The
History | Who We Serve |
Our Mission |
Our Community |
Our Board
The History of
Congregation Shalom Aleichem
Congregation
Shalom Aleichem as the only Reform Temple in Osceola County began
its long journey in the late 1800’s when Mr. Katz opened a store.
Even as late as 1960 there were only three (3) Jewish families in
Kissimmee and they attended services in Orlando. Today only Harry
and Carol Lowenstein and Pat Wolfe remain as the current members of
the Congregation. In the 1980’s there began a movement to organize
the Jewish families in the Kissimmee area. Under the banner of “The
Kissimmee Jewish Community” the families began to conduct services
at various places in the St. Cloud and Kissimmee area. Efforts early
on to build a Temple failed due to a lack of capital. The Kissimmee
Jewish Community hired various Rabbis to conduct services and when
not available they were conducted by a lay leader, Harry Lowenstein.
A Torah was purchased and an Alabama Congregation donated Prayer
Books.
In 1990 the Kissimmee Jewish community changed its name to
Congregation Shalom Aleichem and as today became a member of the The
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). The Congregation
continued to hire Rabbis to conduct their services and search for a
permanent place of worship. A major part of the growth was the
securing of a second Torah in 1993. This Torah is over 200 years old
and is a “Holocaust Torah” one that was restored in England after
they were discovered after the war in basements. These are the
Torahs confiscated by the Germans in World War II. Harry and Carol
Lowenstein sponsored the restoration costs. We have a special
membership rates for first time members and those in the area part
time.
In 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Sandor Salmagne offered to build a Temple
as a permanent memorial to the 32 members of the Kywi and Salmagne
families who perished in the concentration camps during the
Holocaust. On March 6, 1994 the Temple was dedicated in a special
ceremony attend my local dignitaries and local Pastors.
Today the Congregation looks forward to growth based on the
ever-growing population in the area of the Temple.
The Community We Serve
We are the only Reform Jewish Temple in Osceola County. The building
is located at 3501 Oak Pointe Blvd in Kissimmee, Florida.
Click here for Directions. Services are conducted the first and third
Fridays of each month at 8:00 p.m. and on major holidays. Call the
Congregation President (Herbert Siegel at 863-852-3875) for
more information.
The easiest way to get to the Temple is to take John Young
Parkway south to Pleasant Hill Road. Make a left turn on to Pleasant
Hill and go 3.1 miles. Temple building is on your right.
If you wish to be added to our mailing list go to the "Contact Us"
section.
Our Mission
We are a Congregation that provides Jewish Services to all who wish
to partake. All couples of blended unions are welcome. We provide a
source of community and want to be a strong element to those of the
Jewish faith and to those wishing to learn more of the Jewish faith
and life style.
New families and singles to our area are encouraged to attend
services. When you feel comfortable with our Congregation please
asked about our membership plan. We can work with you on a payment
plan. We have a special membership rates for first time members and
those in the area part time.
We believe that our building is more than just a place to go for
Shabbat Services. It is a place for family unity and involvement in
our faith. The Congregation strives to become an active part of the
Kissimmee and County community.
We are members of The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).
This organization will make us a stronger Reform Congregation with
the support of an organization that has over 900 Reform
Congregations in the Union.
We further structure our basic beliefs in accordance with those
set forth by The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).
Our Place in the Community
Our community is important to us, and as we grow we desire to
participate in all multi-cultural activities. As soon as we have an
adequate number of children to start a Hebrew School we will do so.
Our location offers an opportunity for members to attend activates
at the Jewish Community Center in Orlando. A very large retirement
community (Solivita) near us is also a growing source of Jewish
activities in their newly established Shalom Club.
Our over riding goal is to establish an Hebrew School as soon as
we can obtain the services of volunteer teachers and a Rabbi. Please
contact the Temple if you are interested in this project either as a
teacher or if you have children who need instruction.
Our
Board
LTC (Ret) Herbert Siegel
LTC (Ret) Herbert Siegel s a retired Army officer with 25
years of active duty. He started out as an enlisted soldier. Both he
and his twin brother went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and
graduated as 2nd Lieutenants in March 1960. Over the next 25 years
he had assignments to various stateside posts and foreign duty in
Korea, Laos, Okinawa, Vietnam, and Germany. Duties included Battery
Commander in Miami during the Cuban Crisis (Feb 64-Spt 65),
Battalion Executive Officer with a Nike Hercules Missile Unit in
Germany (72-Jul 75), 24th Corps Artillery Adjutant in Vietnam
(1969), and his last assignment as Professor of Military Science
with Fordham ROTC in the Bronx New York (1978-1983).
After retiring in 1983 he established the first Army JROTC in
Miami’s Killian High School. His leadership in this program lead to
Dade Country putting in over 30 military JROTC programs. In 1998 he
retired again and built a home here in Kissimmee near Lake Toho. He
currently does substitute teaching in local schools.
LTC Siegel’s decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct
Medal, Vietnam Service Medals and the Army Outstanding Civilian
Service Medal. He also has been awarded the Special Forces Tab and
the Combat Infantry Badge.
In addition to his Life Membership in the JWV he is a life member of
the VFW, American Legion, Military Order of World Wars, Vietnam
Veterans of America, and the Military Officers Association Of
America.
LTC(Ret) Siegel has been a member of Shalom
Aleichem since 1998 and was a past President, Vice -President
and is now the 2006 current President.. LTC Siegel is also the
editor of the Temple newsletter
Alan Adelman
Alan was born Oct 2, 1943 Brooklyn New York: Joined the Navy
upon Graduation from Sheepshead Bay HS. Brooklyn.
Twenty years in the Navy: He was a Hospital Corpsman which
involved several Independent Sea Duty billets on various Naval
Vessels ( FF- Frigates-- ATF's Diving & Salvage -- SSBN- Submarine).
Alan spent two tours in Vietnam 1966-1968 attached to FMF 3RD MARDIV
( 3rd Bn 4 Mar & 3rd Engineers) During which I was awarded 3 Purple
Hearts, Bronze Star w/Combat "V") among other distinguishing
Personal and Unit awards.
He received an Associates degree from UCLA, Meredith
Campus--Majoring in Hospital Administration & BS from Univ. of
Maryland- Off campus - Major -- Business ( Minor Accounting). He
spent 20 Years with US Small Business Administration in Dallas
initially as a Regional Contracting Officer and later as District
Office Loan Officer (Liquidation). He retired in Nov 1998 and moved
to Poinciana. Married Grace Knight in 1974, she is originally from
England and became an American Citizen in 1983.
Alan is currently our 1st Vice President.
Cantor Isaac Kriger
was born in
Monterrey, Mexico of Lithuanian Jewish parents who had immigrated to
Mexico in 1933. He was brought at a very young age to Los Angeles in
the 1950’s and given a traditional Jewish upbringing.
Cantor Kriger’s formal Jewish musical education began with his
engagement, while still in his late teens, as a tenor soloist for
the Pasadena Temple, where he sang for five years under the
direction of the well-respected Cantor Michael Breem. Cantor
Kriger’s Cantorial training continued under the tutelage of the
eminent Polish Cantor Moshe Semigran, in Boston Massachusetts, from
whom he learned the traditional melodies and with whom he perfected
his cantorial improvisational skills. Later, he added contemporary
melodies to his repertoire through further studies with the
well-known Cantor Glora Sharon, in Palm Springs California. Thus,
Cantor Kriger’s training and experience have given him the unique
ability to daven both in the traditional as well as the new
contemporary style. He is equally at home with the styles of the
great cantors of the past as with the contemporary compositions of
Cantor Meir Finkelstein and Debbie Friedman.
Cantor Kriger also spent two years under contract with the Israel
National Opera as a principal tenor soloist, after which he
continued his career as an opera singer in Europe and the U.S.A.
Cantor Kriger officiated in the Boston area in both the Reform
and Conservative movements. Of particular note is that in 1995 and
1996, he officiated as Cantor for the High Holy Days Holidays
services held in the sanctuary at Temple Ner Maraav in Encino,
California, having been chosen by the renowned Cantor Uri Frenkel
originally to assist him for the 1995 High Holidays, but then taking
over the services completely due to Cantor Frenkel’s untimely death
shortly before the Holidays.
Cantor Kriger assisted by his wife Liz, who also has a wonderful
voice, continues to provide inspirational Sabbath Services at
Congregation Shalom Aleichem. He has been at the Temple for the last
five years. He addition Cantor Kriger has produced and sung in
performances celebrating Yiddish Theater at various congregations in
the country.
Cantor Kriger and Liz will be conducting this years High Holy Day
Service along with Rabbi Arnold Zoref. This will be an inspiring
services and one that will be remembered by all that attend.
