Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
SWFS
Following in the footsteps of Donna Levine, who retired this summer after more than 20 years at Stephen Wise, is going to be a tough act, but Isaiah Benedek is excited to be joining our community as director of membership engagement — with Heidi Goldenberg taking over as special projects manager.
Julia Bennet joined Stephen Wise this year as our Religious School’s assistant director. She grew up on Long Island and was a camper, counselor, and limmud specialist at URJ Eisner Camp. Julia completed a self-designed major in Jewish studies at Clark University and received her master’s in religious education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She can’t wait to meet all of you!
“I have a sudden awareness of providing history to my great-grandchildren,” says Doris Brickner, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s former rebbetzin, who is celebrating her 100th birthday this July. We sat down with her to discuss her numerous personal and professional achievements, from Jewish learning to the pursuit of social justice to the discovery and preservation of history — and her family’s legacy.
“I am deeply pained by — and mourn — the loss of life already inflicted and I lament the many further tragedies that will befall both Israelis and Palestinians in the days ahead,” writes our Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. “Our synagogue stands with Israel in its fight to protect its citizens and suppress terrorism.”
Joining Stephen Wise Free Synagogue “was the thing to do,” says Michael Patterson, who is a principal at Ernst & Young and has been a member here for 30 years, serving as president, treasurer and trustee. “My grandfather told me, ‘You have to support Jewish institutions.’ So, when my wife Suzy and I moved to the Upper West Side, we found a Reform synagogue and joined.”
30 West 68th St
New York, NY 10023
(212) 877-4050
info@swfs.org
