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HEBREW TABERNACLE
111TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 2017 JOURNAL
~RITA HAMBURGH~
Biography
Rita Hamburgh: I was living in Washington Heights and commuting to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where I was Chief Physical Therapist (PT). In 1985, when my second child, Michelle, was six months old, the position of Assistant Chief PT opened up as NYP/Columbia. I was thrilled to be chosen for that job because of Columbia’s excellent reputation and because it was only a mile away from my home. Michelle will be 32 years old in June and I am still here and in the position of Site Director of Rehabilitation Therapies.
I am the Site Director responsible for physical, occupational and therapeutic recre- ation therapists, and speech language pathologists, all of whom treat inpatients and outpatients of all ages. The parts of my job that I love the most are mentoring junior staff and supporting the rehabilitation therapy leaders. The goal of rehabilitation therapies is to return patients to the maximum level possible of function, comfort and safety within their own homes and communities.
Several generations of the Hamburgh family have been involved in Hebrew Tabernacle. In the early 1980s, I decided to run a co-ed exercise class as a fundraiser for the temple. The weekly classes consist of 75 minutes of gentle stretching and strengthening, with an emphasis on increasing the strength of one’s core. The exercises are done while seated or on the floor, are designed for people with minimal to moderate arthritis or spine stiffness or discomfort. Each class costs only $15 and 100% is donated to the temple. I have been running this class for over 32 years!
In our free time, Mark and I go to the gym at least three times a week. We have a goal of visiting all of the 59 National Parks in the U.S. and have made it to 54 so far!
We also love spending time with our two adult children and our baby grandchild. Life is full and good! ❈
adapted from a profile that originally appeared in NYPress (March/April 2015)
B I O G R A P H Y ✹4 R I T A H A M B U R G H
~RITA HAMBURGH~
Proud of Our History
JOINING TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE
My own history is intertwined with that of Hebrew Tabernacle.
I first met my husband Mark there in 1980. He was the president of the small but lively Young Adults Group at Hebrew Tabernacle, where his parents were leaders.
The next year,we were married in the sanctuary. The following year our son Jeremy had his Brit Milah. Two years after that, our daughter Michelle was named in the same sanctuary.
Both our children became B’nai Mitzvah at Hebrew Tabernacle, and they remain connected to our faith in their communities with their spouses.
I remember joyous and sad moments in the sanctuary. Mark & I re-enacted our wedding in the temple for our 25th Anniversary, even bringing back Cantor Frederick C. Herman from that time, who had officiated at the real wedding. And later, we grieved together at the funerals for both of Mark’s parents there. ❈
When I reflect on joining together for our future, I joyfully look at my baby grandchild, Charlotte. Coming with her to Tot Shabbat and family services renews my commitment to bringing young families and children into the congregation.
I have enjoyed meeting with Hebrew School parents and planning new services together, like the awesome family service that filled our sanctuary on Yom Kippur afternoon. Making our building a multi-congregation and community center is fantastic. I work at NY Presbyterian Hospital, and I would love to see more educational events on health issues and health fairs in the building. We have room for both secular and religious activities to thrive in harmony under our roof. ❈
R E F L E C T I O N S ✹5 R I T A H A M B U R G H
1930—1949
H E B R E W T A B E R N A C L E ✹16 H I S T O R Y | 1 9 3 0 – 1 9 4 9
4. 1942
Rabbi Opher introduces the custom of the entire congregation standing for the Kaddish, on the theory that anyone might have suffered the death of a loved one during WWII.
HOLOCAST MEMORIAL IN HEBREW 4. TABERNACLE SANTUARY
PHOTO BY CAROLINE BROWN
3. 1930’s—1940’s Hundreds of refugees and survivors from the Nazi regime join Hebrew Tabernacle, whose Friday night attendance reaches 300.
1. 1930
Under the leadership of Rabbi Aharon Opher, the congregation becomes affiliated with Reform Judaism.
2. 1934
The Tabernacle sends a telegram to the Foreign Relations Commit- tee of the United States Senate in support of Resolution 154, which criticized the German government for its racist policies.
GERMAN JEWS, SEEKING TO EMIGRATE, WAIT IN THE OFFICE OF
2. THE RELIEF ORGANIZATION OF GERMAN JEWS. ON THE WALL IS
A MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA AND A SIGN ABOUT EMIGRATION TO PALESTINE. BERLIN, GERMANY, 1935.
YIVO INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH, NEW YORK
3. A GROUP OF GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN JEWISH REFUGEE CHILDREN ARRIVES IN NEW YORK. 1939. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, COLLEGE PARK, MD.
H E B R E W T A B E R N A C L E ✹17 H I S T O R Y | 1 9 3 0 – 1 9 4 9
1950—1989
H E B R E W T A B E R N A C L E ✹18 H I S T O R Y | 1 9 5 0 – 1 9 8 9
The Bauml Family
DR. RUTH K. WESTHEIMHEERB R E W T A B E R N A C L E ✹34 S I L V E R Very Special Greetings to My Friends
Rita & Mark Hamburgh
for their devotion and commitment over so many years to the Hebrew Tabernacle, and to Jennifer Hoppa for her brilliant work to beautify our neighborhood through her leadership for Ft. Tryon Park.
Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer
J E F F
B A U M L
Mazel Tov to
Rita & Mark
who have always made improving our community their priority.
HEBREW TABERNACLE ✹36 BRONZE DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER
3. 1980’s Congregation sponsors a family of Vietnamese “Boat People” and helps
1. 1960’s Rabbi Robert L. Lehman, appointed in 1956participates in civil rights demonstrations in the South. He served as rabbi for 41 years.
CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS AT THE CIVIL 1. RIGHTS 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON. HILLEL GAMORAN,
SLIDE COLLECTION NO. 3487, THE MARCUS CENTER OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES, 1963
VIETNAMESE “BOAT PEOPLE” AWAITING RESCUE.
4. 1983
Rita Hamburgh begins her weekly exercise class
5. PHOTO BY CAROLINE BROWN
5. 1988
Service held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kristallnacht and to dedicate eight stained glass windows. The windows embrace the themes of Creation, Learning, Peace, Awe, Youth, Israel, Freedom and the Holocaust.
them to establish a new 3. life in America.
H E B R E W
T A B E R N A C L E ✹19 H I S T O R Y |
1 9 5 0 – 1 9 8 9
2. HEBREW TABERNACLE
2. 1973 Under the leadership of Rabbi Lehman and President Dr. Max Hamburgh, Hebrew Tabernacle moves to its current building at 551 Fort Washington Avenue and 185th Street
KIM BROWN IRVIS CREATIVE DESIGNER 54 WWW.KBIDESIGNGROUP.COM