As well as we hope our directions in life are strong, one’s personal compass can often be reset to true north by others who look for unshakable guideposts for us in the shifting sands of time.
This past Sunday, a host of friends, congregants and supporters at Shir Tikvah in Homewood honored one of these seekers, Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, who in 1979 broke the stained glass ceiling by becoming the first woman rabbi ordained in Illinois.
It was a tempered celebration; on one hand paying tribute to her concern for both her congregation and her community, but with the knowledge that soon she and husband, Dr. Jim Dreyfus, leave Homewood after 42 years for the north suburb of Highland Park.
Words of praise flowed over the gathering as she was honored for service and dedication to her congregation and her community.
For her part, she said she was “almost overwhelmed” by the tributes and admitted that when she went to rabbinic school she had “a hunger to study and along the way I became a rabbi.”
She served congregations in Michigan and Kankakee before becoming rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in Park Forest in 1987. In 1998, Beth Sholom merged with B’nai Yehuda in Homewood and she became the rabbi of the new congregation, which in later years, and after a merger with Congregation Am Echad in Park Forest, became Shir Tikvah.
In the interest of truth, it must be reported that we are members of Shir Tikvah and hold her in high regard. As others tell us and as we told her, she is our rabbi.
Steve Miller
There are people like the late Steve Miller who seemed to enhance everything they do in life and almost every person they touch.
It was some 50 years ago, as the high school sports editor for the Tribune, I first met Miller, who was then the Bloom High School track coach. In both 1972 and 1976, Bloom was the runner-up in the state track meet.
Steve was ready to make his mark on the athletic world and, with a master’s degree from Governors State University, was hired at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo in 1976, leading the track team to three NCAA Division II titles in track and two in cross country. He then began a nine-year stay at Kansas State University, rising from track coach to athletic director.
Nike sportswear was next, where after nine years he rose to director of global sports marketing relations before leaving.
Later in life, Miller is credited with revitalizing the Professional Bowling Association before leaving to become the CEO of the Agassi Graf Holdings and still later a faculty member at the University of Oregon.
Miller died in June and is survived by his wife and two children. A celebration of his life will be held on July 7 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Portland, Oregon.
It is to be noted that in a story about his career at Cal Poly, reported in an interview with the Daily Southtown, he is quoted as saying:
“Bottom line … Bloom High School was the best 10 years of my life.”
A fan for fans
Last Friday, an anonymous donor left a box containing a large fan by the front door of the First Baptist Church of Park Forest. I suspect by now a sweltering resident of Autumn Ridge apartments will find life a little more pleasant.
The fan is just one of many sent to the church in recent days after its pastor, Village Trustee Randall White, publicized the plight of residents trying to survive nearly 100-degree temperatures without the benefit of working air conditioners.
In recent days White said he received donations of 40 air-conditioning units which he said were quickly installed, as well as donations from three Park Forest churches: Faith Movers Church, Rehoboth Ministries Church and the Destined to Win Christian Center.
Jerry Shnay is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.