The Latest from Shir Chadash

Bernard Berins Cemetery Fund

This fund was established in 2015 to honor Bernard Berins, a longtime member of Tikvat Shalom and Shir Chadash Conservative Congregations.  In addition to being president of Tikvat Shalom, he was instrumental in the development of the current site of Shir Chadash in Metairie and also served as a legal advisor in the consolidation of Shir Chadash and Chevra Thilim synagogues.  Most notably, he was involved in the founding of the Tikvat Shalom Cemetery and was the only cemetery chairman for thirty-three years. Donations to this fund are used to defray costs of maintaining the cemetery.

Emanuel Steinberg Education Fund

This fund was created by Sylvan Steinberg and Carolyn S. Yuspeh in memory of their father, Emanuel Steinberg.  Mr. Steinberg recognized the importance of providing basic and on-going Jewish education not only to children but to adults in the Synagogue community as well.  Accordingly, the Emanuel Steinberg Educational Fund supports adult education programs at Shir Chadash.

Fred Bronfin Torah Preservation Fund

This fund was established by the Board in recognition of an initial gift by Dr. Danny and Kenny Bronfin in honor of their father, Fred Bronfin, and in recognition of his love of Judaism.  Its purpose is to maintain a fund to repair and upkeep the congregation’s Torahs, recognizing that Torah repairs and maintenance are costly, and the occasions upon which scribes are available to undertake such work are limited.

Gilda Finkelstein Gift of Israel Fund

The Gilda Finkelstein Gift of Israel Fund supports the children of Shir Chadash with children’s programs and services. It also pays the synagogue’s share of the Edie and Paul Rosenblum Gift of Israel Program. The Gift of Israel Program, which is administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, provides matching funds from the Jewish Federation and participating synagogues, such as Shir Chadash, for children to participate in organized trips to Israel. The Finkelstein fund also subsidizes the upkeep of the Julius Finkelstein playground at Shir Chadash.

Herbert & Margot Garon Memorial Fund for Jewish Camp Experiences and USY Programs

This fund is named in memory of Herbert J. Garon, a former president and active member of the synagogue, and his wife Margot Garon, who was also an active member of the synagogue.  The fund supports USY activities at Shir Chadash and provides scholarship funds for our children to attend Jewish sleep away camps informed by Jewish ethics and values, including but not limited to Camp Ramah Darom.  The fund helps give our children an opportunity to (i) participate in USY programs, including its programs in Israel, and (ii) attend Camp Ramah Darom and other Jewish sleep away camps informed by Jewish ethics and values.

Isaac and Dora Niederman Holocaust Education Fund

 Established with a grant from Isaac and Dora Niederman, long-time members of the “New Americans” social club, the Isaac and Dora Niederman Holocaust Education Fund aims to promote in-depth knowledge of the Holocaust, especially among the younger generation.  To that end, the Fund will establish scholarships available to qualified high school students to attend March of the Living, a program that takes students to Poland and Israel in order to study the history of the Holocaust and examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hatred.  The Fund may also, from time to time, utilize funds for community-wide programming,  including lectures, classes and public events related to the Holocaust and combatting anti-Semitism.

Joyce Ellis Landscape Beautification Fund

 This fund was established in 2023 by Andrea Rubin, Lynn Elster and Mark Strauss in memory of their mother,  Joyce Ellis. The funds in the Joyce Ellis Landscape Beautification Fund are used for the renovation and upkeep of the Sukkah, landscaping, and the beautification of the synagogue grounds.

Leon & Marilyn Katz Family Education Fund

This fund was established in 1996 by Marilyn Katz in memory of her husband, Leon Katz.  When Marilyn died in 2002, her daughters, Shellie Jacobson and Marci Greenberg, asked to have the fund renamed to include Marilyn’s name.  Jewish education was an important aspect of Jewish life to both Marilyn and Leon, and the fund was established to support creative educational programs for both adults and children.  The fund is intended to support one-time programs as opposed to on-going programs.  The fund may be used for children’s, family, and/or adult educational programs.

Nat Leon Educational Fund

This fund was created in 2010 by Renée Sabel and Kathy Rasner in memory of their mother, Nat Leon, who along with her husband, Will Leon, was a long-time and active Synagogue member.  The Nat Leon Educational Fund supports creative educational programming for our youth and adult members and, in particular, supports the Synagogue’s Religious School.

Sandy Kahn Memorial Lecture Fund

This fund was created by Hugo Kahn and his family in memory of Sandy Kahn in 1990.  The Sandy Kahn Memorial Lecture annually brings exciting speakers to Shir Chadash to speak on various religious and other topics to enrich and educate the entire Synagogue community.

Stan Bleich Lagniappe Fund

This fund was created by Caron Bleich in memory of Stan Bleich and supports community-building programs that bring everyone together in an enjoyable way.

Will Samuels Memorial Fund

This fund promotes and sponsors youth and teen programming and engagement, with the goal of enhancing meaningful and relevant Jewish learning and peer connection.

To donate to any of these funds click here or call our office
at 504-889-1144