The word that describes Linda the best is “Strength.” She has an inner strength and a determination that gets things done that just shines through.

A Brooklyn girl, born and raised, Linda was always hard working whether at school or in her family’s business. She met her husband, Jack, when she was 15 years old. As she says “I was “gifted” to Jack by a girlfriend who thought that I was a better match for him than she was”. Needless to say, that girlfriend was right and Jack and Linda where married when she was 20.

She attended Long Island University, where she reluctantly studied to be an elementary teacher. After graduation, she taught for a few months and knew in her heart that teaching wasn’t for her. . . she was more attuned to the business world.

The Gaba family moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey when Jack started a job in Little Falls. And even then, Linda, who was still working in her family’s business, was going back and forth from NJ to Brooklyn. After a while, family circumstances dictated that they would need to find an alternative, long term way of supporting themselves. Together, they created a business to fulfill this need. At first, this business was located in their home, and as Linda states: “Both Jack and I were raised in family businesses and the mix of family life/business life was familiar to us. It seemed a natural progression.”

Linda learned to typeset technical manuscripts which was not easy. She recalls “there was no memory or spell check and everything had to be done by hand which took an enormous amount of time.” Eventually the business outgrew their home and was relocated to an office building in Wayne.

Linda and Jack were blessed with three children: two sons, Todd and Darin and a daughter Brenda, who is married to Erik, and now two beautiful grandchildren - Alexa, almost 4 and Jack who is 2 ½. Alexa and Jack share a passion with their grandmother – they all love to dance! “I would dance any time, but now I especially enjoy dancing with my darling grandchildren. We spin and twirl and they are the best dancing partners in my world.”

When asked who had the greatest influence on her life, Linda didn’t hesitate to respond “My mother-in-law. Jack’s family was very close and very loving. She was the kindest, most gentle woman and always saw the good in people. She taught me how to look for the good in a person and concentrate on that.”

For many years since Shomrei Torah’s inception, Linda has been a member of the Sisterhood Board of Trustees and has held every position except president. She remembers when services were first held in the “shed,” and what a happy day it was when the congregation moved into this present building!

The decision to join Shomrei Torah was an easy one for Linda. “Being Jewish is what I am...it is my whole being. It is the way I see the world”. As she remembers “I had been raised in a more traditionally Jewish family than Jack, and growing up, I had many friends who attended Shabbat services. I used to go to shul every Saturday and enjoyed the social aspect of community and friendship.” Linda loved the community she and Jack found at Shomrei Torah and embraced the sense of extended family. “Part of being a member of this synagogue is that you have a network of caring and concerned people, for the good times and, more importantly, for the difficult times of life,” says Linda. She is looking forward towards the future of Shomrei Torah which will hopefully include a sparkling and updated interior and more family involvement!