THE MEYER W. NATHANS SERVICE AWARD
Erev Shabbat Service
Friday, November 19 at 6:00 PM
Please join us for this special Erev Shabbat Service as we honor Dr. Carlos Vaamonde and Dr. Ilana Katz Sand. And for the first time, we will turn this Shabbat service into a Service of Service, celebrating the hundreds from our congregation who volunteer their time, talent, and wisdom to leadership, committees, volunteerism, Minyan, and personal support. We invite everyone to join us as we honor all those who build and shape this sacred community together!
Presented annually, this award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution of service over many years to the Congregation. This year we honor Dr. Vaamonde and Dr. Katz Sand for their tireless work alongside many others in guiding and advising Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Rodeph Sholom School through these unprecedented pandemic waters as a part of our medical advisory team. Working through a maze of information during a pandemic is no easy thing. They displayed the type of selfless service to our community for which “Mike” Nathans himself was well known. Not only did they demonstrate what it means to be an active and engaged member of our community but also, they were necessary conduits for accurate information and best approaches CRS leadership required.
Carlos is an Infectious Disease specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, where he is also Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine. He and his wife, Dr. Jacqueline Beer, have been members here since 1998. Their son Andres and daughter Danielle are both B’nai Mitzvah of CRS and graduates of the Rodeph Sholom School. Jacqueline lent her skills to help refugees on CRS’s Rapid Response Taskforce and they have been devoted members helping on our Food Drive and Homeless Shelter.
Ilana has a clinical practice and is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS at Mount Sinai Hospital. She and her husband, Michael Sand, have been members of CRS since 2012. Their four children attend the Rodeph Sholom School: Benjamin, a 5th Grader, will have his Bar Mitzvah in 2024; Ariella is a 3rd Grader; Lila is a Kindergartener; and Jordan is in the Nursery School 2s program. Ilana and Michael are involved in Rodeph Sholom School and CRS endeavors and participate in our Minyan program.
It is a strong feeling of gratitude we extend to our Meyer W. Nathans Service Award honorees. We are grateful for all you did for the Rodeph Sholom community during this momentous period. Working with mindful intent, your generosity and commitment made a difference. You helped protect our safety and well-being. For your outstanding contribution to the Congregation, we say thank you and Yasher Koach!
A Note from your CRS Clergy Team
Dear Rodeph Sholom Family,
The Hebrew word for “Judaism” is Yehadut, from the root hodah – gratitude. In namesake, thanksgiving is at the root of our tradition. Each morning and 100 more times each day we are invited to offer blessings of thanks. But gratitude is meant to be more than an attitude in Judaism. In cultivating our own acknowledgement of blessing, our gratitude can compel us to act.
As much of our country turns in national ritual to Thanksgiving, we as a community turn our gratitude into action. Below, please find opportunities to share our bounty and to celebrate those who pour their dedication and time into Rodeph Sholom. As we reflect back on more than a year and a half of COVID, we feel with greater potency the dedication of our congregants to hold together and support one another with generosity and care.
With gratitude,
Your CRS Clergy Team
GRATITUDE CONNECTS US
We are grateful to remain together, connected to each other because of our Rodeph Sholom community. So we want to know, what have you been grateful for this past year? What touched your heart and soul? How did CRS keep you going? Was it while you were watching a worship service with your family? Lighting candles along with the B’nai Mitzvah during a live stream of an Erev Shabbat Service? Or cooking along with the Rabbi in the Clergy Kitchen? Please let us know and send us your pictures! Email info@crsnyc.org. We look forward to sharing them with the CRS community!
