On Sunday night, May 22, the Elmora Hills Minyan celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual dinner. Hosted by the YM-YWHA of Union County, the shul honored its longtime members Dr. Ellie and Sylvia Schneider, and paid tribute to one of its founding members, Rabbi Dr. Joseph J. Preil zt”l.

EHM President Shlomo Lieberman began the evening by highlighting the shul’s growth in membership and Torah study along with the expansion of exciting programming for the entire family. He also noted the dedication of 125 new seforim to the shul’s library in memory of Rabbi Preil. Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage spoke warmly of the Schneiders and of Rabbi Preil’s impact on the broader community in founding the Holocaust Resource Center at Kean University.

Rabbi Michael Bleicher highlighted the Schneiders’ commitment to bringing the Elizabeth community to ever higher spiritual heights, their exemplary commitment to the community and their remarkable sensitivity to every member of the Jewish people. He described Rabbi Preil as a towering figure in Jewish education, a visionary who singularly raised the caliber of Jewish education in America.

Rav Elazar M. Teitz, mara d’asra of the Elizabeth community and nephew of Rabbi Preil zt”l, called his uncle “an educator’s educator.” His son, Rabbi Avraham Preil, spoke on behalf of his brothers, followed by his mother, Mrs. Dvorah Preil, who described her husband as a mechanech (educator) who appreciated the shul for offering a friendly, quiet and serious place for him to daven close to home.

By Elmora Hills Minyan