Messages
Hazzan Zakarin
Stephen Moelis, President
Cheryl Karp, Early Childhood Center Director
Beverly Wachtel, Sisterhood President
Stephen Moelis, President
Cheryl Karp, Early Childhood Center Director
Beverly Wachtel, Sisterhood President
Ben Zoma says: Who is honored? The one who gives honor to others… (Talmud - Avot 4:1)
With each year that Juliana and I become more a part of the HERJC community, the Gala Event takes on greater importance. At first, the honorees were only names to us. Over time, they became respected members, working partners, and even friends. So it is this year, as our synagogue comes together to honor Stacey & Jaime Ezratty, Keith Harrow and Jason Gang.
Stacey and Jaime bring joy and enthusiasm to all they do. Whether it is Jaime’s steady presence on our Board of Directors or Stacey’s enlivened spirit on our Ruach Committee, the Ezratty’s connection to HERJC is present in every fiber of their being – ritually, financially, and socially. In honoring Stacey & Jaime as HERJC’s main honorees, we not only get the opportunity to pay our respects to one of HERJC’s standout families, but we also get to express our admiration for the enduring energy and kindness that Stacey and Jaime bring to our congregation.
For many months, I have been in awe of Keith Harrow’s boundless energy. Whether it involves the mastery of adult education that drew Juliana to join his committee, or his willingness to dive headlong into uncharted areas like grant-writing in order to provide for HERJC’s continued upgrades in its building security, Keith is a continual source of knowledge and action. While HERJC recognizes Keith with its Lifetime Achievement Award, the fact remains that the tribute due Keith is Lifetime Achievement Plus, because his service to our synagogue continues without stopping.
Finally, our congregation is blessed to have a steady stream of young leaders stepping forward. These young leaders take on, perhaps, one of the most important roles by learning about HERJC’s operational structure and showing a willingness to take on the volunteer work that keeps our synagogue running smoothly. When HERJC created the Emerging Leader Award, it did so with someone like Jason Gang in mind. From Jason’s work on the House Committee, to his single-handed oversight of the Catering Committee, Jason has shown he is one of the most dedicated young leaders in our congregation and worthy of the Emerging Leader Award for the role that he will continue to play in the future at HERJC.
Juliana and I look forward to honoring, along with all in attendance, these remarkable members, and we hope to see as many fellow congregants as possible at the Gala event to share with us in bestowing our thanks and admiration on these well-deserving honorees.
Michel Schlesinger
Rabbi
בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר, אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם,
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר מִכָּל מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי כִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ שִׂיחָה לִּי.
Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? One who learns from every person, as it is said, “From all who taught me have I gained understanding.” Pirkei Avot 4:1
It is my honor and privilege to be recognizing this year’s Gala honorees for their continued dedication to and hard work for our HERJC community. Our honorees this year have been in service to HERJC in their own ways for many years. From our Executive Board, Board of Directors, School Board and HERJC Cares committee, they have been able to guide our community in the right direction to be inclusive, welcoming, and successful.
Our amazing Honorees, Stacey and Jamie Ezratty are a power couple within our community and in the community at large. We are so lucky to have their leadership and knowhow to help our programs grow and remain successful. Their warm presence and even warmer home make them such amazing examples of how a loving couple and family can be. They are always around to listen, to talk, and to connect in deeper ways. I am always in awe of Jamie's spiritual connection to our sacred following and his calming nature which perfectly balances Stacey's balabusta skill, including her cooking, big hugs, and unending energy. These two are the epitome of what a Jewish power couple should look like. My heart is full and I'm so grateful that they have accepted this honor.
Our lifetime achievement award recipient, Keith Harrow, has been a force in our HERJC Cares team for many years. Most recently, he has taken on all the Adult Education program coordination, while still having time to be one of our regular Torah readers and one of our minyan leaders in the evening. You can always count on Keith for keeping everyome accountable and supportive in any new program that is brought his way. I thank Keith for allowing me to experiment under the auspices of the Adult Education committee. When I arrived at HERJC in 2015, Keith said to me, "I hope you still have the same energy and enthusiasm in 5 years that you have today.” It's because of people like Keith that I am proud to say that the energy and enthusiasm is unending and has become contagious!! (In a good way! )
Our emerging leader has been a leader in my book for many years. Jason Gang has been a pillar on our House Committee and the leader of our Catering Committee . His ideas and forward thinking keep us on our toes and push us to think out of the box and create new programs each year. The Gang family has been instrumental in helping us plan more family-focused programming, especially around Shabbat and festivals. We have a beautiful new Seder Plate from Israel for our Pesach Seder that the Gang family purchased for HERJC. It is such an honor and privilege to recognize Jason as our Emerging Leader this year. I truly hope that this is only the beginning for him here as a leader in our community.
I would personally like to thank all our honorees this year for their unending support of our HERJC community.
Chazak Chazak V’Nitchazeik - Be strong, be strong, and we will strengthen one another.
With blessings and love,
Hazzan Zakarin
Each year, HERJC comes together to honor those unique individuals who have made their mark on our synagogue. In doing so, we pay tribute to the consistent positive impact those individuals have on our community and on fellow members. This year is different for me, because I find myself privileged to have developed a personal relationship with each of this year’s deserving honorees:
Jason Gang came to the role of leadership with no agenda or ego. He serves wherever he can be helpful, be it as a member of the House Committee that oversaw the renovation of our Reception Room and Ballroom during the Wall of Windows campaign, or as the Chair of the Catering Committee which has achieved stellar results for HERJC’s financial bottom line under Jason’s stewardship. When asked to serve, Jason’s first response is always “yes,” even when he doesn’t know the scope of what he’s volunteered to do. Because of this, the selection of Jason as HERJC’s Emerging Leader is an appropriate way of recognizing his selflessness in tackling HERJC’s biggest challenges.
Keith Harrow and I met once a week for nearly 5 years when I attended HERJC’s morning minyan and once a month when I joined HERJC’s Education Committee. Even still, our relationship blossomed beyond my preferring his davening skills to that of other morning minyannaires and his editorial corrections to my Committee Minutes. After I became President, Keith took on the Chair of HERJC’s Adult Education Committee. Keith’s skills as a communicator and his efforts in coordinating programming are unparalleled. While our members have many to thank for getting us through the COVID pandemic, Keith’s oversight of the monthly Lunch & Learn series served as a continual reminder to fellow congregants that HERJC was there to support them and to provide them the social outlet they craved during intense periods of isolation. For this reason, Keith merits HERJC’s Ethel Liebeskind Lifetime Achievement Award.
Finally, Stacey & Jaime Ezratty, who are HERJC’s main honorees this year. The Ezratty and Moelis families go back to the early days of their sons’ time as classmates in the Early Childhood Education Center nearly 25 years ago. Under the guidance of Cheryl Karp and her marvelous staff, the value of friendship was reinforced in our boys, who remain close to this day. In addition to be loving parents, Stacey & Jaime are steadfast supporters of HERJC, whether that relates to Stacey’s involvement on the Ruach (Membership) Committee or Jaime’s long-time service as a member of HERJC’s Board and Co-Chair of the HERJC Cares Committee. More importantly, Stacey & Jaime open their home (regularly serving as hosts for HERJC’s annual Progressive Dinner) and hearts to fellow congregants, serving as a reminder to others in our synagogue that the same values they instilled in their sons – trustworthiness, loyalty, and kindness – are displayed by them every day in all their activities. Yasher Koach to Stacey & Jaime Ezratty on their choice as this year’s Main Honorees at the HERJC Gala.
Looking forward to seeing fellow members at this year’s Gala to honor these exceptional and well-deserving honorees.
With respect & admiration,
Stephen Moelis, President
Jason Gang came to the role of leadership with no agenda or ego. He serves wherever he can be helpful, be it as a member of the House Committee that oversaw the renovation of our Reception Room and Ballroom during the Wall of Windows campaign, or as the Chair of the Catering Committee which has achieved stellar results for HERJC’s financial bottom line under Jason’s stewardship. When asked to serve, Jason’s first response is always “yes,” even when he doesn’t know the scope of what he’s volunteered to do. Because of this, the selection of Jason as HERJC’s Emerging Leader is an appropriate way of recognizing his selflessness in tackling HERJC’s biggest challenges.
Keith Harrow and I met once a week for nearly 5 years when I attended HERJC’s morning minyan and once a month when I joined HERJC’s Education Committee. Even still, our relationship blossomed beyond my preferring his davening skills to that of other morning minyannaires and his editorial corrections to my Committee Minutes. After I became President, Keith took on the Chair of HERJC’s Adult Education Committee. Keith’s skills as a communicator and his efforts in coordinating programming are unparalleled. While our members have many to thank for getting us through the COVID pandemic, Keith’s oversight of the monthly Lunch & Learn series served as a continual reminder to fellow congregants that HERJC was there to support them and to provide them the social outlet they craved during intense periods of isolation. For this reason, Keith merits HERJC’s Ethel Liebeskind Lifetime Achievement Award.
Finally, Stacey & Jaime Ezratty, who are HERJC’s main honorees this year. The Ezratty and Moelis families go back to the early days of their sons’ time as classmates in the Early Childhood Education Center nearly 25 years ago. Under the guidance of Cheryl Karp and her marvelous staff, the value of friendship was reinforced in our boys, who remain close to this day. In addition to be loving parents, Stacey & Jaime are steadfast supporters of HERJC, whether that relates to Stacey’s involvement on the Ruach (Membership) Committee or Jaime’s long-time service as a member of HERJC’s Board and Co-Chair of the HERJC Cares Committee. More importantly, Stacey & Jaime open their home (regularly serving as hosts for HERJC’s annual Progressive Dinner) and hearts to fellow congregants, serving as a reminder to others in our synagogue that the same values they instilled in their sons – trustworthiness, loyalty, and kindness – are displayed by them every day in all their activities. Yasher Koach to Stacey & Jaime Ezratty on their choice as this year’s Main Honorees at the HERJC Gala.
Looking forward to seeing fellow members at this year’s Gala to honor these exceptional and well-deserving honorees.
With respect & admiration,
Stephen Moelis, President
As the Early Childhood Center Director, I have the best job in the world. And the rewards are pretty awesome. Besides smiles, hugs, and adoration from your little fans, you can touch the future with the wisdom you impart, the moral lessons you teach, and the great example you set. I get to work alongside some amazing staff members, but also have had the opportunity to meet some incredible people who have touched my life as well.
One of those amazing people is the recipient of The Ethel Liebeskind Lifetime Achievement Award, Keith Harrow. Almost thirty years ago, Keith Harrow was one of the people instrumental in hiring me. Keith has been my biggest advocate since. As an active member of the school board for many years, Keith’s wisdom, perseverance, and support has guided me in my journey as Early Childhood Director at HERJC. Keith takes every opportunity he can to tell me how proud he is of my accomplishments, and I am so delighted to be able to return that compliment to Keith.
Although my relationship with Jason Gang is a new one, I have had the honor of working with Jason Gang as a member of the House Committee. Jason’s support of our playground has been invaluable, and I am looking forward to working with him on future projects. Congratulations to our Emerging Leader.
There are not enough words to describe my feelings about Stacey and Jaime Ezratty, this year’s honorees. I have known the Ezratty family almost from the beginning of my career, and I can honestly say that I have yet to meet a couple who together exude more warmth, kindness and compassion. Stacey and Jaime both have the ability to only find good in others. They are probably one of the longest running families in our school! It has been an honor to watch their boys grow and share so many simchas with them. Stacey and Jaime are true advocates of our nursery school and continue to be a special part of my life. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
On behalf of Sisterhood, I would like to extend our congratulations to Stacey and Jaime Ezratty, Keith Harrow, and Jason Gang as they are recognized at this year’s HERJC Gala.
Jaime and Stacey, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of you is your warm smiles. For so many years, I have seen you both among the friendly, smiling faces of volunteers who sell food to the children at the HERJC Purim Carnival. Stacey, your hosting of the HERJC progressive dinners is yet another way that you have shown your friendliness and warmth. Jaime, whether I see you at a HERJC Meeting or at the train station, you always smile and ask how I’m doing. At Board Meetings, your questions and comments always reflect your caring and appreciation. It is also clear from your activities in co-chairing HERJC Cares and in mentoring at-risk students, that your caring for others extends to all aspects of your life. Both of you are great role models for our HERJC community.
Keith, you have been at the center of education at HERJC for a long time! When my children were in our Nursery School and I was Nursery School Parents Association President and on the Board of Ed, you were Co-Chair of the Board of Ed. You kept the meetings focused and made sure that all aspects of HERJC nursery and religious school education were addressed. You also had your favorite story about the mice running away after graduation that you shared more than once when you spoke at the Hay class graduation. Your goal was to keep the kids engaged so that they and their families would stay involved at HERJC. And you yourself have stayed involved at HERJC. You have played an important role on the HERJC Board over the years. Your focus on education at HERJC resurfaced in recent years when you became the chair of the Adult Ed Committee. It has been a pleasure partnering with you as Sisterhood President to offer engaging educational opportunities to HERJC members. You have been involved in HERJC education for a lifetime, so it is so appropriate that you are being honored for Lifetime Achievement.
Jason, you are being honored as an emerging leader and you have proven yourself worthy of this award. You came to HERJC and became involved right away as a member of the HERJC Board, with work on the House and Catering committees. You have also been assisting Hazzan Zakarin with Torah reading volunteers. It is nice to see your involvement in different aspects of HERJC life and we look forward to seeing how your involvement evolves over time.
Sisterhood and the entire congregation congratulate all of you! We are proud to count you as members of our HERJC family and to honor you for your leadership in our HERJC activities.