Charlene:
My maternal grandparents, Samuel and Dora Mann (z’’l), came from Poland after World War One.  My mother Bella Goldstein (z’’l) was the eldest of seven children, my mother and her siblings attended Strathcona School. 

My father, Max Goldstein (z’’l) was born in Radisson Saskatchewan in 1910 and moved to Vancouver with his father, grandmother, and sister in 1930.

Sam and Dora Mann belonged to the Schara Tzedeck on Heatley Street. In 1935, my mother and father, Max and Bella Goldstein were married by Rabbi Pastinsky (z’’l). In 1947, when the Schara Tzedeck moved to Oak Street, my grandparents and parents moved to Oak Street soon after.

My sister, Rochelle Hammer and my brother, Gerry Goldstein (z’’l) sat with my grandparents and parents, three generations.

My father and mother were both active at Schara Tzedeck. My mother was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary and baked many hamantaschen with Molly Elias (z’’l) who was in charge of the kitchens. My father, an electrician, was on-call to the Shul.  My dad crafted the first Purim Gragger ‘stop and go lights”.

I attended Schara Tzedeck afternoon school from Kindergarten to Grade Seven.  Our class of Grade Seven girls were the first to have a group Bat Mitzvah, we had the honour of studying with Rabbi Goldenberg (z’’l) to prepare for our Bat Mitzvahs.  I remember Junior Congregation, attending classes in the classrooms behind the women’s balcony and moving to new classrooms after the addition was built.

My husband, Alex Zbar and I met at a Simchat Torah Hillel event at Rabbi Hier’s home.  Rabbi Hier married us at Schara Tzedeck on July 4, 1974.  Our daughter, Ariella, celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Schara Tzedeck, she studied with Rabbi and Shayndel (z’’l) Feuerstein.  Our son Eli celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Schara Tzedeck, he studied with Rabbi Baumol and Cantor Orzech.

I have been blessed to study with and learn from Rabbi Goldenberg, Rabbi Hier, Rabbi Feuerstein, Shayndel Feuerstein, Dr. Ralph Rothstein and Rabbi Rosenblatt.  Rabbi Rosenblatt continues the tradition of leading and caring for our Kehila and the Jewish community at large.

My favourite moment at Schara Tzedeck is at the end of Yom Kippur when we all sing Avinu Malkeinu.  I remember the faces and voices of my parents, grandparents, and the many builders of our Shul. I pray that our voices and commitment to Schara Tzedeck remain strong, L’dor V’dor!

Alex:
My maternal grandparents, Eduard and Elsa Steiner (z’’l), came to Canada from Austria in the 1920’s with their children. My mother Eva (z’’l) attended Strathcona School with Bella Goldstein’s younger siblings.  My father, Chaim Zbar (z’’l) arrived in Vancouver as a Holocaust survivor and refugee in 1948. Chaim and Eva were married in September 1949 at Schara Tzedeck, shortly after it was opened. Chaim became a regular at Schara Tzedeck and was honoured many times with the Yom Kippur Haftarah. His grandsons Zohar and Omri Amouyal now alternate yearly with each other with that Haftarah, carrying on the family tradition.

When Rabbi Marvin Hier married Charlene and me, it was the joining of two families that represent a combined history with Schara Tzedeck going back four generations.

Many years ago, I came to love the cantoriaI talents our Shul has been blessed with. Cantor Moshe Preis (z’’l) set the gold standard with his rendition of Kol Nidre. I continue to enjoy the variety and richness of Cantor Yaacov Orzech’s melodies as he performs solo and with the choir he directs.

I met Rabbi Rosenblatt when he became leader of our Congregation. He has always been energetic and inspiring. It is very interesting to listen to his Shabbat drashes as he compares our spiritual path with our regular daily lives, especially in these rapidly changing and challenging times. I have attended many of the Rabbi’s evening classes, starting with Partnership in Torah, and continuing today as we learn from the Tanach. Each class is rich with spiritual and historical explanations and commentary of each line in the Books. No class has ever been without a valuable takeaway! I look forward each week to learning a new and interesting view of the writings.

Echoing Charlene, I too pray that Schara Tzedeck continues to grow and goes from strength to strength, “Yasher Koach”!