Helene and Abe Benyunes
In 1972, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Abraham and Helene Benyunes when they visited Temple Sinai. Abe accepted a position as pediatrician in the Miami area, and they were looking for a home and for a synagogue in the area. Helene was about to be engaged as a teacher of Jewish music at the Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach. She asked me, following our Sabbath eve service, if I could give her any music that would be helpful for the choir she was about to organize.
I believed strongly in having an excellent Jewish music library and was up to date on all Jewish music that was being published. She didn’t know it then, but Helene certainly came to the right person. I readily provided her with traditional melodies and two-, three-, and four-part choral selections and wished her well. She taught at the Hebrew Academy for the next 13 years. One of her many famous students was Ron Dermer, the former Israeli ambassador to the United States, and presently, the Minister of Strategic Affairs to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Shortly thereafter, Abe and Helene bought a home in South Miami and, with their strong Jewish commitment, felt very comfortable belonging to two synagogues - conservative and reform. For many years, he was on the board of directors at Temple Bet Shirah in Miami and Temple Emanu-El in Palm Beach.
In addition to his pediatric position, Abe decided to become a Mohel as well. For this, he studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and became fully certified. In 2024, he published a most unusual book called, “The Musings of a Mohel” in which he provides us with wonderful insight into the life and work of today’s Mohel.
Abe is thoroughly knowledgeable in Torah, Jewish ritual, history, and synagogue life. Moreover, he is a lover of synagogue music. He has lectured in his synagogue on the life and times of Louis Lewandowski (1821- 1894), a truly great German composer whose musical works we both greatly admire. I have always loved the music of Lewandowski who wrote many of his selections for a bass-baritone voice. His recitatives were composed in a simple, and yet, profound style. To me, they had the sound and feeling of “quiet dignity.” And, of course, Lewandowski’s twoand four-part choral arrangements for Sabbath, Festivals and High Holy Days were truly impressive.
When the Benyunes’ visited Europe, they spent a few days in Berlin. Upon their return, I asked them, “Did you visit the grave of Louis Lewandowski?” What kind of a question was that to ask? It is certainly not the question one would normally hear after returning from Europe. Abe looked at me, and replied, “Of course we did.” It was clear to me that we were on the same page regarding Jewish music.
Sometime later, Abe performed a Brit Milah on the son of a famous financial figure from Palm Beach. During the reception, the financial investor asked Abe to whom he should make the check payable. Abe quickly replied, “To the Temple Emanu-El Music fund.” The financial figure stopped everything, was visibly surprised, looked up at Abe and said: “That’s certainly the last thing I expected you to say.”
Later, in 2014, Abe performed a Brit Milah on my grandson, Ethan.
When the renowned Cantor Saul Meisels from Cleveland retired, he and his wife, Ida, moved to North Miami. Joanne and I joined them and the Benyunes’ for dinners and gettogethers on a regular basis. They were certainly stimulating and joyful as was the conversation around the table. Ida Meisels was a very successful arranger of solo-, two-, three-, and four-part harmony of traditional synagogue music. I used many of her arrangements at our festival concerts.
When Helene’s mother became very ill at the age of 99, she was placed in the Jewish home where she lived for the next four years until she passed away. During that time, Helene visited her mother regularly. It occurred to her that it would be beneficial to also visit some of the other patients there that she didn’t know. Helene visited people who were bed-ridden, seriously ill, and in for shorter periods. She listened intently to their problems and became a wonderful listener in the process. She also asked them pointed pivotal questions concerning their lives.
This is the mark of a religious person and is one of the great mitzvot of Jewish life: to bring comfort to the lives of people that you do not know without expecting any reward. Helene continued doing that in the years that followed her mother’s passing. Helene was named as “Woman of the year” in the Miami Jewish Health System.
Undoubtedly, Abe continues to be a major asset in the life and growth of any temple to which he belongs. He was presented in January of 2025 at Temple Beth Am in Miami with the Talmud Torah Award in recognition of his commitment and support of the temple’s programs.
What is truly amazing is that everything they both touch becomes better because of the quality that they give to it. May they always continue to shine brightly in their future.
Kris and Manny Deren
Two of our closest friends were Kris and Manny Deren. We traveled with them to the Bahamas and the Florida Keys. Kris, with her beautiful voice, was a lead soprano in our temple choir and concerts. She sang at every one of our 23 Spring Music Festivals. One Sabbath eve, we presented a number of Psalm Duets from our liturgy to the delight of our congregation. In addition, she helped substantially with our children’s choir when it was enjoying unprecedented growth. It was always amazing to me how quickly Kris absorbed and learned the Hebrew words and musical harmony. Her enthusiasm and smiles of encouragement were well received by the children.
Manny enjoyed his role as usher at Sabbath eve services, years of service on the board of trustees, and as chairman of one of our music festivals.
Kris and Manny were successful in their chosen field of real estate. In 2003, they became owners and managed a “Keller Williams” company in Aventura. The company enjoyed rapid growth and success over the years.
Manny watched the news channel, read a great deal, and possessed a wealth of information and knowledge of world events. In addition, he was well-versed in Judaism, its history, liturgy, ritual and practices.
Following my retirement, one of the pleasures Manny and I experienced was visiting different synagogues one Saturday each month in order to welcome the new Hebrew month, called Rosh Chodesh. There are special prayers, readings and liturgical chants for that day which we thoroughly enjoyed. What a great time we had!
For almost two years, we visited synagogues from Miami Beach to Boca Raton and were quite impressed with what we saw and heard. How pleased the rabbis and cantors were to see us and to talk to us about our prayer books, rituals, practices, and anything else connected to the realm of synagogue life. A wonderful lunch close by always followed the service. What a wonderful start to a beautiful day.
The four of us had many happy times together over the years and those times are truly cherished.
Gloria and Paul Barnett
Another dear friend, Paul Barnett, was a member of Temple Sinai and also the Lunch Bunch. He emigrated from Cape Town, South Africa, to the United States. In the early 1950s, he was drafted in the army and served as a medic in Germany. After his discharge, he settled in South Florida and became involved in the seafood business. Paul was organized in his business and loved his profession. He was highly successful for more than forty years. Those were the days when a handshake from one company head to another was the basis of a business deal.
Paul’s beautiful and talented wife, Gloria, was always at his side with her loving support and encouragement. They owned three homes, one in the Bahamas, North Carolina, and North Miami Beach. They traveled widely to all parts of the world. In addition, they owned horses and a few of them won a number of races at Gulfstream Race Track and other tracks.
Their trips to Israel increased their love and knowledge of their Jewish heritage. Once a week, Paul and I would drive to Hollywood Beach early in the morning and walk on the Broadwalk to Dania Beach and back, a distance of several miles. We always had a good breakfast at the start of the journey. Our stimulating talks centered on world history, Israel and Judaism, constantly striving to solve the world’s problems. Each problem, philosophically, presented an opportunity to make the world better.
At the Lunch Bunch, Paul played the piano at the scheduled meetings and became a valuable asset to the organization.
Paul was also a sports enthusiast. An avid tennis player, he could be seen on the tennis courts four to five times a week. His favorite game, however, was golf. He played golf with Bing Crosby in the U.K. and with James Caan at Turnberry. He also enjoyed the thrill of playing against golf pros…and winning.
As I recall, in his busy business activity, he left enough time for play. I remember early in our relationship, I called him at work at “Paul Barnett Seafood.”
“Can I talk to Paul Barnett?” I asked.
“Sorry” was the reply.” He hasn’t come in yet.”
I called again. “Can I talk to Mr. Barnett?”
“Sorry, he’s out to lunch.”
Still later, I called again, and she answered, “Sorry, he left for the day.”
His working schedule, it seemed to me, was very impressive.
Paul, Gloria, Joanne and I played bridge every week and traveled together to Freeport, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and other places. Once we were so engaged in conversation at an airport that we missed our plane. We just laughed and waited for the next one.
However, it was at Temple Sinai where Joanne and I got to know Paul and Gloria. We developed a close bond of friendship and love over the years. As cantor, I had the pleasure of preparing their children, Lynn, David and Cheryl for their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and officiating at their marriages to David, Stacy and Paul. The family was further blessed with eight grandchildren. The grandchildren had a special name for Paul. It was “Poo Poo Poppy,” but I won’t go into any detail.
Over the years, we enjoyed so many good times together which have become some of our most treasured memories.
Don and Mary-Lou Brotherson
When Don and Mary-Lou joined our congregation, they both became fully involved in temple life. They became members of the adult choir. Don and I enjoyed going out every week for coffee following our rehearsal, and we really got to know each other. He, his wife, Mary-Lou, Joanne, and I had annual subscriptions to the philharmonic orchestra and the opera in Fort Lauderdale. We also vacationed together with our children on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
Mary-Lou earned her doctorate in education and taught education methodology to college teachers at Nova University. She was also an active board member of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Dania. Their programs were and continue to be exceptional, reaching out to many schools in the area.
Don served the temple on the building committee, the board of trustees, and also as an advisor. As if that wasn’t enough, Don also served as editor of the monthly bulletin. He was always on the job. Don often planned his vacations around the bulletin deadline. He took it seriously and was excellent at what he did.
“Cantor, the congregation needs to know more about the Kol Nidre prayer. Can you give us an article on the history of the melody for next week?”
“Cantor,” he would say, “Chanukah is coming next month. Can you write an article on the holiday music for this Tuesday?”
“Cantor, how many different songs do we have for the Passover Seder? How about an article on the songs of Passover?”
Don Brotherson and Monica Rachelson, the temple secretary, who is another close friend of ours, were both deeply committed to putting together a stimulating and well-received monthly bulletin.
In 1998, Don and Mary-Lou were the chair-couple of the 23rd Spring Music Festival, my last concert at Temple Sinai before becoming Cantor Emeritus. Following my retirement, we remained close friends. We loved Don and his wife, Mary Lou, and we sorely miss them.
Frank and Carole Kromsky
We were fortunate to have a long and close relationship with Frank and Carole. We dined and traveled together on many occasions. I distinctly remember the forty-five minute walk we took together in Las Vegas early in the morning. We wound up with a heavy sweat, but it was well worth the effort. We have many wonderful memories together.
Frank’s ability to entertain is well known. He is a natural. He was one of the top entertainers of the Lunch Bunch for more than 30 years. Frank and I have known each other 54 years, and we have much in common.
We were both born during the depression.
Our first language was Yiddish. We sang songs like “Oy Rumania, Rumania, Rumania…hai diggi diggi dam, diggi diggi dam.”
We both lived in New York City, worked in the Borscht Belt, and went to a city college.
We enjoyed opera together at the Broward Arts Center.
We were both members of Temple Sinai for more than 50 years.
We both made money at the crap tables in Las Vegas, Freeport, Biloxi and Atlantic City.
We both lost money at the crap tables in Las Vegas, Freeport, Biloxi and Atlantic City. But that’s another story.
We are both nonagenarians. As of this writing, Frank is 94 and I am 96. I keep telling Frank he’s a youngster and he must listen to his elders.
The Lunch Bunch
One of the activities that brought much levity and laughter to my day was membership in the Lunch Bunch, an organization dedicated to the themes of fun and friendship. Frank
Kromsky brought me into the club. I enjoyed it so much that the following year I introduced Paul Barnett to the group. We had so much fun together. There were about 80 men, generally affluent professionals in their 60s, 70s and 80s, who came together once a month for great food and colorful and off-color jokes for the next hour. I generally led the proceedings with “God Bless America” which filled the air with a quiet dignity, and then all hell would break loose. Frank was one of the regular entertainers. If you were a bad comic, cloth napkins would be thrown at you, which rarely missed their mark. I have to say that Frank was warmly received and much appreciated.
The following year, the personable president, Irving Kern, invited me to join the board of trustees of the Lunch Bunch. At the first meeting, he asked the ten of us to introduce ourselves. When it came to me, I said: “Cantor Irving Shulkes - Bar Mitzvahs, weddings and funerals.”
Irving Kern quickly responded, “We won’t be needing you for the first two but make yourself available for the last one.” His goal was to make the Lunch Bunch a warm, caring and loving group. And in my judgment, Irving succeeded admirably.
The Honor Flight
Frank Kromsky and I are both veterans of the Korean War and were invited by the United States government to take part in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC from Fort Lauderdale on June 1, 2024. We visited the World War Two, Korean War and Vietnam Memorials, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Changing of the Guard, Arlington Cemetery, and the many other sights that make the Capitol so appealing and famous. We traveled on deluxe buses with a police escort, and the planned events of the day were beautifully scheduled.
We were 67 Korean and Vietnam War veterans, each accompanied by an assistant or guardian who helped us navigate and experience as much as possible during our lengthy one-day stay in the Capitol. My guardian was Jonathan Garber, who knew what to do and did it with ease and excellence. Wherever we went, we were hailed as heroes. For those of us who served our country in war and peace, and the others that traveled with us, it was truly a day marked by patriotism and love of country.
Frank is one who truly loves people, from the custodial staff to high society. He turns sadness into smiles and smiles into laughter. As Oprah Winfrey observed, “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” At 94, Frank is in full bloom, and we know he’ll stay that way.
Marilyn and Marvin Moss
An example of a wonderful relationship between couples is one that not only exists when you live twenty minutes from each other, but one that still flourishes when one couple moves far away - clear across the country to Los Angeles. Marilyn and Marvin Moss were one of the first couples we became acquainted with at Temple Sinai in 1970.
They are both warm and outgoing with a good sense of humor. Marvin, a private practice lawyer in Aventura, represented moving companies all over the country. He is well read and knowledgeable in local, national, and world affairs. Marilyn grew up in Palm Beach, moved to Miami Beach, and eventually, to North Miami Beach. She worked in banking, invested her savings, and watched her portfolio carefully and daily in the stock market. We often talked about the ups and downs of the market but it never affected our sleep. In our discussions, Marilyn always spoke her mind and you clearly knew where she stood on any subject matter.
We visited one another often and ate out regularly at the many good dining places in the area. Our conversations were stimulating and we found ourselves often on the same page with the issues of the day.
Marvin is an avid craps player and, in that spirit, the four of us traveled to Las Vegas and Biloxi when time permitted. Sometimes we won and sometimes we lost, but we had fun in the process and many memorable times together.
Esther and Mordechai Fintz
When I think of our dear friends from the temple, another couple comes readily to mind. They are Esther and Mordechai, like the names in the Book of Esther. In 1996, they became B’nai Mitzvah at Temple Sinai. We studied together every Shabbat morning for six months. During that time, their Jewish identity was greatly strengthened.
In their 70s, Mordechai and Esther have written seven books and are still counting. They have also set beautiful lyrics to two different melodies. Let’s remember one thing: You’re never too old if you have the spirit.
Esther and Mordechai were married in 1964 and came to Miami in 1967. Mordechai’s family owned a small ladies wear company which was torched during the Liberty City riots in 1980. It was not insured, and Mordechai’s future looked bleak. In 1985, Mordechai read the book “Be My Guest” by Conrad Hilton, the hotel owner. He also took a real estate seminar on buying property and bought his first duplex. He continued buying real estate. And standing by Mordechai’s side, helping and encouraging him every step of the way, was Esther, his talented and beautiful wife.
Years later, in the 1990s, Mordechai invited Joanne and me to attend a real estate seminar in Miami. Mordechai was the motivational speaker that evening. He was truly in his chosen profession and achieving great success.
Esther and Mordechai have been most generous in their support of temple life. They are actively involved in religious worship, choir, Torah study and other Jewish organizations.
At one time, Esther and Mordechai visited Las Vegas for a realtor convention while we happened to be there. We saw some shows together and the topic of craps came up in conversation. They were not aware that Joanne and I were very well read and informed on this particular subject. A little known fact is that Joanne and I gave crap seminars in our home on several occasions to a very receptive crowd. Esther and Mordechai asked us to explain the essentials of the crap game. We did our very best to explain it. I had no idea that it would become one of their favorite games of chance in the future.
They also love to cruise. Joanne and I have enjoyed many cruises with them to the Eastern & Western Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and to South America as well. During these cruises, we play rummikub by day and craps by night. On several occasions, our children and grandchildren have joined us.
We look forward to creating many wonderful memories together in the future.
A Time of Friendship and Memories
