Harold and Sophie Mitnik*
Harold and Sophie (nee Fradin) Mitnik were both born in Buffalo, NY to Russian immigrant parents. Harold was born in 1914 and Sophie in 1916.
Their parents knew each other, but once they met, the rest was history. They were married in 1941 while Harold was in the Army Air Corps.
When Harold was out of the service, he joined his family business, Distillers Cooperage (used whiskey barrels) located in Lawrenceburg, IN. After their two children were born, they moved to the west side of Cincinnati.
They were part of a core group of people who founded Temple Sholom.
Beneficiary organizations- Temple Sholom
The following statement was written by Sharon Balfanz, beloved daughter of Harold and Sophie, in their memory:
There were very few Jewish families and no Temples where my parents raised us. Since they were adamant about us having a Jewish upbringing, they joined Rockdale Temple in Avondale. At that time, Rabbi Stanley Brav was an assistant Rabbi there.
A group of families decided to join together with Rabbi Brav and form their own congregation. This was the beginning of Temple Sholom. This core group of families purchased a small church building in Roselawn and Temple Sholom was formally born.
My parents were always very active in and supportive of the Temple from its start-up phase, through their own move to Amberley Village and the purchase of land in Amberley Village for construction of a new expanded facility.
In the lobby of that building hung a plaque that read: "THE TEMPLE SHOLOM LOBBY, A PLACE FOR ALL TO GATHER” in their memory. That’s what they wanted, and helped build.
Their legacy to Temple Sholom was grounded in their desire and effort to help all who came after themselves, to have the same sense of Judaism, belonging and family that they found, and helped build, at Temple Sholom.
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