(Courtesy of TABC) Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) will hold its 36th Annual Dinner on Sunday, February 10, at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck. This annual event celebrates TABC and unites the TABC administration, faculty, parents, alumni and friends. This year’s dinner will pay tribute to Nomi and Yechiel Rotblat, guests of honor; Rabbi Joel Grossman, Faculty Service Award; and Aaron Safier ’01, Alumni Tribute Award. All proceeds from the annual dinner will go to support the Bruce Ritholtz, z”l, Scholarship Fund.
Nomi and Yechiel Rotblat are paradigms of dedicated service to TABC and to our greater community. From the time their eldest son entered TABC, both Nomi and Yechiel became actively engaged in activities and programs at the school. Yechiel joined the board of directors and served on the executive board. He played a vital role in obtaining the financing for the recent building expansion and has chaired the successful scholarship breakfast campaign for several years. Nomi has served as a member and chair of the recruitment committee. She works closely with the admissions department on the open house as well as spearheading outreach efforts to prospective families. Both in their official roles and in more informal capacities, Yechiel and Nomi have contributed their wise counsel, ideas, efforts, time and resources in order to encourage TABC’s development and success.
Outside of their school involvement, Yechiel is a partner in the Capital Markets group at Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft and founder of the Teaneck Simcha Gemach, among other volunteer activities. Nomi, an attorney in private practice, is president of the Teaneck Mikvah Association, a member of the executive board at RYNJ and on the board of directors of the OU. The Rotblats are the proud parents of Tzvi ’15, Ezra ’18; Benzion ’21, Sariel ’23 and Tova.
Together, Nomi and Yechiel are dedicated and proud ambassadors for TABC, recognizing the unique role TABC plays in their family’s life and in our community. Their service and commitment are an inspiration and we are proud to recognize the time, energy and leadership that they have devoted to TABC.
Rabbi Joel Grossman, a beloved rebbe at TABC, is known for the deep and long-lasting connections he forms with his students, maintaining these bonds well after graduation. Rabbi Grossman enjoys preparing challenging lessons and substantively engaging his students in shiur, motivating each student to reach his full potential. He is a fixture at TABC sports games and academic competitions cheering on his students, as he cares about the “whole student,” not just a talmid during class time. An avid Yankees fan, Rabbi Grossman organizes school outings to the stadium throughout the season. His birthday Yankees game is a highlight of the school year and is attended by the majority of the students. A “rebbe’s rebbe,” he represents the epitome of a Torah scholar. Rabbi Grossman is a student of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Rav Moshe Feinstein and has both Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin semicha from RIETS. He has been teaching at TABC since 1988, and has the same enthusiasm for Torah and love of his students today as he had when he began his teaching career. Rabbi Grossman is an inspiration to both his current and former students as well as to his many colleagues, and we are proud to be recognizing his contributions to TABC.
Aaron Safier ’01 is a prime example of TABC alumni pride. Aaron excelled in both academic and co-curricular activities as a member of the wrestling team and the Stock Market Club. At Yeshiva University, he studied finance and entrepreneurship, and he continued his studies at Iona College, Hagan School of Business, where he completed his MBA. Aaron has worked as a financial planner since 2011. He recently started his own firm, Sapphire Wealth Advisory Group. Aaron works with entrepreneurs and young professionals, guiding them to make informed decisions about their long-term financial planning goals. In addition, Aaron focuses on helping families who have dependents with special needs. Since graduating, Aaron has maintained his connection with many of his TABC teachers and rebbeim. For the last several years, he has sponsored and hosted various lunch-and-learn programs for alumni and has on many occasions served as a guest speaker, sharing both economic insights and career advice with current students. Aaron was recently named to the “Top 100 People in Finance” by Top 100 Magazine. Aaron lives in Teaneck with his wife, Pnina, and their son, Judah.
The TABC Annual Dinner Scholarship Campaign is the most important TABC fundraiser of the year and helps ensure that a yeshiva high school education is accessible to all TABC students. Please support our mission by paying tribute to these well-deserving honorees and by contributing generously. For more information about TABC and our annual scholarship campaign, please visit www.tabc.org/annualdinner or contact Sharon Rifkind, director of development at [email protected].
