For the past 49 years, Jewish National Fund has been honoring local residents with its prestigious “Circle of Excellence” awards.  Beginning with the late New Jersey State Senator Matthew Feldman, JNF has been selecting individuals from Teaneck who have worked for the land of Israel and for the local Jewish community.

In 1901, JNF began collecting coins in blue boxes (pushkes) all over the world to purchase land in order to return the Jewish people to their homeland.  In over 112 years, JNF has evolved into a global and environmental leader and has become the central address for the land and people of Israel.

Continuing in that tradition, JNF is honoring Marlene and Philip Rhodes with its prestigious “Circle of Excellence” award and Teaneck Councilman Yitz Stern with its noted annual Community Service award.  Ben Gutmann, past President of the Northern New Jersey JNF Board, will also be recognized.

This event will be held Monday evening, December 9, at 7:00 PM at Congregation Beth Sholom, 354 Maitland Avenue in Teaneck.  Catered by Ma’adan, this annual Buffet and Dessert Reception will bring together supporters and lovers of the Land of Israel.

Marlene and Philip Rhodes, longtime members of Congregation Beth Sholom, have raised their sons, Ari and Jeremy in this community.  Phil, an organic chemist and chemical engineer, is the President of Broadview Technologies and Hycrete, Inc.  Marlene, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, is a pediatric occupational therapist on the staff of the River Edge school system.  Both Marlene and Phil have been active members of Beth Sholom and the Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County.

Teaneck Councilman and Congregation B’nai Yeshurun member Yitz Stern and his wife, Gilla, have been residents of Teaneck for 33 years.  In addition to being active on a number of local, countywide and statewide boards and commissions, Yitz was appointed by the Governor this year to serve as a member of the NJ-Israel Commission where he also serves on its Homeland Security committee.  This commission was formed in 1989 to foster economic, scientific, educational and cultural ties with the State of Israel.

Special guest speakers at this event, who will be introduced by Rabbi Larry Rothwachs of Congregation Beth Aaron, are Gush Etzion Mayor Davidi Perel of the community of Gush Etzion and Shani Abrams Simkowitz, Director of the Gush Etzion Foundation.  Proceeds from this event will go to the revitalization of this historic site in Israel, home to some of the greatest heroes in the founding of the State of Israel.

For further information, contact Jocelyn Inglis at jinglis_jnf.org.