B’nai Amoona: Those unable to attend Shabbat services in person can now listen via their telephone thanks to the Men’s Club and Mark Givarz. The free listening line is available on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. until the end of services.

Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel

The congregation installed an automatic external defibrillator and an emergency oxygen tank for use in medical emergencies. Paul R. Hale of the Richmond Heights Fire Department provided a full training course in the use of the equipment and CPR for members and staff including: Paula Hamvas, Ricky Kodner, Cindy Payant, Donald Pearline, Matt Pellerito and Michael Samis.

Central Reform Congregation

The freezers were filled with delicious chicken and vegetable soup and sweet desserts thanks to the mitzvah corps volunteers. Linda Cohen, Vicki Lander, Terri Leyton, Jessica Pollock, Carol Portman and Jeane Vogel provided nutritious pick-me-ups.

Intercongregational Softball League

Going into the final week of the season, the two first placed teams Temple Israel and Traditional Family Values played a very tough game with Traditional winning 14-11.

Zumi Brody made a great catch in centerfield in the first inning to keep the game scoreless, but unfortunately dislocated his thumb on the play forcing him to leave the game.

The next inning, Gary Lerner injured his foot on a slow roller to first and was also forced to leave the game. With only nine players and down by four runs, things did not look good for Traditional. Fortunately, their recently retired rabbi, Rabbi Ephraim Zimand showed up and gave Traditional a spiritual boost to lead them to victory.

The entire team contributed for the win. UH Ball-a-Busta’s finished off the regular season with a great tight game against CRC Super Heroes in Training with a win 13-7.

Jim Broddon was the only big hit in the first few innings with a deep home run. CRC was leading 5-2 going into the sixth inning when UH went nuts with seven runs capped off by back-to- back home runs by Randy Stern and Ron Gibbs.

UH never looked back as they got four more in the top of the seventh and held on with some fancy defensive plays. Shaare Zedek beat Bais Abraham 12 – 11.

The game came to a dramatic finish with Shaare Zedek scoring five runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Then the redoubtable Macabees held their opponents to a single hit to secure the victory.

J Associates

The organization allocated a record $58,895 to ten departments at the Jewish Community Center at their annual luncheon. Outgoing president Penny Alper also presented a check for $70,000 to JCC president and CEO Lynn Wittels for the agency’s capital and endowment campaign as part of a $100,000 total gift. New officers were also installed as part of the annual meeting: president, Bette Abeles; vice president of development, Susie Tenzer; vice president of membership, Jane Wasserman; treasurer, Wendy Gellman; financial secretaries, Lyn Bortnick and Nancy Lehrer; recording secretary, Eleanor Wolff and parliamentarian, Brenda Pereles. The Mitzvah Stars who give back to their community by volunteering and serving others were also honored: Frank Altman, Janne Burch, Edie Sobel and Cory Spielberg.

JCC

The agency held its annual meeting, chaired by David Kaiser, installing the following individuals for one year as officers: vice chairs: Marc Alper, Jeff Fox, Michael Oberlander and Jane Rubin; secretary, Elaine Tenzer; assistant secretary, Bethe Growe; treasurer, Mike Ferman and assistant treasurer, Harvey Brown. They join Michael Staenberg who is continuing his two-year term as board chair. Also honored were: Richard S. Weiss Presidents’ Award Winner, Thom Kuhn; Emerging Leaders Award Winner, Judy Schwartz Jaffe and the I.E. Millstone Community Service Award Winners, AZA Chapter — Esperanto.

Shaare Emeth

Rabbi Anne Belford was named associate rabbi at the 138th annual meeting of the congregation. Rabbi Belford has been one of the congregational rabbis for the past three years.

Shaare Zedek

Departing youth director Sarah Rubinson was honored for her five years with the congregation. Rubinson will be living in Israel for the next three years doing a program through Pardes in Jerusalem and pursuing a Master’s degree in Jewish education through Hebrew College in Boston. Under her leadership the congregation’s youth group grew from a small chapter of 18 members into a much larger chapter of 54 members. The youth group also brought the largest delegation of eighth graders to the Kadimus Kinnus convention.

Temple Israel

The youth group announced their new board for 2007-08. Officers include: president, Josh Scharff; programming, Robyn Moscowitz; social action, Danielle Silver; religious and cultural, Jodi Lapidus; membership, Hilary Kramer; communications and visuals, Ellie Cohen; special projects, Ben Mogerman; member at large, Molly Finn; freshman representative, Micah Scharff and past president, Matt Silies.

Traditional Congregation

The congregation recently installed their new officers for 2007 – 08. They include: president, Alan Rosenberg; executive vice president, Naomi Fishman; religious (ritual), Zumi Brody and Anat Reschke; administrative, Jack Heller; buildings and grounds, Tobie Hupert; membership, Paul Tesser; education, Mimi Levy; financial, Sherri Lopatin; treasurer, Barbara Levin and secretary, Pam Singer.

United Hebrew Congregation

The Israel committee invited Kol Am Congregation to join them in an evening filled with learning, spirituality and fellowship. They viewed the documentary Forgotten Refugees which tells the stories of Jews from Arab countries who immigrated to Israel. St. Louisan Elie Harir, whose father left Yemen in 1949 and settled in Israel, added his personal account. Participants celebrated the end of Shabbat with an outdoor Havdalah service and Israeli refreshments.

Young Israel

The congregation welcomed Rabbi Tzvi H. Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union. He spoke on the “Paradigms of Grief: Traditional Beliefs and New Understandings.” The program was sponsored by the Sarah Adelman Memorial Fund and commemorates the Yahrzeit of Sarah Adelman. A purpose of the fund is to assist children in need of counseling.