Sheldon Ezring Papers

Manuscript Collection No. 643

1969-1983. 5.6 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The Sheldon Ezring Papers were donated to the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives by Sheldon Ezring, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania in 1980 and 1983. All literary rights to the Sheldon Ezring Papers are held by Ezring and the Ezring Hexter heirs. All literary rights to other materials are held by the individual author or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. The papers are available to researchers in the reading room of the Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH top

Sheldon Ezring was born 12 October 1947 to Cantor Abraham Ezring and his wife in New York City. Following his graduation from the University of Illinois in 1969, Ezring entered Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained in 1974. His student pulpits included Temple Israel (Marion, Ohio) and Congregation Beth El (Dubuque, Iowa). Among activities during his student days were employment at the American Jewish Archives and duties as a prison chaplain.

Sheldon Ezring assumed the pulpit of Temple Sholom in New Milford, Connecticut in 1974. He left in 1979 to assume the pulpit of Congregation Beth El, Charlottesville, Virginia, serving as the first fulltime Rabbi of the congregation in 100 years! Rabbi Ezring also oversaw a period of growth and marked the congregation's centennial celebrations. Ezring served as the advisor for the regional Mid-Atlantic Federation of Temple Youth on the Commonwealth of Virginia's State Advisory board on aging. He hosted a radio show entitled "From the Rabbi's Study" and worked closely with Dan Alexander, Hillel advisor for the University of Virginia. In addition to rabbinic duties, Ezring acted as a visiting faculty member in the Religious Studies Department of the University of Virginia.

From 1983 - 1985, Ezring served at Congregation Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. He then moved to Congregation Beth El, in Alexandria, Virginia from 1986-1988. Since 1989, Ezring has been Rabbi at the Temple Society of Concord, Syracuse, New York.

Sheldon Ezring married Irene Trudy Goldberg in 1969. They have two children, Adam and Jennifer.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The Sheldon Ezring Papers trace the career of Sheldon Ezring from his student days at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion to his pulpits in New Milford, Connecticut and Charlottesville, Virginia. The records are divided into four series:

Series A: Correspondence/ Subject Files
Series B: Sermons, Speeches and Writings
Series C: Congregational Records
Series D: Miscellaneous

SERIES A. CORRESPONDENCE/SUBJECT FILES (1969 -1983) consists of 10 Hollinger boxes. This section contains correspondence both with individuals and organizations. Materials are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical framework. Ephemeral material attached to correspondence, such as programs, has not been removed.

SERIES B. SERMONS, SPEECHES AND WRITINGS (1971-1982) consists of 2 Hollinger boxes. The series is arranged alphabetically. One Hollinger box contains material from sermons about individuals sermons given at bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings and funerals. These are arranged alphabetically by name. There is also one folder of miscellaneous mostly undated sermons and a folder of assignments from an HUC Homiletics/Sermons class. There are also notes and chapters for Ezring's rabbinic thesis.

SERIES C. CONGREGATIONAL RECORDS (1971-1983) consists of 1 ½ Hollinger boxes. This has been arranged chronologically according to Ezring's career. Materials include miscellaneous publications, fact sheets, board minutes and ephemera. Within each congregation, the files are arranged alphabetically.

SERIES D. MISCELLANEOUS (1974-1982) consists of ½ Hollinger box. There is one folder of newspaper clippings about Ezring's rabbinical career and one folder of photographs. Most photographs are not dated.

Additional, unprocessed, Sheldon Ezring papers were donated in October 2013 (Accession No.: 2013.332).

BOX AND FOLDER LISTING top

Box  Folder    Contents

Series A: Correspondence/Subject Files, 1969-1983
                        
1       1                       A.
        2                       Abraham, Henry. 1979-1983.
        3                       Abramson, Bernard and Clara. 1974-1979.
        4                       Action for Soviet Jewry. 1980-1983.
        5                       Advanced Studies Discussion Group. 1981-1983.
        6                       Advisory Board on Aging. 1982-1983.
        7                       Alexander,  Daniel. 1979-1982.
        8                       Allen, David. 1974-1979.
        9                       Alliance for Interfaith Ministries. 1981-1983; n.d.
        10                      Alliance for Interfaith Ministries. Treasurer. 1982.
        11                      Altman, Barry M. 1975.
        12                      Ament, Ricky and Arlene. 1970-1975; n.d.
        13                      American Israel Public Affairs Committee. 1982-1983.
        14                      American Jewish Archives. 1970-1983.
        15                      Anti-Defamation League. 1974- September 1981.
        16                      Anti-Defamation League. October 1981-1983.
        17                      Association of Reform Zionists. 1978-1979.
        18                      Auerbach, Sam. 1975-1977.
        19                      Ayre, A. Russell. 1974-1976.
        20                      B-Bj.
        21                      Barack,  Stephen. 1971-1980.
        22                      Bard, Terry. 1974-1976.
        23                      Barnard, George. 1975-1976; n.d.
        24                      Barrick, Dora. 1976-1978.
        25                      Barrick, Saul. 1974-1978.
        26                      Bat Mitzvah miscellaneous. N.d.
        27                      Baryosh, Noah. 1975-1977.
        28                      Baumgarten, Herbert M. 1983.
        29                      Bayer, Blanche. 1979-1982.
        30                      Bayer, Rabbi Steve. 1981.
        31                      Behrman House. 1974-1982.
        32                      Berrent, Charlotte. 1976-1978.
        33                      Bial, Morrison. 1979-1980.

2       1                       Bl-Bz.
        2                       Bleefeld, Rabbi Bradley. 1975-1976.
        3                       Brill, Julie. 1980-1983.
        4                       Brownstein,  Marc. 1974-1976.
        5                       Byrd, Harry F. Jr. 1981.
        6                       C-Cl.
        7                       Carron, Harold and Joyce. 1979-1982.
        8                       Camps. 1981.
        9                       Center, Daniel. 1974-1976.
        10                      Central Conference of American Rabbis. 1974-1983.
        11                      CCAR- Small Cities. 1980.
        12                      Central Virginia Child Development. 1979-1980.
        13                      Charlottesville- Memos to Successor. 1983.
        14                      Chesler, Nathan. 1975.
        15                      Citrin, Paul. 1975-1976.
        16                      Cohen - Cz.
        17                      Cohen, Marc. 1976-1977; n.d.
        18                      Cohen, Harry. 1976-1978.
        19                      Cohn, Edward. 1974-1976.
        20                      Cohn, Hillel. 1978-1982.
        21                      Colker, Marvin and Hazel. 1980-1982.
        22                      Commission on Social Action, UAHC. 1974-1976.
        23                      Confirmations. N.d.
        24                      Congregation Beth El [Ft. Worth, TX] 1983.
        25                      Council of Jewish Federations. 1977.
        26                      D
        27                      Daily Progress. 1979-1982; n.d.
        28                      Dalymat, Ethel. 1979-1980.
        29                      Danziger, Lou. 1982.
        30                      Davids, Stanley M. 1975-1976; n.d.
        31                      Deitsch, Jeff. 1981.
        32                      Dept of the Army. 1972-1981.
        33                      Dickerson, Carleton. 1980.
        34                      Division Planning Council. 1981.
        35                      Donations. 1982.
        36                      Dreyfus, Stanley. 1980-1983.
        37                      Dwoskin, Robert. 1979-1983.

3       1                       E.
        2                       Eisenberg, Phyllis. 1979-1981.
        3                       Eitelberg, Ed. 1979-1983.
        4                       Essrig, Harry. 1976-1982.
        5                       Ezring, Abraham. 1969-1982; n.d.
        6                       Ezring, Craig. 1970-1974; n.d.
        7                       Ezring, Irene Trudy. 1970; 1982.

        8                       Ezring, Murray. 1970-1982.
        9                       F.
        10                      Family services. n.d.
        11                      Farago, Ladislas. 1976-1977.
        12                      Fass, David. 1973-1979.
        13                      Fink, Arnold. 1979-1982.
        14                      Flayderman, Sue. 1975-1978.
        15                      Flayderman, Norman. 1975-1977.
        16                      Folkerth, Carol. 1983.
        17                      Ford, Gerald. 1974-1976.
        18                      Forman, Emmanuel. 1975.
        19                      Forman, Lawrence. 1981-1983.
        20                      Fraade, Bert. 1975.
        21                      Freehof, Solomon B. 1978.
        22                      G-Gl.
        23                      Gast, Michael and Susan. 1977-1979; n.d.
        24                      Glaser, Lewis. 1979-1981.
        25                      Gerard, Bernard and Ilana. 1980.
        26                      Glickstein, Gary and Joan. 1975-1977.
        27                      Go-Gz.
        28                      Golden, Evelyn. 1975-1978.
        29                      Golden, Merrill. 1975-1978.
        30                      Goldstein, Abraham. 1975-1978.
        31                      Goodman's Hebrew Book and Gift Store. 1980-1981.
        32                      Gottlieb, Walter. 1978.
        33                      Gottschalk, Alfred. 1974-1980; n.d.
        34                      Gould, Charles E. 1978.
        35                      Gross, Elizabeth. 1978-1979.
        36                      Grossman, David. 1976.
        37                      H.

4       1                       Hahn, Harold. 1972-1979.
        2                       Hamor Judaica. 1976-1979.
        3                       Heinle, Charles. 1974-1975.
        4                       Hertz, Richard. 1977-1981.
        5                       Hilliard, Deborah. 1979.
        6                       Hirsch, Jack and Mimi. 1979-1982.
        7                       Holiday Inn. 1979-1982.
        8                       Hoover Elementary School [Dubuque, IA] 1971.
        9                       Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. 1975-1981.
        10                      I.
        11                      Israel Embassy. 1979-1982.
        12                      Israel Independence Day. 1980.
        13                      Israel, Raymond. 1975-1975. n.d.
        14                      J.
        15                      Jacobs, Steven L. 1974-1978.
        16                      Jacobs, Steven L. 1979-1983.
        17                      Jewish Chautauqua Society. 1974-1981; n.d.
        18                      Jewish National Fund. 1979-1982.
        19                      Jewish Publication Society. 1969-1977.
        20                      Jurlando, Sam. 1979-1982.
        21                      K-Ki.
        22                      Kaplan, Paul. 1977-1980.
        23                      Katz, David. 1980-1982.
        24                      Keesey, Truman. 1983.
        25                      Kessler, Murray. 1975-1980
        26                      Kl-Kz.
        27                      Klausner, Abraham. 1975-1978; n.d.
        28                      Klein Brothers. 1977-1982; n.d.
        29                      Klein, Stephen. 1975-1976.
        30                      Klein, Walter. 1981-1983.

5       1                       Kobre, Abe and Faye. 1981-1982.
        2                       Kruger, Ed. 1980-1982.
        3                       Krugman, Ed. 1976-1979.
        4                       L-Le.
        5                       Langbaum, Robert. 1980-1983.
        6                       Lapat, Doris. 1976-1978.
        7                       Latter, Ruth. 1981. 
        8                       Leadership Training Seminar. N.d.
        9                       Lelyveld, Arthur. 1982-1983.
        10                      Lenn, Nicholas and Rita. 1979-1982.
        11                      Levenson, Gabriel. 1977.
        12                      Levi, Charles. 1979-1980.
        13                      Levy, Eugene. 1975-1978; n.d.
        14                      Li-Lz.
        15                      Lieberman, Myron and Alice. 1982-1983.
        16                      Lieff, Erwin and Marilyn. 1975.
        17                      Linden, Russ. 1979-1983; n.d.
        18                      Lipschutz, Jules. 1974-1978.
        19                      Lord Fairfax Community College. 1980.
        20                      Loewenstein, James S. 1978.
        21                      LSAT. 1980.
        22                      M-Me.
        23                      Magidovitch, Claire. 1980.
        24                      Malino, Jerome. 1975-1980.
        25                      Mental Health Association of Charlottesville. 1980.
        26                      Mi-Mz.
        27                      Mid Atlantic Federation of Temple Youth. (MAFTY) 1980-August 1981.
        28                      MAFTY. September 1981-November 1981.
        
6       1                       MAFTY. December 1981-February 1982.
        2                       MAFTY. March 1982-May 1982.
        3                       MAFTY. June 1982-December 1982.
        4                       MAFTY. Expenses.
        5                       Milgraum, Leonard. 1981-1982.
        6                       Miller, Bennett. 1975-1976.
        7                       Miller, Judea. 1975-1979.
        8                       Moffitt, Toby. 1975-1978.
        9                       Myer, James. 1980-1981.
        10                      N.
        11                      National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. 1979-1981.
        12                      National Socialists. 1981.
        13                      New Milford Nursing Home. N.d.
        14                      O.
        15                      Obermangau. 1980.
        16                      O'Mansky, Boris. 1982.
        17                      Options. 1977.
        18                      Ordination/Graduation. 1974.

7       1                       P-Q.
        2                       Panoff, Mark. 1976; n.d.
        3                       Peskind, Steve. 1974-1979.
        4                       Phillips, David. 1970-1983; n.d.
        5                       Piedmont 2000 Study. 1987.
        6                       Poelvaarde, Jeff. 1979-1981.
        7                       Pollack, Paul. 1977-1978.
        8                       Prushansky, Leonard and Freda. 1974-1978.
        9                       Public Schools-Charlottesville. 1981-1982.
        10                      R.
        11                      Rabbinic Placement Commission. 1983.
        12                      Rabinnical Pension Board. 1974-1983.
        13                      Rappaport, David. 1974-1978.
        14                      Religion in American Life. 1981.
        15                      Religious School. 1981-1982.
        16                      Riba, David and Abby. 1971-1974.
        17                      Ribicoff, Abraham. 1975.
        18                      Ritual Committee. 1980-1982; n.d.
        19                      Robinson, Elizabeth. 1980-1981.
        20                      Robinson, J. Kenneth. 1980-1981.
        21                      Roseman, Kenneth. 1971.
        22                      Rosenbach, Kurt. 1982.
        23                      Rotary Club. 1981.
        24                      Roth, Harry. 1974-1977.
        25                      Rothstein, Raphael. 1976-1978.
        26                      Rubin, Sydney. 1982.

8       1                       S-Sh.
        2                       Sanders, Robert. 1975-1978.
        3                       Sandleman, Peeta. 1974-1976.
        4                       Saperstein, David. 1980-1981.
        5                       Savage, Howard. 1982.
        6                       Schecter, Bob and Fran. 1978-1979; n.d.
        7                       Schiff, Nathan. 1974-1985.
        8                       Schindler, Alexander. 1974-1982.
        9                       Schlussel, Kent and Judy. 1981-1982.                               
        10                      Schnur, Harriet. 1976-1977.
        11                      Schreiber, Ira. 1979.
        12                      Schuchat, Irving. 1976-1977.
        13                      Schwab, Ron. 1974-1975.
        14                      Schwartzman, Sylvan D. 1970-1981.
        15                      Sedrel, Harold. 1981-1982.
        16                      Seiff, Hank and Judy. 1980-1983.
        17                      Selin, Alan and Judy. 1975-1978.
        18                      Selin, Greg. 1976-1978.
        19                      Sellner, Asher. 1977.
        20                      Seltzer, Sanford. 1974-1982.
        21                      Sherman, Alan. 1972-1978.
        22                      Sherman, Charles. 1975-1982.
        23                      Shufro, Kathy. 1978.
        24                      Shyan, Ted. 1980-1982.

9       1                       Si-Sz
        2                       Silesky, Susie. 1982-1983.
        3                       Silver, Harold. 1975-1976.
        4                       Silver, Samuel. 1977-1982.
        5                       Silverman, Hillel. 1975.
        6                       Smith, Eben and Martha. 1979-1982.
        7                       Social Action Committee. 1980.
        8                       Soltz, Ned. 1974-1983.
        9                       Spinner, Jonathan. 1977-1983.
        10                      Spiro, Jack. 1977-1983.

        11                      Stern, Jack. 1976-1978; n.d.
        12                      Stern,  Malcolm. 1974-1983.
        13                      Sternberger, Richard. 1979-1983.
        14                      Syme, Daniel. 1974-1980.
        15                      T.
        16                      Tabak, Phyllis. 1971-1973.
        17                      Tarlow, Peter. 1976.
        18                      Taylor, Andrea and Ron. 1982.
        19                      Temple Sinai- Search. [Pittsburgh PA] 1983.
        20                      Thorner, Michael and Prue. 1980-1983.
        21                      U.
        22                      Union of American Hebrew Congregations. [UAHC] 1974-1980.
        23                      UAHC. 1981-1983.
        24                      United Fund Council. 1975-1976.
        25                      United Jewish Appeal. 1974-1983.
        26                      Unger, Martin. 1976; n.d.
        27                      University of Illinois. 1970-1981.
        28                      University of Virginia. 1980-1983.
        29                      University of Virginia. Biblical Hebrew. 1981-1982.
        30                      University of Virginia. Transportation Department. 1981.

10      1                       V.
        2                       W-We.
        3                       Walter, Gerry. 1979-1981.
        4                       Warner, John. 1981.
        5                       Weber, Douglas. 1982-1983.
        6                       Weicker, Lowell, Jr. 1975.
        7                       Weil, David. 1976-1977.
        8                       Wein, Alan and Robin. 1975.
        9                       Weinstein, Stanley. 1970-1977.
        10                      Weiss, David. 1971-1981.
        11                      Weiss-Rosemarin, Trudy. 1976.
        12                      Wenger, Fred. 1975-1981.
        13                      Wf-Wz.
        14                      White, Louis. 1976.
        15                      White House. 1978-1980.
        16                      Whitman, Jon. 1979-1982.
        17                      Wolf, Alfred. 1975-1979.
        18                      World Union for Progressive Judaism. 1980.
        19                      Wortman, David. 1976-1980.
        20                      X, Y.
        21                      Youth Group. N.d.
        22                      Z

        23                      Zarchi,  Hersch. 1976-1977.
        24                      Zecher, Nat. 1976-1982.
        25                      Zolov, Benjamen. 1978-1979.
        26                      Unidentified. 1969-1983; n.d.

Series B: Sermons, Speeches and Writings, 1971-1983

11      1                       Hebrew Union College. Homiletics and Sermons Course.
                                         1973-1974.
        2                       Sermons. Individuals. A-F.
        3                       Sermons. Individuals. G-J.
        4                       Sermons. Individuals. K-M.
        5                       Sermons. Individuals. N-R.

12      1                       Sermons. Individuals. S
        2                       Sermons. Individuals. T-Z.
        3                       Sermons. Miscellaneous. 1971-1975; n.d.
        4                       Rabbinic Thesis. 1974.
        5                       Rabbinic Thesis. Notes. N.d.
        6                       Rabbinic Thesis. Notes. N.d.
        7                       Shabbat Textbook. N.d.

Series C: Congregational Material, 1971-1983

13      1                       Dubuque (Ia)- Beth El. General. 1971-1973.
        2                       Dubuque (Ia)- Beth El. Youth Group. 1971-1972; n.d.
        3                       Marion (Oh)- Temple Israel. General. 1973-1974.
        4                       New Milford (Ct)- Temple Sholom. Board of Trustees. 1974-1976.
        5                       New Milford (Ct)- Temple Sholom. Board of Trustees. 1977-1979.
        6                       New Milford (Ct)- Temple Sholom. Congregational Letters.
                                        1975-1978; n.d.
        7                       New Milford (Ct)- Temple Sholom. Publications. 1975-1978; n.d.
        8                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Board of Trustees. 1979- June 1981.
        9                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Board of Trustees. July 1981-1983.
        
14      1                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Community Council. 1979-1982.
        2                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Centennial. 1982.
        3                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Centennial Service. 1982.
        4                       Charlottesville (Va)-  Beth El. Fact sheet/information. N.d.
        5                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. High Holidays 1981; n.d.
        6                       Charlottesville (Va)- Beth El. Publications.  1979-1980.

Series D: Miscellaneous, 1971-1982

14      7                       HUC grade cards. 1971-1974.
        8                       Newspaper Clippings. 1975-1982; n.d.
        9                       Photographs. 1978; n.d.