OCTOBER 21 • 2021 | 15

questions or concerns to the 
best of my ability and within 
my knowledge,
” Gutman 
said. “I always was truthful 
with them, and I felt that was 
very important to establish 
and continue relationships, 

which is the name of the game. 
Relationships are so important.
” 
Dr. Richard Brown, former 
CSZ president, has known 
Gutman since he started, 
becoming close with him not 
only in synagogue life, but 

personally as well. 
“He’s kind, caring and 
professional in his synagogue-
related activities, and those 
qualities carry over into his 
personal life,
” Brown said. 
“He took his profession home 
with him. That’s the way he was 
with everybody and still is.
” 
Brown believes Gutman’s 
legacy at CSZ will be a respect 
in quality of performance and a 
respect from all the members.

‘TRUE PROFESSIONAL
’
“
A true professional. Always 
available, always there, every 
morning and night. When you 
had an issue, it came before 
everything else,
” Dr. Brown said. 
An example of Gutman’s 
kindness, he was famous for 
making sure congregants 
weren’t alone on a holiday. 
Kathleen Brown, a Shaarey 
Zedek congregant, remembers 

a time Gutman extended his 
generous hand when she was 
a widow, and before she got 
remarried to Dr. Brown. 
“Cantor Gutman asked where 
I was going for the holidays, 
and I said I’m not really sure. 
He said, ‘Well I’m sure and 
you’re coming to my home.
’ He 
said, ‘You’ll come here every 
holiday every year and if you 
have somewhere else to go, 
you’ll tell me, but until then, 
you’re going to be our family 
now,
’” Brown said. 
“There were also other people 
they took in their home on the 
holidays, new widows, older 
people who didn’t have family, 
and he would personally ask 
them where they would be.
”
Dr. Brown added, “That 
sums it all up. That’s the kind of 
person he is. He kept his word 
because we have been going 
there together ever since.
” 

Cantor Gutman helps 
Max Young with bar 
mitzvah preparation.

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

 
 
 
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