Cong. Beth Sholom honors Melodie and Marty Scharf

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By Anne Furmansky Fuchs

Congregation Beth Sholom is proud to honor an extraordinary couple, Melodie and Marty Scharf from Lawrence. They truly exemplify service to the community. There is no aspect of Jewish philanthropy that they and the entire Scharf family are not involved in; including Congregation Beth Sholom, Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), Israel or the Jewish community as a whole. In fact, the Scharfs have suggested that all the net proceeds from the Dinner Raffle go to the Rabbi’s Special Fund for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Community Contributions

The Scharfs' contributions to the community are numerous. Melodie and Marty, both Brooklyn bred, were married in October of 1980 and moved to Lawrence in 1984. They immediately became members of Beth Sholom and from that time have been an integral part of the Beth Sholom family. Marty’s family, Rose and Abraham Scharf, and his brother Richard followed shortly thereafter. Marty had been on the Executive Board for 11 years and was an Executive vice president for 5 years. In the early years he coached the Beth Sholom basketball team. Melodie has worked tirelessly on the dinner committee and has been Scroll Chairlady for the past few years. She is active in the Sisterhood and was the Youth Chairman in the late 1980s.

In September, 2004, the Scharf family dedicated the main sanctuary in memory of Marty’s father and patriarch of the Scharf family,Abraham Scharf, z’l. They have also dedicated the Bimah in the main sanctuary in memory of Marty’s uncle Charles Scharf z’l and the beautiful brass Menorah on the front lawn in memory of their grandmother Faige Kudel z’l. In addition, Melodie and Marty were major participants in Beth Sholom’s recent building renovations.

As soon as the Scharfs registered their children in HAFTR, Melodie became active. She served two, three year terms as PTA president and is presently on the Executive Board of the HAFTR school. She is also the alumni chair for the school. In 2004, Melodie and Marty were honored at the HAFTR annual dinner. Recently, they dedicated the new gym building in memory of Abraham Scharf,z’l.

Kulanu Center for Special Services and the Kulanu Academy has put the Five Towns on the map for helping children with special needs, in a Jewish atmosphere. Melodie and Marty are founders of this incredible organization. Marty is on the Board of Governors, and Melodie is on the Executive Board. The Scharf family dedicated the Kulanu Academy School building, on Central Avenue, in memory of Marty’s father.

Philanthropy

The Scharf family have not only limited their philanthropy to the Five Towns community but have also reached out to communities all over the world to aid and promote many Jewish and personal causes.

•Renovations at Congregation Sons of Israel in the Bronx

•Built a dormitory in The Boys High School Maarava Machon Rubin in Modi’in, Israel

•In memory of Abraham Scharf z’l, the Scharf family has dedicated the Pinsk-Karlin Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

•Self Help centers (has programs designed to help Holocaust survivors with assistance) in New York City and Nassau County. The Scharf’s dedicated the two buildings in memory of Abraham Scharf z’l, a holocaust survivor.

•The Koby Mandell Foundation, where Melodie is on the Board of Governors.

•As residents of Westhampton Beach, they recently dedicated the Holocaust Memorial at the Hamptons Synagogue.

•A scholarship in honor of Marty’s world championship horse of the year, Gallo Blue Chip, in 2000. The scholarship awards approximately $20,000 annually, towards the education of a child of a groom or trainer in the industry.

Melodie and Marty Scharf are proud to be this year’s guests of honor at Congregation Beth Sholom’s 61st annual testimonial dinner. Their five children and three grandchildren will be celebrating the evening with them; Robert and Tamar proud parents of Megan, Sloane, and Parker. Sondra, recently engaged to Adam Lesman, is an attorney in New York City. Jordan works with his father and Robert. Felicia is a freshman at the University of Michigan, and Allison is a freshman at HAFTR high school.

The Congregation Beth Sholom dinner will take place on Saturday Night, March 2, 2013 at the synagogue. To make a dinner reservation, or contribution in honor of Melodie and Marty Scharf please contact Congregation Beth Sholom at (516) 569-3600 or via email:office@bethsholomlawrence.org