Last week, we turned to our readers with a mystery: a photo in the Jewish Light from the late 1970s or early 1980s at Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel (BSKI), showing four women and Rabbi Benson Skoff gathered around an open Torah scroll. We had zero names. You gave us five.

Thanks to the collective memory of our community—and the persistence of those who reached out—we can now confirm the identities of the women pictured with Rabbi Skoff during what we’ve learned was an adult b’nai mitzvah celebration in October 1978.

From left to right:
Rabbi Benson Skoff, spiritual leader of BSKI
Carol Lerner
Rose Medalie Malt
Lynn Melnick
Cindy Rotenberg

This group of women studied under Skoff as part of a pioneering adult education program that brought many into deeper engagement with Jewish learning and ritual life. Their participation in this ceremony marked not only personal milestones but also a meaningful chapter in the evolving role of women in synagogue life.

Our thanks to Gary Kodner, Elaine Ginsburg, Leslie Sobel, Janice Sherman, Golda Cohen and all who wrote in with memories, clues and confirmations. A special shoutout to Rose Malt herself, who confirmed her identity and helped us with others.

As always, your stories are the soul of our archives.