When Mark Rifkin and Ellen Scordato were looking for a new shul after their wedding in 1992, they attended a variety of high holiday services around the city. But it was the community services at Town & Village, led by Rabbi Abby Sosland and Cantor Beth Mann and organized by Sharon Steinberg, that drew them in, more than a quarter-century ago. After a few years of attending community services and visiting Rabbi Larry Sebert's upstairs services, as well as participating in T&V's lively and delicious kiddushes, they became members. (Thank you, Sharon — you changed our lives!) Mark organized the Shabbat-service ushers for about a decade, and Mark and Ellen have ushered at the community service for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for more than fifteen years, making sure everyone experiences a warm welcome and a comforting sense of decorum, and joy.

Ellen is co-owner of Stonesong, a literary agency, where Mark is the new royalties administrator when he's not reviewing hundreds of events, including dance, theater, art, film, literature, and music, for his website This Week in New York and his Substack, Mad Transit. They could not be more thrilled to be honored along with their good friends Louise Sherby and Joanie and Leon Ashner.