Journey Funders

This project was made possible by a donation from Hazzan Ellen & Graham Arad, in honor of the memory of their parents, Phyllis & Menachem Arad and Lucille & Reuben Miller, Zichronam Livracha.

Phyllis and Menachem had a life-long commitment to Jewish continuity and Clal Yisrael. Menachem left his home in Poland on the eve of war, travelling to Palestine as a chalutz.  Joining the British Army to fight Hitler in North Africa, he spent 4 years in prisoner of war camp in Germany (where he met Phyllis’ brother).  Following liberation, he returned to Palestine joining the Haganah and eventually became an officer in the Israeli army, during the War of Independence. Menachem subsequently worked for EL-AL for 35 years.  For the rest of his life he was committed to Jewish and Zionist causes and was active in his synagogue & the Jewish community in England, eventually becoming a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Phyllis was born in London’s Jewish East End and raised in a committed, traditional orthodox Jewish home. In addition to being an accomplished seamstress, she was an active participant and leader in her synagogue and broader community for over 50 years.  She acted as Secretary and Chair of the Ladies Guild (Sisterhood), a member of the Board of Trustees and head of the Kiddush and Meals on Wheels committees.  Phyllis and Menachem taught their children and grandchildren by their words and their actions a love of family, community and Israel and a commitment to stand up for what’s right.

Lucille and Bob were committed to Jewish causes from an early age.  Lucille, a talented singer, who eventually trained for the opera, sang with the USO, entertaining troops all over the United States.  In a time when women did not generally participate in Jewish ritual, she was often sought after by Cantors in the Tri-State area, to sing the Vimalei prayer at weddings.  She was a lifelong, active  member of Hadassah and Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, and served as president of the Westchester chapter of ORT for many years. 

Bob was born on a farm in Woodbridge, in upstate New York, where his parents ran a kosher farm and guest house.  Bob’s father died just 6 months before his Bar Mitzvah and the family moved down to the Bronx, as the Depression brought hard times.   During the war, Bob built submarines, in New London, Connecticut and eventually served in the Army Air Corps. in Europe. 

After the War, Bob and Lucille met and were married in 1948. Both coming from traditional Jewish families, they instilled in their children an abiding love for their heritage and a proud Jewish identity.  Lucille and Bob moved to New Rochelle in 1973 and for most of the next 30 years lived in Northfield Road, right behind the Synagogue.

Ellen & Graham consider that there could be no more fitting legacy for their parents than to help enhance our community’s role in Jewish continuity for future generations.