LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Anna Matathias for receiving the
Outstanding Service Award from Beth Shalom/Oceanside Jewish Center

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Anna Matathias
for receiving the Outstanding Service Award from Beth Shalom/Oceanside
Jewish Center on Sunday, June 13, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias has been called upon to contribute her time
and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always
given of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Anna Matathias has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias was born in Volos, Greece, on November 14,
1950, and graduated the Volos Girls' Public School in 1968; intending
aliya, she attended Haifa University, Israel from 1969-1970, passing
with Excellence, the Gordon Seminary training for kindergarten teaching;
and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias met her husband, Asher, on August 16, 1970,
and they were wed 13 days later; they arrived in the United States on
October 3, 1970, joining the rest of the Matathias family who had
emigrated 14 years earlier; and
WHEREAS, During the 1980s, Anna Matathias enrolled in ballet, guitar,
computer literacy, creative writing and painting classes offered by the
Continuing Adult Education programs of the Lawrence and Woodmere-Hewlett
School Districts; in the 1990s, she took classes at the Jewish Theolog-
ical Seminary, taught by Professors Neil Gillman and Steve Brown, along
with workships sponsored by the Teachers' Jewish Center of the Board of
Jewish Education; and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias has had stints as an assistant art teacher at
the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) Summer Day Camp; second grade
and nursery school teacher at Temple Gates of Zion, Valley Stream and
Congregation Sons of Israel, Woodmere; and teaching at the Louis E. and
Dora Rousso Religious School, Sephardic Temple, Cedarhurst, before
arriving 15 years ago to commence the ongoing pleasure of teaching at
the Oceanside Jewish Center Religious school; and
WHEREAS, During that time, Anna Matathias was commissioned to instruct
an adult Bat Mitzva class at Temple Israel, Jamaica, 1988-89, a truly
thrilling experience; additional services were provided as tutor in
Hebrew and prayer book proficiency, leader of junior congregation, and
librarian, all at the Cedarhurst Sephardic Temple; and
WHEREAS, Anna Matathias has lectured on Sephardic customs, cuisine
along with publishing recipes, and Oriental dancing; she was a candidate
for the Lawrence School Board in 1988, and also held leadership posi-
tions with L.I. Lodge 1353, B'nai B'rith, vice president and a Life
member of Woodmere Hadassah, and past executive director of the Five
Towns Jewish Council; and
WHEREAS, A special highlight of Anna Matathias' career was becoming
the longest tenured Sisterhood president at Sephardic Temple, 1989-1997,
and in 1995 being honored as "Mother of the Year"; she also served on
the Board of Directors, Ladies Auxiliary of the Sephardic Home for the
Aged (LASHA), holding a lifetime membership in HAFTR-PTA; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Asher, their three
daughters, Miriam, Joy, and Sara, and their grandchildren, Ava-Gwen,
Jacob-Stanley, Simon-Max Herman, Raquel, and Jacqueline-Hannah, all of
whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Anna Matathias has displayed
throughout her life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Anna Matathias for receiving the Outstanding Service Award from
Beth Shalom/Oceanside Jewish Center; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Anna Matathias.