The Moriah School (Englewood, NJ), one of the nation’s premier Jewish Day Schools educating more than 800 students across Bergen County, will be hosting its 50th Annual Dinner on Saturday, February 28th. The dinner will take place at the Hilton Meadowland’s Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ at 8:30 p.m. This year’s honorees are Michelle & Evan Sohn (Guest of Honor), 50 years of MAP (MAP Award) and celebrating alumni faculty and staff (Rabbi J. Shelley Applbaum Award).
Evan has served on Moriah’s Board since 2005, chaired the Development Committee through several terms and joined the Executive Committee in 2008. Having graduated from Moriah in 1981, Evan is Moriah’s sitting and first Alumni President, currently in his 3rd and final year at Moriah’s helm. Under his dynamic and steadfast leadership and unlimited commitment to the institution, Evan has driven a vision for the school and community with a focus on the needs of Moriah’s next generation of students, educators and families. He has reimagined and transformed Moriah, unearthing its vast potential in preparation for the next 50 years.
Michelle is an active volunteer in Moriah and in the local community. Michelle’s career in product development at OXO International has woven its way into Moriah through her annual presentation to the 4thgrade Invention Convention, a highlight for both Michelle and the 4th graders. Michelle and Evan have dedicated their heart and soul to Moriah. They are relentless in their endless pursuits to raise the standards of our community through word, deed, and meaning by giving themselves purely for the benefit of others. Michelle and Evan were honored by Kehillat Kesher in 2010 for their role in the foundation and leadership of that synagogue and community.
This year, as we mark Moriah’s 50th Anniversary, we also celebrate, honor and remember all who played leadership roles through “50 Years of MAP”. Over the past 50 years, MAP has been an integral part of the student and parent experience at Moriah. Through innovative programming and events for students, helpful services for families, and its dedication to working with faculty and administrators, MAP has pursued a mission to foster a sense of camaraderie and school spirit throughout the Moriah community. MAP is comprised entirely of parent volunteers who have devoted their time and energy with the goal of making Moriah not just a school, but a second home for all its children. MAP has succeeded in accomplishing this goal by organizing various social events that engage Moriah’s students, celebrate holidays in a communal manner, and welcome new families thereby ensuring they are comfortable in their new environment. MAP has strived to assist busy parents by spearheading various initiatives, such as gift collection programs, school supply purchases and tribute and holiday cards. MAP has teamed with faculty to institute chesed programs and simultaneously has shown appreciation for teachers and administration by hosting a year-end luncheon and providing holiday gifts. While MAP has grown and assumed new roles over the past 50 years, it has maintained its commitment to donate the majority of funds raised from events, programs and dues toward the improvement and expansion of one of the school library. MAP is proud to have contributed to the upgrading of the library, and in particular, to enhancing Moriah’s technological capabilities. MAP looks forward to continuing its mission of enhancing the educational, social and Jewish experiences of Moriah’s students and families.
Moriah is incredibly fortunate to have a leading world-class team of administrators, teachers and staff, and this year will bestow the Rabbi J. Shelley Applbaum Service Award on 13 Moriah graduates who have “return”ed to serve at Moriah. These are the individuals who continue to bridge Moriah’s past with its future through the minds and hearts of Moriah’s children each day: Rabbi Avi Bernstein (’91), Zeva Epstein (’06), Mindy Getzler (’04), Alana Green (’93), Jennifer Kollender (’02), Jessica Levner (’03), Chana Meyers (’88), Lauren Pruzansky (’03), Rebecca Rauch (’03), Racheli Schwartz (’05), Roberta Waldman (’80), Lea Wohlfarth (’04) and Aliza Zeffren (’03).
For more information on Moriah or the Annual Dinner, please contact Nila Lazarus (Director of Development) 201-567-0208 ext. 373 or [email protected]. To register for the dinner, go to www.themoriahdinner.org.
