Beth Sholom is truly a second home to Preservation Foundation Board member Fred Wolfson. Fred’s strong feelings for his congregation and his community have led him to devote his time and energy to the preservation of this Landmark building.
According to Fred, Beth Sholom is “in his blood.” Growing up at Beth Sholom, Fred has spent his whole life inspired by Wright’s work. His first leadership position in the congregation was on the House Committee, sparking a path of stewardship for the rest of his life. Visitors to the building are wowed by the design and awesome structure that Wright created. As a past president of the congregation, Fred knows that congregants sometimes take for granted this scared space and he feels as though it is his responsibility to preserve this treasure and take care of it for generations to come. His favorite time of the day is sunset, where he can sit in the sanctuary and watch the light come in through the glass and hit the pulpit and illuminate the space.
Recently retired from Wolfson Trucking, Fred is an active Board member for both the Preservation Foundation and the congregation. Fred realizes that education is key to preservation. He feels that the history of Beth Sholom and Frank Lloyd Wright are an important part of American and Jewish history. “Outreach to the community is critical,” explained Fred, “as it is fundamental to our mission of preservation.” He is proud to be a serve the Foundation and to be a part of its mission of insuring Beth Sholom’s place in both architectural and Jewish history.
