Shloshim for Arlene Ross was held at Congregation Havurat Yisrael in Forest Hills on August 16. More than 45 people, including her daughter, Ariella, and people on Zoom, attended the siyum and special breakfast.
Appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arlene Ross was deputy commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development. Ross was also a board member at the Queens Jewish Community Council and at Havurat Yisrael, co-founder of the Central Queens Republican Club, and very involved with the Republican Jewish Coalition and AIPAC, including often going to their national conventions. She hosted parlor meetings and introduced two political candidates at her home for the public to meet and fundraise for. Ross passed away suddenly on July 15, at age 68.
Friends and acquaintances took it upon themselves to learn all 63 tractates of the Mishnah in Ross’ honor before the shloshim.
Her daughter, Ariella Ross, fighting back tears, thanked everyone for completing the Mishnah in her mother’s memory. “My mother really values Torah education and constantly learning. She sponsored so many “lunch and learns” throughout the City that I am proud to say I’m finding out about slowly… Torah and education were something she really valued.”
Rabbi David Algaze, rabbi emeritus of Havurat Yisrael, speaking from Jerusalem, said a siyum (completing the Mishnah) and the end of a life mean: “We’ve acquired something in ourselves we did not have before. We appreciate her life, how we have learned, and been touched by her.”
Ross “loved Torah, and her life was always dedicated to the preservation of the Jewish people and of the Jewish identity.” Ross had “concern for every Jew, for every marriage, for every life.”
“She was always close to the concept of kiruv and learning Torah. A beautiful student who never let a teacher out without a question, a discussion, an argument, and yet at the same time had immense respect and reverence for scholars, for Torah, and for the teachers of Torah.”
Rabbi Avrohom Levitt of Havurat Yisrael asked people to keep learning because “we’re going to keep Arlene in our thoughts for a long time. Over the next few months, I’m going to be thinking about Arlene a lot.”
Carol Krohn, a close friend of Arlene Ross, said Ross “was a very thoughtful and caring person.” If she heard that people were in the hospital or rehab, “she would frequently go visit them because she didn’t want the people to be alone.” Ross would take Ubers, buses, or trains to get there.
When people came back home from a hospital or rehab, Ross checked to see what they needed, brought groceries and “whatever they needed.”
If someone coming to Forest Hills needed a place to stay, Ross would host them for Shabbos. Ross frequently invited people to her home for Shabbos and holiday meals.
Karen Rose and Arlene Ross were pregnant at the same time. “The joy and excitement of Arlene having her child was just unbelievable, and three months later I had my twins.” Rose and Ross pushed their baby strollers together, sent their kids to the same pre-nursery, and went to shul together.
“We are all so proud of Ariella. What an incredible young lady she is, and Ariella, you should know your mother will always be with you at every moment, at every time, and even if she’s not physically here, she is here.”
