Distinguished Rabbi, Author and Poet will provide outreach, counseling to the Sarasota-area Jewish community.
SARASOTA, FL SEPT. 12, 2018 — Rabbi Howard A. Simon has joined the staff of Toale Brothers Funeral Home as a liaison to the Jewish community. In this newly created, multi-faceted position, Rabbi Simon will provide counseling and outreach with a focus on serving the needs of Jewish families.
In making the announcement, Funeral Director Curt Toale said, “Rabbi Simon has established an impeccable reputation and is deeply respected by the Jewish community in Greater Sarasota. We consider it an honor and a great privilege to welcome him to our family.”
Howard A. Simon was ordained as a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to assuming leadership of Sarasota’s Temple Emanu-El Congregation, he had served congregations in Baltimore, MD; Atlantic City, NJ; Cincinnati, OH and Knoxville, TN.
Rabbi Simon is Vice President of the Sarasota Ministerial Association, and writes a monthly column for The Jewish News sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota/Manatee. He was a founder and president of Knoxville’s Interfaith Health Clinic, served a number of years on the board of the Jewish Federation, led three Interfaith Missions to Israel sponsored by the Jewish Federation, and was the founding Chairman of the Esther and Robert Heller Israel Advisory Initiative of the Jewish Federation.
Rabbi Simon is the author of two books of poetry, Back From the Abyss: Thoughts About Life, and Death and Memories, So Many, So Precious. He recently published his first novel, Atlantic City: Winners and Losers.
He and his wife, Rona, share their lives with six children and eight grandchildren.
About Toale Brothers Funeral Home
Toale Brothers Funeral Home has served the Greater Sarasota area for three generations. The Toale family purchased the original funeral home in downtown Sarasota, Florida in 1948.
Under the leadership of second-generation funeral director Curt Toale, Toale Brothers continues to thrive as a locally owned and family-operated business, with a staff of highly experienced funeral directors, administrators and counselors. Curt and Syndi Toale’s daughters, Tiffany Toale Holsbeke and Stephanie Toale Lynch, proudly represent the family’s third generation.
There are four Toale Brothers Funeral Homes to serve the Greater Sarasota area: Bradenton Chapel, Colonial Chapel, Gulf Gate Chapel, and the newest location, Ewing Chapel on Venice Island. Details about funeral home locations, funeral planning or pre-need arrangements, obituaries and other important information can be found by visiting Toale Brothers website: www.toalebrothers.com.