Passaic—Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton, one of the oldest active shuls in Passaic County is honoring Noah and Peggy Gurock and Rabbi Elie and Abigail Rothberger at the shul’s annual dinner this Sunday, June 15.

One of the fastest growing shuls in Pas­saic-Clifton, Young Israel is led by one of the country’s most dynamic figures, Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, who until recently served as regional director of New Jersey NCSY.

Rarely does a week go by at the Young Isra­el of Passaic-Clifton when the imprints of Abi­gail and Rabbi Elie Rothberger are not felt. Ac­tive volunteers at the synagogue for nearly a decade, the Rothbergers take an active role in communications and programming. Abigail sits on the synagogue’s executive board, chair­ing its communications committee, ensuring that both weekly announcements and special events are communicated to a rapidly growing membership. In addition, Abigail has served as co-chair of YIPC’s annual dinner and co-chaired last year’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new shul building, an event that attracted local and state government officials.

Equally involved, Elie, a popular 4th grade rebbe at the Moriah School in Englewood, serves on the board, directs the weekly Shab­bos youth groups, and oversees programming for children up to 12 years of age. He also pre­pares all Yahrzeit notices and is a frequent Baal Koreh at the both hashkama and regular min­yanim. Yet, ask children how they know Rabbi Elie and they are quick to share the many sto­ries he tells during special youth programming on Shavuos and Simchas Torah.

Both Abigail and Elie are Queens natives. From there, Abigail went on to study at Michla­la, Jerusalem College for Women, before she enrolled at Queens College, where she gradu­ated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in account­ing. Abigail received her CPA while working for Deloitte and Touche, and for the past seven years, she has worked as the Assistant Director of Administration at YBH of Passaic.

After high school, Elie learned at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yaveh in Israel and Yeshiva University, where he received his undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Jewish Education. He was member of the Katz Kollel and received his Semicha in 2002. He also stud­ied at the Belz School of Music.

For the past 10 years, Elie has become a fix­ture as the third grade rebbe at YBH of Passa­ic. His educational creativity and wit resonate in original class plays on the Parsha, his weekly Torah Teasers with Super Mitzvah Boy, and the popular Tzadik of the week.

The education doesn’t end with spring. Elie is actively engaged with his talmidim at Camp Shalom.

Noah and Peggy Gurock, parents of four and pillars of Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton for more than four decades, are relocating to At­lanta.

Noah and Peggy leave an impressive leg­acy. Many know Noah as the ba’al korei (To­rah reader) on the Yomim Noraim and Purim, as well as a frequent layner for Shabbat min­cha. Noah has served on the shuls’ Executive Board in many capacities, including twice as President and, for many years, volunteered as Gabbai. In the broader Passaic-Clifton com­munity, Noah served as a member of the Hillel Academy executive board, as well as President of Hillel Academy from 1987 to 1990 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Passa­ic-Clifton YMHA.

Peggy has been an active member of the Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton Women’s League, including playing an important role on both the Melavah Malkah and Purim Seudah committees. And Peggy continue to serve the Young Israel in running the program for Sim­chah and Condolence Cards.

Peggy and Noah’s decades of volunteerism to the YIPC and the broader Jewish communi­ty is all the more remarkable when considering their devotion and excellence in their profes­sional lives.

Peggy has been an Occupational Therapist for more than 40 years and in 2004 co-found­ed the Orthodox Jewish Occupational Therapy Chavrusa, which now members more than 500 professionals across 25 states, Israel, and Cana­da. Peggy was recently recognized by the na­tional Occupational Therapy Association and was inducted into its prestigious Roster of Fel­lows at the groups’ annual convention.

Noah serves in the relatively small ranks of Orthodox journalists, enjoying an award-winning career in broadcasting. Noah recent­ly retired from Fox News after 25 years, during which he won five Emmy Awards for his news gathering work as well as many other Journal­ism Awards.