Three hundred people attended Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva’s Annual Toby Mayer Memorial Scholarship Fund Breakfast on Sunday, December 24. The attendees represented the entire community, including local rabbanim, current parents, past parents and many people from the community who remain passionate about the mission of RPRY. The scholarship campaign has so far raised $200,000 toward its annual goal of $350,000, to ensure the continuation of RPRY’s policy that no child be denied a Jewish education due to financial constraints.
The breakfast is in memory of Toby Mayer, a beloved wife and a mother of three RPRY alumni, Alexis (‘04), Carly (‘07), and Jared (‘09). Her legacy of dedication to Jewish values was commemorated through the event, where her widower, Steve Mayer, was the master of ceremonies. He expressed that he is “grateful for the outpouring of support of the parent body locally and those not within the community” for aiding the school’s mission.
Elise Berlin was presented the Educator Excellence Award at the breakfast. Berlin has taught at RPRY for more than twenty years, drawing out the potential in each of her students. She expressed her gratitude to work at a school where she said it is apparent “how dedicated the teachers are to the growth and development of each and every student. They go above and beyond.” Berlin also added that one of the beautiful aspects of RPRY is that “no student is turned away due to their religious background, economic status or personal family occurrences. Each student has the opportunity to achieve.” Her speech concluded the event that helped many current and future students afford a Jewish education at RPRY.