Young Israel of Brookline
~ ~ Visitors Guestbook ~ ~

If you've been a recent guest at our shul or visited us on our website, we welcome your comments! If you plan on visiting or have recently moved to the Brookline area, consider checking out our Hospitality Program. ~~~~~

You truly opened your homes to the Mitzva of Hachnasat Orchim. Michael and I spent two Shabbatot in your community and were sincerely welcomed to shabbat meals on 4 occasions. It made our trip to Boston so laberdik. We thank you all for your warmth , generosity of spirit and of course very tasty food. Please next time you are in Jerusalem, do look us up. Tizchu L'Mitzvot,

Marion & Michael Silman; Jerusalem, Israel
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I found out I was moving to the Boston area on a Thursday, and came to Brookline the next day to look for an apartment. After experiencing Young Israel of Brookline's amazing hachnasat orchim - even for individuals such as myself who gave minimal advance notice - I knew I had found a warm, friendly, and vibrant community to join. Thank you so much for your incredible sense of hospitality! Your community has been very welcoming and very helpful to us. We enjoyed tremendously both Shabbos at Emily and Lance and Caroline and Paul. Nathalia made her home very welcoming to us and it was an unforgettable experience. Fondly

Ian & Sarah Maged; Ontario, Canada
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We're very grateful to our hosts for making our stay in Brookline so much more homely. It's no small task catering for an extra 6 people and we really appreciate it. Your hospitality program is a credit to your community and I have never met such an organized system of hosting.

Warren & Gillian Marland and Family; Moshav Aderet, Israel
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It was a very special experience for us to spend shabbos in Brookline - and amazing that we could travel thousands of miles from Manchester and feel so at home and comfortable with people we had never met before! It is a real credit to your community that you provide such a warm welcome to visitors. We hope that we will have the opportunity to return your kind hospitality.

Rhona & David Goldberg; Manchester, England
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Wonderful website -- Comments by others bring back beautiful memories of Reverend Loketch's chazzanut, shiurim, and warmth, etc. May the congregation continue to go from strength to strength. A few years ago a couple of colleagues of mine were lucky enough to benefit from the YI community's hospitality -- glad to hear that this mitzvah is still a top priority (I was there from 1984 through 1989).

Gary Roth; Givat Ze'ev, Israel
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Regarding the shul's hospitality program, everything worked out wonderfully. I received more invitations than I could accept. The families I ate with (Lanzkrons, Nussbaums) were kind and welcoming. It made my Chag enjoyable, to say the least...

Josh Sandler; Brookline, MA
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We have been at your Shul on Shabbat a few weeks ago and we would like to thank you for your kind and warm hospitality. We wish you Ketiva vehatima tova, shana tova umevorehet. We have received money as schaliach mitzva and we have distributed it to needy people. Kindest regards,

Dr. Mario Izbicki; Jerusalem, Israel
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Thanks to your wonderful kehillah and may you all go from strength to strength. I wish everyone in Brookline a Kesivah veChasima tova!

Shloime Lovat; London England
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The Brookline community was very welcoming to me. All the families I went to were exteremly friendly and very kind, inviting me for meals and making me feel at home. Thank you for your hospitality this past month, I hope to visit and keep in touch in the future.

Shai Carmi; Ramat-Gan, Israel
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Thanks to Chaya London & Chana McCarthy and your wonderful hospitality program. Our meals were arranged within hours of emailing in our hospitality request. Your community is friendly and welcoming and we were well taken care of. Thank you so much, we enjoyed our stay.

Sarah Hynes & friends; Huntington, NY
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Thank you so much for your hospitality on Shabbos. I had a really nice time at the homes of Chaya London and the Feuersteins who are both extremely kind and hospitable hosts.

Rebecca Mandel; Boston, MA
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Always amazed by your warm hospitality and "chassidus" in Hachnasat Orchim. We have been coming to Brookline for a number of years and are always made to feel welcome. Your unique Shabbat Lunch invitations to guests is something I wish would be emulated in other Shuls across the country. Again, please wish the entire Shul Community a hearty Yasher Kochacha for all your efforts.

Elana & Robert Schondorf; West Hempstead, NY
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We are back home in Israel and wanted to thank you for your hospitality program and let you know how much we enjoyed our Shabbat in Boston. The hospitality at the Feuersteins was incredible. We enjoyed their great food and nice company, including the "devar tora." Best regards,

Yakov Binenfeld & sons; Haifa, Israel
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Your hospitality project is great, and should be an example for other communities. We had Shabbat meals with two wonderful and very warm hosts - the Wultz and Shaulson families. We look forward to hosting members of your community in ISRAEL in our beautiful Orthodox settlement, 20 minutes from Sea of Galilee. All the best.

Nechama & Yuval Levy; Mitzpe Netofa, Lower Galilee
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We would like to let you know that your hospitality program is absolutely fabulous! Everything worked out and we had a great time. Special thanks to the Feuerstein and Lanzkron families who hosted us for meals. With best wishes,

Alina & Yossi Merzdov; Brighton, MA
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We were very impressed by the system of hospitality the Young Israel of Brookline has instituted. You have a very haimishe kehilla and the building itself is light, airy and beautiful. You have much to feel proud of and I wish every kehilla were as organized in its hospitality network. In accomplishing this mitzva, you contribute to the achdus of our people in the true spirit of "kol Yisroel arevim zeh l'zeh." Thank you for making our shabbos in Brookline such a positive experience. We look forward to a return visit. Regards,

Jerry & Marilyn Stern; Merion Station, PA
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Michelle and I thank Joyce and Chaya and their families for their warm hospitality last Shabbat. We truly enjoyed our weekend in Boston and especially enjoyed meeting our hosts and their other guests. We were very impressed by their hospitality and that of your community. With best regards,

Sheryl Galler & Michelle Chrein; New York, NY
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I was very impressed with your hospitality program. The day after I filled out your easy online form there were two e-mails in my inbox inviting me for shabbos meals. I must say, my father used to co-ordinate hospitality in Denver, and he was as impressed by your system as I am. It's highly effective and I'm grateful for it.

Malca Watkins; BU Summer Student
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Your hospitality program has been great! I have two weeks worth of shabbos meal invites and every family was amazing that I went to. The community is very welcoming and open minded.

Sharon Kupferman; Recently moved to Brookline, MA
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Evie and I enjoyed the Shabbat at Young Israel. It has been a few years since we visited your Shule, and that was on Tish B'Av. You were very friendly then, and even more now. Your hospitality was great and appreciated very much. The whole shabbat was like a retreat. Eve got a chance to study with the women's group and I used the library. Our best regards!

Evie & Mel Getz; Rockville, MD
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I am so impressed with the warmth and charm of the Young Israel Brookline community. It was such a pleasure to be hosted for meals by welcoming families. This was my first visit to Boston and your gracious hospitality made it very special. The guest program is an amazing initiative. On a very short notice, three families responded, emailed and also called to invite us. My one regret is that I didn't have enough time to accept everyones invitation. Thank you for making it such a memorable Pesach.

Anna Breznan; Montreal, Canada
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I just returned from a Shabbat in Brookline - my first visit to the Boston area. I was very impressed by the warmth and generosity of the YIB kehillah. I even stayed at one of the nearby inns referenced on the YIB web site. My hosts for the two Shabbat meals, families Nussbaum and Login, were wonderful, treating me more like a family member than a guest. The YIB Shabbat Hospitality program is one of a kind. Thank you YIB, and thank you so much families Nussbaum and Login! I plan to send a small contribution to the shul's Ma'ot Chittim fund in their honor. Have a happy and kosher Pesach.

Neil Goodman; San Rafael, CA
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I was delighted by the hospitality that various members of your community extended to me on extremely short notice. Thank you!

Shlomo Katz; Philadelphia, PA
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My experience with your hospitality program was great. All of my meals were taken care of. What a truly welcoming community this is. Thanks again.

Karin Zacharin; BU Graduate Student
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Your hospitality program was beyond any expectations. On a scale of 1 - 10 it approached infinity. The Finklemans took care of everything. It is a small Jewish world: their son teaches at the same place where my daughter is doing her MSW clinical assignment in Jerusalem, Midreshet Lindenbaum. We hope to see your Patriots here in Jacksonville in three weeks.

Sanford Jay Kadish; Jacksonville, FL
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I was very pleased with Young Israel's Hospitality Program. All of my Shabbat meals were taken care of. I was even invited to someone's home during the week of Chanukah. Thanks for everything.

Stuart Taub; Brooklyn, NY
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Thank you so very much for the wonderful hospitality I received on Shabbat Vayeitze. Your website was very helpful and my stay was most enjoyable. Both the Finkelmans and the Logins were great hosts.

Yitzchak Vosoghi; Buffalo, NY
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The hospitality was great and the team really enjoyed themselves throughout the whole shabbat weekend. Thank you so much!

YU Women's Basketball Team; New York, NY
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Your hospitality program and info supplied by your office staff allowed me to explore the possibility of a job change and move to Brookline. I could not have done it without you, and I really appreciate it. The only problem was I received more invitations than I could accept, and I felt bad having to say no!

Jack Calman; Silver Spring, MD
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My experience with your hospitality program was wonderful. After submitting my on-line request, a woman called the next day and we set up where to meet. Things were easy to arrange and the meal was very enjoyable. Thank you!!

Emily Meltzer; Brookline, MA
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We had such a great Shabbos in Brookline and had more meal invitations than we could take advantage of. The families that hosted us were wonderful and made us feel so comfortable. Your hospitality program is very impressive. Thanks again.

Tammy & Moshe Greenberg; Teaneck, NJ
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I was delighted and pleasantly surprised by the number of invites I received in response to my request for hospitality, even though it was only a few days before Yom Tov. I had invitiations that covered every meal I needed, and greatly enjoyed them. Thanks!

Ephraim Unell; Silver Spring, MD
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The shul's hospitality program is great - not only did I have places to go for all of yom tov, but I also got to meet lots of families in the community. I received many open-ended invitations, so I was able to ensure I had a place to go for each day.

Daniel Berch; Brookline, MA
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A wonderful website. Thank you for making the yahrzeit notifications available to all of us no matter where we are at the moment. It makes one kvell for the home town and the sights and sounds of growing up in that wonderful atmosphere surrounded by "Everything Jewish"...friends, family, school chums, Brookline High School - Lincoln House, restaurants, Coolidge Corner, The penny candy store, the movie theater, Brighams, Jack & Marion's, the kosher Butcher shop, the bakery for challah each Friday, and so much more.

Leonard I. Antick; Chula Vista, CA
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We just returned to NY after driving back from Brookline. Your shul hospitality program was great and more appreciated than you can know. We had more invitations than we could have accepted and had a wonderful time at the families where we did spend time. Acts of kindness certainly go a long way and we hope to be able to repay someone for your Shule's kindnesses. Have a great Shmini Atzeret/Simha Torah and a happy and healthy year.

Stuart W. Margolis; Riverdale, New York
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I want to thank Young Israel for its spirit of hospitality, and especially the London family for hosting me and my children this past Shabbat. We enjoyed davening with you and look forward to visiting again soon.

Michael Ritz; New York, NY
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Your hospitality was just wonderful. We received two phone calls & two emails within 48 hours of our online request! We decided to have both meals with the same family because they were conveniently located and also had children the same ages as our children. It worked out very well and we all had a lovely Shabbat. Thanks to everyone involved for making our visit to Brookline so memorable.

Lynne & Scott Feinberg; Brooklyn, NY
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We just returned from a wonderful Shabbes in Brookline. The hospitality of the people we encountered was fantastic. Not only did we receive 3 email invitations for shabbes meals, but in addition we were approached personally by several YI of Brookline members to make sure our shabbes meals were taken care of. A special thank you to the Finkelman and London families who hosted us, and made us feel at home. Your website should be a model for other shuls.

Marsha & Robert Tracer; Brooklyn, NY
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Thank you to the Young Israel of Brookline community for your hospitality during our recent visit. Your shul website was very helpful in planing our visit and enabled us to easily find accomodations and kosher stores.

David & Cheryl Siegel ; Teaneck, New Jersey
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I think it is awesome that you have this hospitality program in place. The day after I filled out a request form I heard from 3 families. It worked out great. Thank you.

Gail N Davidson; Boston, MA
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I thank you so much for your great hospitality initiative: you are all performing a great mitzvah helping people out like this! The invites came really quick. I applied for shabbat lunch on Wednesday. I already got responses on Thursday. Many regards,

Suzanne Knol; Manchester, Great Britain
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I lived in Boston for four years about thirty years ago and recently had the good fortune to spend a Shabbat in Brookline. The experience brought back many nostalgic memories, all good. Yashar Koach to everyone for taking the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim to heart and actualizing it with warm and full hearts.

Brenda From ; New York, NY
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I visited during the 3 weeks. the time we commemorate the time of sinas chinam, and are sad that unfortunately there is not enough ahavas chinam. Well, I certainly felt a tremendous amount of ahavas chinam at YI Brookline, and they made me feel most welcome. What a wonderful place, with such nice people doing such wonderful mitzvos! Keep it up, and let us have Moshiach come soon!

Pesach Ledereich; Passaic, NJ
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Last week, I had the pleasure to spend the shabbat with the Drs. Chaya and Zev London. Their Hachnasat Orchim, the shabbat hospitality and table conversations were examplary, not to mention Dr. Chaya's terrific cooking! They were terrific. I can't wait to be invited to them again.

Rabin Nouranifar; Brookline, MA
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Found this site and thought we'd send our best wishes to everyone.

Feil Family; Fair Lawn, NJ
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I truly enjoyed your community. The hospitality was great. All of the families were very helpful and warm. May you only know mazel and much simchas.

Neal Alpiner; Franklin, MI
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I would like to thank the Finkelman's for their welcome and the wonderful time I had with them though very short. And to the Young Israel community for the oportunity to meet people I did not know and take part in the shabbat service which I really enjoyed.

Yael Katz; Jerusalem Israel
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I want to send thanks to Young Israel and to Deborah & Libi Jacobs and Einat & Eyal Wultz for their wonderful hospitality.

Arie Blumenzweig; Natanya, Israel
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We just returned from our trip to Brookline over Pesach and wanted to thank the Young Israel community for their outstanding hospitality. The way your community fulfills the commandment of hachnasat orchim should be a model for all of us and our communities. When away from home, especially for Shabbat and Yom Tov, it is extremely heartwarming to be treated as such welcome guests. We would like to give special thanks to the Feuersteins, the Londons and the Finklesteins.

Judy & Arieh Berkowitz; Jerusalem Israel
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Your hospitality program worked out VERY well for my friends and I this Pesach. Thank you so much for making Pesach away from home so enjoyable. The arrangements were easy, and our hosts were incredibly welcoming. In addition, I was quite impressed by the speed with which we were contacted as well as the number of invites we received. YI is a very warm community, and we are glad to have gotten to know some of the members a little better. Thanks again!

Polly Sidorovsky ; BU Student
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Your website has been very usefull for us. Thank you very much for providing this [hospitality] service for newcommers!

Sabrina Greenberg & Edmond Chalom ; Highland Park, NJ (and relocating to the area.)
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My Shabbat reception at your shul was terrific. Jay and Tzippi Cohen and David and Ruth Kahan and families were exemplary hosts. I couldn't have been happier with my time spent in Brookline.

Avi Davis ; Australia and California
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YIB has one of the best websites and most organized hospitality programs I have seen from any synagogue. The hosts were friendly, warm, and arranged things better than could be expected. I was set up with the best match imaginable and we spent the whole afternoon talking. It was a great time.

Seth Kaplan ; Riverdale, NYC & Shanghai, China
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First THANK YOU for treating us so kindly. We had a wonderful Shabbos. It is not always so easy to ask to be invited and the website makes it so easy. I am looking foward to spending more Shabbosim in your wonderful community. Thank you again.

Rena Weinhouse; Flushing, NY
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Your hospitality program is truly impressive and should be emulated in communities elsewhere. We've made a donation to your shul in appreciation of our hosts and this program.

Joseph & Alysa Schick; Forest Hills, NY
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We just spent a wonderful Shabbat in your community, my old shul in the late 60's and early 70's when I lived in Brookline. My family and I were impressed by your hopitality and how efficienctly you were able to set us up for Shabbat dinner and lunch. Through this wonderful Hachnasat Orchim we met new friends: Gary & Minda Login and their beautiful daughters and Judy and David Solomont and their friends. It was the best example of what Jewish Boston can offer to our daughter Aviva, who is starting at Brandeis.

Elia & Anna Roumani; Potomac, Maryland
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We just got back home after spending a wonderful Shabbos weekend in your community. We were especially impressed with the website you have. It was so helpful for us in planning our trip both with sites to see, places to buy food, restaurants and in setting us up for Shabbos lunch. We had a great time in your beautiful Shul & at Chaya & Zev London's home for lunch. We felt welcomed in your friendly community and can't wait to return again to visit. Thanks again!

Rivka & Andy Fink and Family; Teaneck, NJ
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We will remember your community and the Hospitality Program with very warm and nostalgic feelings and are looking forward to be one of your guests again in the future whenever we will pass again by Boston land.

Joseph & Fern Seckbach; Efrat, Israel
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For a number of years my wife Erika and I have loved traveling to Boston but have never stayed over during a Shabbos. As a member of the YI of Queens Valley, I have admired the YI of Brookline's website for its advise on which hotel to use that is close to the shul, where to shop, etc. I've been particularly fascinated by the hospitality program offered on the website. To see it in action and get a response in less than 12 hours is just amazing.

George & Erika Srolovits; Flushing, NY
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I just discovered your wonderful web site. We joined the shul as newlyweds and lived in Brookline from 1958-1963, and then returned for the year of 69-70. Joel died in 1991, but we had wonderful memories of the unique Brookline shul and its Jewish community. Best wishes for much Hatzlacha!

Annette (Mrs. Joel) Klein; Baltimore, MD
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YI of Brookline is definitely one of the best shule websites in the USA.

Jeff Strashun; Hillside, NJ
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Glad to see Yiddishkeit in Brookline strong. Good to see familiar names in the guest book!

Rabbi Edward Goldstein; Woodmere, NY
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I'm proud to see the community my grandparents Betty & Walter Hauser Z"l were so deeply involved in is stronger then ever and growing. May you all have a Shana Tova and a Gmar Chatima Tova. Next Year in Jerusalem!

Judah Hauser; Jerusalem, Israel
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I have just seen your site on the net and also read with great interest about your community. I live in a similar community in a suburb of Cape Town South Africa. This email brings with my greetings to you all for a SHANA TOVA, and an end to your problems of which are very aware via CNN and other broadcasts. May god bless and keep you all.

Isaac Karpas; Capetown, South Africa
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A friend just sent me Shabbat greetings, and I'm delighted with your e-card service, and to read the Jerusalem Post for a better slant than NYTimes or MSN News. Just returned from Israel, and though life goes on daily, the people are under a heavy burden of constant tension. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

Patty Romaszka; Bellingham, WA
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In June 2001, a friend from Israel named Joel Marks and I spent a long weekend in Boston. In planning our Shabbat arrangements, we were pleased to find local people (most of whom are affiliated with Young Israel) who were exceptionally gracious about fulfilling the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, and we had a wonderful time in your beautiful community. Amy Waren hosted us for dinner on Friday night and Vivi and Nahi Simon hosted us for lunch on Saturday. Alex Segal and his roommate Jonathan were excellent hosts, even though they had never met either of us before. On Sunday we joined Alex on a group outing to the Minute Man Park. We arrived at the park via canoe along the Concord River. Alex's knowledge of the local area contributed to a scenic as well as an historic outing for the day. I am certain that Joel and I will retain many pleasant memories of our hosts, the entire Brookline kehillah, and our overall visit to Boston for a long time to come.

Jordan Rosenfeld ; Woodmere, NY
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We recently visited our son Ariel Weindling and his wife Sarah who are living in Boston and are members of YI of Brookline. We enjoyed very much the Davening and the Drasha by your guest speaker, Rabbi Twersky, on Shabbat. We hope to visit you again.

Gerard & Betty Weindling; Strasbourg, France
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Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated viewing your website. My husband will be taking a business trip to your area, and your page listing all the Orthodox minyanim in Brookline and their times, is very, very helpful!

Heather Price; Los Angeles, CA
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You have a wonderful website, and I, as a technological timid, who finds websites confusing with too many instructions and too many choices, think that the YI one is clear, welcoming, and useful.

Kim Michelson; Brookline, MA
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Hi everyone out there...Just wanted to say hi and wish you all our best.

Sara and Daniel Kutliroff, Gavi & Raina Rose; Chicago IL
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Just spent two wonderful shabbatot in Brookline with the family, and of course davened in the Young Israel. It was great to see the "old timers" and re-new our kesher with former Brookline friends. Please keep in touch through email.

Renee (Blechner), Howie, J.J. and Eli Hirsch; Ra'anana, Israel
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I just wanted to complement you on a terrific web site. I have been making many trips to Brookline recently and have found the site very helpful. Thanks!

Yoni Siegal; Riverdale, NY
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I just happened to stumble across your website. Very impressive! Being a third generation Y.I. of Brookliner (my parents are Julie & Natalie Brecher and my grandparents were Jack & Lil Freeman, a"h) and having grown up in the Young Israel of Brookline (from 1958-1980), I have very fond memories of my childhood there. (I even remember the house we davened in before the first building was built.) In March I recently paid my first visit to the new shul. What a magnificent structure! The community should be zocheh to celebrate many simchos in this mikdash me'at. It was very nice seeing the Loketchs, the Lebowitz's and many other people I remember from way back when. Has it really been so many years ago that I attended youth groups? Sang in Steve Shostack's choir? Decorated the Succah? Attended N.C.S.Y. conventions? I have some very fond memories from the Young Israel of Brookline and hope we can make more frequent visits to Brookline and the shul in the future.

Lisa (Brecher) Aranov; Far Rockaway, NY
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We were members of the Young Israel in 92/93. We had a wonderful experience there and made many friends most of whom we have kept in touch with. Mazel tov on the new building! After leaving Brookline to move to Florida for 5 years, we recently moved to New York. Our son Benny was born in Boston and very much wants to see his birthplace so now that we're closer we hope to visit soon with him and our daughter Emma. We'd love to hear from old friends. Feel free to email us.

Ed & Debby Oberstein; Woodmere, NY
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Your shul is lovely. We were members from 1972 - 1982 and have fond memories of davening, the shiurim and Rev. Loketch's wonderful laining and kiddush. Marcia was privileged to have made the Yosef needlepoint. We now daven at Cong. Shomrei Emunah with Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb. Hopefully we may get a chance to visit your Young Israel in the future.

Zev & Marcia Bitman; Baltimore, MD
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Rachel and I would like to express our thanks to the YI community for the wonderful hospitality we received here during our sabbatical in Brookline. Our enjoyment of this year was enhanced immeasurably by the opportunity of meeting so many interesting people. We were particularly touched that the hashkama minyan saw fit to honor us and Prof. Jaeger last week with a good-bye kiddush. May you continue to extend acts of "chessed" in the future. We hope to be able to reciprocate in Jerusalem.

Mark & Rachel Steiner; Jerusalem, Israel
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Great to find your website. Shavua tov! We have just enjoyed a Shabbat with our guest- Debbie Kram. Warm regards to all our YI Chevra.

Rachelle & Saul Isserow; Jerusalem, Israel
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Yasher Koach on the terrific web page and the beautiful new shul building. Although we have become accustomed to life in Dallas, we still consider Boston "home". Many trade shows, conferences and conventions take place here. We would love to have visitors if any of you have the occasion to be here. Best of regards to all!

Debi and Mark Berger; Dallas, Texas
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I am happy that I had the occasion to know about you through friends from Israel. Please continue with your work - it is an important way to connect us jews all over the world.

Leo Friedman; Frankfurt, Germany
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Mazal Tov upon the completion of your new home. I was a single student and living in Boston during the years of 1981-85. One thing sustained me during many intensive periods of studying anatomy, etc- my Shabbat at the YI of Brookline- and specifically the hospitality afforded to me so graciously and modestly by Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Katz. Chazak Chazak, veNizchazek!!

Robert Kirsch; Teaneck, NJ
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My wife Betsy and I were members of the Young Israel during the years 1975-1977, and fondly recall the community's hospitality and the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Kelemer. Special regards to our dear friends Debbie and Norman Kram.

Mendel & Betsy Shapiro; Jerusalem, Israel
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Mazal Tov on the completion of your new Mikdash Me'at. I will always carry wonderful, warm memories of YI from the years when I was student at BU and Harvard. I especially recall Rev Loketch's unforgettable davening, Mr. Katz' Hachnassat Orhim and the familial warmth of the community. Shanah Tova, u'vhatzlacha.

Jeffrey Woolf; Efrat, Israel
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Just want to say thank you for providing the Shana Tova card greeting service! I live in Austria, and it was tremendous fun to send cards to my friends abroad! A good New Year to your congregation!

Linda Kneucker; Vienna, Austria
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I was member of your shul in 1962, while getting my masters degree from MIT. Five years ago I moved from Switzerland to Israel and became a member in the New Synagogue of Netanya where Rabbi Forman was its first Rabbi. Please give my special regards to the Feuersteins. Ketiva Vachatima Tovah!

Udo Mannes; Netanya, Israel
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It is with pride we tell people that we were once members of the Young Israel of Brookline (we sometimes even admit we met through the shul's singles group). You stand as a testament to faith and the will to rebound from the devastation of destruction. Great Web Site!

Mark & Sandy Abraham; Highland Park, NJ
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Thank you very much for the arrangements for this past shabbat. Everything worked out so very well. We hope to visit you again on our future visits to your fair city.

Juda & Susan Jona; Skokie, IL
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As a former Bostonian, I find your website a fabulous way to keep in touch with my roots.

Arnold Shuster; Brooklyn, NY
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I thoroughly enjoyed my two summers spent at YI as a coordinator/member of the YU Summer Kollel. Mazal Tov on the new building! May we merit to see it transferred here to Israel speedily in our days!! Regards to Rabbi Gewirtz.

David Rosenbaum; Bet Shemesh, Israel
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Congratulations on the new shul building and the website ... both are very well done. It's been awhile since I was in Boston, so I'm not sure exactly who is still there. Please send my regards to the Batalion, Cohen and Feuerstein families.

Heshy Rosenwasser; Ocean Grove, NJ
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Shalom Aleichem to all. As a youngster I lived in Brookline and though our family davened at the Bostoner Rebbe's, the occasions we spent at YI were happy ones. Continued Hatzlacha in your efforts.

David Blashka; Elizabeth, NJ
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Your website has a wealth of wonderful and interesting information.

Jody Pintusewitz; Cape Town, South Africa
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SHALOM! Very wonderful work here.

Michelle Trzecinski; Cudahy, WI
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This past weekend I attended a singles shabbaton at your shul. It was great and I, and everyone I spoke to, felt the home hospitality hosts were super! There were people from all over the US, including NY, CT, MA, GA, FL, TN, TX and Canada. I look forward to staying in touch, via the internet, to find out about future events.

Robert Sigal; Houston, TX
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What a wonderful surprise to find our former shul on our computer screen. The Young Israel of Brookline was an important part of our lives. With warmest wishes and Hatzlachah Rabbah in your new building.

Frieda Cooper, Barbara and David Radinsky; Charleston, SC
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I just finished looking at pictures of your new shul. It certainly is a long way from the house we davened in when I and my parents, Herman zt"l & Frieda Cooper, moved to Brookline in 1955. The whole website is great and brings back many fond memories.

Arlene Cooper Strauss; Staten Island, NY
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We just spent two days of Yom Tov with our dear parents Rev. and Mrs. Loketch and it was an inspiration to daven in such a beautiful Mikdash M'at. May it serve as a vehicle to enhance our Avodas Hashem. We're looking forward to our next visit.

The Loketch Family; Monsey, NY
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It was exciting to discover your Web site. We wish all our friends in Brookline a Chag Kosher v'Sameach. Special greetings to Natalie & Julie Brecher, Seymour & Judy Schiff and Henry & Mimi Feuerstein. We look forward to getting e-mail from our old friends in Boston during the years 1974 to 1977.

Gerald & Shoshana Kaplan; Johannesburg, South Africa
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Thanks for posting your wonderful recipes. Out here on the West Coast we don't often get "haimeshe" Jewish cooking. I'm sure they're wonderful, and I look forward to trying them.

Michael Grinfeld; Fullerton, CA
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Your Web site is quite amazing; I spent the last hour+ of my day roaming around it, and am still not sure I hit everything important! It's a tremendous resource and is extremely well done. Keep up the good work!!

Noam Wasserman; Silver Spring, MD
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Your website is fantastic! It has certainly been an inspiration for the design and implementation of the Jewish Natick site. Kol HaKavod to all who set up such an informative and well-designed site.

Carolyn Lanzkron; Natick, MA
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Thrilled with the new building and the website. Proud to have been part of your history.

Rabbi Emanuel Forman; Bet Shemesh, Israel
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We spent last Shabbos at your Shul and in your community. The warmth and hospitality were amazing!!! Our hosts provided not only fantastic meals, but also warm hospitality. If we are ever fortunate enough to have to relocate to the Boston area, we know exactly where we would want to live. Your new building is a work of art and truly draws the worshipper in! Keep up the wonderful work.

Larry & Ricki Haber; Livingston, NJ
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I stumbled upon your website, and am extremely impressed. It's everything a website should be -- visually interesting, easy to navigate, and exceedingly informative.

Jill Martin; Watertown, MA
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I wish to commend you on your website. It is a beacon to those of us in the hinterlands who can come to Boston/Brookline only too rarely to attend shul and partake of other Jewish community activities. It's the next best thing to being there!

Al Shamash; Walpole, NH
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Great image of the newly built shul! Even with my black and white laptop the building looks wonderful! Mazal Tov to all the Young Israel members! I remember many a lovely Shabbat and Yom Tov among you and often think of you all when I daven here in Jerusalem, my home for the past 3 1/2 years. Feel free to give an "email shout" when coming through my neck of the woods.

Ronit Schwarz; Jerusalem, Israel
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The Web Site is a great contribution to the community. When I was in Japan this summer, I checked it on a regular basis to keep in touch with the progress and events.

Susanna Khavul; Boston, MA
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Kol Hakavod! Your web site is informative and very impressive. The Young Israel is part of many wonderful memories I have of growing up in Brookline and although I now live in Israel, it is nice to be able to keep track of the shul and the community. The new building looks magnificent. I can't wait to see it on my next visit.

Sima Tuchman Freedman; Efrat, Israel
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Mazal Tov on the inauguration of the new building. Sorry we weren't there, but on behalf of ourselves and Jenny and Nathan Better we wish you all the best from Down Under. We had a great time in Boston and YI was an important part of that experience. If you are heading this way please contact us. Keep in touch.

Lawrence & Sylvia, Michal, Tamara, Eitan and Liora Cher; Melbourne, Australia
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Congratulations! The page you created is absolutely beautiful and as president, I am very interested in creating one for the Young Israel of North Bellmore, NY.

Mike Sigal; North Bellmore, NY
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Your web site is extremely impressive - I had to check it out after my friends told me about it! As a young adult, it's great to see your shul so involved in the community.

Timothy Clark; Brookline, MA
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Mazel Tov on the rebuilding of the physical Shul, its spiritual content has endured throughout. Baruch Atta Schehecheyanu!

Arthur Dubroff; West Orange, NJ
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Your Web Site is terrific!!! Great job. People in other cities are using it as the model of what their shul's web page should look like.

Bruce Broder; New York, NY
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Your web site is very impressive and well done. It brings back fond memories of my days in Boston as a student.

Steven Bachrach; Merion, PA
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Just a quick note to say how nice it is to see your website. I spent many Shabbatot in Y. I. of Brookline, as the son-in-law of Aryeh Leib Abelow, ztl. Bhatzlaha.

Yaakov Zev; Jerusalem, Israel
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It was nice to see your web page. It brings back memories of the beautiful conference your Y.I. hosted in April of 1994 in memory of my father, Rabbi Jerome Fishman, A"H. I would love to hear from any of his former talmidim and friends.

Tova (Fishman) Taragin; Baltimore, MD
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We've thought of you over the last two weeks because we've just joined a new shul and they are in the process of trying to figure out how to organize a weekly kiddush (we've seen a fairly nice model at your YI...). Hope all is well in Brookline!

Leonard and Shira Be'eri; Talpiyot, Jerusalem
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I want to thank the YI community for the great hospitality that was extended to me two weeks ago at almost no notice. This was my first time to Boston, and it helped make for a very pleasant visit. If any of the congregants in the Young Israel travel in the future to Israel and are looking for a place to stay or a contact in Rehovot, please contact me. I wish all a "G'mar Chatima Tova".

David Wende; Rehovot, Israel
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Our very best wishes to all for a Shana Tova together with a Ketiva Vechatima Tova.

Barbara and Sam Dershowitz; Jerusalem, Israel
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Shalom and greetings to all our dear friends from the YI of Brookline. I am alive and well living in Eretz Yisroel (since '78), married with 5 sons. Everything here is fine, boruch HaShem! Anyone coming to Israel can contact us at 18 Rechov Shwartz, Raanana or tel. 09-454914. Brookline is a great and unique community. We miss you all. Happy 5757. Shanah Tovah.

Reuven (Bobby) Brauner; Raanana, Israel
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My wife and I returned to Brookline to commemorate the special weekend of my Bar Mitzvah on Shabbat Parshat Va'Etchanan held some 47 years ago when I lived in Boston. It was a dream fulfilled and nurtured since my youth. We were indeed honored and privileged to share of your hospitality, your warmth and kindness, and were grateful to partake of the fruits that pervade in your community. We eagerly look forward to following your growth and relocation to your new Bet Knesset via the internet.

Anna and Joe Gatz; Capetown, South Africa
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I was moved by my recent visit to the site of your new synagogue; it promises to be beautiful in every sense of the word. Such vibrancy here symbolizes the strength and power of this community to overcome the devastation of fire, and of course more. It is electrifying, not to exaggerate the sentiments. So too is your Web Site. You are proving, in the most dynamic medium, that there are no Jewish strangers. I view your web initiative as a sweet strategy to radiate chesed throughout our community and beyond.

Carole (Chaya) Davis; Brookline, MA
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Best wishes and mazel tov for your new building, as well as for your wonderful web site. From a native and long-ago resident of Boston, now a member of the small -- but vibrant -- Jewish Community of the Philippines.

Carl Hoffman; Makati, Metro Manila Philippines
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Greetings from Houston, Texas! It's nice to connect to my old home town and see what's going on at YI Brookline. Good luck with the new building.

Alan Kelleman; Houston, TX
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You have one of the best shul home pages I've seen on the WWW. I'm going to be in Boston the 4th of July weekend and found your information on the times for the Shiva Asar B'Tamuz fast and Shabbos very helpful.

Alex Segal; Forest Hills, NY
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How nice to be back with old friends. Best regards to HaRav Gewirtz and others at the Young Israel. I'll always remember how kind everyone was to me when I lived in Boston. Hatzlacha on the new building and may you go l'chayil el chayil.

Yakov Spil; Kew Gardens, NY
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It's so gratifying to see a community pull together after such physical devastation. It reminds me of how powerful the Jewish spirit can be in triumph over physical loss. Although I had a very secular role in this event, it awakened deep within me a Jewishness that I had not known for a long time.

Jim Kauffman, Former State Fire Marshal; Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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Your Web Site is brilliant and well thought thru'. I would pass this comment for a business/professional page - 'kal v'chomer for a shul. A lot of ideas for us to implement for our shul - the GGBH in London, England.

Yitz Katz, Editor of GGBH-ONLINE and chairman of Brijnet; London, UK
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Little did I imagine that the highlight of my Boston library conference would be Shabbos in Brookline. I felt most welcome both in shul and in the homes of my hosts. The warmth of your community made me feel truly at home. And to think that I found you on the Internet!

Kathy Greenberg; Silver Spring, MD
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Just finished going through your Web Site and found it to be very useful! As I've spent many summers in Boston, I know lots of people there, mostly from Camp Grossman. Now I can track their simchas and contact them if they're due a Mazel Tov.

Daniel (Doni) Rosenzweig; Staten Island, NY
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Its been 14 years since I davened at the YI of Brookline, but I will always remember the hospitality of the shul especially those people who made sure that all the singles had a place to eat every Shabbos.

Stuart A. Cohnen; New York, NY
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This web site is amazing.. It lets me track my father's work from my yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem. The new shul looks great! Keep up the good work.

Dov Kram; Jerusalem, Israel
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Very impressive! I really like the information and the care that was taken to develop and present it in the manner you have done. B"N I will make a special point of visiting your shul in person when I'm next in Boston. Keep up the good work!

Eliyahu Goldberg; London, England
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We were very glad to be members of Young Israel two years ago. We're living in Israel now, but we'll be back in Boston for the next academic year, and we're looking forward to seeing the new shul and to introducing our son Benjamin (aged 10 months, born in Jerusalem) to the youth program.

Joshua and Louise Fox; Jerusalem, Israel
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Mazel Tov... This is a great idea for our shul and community! Hope you include all local information. We congratulate all those who have made this possible!

Mark & Debbie Blechner; Brookline, MA
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The Young Israel of Brookline has always played a key role in my life and growth. When my father Henry Heilman, A'H, recently passed away, he was laid to rest in the shul cemetery among the people of the community I remember fondly as a youngster growing up. The Young Israel will always remain close to me and my family.

Samuel Heilman; New Rochelle, NY
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It's beautiful to be able to see the progress of the new Shul 300 miles away from my home in New Jersey. Keep up the good work.

Phyllis Weiner Miller; Teaneck, NJ
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I visited your website and was highly impressed with both the site as well as the quality and level of your activities. Please extend regards to Rabbi Gewirtz, my former YU classmate.

Richard Stareshefsky; Director of Youth & Young Adult Activities at NCYI, New York, NY
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Congratulations on a great Web Site. Hello to Debby Katz-Cohen and other Maimonides alums of our generation.

Boris Furman; Evanston, IL
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Great Site. Nicely put together and complete.

Ari Epstein; Cambridge, MA
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Just finished browsing your Young Israel Web Site. It's GREAT! Keep up the good work.

Dr. Avi Soclof; Ann Arbor, MI
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The Hauser Family sends greetings to everyone in Brookline. Keep up the good work on your new HomePage. It's a great way for us to keep up-to-date on what's going on in the Shul and in the community. Regards to everyone.

The Hauser Family; Jerusalem, Israel
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