Their Memories are for a Blessing
We gratefully recall those who have left the posthumous mark of their compassion upon our community through a recent bequest to the Jewish Federation or Jewish United Fund. Read more about some of these remarkable individuals.
Beatrice Rosenblum
Beatrice Rosenblum grew up on Chicago’s South Side and lived in the city her entire life. A lifelong member of Sinai Congregation, she was an advocate for Classical reform Judaism. In addition to being a loyal donor to the Jewish United Fund, she was
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Harold B. “Hal” Rosen
Harold “Hal” Rosen served as the Associate Executive Director of the Communications Department of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for 28 years, from 1968-1996.
Meyer and Sylvia Kwitko
Meyer Kwitko was born in 1909 in a town near Kiev. His mother died when he was 8, and it was a precarious time for Jews living in Ukraine. In 1921, Meyer escaped the pogroms by traveling through the night with his grandfather, hiding on farms until
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Paul H. Leffmann
Paul Henry Leffmann was born in 1907. Raised in Hyde Park, Paul earned both an undergraduate degree in economics and his law degree at the University of Chicago. It was also at the University where he met his wife, Theo Hirsch, whom he married in 1
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Flora E. Kopstein
Flora Kopstein was a scrappy, smart farm girl born and raised near Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating high school early, she went to art school, and also modeled and worked for a photographer. Upon moving to Chicago, she met and married her hus
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Sidney L. Starkman
Sidney Starkman was born in 1916. He learned the meaning of tzedakah at a young age: each week, his grandmother gave him money to give to their rabbi, who lived only on the voluntary donations of his congregants. Eventually, Sidney began contributing
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Dr. Eleanor Berman
Eleanor Berman was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. A graduate of Wisconsin State College. Eleanor earned both her Master’s and her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She was respected toxicologist who was actively involved in
Ernest Sommers
Ernest Sommers was born in Germany on May 3, 1908. A Holocaust survivor who endured five years in the Dachau concentration camp, Ernest was a World War II veteran who came to live in Chicago in 1940. He
Dr. Arvid Temple
Dr. Arvid A. Temple’s wife, Lisbet, described him as scholarly, generous and warm. He originally wanted to attend the University of Illinois, but after the school informed him they had reached their quota for Jews, he was more than happy to attend th
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Sylvia Finberg
Sylvia Swesnik Finberg was always connected to the Jewish community. She learned that commitment from her father, the owner of Swesnik Loan pawnshop, who helped fundraise for the JUF Annual Campaign.
Melvin Rosen
Melvin Rosen’s life was filled with Judaism, philanthropy and education. He belonged to a temple in the South Side for many years, and enjoyed the history and architecture of the synagogue.
Muriel Kolinsky
Muriel Kolinsky led a life full of passion. Her interests included music, education and Israel.
Gladys Gordon
Gladys Gordon will be remembered as loyal, strong-willed and fiercely intelligent. Her son, Mark, remembers that when it came to family matters, she was always there and a pillar of strength.
David and Helen Shapiro
David Shapiro was only 4 years old when his father died. David and his brother were raised by their mother and an extended family of aunts and uncles who had come to America in search of a better life. Helen Ecker Shapiro also was the child of imm
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Sadie Berkson
Sadie Berkson will be remembered as a cherished friend and a generous benefactor of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. She was very active in the Jewish community, serving as a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Federation an
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Lillian Lipsey
Lillian Lipsey was born February 9, 1904, lived in Chicago for most of her life and graduated from Northwestern University. She and her husband Maurice were very active in the Jewish community, supporting programs in Israel, music
Eli Field
Eli Field immigrated from England when he was 13 and became an entrepreneur whose business success was matched by his efforts on behalf of Jewish causes. After graduating from Crane High School and working as a salesman for
