I grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey. I moved to Wayne about three years ago with my husband, Craig. Growing up, I was a member of the Marlboro Jewish Center where I attended pre-school, Hebrew School and Hebrew High School. I have very fond memories of spending time with the congregation where I celebrated so many holidays with my family.

When we moved to Wayne we wanted to start a family and join a Conservative congregation where we could meet other members of the community, continue my traditions and create new ones. Since joining Shomrei Torah we have found our congregation to be a very warm and supportive community. It’s great to know that there is a place we can go to celebrate our happy events, and at the same time, find a peaceful break in our hectic lives when attending services.

In April, my husband Craig and I had our first child, Mason. I hope that as he grows up he will find Shomrei Torah to be a happy, comfortable and peaceful place where he will learn and develop his own connection with Judaism.

I attended Rider University where I earned a BA in business. I currently work for a technology company, Speakap, where I serve as the Head of Performance Marketing. When I have spare time I enjoy cooking, watching movies, and doing home-related projects.

I became very involved with Shomrei Torah during the pandemic when our High Holiday services went remote and virtual. With the help and guidance of David Kleinstein, for which I am very grateful, our make-shift audio-visual team was able to pre-record sessions of Torah readings, prayers, passages, and announcements. I came to shul with my infant son Mason, a few nights prior to the High Holidays to assist the team. It felt really good to be able to help the congregation, and at the same time, meet a lot of really lovely members who were also helping to make the High Holidays special. While I can’t say that I am an audiovisual master, I can say that I am really happy that I could contribute. It confirmed my belief that this is the right congregation for us. My involvement made me feel like I was a part of something special.

It was thrilling to be sitting in my home during the holidays, with my small ex-tended family gathered around the TV to go to shul. They were all very impressed with what Shomrei Torah was able to do to make the holidays very special and personal. It was also very special to enjoy the holidays with special people. It was a respite for all of us who have very hectic lives.

What does being Jewish mean to me? Being Jewish is a sense of pride, a gift, a legacy, and a unifying force. It is a set of shared beliefs, shared values, shared holidays and shared rules. It is a connection to my family history, to my community, and to a deeper meaning in the universe. It is a culture, a special sense of humor, a set of recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. It is a guiding light to my life, and a reason to “connect the dots” and to try to see a larger purpose in everything I do. It is a warmth that lives in my heart.