Please join Congregation B’nai Israel as we celebrate and honor

 

Mariela and Ari's families both immigrated to the US from Argentina.  While they both spent some of their early years in Forest Hills, Queens (even attending preschool together at Forest Hills Jewish Center), Mariela grew up primarily in South Florida and Ari in Great Neck, NY.  Following in the tradition of Ari's parents, they met over Yom Kippur.  In 1997, after Ari graduated from law school, they married at Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, moved to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and joined Kane Street Synagogue. Soon thereafter,  they followed a well-worn path and traded Brooklyn for Maplewood,  joining Congregation B'nai Israel in 1999 and celebrating the birth of Lucy in our sanctuary.   

The Dybner family grew to include Lucy, Phoebe, Sara, Theodore and Miles, all of whom attended preschool and religious school at CBI, became bar/bat mitzvah and served as madrichim and USY exec board members. Mariela and Ari are excited to welcome a new member to the family as Ari Brown is engaged to marry Phoebe in October and will have their Auf ruf at our CBI home.

Ari and Mariela have had a deep involvement with CBI for decades.  Mariela served as President of CBI from 2018 to 2021 during a critical period overseeing the synagogue’s response to the pandemic and the transition from Rabbi Bayar to Rabbi Resnick to Rabbi Isenberg.  She is currently co-chair of the Centennial Committee and serves on the synagogue’s executive committee.  She previously served as president of the pre-school parent’s association,  chair of the preschool Board and has chaired too many galas, fundraisers, and other committees to remember, nevermind mention.  Ari negotiated the solar panel agreement for the panels on the roof of the building, served on the youth committee and facilities committees, and chaired the Israel Affairs committee during the October 7 attacks.

Since 2013, Ari has served as general counsel at Educational Housing Services, Inc., the largest non-profit provider of student housing in New York City.  He and Mariela are also the sole partners at Dybner & Dybner, a boutique transactional law firm specializing in commercial real estate, executive compensation and employee benefits.  Previously, Ari was a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman and Mayer Brown.  Ari served on the Maplewood Township Zoning Board of Adjustment from 2008 through 2013, ultimately serving as Vice Chair and also served on the board of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation.  Ari graduated from Amherst College, Georgetown University, and Columbia University School of Law.  Mariela was previously counsel at Bryant Rabbino and an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton and Coopers & Lybrand LLP.  She graduated from Cornell University and Georgetown University Law Center.  Mariela has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer every year since 2019. Mariela has served our Jewish community as a member of the Board of Women’s Philanthropy and previously of the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest and was a recipient of the 2012 Bessie and Julius Cohn Young Leadership Award.

Laurie and Kenny Kavowras have been active and proud members of Congregation B’nai Israel for many years - Laurie for 30, and Kenny for 11. Their sons Joshua, Jason and Dylan attended the Hebrew school and celebrated their Bar Mitzvahs in the congregation as well.  

Laurie holds a Masters degree in Special Education and has been a special education teacher as well as a Judaic Studies teacher, and for the past 21 years, a pre-school teacher. We have been lucky to have Laurie serve as our Chairperson for the Caring Committee for 20 years in addition to being a co-chair of our Preschool Board, a co-chair of the CBI Gift Shop, a past President of Sisterhood and Past President of Hadassah.

Kenny received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and served as an NYPD Lieutenant for 27 years before retiring. He is now a professional poker player. We benefit so much from Kenny’s experience, which he applies as Chair of CBI’s Security Committee, working diligently to ensure the safety of our community. In addition, Kenny serves on the Men’s Club Board and oversees the promotion of monthly Security and Medical Emergency training for our community. 

Kenny and Laurie have been happily married for 11 years and have been delighted to see their family of 5 grow, with the addition of “bonus daughters” Regina and Kari and soon, in May, the addition of a grandson.

Lisa and Zach Ontell have been proud members of Congregation B’nai Israel since moving to Springfield in 2022. Together with their daughters, Madison (5) and Leah (2), they feel deeply grateful to raise their family within such a warm, supportive, and joyful Jewish community.

Lisa is a dedicated educator in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, where she is known for her compassion, creativity and strong commitment to her students and their families. Her passion for teaching reflects the values she brings both to the classroom and to the CBI community.

Zach is also an educator, holding the role of Athletic Director and Physical Education teacher at the Robert Treat Academy, New Jersey’s first charter school. He has been there for the last 15 years. Zach is equally committed to strengthening community, connection, and belonging at CBI. He has enjoyed building relationships, supporting synagogue initiatives, and helping to create an inclusive environment for families and future generations. In his spare time, he also works in real estate as a property owner and operator.

Whether attending services, family programs, or community events, Lisa and Zach feel fortunate to call CBI home. They are honored and humbled to be recognized at the 2026 Gala and are deeply appreciative of the friendships, leadership, and generosity that make CBI so special!