(Courtesy of MYEF) My Extended Family, under the auspices of Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County, held their year end banquet this past week. MYEF is an organization that supports children from single-parent families. Each child is matched with a “big brother or sister” from a local high school. Throughout the school year there are weekly after-school programs where there is a catered dinner, homework and a fun activity.
It gives the children a chance to form bonds of friendship with their mentors, their “big siblings,” in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. It gives the parents some respite. And it gives the high school volunteers an opportunity to give back to those who need it most.
MYEF also provides advocacy, yom tov assistance and chol hamoed trips.
Rabbi Avi Rosalimsky and Shua Schloss were the program director and coordinator of the boys division and Devorah Berg and Lianna Kahn were the program director and coordinator of the girls division. Amy Birman, the clinician, is on site every week and available to MYEF families for any help and support they need.
The program owes a debt of gratitude to its amazing volunteers, the big brothers and sisters.
The big sisters this year were Aliza Wiederkehr, Avigayil Baum, Leah Rothman, Ariella Gold, Leora Birman, Aviva Schiowitz, Elana Kavesh, Nechama Adler, Yael Ney, Aura Klavan, Alex Falik, Aviva Tarzik, Shana Engelstien, Chana Sava, Blima Sabolofsky, Hanna Scharf, Atara Daar, Adina Friedman, Chavi Herman, Gabby Brandstofer, Shira Kroopnick, Ariella Reishit, Maytal Nelson, Leba Skoczylas, Talya Adler, Orly Fessel, Dova Moskowitz, Blima Sobolofsky, Gabby Bransdorfer, Racheli Tuchman.
The big brothers were Yakir Adams, Daniel Alfassi, Nathaniel Bierig, Charlie Breda, Micah Cyrulnik, Shimmy David, Yonatan Faber, Yonatan Farkas, Akiva Fried, Hillel Fried, Jason Gamss, Yonatan Halstuch, Eyal Kinderlehrer, Eytan Kirschenbaum, David London, Yonah Luber, Yonah Mandel, Ethan Mauskopf, Chaim Mermelstein, Shlomo Mittel, Ezra Nelson, Ophir Rauzman, Shmuel Remer, Shimon Ross, Sariel Rotblat, Josh Rothenberg, Dovid Saks, Aaron Schmutter, Avraham Schorr, Akiva Sheinbein, Ilan Sugarman, Shlomo Wenger, Bentzion Zilberstein.
Anyone interested in signing up your children to join MYEF or to volunteer as a big brother or big sister, please contact Rabbi Ephraim Simon at [email protected]
