(Courtesy of Cong. Anshe Sholom) On June 13, Congregation Anshe Sholom of New Rochelle held its annual dinner and celebrated the shul’s 125th anniversary. Founded in 1896, Anshe Sholom is the oldest Orthodox synagogue in Westchester. The dinner was chaired by synagogue Co-President Dr. Tom Grimaldi. The gathering was addressed by Rabbi Evan Hoffman and Co-President Dr. Mark Bessler, as well as by Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Dr. Philip Weinberger.

The synagogue’s physicians were honored for their heroic work during the pandemic. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues about how they mustered the courage to serve patients during these trying times, Dr. Isaac Manaster cited a line from the weekly Torah portion about Aaron’s role in halting a plague by means of ketoret: “And he stood between the dead and the living and the scourge was held back (Bamidbar 17:13).” Anshe Sholom took pride in the religious and educational services it offered to the wider Jewish community during the pandemic and looks forward to continuing to provide those services in the future.