Tell us about your background, where you come from, where you have lived, when you joined ST and why?

I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. Deciding that I was a “big city kid at heart”, I picked up and moved to NYC when I was 24. After 11+ years living it up in the city, phase of life changed (i.e. marriage with baby on the way) and off to the burbs we went. First West Orange for four years and then settling for good in Wayne in 2011.

Having been brought up in an orthodox shul, (not because we were orthodox but more because it was 4 blocks from our house), and since my wife Stacy did not grow up affiliated with a synagogue, the shul decision was mine to make. The comfort I felt at the Shomrei services made it a fairly easy decision. When we attended the High Holiday services as prospective members, the clincher was seeing the students called to the Torah and reading so fluently.

Education, where you went to school, what you studied,

I received my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting from University of Maryland and my M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from New York University.

Present job or business/hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I work at BMO Capital Markets as a Director of Trade Floor Supervision in NY.

Spare time seems to be a limited luxury. When it comes, I try to do activities with the family, such as jumping houses, bowling, hiking, ice skating or miniature golf. And I’m still a big fan of nap time, which is not over-rated. I’m not sure why that has to officially end after kindergarten.

Family

Wife – Stacy (12 years). As cliché as it sounds, we met at a wedding. She was in the bridal party and I was in the groom’s party. Ironically, she was a girl from NJ living in Bethesda, MD, and I was a Baltimore, MD guy living in NY. Fortunately for me, I brought her home.

Daughters – Maya (11) and Jocelyn (8)

Who influenced you the most in your life? Explain

Might sound like an obvious answer but, growing up, no one was more influential than my parents, and now it's my wife. Looking in the rear-view mirror I find myself turning into my father (Stacy’s in trouble). But his strong work ethic and fiscal conservatism framed a part of my character. And today, Stacy’s “cup is ½ full” mentality, where everything has a silver lining, continuously pushes my “cup is ½ empty” self to be a better person. Every day, I learn from her attitude on life and am better off for meeting and marrying such a positive person.

Tell us about your participation in Shomrei Torah

I definitely feel part of the Shomrei community and participate when I can. This is my second 2-year term on the Board of Trustees, with a stint on the Executive Board as Treasurer in the middle. But I also try to lend a hand throughout the year at various events and shul activities, such as setting up the sukkah, setting up for high holidays, assisting with the garden, and everything else the Rabbi guilts me into.

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

Change is inevitable. But with a strong sense of the shul’s history and Jewish values, along with an open-minded approach to changing times and changing demographics, I’m optimistic we’ll be flexible and embrace the future with compromise and continuity , which is why people chose Shomrei in the first place.

As a member of the shul’s leadership, I continue to believe and express these sentiments. I strive to be a voice-of-reason as we discuss, debate, and ultimately make difficult decisions on the future of Shomrei. Without a crystal ball, none of us knows how it will play out. But rest-assured, I’m vested and will be part of the conversation.

In my relatively short tenure at Shomrei, I’ve already made some great friends and know this is where my family belongs. Ever since I donned that Bon Jovi wig and leopard, skin-tight 80’s pants in the Purim schpiel, I knew I felt comfortable in this place and with this community.

Define what being Jewish means to you.

For me, being Jewish is a combination of the rituals, a sense of religious belonging as a way of life, and a faith that’s difficult to describe in words. It encompasses family traditions and values and an engagement in the Jewish community, whatever shape that may take and with whatever frequency you’re comfortable. I feel strongly that everyone’s level of religiosity is a personal decision and I would never push my approach and beliefs on anyone else. Some of it just can’t be explained, like the taste for gefilte fish or strong desire for a bagel and schmear every Sunday.

Anything else about yourself that you would like to share with the congregation, perhaps something that will surprise them!

When I was 13, I was on a neighborhood breakdancing team that took a vinyl mat to other streets for dance battles.

I guess I’m like a mullet, “Business in the front, party in the back”