(Courtesy of JFCSNJ) Jewish Family Service of Central NJ (JFSCNJ) board president Fred Kessler, Cranford, is pleased to announce the election of four new members to the board of directors at the agency’s annual meeting that took place recently.

They are Jay Buchsbaum of Elizabeth; Jason Hoberman, Scotch Plains; Dr. David Hoffman, Springfield; and Leah Kaminer, Springfield.

Originally hailing from Brooklyn, Jay Buchsbaum is a seasoned community leader who became active in various community organizations as soon as he and his family relocated to Elizabeth, New Jersey, over two decades ago. He has served on the board of Yeshiva Be’er Yitzchok of Elizabeth for 20 years, served on the board of the YMHA of Union County for 15, the Chevra Kadisha of Elizabeth (Jewish Burial Society), the Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps, M.A.S.K. and radio personality Nachum Segal’s not-for-profit organization.

A graduate of Touro College, and of the renowned Grossman’s Guide Wine Course, Jay is the executive vice president of marketing at the prestigious Royal Wine Corp. in Bayonne, New Jersey. Jay has built a successful career as a media personality working with winemakers and consumer groups to conduct seminars and wine tastings that educate the consumer to appreciate the outstanding kosher wines available.

He looks forward to lending his expertise to broaden the reach of the agency’s mission and programs. He and his wife, Brenda, are the proud parents of five grown children and have 11 grandchildren.

Jason Hoberman, an attorney from Scotch Plains, has made his mark on the Central New Jersey community, holding numerous leadership positions in Congregation Beth Israel, Scotch Plains; the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ; and the JCC of Central New Jersey since moving to the area from Marlboro, New Jersey, almost 14 years ago.

A graduate of Emory University and Columbia Law School, Jason serves as the general counsel and chief compliance officer of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc., Florham Park, a quantitative investment management firm.

Jason is passionate about his commitment to lending his keen leadership abilities to serve a multitude of Jewish causes and ensure that future generations are able to proudly serve the community. Citing the importance of tikkun olam—repairing the world—Jason would like to extend this commitment beyond that of the Jewish community and feels that it is important to “positively impact the lives of those in need.”

Jason has served on the board of Congregation Beth Israel since 2014, as a trustee, executive vice president (2016-18) and president (2018-2020). He began his leadership activities in the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ in 2018, as a bus captain on the CommUNITY Mission to Israel, then went on to become a member of the national allocations committee (2019-20), synagogue leadership council (2020-present), local allocations committee (2020-present) and NextDor ambassador (2019-present), and is now beginning his service as a trustee. He also has co-chaired numerous fundraisers at the JCC of Central NJ and participated in the JFSCNJ 5K Walk Run.

Tracey Hoberman shares her husband’s enthusiasm for community involvement and is vice president of the JCC of Central NJ, and a member of the boards of Congregation Beth Israel and the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy Division. Jason and Tracey are parents to Ashley (14), a rising sophomore at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and Reid (10), who is about to begin fifth grade at Terrill Middle School.

Dr. David Hoffman made his way to the East Coast from Dallas, Texas, to attend Yeshiva University after spending a gap year of study at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Israel. After medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he completed training in diagnostic radiology at NYU Langone Health, graduating in 2019.

Now a radiologist with Atlantic Medical Group, David is based out of Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. He is the author of numerous research articles and was recently nominated as a 2021 New Jersey Magazine Top Doctor as well as “Teaching Attending of the Year” by his residents.

David and his family live in Springfield, New Jersey, where he is involved with Congregation Israel, and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and is also involved with Lev HaTorah in Israel. David became involved with JFSCNJ as the local Springfield drop-off for the Charlotte Shak Food Pantry during the pandemic.

David and his wife, Yaffa, are parents of Talia (9), Ariella (6) and Elliot (1). Yaffa, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is associate director for the Center for Strategic Philanthropy for the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Talia and Ariella are students at the Jewish Educational Center in Elizabeth. David looks forward to being involved with JFSCNJ and its plethora of services offered to the local community and for those of all backgrounds. He hopes to use his medical background to the benefit of JFSCNJ and bridge new connections to local healthcare organizations.

Leah Kaminer moved to the New York-New Jersey area from Toronto to attend Touro College and then Kean University, where she received her MA in speech language pathology. She married Noah Kaminer of Elizabeth 18 years ago. The couple settled in nearby Springfield where she and her growing family have become involved in nearly every aspect of their synagogue, Congregation Israel, and its surrounding community.

Working as a speech pathologist and professional photographer, Leah decided to devote more of her time to her family and community where she serves as a trustee of the synagogue, and is involved in numerous fundraising activities in addition to Congregation Israel’s summer day camp and sisterhood. She is also involved in donating food to Springfield’s first responders, the local police, fire and first aid squad.

Leah is deeply committed to the mission of Jewish Family Service and looks forward to lending her creative leadership to helping underprivileged members of the community who are in need.

Leah and Noah have five children who attend the JEC in Elizabeth, Riki (16), Benjy (13), Moshe (10), Aliza (5) and Yehuda (2).

“Jewish Family Service of Central NJ welcomes these four community-minded leaders as new members to our board. With their help we will continue to expand the agency’s mission,” said Executive Director Tom Beck.