Har Sinai Congregation installs Rabbi Sharff

Har Sinai Congregation: It was very significant and historic, the formal installation of unanimously selected Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, the 15th senior rabbinical leader of this oldest continuously Reform Jewish congregation in the United States. Har Sinai is located on Walnut Avenue, in Owings Mills.

Rabbi Sharff was delightfully and proudly installed by his personable father, Rabbi Robert Sharff. All the congregants seemed very pleased with this personable and religiously knowledgeable duo’s association with Har Sinai.

Har Sinai’s founding dates back to 1842. Rabbi David Einhorn was this congregation’s first rabbi from 1855-1861. Looking back 60 years to 1941, some of my readership may recall, rabbinical leadership of Har Sinai at that time in history included Rabbi Abraham Shusterman, 1941-1972, followed by Rabbi Herbert Rutman, 1973-1981; Rabbi Floyd Herman, 1981-2003; Rabbi Bradd Boxman, 2003-2009; Interim Rabbi Darryl Crystal, 2009-2010 and now the newly installed Rabbi Sharff.

The search committee found a winner with Sharff. The rabbinic search committee included Alan Orman and Lori Balter, co-chairs; Arlene Bekman, Anne Berman, Diana Goldsmith, Scott Hayet, Abby Hoffman, Marcia Klein, Lisa Lebovitz, Henry Louis, Joel Oppenheimer, Stewart Sachs, Barb Schlaff, Robert Segal, and ex-officios Louise Zirretta and Elaine Salsbury.

The rabbinic transition team members were Abby Hoffman and Barbara Schlaff, co-chairs. Their committee included Barbara Pash Milsten, Jonathan Oleisky, Joanne Goldsmith, Beryl Sachs, Joe DeMattos, Jr., also Louise Zirretta and Dick Forman.

Cheryl Hayet was installation coordinator; Monica Blum, installation program chair.

Prior to Erev Shabbat service and installation was an enjoyable buffet dinner, coordinated by Cheryl Hyatt. Assisting behind the scenes was Sylvia Grinblat.

The interesting table identifications were symbolic of Sharff’s preschool, schools and camps that included Hebrew Union College, University of Texas, Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Greene Family Camp, Sam Houston State, Wells Middle School and Oak Creek Elementary. Great idea! Thank you Cheryl for keeping this columnist updated!

Sharff conducted Shabbat service with beautiful voiced Cantor Ellen Schwab plus the talented Har Sinai quartet Ros Manier, Nancy Kelso, Tony Bianca and Jon Salkov, led by Wally Ford Jr.

The Friday night Shabbat service began with Cheryl Hyatt, chair, and Steward D. Sachs, president, welcoming everyone to this very meaningful special Shabbat. The rabbi’s wife, Dr. Joy Sharff and his mother, Linda Sharff, lit the traditional Shabbat candles.

Over Dose: The Case Against the Drug Companies: Prescription Drugs ...

I began working in pharmacy in the late 1960′s. I helped dispense drugs at a retail drugstore in my home town and I did the same in the largest hospital in Chicago. I kept it up at another hospital and then started “doing” it on my own when I opened my retail store in 1983. I read the manufacturers’ package inserts and I followed the prescriptions as they were ordered – and I noticed that many people had problems with the “recommended” dose. Sometimes they got used to the dose and sometimes it had to be changed. In any event, the recommended dose was not always accurate accurate – it was often dangerously WRONG.

I don’t know what I thought about all the problems with prescription drugs. I guess I just presumed the patients were overly sensitive, or just unlucky. I didn’t often think too much about it – until I became aware of Dr. Jay Cohen and his “Case Against the Drug Companies.” His shocking book is called “OVER DOSE” and it describes in good detail the dangers of relying on the manufacturers’ package inserts to prescribe drugs.

This is an “eye opener” book and it angers me. How is it that we have this overriding desire to place the bottom line above decent care for health? There are some great things happening in medicine – all around the world. But I think that all the good can be quickly undone by hanging on to a misguided philosophy that insists that profits trump everything else. Its time for a change and Dr. Cohen is part of the changing process. I promise to do my part for change. One thing is to expose potential problems (like Dr. Cohen has done) and another is to encourage people to think about the issues (that’s my goal). Please get a copy of this book. Read it and then think about what it really means. When we reach a critical mass changes will happen. You can bank on it! (pun intended)

Over Dose is a must read for anyone who uses either prescription or over-the-counter medications. Dr. Cohen’s clear explanations about adverse effects resulting from the standardized high doses generally prescribed, and what to do about this, could save your life or that of a loved one. And Over Dose might shed light on why you or people you know suffer from certain health problems.

Actually, I found this rigorously researched book quite disturbing. It exposes deeply entrenched and shocking problems related to pharmaceuticals that pervade not only the health care system, but also clinical research. However, it also suggests solutions.

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Over dose, the case against the drug companies : prescription drugs, side effects, and your health