Congregation B’nai Israel Honoring Cross/Bilewitz Family at 2024 Gala
L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. The concept of sharing our Jewish values and traditions from one generation to another is on full display at Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin. With a wonderful religious and lay leader team, the congregation emphasizes multi-generational appeal and programming. For the first time in the synagogue’s history, three generations from one family are members of the Board of Directors. Their years of service and leadership will be honored at the annual gala on Sunday, March 17. The family members, Sue Ann and Mark Cross and their daughter Sheri Bilewitz, her husband Craig, and their children Ari and Tamara have been continuously involved in leadership roles at the synagogue in addition to three of them currently serving on the board.
Sue Ann grew up in a conservative Jewish home in New Jersey with her parents Hal and Kate, Holocaust survivors who became pillars in their community. Sue Ann met Mark when she was on a vacation visiting her sister in southern California. The Crosses were living in Anaheim Hills when her father showed the young couple an article about a group starting a new conservative synagogue in Orange County. They went to the initial meeting in July 1980 and decided while driving home that they wanted to make sure it happened. Mark was just beginning his own business and they didn’t have that much money saved, so they took out a loan to become founding members. Mark served as a general board member on the first board, has served as Housing Vice President and assisted on several committees involved with raising money for and constructing all the buildings. The Crosses donated the electrical wiring for the social hall and Mark, an electrician-turned-contractor, worked nights installing some of it himself as well as overseeing the construction of the sanctuary and the Family Life Center. Sue Ann and Mark co-chaired CBI’s Endowment Committee and Mark is again serving on the board as Housing VP. Sue Ann served as President, co-chaired the Hesed committee, and has participated extensively in CBI’s Social Action programs.
Needless to say, Sheri grew up with CBI as her second home. She was the President of USY in her senior year of high school and has served as the assistant director and director for Camp B’nai Ruach summer camp and the USY advisor. She has been teaching at the religious school for seven years and is currently on the Board as the Co-Youth VP. Sheri and Craig were married at CBI and it was natural for them to join CBI when they settled in Orange County. Craig has served on the CBI board as VP of Housing and recently co-chaired the synagogue’s Casino Night.
Their son Ari is currently the President of the synagogue’s USY chapter having been on the USY board for four years and has also been a madrich (assistant) at the religious school and a summer camp counselor. He has been helping run the cameras to stream services. As a junior at Aliso Niguel High School, he is on the school’s golf team and is involved in ASB as the Senior Director of Communications overseeing the school’s social media, graphics and video production. With all of his media experience, he hopes to study film in college. Tamara recently had her Bat Mitzvah at CBI. As an 8th grader at Don Juan Avila Middle School, she is involved in ASB and is also on the USY Board as the junior representative. With her passion for art, she is interested in interior design.
In addition to their contributions to CBI, the Cross and Bilewitz family members have been involved in the community at large and have made notable contributions through their careers. They have all helped with various programs to support the Ronald McDonald house. Sue Ann has been appearing in the CHOC Follies, the hospital’s major fundraiser for over twenty years, including co-chairing the event many times. Career-wise, Sue Ann created the itinerant program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the Placentia-Yorba Linda School District and taught the hearing impaired for 33 years. Following in mom’s footsteps, Sheri has also been teaching the hearing impaired for over 20 years. Mark had an electrical contracting business for over twenty years and then became a home builder. Using his experience and resources, the Crosses donated and worked on the electrical needs for many homes built by Habitat for Humanity and Mark helped build homes in Tijuana via the non-profit Corozon. Their son Scott followed in Mark’s footsteps becoming a home builder and also served on the CBI board as Housing VP. Craig has started his own business getting federal contracts for the Department of Interior and the Army.
With decades of volunteering both at CBI and the community-at-large, the Crosses inspired their children with Tikkun Olam. The Bilewitzes have continued to serve their community, handing the tradition down to their children. Truly an example of L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. In fact, Tamara shared “I look up to my parents and grandparents because of all the things that they have done and are continuing to do. When I’m older, I hope I have the opportunity to do as many things as they have done.”
With all of their contributions, Congregation B’nai Israel will be honoring the Cross/Bilewitz family members at the 2024 Gala, ‘The Incredibles, Using their Powers for Good!’ on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The themed event is a tribute to having three generations involved at CBI. The adventurous evening will include appetizers, dinner, signature cocktails, entertainment, and a silent and live auction. The event is open to the entire community; reservations are required and space is limited. Go to cbi18.org for more information and to make a reservation.
Daveen Meyers is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.