Donor Stories: Cora & Paul Harrison
We have been members of Judea Reform since 1988—over three decades! Way back when, we were seeking to form ties with the local Jewish community for ourselves and our children and JRC was a well established option at that point. We joined as we liked the informality of services (compared to what we both experienced in the Northeast) and the newly hired young Rabbi John Friedman and his wife Nan.
The Congregation was small and friendly and it was easy to meet people. Many JRC congregants who we met early on remain our close friends. In the early years, it was exciting ‘growing up together,' having children at about the same time, participating in Shabbatons as families, and celebrating Rosh Hoshanah, Chanukah and Passover with a fun loving group. Our two girls, Becca and Julia, had their Bat Mitzvahs in the original sanctuary; I had mine in 2018, along with 13 other adults, in our beautiful “new” sanctuary. Becca (and Ian) were married by Rabbi Friedman in 2009 with Norm Loewenthal singing the Seven Blessings.
One of the great gifts of belonging to JRC were the many leadership opportunities we were encouraged to take on over the years. Paul was chair of Adult Education and on the Boards of both JRC and the Cemetery. Cora has chaired the Inclusion Committee and served on the JRC Board. Volunteering in kugel contests (with prizes), Midrasha trips to several fascinating local religious institutions (Sikh, Greek Orthodox, Fundamentalist) and Purim carnivals, were short term and fun.
As many of you know, our precious daughter Julia died in 2001. Julia’s loss will forever be the heartbreak of our life. We remain ever thankful for the support we received from the Rabbi, the JRC staff and the congregants who reached out to us.
Being members of JRC has given us great joy through the years and a huge degree of comfort when we needed it most. Because JRC has given so much to our family, we have chosen to give a financial gift to JRC after we are gone—a legacy gift.
With just a small adjustment to our will, our gift will help sustain JRC as a home for Reform Jews in our area. JRC is a vibrant and growing community, bursting with life, activity, good works, members of all ages and abilities, and Jewish values that match our own. Our legacy gift, along with Legacy gifts from other congregants, will help sustain the Judea Reform Congregation, for years to come.