Congregation Rinat Yisrael will recognize the contributions of a number of outstanding individuals at its 29th annual dinner. Scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, January 7, 2017, at Keter Torah, the event will include a community siyum on Tanach. The dinner, one of Rinat’s most significant fundraising events, is critical to maintaining the shul’s extensive operations and activities. This year’s honorees are Amy and Chanan Vogel, Nissan Clark and Eli Davidovics, and Paula and Dr. Howard Friedman.
Young Leadership Awardees Amy and Chanan Vogel have been active members of Rinat for over 10 years and have been instrumental in building the Rinat community. The two regularly host new members and prospective members in their home and Amy, director of development at Yeshivat Noam, has served as welcoming committee chair for 10 years. In that capacity, Amy coordinates Shabbat hospitality for, and deliveries of welcome baskets to, new members and organizes a variety of community-building events designed to nurture friendships among shul members.
Chanan, a real estate developer and Teaneck native, serves on the board of Teaneck Baseball Organization (TBO) and is a respected coach of a variety of children’s sports teams including TBO, MGBL and flag football teams. Chanan has served on the Rinat board for many years and is currently an executive board member. He also chairs the security committee, coordinates the building of the shul sukkah, and oversaw the renovation of a shul-owned property. But perhaps most importantly, Chanan holds the coveted title of 2015 Rinat Cholent Cook-Off Champion! Amy and Chanan are the proud parents of Ariella, a group leader in the Rinat Youth department, and Eitan, Kayla and Benjy, happy participants in the youth department.
Nissan Clark and Eli Davidovics will represent all of Rinat’s Community Security Service (CSS) volunteers when they receive the Sruli Guttman Service Award. Eli, CSS’s co-regional manager for New Jersey, and Nissan, Rinat’s CSS team manager, have been overseeing Rinat’s CSS group for five years. The shul’s volunteers, trained by CSS to function as the eyes and ears of the community, maintain a presence outside the building and in each minyan on Shabbat mornings, and play a crucial role in Rinat’s security.
Long-time Rinat members Paula and Dr. Howard Friedman will receive the Keter Shem Tov Award. Dr. Friedman, a popular and well-respected pediatrician and a past president of Ma’ayanot, served as vice president of the Rinat board and plays a key role in minyanim and learning opportunities. He co-founded the 7:30 weekday morning minyan, started the Thursday night parsha shiur, and helped expand the offerings in the beit midrash library. Dr. Friedman has also coordinated scholar-in-residence programs and home minyanim for those in need and serves as gabbai in various minyanim.
To make reservations for what promises to be an enjoyable and inspirational evening, or to participate in the communal completion of Tanach, please visit Rinat.org.
