Author: Shoshana Cenker

A loving family, lifelong Baron Hirsch Congregation member, and a fulfilling career dedicated to the Jewish community are some of the many wonderful ways to describe Memphian Madelyne Daneman. Born to Esther (née Strauch), from Memphis, and Lou Rafael, from Brooklyn, they met when Esther went to work in New York, living with her Great-Aunt Lilly. The happy couple ended up back in Memphis and married in 1939 at the original Baron Hirsch (BH) on Washington Avenue in the historic Pinch District downtown. In 1940, Madelyne came into the world; her brother, Charles, followed in 1945. While Lou worked downtown with Sam Fortas, the siblings had a lovely childhood growing up in the Bluff City. Madelyne attended Christine School, Vollentine Elementary, Snowden and Central High School. When Baron Hirsch moved to Vollentine Avenue in the 1950s, her family continued attending services and volunteering there. “In the late 1950s, I married Eddie Robbins (OBM), and we had three daughters, Shelley, Leslye, and Audrey, who are all now very accomplished women and were close growing up and still are,” said Madelyne, who exudes class and poise. “Eddie ended up getting a scholarship to study social work at the University of Tennessee at Nashville, so we moved there for two years.” Then, the family moved to Atlanta, where Eddie worked on the staff of Camp Barney Meditz at the Jewish Community Center...