Congregation Beth Israel will pay tribute to Lea and Richard Rubenstein for their years of dedicated service.

Richard and Lea Rubenstein will be honored by Congregation Beth Israel on Sept. 25. Submitted photo

Submitted

Congregation Beth Israel will honor Lea and Richard Rubenstein for their exemplary commitment to the Jewish community at a Tribute on Sunday, Sept. 25. “In every generation there have been those in our community whose dedication and support we have depended and relied on,” states the Congregation’s Senior Rabbi, Michael Pincus. “For many years, Richard and Lea have been pillars of Congregation Beth Israel and beyond. Their involvement and guidance of the Congregation, and in the greater Hartford Jewish community has been a blessing. They have devoted their lives to the Jewish people, and we look forward to honoring and thanking them in deep appreciation.”

The Rubenstein’s journey of dedication to Jewish service began in 1966 when Richard was invited to join a group of college students on a 10 week study mission to the Joint Distribution Committee’s Jewish rescue and relief operations in Europe and Israel. The group of seven college students visited Switzerland, Morocco, France, Italy, Israel and Austria observing not only the operations of JDC but the Jewish Agency, HIAS and ORT as well as other organizations working in affiliation with JDC.

At the HIAS office in Vienna Richard’s group interviewed Eastern European refugees waiting for visas to the United States and met (for less than one minute) Lea Elias who two years later became Richard’s wife and lifelong love and partner. Richard credits that summer with changing his life.

As he observed the humanitarian relief provided by the JDC, his eyes were opened to the great need of fellow Jews around the world, and he made a pledge to somehow help the Jewish people. The Rubensteins consider their meeting bashert, an act of fate. They have been giving back to the community ever since.

Anne Danaher, Executive Director of Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford (JFS), expressed how fortunate JFS has been to have Lea as a long time Board member. “Lea was very involved in our efforts to resettle refugees from the former Soviet Union and did a lot of direct work with refugees to help them set up their first apartments in the Hartford area. As a resettled person herself, Lea understood the resettlement experience and what was needed to make refugees feel more at home. Lea led JFS as its Board President from 1992-1994 and represented JFS with great integrity and professionalism on the National HIAS Board. She set an example of dedicated leadership for all of us.”

Lea also served as President of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford from 2001-2003. Its Executive Director, Estelle Kafer, praises both Lea and Richard for their continuous support and for their planning and funding a book on the History of Hartford Jewish Federation that was published by the historical Society in 2006.

The Rubenstein’s have been on 25 trips to Israel, most of which have been missions that they led or participated in as part of the Hartford Jewish Federation Annual Campaign  They have also visited many corners of the world – including places such as Minsk, Baku, Tashkent, Kiev, Moscow, Buenos Aries and Havana–to visit Jews in need. (In fact Richard has been to 124 countries not including a pending trip to Easter Island this fall).

“We are truly blessed to have among us, Richard and Lea Rubenstein, so committed a family who are integral to the growth and vitality of our Jewish community,” states Howard Sovronsky, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. “Richard, currently an active member of the Board of the Jewish Federation, has previously served on our Board in various capacities including Chairman of the Annual Campaign from 2001-2003 and as President of the Board from 2003-2005. Richard and Lea have continued to be strong supporters of the Jewish community locally, in Israel and throughout the world. We are so grateful for their generosity, their dedication and support. I cannot think of two more deserving people to be honored by Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue the Rubensteins hold so dearly in their hearts and souls.”

Richard and Lea joined Beth Israel in 1970 and raised their family there. Their daughter, Anne and son, Peter, both served as President of Beth Israel’s youth group, WHTY, while teenagers. Richard served as President of the Congregation from 1997 through 1999. He describes this experience as “a wonderful, gratifying honor.”

Bringing full circle the Rubenstein legacy of giving, Richard served as Board Chairman of Hebrew Health Care from 2011 through 2013, following in the footsteps of his father, Charles, who also served as Chair. Most recently, he joined the Board of Park Road Playhouse of West Hartford and has been integral in growing the organization. Richard also currently serves on a number of other Boards including the Maurice Greenberg Center at the University of Hartford and the Ben Bronz Academy of West Hartford. And Richard and Lea also manage Plymouth Spring Company in Bristol, CT.

“The Rubensteins have given generously of their time, energy and support not just to Congregation Beth Israel, but to so many organizations throughout Greater Hartford and beyond,” says Beth Israel’s president, Gail Mangs. “Few people have been as dedicated as Lea and Richard. Whether directly or indirectly, their work has touched and enriched the lives of each of us. So it is fitting that Congregation Beth Israel, with the support of the community, will now be honoring their contributions with a formal recognition that is long overdue.”

The Tribute will begin at 5 p.m. with a cocktail buffet, and a program will follow. Proceeds from the evening will benefit The Rabbi’s Tribute Fund for Lifelong Learning at Congregation Beth Israel. For more information and to make reservations, contact the synagogue at [email protected] or 860-233-8215, or visit via the Synagogue’s website: www.cbict.org.

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue located in West Hartford, Connecticut. It is a family-friendly congregation and spiritual home for people of all ages and backgrounds including interfaith couples, single adults and the LGBT community. It offers personal exploration, spiritual connection and engagement in the world through worship, lifelong learning and social justice programming. Visit www.cbict.org to learn more.