Recollections of Max Rosenfeld and Letta Schatz By Michael Kleiner

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1 Recollections of Max Rosenfeld and Letta Schatz By Michael Kleiner The most moving thing is to have kids come back after graduating a few years before and seem glad to see me, and show that their Jewish education meant something to them. Nobody likes to think their effort is wasted. -Max Rosenfeld in a 1975 interview The connection with Max and Letta was one of teacher, mentor and friend. Both greatly influenced me. With Max, the friendship lasted until his death, and with Letta it continues. Max I attended Shule from Most of our teachers were parents of students. Max was the exception in that regard, as a teacher and the director of the school. He was humble and soft-spoken, with a quiet sense of humor. He was adored. Max was the mentor for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Some of us may have decided to have one because of the opportunity to work with Max. On the basis of my experiences in public schools and Jewish camps, my bar mitzvah became Anti-Semitism: Does It Create Prejudices Jews Have? I initially intended to recite some of the racial jokes from the Jewish camp as examples. Max cautioned, You risk people laughing and will lose your point. Why do they need to be repeated? It had always been my desire to have Max officiate at my wedding and I approached him when that was finally going to happen in He felt he was too ill, but he did contribute by writing the Yiddish for our ketubah. He was unable to attend the wedding, so while Lisa and I were on our honeymoon, my parents took the ketubah for Max to sign. A week after our return, Max died, so his last completed project was our ketubah. Letta From an early age, I wanted to be a writer. Part of the shule schedule included elective clubs. I, of course, gravitated to Creative Writing. This was exciting because Letta, the teacher, had published children s books, some dealing with Nigeria, where her family had spent time. In , our family went to live in Norway for a year when I was 11. To pass the time, I decided to write a book, Wendell the Football, which was 84 pages. My father had to make a trip home and I gave him Wendell the Football, with instructions that Letta had to read it. My father returned with Letta s comments and validation. During the year, I frequently exchanged letters with my shule class. I welcomed these letters as they kept me connected to my class. For 42 years, I thought it was a different teacher that organized the letter writing, but learned it was Letta. Letta also taught Eastern European Jewish Immigration. Back then, most of the students had direct links to that past. Letta had us interview our grandparents in class and write our interviews, which were put into a booklet, which I still have. Fifteen years later, when I, myself, was teaching Eastern European Jewish Immigration at Folkshul, I recruited members of the Sholom Aleichem Club to be interviewed by the students. It s funny how things cycle around. For 12 years, I have been doing PR and the web site for the Sholom Aleichem Club. The person with whom I review the monthly press releases is Letta. Michael Kleiner attended the shule from and taught at the Folkshul from He was part of the organizing for the first CSJO teen conference in Philadelphia in 1976 and along with Sue Johnson, raised the need for a young adult component in 1983, which he worked on for several years. His two children are in sixth grade at Folkshul. 28

Both greatly influenced me. With Max, the friendship lasted until his death, and with Letta it continues. Max I attended Shule from 1967-74. Most of our teachers were parents of students.

2 To my first favorite teacher, my all-time favorite teacher, who taught me the joys of Yiddish singing for almost 50 years and counting Congratulations to Fran Kleiner With Love, Dawn (Cohen) and Evan Hartman Congratulations,Stuart,onawell1deserved honor. Love,theRelkins: Ellen,Allen,Jason,Libby,Richard,Rachel, Sydney,andAdam DR. ROBIN SAPOSSNEK Optometrist Vision & Eye Health Examinations Glasses & Contact Lenses Vision Training CRT: Non-Surgical Correction of Myopia Lasik Co-Management 930 Henrietta Avenue (215) Huntingdon Valley, PA fax (215) You$are$a$visionary,$a$leader,$and$a$role$model not$only$in$your$work$and$community$with$the$jewish$children s$ Folkshul,$but$in$life$with$your$family$$We$are$so$proud$of$you$and$all$your$hard$work$and$dedication$to$the$success$ of$the$jewish$children s$folkshul$and$the$kehilla$for$secular$jews.$$the$folkshul$will$thrive$as$you$continue$to$teach$ and$spread$your$positive$attitude$to$the$lives$of$families$and$children$for$generations$to$come$$congratulations$on$ your$leadership$award$and$mazel$tov$$we$love$and$support$you$ Brian,$Erica,$and$Don$ 29

ROBIN SAPOSSNEK Optometrist Vision & Eye Health Examinations Glasses & Contact Lenses Vision Training CRT: Non-Surgical Correction of Myopia Lasik Co-Management 930 Henrietta Avenue (215) 663-5933

3 Patrons, Sponsors & Supporters Sponsors Jewish Children s Folkshul Kehilla for Secular Jews Sholom Aleichem Club Workmen s Circle/Arbeter Ring Camp Galil Supporters Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations Workmen s Circle, Central NJ Workmen s Circle, Philadelphia District Camps Airy & Louise Camp Galil Sholom Aleichem Club Philadelphia Secular Jewish Organization Weavers Way Goldsteins, Rosenberg s, Raphael-Sacks, Inc. International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism Salon 360 A Plus Tutoring Family Vision Care Folkshul Board Folkshul Staff Patrons Dan Berger Danielle Casher and Dan Ascher Lillian Garfinkel Sol Glassberg Phyllis Hochberg and Stuart Katz Special Thanks Larry Angert Ilana Goldful Barbara Halpern Sari Harrar 100 th Anniversary Committee Mindy Blatt Jeff Grossman Milt Kant Ana and Paul Shane Millie and Milton Kant Beth and Tom Warms Mindy Blatt National Museum of American Jewish History Blatt/Charles Family Bale, Firestone, Schofer & Warms Families Rifke Feinstein and Hans Leander Dawn and Evan Hartman Lynne Jacobs and Alan Silverblatt Millie and Milt Kant Karen Katz Kleiner Family Myke Lopez-Wynkoop Laura Marmar Fagie and Dan Perlmutter Relkin Family Richard Relkin Max Rosenfeld Family Ruth and Gabe Ross Rita and Irwin Hochberg Family Foundation Fay and Joe Hocky Dorothy and Morton Rothschild Jane and Larry Schofer Jody Piltz and Barry Seymour Naomi Hirsch Michael Kleiner Art Miron Margie Singer Fran and Bob Kleiner Paul Shane Beth and Tom Warms Much thanks to our community and everyone in attendance for your support in the past, today, and hopefully, for many years to come. 30

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5 One day they will be college roommates. Give the gift of Friends for Life. Camp Louise for girls: Cascade, MD Camp Airy for boys: Thurmont, MD A Jewish Camping Tradition

Karen Ritch. February 28, 2015. Re: Youth Advisory Council Application-Due April 30, 2015. Dear Educators and Parents:

Karen Ritch. February 28, 2015. Re: Youth Advisory Council Application-Due April 30, 2015. Dear Educators and Parents: February 28, 2015 Re: Youth Advisory Council Application-Due April 30, 2015 Dear Educators and Parents: Longview World of Wonders is a community organization dedicated to our mission to inspire a life-long