From Guest to President (of the Shul)

 
From L: Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, David Siegel, Jeremy Lite, Sharon Lite and Harriette Levitt at the 2012 Book of Live event

The first time Jeremy and Sharon Lite stepped foot in Congregation Young Israel of Tucson 4 years ago this week, they were intrigued by what was not said to them.

"We walked into this shul 4 years ago on Parshas Terumah, sneaking through the door like scared little kittens," says Mr. Lite, who, as a partner in the Tucson office of Quarles & Brady LLP, is not normally intimidated by formal settings.

He recalls how the gabbai, Dr. Robert Indik, was quick to give him an aliya to the Torah on that first visit.

"Robert is very diligent in scoping out new people and calling them up," he says. "Long-time shul member Yale Palchick had the aliya before me, so he was on the bema and helped me say the blessing over the Torah, as I had all but forgotten it."

Mr. Lite recalls, "After services, Rabbi Yossie Shemtov and Chanie greeted us warmly, invited us to lunch, invited us to a lot of lunches actually, and we went, and we began to learn. I heard the Birkas Hamazon, and remembered it from my Uncle's table growing up."

Yet, what really captured their attention was how welcoming the congregants were to their two children, Ari and Yael.  

"Nobody shushed us. Nobody glanced at us when the kids made a noise or wandered onto the bima," he says. "Before long, the kids were off and running with new friends."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Lite is now President of the Board of Young Israel, in addition to other community roles as a Vice President of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and as a volunteer with Southern Arizona Legal Aid's Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP), for which he received the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of the Month Award for January 2012.

The Lites will be celebrating their four-year milestone this Shabbat, February 25, at the weekly "special kiddush" at Young Israel following services (which begin 9:30 AM).

Mr. Lite will be sharing some of his life's story being born on his parents' diplomatic mission in Iran, continuing with his studies in Ann Arbor, MI and how he got to Tucson and become a leader in the community.

The kiddish is co-sponsored by the Felix family in honor of their son Yaphet's 14's birthday.  All are welcome.