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In 1983 Beverly Kruger was elected to the new position of Administrator and served until December of 1994. Harry Haskins was elected president in 1983. During his two-year term, a limited remodeling program began. The Rabbi's study was enlarged and refurbished. With the endowment of the Sarah Mendel Koplin Library Fund in 1984 we were able to relocate and redesign our library. The Fund permitted a significant enlargement of the library collection, and for the first time a systematic cataloging of all library materials was initiated.

During this period three meaningful additions to the Synagogue were made. A Holocaust Memorial Plaque was donated by the Frolich Family and was placed in the sanctuary. The Kessler Torah, smuggled out of Nazi- occupied Austria, was encased in a sealed cabinet and put on permanent display in the Plum Street foyer. In 1985, the David S. Kruger Torah Fund was established for the purpose of maintaining the Torahs and ornaments in the required kosher condition.

In 1985 the pulpit was filled by Rabbi Dov Edelstein, and for the second time in our history a woman, Elsie Benn, was elected president. During her administration, a demographic study of the congregation was completed, a Long-Range Planning Committee was established, a Rosh Hashanah Inauguration Service was introduced, and the congregation approved the use of music for Shabbat and the festivals in the Social Hall.

The Synagogue Library won the Solomon Schechter Award for Excellence from the United Synagogue. Beverly Kruger became our first member to be elected to the United Synagogue National Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Region of United Synagogue. In addition, Rabbi Edelstein was chosen by Governor Joe Frank Harris to serve on the Holocaust Commission for the State of Georgia.

In June of 1987, Norman Kaplan was elected president and was re-elected in May of 1989. In October of 1989, Rabbi Edelstein consecrated the new Sherah Israel Cemetery on the side of Rose Hill which had been purchased in the mid 1960's during Melvin Kruger's administration. After many months of planning and building 253 gravesites were established.

In early 1990, when the synagogue was without a rabbi, a group of congregants under the direction of Morris Cohen and David Frolich organized a weekday Tefillin and Torah service. The Thursday morning minyan continues to this day.

In May of 1990, due to the untimely death of President Kaplan, Ike Dreizin was elected to serve as president for the remainder of Mr. Kaplan's term which ended in May of 1991. During his administration, an extensive renovation and remodeling of our building began. Myron Koplin served as Building Committee Chairman.

In the spring of 1991 Rabbi Edelstein moved to Israel. Steven Kruger, following in the path of his family, became president of the synagogue. During this time, we were without a rabbi but were blessed to have the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Mychal Springer and Rabbi Ron Muroff who alternated as visiting rabbis. Their inspiration and support enabled us to search and find the appropriate rabbi.
During Mr. Kruger's tenure a total revision of the constitution was accomplished and junior and associate membership status was initiated. Project Isaiah was continued at Yom Kippur and we helped out at the Bibb County Jail Christmas Eve and Day. For the first time in our history the congregation participated in the National Enrollment Program for the Jewish Theological Seminary.
At the Southeastern Conference of United Synagogue Mr. Kruger was elected to the Board. We also received the Region Fundraising Award.

As the new administration came into office in 1993 with Francine P Kirsh as president, Rabbi Aaron Rubinstein and his wife Sharona joined us with great hope for the future. At this time, a wonderful choir was formed under the direction of Rabbi Rubinstein and his talented wife.

Within the community, Sherah Israel was becoming more visible as we hosted our first ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. Our work with Project Isaiah, an ongoing social action project with the Macon Food Bank and our unique Medical Center Christmas Day Volunteer Program and well as multiple holiday celebrations gave us a good deal of media attention.

During Mrs. Kirsh’s administration a joint communal Chevra Kadisha was established with Temple Beth Israel. A new Macon Youth Group was formed enabling us to bring together all of the Jewish youth in Middle Georgia in one organization. Our congregation rededicated our auditorium in memory of Gertrude T. Haskins and our education wing in memory of Rachel, Rose and Robert Zarks.

In June 1995 Robert E. Chanin assumed the presidency as another second generation followed in the footsteps of his father, L'Dor V'Dor.

During the two years that Robert Chanin served a Sunday school was established for the Jewish Youth of Middle Georgia. This school, Macon Talmud Torah, was a joint effort of Congregation Sherah Israel and Temple Beth Israel. Also, during Mr. Chanin's administration a permanent building fund assessment was established to insure that the maintenance of the synagogue would be endowed.

In 1997 Gerald Marshall was elected president becoming the third generation of his family to serve in this capacity. During Mr. Marshall’s administration, the note for the remodeling of the synagogue was paid in full. Also a new computer system was installed, increasing the efficiency of billing and collection of information.

Terri Frolich began her term as president in 1999. In August our synagogue hosted over 300 teens from the USY Leadership Training Institute (LTI) on their way to Ramah Darom in north Georgia. Other noteworthy events included: establishment of a Web site and email list; for two years the artwork of congregant Laurel Robinson was featured in the United Synagogue calendar; high holiday maftirs and aliyahs were open to the entire congregation; a Centennial Committee was formed to begin planning for our celebration in 2004; and our Community Outreach Program expanded to include the collection of food for the food bank and providing monthly volunteers to help feed the hungry at Mulberry Methodist Church. During Mrs. Frolich’s administration the congregation decided to return to our kehilla’s original name, Sha’arey Israel. In December of 2000 a beautiful new ark curtain was presented to for the synagogue’s main sanctuary donated by Bess and Arnold Cotton.

In 2001 Evan Koplin was elected president of our congregation becoming the second generation in his family to serve in this role. Responding to needs for increased security Mr. Koplin designed a security plan for all synagogue functions. 2002 was a great year for Adult Education. Author Rabbi Daniel Gordis addressed our kehila during our scholar in residence weekend. Sunday morning BLT (Bagel Lox & Tephillin) grew into a weekly torah study class. In March of 2002 Abe and Edythe Cohen generously provided the funding to purchase an antique Sephardic Torah which had originally been scribed in Iraq.

Sheila Elkon was elected president in 2003. During her administration Congregation of Sha’Arey Israel celebrated its centennial year. Temple Beth Israel and Congregation Sha’Arey Israel decided to disband Macon Talmud Torah. Also in 2005 an anonymous donor gave our new Wall of Jerusalem.

June 2005 saw Shelley Davidson elected president and we bid Rabbi and Sharona Rubinstein goodbye as they moved their family to Memphis, Tennessee.
In our second century our Kehilla continues to grow and respond to new challenges. May G-d bless our endeavors with success as we continue to build a vibrant and exciting Jewish future in Middle Georgia.

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