Fun in the cemetery
Two “Grouchos” meandered through the Hills of Eternity and Home of Peace cemeteries at “Buried Treasures,” the Jewish history tour of Colma cemeteries on Nov. 2. At the event, sponsored by S.F. Congregations Emanu-El and Sherith Israel, Judi Leff and Gail Goldyne donned Groucho Marx glasses, just as their parents did in their roles in the Woody Allen movie “Take the Money and Run.”
In that 1969 film, actors Henry Leff (Leff’s father) and Ethel Schwabacher Sokolow (Goldyne’s mother) played the parents of Virgil Starkwell, the Allen character, who disguised themselves for an interview about their criminal son. Henry and Ethel
are both buried in Colma.
Leff, who was the Emanu-El organizer, quipped, “When I was at the cemetery, I told my folks what I was up to, and of course they approved. Jewish parents don’t stop approving just because they are dead — or disapproving, probably.”
A birthday mitzvah
Judith Lubeck’s family has a unique tradition to celebrate her birthday: Everyone volunteers at Congregation Rodef Sholom’s Mitzvah Day. The synagogue’s event, in its 20th year, is held the last Sunday in October, which always falls close to Lubeck’s Oct. 26 birthday. This year, it fell on the exact day the San Rafael resident turned 85, “which made it really fun,” she said.
Lubeck’s 10 family members joined some 400 other congregants who took part in 26 different projects for Marin nonprofits. The Lubeck clan spent the morning hand-addressing a mailing for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which the nonprofit program will send on to its supporters. “They have depended on our doing this for them for the past eight years,” notes Moji Javid, the congregation’s director of synagogue involvement. P.S. It wasn’t all work for the Lubeck family. They adjourned to an Indian restaurant for a festive buffet and then together watched the San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals in Game 5 of the World Series.
Interfaith concert celebrates 25 years
Twenty-five years ago, then–San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos asked faith communities to band together to help the homeless. They did, and subsequently formed the San Francisco Interfaith Council, recalls Rita Semel, who at the time was executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (a founding member). The group will celebrate its quarter-century anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 with a free concert at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin St., S.F. Groups from seven faiths will perform, including Cantor Roslyn Barak and the Kol Emanu-El Choir.
Short shorts
Cindy Serbin, Congregation Beth El program director in Berkeley, ran the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco — her third half-marathon in a year! — to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She raised $4,000 in the race and a whopping $18,000 this year for the cause … Jack and Candee Klein of Hillsborough were honored by the Northwest Region of the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem last month for their contributions to fighting breast cancer in Israel … Rabbi Lee Bycel is being presented with a doctor of humane letters honorary degree from Hebrew Union College by Chancellor Rabbi David Ellenson at the Napa dedication of Congregation Beth Shalom’s remodeled shul on Friday, Nov. 7 … Bend the Arc activists gathered at the home of Rabbi Sheldon Lewis on Oct. 27 to launch a new South Bay chapter. To get involved, contact [email protected].
This columnist can be reached at [email protected].