Emanuel’s Table

Regina and Don have lived in the West End of Hartford since 1975. They have one son, Perchik, and one granddaughter, Adva. Coming to the area and knowing no one they embarked on the journey to find a synagogue home. When Regina, Don and very young Perchik visited The Emanuel for the first time Perchik declared that he liked this one and they were all sold. Perchik loved Cantor Koret and always had to sit on his side of the sanctuary.

Don & Regina quickly got involved at The Emanuel and became part of this community. They took on different roles and could see that there was work to be done and that work was valued.

They joined Chavurah Aleph and were active until aging parents living out of the area needed support. When that period passed, Don & Regina began getting involved once again. They always felt at home in The Emanuel and wanted others to feel that way too.

When they are not working on something at The Emanuel or in the community, they enjoy attending theater performances of all kinds as often and wherever possible.

Regina has served The Emanuel through numerous roles, including on search committees for rabbi, cantor, ritual director, and school director positions. She was Interim Events Coordinator, sung in the choir, created blankets for the Chesed Committee, and initiated and continues to maintain the Kiddush Crew. In the wider community, after 34 years Regina retired as faculty emeritus at the University of Hartford (UH). She continues to teach early childhood education at Charter Oak State College and consult at local and state levels. Regina was acting director of the UH Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies and has been on the Greenberg Center Board which she now chairs. She is Co-chair of the University of Hartford Emeriti and serves on the USCJ Regional Council.

Don is a past president of The Emanuel Synagogue and several community organizations. He currently serves as Executive Secretary of the Society of Israel Philatelists, and as Treasurer for both the Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and the Connecticut Valley Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Don is a Life Member of The Emanuel Synagogue Board of Trustees, Co‑Chair of the Ritual Committee, and a member of the Cemetery Committee. Don served in the US Air Force as a Jewish Chaplain’s Assistant during the Vietnam War. He is a Fellow of the AAIDD and a retired Psychologist from the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.

Gail and Jeff are Midwesterners, met at the University of Wisconsin and have been married for more than 54 years. They have two daughters, Cheryl (Michael) and Marcia and two grandchildren, Layla Grace and Noah James.

They joined the Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield, because of Rabbi Lazowski, and quickly became part of that community. Gail was involved in Sisterhood and on the Board of Education and Jeff served as President of the Men’s Club and then as a Synagogue Board Member and eventually President of the Synagogue.

In 2014, they joined The Emanuel Synagogue along with a large group of friends from Beth Hillel. They wanted a Synagogue that was welcoming, vibrant and multi-generational and they have not been disappointed. They quickly became involved in the life of The Emanuel with Gail participating in Adult Education and becoming Chair for more than 5 years. Jeff became very involved with the Brotherhood and later became a member of the Brotherhood Board and eventually the President while also becoming Leader of their Kitchen crew.

Gail was active in Sisterhood and served as Vice President for Membership for several years and continues as an active member today. In 2021 she chaired the highly successful synagogue fundraiser weekend which honored Rabbis Lazowski and Small and their spouses.

Jeff and Gail have served on the Board of Trustees of The Emanuel and Jeff has taken on leadership of the Human Resources Committee.

Beyond their Emanuel activities, they enjoy traveling and spending as much time as possible with their grandchildren.

Gail was employed as a Social Work therapist, initially in hospitals and residential settings, and then as an independent practitioner. She enjoys playing Mah Jongg and Canasta, reading, working on their family genealogy and participating in many of the diverse Brandeis programs. Gail is an active participant in Rock Steady Boxing, which helps her in managing her Parkinson’s Disease.

Jeff worked in human resources with several major corporations, including 31+ years at United Technologies and then with their Otis subsidiary. He is currently volunteering as the Treasurer of their homeowner’s association and leads the Bloomfield operations of the AARP Tax-Aide program, which assists Seniors and low-income individuals in completing and filing their federal and state tax returns.