Shirley Lowy

We are proud to highlight our members who commit their time and resources to helping VBS thrive. Throughout the year, we will be sharing their stories and hope you will be inspired to learn more about our programs or get involved with a new project at VBS. To view articles written by VBS members, check out our Community News Blog > 

Shirley Lowy

One Sunday morning a few years ago, as Rabbi Feinstein was leading a group of new members around the synagogue, they ran into Shirley Lowy. The rabbi introduced her to the group and said, “Shirley is always here, greeting people as they enter and offering a warm, smiling face to make them feel at home. She is the heart and soul of this synagogue.” (This writer was one of those new members.)

“I enjoy greeting people on Shabbat, those coming in for special programs, or for any reason,” Shirley said. “Most people want to be welcomed and it’s important for them and for the synagogue to make them feel comfortable here."

“I greeted a woman recently, and as we spoke I found out that her husband had recently committed suicide. She came looking for some solace and I asked her to sit with me. It reinforced to me how important it is to get to know people because you never know what someone is going through.”

Shirley was born in Akron, OH. She relocated to Los Angeles in 1981 from Cleveland, when the small manufacturing company she worked for, and still works for, relocated to North Hollywood. She was one of only three employees offered positions in the move.

“As soon as I settled in, I checked out a number of shuls, because I wanted to be part of a community,” she said. But when her father passed away six months after the move and Shirley wanted to say Kaddish, she knew that Valley Beth Shalom was the best place for her. She immediately joined and found her home at VBS.

“I knew VBS had and still has a reliable daily minyan,” Shirley said. “And the people I met at the services were so warm and welcoming. They basically enveloped me. And I loved the fact that women not only attended, but also participated! That was not the case at most synagogues around the country at that time.”

It took Shirley a few years to become more active at the synagogue, “I started helping in the kitchen, preparing Shabbat Kiddush, which I still enjoy serving.” she said. She then joined the Sisterhood and made many new friends. But she noted that her most satisfying volunteer effort is her work on Sunday mornings at OurSpaceLA, a program started by Rabbi Schulweis for children and young adults with special needs.

”I get to work with the young adults,” she said. “I help with art projects and teach them about Judaism. It’s very special for me to interact with these young people and help to make a positive difference in their lives.”

Shirley said she likes the variety of programs offered at the synagogue from the lectures and Jewish education to the social action projects. “There’s something for everyone at VBS,” she said “There are always so many things going on.”

And she assures that there will be no letup in her greeting duties. “I thoroughly enjoy welcoming people,” she concluded. “I want to help new people find their place here as I found mine.”

Interview conducted by and article written by Jay Schuster