GLOVERSVILLE–Lawrence Spinak was elected president for 2010-2011 at the 53rd annual meeting of Congregation Knesset Israel. Lawrence Horowitz was elected second vice president; Robert Weiner, past president, was elected treasurer; and Jennifer Pomeroy was elected recording secretary.
Re-elected were Ruth Levinton-Pettit, first vice president; and Merwin Greene, financial secretary.
Spinak assumes the presidency after the recent unexpected passing of Rabbi Martin Gordon. “It is understandably a difficult and challenging time for our synagogue,” said Spinak, “as we begin our search for a new spiritual leader and try to maintain the level of programs and activities that our congregation has been fortunate to have.”
Weiner is serving as chairman of rabbi search committee and a questionnaire is being prepared for prospective candidates. “The process of finding the right person to join ‘your family’ is a difficult one, but we are hopeful,” Spinak said.
The congregation has under 100 memberships in the Gloversville area, and 125 congregants, according to Spinak.
A Gloversville native, Spinak moved away in 1950 and embarked on a four-decade career in civil service. He worked as an electronic technician, contract specialist and instructor of electronics. He retired in 1987, but in 1990 he accepted a position as a radio officer on a freight ship that sailed from California to China. He returned to Gloversville in 2003 and has served the congregation as gabbai, cemetery chairman and for the past three years as vice president.
