Congregation Ahavas Sholom is thrilled to honor Buddy Adler and Ruth Pack-Adler with the Ahavas Chesed Award, the pursuer of kindness award.  They are long time members who are known for their caring and generous work for the shul, and for their many acts of kindness in the community.  Their home is a welcoming place for visitors, guests, and friends. 

 

Buddy and Ruth arrived in Bexley from South Florida in the summer of 1995, in time to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. A new job opportunity running the Mortgage Servicing division at Huntington Bank prompted them to trade in their flip flops for snow boots. Ruth finished up law school at The Ohio State University that first year, and they settled comfortably into the community from their home on Cassingham Road. Ruth began working as an attorney, and developed a passion for special needs children and educational advocacy.

 

In their early years as midwesterners, they became active in Agudas Achim, where Buddy served on the Board of Directors. By the time the family expanded to include Andrew in 1996 and Hannah in 2000, Ruth and Buddy had become involved in many community institutions. They joined Ahavas Sholom in 1996 and began attending regularly in the fall of 2001, quickly finding their spiritual home in the warmth and nonjudgmental atmosphere. Ruth fondly recalls her first time attending Shabbat services at Ahavas, when David Schwartz welcomed the family and quickly enlisted them to host the sukkah hop and shortly thereafter, to chair the shul dinner.

 

Ruth served on the Ahavas Sholom Board for more than 11 years, chaired numerous synagogue dinners and oversaw the shul’s Sheirut Leumi program from 2005-2007. The entire family participated in programs with the Columbus Community Kollel over the years, and Buddy served on the Board of the Columbus JCC. Both Ruth and Buddy served terms on the Board of Directors of Columbus Torah Academy, and Ruth worked as the Director of Recruitment, prior to their 8 year sabbatical in St. Louis.

 

While they longed to return to Columbus, they kept themselves busy in Missouri with work and more communal activities. Ruth and Buddy served (at different times) on the Boards of Young Israel of St. Louis and Epstein Hebrew Academy, and served as a host family for the b’not sheirut. Ruth also volunteered on the board of Torah Mitzion, oversaw the B’nei Akiva program, chaired dinners for Epstein Hebrew Academy and Yeshivat Kadima, and was a member of the Federation’s Allocations Committee.

 

Despite that busy schedule and cousins and friends in St. Louis, the Adler family jumped at the chance to return to Columbus four years ago, and quickly settled back in with the community and friends.

After working a couple of years with Nationwide Bank as AVP of Credit Risk, Buddy now enjoys some flexibility and autonomy in his own consulting business. Ruth works at Discover Financial Services, where she is responsible for Fair Lending oversight. She also pursues her passion for advocacy, volunteering with The Childhood League Center as well as a number of employee resource groups focused on empowering people of differing abilities.

 

Recently, Ruth assisted in writing the grants the synagogue received to fund security and site improvements, and stepped down from the Board, but continues to assist with the sisterhood and kitchen committee. Ruth’s writing expertise, intellect and legal mind are very valued by the shul board and officers.  Her well thought out, sage advice is always appreciated.

 

 In his spare time, Buddy serves as a member of CTA’s Finance Committee and volunteers with the Chevra Kadisha. This year Buddy helped set up the socially distanced seating for the high holiday services, with ideas to keep people safe during the pandemic.  In previous years Buddy volunteered to help build the synagogue Succah, and helped cook large Shabbat lunches and meals.  As he grilled chicken for 200 people, he entertained his fellow workers with jokes and his wit. Working with Ruth and Buddy is always enjoyable.   

 

 They are most proud of their children, Andrew and Hannah. Andrew graduated from the joint program at Columbia University and The Jewish Theological Seminary, and works as a Consultant at Nationwide Financial within the Strategic Partnership Team. In addition, he is the Assistant Baseball Coach at CTA and is one of the newest members of the Ahavas Sholom Board. Hannah is a student at Stern College for Women, where she is pursuing a degree in Jewish Education. She is a member of the Active Minds Club, promoting mental health and wellness, and is an editor of the Jewish academic publication, Kol HaMevasser.

 

Ahavas Sholom is pleased to honor Buddy and Ruth for their many years of service to the shul and the community, and to recognize them for their chesed, generosity and many hours of volunteer work.   Buddy and Ruth offer their heartfelt appreciation to the entire shul community, for the warm welcome all those years ago, and for their continued kindness and friendship. They are looking forward to the end of COVID restrictions so all can join together again.