TBJ to honor Steve Schoenebaum and Ben Shlaes, Oct. 18

TBJ First Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner honors Steve Schoenebaum and Ben Shlaes, Oct. 18

 

On October 18, Temple B’nai Jeshurun will be honoring two individuals for efforts benefiting our congregation and our community, Ben Shlaes and Steve Schoenebaum.

 

Ben has not only been the Brotherhood's keeper of the books for many years, he has put in hours upon hours over the past several years helping to make sure that the Temple's books have been in order and was at one point a nearly constant presence in the Temple office for months on end.  Ben is to be found at virtually every Temple Brotherhood function and leads our monthly Classical Reform Shabbat service along with Ira Lacher.  In honor of Ben's time, energy and commitment to the well being of Temple B'nai Jeshurun, he is being awarded with the President's Volunteer of Honor Award.

Steve recently served as Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Commission of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines.  He has also devoted countless hours to community not for profit organizations with legal matters, by-law changes, and other guidance including the Jewish Federation, Temple B'nai Jeshurun and the Temple Brotherhood, as well as providing guidance and council to me as I helped to create organizations promoting Israel advocacy and anti-genocide efforts.  For his many years of devotion to the broader community and humanitarian efforts, Steve is being recognized by the Temple Brotherhood with this year's Chautauqua Award.

 

We will celebrate the efforts of Ben and Steve along with those of our many other volunteers on Friday night, October 18, during Shabbat services and at our First Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner that night.  We know that there are no few others who are deserving of praise for their volunteer efforts both on behalf of our congregation and for their work within the broader community.  While this year, we praise Ben and Steve specifically for their efforts, we look forward to recognizing others in a similar manner in the years to come.

Thank you to all those volunteers for the time and energy that you give to organizations, families and individuals in need.  Thank you for all that you do for our congregation and for our community at large.  Our congregation and our community are both far better for having the wonderful volunteers that we have, you are all blessings in our lives.

 

- Rabbi David Kaufman