2021–22 — Andrew Berman, Michelle Weber
The Harry Gunther Service Award
The Harry Gunther Service Award is presented annually to a deserving Beth Am member who has worked during the prior year for the benefit of the Temple community in a way which would be considered “above and beyond.”
Congratulations to Andrew Berman and Michelle Weber, 2021–22 recipients of The Harry Gunther Service Award, which is presented to a deserving Beth Am member who has worked for the benefit of the Temple community in a way which would be considered “above and beyond.”
The award was presented at the Temple Beth Am Annual Meeting on May 22, 2022.
A senior partner at Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, P.A., Andrew S. Berman is a Board Certified Appellate Practice Lawyer and was named Lawyer of the Year-Mergers and Acquisition Litigation in Miami (2020) by Best Lawyers. He has been distinguished through peer review as having attained the highest level of legal ability and professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
Andy served the past year as Temple Counsel, working closely with the Temple’s Management Team and Executive Committee as we entered the second year of COVID-19 protocols, advising the synagogue on a multitude of legal issues related to the reopening of our campus and our COVID-19 Task Force.
Michelle R. Weber was Executive Vice President of Bet Breira Samu-El Or Olom in summer 2016 when the synagogue sadly ceased operations. She became a Vice President for Transition at Temple Beth Am as we invited their members to join our community. Michelle later served on the Temple Beth Am Board of Directors as Recording Secretary, followed by stints as Vice President-Membership and most recently as Vice President-Administration. It was during summer 2021 when her extraordinary skills as an Administrator were called upon during a period without an Executive Director. She later served on the Search Committee that selected Neil Kurlander as our Executive Director.
When she isn’t serving Beth Am as a volunteer, Michelle is Chief Operating Officer of Bilzin Sumberg, one of South Florida’s largest law firms. She also serves as President of Florida Foster Care Review, community volunteers who advance the safety, stability and success of children in foster care by connecting them to essential services, supportive relationships and permanent families.
This award is named for Harry Gunther, a special man and founding member who made Temple Beth Am a high priority during his lifetime. His widow, Ethelle, remained an active member of the Temple Beth Am family for nearly 60 years until her death in 2013.