Remembering Elsie Smoler and Kerry Ben-David

Elsie Rubenstein Smoler died in her sleep on March 7, 2015, a few weeks after turning 90. After graduating from Erasmus High and Adelphi College, Elsie worked at WNEW and Mademoiselle before marrying Irwin Smoler in 1950. For more than 50 years, the Smoler's lived in Scarsdale where they raised their three children, Fred, Michael, and Arlene. Elsie Smoler served on the School Board and was President of the Board in 1987-88. Her picture still hangs in the Board of Education room at SHS today. In 1995, the Scarsdale Foundation awarded her the Scarsdale Bowl for service to the town, including presidency of the School Board. Her son, Fred Paul Smoler is the Adda Bozeman Professor of International Relations at Sarah Lawrence College and served as a contributing editor to American Heritage Magazine.

Longtime resident Evelyn Stock had this to say about Elsie Smoler; "Elsie was a truly kind, caring person, extremely intelligent and willing to ask the tough questions. She gave a lot to Scarsdale in many areas, most notably on the Scarsdale School Board where she served as president and the Scarsdale Adult School board which she chaired. She was a good friend."

Cantor Kerry Ben-David:
Cantor Kerry Ben-David, Cantor Emeritus of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El and Cantor of the Jewish Family Congregation in Lewisboro died of a heart attack on February 25, 2015. Ben-David was the beloved cantor at Scarsdale Synagogue from 1985 to 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Batyah Godfrey Ben-David, his loving and musical children, Adam Ben-David, Sheera Miller Ben-David, his devoted son-in-law, Steven Miller, and grandchildren, Baxter Miller and Shadow Miller.

Funeral services were held at Scarsdale Synagogue on Friday February 27, 2015, and he was buried at Sharon Gardens.

On a memorial blog about Ben-David, one SSTTE congregant remembered him this way. "When I think of Kerry one word comes to mind- "joy!" Pure unadulterated joy. For that's what he was. It is what he was as a person: It is what he exuded as a spiritual leader. And it was his very unique contagion. For he brought to his cantorial calling great music, and a great voice. But he brought to it something far more meaningful. He brought to it his soul. And we, a struggling congregation in the early 80's were the blessed recipients of this spiritual windfall."

Kerry trained my three children for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah's and single-handedly bar mitzvahed my first child when the rabbi fell ill at the last minute. With no rabbi on the bima, Kerry let my son lead the service and it was a pleasant surprise for all. Our entire family can attest to Kerry's warmth, jovial nature and love of music. When Kerry was in attendance at the synagogue, the event was instantly fun. He imparted his musical talents to his children Adam, who is now a Broadway conductor and Sheera who serves as cantor of Temple Israel in NYC. As the two grew up we were often treated to their performances as well.

Kerry was truly one of a kind. He was born to Irish parents and named Kerry McDevitt, and ultimately became Cantor Ben-David. He may be the first and last Irish cantor we will know.

Donations may be made in Cantor Ben-David's honor and memory to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), where he and Batya spent so many years volunteering. Remembrances can be made on the SSTTE blog page.