Chana and Akiva Horowitz
YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARD
Chana and Akiva Horowitz moved from Boston to Springfield in 2015, after meeting longtime CIS member Leah Kaminer and spending Shabbos with the Kaminer family a week later. They were eager to move back to the tri-state area and settle in a vibrant community with a “small town” feel, where each of their children would feel valued and enjoy a personal connection with a Rav. CIS and the Springfield community have fulfilled all of their hopes for their family.
Chana joined the CIS Youth Committee after moving to Springfield, and now serves as Co-Chair. Additionally, Chana is one of the co-founders of Yom Chesed, an annual CIS event that brings together community members for a full day of various chesed opportunities in Springfield and beyond. Akiva is a member of the CIS Religious Committee and serves as one of the Gabbaim of our Shul.
A native of Pittsburgh, Chana graduated from Touro College with a B.A. in psychology, and is a stay-at-home mother. Akiva, originally from Brooklyn, graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.S. in business administration and finance, and works in healthcare management. Both have a very strong sense of family, and believe they would not be the people they are today if not for the influence of their parents, Norman and Pesie Horowitz, and Rabbi Isser and SuAnn Pliner, respectively. They taught Chana and Akiva to embody the same Torah values and morals that distinguish their own family.
Chana and Akiva are the proud parents of four wonderful children: Ayelet and Dalya,12; Adi, four; and Maya, two. Ayelet and Dalya attend the Bruriah Middle School; Adi is a student at JEC preschool; and Maya is at Cheder Yaldei Menachem in Hillside. CIS has always been extremely welcoming to the entire family, which reinforces Chana and Akiva’s certainty that it is a very special place. They thank Hashem for guiding their family to CIS and to this community, and for giving them the opportunity to contribute to its continued growth and development.