Eighteen years ago, members Irv and Cindy Munn dedicated the Brownstein Munn Memorial Room at Temple Shalom in honor of their parents. In Jewish tradition, the number eighteen carries deep meaning – chai, life. Now, eighteen years later, that same room is being renewed once again, made possible by another generous gift from Cindy and Irv. It is a gesture that reflects not only continuity, but life renewed – memory carried forward with intention, care, and love.
The updated Memorial Room, overseen by Temple member and ASID designer Cristie Schlosser, honors the past while creating a space that feels present, warm, and welcoming for today’s Temple Shalom community. Yet the room itself is only part of the story. At its heart are the lives and values of the families it commemorates – and the enduring commitment of Irv and Cindy to Jewish life, community, and remembrance.
When the room was first dedicated in 2008, Irv spoke movingly about the different worlds from which their parents came. Cindy’s parents, Harold and Sylvia Brownstein, were born and raised in Mississippi. Irv’s parents, Pola and Harry (Herschel) Munn (Moncznik), were born in Lodz, Poland, and survived the Holocaust, losing nearly their entire families. They arrived in the United States in 1949 with no belongings and no physical memorials to those they had lost.“My parents spoke Yiddish,” Irv recalled. “Harold and Sylvia spoke Southern.” Despite those differences, Irv noted something essential that bound the Brownsteins and the Munns together: a profound love of family and a deep compassion for others. “They showed great compassion for others, always helping out those that were less fortunate than them,” he said – values Irv and Cindy recognized as perfectly aligned with the values of Temple Shalom.
Cindy’s connection to Jewish memory began early. Growing up in a small Mississippi town, she was part of a tiny Jewish community. “Of the five children in my Sunday School class, three of us were actually related. The other two felt like relatives because we were all so close,” Cindy said. Yet Judaism was never small in her home. Her parents instilled in her a deep pride in Jewish identity and a sense of responsibility to represent Jews “in the most positive light.”
When Cindy’s father died in 2005 and her mother passed away just seven months later, she knew immediately how she wanted to honor them. She recalled how her parents had memorialized their own parents – dedicating memorial boards in their small synagogue and later planting a garden in Clarksdale that they lovingly tended for years. Cindy remembered watching her father, every Friday night, kiss his fingers and touch his parents’ names. That simple ritual created a living connection – one that stayed with her.
Cindy also shared the powerful image of her parents standing together for Kaddish. Even when her father became wheelchair bound, he insisted on standing. Cindy watched her petite mother help her tall father to his feet so they could honor the memory of those who had come before them – together.
“So, I know with absolute certainty,” Cindy said at the 2008 dedication, “that Mom and Dad are proud of Irv and me and deeply honored by this dedication. However, they would be the first to say that this room is not a place just for our family… but a place for all families to honor the memory of those who have shaped the paths upon which we travel.” That belief – that memory is communal, not private – is at the core of both Irv and Cindy’s lives.
Irv’s own story begins in a displaced persons camp in Germany in 1948. Born Israel Kalman Moncznik, he arrived in the United States as an infant, becoming Irving at Ellis Island. His early years were shaped by loss, resilience, and the unspoken weight of survival. Religion was not discussed much at home; his parents, like many survivors, carried their trauma quietly. It was Cindy who encouraged questions, who gently asked for timelines and stories, helping Irv’s parents open doors that had long remained closed.
Cindy’s upbringing, though very different, was equally steeped in Jewish leadership and service. Her parents were deeply involved in their synagogue and their city. Her father served as synagogue president; her mother was active in SOFTY, helping raise funds that led to the founding of Camp Henry S. Jacobs. Cindy attended Jewish camp in Wisconsin, felt connected to Jewish life wherever she went, and carried that sense of responsibility into adulthood.
After meeting in Dallas and marrying in 1975, Irv and Cindy built not only a family – raising Jeff and Kim – but a life of sustained community involvement. Their affiliation with Temple Shalom began after Jeff was born, and from the beginning, Cindy was deeply engaged: serving on the Temple Board, participating in executive director and preschool director searches, chairing Camp Hooray! at Greene Family Camp, organizing volunteers for the golf tournament and Food Truck Palooza, just to name a few, and working on important initiatives like Project Atidenu.
Irv’s participation and leadership ran concurrently, shaped by encouragement and trust from fellow Temple members, eventually leading to the honor of winning the coveted Shalom Award – celebrated virtually during COVID. Irv has served as assistant treasurer, treasurer, and ultimately president of Temple Shalom, offering humor-filled High Holiday speeches and steady guidance. It didn’t stop there. He went on to serve as president of the Temple Shalom Endowment Fund for 14 years and also led the Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas Foundation. Yet fun and games were and are also part of Irv’s makeup. Let’s not forget Irv’s years playing in the Brotherhood Softball League. Ask him about that scar across his eyebrow….Fretz Park’s outfield will never be the same.
Together, Irv and Cindy’s impact extends far beyond any one role or title. Their service reflects a shared belief that Jewish life is built through participation, generosity, and showing up – again and again. Now, eighteen years after first dedicating the Memorial Room, the Brownstein Munn Family has ensured that this sacred space continues to serve future generations.
The renovation, thoughtfully guided by temple member and designer Cristie Schlosser, honors the room’s purpose while refreshing its presence – a living reflection of memory renewed.
“I met with Cindy and Irv early in the process to understand their vision and share my thoughts of how we could renew the area,” Cristie shared. Her team installed updated lighting, selected a deep, rich tone for the walls, and put in carpet tiles with an organic flow inspired by nature. What she is most excited about is the custom “S” sofa that allows visitors to face the memorial plaque walls on either of the room. “It’s a very cozy and intimate room – the lighting, furniture and ambiance are exactly what I was hoping for,” Cristie added.
As Irv said during the 2008 dedication, they both hoped that many others would be able to sit in this memorial room and remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. That hope remains – now strengthened by time, intention, and chai.
A rededication of the Brownstein Munn Memorial Room is planned for later this spring. Additional details will be provided when they become available.
8 Responses
We are very grateful to Irv and Cindy for the beautiful memorial room.
Wonderful write up about the Memorial Room. My parents are kvelling where-ever they are. My baby sister and her husband are wonderful, caring people. I had the privilege of getting to know Irv’s parents in later life. Two very sweet and caring people who were so proud of their son’s achievements and loved their grandchildren. May this room continue to bring comfort to those in need.
Excellent story! Thank you to Cindy and Irv for making this important space for Temple Shalom and thank you to Diane for bringing the Munns’ story to the congregants!
Cindy and Irv,
You honor your parents by how you cared for them and preserved your family histories. You also honor them by the life of meaning and community engagement you lead and the family you have created through your children and grandchildren.
Thank you for sharing your story of love, mitzvot and impact.
What a beautiful article about two wonderful, genuine and generous people. Truly a shining example of the congregation and the community.
Beautiful stories, beautiful people, looking forward to seeing the beautiful room. Thank you to Cindy and Irv.
Cindy and Irv
Thanks for donating and updating the room. Whenever my family is in town I take them there to show them my mother’s plaque. The room has a special spiritual feeling. Knowing the kind of people you are makes it even better.
Thanks for your gift to me and the entire congregation. I love it!
It’s very comforting to be able to see Ann there with your family.