If like me you often found yourself attending a meeting at the Jewish Federation, chances are better than even receptionist Celeste Wieselman greeted you after letting you through the building’s secure entrance.

Celeste had an uncanny ability to make visitors feel welcome. She always seemed in a good mood, and ready to kibbitz if time allowed.

Directionally challenged, I relied on her to point me to where I needed to go within the maze of the Kopolow building. She never steered me wrong.

After seven years, Friday (Jan. 6) was Celeste’s last day on the job. She said she was told before Thanksgiving that her position was being eliminated, and that she would be replaced by a full-time security guard.

Not surprising when I spoke to Celeste on Monday, she seemed her usual cheerful self, though she is sad about losing a job she said she loved. At 81-years-old, she has no plans to retire and when I called, she said she was trying to figure out where she would apply for a new position. Her résumé includes stints as a teacher, headhunter, senior center manager, dinner theater owner and insurance broker. She’s interested in finding another job that will allow her to interact with the public because that’s what she liked best about working at Federation.

“My priority was making sure everyone coming into the building was greeted warmly and given the right information,” said Celeste. “Whether it was kids coming in to work on a project at the Holocaust Museum or people coming in for a board meeting or dropping off various things for employees in the building, I wanted everyone to feel welcomed.”

Barry Rosenberg, President and CEO of the Federation here, said while the organization “really appreciates the work Celeste has done for the community and the enthusiasm and warmth she brought, it would be wrong to comment publically on a private, personnel matter.”

Celeste said she was told the reason was budgetary, and while she wishes she didn’t have to leave, she understands. These days, it’s the way of the world.

As to whether replacing her with a full-time security guard signals a need for heightened protection, Rosenberg would only say that Federation is “reorganizing that function to provide a higher degree of security.

“We’ve been advised by law enforcement and others to maximize the steps we take to protect our employees and visitors in whatever ways we can, reasonably,” he added. “We believe the changes are the best solutions to the needs we have overall.”

Celeste said during her tenure at Federation, she never had the need to call 911, but recalled some occasions when she was concerned about security threats. “It’s more of a gut feeling than anything else,” she said, remembering a man whom she described as “vague” when she asked him his reason for being at the building. She was able to summon help to direct the man out of the building.

Typically, Celeste worked the front desk from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with time off for lunch when another person replaced her. Now a security guard will arrive when the building opens and staff it throughout the day and evening.

Dancing with the rabbis

Those would be Rabbis Jeffrey Stiffman, Andrea Goldstein and James Bennett, who will fox trot it out to determine who is the best dancer at Congregation Shaare Emeth’s upcoming fundraiser March 10.

The three rabbis are currently taking dance lessons twice a week with instructors at Simply Ballroom, and each rabbi will perform with his or her partner on the night of the big event. Judges for the competition are still being decided, but don’t be surprised if the panel includes a few congregants.

When I asked the congregation’s communication coordinator, Alicia Tannenbaum, whom she thought had the inside track, she laughed and replied, “I heard Rabbi Stiffman is quite the dancer.”

Tickets for the fundraiser are $36 per person, and $100 for preferred seating. After the rabbis’ performance and a silent auction, the band Griffin and the Gargoyles will play and everyone is invited to dance. For more information, call 314-692-5305.