2020-2021HonorsList

TempleEmethhasalwaysbeenknownasacaringcommunity.Wegratefullyrecognizeallthosewhohavegivenservicetooursynagogueduringthepastyear.To

eachofyou,weextendourheartfeltthanks.

AnnualCongregationalMeetingJune15,2021

DearTempleEmethFamily:Icannotthankourvolunteersenough!Despitethemostunusualofyears,TempleEmethmemberscontinuedtoraisethebar,planningprogramsandspecialevents,socialactionactivities,fundraisingprograms,andcommunityprograms—allfromtheirlivingrooms!Ithankyouforyourenergy,enthusiasm,andpassion.Indeed,youarethelifebloodofourcongregation.ThankyouallforhelpingTempleEmethbetheproudfamilyweare! Withloveandappreciation,NickiePresidentMylovingthankstoDougFalk,mybashert.Hisloveandsupportduringthelasttwoyears(well,reallyforthepast41years)havemeanteverythingtome.SpecialthankstotheOfficersandTrusteesfortheirexemplaryleadership.OfficersMichaelRobinson,FirstVicePresidentMichaelGoldberg,SecondVicePresidentFlipBernard,ThirdVicePresidentGaryRichards,TreasurerAlanWinters,FinancialSecretaryKenScher,AssistantFinancialOfficerRobertKahn,SecretaryMartyBreznick,AssistantSecretaryBoardofTrusteesAmyAbramsMeredithAlvaro-GebhartStaceyButlerWendyDessantiDanielleFeuerSethKane

JillKantorSandiKleinElaineNissenStefanieStokesKarenWertheimer

PastPresidentsCouncilIamsogratefulforthewisdomandguidanceofallthePastPresidents.Theywerealwaysthereforme,andmoreimportantly,theywerealwaysthereforourTemplecommunity,helpingoutwhenevercalledupon,especiallywiththedifficulttasks.Thanksto2020-21CouncilMembers,including:AmyAbrams,RichardBuchbinder,MarcChelemer,WendyDessanti,PaulaDillon,DanFirshein,BillGraizel,MickiGrunstein,JillKantor,PaulKaufman,HowardLieberman,LarrySilver,andJudyYablonka. SpecialthankstoAmyAbrams,whohasmentoredmethelastfouryearsandwhohasbeenavailableatalltimesofthedayandnighttoanswermyquestions,andtoPaulaDillonandDanFirsheinfortheiradviceandcounsel.

Also,MyThanksandAppreciationtotheFollowing: PeterAdlerforhiscreativedesigntalents.BarbaraBalkinforherwonderfulphotographsofallouractivities—realandvirtual—postingthemonourFacebookpage,allowingustousethemforpublicitypurposes,andforcreatingayearlyphotohistoryofTempleEmeth.BarbaraalsoinitiatedthePandemicPorchPortraitsfundraiserintheearlydaysofourbuildingshutdown.Thankstoallofyouwhoparticipatedinthishistoricalmarkerofthepandemic.WecouldnothavemadeitthroughthisyearwithoutthehelpofourTechnologyTaskForce,sometimesknownastheStreamTeam.Wemeteveryweek(andsometimesmorethanthat!)lastsummertogetourbuildingrewired,recharged,andcamera-readyfortheHighHolyDaysandstreamingservicesandeventsthattookplacethroughouttheyear.MyveryspecialthankstoVicAnesini,MeredithAlvaro-Gebhart,MarkChelemer,AmandaEastman,EdPierce,IsaacPierce,MaxSturm,AceZaken,DamaryZaken,SuzannahMercado,andRabbiSirbu.AdditionalkudostoEdPierce,wholedthecharge,ranastreamingtrainingsessionforthemembershippriortoRoshHashanah,and,alongwithhissonIsaac,mannedthestreamingboothduringourHighHolyDaysservices.Whileourservicesappearseamlesstothoseofwatchingonourstreamingchannels,whatisunknowntomostpeopleistheamountofbehind-the-scenesworkneededdonebyRabbiSirbu,startingwithhimmakingadetailed“script”ofeachservice,whichincludeswhosayswhat,singswhat,where,onwhatpage,andstandswhere.ThisisfollowedbydetailedplanningbyEdofwhichcamerastouse,buttonstopush,slidestoplay. InadditiontoourTechnologyTaskForce,wecouldnothavebroughtyouweeklyserviceswithoutthehelpofourStreamingBoothVolunteers,including:AllegraAlvaro;CameronAlvara;MeredithAlvaro-Gebhart;BarbaraBalkin;BruceBieber;ElianaBieber;MarcChelemer;AmandaEastman;MikeEastman;MaddyWolfEichen;RichardEichen;DouglasFalk;DanFirshein;GayleGoldberg;MichaelGoldberg;JacquelineGuttman;JordanaHart;PaulineHecht;AaronRichards;GaryRichards;MichaelRobinson;TaliaSirbu;andGailTurner.AdditionalkudostoMeredithAlvaro-Gebhartforcoordinatingallthevolunteers,ensuringthatallserviceswerecoveredandtoMeredithandAmandaEastmanforoverseeingthebootheachweektoensureourvolunteers,indeed,pushtherightbuttons!Wearealwayslookingformorevolunteers.Joinme;it’sfuntopushsomeoneelse’sbuttons.HowardLiebermanforconductingourfirstvirtualBoardOrientationforOfficersandTrusteeslastsummer.Hesetusontherightpath.Hopefully,wedidn’tstraytoofar!DannyKohaneforleadingavirtualSing-AlonglastAugust,helpingmanyofusrelivememoriesofouryouthwiththesongshesang,andIdaJeanFisherforintroducingustoanewsong—CowswithGuns.Don’task!ElaineNissen,ourpro-bonoattorney,forheradviceandcounselonlegalmatters.JudyFoxandMimiSigelforwrappingandpreparingthehoneysticksthatweredistributedforRoshHashanah.Theyensuredthateventhoughwewereapart,wewereofftoasweetyear.MarlaLevine,MichaelRobinson,NancyScher,andDouglasFalkforhelpingwithourHigh

HolyDayprayerbookpackagedistribution.AndanextrashoutouttoNancyScher,whohelpedpreparesomeofthebagsathomewhenweranout.AmandaEastmanforgracinguswithherbeautifulvoiceatHighHolyDaysand,indeed,throughouttheyear.BrandonBalfe,StaceyButler,DanielleFeuer,MichaelGoldberg,SandiKlein(andhersister-in-lawVicky),andMichaelRobinson,forcollectingreturnedprayerbooksduringourParkingLotIceCreamSocial. LynneGraizelforchairingourBookofRemembrance.ThanksalsotoJacquelineGuttmanandJudyandDavidFoxforproofreading,andgratefulappreciationtoMicaelaBrodyfordesigningtheBook.Weappreciatetheirtakingsuchspecialcareofthememoriesofourlovedones.KarylGoldstein,amemberofourSocialActionCommittee,forcoordinatingourHighHolyDaysfundraiserfortheCenterforFoodActioninlieuofourannualfooddrive. SpecialshoutouttoCarlaSilver,whohelpedintheofficewhilewesearchedforournewAdministrativeAssistant.She’sterrific!Whilesheisnotavolunteer,I’dberemissifIdidn’tacknowledgethetremendousworkofSuzannahMercado,ourTempleAdministrator.Sheisatremendousassettoourcongregationandhasbeenapleasuretoworkwithasoneofmymany“partnersincrime.”ThanksalsotoMaryanneTursi,ourBookkeeper,andAlisonReiser,ourAdministrativeAssistant.Theofficestaffcontinuetobethebackboneofourcongregationandworkedthroughthemostunusualofcircumstanceswithgreathumor.CustodiansAmanda,Clery,Sergio,Gloria,Martha,andMarisolneedtoberecognizedfortheirextraeffortsthisyearinkeepingourbuildingcleanandvirus-free.TheycontinuetomakesurethatourbuildingisreadyforthestaffandtheSanctuaryisreadyfortheRabbiandCantor.Finally,mysincerethanksandappreciationtoRabbiStevenSirbuandCantorEllenTilem.Whileyoumightnothavealwaysmademyjobeasier,youdidmakeitlesslonely. Rabbi:I’mforevergratefulforourpartnershipandyourwisdom,compassion,creativity,andsenseofhumor.Youclearlyholdthecongregationinyourarms.Iandtheyaregrateful.Cantor:Yourvoicecontinuedtobringusspecialjoyandsolaceduringthisdifficultyear,andyourpastoralcounselingtoourmembersinneedwasgreatlyappreciated. AdHocCommitteeonReopeningtheBuildingMichaelRobinson,ChairFlipBernard,MartyBreznick,PaulaDillon,Dr.DavidDiuguid,NickieFalk,JasonHochberg,SuzannahMercado,ElaineNissen,RabbiSirbuAdultEducationCommitteeLindaPozkanser,ChairTheAdultEdcommitteeiscomprisedofthefollowingdedicated,hard-working,creativefolks:PeterAdler,TeriBinder,MartyBreznick,SusanBreznick,MichaelDillon,RachelEastman,

CarleneFleishman,GayleGoldberg,MichaelGoldberg,LaurelKane,SandyLofts,ElaineNissen,JaimeRubin,BrendaWeiss,IrwinYellowitz.Andofcourse,RabbiSirbu,withoutwhomnoneofthiswouldhappen.SpecialandadditionalthankstoPeterAdlerforalwaysbeingtherewithflyersandbrochuresaswellasorganizingtheStoriesclass;toBrendaWeissfortheYiddishclass;tothosewhotaughtthe“Stories”class:TeriBinder,JaimeRubin,GayleGoldberg,CarleneFleishman,MichaelGoldberg,MichaelDillon,ElaineNissen,SueKeusch;toRachelEastman,whonotonlyefficientlytakesanddistributesminutes,butcontinuestobeourgo-topersonwheneverandwhereversheisneeded.WearealsomostappreciativeofourwonderfulTempleAdministratorSuzannahMercado;shemakesuslookgoodbyhergentleproddingtomakesurethateverydetailforallourprogramsiscovered.BergenCountyReformTempleMemorialAssociationDavidFox,PresidentOfficersandTrustees:AbeSilberstein,LarrySilver,MarionWolf,GayleGoldberg.SpecialthankstoJeanLoebfornotarizingourdeeds.BulletinCommitteeBarbaraBalkin,EditorMarionWolfandJudyFox,AssistantEditorsB’yachadGayleandMichaelGoldberg,Co-ChairsThankyoutoPeterAdlerforthebeautiful,colorful,andprofessionalflyers,RabbiSirbuforhisguidance,moderating,andZoomhosting,andNickieFalkforZoomhosting.ThankyoutoSamGronner(himself),LaarenHort(TomMeyers)andElaineNissen(AndreaStrongwater),whorecommendedsomeofourspeakers:PaulS.LazarCaringCommunityCommitteeKarenWertheimer,ChairThankyoutothefollowingcongregantsfortheirhelpandassistancedirectingCaringCommitteepoliciesandprograms:AmyAbrams,RoseBecker,SusanBerlinrood,StaceyButler,BarbaraandRickChittum,DougFalk,LesleeFetner,CarleneFleishman,GayleGoldberg,JudyGlick,LynnGraizel,ShelGrossman,JanHopman,JoanKnauer,LesleyMarsillio,HeleneSandler,MarilynShapiro,InaandMichaelSilverstein,JohannaSturm,BarbaraYellowitzCollegeKidsCommitteeBethClarkeandMarlaLevine,Co-ChairsSpecialthankstoMartyDubnoforhisgenerosityovertheyearsandforhishelpwithshippingandpackaging.Wedeeplyappreciatehislovelypartinggifttouslastyear,whichmadeitsomucheasierforusthisyearandwishhimaheartyMazelTovonhissecondretirement.ThankstoourTempleEmethofficestaffforsupportingusinalloureffortsandformakingsureourCollegeKidsreceivedtheirTempleEmethBulletinsandourHighSchoolGraduatesreceivedtheirCollegeKidsfrisbees.

EducationalEndowmentAllocationCommitteeDavidFox,ChairStaceyButler,PixiePierce,LindaPoskanzerEmethTeenCommunityPixiePierce,ChairFundraisingTaskForceAlanWinters,ChairMeredithAlvaro-Gebhart,EllenBuckwalter,DougFalk,MichaelGoldbergHouseCommitteeSueKeusch,ChairSpecialthankstoSuzannahMercadoforallherworkIntergenerationalCommunityGardenCommitteeJulieWeisman,ChairGardeners:AndrewBenesch,PaulKaufman,NancyMillerKozeradsky,JaimeRubin, PaulRubock,JulieWeisman RototillerandIrrigation:HowardLiebermanDeliverytoHelpingHand:AnnLevensteinPhotographerandArchivist:BarbaraBalkinKolEmethAdultChoirCarolShansky,DirectorMarciaBrosnickandJillCantor,Co-ChairsArnieGraber,LibrarianSopranos:MarciaBronsnick,JillKantor,AndreaWinters,EllenSchwartz,AmandaEastman,

SueKeuschAltos:ElaineBergman,JudyEichinger,IdajeanFisher,TobieGeller,GailTurner,PaulineHecht,

RachelEastman,SharonSchubert,MarilynShapiroTenors:AdinaHirschmann,MichaelRobinson,ArnieGraberBasses:MelSandler,SamGronner,MarcChelemerSpecialthankstoourtalentedaccompanistLeoLeuciLibraryCommitteeTeriBinderandMarionWolf,Co-ChairsMartyBreznick,SusanBreznick,JudyFox,DavidFox,PaulKaufman,RobbieLiblit,JoanPaul,ElainePollack,MelSandler,HeleneSandler,CarlaSilver,BrendaWeissMarketingCommitteeLaarenBrown,ChairThankyoutoBarbaraBalkin,CarlaSilver,andeveryonewhohelpedspreadthewordaboutTempleEmeththisyear!MembershipCommitteeCarynDiuguid,ChairManythankstoJudyDistler,NickieFalk,AlanWinters,LaurelKane,SuzannahMercado,

MaryanneTursi,andAlisonReiserforallyoursupportduringthisverydifficult,yetrewardingyearNominatingCommitteeAmyAbrams,ChairManythankstomembersBillGraizel,SteveChaiken,DanielleFeuer,MeredithAlvaroGebhart,ShanaGreenblattJanoff,andalternatesElaineNissen,andBillHelfman,fortheirtime,effortsandcarefuldeliberation.OnegCommitteeJocelynInglis,ChairPublicityCommitteeCarlaSilver,ChairBarbaraBalkin,PhotographerLaarenHort,MarilynShapiroReligiousSchoolCommitteeStaceyButler,ChairSpecialthankstoDoraFriedmanandBarbaraShater.ThanksaswelltoBarbaraBalkin,PixiePierce,TammyHecht,MeridithAlvaroGebhart,David&JudyFox,MarionWolf,WendyFilowitz,andMarcKlausner.ContinuedthankstoalltheReligiousSchoolstaff,families,volunteers,Templeofficestaff,andcustodialsupportstaffwhohavehelpedandparticipatedinoureventsandprogramsthisyear.RentalsCommitteeAmyAbrams,ChairKenScher,Co-ChairRitualCommitteeStephenFriedman,Chair,PeterandRuthAdler,ElinorBuchbinder,AmandaEastman,MikeEastman,NickieFalk,IdajeanFisher,CarleneFleishman,JudyFox,GayleandMichaelGoldberg,PaulineHecht,LaurelandSethKane,JillandBarryKantor,LindaPoskanzer,MichaelRobinson,NancyScher,MarilynShapiro,CantorEllenTilem,RabbiStevenSirbuSecondNightCongregationalSederRachelandMikeEastman,Co-ChairsThankyoutoRabbiSirbuforplanningandrunningaSecondNightSederonZoomthisyear.SecurityCommitteeSteveChaiken,ChairAmyAbrams,MichaelRobinsonShalachManotCommitteeShelandJeffGrossman,Co-ChairsWearegratefultoourvolunteersandtheTempleEmethStaffwhohelpedmaketheeventsosuccessful:AmyAbrams&ArnieGraber,SusanAdler,PeterAdler,MeredithAlvaro-Gebhart,CameronAlvaro&AllegraAlvaro,AmandaBarrero,StaceyButler&BrandonBalfe,Judy

Eichinger,Nickie&DougFalk,DanielleFeuer,Jodee&LarryFink,Judy&DavidFox,DianeFremon,JulieWeissman&StephenFriedman,Gayle&MichaelGoldberg,MindyGreenberg,SamGronner,Judy&JordanaHart,Pauline&TammyHecht,JocelynInglis,Jill&BarryKantor,SandiKlein,Linda&RonKlempner,SuzannahMercado,EllenMonane,EmreOzmemili,Pixie&EdPierce,AaronRichards,MaryanneTursi,Shana&GregJanoff,Cynthia&BarryMassarsky,ArlenePackles,MarisolPlaza,LindaPoskanzer&PaulRosenberg,JaimeRubin&HowardLieberman,Nancy&KenScher,MarilynShapiro,Carla&LarrySilver,CindySimon,Rabbi&TaliaSirbuJanicePreschelSocialActionCommitteeLynnChaiken,ChairAlissaSandlerAndrew,IleneAnesini,AndrewBenesch,ElaineBergman,FlipBernard,LarryBernard,PhylisBurman,HollyClark,JodeeFink,HedyGeller,PeggyGerber,HenryGoldstein,KaryleGoldstein,PaulKaufman,SandiKlein,SandyLoft,NancyMednick,NancyMiller,EvaSandrof,MarilynShapiro,InaMillerSilverstein,MaryJaneTucker,GailTurnerSpecialProjectsoftheRabbiEllenMonane,HighSchoolGraduatesNicoleMotz,ConfirmationMonaRubin,PaperMidrashTempleEmethEndowmentFoundation(TEEF)DavidFox,PresidentSusanBreznick,SteveChaiken,WendyDessanti,IdajeanFisher,SuzanneKeusch,LauraKirschUsheringCommitteeDavidWolinksy,ChairSusanBreznick,LynnandSteveChaiken,MelSandler,BenjaminWolinskyViewpointsCommitteeKarenRappaport,ChairPhylisBurman,LynnChaiken,PaulaDillon,JudithDistler,MaddyWolfEichen,DanFirshein,ElaineNissen,AndreaWintersIwouldalsoliketothankPeterAdlerforhisflyers,BarbaraBalkinformakingsurewereceivepublicityintheBulletin,andSuzannahMercadofordistributingtheinformationtocongregation.IwouldalsoliketogivespecialthankstoPresidentNickieFalkforhersupportandregularhelpinorganizingtheZoomsessions.