Karen Ehrenreich died, surrounded by her husband and children, on March 8, 2014 (7 Adar 5774) after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Karen was born in Cleveland at Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1947 to Sam “Mickey” and Jean Teitelbaum (both deceased). She was a 1965 graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and a 1970 graduate of Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women in Manhattan. She married her beloved husband, Leonard, in 1970 and worked as a social worker at the Cuyahoga County Welfare Department to support the family while her husband attended law school. They made their life initially in Cleveland Heights and then bought their first home in University Heights, where all five of their children were born. For the last 28 years, they made their home in Beachwood.
Until her illness, Karen worked part-time as a paralegal in her husband’s law office, doing medical records review and analysis. She played an integral role in preparing cases for trial.
Her family and community were the most important things to her and she worked tirelessly on their behalf. She was an active member of her synagogues, Young Israel of Greater Cleveland and Green Road Synagogue. Over the last 15 years, she had become a fixture at the women’s Beit Midrash of the Torat Tzion Kollel, pursuing her love of Torah learning.
Karen was an active and dedicated member of Cleveland AMIT for many years, serving in numerous capacities – on the chapter presidium, the mishloach manot committee and the Mother-in-Israel campaigns, among other activities. She actively participated in chapter board meetings and mentored new chair people. Together with some of her closest friends, Karen put in countless hours doing myriad jobs behind the scenes, ensuring that Cleveland AMIT would be able to continue its vital work of helping thousands of Israeli children survive and thrive.
A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, and aunt, Karen was predeceased by her sister, Bonnie (Art) Elefant. She is survived by her husband, Leonard; her brother, Gary Teitelbaum; three sons, Doniel (Leah), Marc (Lauren), and Avi (Sarah), all of Cleveland; and two daughters, Elana (Benjy) Burnat of Teaneck, N.J., and Aliza (Yoel) Schneid of Monsey, N.Y. She was a loving sister-in-law to Bernie and Debbie Ehrenreich of Neve Aliza, Israel, and a devoted aunt to their six sons. Karen was further blessed to have 11 grandchildren whom she cherished, Maya, Natan, Akiva, Eili, Noam, Aeden, Ariel, Shayna, Zahava, Batsheva and Eliav.
Karen leaves behind a treasured and devoted group of lifelong friends, chief among them Edith Tesler, who spent innumerable hours accompanying her to chemotherapy and just being there for her as the slightest need arose.
Karen’s funeral took place on March 10 and she was buried in the Oer Chodosh section of the Bet Olam cemetery. Donations in her memory are suggested to AMIT or Fuchs Mizrachi School.
Karen and I were the best of friends in Milliken elementary school, although we lost touch as adults. She was a wonderful friend to have. I remember when (about 1957-8) our class spent five days at overnight camp at Red Raider. (Miss Farrell was our bunk chaperone.) I was assigned the bottom bunk and Karen the bunk above me. I became so terribly homesick that I was inconsolable. Karen slept in the bottom bunk with me and kept me talking and laughing every night to ease my anxiety. Even at that tender age, Karen was thoughtful and considerate. She was a special friend, and I will always cherish the memories of that sweet little girl.
David Brown
Karen Ehrenreich died, surrounded by her husband and children, on March 8, 2014 (7 Adar 5774) after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Karen was born in Cleveland at Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1947 to Sam “Mickey” and Jean Teitelbaum (both deceased). She was a 1965 graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and a 1970 graduate of Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women in Manhattan. She married her beloved husband, Leonard, in 1970 and worked as a social worker at the Cuyahoga County Welfare Department to support the family while her husband attended law school. They made their life initially in Cleveland Heights and then bought their first home in University Heights, where all five of their children were born. For the last 28 years, they made their home in Beachwood.
Until her illness, Karen worked part-time as a paralegal in her husband’s law office, doing medical records review and analysis. She played an integral role in preparing cases for trial.
Her family and community were the most important things to her and she worked tirelessly on their behalf. She was an active member of her synagogues, Young Israel of Greater Cleveland and Green Road Synagogue. Over the last 15 years, she had become a fixture at the women’s Beit Midrash of the Torat Tzion Kollel, pursuing her love of Torah learning.
Karen was an active and dedicated member of Cleveland AMIT for many years, serving in numerous capacities – on the chapter presidium, the mishloach manot committee and the Mother-in-Israel campaigns, among other activities. She actively participated in chapter board meetings and mentored new chair people. Together with some of her closest friends, Karen put in countless hours doing myriad jobs behind the scenes, ensuring that Cleveland AMIT would be able to continue its vital work of helping thousands of Israeli children survive and thrive.
A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, and aunt, Karen was predeceased by her sister, Bonnie (Art) Elefant. She is survived by her husband, Leonard; her brother, Gary Teitelbaum; three sons, Doniel (Leah), Marc (Lauren), and Avi (Sarah), all of Cleveland; and two daughters, Elana (Benjy) Burnat of Teaneck, N.J., and Aliza (Yoel) Schneid of Monsey, N.Y. She was a loving sister-in-law to Bernie and Debbie Ehrenreich of Neve Aliza, Israel, and a devoted aunt to their six sons. Karen was further blessed to have 11 grandchildren whom she cherished, Maya, Natan, Akiva, Eili, Noam, Aeden, Ariel, Shayna, Zahava, Batsheva and Eliav.
Karen leaves behind a treasured and devoted group of lifelong friends, chief among them Edith Tesler, who spent innumerable hours accompanying her to chemotherapy and just being there for her as the slightest need arose.
Karen’s funeral took place on March 10 and she was buried in the Oer Chodosh section of the Bet Olam cemetery. Donations in her memory are suggested to AMIT or Fuchs Mizrachi School.
Lynn Gordon-Bryan (Corwin)
Karen and I were the best of friends in Milliken elementary school, although we lost touch as adults. She was a wonderful friend to have. I remember when (about 1957-8) our class spent five days at overnight camp at Red Raider. (Miss Farrell was our bunk chaperone.) I was assigned the bottom bunk and Karen the bunk above me. I became so terribly homesick that I was inconsolable. Karen slept in the bottom bunk with me and kept me talking and laughing every night to ease my anxiety. Even at that tender age, Karen was thoughtful and considerate. She was a special friend, and I will always cherish the memories of that sweet little girl.