This Shabbat, at a synagogue in West Orange, people will come together to celebrate a milestone 13 years in the making—and it’s not a bar mitzvah. Members of Congregation Ohr Torah, an Orthodox synagogue, and B’nai Shalom, a Conservative synagogue, will gather after morning services for a Kiddush honoring David Irby. He has spent nearly every Shabbat morning for the past 13 years at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Pleasant Valley Way, serving as the crossing guard for both synagogues.
The idea came about on a Saturday morning, as Irby chatted with congregants, just as he typically does. “It came up in conversation that this was his 13th year working on this corner for the synagogues,” said Jay Goldberg, a past president and current board member of Ohr Torah. “As soon as I heard that, I knew it was a milestone that we needed to celebrate.” Goldberg also does most of the cooking for Ohr Torah’s Kiddushes, and says he knew right away that both synagogues would want to participate. “To truly honor him, it should be from everyone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you are Orthodox or Conservative any more than it matters if you’re a Mets fan or Yankees fan—this is about honoring David.”
At B’nai Shalom, the reaction was equally enthusiastic. “We’re very excited,” says Leslie Gleaner, B’nai Shalom’s program coordinator. “There is such a caring relationship between people in the community and David; he recognizes us and even knows if we usually come to synagogue early or late. It’s comforting to parents to know that he’s there when their kids are crossing the street; it really makes such a difference.” Goldberg agrees that the personal relationship that David has formed with members of the community really goes above and beyond the call of duty. “It’s one thing to recognize people—he knows people,” he says.
When Irby was told that the synagogues wanted to honor him, he was surprised; as far as he is concerned, he has just been doing his job. But to the families that cross at the corner every week, he is doing so much more than that. “Everybody loves David,” says Rabbi Marc Spivak of Ohr Torah. “He is a really sweet guy and very friendly.” In speaking separately with Irby and members of both congregations, it is difficult to say who holds whom in higher regard.
Irby began working as crossing guard after retiring from his job at Continental Airlines, where he had worked for 19 years. He says that he never would have imagined that he would still be doing it so many years later, but there is one thing that keeps him coming back to that corner every week: the people. “Everybody that comes by welcomes me and it makes me feel good,” Irby says. “People ask if I need water, ask me how I feel, tell me to try to stay warm—even the kids! It means a lot to me because a lot of people wouldn’t do that.” Irby has many stories about the people that he has come to know from both synagogues—a woman who teaches him He-brew one word at a time, a man who noticed that his chair had broken and brought him a new one and other congregants who have invited him to their children’s b’nai mitzvot. “The people are so nice,” Irby says. “I’m very happy on that corner.” And there is no doubt that many, many people are happy that he is there as well.
