Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award
About the Award
Linda so beautifully advanced the ideals of our founders. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the dream of a successful Jewish community would endure. She was a visionary and optimist who served our congregation in many leadership positions.
This prestigious award was created in loving memory of Linda Rice. The recipient of this award is held to the same high standard of passionately providing spirituality and service over the years to ensure the continued success of Temple Brith Achim.
2014's Recipient
Kareen Hartwig, 2014 recipient of Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award
Congregational Worship Service and Shabbat Dinner in Honor of the 10th Anniversary Celebration with Rabbi Lazar
Temple Brith Achim is proud to award its second Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award to Kareen Hartwig, who has been a member of TBA with her husband, Robert, and their two children, Andy and Danielle, since 1983.
Kareen has been elected as the second recipient of TBA’s most prestigious honor - the Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award - after an extensive nomination process that began in December 2013 and resulted in a series of emails and letters from various congregants about why Kareen should receive this award, according to Mark Sugarman, a TBA congregant and past Board president who led the Nominating Committee. The first Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award was given to Leon Rosen on Dec. 9, 2011 during TBA’s 40th Anniversary Celebration in memory of Linda Rice, a founding member of TBA who served our congregation in many leadership positions, including as Board President, Office Manager and volunteer.
Anyone who has attended a service or program at TBA has probably met Kareen. She’s typically singing with the TBA Choir or on the Bimah during Shabbat Services and on the High Holy Days guiding congregants through their Torah portions. She’s also one of the "go to" persons people rely on when training for Bar and Bat Mitzvah lessons. Kareen’s discipline and continuous encouragement have guided many young teenagers through their passage into adulthood as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.
Most often you’ll probably observe Kareen on the Bimah, teaching in a classroom or at a table in the Social Hall as she guides students of all ages in reciting and chanting Torah during worship services, workshops and during educational classes where she teaches conversational Hebrew.
Kareen’s also wears many other hats at TBA, from serving on the synagogue’s management team and Sisterhood to being an active voice in the TBA Choir during High Holy Day services, Shabbat services and special events. And who can forget Kareen’s famous Knishes tastings in the synagogue lobby to encourage people to put in bakery orders for the High Holy Days?
"Kareen has done more than any lay leader I can think of to keep the congregants involved an engaged in worship and study at TBA," said Steven E. Koffs, a TBA congregant who serves in the choir with Kareen. "She has been tireless in her involvement in worship initiatives and has reached out to many people at all levels of religiousily to try to promote TBA worship as it relates to them."
Janice Biros, who has served with Kareen in the TBA Choir and on Sisterhood, also commented on the many roles Kareen has taken on at TBA, including serving as a "second Rabbi"
"She has worked for the good of TBA both internally and externally and her leadership has extended the TBA reputation both regionally and nationally," Biros said, referring to Kareen’s recent appointment to district and national positions for the Women of Reform Judaism and her recent election to the national board of the Union for Reform Judaism.
"Her knowledge and love of Judaism and Hebrew have made her uniquely qualified to guide our ritual and religious practices as well as help build strong congregational community and warm, welcoming family for all in TBA," Biros said.
Always one to lead by example, Kareen’s children, Danielle and Andy, also has had an active role at TBA. Andy and Danielle celebrated their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs here. Andy was confirmed here in 1998 and Danielle was part of the 2001 Confirmation Class. Additionally, both of Kareen and Robert’s children taught in the Religious School. For several years, Andy taught students in the Powell Religious School, and Danielle was the first teacher at TBA’s Early Childhood Learning Center, when it reopened in 2009.
Mazel Tov to Kareen Hartwig as she stands up today with her family and the TBA Community and accepts this year’s Linda Rice Lifetime Service Award. Thank you for all of your efforts to continue to advance the ideals of our synagogue’s founders!