Meyer W. Nathans Volunteer Appreciation Shabbat
Friday, May 8 • 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Please join us for our annual Shabbat of Service, a celebration of the hundreds in our congregation who graciously share their time, talents and wisdom in a wide range of leadership roles.
During the service we will present the Meyer W. Nathans Service Award, recognizing individuals whose outstanding dedication has made a lasting impact on Congregation Rodeph Sholom over many years.
Join us as we honor all those who help build and shape our sacred community.
Meyer W. Nathans Service Award 2026 Recipients:
Arlene Rosen
Arlene has been a member of Rodeph Sholom since 2008, has served on the Caring Committee since 2010, and is a past recipient of the G’milut Chasadim Award. As part of the Caring Committee, initiated Bikur Cholim, now called Caring Connections, which assigned volunteers to visit congregants who were housebound, in the hospital, or in need of companionship.
For the last three years, she and Rhonda Kirschner have been co-facilitators of the Caring Council, which works with committees like Bereavement, Shabbat Greeters, and What Matters. She is a regular participant in the Saturday morning Chapel service, chanting a few times a year and regularly giving D’var Torahs during services. Since 2016, she has been a Shammash for what initially started as a monthly group and, during COVID, pivoted to a weekly Zoom meeting to discuss each Torah portion throughout the year.
She is also a co-Shammash with Rhonda Kirschner and Maxine Schweitzer for the monthly Opportunity Community Group, selecting new topics of interest for its members. As one of the leaders of the Midday Minyan, she offers a Mincha prayer service six days a week. She often attends CRS outings and regularly attends the monthly book club, acting as a presenter once a year. Since 2010, she has been a faithful Psalms class participant, where she learns about ancient texts and their relevance to the world today. Outside of CRS, she attends a few weekly meditation groups and leads a meditation Zoom on Friday mornings.
Rhonda Gladys Kirschner
Rhonda Kirschner, together with her husband Ellis Levine and son Nick, has been a member of Rodeph Sholom since 2001. In 2005, Nick celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at CRS and Rhonda celebrated her second Bat Mitzvah in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program. For the past three years, Rhonda and Arlene Rosen have been co-facilitators of the Rodeph Sholom Caring Council. Rhonda, Arlene, and Maxine Schweitzer co-lead the CRS Opportunity Community Sholom Group.
Rhonda loves being a Shabbat Greeter; in 2025, she received a Gemilut Chasadim Award for her service as a Shabbat Greeter. Rhonda enjoys participating in many text study opportunities offered at Rodeph Sholom, especially the Pardes x CRS programs and Psalms. Since 2021, Rhonda has been a Board Member of American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York Region, where she’s a member of the Government Outreach Steering Committee and serves on the Diplomatic Outreach teams for the UK, Serbia, and Sri Lanka. Rhonda and Ellis support The Washington Institute for Near East Policy as Trustees.
For the past six years, Rhonda has participated in weekly Shabbat Torah study led by CRS members Mark and Rabbi Erica Gerson. Years ago, Rhonda’s father Samuel z”l received the Volunteer of the Year Award at Temple Beth El, Spring Valley, NY, and her sister-in-law Andrea Chase received a volunteer award at Temple Israel of the City of New York, so Rhonda is proud to continue her family tradition of deep engagement in synagogue life.
Please join us for our annual Shabbat of Service, a celebration of the hundreds in our congregation who graciously share their time, talents and wisdom in a wide range of leadership roles.
During the service we will present the Meyer W. Nathans Service Award, recognizing individuals whose outstanding dedication has made a lasting impact on Congregation Rodeph Sholom over many years.
Join us as we honor all those who help build and shape our sacred community.
Meyer W. Nathans Service Award 2026 Recipients:
Arlene Rosen
Arlene has been a member of Rodeph Sholom since 2008, has served on the Caring Committee since 2010, and is a past recipient of the G’milut Chasadim Award. As part of the Caring Committee, initiated Bikur Cholim, now called Caring Connections, which assigned volunteers to visit congregants who were housebound, in the hospital, or in need of companionship.
For the last three years, she and Rhonda Kirschner have been co-facilitators of the Caring Council, which works with committees like Bereavement, Shabbat Greeters, and What Matters. She is a regular participant in the Saturday morning Chapel service, chanting a few times a year and regularly giving D’var Torahs during services. Since 2016, she has been a Shammash for what initially started as a monthly group and, during COVID, pivoted to a weekly Zoom meeting to discuss each Torah portion throughout the year.
She is also a co-Shammash with Rhonda Kirschner and Maxine Schweitzer for the monthly Opportunity Community Group, selecting new topics of interest for its members. As one of the leaders of the Midday Minyan, she offers a Mincha prayer service six days a week. She often attends CRS outings and regularly attends the monthly book club, acting as a presenter once a year. Since 2010, she has been a faithful Psalms class participant, where she learns about ancient texts and their relevance to the world today. Outside of CRS, she attends a few weekly meditation groups and leads a meditation Zoom on Friday mornings.
Rhonda Gladys Kirschner
Rhonda Kirschner, together with her husband Ellis Levine and son Nick, has been a member of Rodeph Sholom since 2001. In 2005, Nick celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at CRS and Rhonda celebrated her second Bat Mitzvah in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program. For the past three years, Rhonda and Arlene Rosen have been co-facilitators of the Rodeph Sholom Caring Council. Rhonda, Arlene, and Maxine Schweitzer co-lead the CRS Opportunity Community Sholom Group.
Rhonda loves being a Shabbat Greeter; in 2025, she received a Gemilut Chasadim Award for her service as a Shabbat Greeter. Rhonda enjoys participating in many text study opportunities offered at Rodeph Sholom, especially the Pardes x CRS programs and Psalms. Since 2021, Rhonda has been a Board Member of American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York Region, where she’s a member of the Government Outreach Steering Committee and serves on the Diplomatic Outreach teams for the UK, Serbia, and Sri Lanka. Rhonda and Ellis support The Washington Institute for Near East Policy as Trustees.
For the past six years, Rhonda has participated in weekly Shabbat Torah study led by CRS members Mark and Rabbi Erica Gerson. Years ago, Rhonda’s father Samuel z”l received the Volunteer of the Year Award at Temple Beth El, Spring Valley, NY, and her sister-in-law Andrea Chase received a volunteer award at Temple Israel of the City of New York, so Rhonda is proud to continue her family tradition of deep engagement in synagogue life.
