At its 76th Annual Gala, the JEC will honor three amazing families from our area, celebrate strong multi-generational ties of so many graduates and honor scores of alumni that served in the Israel Defense Forces—with nine currently on active duty.

Debbie and David Schiff, residents of Teaneck and active members of Congregation Rinat Yisrael, are part of a four-generation heritage at the JEC and will be recognized with a special Family Legacy Award. Their daughter Avigail is a Bruriah sophomore and her two older sisters, Ilana (2013) and Talia (2015) are both Bruriah graduates. Debbie is a proud Bruriah alumna, Class of ’86, and her mother, Mrs. Ellen Winetsky, is a retired Bruriah department chair and math teacher of over 30 years. Her grandfather was instrumental in the JEC’s earlier years and was instrumental in the development and construction of the JEC’s main building.

Sarah and David Goldstein of Passaic have been Bruriah parents for the past 18 years. They have led all five of their daughters in flourishing at Bruriah and will be honored as this year’s Parents of the Year. The Goldstein’s have partnered with Bruriah to instill their daughters with Torah values, academic excellence and a love for Eretz Yisrael, family and community. The Goldsteins have graciously opened their home to Bruriah and the JEC on an array of occasions and their youngest daughter Racheli is a senior, set to graduate this June.

When it comes to family, few reflect three incredible generations of JEC scholarship and affiliation. The Pirak family of Springfield is one of them. Dr. Aryeh Pirak, RTMA class of 1971, is the patriarch of a beautiful extended family of five children, who all graduated from the JEC system, and six grandchildren currently enrolled in the school, with a seventh set to begin in the fall.

Together with his wife, Myra, the Pirak’s have raised a close-knit family with strong Torah values, and commitment to community. Their children reflect those values and together, the family stands among the leaders of our school. For all this, and more, the Piraks will be honored as this year’s Grandparents of the Year.

This year marks a first for Bruriah that will also be be recognized at the dinner. The class of 2017 will have Bruriah’s first-ever third-generation graduate. Ms. Gilda Baime Brandwein was a member of Bruriah’s first graduating class in 1967. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of her graduation, Ms. Brandwein will now see the graduation from Bruriah of her granddaughter Fruma Landa in June. Fruma’s mother, Mrs. Hinda Landa, graduated Bruriah in 1994, making theirs the first-ever three-generation Bruriah graduate family.

The JEC, RTMA and Bruriah take special pride in their graduates who make aliyah. Over the years, scores of alumni have bravely donned the IDF uniform and others have served in Sheirut Leumi. Nine RTMA graduates currently serve on active duty and the JEC will reveal exciting plans for a Wall of Honor, saluting JEC graduates who serve the Jewish state.

Finally, the JEC will recognize David and Naomi Graber, who both graduated in 1967 and are the first-ever JEC-Bruriah couple. In the years since, dozens of graduates have followed in their footsteps and the JEC will celebrate all of its alumni couples at the gala

The dinner is being held at the exciting new Factory 220 in Passaic, with its unique “industrial chic” design and first-class dinner and dessert buffet menus to accommodate every palate and dietary restriction. Space is limited and reservations are filling up quickly. To reserve a seat or place a journal ad please visit www.TheJEC.org.

Be part of the future and celebrate family on May 15.