Anyone deserving of an ‘Honorable Menschen,’ can contact Howard Berger via his e-mail: Howardberger9798@aol.com.

The passing last week of Melvin Feldman has left a void in our Jewish community and especially to his devoted wife, Evie, daughter Susan, son David and grandchildren and a large family plus many friends and Beth Judah. He served two separate terms as BJ president. Mel was a real Mensch. Despite his and his family’s business success they were always humble. His late father, Samuel Feldman of Jersey City, was the catalyst for creating Manischewitz Wine, a story HM reported on many times, and Mel carried it on. He was a good friend of

Charlotte and myself and hosted us at University of Pennsylvania football games. He was a World War 2 U.S. Army veteran serving with distinction in North Africa, Italy, France, Austria and Germany. Presiding at his final rites, which included taps in honor of his military service, were Beth Judah Rabbi Aaron Gaber and Cantor Emeritus Ed Kulp, a close friend. Gaber delivered a stirring and tearful eulogy about this wonderful man, a major contributor to the Federation and Jewish causes. “Our world is short one Tzaddik, one of the special ones at our Beth Judah and our Jewish community. He always had a smile and a twinkle in his eyes and his classic bow tie. Our world is diminished and yet we are enriched because of Mel’s presence in our lives and in our community. He helped all of us become better people because he was such a Mensch. I and all of us will miss him very much.”

ANOTHER LOSS TO AREA AND ATLANTICARE WAS THE PASSING OF LOUISE LIPKA, VOLUNTEER LEADER

Louise Lipka of Margate was for many years professionally a volunteer director at the then Atlantic City Medical Center. Louise did an exceptional job and was recognized for her dedication and loyalty to the hospital. She set the tone for volunteerism at the hospital enlisting many enthusiastic young and older residents. Her passing last week is mourned by many who recall her great sense of humor and dedication to ACMC. Voluunteers saved the hospital many hundreds of thousands of dollars and do so nowadays in these difficult economic times. AtlantiCare officials will attest to their value and so does the entire community where volunteerism is so highly valued.

HATS FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS KNIT BY THERESA ENGEL DELIVERED TO JDF TROOPS BY JFS

Credit employees of the Margate-based Jewish Family Service (JFS) in a Jewish Federation Mission to Prague and Israel by a group aimed at forming professional relationships and a special delivery to Israeli soldiers. The JDF soldiers wee given 166 black hats knit by Theresa Engel of Ventnor. The “Mission Possible” group consisted of 35 community members led by JFS’s Naomi Jones and Mara Vasslides. While in Israel they learned of a JDF need for eye glass frames and lenses so JFS has launched a drive through August for frames, which when donated can be dropped off at the JFS uilding on north Jerome avenue next to the Katz JCC. For more information call JFS at 822-1108

MARGATE BASED ‘GROOMERS HELPER’ GOES TO ENGLAND FOR CRAFTS SHOW

Deserving much praise is “Groomers Helper,” a revolutionary pet safety and positioning system developed by Chuck Simons, a Margate pet grooming shop owner who took his unique development overseas to Birmingham, England, last months for a crafts show. “We were so excited to venture into this new market having an opportunity to help thousands of groomers in Europe,” said Simons, adding, “groomers all over the globe are seeking solutions to groom pets in a more safe and efficient manner and they can now purchase our system through our newest international distributor, Christies Direct.” HM believes Simons will succeed in this endeavor.

MARILYN KESSLER’S LOVE FOR MUSIC BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS 8 YEARS OLD

HM discovered from office sources that Jewish Times photographer Marilyn Kessler is a musician. It all began with piano lessons when she was a teenager. After turning to drums in 1998, she had her first gig with the Bubba Mac Blues band. In 1999 she joined another blues group, continuing to study jazz and Latin music. Since then she started singing harmonies as a backup singer, currently doing lead vocals. “I’ve always loved music and my parents paid for lessons on the Hammond organ when I was in high school,” adding “I sang in the ACHS choir and was a member of the pipe organ club. Then my brother and I formed a trio with his friend,

Mike Brittan, singing Peter, Paul and Mary songs.” She had performances with many other groups and at various events, and on April 15 played on the fifth floor at the Chelsea Hotel’s Jazz Corner, formerly Teplitzky’s, which hosted many bar and bat mitzvah celebrations and weddings. Coming up is a concert at Stockton with the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble on Monday, April 19, an April 24th gig at Sofia’s in Margate and on July 6 with a country trio at Northfield’s Birch Grove Park. Marilyn, who is a past president of Beth El Synagogue and Shaloma Hadassah, resides in EHT.