Many members of our Sisterhood know longtime IHC librarian Evelyn Pockrass, but how many know about her early accomplishments and contributions to IHC?

Evelyn moved to Indianapolis from New Jersey with her husband and three sons in 1979. She graduated from Hunter College in New York and earned a Master of Social Work degree from New York University.

Only a few years after joining IHC, Evelyn stepped up to become the Sisterhood President in 1985. As president she helped to organize a weekly Study Series and Coffee Chat and brought engaging speakers on current issues to those meetings and to Sisterhood luncheons, including Rabbi Amy Eilberg, the first woman to be ordained in the Conservative movement. Evelyn also helped organize Bikkur Cholim, a society for visiting the sick.

A passionate reader, she became the temple librarian in 1990 and organized the popular IHC Book Club. In 1992, the Church and Synagogue Library Association (CSLA) named Evelyn that year’s Outstanding Librarian. She remained involved with the organization through its dissolution in 2017 and served three terms as President.  She is pictured here with Alice Campbell and Marcia Trauernicht accepting a certificate that commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Indiana Chapter of the CSLA.

In 2023, Evelyn retired after serving as the IHC Librarian for 33 years. When IHC announced her retirement, social media contained extensive praise for her work and passion for Jewish history and literature. It is clear that she touched a lot of congregants, especially through thoughtful book club picks and discussions, and elevated the literary culture at IHC.

Want to preserve a story about Evelyn in the IHC Sisterhood archival collections? Email historian Jill Weiss Simins at arijilly@hotmail.com
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Sources
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“Newcomers: Pockrass,” Indiana Jewish Post, September 21, 1979, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles.

Pockgrass Nominated to Head Sisterhood,” Indiana Jewish Post, April 24, 1985, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles.

"Rabbi Eilberg to be Guest Speaker,” Indiana Jewish Post, September 4, 1985,
Hoosier State Chronicles.

IHC Coffee Chat,” Indiana Jewish Post, October 16, 1985, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles.

“IHC To Start a Chevra Bikkur Cholim,” Indiana Jewish Post, July 9, 1986, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles.

Indiana Jewish Post, July 15, 1992, 6, Hoosier State Chronicles.

“Shoshana,” Indiana Jewish Post, February 18, 2004, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles.

Photograph, Series: CSLA 2014, Church and Synagogue Library Association Records (AR0898), University of North Texas Special Collections, UNT Digital Library.