Founders

A House Built by Hope

Celebrating 75 Years of Temple Beth Israel

This presentation offers a glimpse into the founding families who came together from diverse backgrounds to build this Jewish home in Northeastern Connecticut.

Through photos and stories, you’ll meet some of the men and women whose resilience and vision created Temple Beth Israel—a House Built by Hope.

What you see here is only a sneak preview of a much larger Community Archive now being created to preserve and share the memories, images, and legacies of our founders and their families for generations to come.

The Original Board of Directors of Temple Beth Israel

Standing (left to right) Louis Siegal, Leon Israelit, Edward Rose, Isidore Levine, Irving Fetterman
Seated (left to right) Simon Katzoff, David Bobrow, Sol Baker, Stanley Kivel, Jacob Gawendo

The Original Sisterhood

Left to right: Pearl Schneider, Ray Gawendo, Ann Hodys, Elsie Fetterman, Cantor Etra, Shirley Rosenberg, Ceil Rubin and Anna Israelit

Sandy and Sol Baker

In 1950, Sol and Sandy Baker became the driving force behind Temple Beth Israel’s young congregation. Sol, its very first president, carried the responsibility of turning a fledgling vision into a permanent home, while Sandy, the congregation’s gracious “first lady,” welcomed members into their finished basement—a space that became the nerve center for countless late-night meetings and bold plans. Sol was more than a leader; he was a builder. He worked tirelessly to raise the funds needed for the new temple, forging a close partnership with architect William Riseman to ensure every detail reflected the spirit of the community. His signature on the mortgage was more than a legal step—it was a promise to see the dream through. Meanwhile, Sandy filled the heart of the temple with warmth and flavor, sharing her culinary gifts in the TBI kitchen and preserving them in the congregation’s first cookbooks.

Together they raised their son, George, and while Sol built his career at Rogers Corporation, the Bakers built something far more enduring—a place of worship, fellowship, and legacy that continues to stand today.

Nathan and Dora Blumenthal

Married in 1924, Nathan and Dora settled in Danielson CT. Dora, daughter of Yetta and Max Sternlieb and Nathan, the son of Baila and Meyer Blumenthal, were both from Norwich, CT. Dora graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1918 with honors. Nathan barely finished elementary school and went to work to help support the family. Nathan served in the US Army in WW I. He served with Irving Berlin. The Blumenthals were the first Jewish couple to settle in Danielson in 1924. They hosted gatherings for prayers and rituals at their home at 9 Winter Street in Danielson, as the “Jewish Community Club.” They welcomed traveling Jewish salesmen in their home and gathered a minyan when needed. They owned and operated D. Blumenthal Hardware in Danielson for 52 years. They were a prominent Jewish couple in business and civic leadership and the key liaison with many of the local business leaders in the Danielson community and TBI. They were instrumental in raising funds for the new Temple Beth Israel building. They had six children: Harold, Elsie, Miriam, Morton, Bernard, and Meyer. Many of their children and grandchildren have been and continue to be involved with the Temple and the Preservation Society.

The grandchildren: Alicia Pion, Dora Glinn, Vita Goldstein, David Fetterman, Judy Engel, Robyn Engel, Eric Blumenthal and Jeff Blumenthal serve on the current board. Dora and Nathan Blumenthal’s generosity helped shape their family and the community, leaving a lasting legacy whose impact is still felt today. They were the grandparents of 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and many more great-great-grandchildren. Many of their stories are preserved on the TBIPS website. Nathan and Dora are remembered as central figures in the Danielson Jewish community and Temple Beth Israel.

Miriam and Jack Glinn

Jack and Miriam were married December 18, 1949 and settled in Danielson. Miriam is the daughter of Nathan and Dora Blumenthal and was born and brought up in Danielson. Jack, the son of Ida and Louis Glinn, was from Queens NY. He was a signer of the mortgage for the Temple. They lived in different places but returned to CT. Miriam and Jack both worked for the State of Connecticut. They had three children, Dora, Margaret, and Stephen and two grandchildren. Dora serves on the Preservation Society Board of Directors and on its Executive Committee. Miriam, Dora, and Margaret all contributed to Recipes Revival Cookbook.

Lois and Bernard Mopsik

Lois and Bernard were married on August 30, 1947, beginning a partnership that blended love, family, and community. Lois, the daughter of David and Reah (Cohen) Klein of Buffalo, NY, brought warmth and determination to everything she did. Bernard, the son of Allen and Jeannie (Budnick) Mopsik of Norwich, CT, had served proudly in the U.S. Army before spending time in Florida. In 1951, the couple returned to Connecticut with a shared dream—and opened a fabric store in Central Village. That store, Central Mill Remnants, quickly became a thriving local landmark, known for its quality fabrics and friendly service.

Their connection to Temple Beth Israel ran deep. They became active members and generously donated a Sefer Torah to the congregation. Together they raised two children, Donna and Reah, who blessed them with four grandchildren and, eventually, three great-grandchildren. Carrying forward the family’s tradition of contributing to community life, Reah and her daughter Jessica recently served as editors for the latest TBIPS cookbook, Recipes Revival.

Doris and Bernard Cantor

Doris and Bernard Cantor gave generously of their time, energy, and hearts to TBI over many years. Doris was a devoted member of Sisterhood, eventually serving as its President, and—alongside her dear friend Sophie Drobiarz—poured countless hours into leading the Youth Group, sparking joy and enthusiasm among the children. She later took on the role of Synagogue President, guiding the community with dedication. All the while, Doris and Bernard worked side by side running their farm in Putnam, CT, and raising their children: Florence (Cantor) Nixon, Esta (Cantor) Farkas, Susan (Cantor) Rappaport, and Alan Cantor. Their commitment to TBI lives on, with Esta and Florence continuing to support and participate in TBIPS events.

Pearl and Herb Schneider

On August 8, 1954, Pearl Wigren and Dr. Herbert H. Schneider were married, beginning a life together in Danielson, Connecticut. Pearl, the daughter of Sven and Tyne Wigren of Plainfield, brought her skill and flair as a home economist for the Connecticut Light and Power Company—a role she loved and held for eight years. Herbert, son of Max and Ida Rose Schneider of New York, had served in the U.S. Navy before earning his degree in Optometry and opening his practice in Danielson in 1952. Both quickly became active and beloved members of Temple Beth Israel.

Pearl delighted in sharing her Finnish and Swedish recipes and welcoming friends into their home for TBI gatherings. Herbert, with a vision that extended beyond his profession, initiated the first Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in partnership with the Federated Church of Christ in Brooklyn, Connecticut—a tradition that has now flourished for seventy years.Together they raised two children, Gayleen Donadt and Marlon Taylor, and took joy in the company of their four grandchildren, weaving family, community, and faith into a lasting legacy.

Shirley and David Rosenberg

On May 21, 1950, David Rosenberg and Shirley Rhoda Dinerstein were married at Tifereth Israel in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Both first-generation Americans, David was the fourth son of Bessie (Alta) and Jacob Rosenberg, and Shirley the youngest daughter of William and Mildred Dinerstein. They soon settled in Danielson, Connecticut, and together built Danielson Surplus Sales, Inc.—a business that still thrives today. They raised three children—Paula, Warren, and Joel—all educated in Killingly schools and bar/bat mitzvah at Temple Beth Israel. Paula enjoyed a distinguished career as a Teacher of the Deaf, Warren continued the family business (celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, the same year TBI marks its own 75 years), and Joel, who was the inspiration for the creation and the first president of the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society, retired after nearly four decades as a nonprofit executive.

Their family grew to include four grandchildren—Cara (Sal), Allie (Matt), Bailey (Jhonatas), and Connor (Molly)—and four great-grandchildren. David served in General Patton’s 4th Armored Division as a tank sharpshooter and was among the first GIs to liberate Nazi camps—a fact quietly known among friends at TBI. He and Shirley were founding members of Temple Beth Israel, welcoming new Americans in Yiddish and helping to build its close-knit community of European and American-born Jews. Shirley was deeply involved in Temple life, serving on the Sisterhood Board, chairing the Gift Shop, and sitting on the Temple Board. Together, she and David built not only a business but a legacy of faith, friendship, and service—one that lives on through the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society today.

Gert and Abe Shatzman

Gert (Gitel) and Abe Shatzman made Danielson their home in the 1950s, bringing with them deep family roots and a strong sense of community. Gert was the daughter of Hoshea and Margula Kaskowitz, and Abe was the son of Rivka Leah and Aaron Halevi Shatzman. They had relatives living nearby in Lebanon, CT, and soon established their own life together, running a farm in Danielson. Gert became an active and devoted member of Temple Beth Israel, serving as Sisterhood President and contributing in countless ways to its work. She also shared her culinary skills in the temple’s earlier cookbooks, leaving behind recipes as warm as her spirit. The Shatzmans played an important role in encouraging Rabbi Gordon to accept the position at TBI, and in turn, he inspired them to deepen their own Jewish learning. Together, Gert and Abe raised three children—Brana Shaina (Bonny) Deitsch, of blessed memory, Leah Berg, and Jonathan Shatzman—and their legacy has grown to include about 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, all touched by their love and example.

Jeannette and Abe Katz

Abe and Jeanette Katz retired to Brooklyn CT, about 1950 and became very active TBI members. Abe served on the TBI Board of Directors and was Treasurer for many years. Jeanette served as Sisterhood President in the 1950’s. Jeanette’s recipes were featured in the old TBI Cookbooks.

Elsie and Irving Fetterman

Married on June 18, 1950, Irving and Elsie continued living in Danielson. Irving, the son of Vita and Joseph Fetterman, was a first generation American and came to the Danielson area in the summer of 1948, from Jamaica New York. Irving served in the US Army. Elsie, born and brought up in Danielson is the daughter of Nathan and Dora Blumenthal. She is a fourth generation American. Elsie and Irving were among the founders of Temple Beth Israel. Irving was a local businessman who negotiated the purchase of the land on Killingly Drive on which the Temple was built. He was a signer the mortgage.

His time and knowledge proved invaluable to the new TBI. Elsie was the first president of TBI Sisterhood, in 1950. Elsie has located and reconnected with descendants of our founders and has also secured grant funding for TBIPS. Elsie and Irving owned and operated the Laundermat in two locations. Elsie taught high school and college. Elsie and Irving had four children. Three of them, Vita, David & Judy are all involved in TBIPS. They have seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, one of whom has served on the TBIPS board. All have contributed to the recent cookbook, Recipes Revival.

Bluma and Misha Berman

Bluma and Misha were both born in Poland, their early lives forever marked by the devastation of the Holocaust. After liberation, they found each other in the Displaced Persons Camp at Fohrenwald, Germany—a place where hope tentatively took root again. There they married, and in that same camp welcomed their first son, Norman. In 1949, they began a new chapter in America, acquiring the names Betty and Morris as they built a life in the Bronx, New York. Three years later, they traded city streets for the quiet rhythms of a poultry farm in Moosup, Connecticut. Upon their arrival, they became devoted members of Temple Beth Israel. Their sons, Norman and Jack z”l, attended Hebrew School at the Temple and celebrated their bar mitzvahs there. Bluma brought warmth and dedication to the Sisterhood, while Misha—blessed with a beautiful voice—served as one of the Temple’s lay cantors, leading Sabbath and Holiday services with heartfelt song.

Years later, Norman would help co-found the Preservation Society, serving as its president and carrying forward his parents’ legacy of faith, community, and resilience.

Sarah and Isidore (Izzy) Levine

In 1951, Holocaust survivors Sarah and Isidore (“Izzy”) Levine settled on a poultry farm in East Killingly, Connecticut, with help from the Jewish Agricultural Society. They had met after the war in the DP Camp at Fohrenwald, Germany. Izzy, trained in Europe as an engineer, found his credentials unusable in America due to language requirements, yet built a new life with sharp wit, a love of books, and a gift for leadership. He served on TBI’s first board and as president (1960–62), while Sarah devoted herself to the Sisterhood.

In 1969, they moved to Miami to run the Leslie Hotel, a welcoming stop for many TBI friends. Avid travelers and cruisers, they embraced life with resilience, curiosity, and warmth—values that shaped both their community and their adventures.

Sophie and Henry Drobiarz

Henry was a Holocaust survivor, dairy farmer with a dairy herd of 150 cows, and president of the Temple for many years. He served on the board of directors, the ritual committee, and was, for many years, the community’s lay spiritual leader. Henry was the immigrant counterpart to Sol Baker. With his ever-present charm and humor and a twinkle in his eye, he was a natural leader, a community diplomat, spiritual leader for the entire span of the Temple’s history – starting in the early days and continuing well past the turn of the century.

Henry met Sophie in a US army kitchen in Munich where they both worked after WWII and before emigrating to the US. Sophie served as secretary for the sisterhood, advisor to the youth group and was well known for her remarkable culinary talents.

Sara and Sam Kranc

Sara Korcarz Kranc and Sam Kranc arrived in the United States in 1950, carrying with them both the scars and the resilience born of surviving the Holocaust. In the years after the war, they had lived in Displaced Persons camps in Germany and Austria, slowly piecing their lives back together. Fate—and an “English as a Second Language” class in Brooklyn in late 1951—brought them together. By late 1953, with the guidance and support of HIAS, they made a new home in Plainfield, Connecticut, just weeks after welcoming their first child, Lisa. Two more children, Morris and Ruth, would follow, filling the Kranc household with energy and promise.
Sam and Sara, along with other members of the Kranc family, became part of the earliest fabric of Temple Beth Israel. Lisa grew up steeped in that community, active in USY and later serving on the board of the Preservation Society, continuing the legacy her parents helped to build.

Anna and Leon Israelit

Eliezer (Leon) Israelit and Anna were wartime heroes, fighting with the partisans during World War II. Leon led a partisan group from his hometown of Pruzany, Russia—a band that included Anna, his sister and brother-in-law Liza and Aaron Schuster, his brother Borys, and many others. From January 1942 through May 1945, they survived in the forest, resisting the Nazis and enduring unimaginable hardship. After the war, with help from the Jewish Agricultural Society, Leon and Anna built a new life on a poultry farm in Danielson, Connecticut.

They became pillars of Temple Beth Israel—Leon sharing his passion for Jewish learning as a longtime Hebrew School teacher, Anna guiding the Temple’s youth group and contributing her energy to the Sisterhood. They were tireless in raising funds for Israel Bonds, earning numerous honors for their dedication, and Leon organized the Temple’s annual Holocaust commemoration service, ensuring that the memories and lessons of the past would never be forgotten. Together, they raised two children, Martin and Claire, who today both serve on the board of the Preservation Society—continuing a legacy of courage, service, and devotion to Jewish life that began in the forests of wartime Europe and flourished in their adopted home.

Cyril and Beryl Lew

Beryl (Bernard) and Cyril (Sylvia) Feldstein’s journey to Temple Beth Israel began in the darkest of times. Beryl, born in Drohitchin, survived brutal forced labor in a German-run lumber camp, escaping into the forest to join the partisans. There he learned, from a small band of gypsies, how to barter for food and supplies—skills he used to keep others alive. Cyril’s path was just as harrowing: she had been shot by German soldiers and left for dead before Beryl found her wandering in the woods. He offered her protection in exchange for her hand in marriage, and together they spent two years fighting in the underground resistance.

When the war ended, they married in Pinsk in 1944, welcoming their first child soon after. Their postwar journey took them through Germany and, in 1949, across the Atlantic to America. Settling in Sterling, Connecticut, they ran a chicken farm while raising their children in the warmth of Jewish life. At Temple Beth Israel, they were more than members—they were living examples of resilience, generosity, and the will to rebuild. Their three children, Larry, Michelle and Lori attended Hebrew School and participated in the youth programs. In their presence, the congregation saw not only survivors, but a family whose strength and hope nourished the community as surely as their hands worked the soil of their farm.

Ray and Jacob Gawendo

Ray was born in Minsk, Russia, as Raja Axelrod. Her family eventually migrated to Poland, where she had begun her college studies when the Nazi occupation of Lithuania shattered her young life. Her first husband was taken away and murdered, and Ray herself was forced into the Vilna Ghetto. From there she was deported to the notorious Klooga labor camp in Estonia, where she endured more than two years of brutal conditions. When the camp was finally liberated by Russian forces, only 38 prisoners had survived. Ray was one of them.

In the aftermath of the war, Ray met her second husband, Jacob, and together they built a new life out of the ruins of the old. In 1947 they immigrated to the United States. With the help of the Jewish Agricultural Society, they purchased a poultry farm in Moosup, Connecticut, where they raised their two sons, Maurice and Evert. Both Ray and Jacob became active members of Temple Beth Israel: Jacob served on the Temple’s very first board of directors, while Ray was deeply involved in the Sisterhood. Their commitment to community life reflected the values of resilience and renewal that guided their family. Jacob passed away in 1983.
Ray’s strength was matched by her determination to bear witness. At the age of 91, she began speaking publicly about her Holocaust experiences, sharing her story with students and civic groups so that the horrors she endured would never be forgotten and the lessons never lost. She lived to the remarkable age of 103, leaving behind a legacy of survival, courage, faith, and remembrance.

Gladys and George Roback

Brilliant, fearless, and fluent in seven languages, Gita Roback brought sharp intelligence and unshakable courage to every stage of life. A free-spirited Zionist from Baranow, Poland, she escaped the ghetto, joined the partisans, and met her future husband, Godel, in the resistance. Together they survived the war, built a life on a Rhode Island poultry farm, and became devoted members of Temple Beth Israel—raising three children in its Hebrew School and youth programs, and leaving a legacy of resilience, love, and community.

Jean and Colman Steuer

Kalman (born Sztajer) and Genia Steuer survived the Holocaust and arrived in the United States in May 1946, where they became known as Colman and Jean. They first made their home on Manhattan’s Lower East Side before settling in Danielson in 1954 with their children, Neil and Sherry. There, they joined a remarkable community of fellow survivors who came together to establish Temple Beth Israel, becoming among its devoted founders.

Colman and Jean built a life of hard work and resilience, running a poultry farm side by side while nurturing their family and their faith. Their legacy of courage, perseverance, and love lives on, and their story is powerfully recounted by their granddaughter, Jessica Kaplan, in her recently published book, That’s How I Found Her.

Morton (Mort) and Joyce Blumenthal

Mort and Joyce Blumenthal built their lives together in Danielson, where family, faith, and community were at the heart of everything they did. Just up the hill from Temple Beth Israel, they raised their three children—Dan, Eric, and Juli—while devoting themselves to the synagogue that Mort’s parents had helped to found.
Joyce was active in the Temple Sisterhood, serving as secretary and co-president, while Mort became a trusted advisor to the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society. For both of them, the synagogue was more than a building—it was a spiritual home, a center of Jewish life, and a link between generations.
Through their love, generosity, and steadfast commitment, Mort and Joyce not only nurtured a flourishing family but also helped preserve Temple Beth Israel as a place of faith and community for future generations. Their legacy continues through their children, grandchildren, and the enduring work of the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society.

Ruth and Edward Rose

For more than forty years, Ed and his wife Ruth (Lapidus) owned and operated Lord’s Shoe Store on Main Street in Danielson, a beloved fixture of the community. Beyond his business, Ed was deeply engaged in civic life — a proud member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and numerous other local organizations. A driving force behind the development and building of Temple Beth Israel, Ed devoted countless hours to its growth and vitality, serving as president for many years. Ed’s life was filled with energy and joy. A talented pianist and graceful ballroom dancer, he also loved skiing, sailing, and tennis — and embraced fitness and nature long before they became trends. Ed and Ruth raised three children, Sarah Lee, Steve and Judi, and together they helped create a spirit of warmth, celebration, and togetherness that enriched the entire community.

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