Oheb Shalom

A community Hanukkah celebration is planned for 7 o'clock tonight on the front lawn of Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Ave., according to Mayor Sheila Dixon's office and Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. The annual event will feature the lighting of a grand menorah, entertainment by comedy juggler Michael Rosman, activities for children that include arts and crafts, face painting and balloon art, traditional Hanukkah food, and local vendors selling...

Alan D. Hecht, a retired insurance executive active in his industry for more than six decades who was also a national leader in his field, died of congestive heart failure April 2 at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and hospital. The Pikesville resident was 94. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of Lee I. Hecht, an attorney and judge of the old Appeals Tax Court of Baltimore, and Miriam Dannenberg Hecht, a homemaker. Raised on Bateman Avenue, he was a 1936 graduate of Forest Park High School, where he was editor of the yearbook.

As a young man, Melvin Luterman faced an agonizing decision: Should the tenor pursue a glamorous career as an opera singer, or choose to lead prayers in a synagogue?Attracted by the emotional power of Jewish religious music, he chose the synagogue over the stage and became a cantor.Luterman, the dean of Baltimore's cantors, celebrates his 30th anniversary at Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Ave., at the Sabbath service this evening. He has also recorded XXTC compact disc to commemorate the occasion, titled "Hear Our Voices."

On August 5, 2009, Zena Ginsberg Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road at Mount Wilson Lane on Friday, August 7 at 11 A.M. Interment Oheb Shalom Memorial Park, Berrymans Lane. Please omit flowers. Contributions in her memory may be sent to Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Avenue (21208) or Gilchrist Hospice Care, 555 West Towsontown Boulevard, Towson, MD 21204. In mourning at 3603 Barberry Court, Pikesville MD 21208 sollevinson.com

The Norbel School, a private school for learning disabled children, has bid $500,000 to buy the closed Elkridge Elementary School site, school director Margaret R. Gold said. The bid signals the school's plan to leave its two-story space at the Temple Oheb Shalom synagogue in the 7300 block of Park Heights Ave., where it has been housed since its start in a single room 20 years ago. The school, which features small classes, intensive supervision and a "rational skills" curriculum, is bursting at the seams.

From the day it opened in 1960, Temple Oheb Shalom was considered one of the most architecturally significant religious structures in Baltimore.It was the only building in central Maryland designed in part by Walter Gropius, a world-renowned master of modern architecture, and it represented a new model for worship in reform Judaism.Tomorrow at 11 a.m., the congregation will break ground for a $3 million expansion and modernization project that is designed to prepare the building for another 40 years of service.

When Melvin Luterman is chanting Hebrew prayers, his voice has the power and passion of a great Italian tenor's. For 35 years, it has penetrated the hearts of congregants at Temple Oheb Shalom, a Baltimore synagogue rich in tradition that helped lay the foundation of Reform Judaism in the United States. With his retirement this week, the 65-year-old dean of Baltimore's cantors joins a figurative choir of classically trained singers stepping down from the pulpits of Reform congregations around the country.

On June 18, 2009 JACK EPSTEIN. He is survived by a niece Beverlee Ciccone, and two nephews Arthur and William Epstein and good friend Edward Holl, Jr. Memorial Services July 22, 2009 at noon at Oheb Shalom.

On August 5, 2009, Zena Ginsberg Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road at Mount Wilson Lane on Friday, August 7 at 11 A.M. Interment Oheb Shalom Memorial Park, Berrymans Lane. Please omit flowers. Contributions in her memory may be sent to Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Avenue (21208) or Gilchrist Hospice Care, 555 West Towsontown Boulevard, Towson, MD 21204. In mourning at 3603 Barberry Court, Pikesville MD 21208 sollevinson.com

On November 1, 2003, ROSE SPAIN GOODMAN beloved wife of the late Frederick Goodman, loving mother of Edythe G. Runett of Potomac, MD, and Dr. Stan Goodman of Pacific Palisades, CA, loving mother-in-law of Darryl Runett, Dr. Jeanne Ruderman and the late Iris Shapiro Goodman, adored grandmother of Elyse Corlett, Robert Runett, Ryan Goodman, Karin Runett, Eli Goodman and Elizabeth Goodman. Services will be held at Temple Oheb Shalom (Gordon Chapel) 7310 Park Heights Avenue on Wednesday, November 5, at 12 noon.

On a typical summer Sunday, the doors of Temple Oheb Shalom are locked tight. With observances of the Jewish Sabbath taking place on Friday night and Saturday and religious school out until fall, the Park Heights Avenue building sits empty. Not yesterday. Hundreds of congregants of a different faith poured into the sanctuary, bringing along their love of God, their upbeat music and their fervent prayer to the otherwise quiet house of worship. A fire July 1 damaged the historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Upton and left its flock with no place to come together.

Members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, forced out of their landmark Baltimore building, will take temporary refuge at Temple Oheb Shalom, the spiritual leaders of the two congregations said Wednesday. A week after lightning struck the steeple of the church on Druid Hill Avenue, the Rev. Frank M. Reid III and Rabbi Steven M. Fink announced that the Christian congregation would hold Sunday services at the Reform Jewish synagogue in Park Heights through Labor Day. Fink called Reid after learning of the July 1 fire to offer Oheb Shalom's 900-seat sanctuary to the church.

On June 18, 2009 JACK EPSTEIN. He is survived by a niece Beverlee Ciccone, and two nephews Arthur and William Epstein and good friend Edward Holl, Jr. Memorial Services July 22, 2009 at noon at Oheb Shalom.

A community Hanukkah celebration is planned for 7 o'clock tonight on the front lawn of Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Ave., according to Mayor Sheila Dixon's office and Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. The annual event will feature the lighting of a grand menorah, entertainment by comedy juggler Michael Rosman, activities for children that include arts and crafts, face painting and balloon art, traditional Hanukkah food, and local vendors selling...

On September 11, 2008, Solomon Meyer Feinblum Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road at Mount Wilson Lane on Sunday, September 14 at 1 P.M. Interment Oheb Shalom Memorial Park - Berrymans Lane. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Avenue, Balto., MD (21208) or The Alzheimer's Association,1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD (21093). In mourning at 725 Mt. Wilson Lane (North Oaks), Baltimore, MD 21208 Sunday only then continuing at 19 Bucksway Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 on Monday and Tuesday and also at 104 Bellehahn Ct., Severna Park, MD 21146 on Tuesday only.

Clutching white roses and garbed in blue caps and gowns, the first graduating class of Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Community High School celebrated its diversity yesterday as well as its academic achievement. The 29 graduates and their families were lauded yesterday as pioneers who believe in the school's mission of Jewish education that spans all denominations and branches of the faith. Named for the renowned local Jewish philanthropist and first female president of the Council of Jewish Federations, the four-year-old school is the first independent Jewish community high school in the Baltimore area.

Shirley Madow, 90, Oheb Shalom volunteerShirley Madow, a volunteer with youth groups at Temple Oheb Shalom, died Saturday of pulmonary failure at Northwest Hospital Center in Randallstown. She was 90.At the time of her death, she was a resident of North Oaks Retirement Community on Mount Wilson Lane in Pikesville.The former Shirley Hurwitz, who was born in Roxbury, Mass., moved to Baltimore in 1941 with her late husband, Simon Madow. They lived in the Pikesville and Owings Mills areas.She was a member of Temple Oheb Shalom and the National Order of True Sisters.

On January 2, 2004 DANIEL PACHINO, beloved husband of the late Diane Pachino (nee Goodman), loving father of Joseph H. Pachino, loving father-in-law of Marlene Pachino, devoted brother of Esther Cohen and the late Abraham and Robert Pachino, Clara Baer and Bess Peck. Adored grandfather of Michael, Randy, and Kerry Pachino. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS. INC., 8900 Reisterstown Rd., at Mt. Wilson Lane, on Sunday January 4 at 1 P.M. Interment at Oheb Shalom Cemetery, Berrymans Lane. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory should be directed to Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Avenue (21208)

William David "Bill" Berkey Sr., a cemetery superintendent and active member of the Oldtimers Baseball Association of Maryland, died of prostate cancer May 23 at Mercy Medical Center. He was 81. Born in Baltimore, Mr. Berkey worked as a young man for Atlantic Broom Co. and the Crown Cork and Seal Co. He lived for most of his life in the Highlandtown area. In 1961, he became superintendent of Oheb Shalom Cemetery in East Baltimore and Oheb Shalom Memorial Park of Temple Oheb Shalom Congregation, a job he held until his death.

COMICS RELIEF WHAT / / Free Comic Book Day WHEN / / Saturday WHERE / / A variety of venues that sell comic books, including Comics Kingdom, 3998 Roland Ave.; Shananigans Toy Shop, 5004-B Lawndale Ave.; and Cutting Edge Comics, 2832 Christopher Ave. WHY / / Because comic books will be given away to promote readership. CONTACT / / Visit www.freecomicbook day.com to find the location nearest you. FREE HARLEM RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL The Prince George's County Harlem Renaissance Festival is Saturday.