Anyone deserving of an 'Honorable Menschen,' can contact Howard Berger via his e-mail: Howardberger9798@aol.com or by fax: 822-3670.

RABBI GELLER SAYS DEPARTURE OF RABBI PLOTKIN WILL BE "IRREPARABLE LOSS" TO COMMUNITY

Ever since he assumed the pulpit at Margate's Beth El Synagogue seven years ago Rabbi Shalom Plotkin and Temple Emeth Shalom's spiritual leader, Rabbi Gordon Geller have been good friends and spiritual colleagues, despite different Judaic persuasions - Geller, a Reform rabbi and Plotkin, from the Conservative movement. Next month, Plotkin leaves his post. Geller showered his friend with very kind praises: "Another fearless rabbi-teacher and social activist (Plotkin) role model - especially toward the elderly and disabled as well as the poor and downtrodden - will soon be stepping down from his Margate (Beth El) pulpit. Our community's irreparable loss will prove to be the priceless gain of Rabbi Shalom Plotkin's new congregation," wrote Geller in his monthly Shalom Again column. Geller said of Plotkin, sizing up their many ecumenical and civic accomplishments, "We have been dubbed by some JCC regulars as their rabbinic dynamic duo." Indeed they have. In his final column in Beth El's monthly Megillah, Rabbi Plotkin who steps down in mid-July, says he will spend the summer relaxing on the beach before moving on. Rabbi Plotkin thanked those working with him. "I will really miss my students who taught me as much as I taught them and my outstanding staff as it has truly been a pleasure to work with you in the service of God and the community." He said in conclusion, "I am in the position of not knowing where I'll be called to serve next, but I will leave my forwarding address." It was a gracious farewell and HM wishes Plotkin a warm and gratifying future.

TIME MAGAZINE PUBLISHES BOOK WITH DRAMATIC PHOTOS AND MUCH INFO ON MIDDLE EAST

The troubled and volatile Middle East with Israel and the Arabs featured in text and photos has been published by Time Magazine and is a "must read" book at a surprisingly low price of $2.75 for regular subscribers. The volume has an insightful opening: "The Middle East is born with rich history and soaked in blood." The book (in color) details the history, the cultures, the conflicts and the faiths of a region that has defied solutions for a lasting peace. It has a dramatic view by former President Jimmy Carter who in 1978 thought he had brokered a peace agreement between Menachem Begin and Egypt's President Anwar Sadat, a move which cost Sadat his life. Carter wrote, "The ultimate key to peace in the Middle East is Israel and Palestine" (living side-by-side in a peaceful two-state relationship), which has defied solution and has been "a source of global conflict." Read the book for an interesting perspective. Begin and Sadat were honored as Nobel Laureates for their efforts, which failed. Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his "decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts."

CORRECTING SOME FACTS ABOUT MULTI TALENTED DR. BILL VILENSKY D.O. IN RECENT COLUMN

HM thanks Dr. Murray N. Matez D.O. a colleague of Dr. Bill Vilensky D.O. for some corrections in last week's column about Vilensky's honor as "Physician of the Year" awarded by the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. "Vilensky was chosen by a committee of his peers and not Dr. Thomas Cavalieri and not the NJ college at the convention in Atlantic City of the NJ Assn. of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons," explained Dr. Matez, who we thank for the corrections. Also Dr. Alan Carr is the 2009-2010 president of the NJAOPS and not the college.

HM WELCOMES AC PRESS LETTERS DEFENDING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST

In past HM columns we have referred to pro- Israel letters appearing locally in the Press of AC strongly defending Israel's fight against the Arabs for its very existence, such as those from Beth Judah's Paul Schwab. Last Friday's Press editorial page had a very pro-Israel letter from

Maxine Winston of Atco. She wrote, "It's fine to seek peace in the Middle East. However, we have been down this road before, and the effort always ends when Hamas and other Arab terrorist groups renege. Remember Yasser Arafat at Camp David?" Thank you Ms. Winston.

LOVED ONES IN FAILING HEALTH INVITED BY MICHAEL WEINRAUB VIA PHONE ON SENIOR ISSUES

Those with elderly loved ones will be interested in knowing that HM's Elder Care consultant, attorney Michael D. Weinraub, will conduct a teleseminar on senior legal issues this Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m. Weinraub poses this question for potential participants: "Do you have loved ones whose health is starting to fail, and [are] struggling to meet the needs of an elderly loved one during a chronic illness or disability?" To register and for more information call Weinraub at 823-4900.

In The Spotlight

Our spotlight cites three outstanding area high school varsity tennis players with bright college and amateur careers ahead: Mainland's Ari Lewkowitz; Egg Harbor Township's Keith Goldstein and ACHS's Jared Rosenthal. In some matches they have been spectacular with fierce serves.... Beth Judah is reaching out to one of the nation's top journalists - Bob Woodward (Washington Post) of the Watergate expose. He will appear at the Ventnor shul, Sunday evening, Aug. 2, which will fill the sanctuary.