Irvin Skopp Elected President of Baron Hirsch

Baron Hirsch Congregation held its annual general membership meeting and elections on January 15, 2012.  The meeting, which was held in the Marsi Moss Social Hall of the congregation, began with a gala brunch.

Elected for a one year term as president of the congregation was Irvin Skopp.  Mr. Skopp serves as Vice President and Director of Asset Management for Belz Enterprises.  He has been active in Baron Hirsch, either as a board member or committee chair, almost continually since 1973.  He has also served as a lay leader in many other community organizations, including a past president of the Margolin Hebrew Academy, past vice president of the Memphis Jewish Federation, founding member and first president of the Eruv of Memphis, past board member of the Jewish Children’s Regional Service and past board member of Jewish Family Service.

Irvin is married to Elaine W. Skopp, and is the son of Florence Skopp and the late Rabbi Cantor David Skopp.  Rabbi Skopp served Baron Hirsch for over fifty years as Cantor and Assistant Rabbi.

Presiding over the meeting was David Cooper, who was completing two years of service as president of the Baron Hirsch.  Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, Senior Rabbi of the congregation, presented the major annual awards.

In his opening remarks, Rabbi Finkelstein praised all of the wonderful activities in the congregation and thanked the leadership and the membership for their tremendous efforts, challenging them to take every aspect of the congregation’s activities to an even greater level.  In speaking about Mr. Cooper, Rabbi Finkelstein thanked him for his constant devotion to the congregation and his hard wrk over the last two years.

Congregation members Dessie Sewel and Rabbi David Radinsky each received the Louis Turetsky Memorial Chesed Award.  In expressing her feelings about the special nature of Baron Hirsch, Mrs. Sewel spoke about how the shul is her religious home, and how it is such an important part of her life.  Rabbi Radinsky spoke about his family’s decision to move to Memphis following his retirement from the Rabbinate and over 30 years of service in Charleston, South Carolina.  He thanked Rabbi Finkelstein and the congregation for giving his family the opportunity to continue doing all of activities that are most important to them.

Harold Wormser was the recipient of the Sam Abraham Memorial Award as the 2011 Member of the Year.  In accepting the award, Mr. Wormser discussed the growing importance of Baron Hirsch in his life over the recent years.  Mr. Sidney Abraham, son of the late Sam Abraham, presented the award which carries his father’s name.

In his remarks on the state of the congregation, Mr. Cooper reported on many of the new programs and initiatives that the congregation has undertaken over the last year.  He recognized Rabbi Finkelstein for his tremendous leadership, and thanked the various members of the clergy and professional staff, as well as the members of the board and the many volunteers.

Sidney Goldstein, representing Goldstein & Associates P.C., gave the financial report to the membership.  David Cooper then presented the slate of officers and trustees for the approval of the membership.

In addition to the election of Irvin Skopp as president, elections we held for all other officers as well.  Others elected to positions as officers were: Pace Cooper - 1st Vice President; Morris Thomas - 2nd Vice President; Harold Wormser – Vice president; Dr. Ellis Tavin - Vice President; Sarah Thomas - Treasurer; David Mendelson - Secretary; David Cooper – Gabbai Rishon; Elliot Wender - Gabbai Shaynee; Louis Safier – Assistant Gabbai, Eric Schubert – Assistant Gabbai and Gerald Ballin – Warden. 

Elected to the Board of Trustees for two-year terms were: Dr. Sandy Cohen, Richard Lewis, Neal Loskovitz, Jeri Moskovitz, Adam Nahmias, Emily Steinberg, Dr. Mitch Steiner, Stuart Thomas, Frank Udelsohn and Scott Vogel.