Honoring the Balmuths and the Harwoods

On May 17, 1964, twelve people gathered at the home of Sheldon and Jean Samuels to explore alternatives to the existing Jewish communal life in Saratoga Springs. At the time, there was only one synagogue in town, and it was orthodox. Out of this modest beginning almost fifty years ago, Temple Sinai was born. In its first year of existence, it had an annual budget of $3775 and membership dues were $150. The newly established Temple Sinai Religious School had an enrollment of 18 students in the fall of 1964, taught by three teachers, one of whom was Rita Balmuth. Much has changed at Temple Sinai since those early years, but there are two couples whose membership in our community has been a constant from the early days of our congregation to the present day: Dan and Rita Balmuth, and Gil and Selma Harwood.

            We first met the Balmuths when we came to Saratoga Springs in May of 1986, to interview for the position of rabbi. We had a nine-month old baby daughter with us. Dan and Rita set up a crib for Rachel in one of their upstairs bedrooms and warmly welcomed us as their guests for the weekend. They answered our many questions about Temple Sinai and life in Saratoga Springs and provided us with our first taste of the community that would become our home.

            And we remember Gil and Selma from the first Friday evening in July, 1986, the weekend before we assumed our duties as rabbis of Temple Sinai. We had moved to the area just a day or two before and decided to attend the Temple’s Shabbat services. Gil was the lay service leader that evening, and Selma was her warm and gracious self. The minyan was informal, a circle of chairs in the parlour, and Gil’s voice was the beautiful one that we have all come to know and love over the years as our High Holiday chazzan.

            Dan and Gil are both past presidents of Temple Sinai; both served for many years as lay service leaders, as members of the Board, the Ritual Committee and other Temple committees, as active participants in Adult Ed course offerings and Temple events. Rita and Selma have likewise supported the Temple in a host of different capacities; it is not surprising that they were among the first members of Temple Sinai’s Caring Community Committee, as they occupied that role informally for years before the committee was established. They were generally the first who would offer to help, or take charge of organizing the help for any Temple member in need of meals or special assistance.

            Temple Sinai now has over 200 member households and a religious school with nine times as many students as that first cohort in 1964. Much has changed over the years, but the presence and support of Dan and Rita and Gil and Selma has been a constant. On Friday evening, Feb 4, we are delighted to have the opportunity to join with the rest of Temple Sinai in honoring these four pillars of our community for all that they have given to us over the years.