Lion of Judah. The speaker was saying that women would tell their husbands that they would like to have that adorable pin. I was appalled. In 1981, we went on our first mission to Israel. Our children had all been there during high school, but we had somehow avoided it. It was a life-changing event, and we fell in love with
Israel. We decided it was time to step up, and I became a Lion. Marilyn Smith and Marcy Lefton presented me with my pin. I was just a little embarrassed to be doing this publicly. I continued in my evolution. I began to understand about being “a light unto nations,” and how my behavior could help influence others. I “came out” publicly as a charitable member of the community. I helped found the Golden Care program, which requires a $100,000 testamentary gift, which was a win-win for isolated seniors, mostly without families. I co-
Ellie and her husband Arnold Ganz (of blessed memory)
sponsored the Smith Ganz Young Leadership program (along with Harry Smith), which brought emerging leaders from all corners of the community together, and introduced them to such dignitaries as Rabbi Yitz Greenberg and Rabbi Irwin Kula. Rabbi Kula of CLAL brought rabbis and cantors from the entire Jewish spectrum to learn together, and he reported that it was the first time that many rabbis in the community had met or studied together.
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