Midbar Kodesh Temple will be dedicating “Lev Shalem” the new siddur that will be used at Friday nigh

Midbar Kodesh Temple will be dedicating “Lev Shalem” the new siddur that will be used at Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat Services. The new prayer book, made available by Jack Mayer, will be dedicated in memory of his wife Irma Mayer, mother to Midbar’s Susan Tecktiel on February 7 and 8.

Jack said that “in dedicating this prayer book, I hope to perpetuate the memory of my dear wife, Irma Mayer for many years to come. Irma was extremely involved in Judaism whether visiting Israel or just living everyday as a loving Jew. She was active in our Synagogue life in every city we lived.”

Jack said that in St. Louis Irma was known as the “Hamantashen Lady” as she supervised the Women’s League members in baking the delicious three-cornered cookies for many years. She served on the Ritual Committee and Board of Directors of B’nai Amoona in St. Louis.

In St. Petersburg she served Sisterhood and Hadassah in many capacities. She chaired the Adult Education Committee and in representing Congregation B'nai Israel was awarded “The Jewish Federation Woman of Distinction Award." The Hamantashen Lady’s reputation grew by teaching and baking for the synagogue’s Mishloach Manot Project. In addition to baking for the congregation, the star bakers made them for Jewish patients at the VA Hospital and assisted living residences. They baked for the out-of-town college kids, the children on Erev Purim, and minyanaires on Purim mornings. Irma was also a docent at the Florida Holocaust Museum and was selected as “Docent of the Year.”

Irma was full of life and loved to travel. Together Irma and Jack traveled to many places in the world, but most of all she loved to travel to see her five grandchildren. As each grandchild reached the age of 10 they took a special trip with their grandparents. Each trip was different and each was a sweet memory which will always be remembered by the children. Jack and Irma traveled to Las Vegas often and fell in love with Midbar Kodesh Temple, where they met and visited with many congregants. Jack said that the “fact that our son-in-law is the Rabbi had nothing to do with our decision to spend Shabbat and holidays at Midbar Kodesh Temple whenever we visited.”

Jack and his family say that Irma was indeed an “Eishet Chayil," and are proud to hold her memory as a blessing with the dedication of the new prayerbooks.