This history was
compiled and presented
at a 50th Anniversary Celebration for founding members Barbara and Sy
Schnuer
in September 1999.
The History
of Kahal B'raira
| Presidential
Gallery
1972:
Barbara & Seymour
Schnuer learn about the Society of Humanistic Judaism (SHJ).
Barbara
is intrigued enough to subscribe to the magazine.
1973:
Barbara joins SHJ.
1974:
Seymour (Sy) attends
the SHJ annual meeting which is held in Westport, Connecticut and joins
on the spot.
1975:
Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder
of SHJ, asks Sy & Barbara to organize a congregation in
Boston.
Names are culled from the SHJ mailing list. On September 19th,
the
first meeting is held at Concord Academy with about 30 people in
attendance.
1976:
Sy Schnuer joins SHJ
Board.
1977:
Meetings are held in
the Unitarian Church in West Newton until 1983.
1978:
Armed with tape &
scissors the Schnuers and Brotmans cut and paste Westport's Service to
create the first Humanistic High Holiday Service for Boston.
First
annual Chanukah celebration is held at the Unitarian Church in West
Newton.
1979:
The Fogels, Wetzners,
& Gelbers start KB's Sunday School with one or two classes held in
the Gelbers' home. Sam Fogel organizes Adult Education Book Club
which meets monthly and they plow their way through Dubrov's History of
the Jews. First annual Seder is held at the Unitarian Church.
1980:
25 families now belong
to the congregation. The name, Community of Choice, is chosen and
translated into Hebrew, Kahal B'raira (KB). Barbara Schnuer joins
SHJ Board until 1984.
1981:
The Fogels' home is added
for additional Sunday School space. Rabbi Jeff Silberman is
hired for about two years. Between 30 and 100 people now attend
meetings
and services. All of the major Jewish holidays are
celebrated.
First Holocaust Service is created.
1982:
The Sunday School has
expanded such that classes are held in four different houses in the
Newton
Center area. Starting times are staggered so that parents can
drive
to each location in time for class. The cars traveling the
neighborhood
early Sunday morning establish a rhythm that will long be
remembered.
The parents meet together at the Wetzners' home while their children
are
attending classes.
1983:
Plans are made to rent
space for the Sunday School at both the Joy of Movement and the Palfrey
School, in Watertown. A satellite class for 6th grade, then the
highest
grade in KB, is located at the Watertown YMCA. Congregation
events
are held at the Italian-American Club of Wellesley, Newton Arts Center,
Newton Women's Club, Wellesley Community Center, Park School in
Brookline,
Harvard Theology School and any other friendly tent available.
1984:
The congregation celebrates
its first Bar Mitzvah, that of Daniel Dain. KB hosts the annual
SHJ
Convention which is held in Cambridge. The publicity surrounding
the convention results in an increase to 37 families. Ada Snider
contributes her talents thus bringing music to a new level in both the
services and Sunday School.
1985:
We are incorporated for
Tax Free status. Sylvia Rose is hired as an administrator.
1986:
Steven & Linda Brion-Meisels
chair the Sunday School Committee and serve as Principals - the
beginning
of a new era. Rebecca Rosenfield is the recepient of our first
naming
ceremony. Adult education programs and featured speakers are
introduced
during the Sunday morning sessions. We now call the League School in
Newton
our home.
1987:
Rabbi Beverly Lerner
is hired as consultant / learned person.
1988:
Elana Wetzner and Sarah
Wharton are KB's first Bat Mitzvahs.
1989:
Evonne Wetzner and Josh
Dodes are the first KB graduates to teach Sunday School.The Beaver
Country
Day School in Brookline provides a very comfortable center for Sunday
School,
Adult Meetings and for Congregation celebrations.
1990:
Phyllis Whitney is hired
as Sunday School Principal.
1991:
Rabbi Don Pollock is
retained as Rabbinic Consultant for two years.
1992:
Questions of spirituality
re-emerge. KB participates in City Year. KB hosts the Annual SHJ
meeting in Newton.
1993:
KB moves to the Windsor
School in Brookline. The KB Handbook is created.
1994:
The Schnuers report on
the International Federation conference of Secular Humanistic Jews held
in Russia.
1996:
New member brunch is
introduced. Rabbi Wine is part of a panel discussion at Brandeis
entitled “Un-affiliated Jews.”
1997:
First Annual Catered
Picnic.
1998:
Sunday School & Adult
sessions increase to 13 per year. Discussions regarding our
expression
of spirituality continue along with thoughts regarding Jewish identity
and the exploration of similarities and differences amongst us.
1999:
Elaine Kamienny begins
as Sunday School Principal, bringing her expertise and background in
Humanistic
Judaism and education to us. Gordon Beeferman, a KB graduate, is
commissioned to compose music for KB. There are now approximately
100 familes in Kahal B'raira.
2000: KB moves
to Solomon Schecter School
in Newton.
2001: KB Bylaws
are passed.
2002: The
results of the Long Range Planning
Survey indicate where our strengths and weaknesses lie.
2003: KB hires congregation member
Gladys Maged as administrative facilitator.
The Kahal B'raira
Presidential Gallery
1975-1977
Barbara & Seymour
Schnuer
1977-1978
Marvin Brotman
1978-1979
Ken Davis
1979-1980
Dan Cashman
1980-1981
Sam Fogel
1981-1983
Larry Stybel
1983-1984
Alan Berg
1984-1985
Shari Gelber
1985-1986
Steve Wetzner
1986-1987
Larry Beeferman
1987-1988
Jon & Natasha
Lisman
1988-1989
Jon & Anita
Brush
1989-1990
Sam Fogel
1990-1991
Nikki Descoteaux
1991-1992
Steve Klein
1992-1993
Roberta & Dick
Bauer
1993-1995
Joshua Ostroff
1995-1996 Amy Schneider
1996-1997
Eliot Eichen &
Adria Arch
1997-1998
David & Evan
Levinson
1998-1999
Bill Kadish
1999-2000
Ellen Richstone
& David Kwiatowski
2000-2001
Sheryl & Bill
Boris-Schacter
2001-2002
Mitch Hilton &
Jon Levine
2002-2003
Jon Levine & Lee Mandell
2003-2004
Lee Mandell
2004-2005
Ellen Forman and Phil Katz
2005-2007 Paula Wolk and P.A.M. Spierings
2007-2008 Dick and Roberta Bauer
2008-2010 Jerry Rubin and Carol Steinberg
2010-2011 Jane Eisenstark and David Ossam
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