The Young Israel of Teaneck (YIOT) will celebrate its 25th annual dinner on Sunday, April 27. This year’s guests of honor are Scott and Elanna Reiss. David and Jessica Mirsky will receive the Charlie Gartenberg z”l Memorial Service Award, and the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC) will be recognized with the Gratitude Award endowed by the Hod Family. Dror Barber, YIOT President, said: “One of the defining qualities of the Young Israel of Teaneck is the incredible dedication to service that permeates our shul. This year’s honorees embody these qualities a thousandfold.”
Scott and Elanna Reiss: Guests of Honor
Scott and Elanna moved to Teaneck 15 years ago. “My mom, Jayne Reiss, taught science at Yavneh Academy for many years and told us what a nice community Country Club was,” shared Scott. Although work took them overseas shortly after buying their home, they returned in 2013 and have been active members ever since.
Elanna, who manages the office at the Jewish Center of Teaneck, served on the Sisterhood board for nine years and helped run the Welcome Committee, the annual Sisterhood Seudah Shlishit and the Community Shabbat Luncheons. She also stepped in to assist the shul office during transitions between office managers. “I feel it’s important to volunteer,” said Elanna. “I care about things and if I can help solve a problem, I want to help.” Elanna also serves as co-president of the Yavneh Parents Association & Auxiliary (YPAA). In addition to her work at the Jewish Center, she also manages executive search for Scott Goldberg Consulting, an educational consulting firm.
Scott grew up in Paramus. He retired from Maersk after 25 years as an HR executive. He is currently looking to start an HR consulting company.
Scott has taken on countless volunteer roles at YIOT over the years. “I started volunteering at a young age,” Scott reflected. “At the age of 16, I volunteered as an EMT in Paramus. I joined the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) after our second daughter was born and serve as the training officer there.”
When he returned to YIOT, he joined the Security Committee and soon attended the CSS training. Anyone who attends YIOT will recognize Scott as he is often outside the shul with the security guard. “From the security side, we’re the first faces they see and we want them to feel welcome.” He also pushed for a photo membership directory to help the security team, and played a key role in securing grants that funded enhancements like the parking lot gate and enhanced camera technology. “After October 7, we did a lot to increase our security posture,” he noted. “We got the parking lot gate up quickly and started requiring everyone to enter through one entrance.”
Both Elanna and Scott learned the importance of giving back to the community in the homes in which they grew up. Lenore Stamm, z”l, Elanna’s mom, was extremely involved in her Oceanside community and was a role model to Elanna and her siblings. Lenore, as well as Elanna’s father, Dennis, volunteered in various leadership roles at their shul the Young Israel of Oceanside. “I grew up seeing the importance of being involved and I do what I do as a way to continue my mom’s legacy. It’s also important to me that my children see the importance of volunteering as well,” shared Elanna. “My grandfather, Herbert Shumer, z”l, was the first founding member and president of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere. It’s really been a family tradition to volunteer and give back to your community.”
“We want to show the importance of giving back to the shul community,” the Reisses shared. “Each person plays a part in things functioning and working out properly. We need everybody to give their time. The shul can’t run on just a few people helping. Anybody can get involved. People shouldn’t be scared. We and the Mirskys want to highlight the value of volunteerism. We are so humbled to be honored with the Mirskys. We have similar values, and they have been a great addition to the community.”
“Scott’s dedication to shul security is unmatched,” said Rabbi Beni Krohn, rabbi of the YIOT. “He’s constantly present, involved, and has been a key resource in strengthening and professionalizing our CSS team, especially since October 7. Elanna has long played a vital role in the Welcome Committee and Sisterhood and has used her professional expertise to help build and support our shul office. She’s always been an advocate for making everyone feel welcome.”
Scott and Elanna are the proud parents of 13-year-old Bailey and 10-year-old Eden. Both attend Yavneh Academy.
David and Jessica Mirsky: Charlie Gartenberg z”l Memorial Service Award Recipients
The Charlie Gartenberg z”l Memorial Service Award is given annually to a person or couple who exemplifies the midot of Charlie Gartenberg, z”l, a founding member of YIOT.
David and Jessica moved to Teaneck three years ago from Forest Hills. They visited friends in the neighborhood multiple times and, as Jessica shared, “Over time, it started to feel like home. Everyone we met here had such pride for the community and living in Country Club.”
Like the Reisses, the Mirskys learned from a young age about the importance of contributing to shuls. David’s parents, Janice and Moshe Mirsky, were founding members of the Young Israel of White Plains, New York, where Janice served as president of the sisterhood for years, and Moshe served as president two separate times. Jessica’s father, Mark Levenson, was the president of Adas Israel in Passaic, and her mother, Eta, was vice president as well.
“It wasn’t a question of if we would get involved, but when and what we’d get involved with,” Jessica recalled. The Chesed Events Committee was her first entry into YIOT activities, where she was involved in events such as planning a Yad Leah event with over 80 volunteers who packed over 100 boxes of clothing to be shipped to Israel. “Anyone can be the person raising their hand to get involved,” Jessica said. She also serves on the YIOT board and Youth Committee, and volunteers with Tomchei Shabbos and Jewish Family & Children’s Services, along with their children. Jessica is also involved with the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee and Teach NJ, while David serves on the Teaneck Historical Preservation Commission and can be found most Wednesdays at the Teaneck Board of Education meetings.
David grew up in White Plains and served on the security team for his parents’ shul. During their time in Forest Hills, David established the Young Israel of Forest Hills’ security team and protocols. When the family moved to Teaneck it was only natural that he join the Security Committee as a team lead. “There are so many great opportunities to connect with your community here,” David observed. “In addition to keeping a sharp eye out, I strive to bring as much ruach and joy as I can to our Jewish traditions and celebrations.”
Both Jessica and David take advantage of the learning opportunities at the shul. “I enjoy having access to both educational and spiritual sustenance at the YIOT,” said Jessica. “I love being able to have a beautiful davening and meaningful chances to learn Torah, whether it’s Rabbi Krohn’s weekly Parsha shiur, Wednesday’s Beit Midrash Night or our brilliant and varied guest speakers. It’s wonderful to be able to feed off of each other’s energy. We come together as a community, not because we have to, but to celebrate who we are.”
Rabbi Krohn told The Jewish Link, “Almost from the moment they arrived, they wanted to know how they could help the shul. David has been an active member of CSS and a key partner for Scott [Reiss] in terms of enhancing the CSS team. Jess has volunteered for so many things I can’t even count them. If you need someone to volunteer, she’s already emailed to ask if she can do it.”
Gratitude Award Endowed by the Hod Family: Honoring the RCBC
In 2019, Janet and Lior Hod established the Gratitude Award to honor those to whom the community owes a debt of gratitude. This year’s Gratitude Award recognizes not an individual, but a collective force in Bergen County Jewish life. The Rabbinical Council of Bergen County has been selected to receive this honor in recognition of their leadership, guidance and tireless efforts, which have been instrumental in shaping and safeguarding Jewish life in Bergen County.
Until 2020, most people associated the RCBC primarily with kashrut. Since COVID, their role has expanded significantly, said Rabbi Krohn. “We had to learn how to lead through a pandemic—something none of us had experienced. After October 7, we faced a different kind of crisis.” In response to rising antisemitism and protests, the RCBC reorganized, appointing Rabbi Daniel Fridman as vice president of community relations and designating local rabbinic representatives in each town.
The RCBC also launched the Bergen County High School Admissions Committee, revamped its now nationally recognized kashrut division and hosted programs on technology, chesed and spiritual growth. Rabbi Andrew Markowitz will accept the award on behalf of the rabbis.
To make a reservation for the dinner or place an ad in this year’s journal, please email [email protected] or visit www.yiot.org/form/yiot-dinner-2025.
