View Journal | Congregation B'nai Israel Millburn New Jersey Gala 2026

Best Picture

Mazel tov to Mariela & Ari, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach. Your dedication to CBI is appreciated and we applaud your well-deserved honor!

Miriam Linver, Matt Askin, Eve, & Joey

Best Actor/Actress

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Rabbi Helaine Ettinger and Henry Bloom

Best Actor/Actress

Mazel Tov to Mariela & Ari, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach on your well-deserved honors. Yasher Koach for your outstanding leadership on behalf of our community. We are all very grateful.

Betsy & Phil Darivoff

Best Screenplay

A heartfelt thank you to our CBI community! We are truly blessed to receive this honor alongside Laurie & Kenny and Lisa & Zach. May we continue to go from strength to strength.

Mariela & Ariel Dybner

Best Screenplay

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Melissa and Eric Kanter

Best Screenplay

With pride and love, we celebrate this special day with Mariela & Ariel Dybner and the entire CBI community. Mazel Tov to Laurie & Kenny Kavowras and Lisa & Zach Ontell--thank you for your contributions to CBI!

The Markelis Family: Mario, Pablo, Bessie, Amelia & Sadie

Best Screenplay

We are kvelling as we honor Mariela & Ariel for their decades of contributions to Congregation B'nai Israel. Mazal Tov to Laurie & Kenny and Lisa & Zach as well for their well-deserved honors.

The Dybner and Madero Families: Ruben, Ana, Karen, Alan, Roberto, Max, Camila and Paula

Best Screenplay

Mazel Tov to tonight's leading actors for their award-worthy dedication and "lifetime achievement" in supporting our community. Your commitment to our synagogue truly deserves a standing ovation, and we are honored to celebrate your starring roles in our communal story!

Ruth Kirshner and Bruce Novick

Best Screenplay

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner for your long term commitment to our community! Thank you to Laurie & Kenny Kavowras for always keeping us safe and nourishing us whenever we need it! Thank you to Lisa & Zach Ontell for your energy and commitment to CBI! Mazel Tov to all of you.

Linda and David Sotnick

Best Screenplay

We are proud to honor MARIELA & ARIEL DYBNER, LAURIE & KENNY KAVOWRAS, and LISA & ZACH ONTELL for their faithful devotion to our kehillah kedoshah. May you go from strength to strength.

Susan and Alan Zelman

Rising Star

We are so happy to be able to celebrate our wonderful honorees Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell and all they do for our CBI community! And Happy 100th to CBI!

Debra Nevas and Jonathan Abrams

Rising Star

CBI Sisterhood wishes Mazel Tov to the honoree couples, & especially the three Sisterhood women:

Mariela, as Madam President you led our community to heights above

Laurie, for all who need some TLC, you bring food, comfort, and love

And Lisa, as a rising star, you're the future CBI is assured of

Ari, Kenny, & Zach: we celebrate and honor you too!

May we all go from strength to strength

Rising Star

Thank you to our amazing Rabbi, Cantor and entire CBI family for your love and support.

Laurie and Kenny Kavowras

Rising Star

Yasher Koach to Mariela & Ariel, Laurie & Kenny; and Lisa & Zach for your significant contributions to our beloved Congregation

Gratefully,

Carol and Bob Marcus

Rising Star

Mazel Tov to all the honorees. Their dedication to our community is a prime example of what makes us who we are.
They, like our community, are compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated to the foundations of our culture - do unto others as you would want others to do unto you and love thy neighbor as yourself!!

CBI Men's Club

Rising Star

Thanks to all the honorees for your hard work, dedication and support on behalf of our amazing community!

Kathy & Jamey Potechin

Rising Star

MAZEL TOV TO

LAURIE & KENNY KAVOWRAS

Peter & Debby REBENWURZEL

Rising Star

Mazel tov to the Dybners, Kavowrases, and Ontells, who represent the values and mission of Congregation B'nai Israel and bring honor to our community. May you go from strength to strength!

Paula & David Touger

Screen Credit

Mazel Tov to Mariela & Ariel Dybner on your well-deserved honors.

Danielle Candor Pay

Screen Credit

Thank you to the entire CBI community, and especially to our honorees for their dedication to keeping CBI strong through their leadership. From strength to strength -

Elizabeth & Gerald Cohen

Screen Credit

Congratulations to Mariela and Ariel Dybner!

Ted and Diana and the Candella Family

Screen Credit

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Leslie and Marvin Gersho

Breakthrough Performance

Mazal Tov to Mariela and Ari, Laurie and Kenny, and Lisa and Zach, and thank you for your efforts on behalf of our community!

Jane and Bob Brauer

Breakthrough Performance

Mazel Tov to Mariela & Ari, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach for your well-deserved honors. Your dedication and commitment to CBI are so very appreciated.

Brett Popolow & Shari Brandt

Breakthrough Performance

Thank you to Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community and a very special thank you for all that you do to Mariela and Ariel Dybner!

Kathleen Cudahy

Breakthrough Performance

Mariela & Ariel, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach, we thank you for all of you have done for CBI; for your leadership, your passion, your compassion, your volunteer accomplishments. Yasher Koach on your well deserved honor.

Lilli and Steve Finkler

Breakthrough Performance

Mazel Tov to all the well deserving honorees. Your dedication and commitment to our CBI family is so appreciated.

Lisa and Steve Friedman

Breakthrough Performance

Dear Mariela & Ariel, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach:

A gold Oscar statuette would be nice but...we hope you will accept lots of love and endless gratitude for all you do!

XOXO,

Harriet Klein

Breakthrough Performance

Muchas gracias Mariela & Ari, Mazel Tov Laurie & Kenny, Many thanks Lisa & Zach. Our lives are richer and our community is stronger because of all you do.

Sydra and Grant Miller

Breakthrough Performance

Mazel Tov to all the honorees and thank you for your dedication and commitment to CBI.

Helene and Steven Moehlman

Breakthrough Performance

Yasher Koach to our dear friends, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras and Mazal Tov to Mariela & Ari Dybner and Lisa & Zach Ontell on this well deserved honor. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our CBI community! May you go from strength to strength.

Robin and Mark Polson

Breakthrough Performance

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Sara Sherman

Breakthrough Performance

We are so pleased to honor Mariela and Ariel and Kenny and Laurie for their years of dedicated and haimish service to our community. To Lisa and Zach, we hope you will be able to emulate their love and dedication in the coming years.

Nancy and Joseph Tenenbaum

Breakthrough Performance

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Nealy and David Troll

Featured Extra

Heubach Builders

Featured Extra

Mazel Tov to all the honorees on your well-deserved honors.

Featured Extra

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Lisa and David Ehrlich

Featured Extra

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Art Fredman and Phyllis Elson

Featured Extra

Mazel Tov to the Dybners, Kavowrases, and Ontells!!! Thank you for your commitment and hard work to support the CBI community!

The Almog/Levy Family

Featured Extra

Mazel Tov to all the honorees on your well-deserved honors.

Rabbi Ari & Gila Isenberg

Featured Extra

Mazel tov and much gratitude to Mariela & Ariel, Laurie & Kenny, and Lisa & Zach for all you do for CBI and our community. We celebrate you with a standing ovation!

Jody Sheinbaum Reich, Joseph and Sammy

Featured Extra

We wish a hearty Mazel tov to Mariela & Ariel and Lisa & Zach for your outstanding service and dedication. The CBI family is lucky to have you. We are thrilled and honored to share this special night with you.

Laurie and Kenny Kavowras

Featured Extra

The CBI 2026 "Awards" Gala: In the categories of: Leadership, Volunteerism, Caring, Security and Safety, Israel Support, Fundraising, Dedication to CBI, Outstanding Role Models and total MENTCHES, the Kavod/Awards go to such deserving Honorees: Mariela, Ariel, Laurie, Kenny, Lisa and Zach! Mazal Tov! With much gratitude, Cantor Lorna Wallach (and family - Mike, Shira and Josh)

Cantor Lorna Wallach and Mike Kalet

Featured Extra

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Robyn, Zach and Elli Namm/Glatt

Featured Extra

Laurie knows how to meld vision with action, turn wild cards into opportunity, and build a pure canasta of community. With a special hand full of aces (and maybe a few lucky sevens), she never discards a chance to help. Mazel Tov to Laurie and all of the honorees for this well-deserved recognition.

Love,

The Women of Canasta:

Ilene K., Eileen W., Hedda, Helene, Jennifer, Joan, Jody, Karen, Leslie, Lisa, Michelle, Nancy, Randi, Robin, Ruth, Sara, Shari, Sharon, and Wanda

Featured Extra

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

Roberta Rabin

Featured Extra

Mazel tov Laurie & Kenny, Mariela and Ariel, Lisa and Zach! Thanks for keeping us vibrant (all) and safe (Kenny)!

Janet and Mike Slifer

Featured Extra

Thank you to Mariela & Ariel Dybner, Laurie & Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa & Zach Ontell for your dedication to the CBI community!

The Sarano Family

Featured Extra

To our dear friends, Laurie and Kenny, We are beyond proud to see you recognized tonight. Your dedication and heart inspire us every day, and we are so happy to honor and celebrate you both. Congratulations to all of this year's distinguished honorees: Mariela & Ariel and Lisa & Zach. It is a joy to celebrate you and the positive impact you have on our community.

Eve and Richard Wasserman

Featured Extra

We are so very proud of our dear friends and neighbors Laurie & Kenny for their unwavering commitment, dedication and inspiring actions that strengthen our Jewish community. You truly embody the values of Tikkun Olam. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! Mazel Tov to Mariela & Ariel and Lisa & Zach!

Eileen and Larry Weiss

Opening Credits

Laura and Cliff Abramsky

Heidi and Barry Allen

Anonymous

Ian & Amy Blackman

Roni and Mark Chasin

Sharon and Clive Cohen

Opening Credits

Alia Covel

Leslie and Barry Dashefsky

Karen Derlly

Ruth + Dan Dovdavany

Barbara and Robert Fulop

Laura Goldberger

Opening Credits

Lori and Adam Katzman

Dybner Kids

Ilene & David Klein

Martin and Andrea Levine

Leslie McCafferty

Marion & Murray Mohl

Opening Credits

Emma Real Estate Group of Keller Williams Realty - Summit

Lori and Larry Pitkowsky

Cheryl and Warren Prosky

Dan Ramer

Rebecca, Steven, Carly and Ben Gallanter

Sharon and Mark Richman

Opening Credits

Janie and Ty Sagalow

Steven Seltzer

Susan & Larry Stern

Jill & Boaz, The Teltser Kimelman family

TSTI's Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education

Jane and Neil Yaris

Opening Credits

Ellen R. Zall

Sponsor List

Best Picture

Miriam Linver, Matt Askin, Eve, & Joey

Best Actor/Actress

Rabbi Helaine Ettinger and Henry Bloom

Betsy & Phil Darivoff

Best Screenplay

Menorah Chapels at Millburn

Mariela & Ariel Dybner

Melissa and Eric Kanter