Ohr Saadya will honor Yvette and Ari Braunstein at its eighth annual dinner on February 25 at Factory 220 in Passaic. Led by Rabbi Daniel Feldman, Ohr Saadya is a 70-member shul in the South of Cedar neighborhood of Teaneck.
“We are so thrilled that Yvette and Ari have allowed us to honor them this year at the dinner,” said Rabbi Feldman. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the talent, commitment and attitudes of a spectacular family that does a wonderful job of both representing and elevating the rest of us. Dinners are meant to acknowledge what has been done and also to inspire for the future, and the Braunsteins are a perfect choice for both.”
Yvette and Ari moved to Teaneck from Riverdale six years ago and immediately felt at home at Ohr Saadya (then known as Etz Chaim). The couple has been contributing their talents to the shul in multiple capacities since they joined.
“Yvette and Ari Braunstein represent the spirit of our shul—they are fun-loving and kind-spirited doers,” said Ohr Saadya board member Rachel Cyrulnik.
Yvette has served on Ohr Saadya’s board for four years in the capacities of board member at large and secretary. Yvette has also overseen the shul’s Mishloach Manot program, worked on multiple community-wide Yachad Shabbatonim on behalf of the shul, served on its Welcoming Committee, and coordinated events such as a shul-wide potluck Shabbat lunch. Outside of Ohr Saadya, Yvette has been an involved lay leader for Yachad.
Ari has brought many new innovations to Ohr Saadya over the years, including setting up and managing its online directory, moderating the shul’s google group and introducing the shul’s Amazon Associates account, which has earned over $8,000 to date. Ari also runs the shul wine sale annually, helps set up/clean up kiddushes on a weekly basis, and serves as the shul candy man with pride. Additionally, Ari is a regular at Ohr Saadya’s Thursday evening shiur.
“A true hidden gem in Teaneck,” is how Yvette describes Ohr Saadya. “It’s exactly what we were looking for when we were deciding on which community to move to,” Ari explained. “We love the warmth of the shul, the diversity of its congregants and the fact that each member has the opportunity to get involved in the shul in their own meaningful way.”
Professionally, Yvette is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working with dialysis patients at the Mount Sinai Hospital for 10 years. Ari is an Account Manager at IDT Carrier Services and has been working there for 12 years. The Braunsteins have two children, Abigail, age 9, and Charlie, age 5.
To attend the dinner and/or to submit ads, please visit www.ohrsaadya.org/dinner2017.
