1. What is your background?

I was born into a Brooklyn family that made its way to East Meadow, NY in 1970. After Lisa and I got married in 1989, we lived in Kings Park, NY. We then made our way to Wayne after taking a job in NJ. When I visited our rabbi in Kings Park to tell him of the move, he had just received a listing of synagogues in northern NJ. I saw that Wayne had two synagogues, and was a bearable commute to my job in Teterboro. Having been a member of the conservative synagogues in East Meadow and Kings Park, Shomrei Torah was a very comfortable place and environment. Just before moving in 1995, my grandmother had passed and I started attending services at Shomrei Torah almost as soon as we settled in Wayne. The Minyan-aires at that time were among the first members I met. From Day 1, I felt the welcoming environment and knew Shomrei Torah was the place for my family and me.

2. Where did you go to school, and what did you study?

I attended Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, followed by a Masters in Business Administration from Hofstra University.

3. What do you do professionally, and what are your interests?

I am a Program Director for BAE Systems in Wayne (superb commute) and have spent my career in engineering and managing product development and production for military ship and aircraft cockpit displays, air traffic control, communications and test systems.

Those who know me well know that in my spare time, what ever I am doing, I always have a sports game playing in the background, live or recorded, even curling or Australian football during these COVID plagued days. I’m interested especially in the Yankees, Jets, Islanders, Knicks or Arsenal. My father was a professional baseball pitcher and I was always involved in playing sports, whether it be baseball, basketball or tennis in my younger years or more recently ice hockey 2 -3 times per week. When my kids were younger, I coached most of their teams, which gave me time to connect with them during the most demanding period of my work life. The fact they all went to big sports universities kept me even busier adding the Michigan Wolverines, Arizona Wildcats and Michigan State Spartans to my never-ending list of teams and games on the DVR.

4. Tell us about your family.

Lisa and I have three children: Alyssa is an architect living in San Francisco, Andrew an engineer (taking after Dad) and Jared works in hospitality in New York.

5. Who influenced you the most in your life? Why?

My father was my greatest influence. He passed away in 1987, but throughout my childhood he was a life coach and an amazing teacher, which was his profession. During summers, he directed the Broad Channel Day Camp in Queens that was run by the Yeshiva of Flatbush. I had the opportunity to work for him one summer. He instilled in me that if it is worth doing, it is worth doing right. I saw that in action daily as he guided his staff and connected with the campers. At the end of the season, I was there as he was praised by the Yeshiva leaders for what was described as his ‘consummate professionalism’. I learned that through hard work and dedication to doing things right, good outcomes are most likely.

6. Tell us about your participation in Shomrei Torah

I volunteered in many capacities on Men’s Club and other synagogue activities for many years after joining in 1995. Rabbi Mark volunteered me to attend a Synagogue Leadership workshop that changed my involvement in the Shul, This immediately lead to my being co-Chair with Randy Reiser on the Strategic Planning Committee and on to the Executive Board and Board of Trustees. I now chair the Finance Committee with an amazing group that works hard with the Financial Officers and staff to make what we hope are sound plans and decisions to keep the lights on year after year.

7. What do you envision in the future for Shomrei Torah and what part could you play in those changes/ improvements?

The future will be interesting as the demographics of the area and habits (to join or not to join?) change over time. We will need to identify and offer new or different programs to attract future members. I will continue to be involved in synagogue finance management to ensure a foundation is there to support these programs and changes.

8. Define what being Jewish means to you.

Being Jewish is all about connection. Connection to family and the past via our rituals, holidays and teachings that we give to our children and share with each other. Connection to the Shul as our center for Jewish living. Connection to each other as a community, including getting why things are funny in that very special Jewish way. Lisa and I have met some of our dearest friends through the YMYWHA and Shomrei Torah. What started as Nursery School classes became Hebrew School classes and amazing friendships for our children and us.

9. Include anything else about yourself that you would like to share with the congregation, perhaps something that will surprise them!

I was honored as Men’s Club Co-Man of the Year, with Scott Podell, based on our inexplicable co-dependency on the New York Jets and the stadium-parking-lot-style tailgates we held at the synagogue.

10. The Surprise!

I took Lisa to our high school prom and we were born on the same day giving me no excuse to ever miss Lisa’s birthday.