Kudos: Four special people who bring freedom into our lives

John Temple

If one needed a theological lesson that nothing lasts forever except G-d, one might say that the Rocky Mountain News, under the leadership of John Temple, provided it. Check list for success: Pulitzer Prizes, writers with followings, dedication to the watchdog role of the daily newspaper. Yet, with all the successes, the Rocky didn’t survive, in response to which we might point to the mysterious workings of the market, or to failures of management; but we prefer to take the theological tack, acknowledging that since nothing lasts forever we are free to extend full gratitude to the powers that made it last as long as it did.

At the head of this list stands John Temple, the man who led the Rocky as it won the Pulitzers, the man who enlivened our community, truly, in countless ways. Demise is no disqualifer for a Kudos. If it were, there would never be a single human act of appreciation.

Temple often shared his personal and personable commitment to Judaism with his readers. His own story is complex. His parents fled Europe for a new start in Canada, but abandoned their faith. For them, the Jewish religion was synonymous with pain. John chose to identify with Judaism when he was 16.  “You can never leave your past behind, can you?” he told the IJN. His wife Judith strengthened his Jewish journey, expressed at Rodef Shalom. 

John Temple upheld the foundation of a free society: a free press. For doing so with unfailing verve, flair and acuity, we salute him.

Ed Koplin

Many people remember the business which Ed and Carolyn Koplin operated for many years — Creative Hang-ups — because the proprietors were always so friendly and, well, creative. Although the clever name of the business was a play on words, it had a certain aptness for Ed Koplin, who seems to have a persistent hang-up himself —  community service. He just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Ed is a man of considerable devotion to many interests, as evidenced by his work with Sar-El Volunteers for Israel and the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, as well as his longstanding support for the late, great Max Frankel in organizing the annual Passover seders for Jewish prisoners in Canon City.

Under Koplin’s energetic leadership of Denver Lodge #171 of B’nai B’rith, the B’nai B’rith slowing trend was halted and then reversed. He organized trips to Cuba, invited fascinating speakers and panelists, and inspired the membership to go out and perform service projects for the Jewish community.

Perhaps the most dramatic of these is the annual cleanup project at Leadville’s Jewish cemetery, which, until Koplin and B’nai B’rith came along, had turned into a forsaken, almost forgotten place. Not only has it been kept neat and tidy since he first turned his volunteers loose, it has seen dramatic repair and restoration.

Asked why he focuses on such an out-of-the-way place, his reply is to the point: “I felt we could do better.” Along the way, he has been helping us all do better.

Heidi Tessler

If you are ill and have ever stayed the night in a hospital, there’s a good chance you’ve met Dr. Heidi Tessler. An internist and hospitalist, Dr. Tessler chooses to work mainly during those long silent hours before morning’s light. The family has gone home, as has most of the medical staff. Everything is quiet. Too quiet. Dr. Tessler checks vital signs and monitors the machines, but her real gift is a tireless willingness to sit and talk to patients who want someone to listen.

Dr. Tessler instinctively understands the role of the human heart in medicine; the fears, the loneliness, the need to pray. She has the unique ability to be just a person, and just be with a person. Dr. Tessler’s bedside chats alone have helped her save many lives. How or when Dr. Tessler sleeps remains one of life’s great mysteries.

Dr. Tessler, a Coloradan since age seven, and her husband Carl are the parents of eight.

Heidi performs numerous mitzvot that she prefers to keep secret in our community. Gloating? Not even whispering about her accomplishments is her style. We happen to know that several years ago, a woman with no family in Denver asked Heidi to stay with her during an operation. She was not Heidi’s patient.

No matter! Heidi immediately agreed, without the slightest hesitation. For two hours, she never left the woman’s side. Then the good doctor began her “real” job.

She’s probably heard “thank you” a thousand times from grateful patients. Dr. Tessler, this is your community paging: Thank you!

Rabbi Rheins

In 2005, Temple Sinai hired Rabbi Richard Rheins to usher a doubting congregation into a new era –– life beyond its retiring, beloved, founding Rabbi Raymond Zwerin. Mindful of the storied history of the congregation, Rheins wanted to establish his own style while retaining Rabbi Zwerin’s loyal following.

But rather than a turtle’s pace, Rabbi Rheins surged ahead. He made changes to the Friday night service:introducing new prayers, reciting familiar ones differently, moving the kiddush to the end of the service. Rheins pushed the congregation beyond its comfort zone in the direction of more tradition –– and it’s working.

Sinai’s weekly Saturday morning minyan has grown by leaps and bounds since its introduction a few years ago. Led by lay persons and clergy alike, the gathering has the feel of an intimate chavurah. Under Rabbi Rheins, Temple membership, even in this economy, is climbing. The religious school thrives, volunteers commit, activities abound.

Married to Rabbi Susan Rheins and the father of three sons, Richard Rheins integrates liberal Judaism with more traditional elements. In this, he is a child of the new Reform Judaism. For him, G-d is not a metaphor and ritual observance can bring us closer to G-d.

Rabbi Rheins has taken many chances. They weren’t all popular, immediately or even ultimately. But he stuck to his spiritual guns. Not only has the house that Zwerin built survived a difficult transition, but the larger community has benefited from Rabbi Rhein’s sensitive touch.