Dr. Benson S. Charif P'35, HC'39, of Lauderhill, Fla., and West Yarmouth, Mass., died on November 5, 2003. Before his retirement, he served as medical director of a Mattapan hospital and was a commander in the United States Navy. He leaves his wife,
Selma Kramer Charif HC'44, two sons, Loren and Russell, and three grandchildren.
Rabbi David Clayman P'51, HC'55, one of the leading American Jewish advocates in Israel, died in Jerusalem on May 22, 2003, at the age of 69. A graduate of Harvard University, he earned his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and served as a U.S. Navy chaplain and a congregational rabbi in Philadelphia, Penn., before he made aliyah in 1970. In Israel, he was associate dean of the School of Social Work at Hebrew University and longtime director of the American Jewish Congress's Israel office. Among his many achievements, he helped establish the Jerusalem Conference of Mayors—an annual meeting that attracts mayors from around the world—and was a fellow of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He leaves his wife of 47 years, Roz, and children: Tamar, Daniel and Jonathan.
Ruth Abelson Finch P'39, HC'45, of Newton, Mass., a former counselor at Camp Yavneh and member of Hebrew College's Boston
Chug Ivri, died on October 31, 2003, at 82. A spelling champion who often took notes in Hebrew and graduated from high school at 16, she later became a Hebrew teacher at Temple Beth Hillel in Mattapan, Mass. She was involved in the community, serving as a volunteer for the Newton Historical Society and for NA'AMAT (a Hebrew acronym for "Movement of Working Women and Volunteers"). She also loved music and the arts and was a member of Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, where she worked on the archives. She leaves her husband, Harold, and their children—Henry, David, Andrew, and Miriam Lerman—as well as eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and her brother, Burton. Her sisters
Lillian Abelson Beauvais P'37, HC'41, and
Eve, a Prozdor graduate, predeceased her. Her family has named Hebrew College the beneficiary of gifts in memory of and in tribute to Ruth.
Dr. Baruch Joseph Hurwich P'49, HC'53, son of Hebrew College's founder and former dean, Louis Hurwich,
z'l, died in Jerusalem on October 17, 2003, two weeks before his 70th birthday. A graduate of Harvard University and New York University School of Medicine, he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps and made aliyah with his family in 1968. A specialist in internal medicine and nephrology, he founded the Department of nephrology at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Hospital and directed it for 30 years. Following his retirement in 1999, he wrote and published two volumes on the early history (1911–1949) of the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps as well as English translations, which recently went to press. He also condensed the English language version of his father's book
Memoirs of a Jewish Educator (Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston, 1999). His wife, Judith Kaufman Hurwich, predeceased him in 1996. He is survived by four children—Mordecai Hurwich-Kehat, Ariel Braun, Adam and Timna—12 grandchildren, and a sister,
Rhoda Hurwich Kane P'44.
Sharon Steiff P'74, died January 26, 2004, at the age of 45. Raised in Peabody, Mass., Sharon attended Camp Yavneh and earned degrees in English literature and film from Syracuse University and a master's degree from New York University. In Boston, she was a substitute teacher at Cohen Hill Academy, her alma mater, until she attained a full-time position at Maimonides School in Brookline, Mass., where she recently became chair of the English department. During her career as a teacher—which lasted more than 20 years—she touched well over 1,500 young lives. She leaves her mother, Charlotte Steiff, and her two sisters, Ellen Zunick and Ronda Sirot.
Alumna Honors Hebrew College with Generous Bequest
 In September 2003, Hebrew College lost a cherished alumna, Gladys Madoff BJEd'32. A graduate of Simmons School of Social Work, Gladys enjoyed a long and fulfilling career as a psychiatric social worker, retiring from the San Diego County Bureau of Adoption after appointments at Los Angeles County General Hospital and the San Diego Naval Hospital.
A nonagenarian, Gladys was energized by Hebrew College's transformation, avidly tracking its growth through her conversations with President David Gordis, Associate Director of Development Susan Sandrof and Trustee Dr. Norman P. Spack, about whom she wrote, "The fortunate opportunity to speak with Dr. Spack (whose father, Al Spack, I studied with at the Menorah Institute) was one of the most pleasant evenings I have had since coming to San Diego 45 years ago."
Gladys was an independent and spirited woman who worked on behalf of liberal initiatives and legislation throughout her life, says her sister, Bertha Young, of Los Angeles. "She was always supporting causes she believed in, keenly involved in what was happening around her."
Sandrof remembers: "She loved the theater, concerts and California's bounty of fresh produce. Her wit and candor remained with her until her brief decline."
The Madoff family's Hebrew College connection includes Gladys's second sister, the late Adeline Madoff Freedman P'36, and Adeline's husband, Dr. Hyman M. Freedman P'36, of Canandaigua, N.Y. Gladys is also survived by six nephews and nieces.
Hebrew College is grateful to Gladys Madoff for her generous bequest and extends its deepest sympathies to her family.
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