2006 Dinner Dance Ad Journal

Rabbi Randy Mark just celebrated his 10th anniversary as Shomrei Torah's Rabbi on March 11, 2006 when Shomrei Torah declared him our Honoree for the annual dinner dance and ad journal. The Story of Rabbi Randy Mark Learn more about Rabbi Mark Take the Rabbi Mark Quiz! Play the Rabbi Mark Word Search Ask the Rabbi and Ask the Rabbi Archives Read Rabbi Mark's Sermons At its annual gala dinner dance on Saturday night, March 11, 2006, Shomrei Torah - the Wayne Conservative Congregation, honored a man who has contributed extensively to the well-being of both the synagogue and the community-at-large - Rabbi Randall Mark, spiritual leader of the synagogue for the past ten years. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rabbi Mark was drawn to the East Coast after his marriage to Dassy Horn, the daughter of Dena Horn, a Jewish educator, and Rabbi William Horn, who recently retired from his pulpit at the Summit Jewish Community Center after 43 years. Rabbi and Dassy Mark now have four children Avi, Penina, Raffi & Danit. At the same time he received his rabbinic ordination, Rabbi Mark also earned a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. Both his rabbinic, educator and counseling skills are evident at Shomrei Torah. He teaches in its Religious School, including it's Confirmation Class; offers a large variety of courses in the synagogue's Adult Education program; is an active, involved and contributing member of every synagogue committee; and is always available to members who need help. Prior to serving Shomrei Torah, Rabbi Mark was the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Ahm in Verona for five years and before that he was the student rabbi of Congregation B'nai Shalom in Piscataway. Rabbi Mark is active in the Jewish Conservative Movement. He is a Past President of the NJ Region of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA); has served on the Convention Committee, coordinating the Practical Rabbinics sessions, for the International RA; and is founder of the Movement's Regional Leaders Counsel in NJ. Rabbi Mark is also involved in his local community serving on the Board of the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, the Board of the Synagogue Leadership Institute, Board of Trustees of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union (SSDS), and the Board of the YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne. He also serves as the Chairperson of the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of SSDS and teaches Rabbinics and serves as a rabbinic authority for the Gerrard Berman Day School, Solomon Schechter of North Jersey in Oakland. He is Secretary/Treasurer of the Wayne Clergy Fellowship (WCF) and a member of the North Jersey Board of Rabbis. He has served as the WCF representative on the Wayne Public School's Committee on Crisis Intervention. When in Verona he served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest and was a MetroWest Chaplain serving The Mountainside and Montclair Community Hospitals. He was also a member of The Mountainside Hospital Ethics committee. For these and so many more reasons, Shomrei Torah is proud to honor its Rabbi.

A Message from the President, Harvey Miller: I have had the extreme pleasure of working with Rabbi Randy Mark for many years. When he first came to Shomrei Torah in 1995, I negotiated his first employment contract. Ok, so that was not so pleasurable, but there were other times!! Whether as Adult Education Chair or Education/Ritual VP or Programming/Membership VP or, now as President, I have seen how our Rabbi works so hard for Shomrei Torah and its congregants. I can truly attest to the dedication and devotion of this man to our shul and to our community, all the while being a dedicated and devoted husband and the father of four great kids. Rabbi Mark cares about every aspect of Shomrei Torah - from its basement to its bimah, from its website to its physical site. He cares about our community growing, not just in numbers, but also in commitment and knowledge. He cares about our Religious School and what our children should be taught. In fact, he teaches in our Hebrew School and Hebrew High. He attends and gives guidance at innumerable committee meetings, including all of the new ones we’ve most recently established. If I were to list all of the adult classes, courses and seminars that he has taught over the 10+ years he has been with us, they would fill this entire journal. There really is no end to his day - meeting with B/Mitzvah families; meeting with staff members; working on sermons; leading off meetings with a D’var Torah; making time for study; helping someone to read Torah; answering questions; visiting with congregants who are ill; officiating at weddings, funerals and shiva minyanim; teaching at GBDS; serving on Boards at the Y, Federation, Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, the Wayne Clergy Fellowship, and on and on. Just reviewing and responding to all of my e-mails alone could take up his whole day! It takes a truly dedicated, inspired and inspiring person to do it all, and it is for these and so many more reasons that we are delighted to say Yasher Koach and Todah Rabbah to our Rabbi and to honor him with this Journal and at tonight’s Dinner Dance. Harvey March 11, 2006