The Importance of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel In Our Lives

In 1958, I was enrolled in the Aleph Class at Beth Zion Beth Israel. I followed through being Confirmed. During that time I met long lasting friends that still play an important part in my life.

In 1970, Robert A. Horen & Betsy L. Elfman were married in the chapel of Beth Zion Beth Israel. That day began a very special, cherished life together as one.

Robert immediately became immersed in the synagogue. He was an usher in the main sanctuary for High Holy Days and at the same time was President of The Men’s Club. This was followed years later by the honor of becoming President of the synagogue. We ran a successful sidewalk sale allowing our congregants to donate loving memories to be purchased by walk-by memory-seekers on the street.

We had the opportunity to visit a synagogue in London that was housing a collection of Torah Scrolls that had been saved from The Holocaust. Robert felt that Beth Zion-Beth Israel needed to give a loving home to one of these forgotten Torahs. It was immediately sponsored by a congregant and his wife in loving memory of their families that were lost in The Holocaust. Robert was given the special honor of continuing to carry the Holocaust Torah on the night of Kol Nidre when the sponsor and his wife had both passed away.

Kol Nidre is my most cherished service during the year. With the soft music playing, I continue to sit on the same row that my Robert and I always sat in. I focus on the wall of past Presidents, and proudly see the name of my Robert. I kiss the memorial plaques on the back wall for our parents, and on the bottom plaque hangs the name of my Robert. I visualize the stained glass window in the rear of the auditorium in honor of our parents, and there is the name of my Robert next to mine. And as I walk down the aisle emotionally caring The Holocaust Torah during the service, I feel his arms still around the Torah, under mine.

Beth Zion-Beth Israel will always remain OUR home. This is where OUR memories together began, and will continue. I hope that this is where OUR memories will always be safely stored for generations to come, so that one day a child beginning Aleph Class might say, “who was that man, Robert Horen?”