HONORING SUSAN & BARRY PODOLSKY Susan and Barry Podolsky have a lifelong history of synagogue involvement, volunteerism and leadership. They met at age sixteen at their Skokie, Illinois congregation where Barry was the youth group president and Susan was a volunteer at the “Lox Box” fundraiser leading to their love story and marriage six years later. After Barry earned his MBA, which led to a career in both public accounting and commercial real estate, and Susan followed her path as an educator, they relocated to Florida and immersed themselves in the Jewish community of North Miami Beach. They both served on the Board of Directors and Susan became the Co-President of Sisterhood and the founding President of the Preschool PTO at Temple Sinai, Miami Beach. Additionally, they had active leadership roles in the Miami Jewish Federation and the Michael-Ann Russell JCC. During a very challenging time in the center’s history, Barry was asked to become the Executive Director and found it to be his most rewarding career. Upon moving to Boca Raton in 1987, they immersed themselves in Jewish life, committing themselves to multiple leadership roles both within the local community and at Temple Beth El. Susan and Barry have used their professional expertise and passions to work with clergy, lay leaders and volunteers to provide support, guidance, engagement opportunities and meaningful experiences for our members and the Jewish community at large. As a participant in the Wexner Heritage Program, Barry deepened his Jewish knowledge and leadership skills and was appointed to the Federation’s Young Leadership Board as both the Campaign Chair and Chair of the Business & Professional Division. He later served as Chair of the Jewish Education Commission, the Facilities Corporation and as a member of the Board of Donna Klein Jewish Academy. Today Barry continues to serve as a member of the Federation Board of Directors and as one of the Founding Directors of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences. In 1989 Susan and Barry and all the Wexner participants were inspired to provide the seed money to work with Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services to begin a Russian Resettlement Program, where Susan became the Director of the program. In conjunction with other Jewish organizations and synagogues they fostered a program that gave New Americans the tools to become independent and active members of our Jewish community. At Temple Beth El, Barry has served in many capacities including VP of Finance, Religious Activities, and Development eventually becoming Executive VP and ultimately the President of the congregation. Currently a Board and Leadership Council member, Barry has been actively involved in chairing each capital campaign, securing land for the Beck Family Campus, and acquiring Somerset Academy as a tenant on the Schaefer campus. As the head of the building project on the Beck Family Campus, a member of the Task Force on the expansion of the Schaefer Campus, Barry dons a hard hat often as he proudly inspects the construction. Susan equally has participated in vital roles including Vice President of Membership and has chaired many events and projects including Art Gala and task forces on Donor Recognition and Art. Their devotion to all of these roles brought Susan and Barry great personal fulfillment, but equally important to them, these positions led them to many of the friends they cherish. The Podolskys are honored and humbled to be Temple Beth El’s 2019 Bash honorees. They are absolutely thrilled that this year’s fund-raising cause is the creation of a new Special Needs Initiative, an issue that is very dear to their hearts.