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KKJ
Sunday, June 1st KKJ held another blow-out concert, with the Dan Elias group. Dan, is continuing
the tradition of bringing Sephardic music to the world, as his father, Joe Elias [obm], began many years ago.
Dan has spent many years cultivating his repertoire, traveling the world to collect the beautiful and historic
music which go back many centuries. Amazing how many of the melodies of the Ladino songs were
familiar to the Greeks in the audience, who sang along in Greek. The music brought many of the audience
to their feet, dancing to the beat of the varied selections.
We received very generous donations from the following, for which we are very grateful:
~Marla & Marty Genee – To Len & Beth Neuhaus – In Memory of their Son Alexander Zelig.
~Judy Samuels – In Memory of her Mother, Sarah Samuels-on the first anniversary of her passing.
~Audrey Solomon – For Her Grandson Danny Solomon’s Graduation from Touro College, majoring
In Physical Therapy. Proud parents are Howard & Marion Solomon.
~Audrey Solomon – To Edie Solomon on Her Very Special Birthday. Mazal Tov & Many More!
~Susan, Howard, Marion, James & Danny Solomon – Happy Birthday Auntie Edie.
~Anita Zaffos – For Her Son Louis’ Speedy Recovery from Hip Surgery.
~Barbara & Ken Schwarz – Best Wishes To Edie Solomon on Her Very Special Birthday.
~Audrey Solomon – To Barbara & Kenny Schwarz – Mazal Tov on their Grandchildren, Michael & Bryan
Rachmilowitz, who graduated from Univ. of Japan and Vassar.
~Mae & Zino Gabrielides & Family – For Mae’s Mother, Esther Abraham’s Yahrzeit.
~Pearl Cantos – Get Well Wishes to Terry & Sol Lafazan.
~Lois & Ed Ledner – To Beth & Len Neuhaus in Memory of their Beloved son, Alexander.
~Tina Pardo – To Mrs. Rosa Frances (Haifa, Israel) & family – In Memory of her Husband, Moise
~Tina Pardo –To Elyssa & Lee Goldberg In memory of their Grandmother, Lorraine Goldberg.
~Esther Benjamin – To Edie Solomon in Honor of her Very Special Birthday.
~Hy Eliasof – In Honor of Sisterhood.
~Rae Yamali – To Larry Glassman, In Memory of his Mother, Lillie Glassman.
~Edith Solomon – In Memory of Manny Battino
~Annette Binder – In Memory of Manny Battino.
Thank You All
DONOR
CARD PROGRAM
Our Donor Card Program depends entirely on your commitment to keep it healthy. Listed below
are our Sunshine Secretaries who will write out and send out the appropriate card, be it “Get Well”, “In
Honor Of/Congratulations,” “In Memory Of,” naming you as the donor, sealing, stamping and mailing it,
all for a minimum donation of $5.00. Your continued, ongoing participation in our Donor Card Program,
our only source of income, is what helps keep Sisterhood viable and running in the “black.” Please
continue to support it...you are our lifeblood.
Judy Samuels
Rae Yamali
SUNSHINE SECRETARIES
1 Meadow Woods Rd., Lake Success, NY 11020
1228 West Avenue #302, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(516) 482482-0320
(305) 672672-0608
CURRENT DONOR CARD SUPPORTERS
Ralph Battino & Jackie Andros, Patricia & Izzi Battino, Annette Binder, Esther Benjamin, Pearl Cantos, Diana CohenMarcus, Mollie Cohen, Rose Eskononts, Hy Eliasof, Litsy Eliasof-Pinhas, Mae & Zino Gabrielides, Elaine Ioannou,
Marcia Ikonomopoulos, Terry & Sol Lafazan, Sarah (Shirley) Mandragona, Irene & Sol Matsil, Eve & Max Nachmias,
Tina Pardo, Judith Samuels, Daisy & Ralph Schaeffer, Barbara & Ken Schwarz, Laurie & Mark Serwetz, Audrey
Solomon, Edith Solomon, Susan, Howard, Marion, James & Danny Solomon, Rae Yamali, Anita Zaffos.
Thank You All
SISTERHOOD NEWS
~Happy Very Special 90th Birthday Wishes to Edie Solomon. Wishing Her Many More With Good Health.
~Congratulations to Audrey Solomon on her Grandson Danny Solomon’s College Graduation. Proud parents are
Howard & Marion Solomon.
~Congratulations to Annette Binder on her Grandson Jared Binder’s College Graduation. Proud parents are
Michael & Lynne Binder.
~Happy Very Special 95th Birthday Wishes to Ralph Battino. Wishing Him Many More With Good Health.
~Happy Very Special 95th Birthday Wishes to Esther Yomtov’s husband, Morris. Wishing Him Many More With
Good Health.
~Congratulations to Laurie & Mark Serwetz on their son, Rob, voted “Exemplar Educator”, (Teacher of the Year).
Rob is in his second year of teaching Special Ed, and first year at Peterson Elementary School, Fort Worth, TX
Mazal Tov! Very Well Deserved!
~Congratulations to long-time member Eleanor Menachem on the marriage of her granddaughter, Marcail
Riggs to Drew Rodgers. Proud bride’s parents are Melanie & Bruce Riggs. Mazal Tov!
~Congratulations to Rose Attas Ferrari on the graduation of her granddaughter, Sarah. GreatGrandparents, of blessed memory, were Stamoula and Haim Attas, of 275 Broome St. Mazal Tov!
~Congratulations to Phyllis and KKJ President, Marvin Marcus, and on the double-header graduations of
their sons – Andrew from Hunter College and Ethan from NYC Lab High School, and going on to
Princeton. Both Andrew and Ethan are integral parts of KKJ’s Shabbat and Holiday services. We
wish them Mazal Tov and much success on their future endeavors.
~Sincerest Condolences to Rose Citron on the passing of her sister, Lillie Glassman.
~Deepest Condolences to Selma Gilberg and Sol Matsil on the passing of their sister, Julie Jeuda.
~Sincerest Condolences to Robin Breite and Ralph Battino and their families, on the passing of Manny
Battino; Robin’s father, and Ralph’s brother. Manny was our late, long-time member, Minnie
Battino’s husband.
~Sincerest Condolences to Phyllis, Marvin, Andrew and Ethan Marcus on the passing of her Father, Erwin
Caplan.
Join me in welcoming Sisterhood’s newest member, Amelia Bernstein. Amelia is the daughter of our late,
long-time member, Jean Matsil-Fishman; niece of Sol/Irene Matsil, Selma Gilberg, Julie Jeuda and cousin
of Amelia Sobel. We look forward to seeing her at future Sisterhood events.
Best Regards,
Rose Eskononts
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Julie Matsil-Jeuda and Lillie Levy-Glassman. Julie is the sister of
Selma Matsil-Gilberg and Sol Matsil; Lillie is the sister of Rose Levy-Citron. May they Rest in Peace. We send our
deepest condolences to their respective families.

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