THE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 5, 2015
56
Around The Community Celebrating the T.A.G. Way There are indeed many ways to educate a child. This year, Torah Academy for Girls is focusing on The T.A.G. Way, as the theme of their annual dinner, which will be held iy”H on Wednesday evening, February 18th at the Sands in Atlantic Beach. Technique, Attention and Growth are not just words that are part of our school’s name, but words that come into play every day in TAG as we go about educating the future imahos of Yisroel. According to Dinner Co-Chairman, Mr. Yehuda Biber, it is obvious that TAG has successfully managed to blend the latest educational techniques along with the special attention being given to allow each of our students to flourish and reach her full potential. As to the growth of the school, Rabbi Baruch Lovett, Director of Development, adds that the growth process at TAG not only refers to the maturation of our students as they develop into true Bnos Yisroel, but to the actual growth of our facilities as well. As we look forward to completing the final bricks of our massive expansion, we are so appreciative to our parents, as well as community members who encourage and support this major effort. TAG is grateful to the following individuals who have stepped forward to ensure the success of this year’s dinner. Mr. & Mrs. Shlomo Jacobowitz will be the Guests of Honor, while Mr. & Mrs. Menachem Kagan will be receiving the Hakaras Hatov Award. Longtime and beloved Morah and General Studies teacher, Mrs. Mimi Shuter, will be receiving the Educator of the Year Award. Mr. Pinky Friedman, Dinner Co-Chairman, announced that the coveted Rabbi Moshe Weitman Memorial Award is being presented to the Mermelstein family in memory of Dr. Jack Mermelstein z”l. As a grandson-in law, Mr. Friedman feels this is a most fitting memorial to a remarkable man who impacted on so many in our community. Our Journal Chairmen, Dr. Nachum Augenbaum and Mr. Hillel Axelrod, as well as the entire dinner committee, are eager to greet all our guests at the dinner. Educator of the Year Awardee Torah Academy for Girls is indeed blessed to have an outstanding faculty. Their dedication and devotion to each of their talmidos helps ensure that each of them reaches her potential. This year as a representative of our amaz-
ing staff of moros and teachers, TAG is proud to present its Educator of the Year Award to Mrs. Mimi Shuter. Mimi (Mark) Shuter is certainly no stranger to the halls of TAG. Having attended the school, she began her teaching career here after completing the program in Seminar Yerushalayim. Mrs. Shuter has been teaching in TAG for twenty seven years and fondly recalls working with Rebbetzin Sara Heiman Nadav and Mrs. Tova Fine who were so encouraging and supportive to her in her formative years of teaching. Whether she is known as Morah Shuter in the morning when she teaches fourth grade in the Limudei Kodesh department or Mrs. Shuter in the afternoon with her first graders, she is able to not only educate her young charges but to elevate their self esteem and individual abilities. With her warm and caring nature, she makes each child feel special. Mrs. Shuter is well known in the lower division as well, since she is in charge of the bentching each day. She introduced a reward system for bentching that has the girls learning the correct way to bentch and eagerly lined up to redeem their coupons. Mrs. Shuter acknowledges that there have been many changes in TAG over the years. The amount of students has grown and the building has grown to accommodate that influx of students, but she feels strongly that some integral things about TAG always remain the same. The camaraderie among the teaching staff, the warmth and acceptance, and helping one another through challenging times is what makes the TAG team work so well. She credits the school for providing for the needs of each talmidah with the support resources that the school offers. She feels fortunate that she works closely with both Morah Menucha Levin, TAG’s Limudei Kodesh Assistant Principal, and Mrs. Temima Feldman, the General Studies Principal, and finds them both supportive and positive role models for their staff. Mrs. Shuter has also sat opposite a teacher as a parent of two TAG students. Her eldest daughter, TAG alumna Rivka Liba, is currently in Touro College and working for a lawyer, while Nechama is in TAG’s fourth grade. Chinuch is certainly a mainstay of the Shuter home. Her husband, Rabbi Yisroel Shuter, teaches in Shulamith High School in Brooklyn and is an administrator in Camp Machane Yisroel
in the summer. Her sons are bli eiyin hara all shteiging in learning. Yosef is currently learning in Mesivta Shaarei Chaim, while Yehuda attends Yeshiva Merkaz Hatorah. Closer to home, Akiva in grade eight and Efhraim in grade five are attending Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Family is of the utmost importance to Mimi and she values her important role as a mother. TAG certainly values a morah and teacher like Mrs. Shuter and is proud to recognize her as the Educator of the Year at this year’s dinner. The Rabbi Moshe Weitman Memorial Award
At this year’s dinner, Torah Academy for Girls will have the z’chus to present the Rabbi Moshe Weitman Memorial Award to the Mermelstein family in memory of Dr. Yaakov Mermelstein a”h. Although these two formidable and unforgettable men shared family ties, more importantly they shared the same hashkafos and derech hachaim in their productive lives. Dr. Mermelstein was born in Vienna and when his mother saw what was happening in Austria, she arranged to have her three children be part of the kindertransport that was sent to Manchester England. Miraculously, Dr. Mermelstein’s parents were able to reach America during the war, and afterwards were reunited with the children. The family settled in Williamsburg, where Yaakov Mermelstein enrolled in Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. He was a student who thirsted for Torah knowledge and received his smicha from Rabbis Schneider and Koselevitz. Extremely bright, Dr. Mermelstein became a “jack” of all trades. After he married Renee Weitman, sister of Rav Moshe Weitman z”l, he started his own catering business to help support his growing family. However, he soon turned to chinuch and served as a principal of Hillel Day School, outside of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Not one to
rest on his laurels, Yaakov Mermelstein attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, earning a Ph.D. in psychology without a high school diploma. Dr. Mermelstein taught psychology in both Kingsboro and Seton Hall Colleges, while setting up his own practice in East Flatbush. Many patients flocked to see Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Mermelstein who soon earned a reputation for both his professionalism and his adherence to Torah values and hashkafos. He shared his insights and parenting advice in the books he authored, among them, Being and Becoming. Not only did Dr. Mermelstein possess an open ear to listen to other people’s problems, but an open heart as well. As was heard throughout the shiva, so many people reacted to his warmth, wit and knowledge because they knew he cared about them. His ahavas habrios and ahavas Hashem permeated in all facets of his life. He loved helping people and people loved him. According to his family, there was never a day that Dr. Mermelstein did not thank Hashem and “speak” to his Creator. In 1969, the Mermelstein mishpacha moved to Far Rockaway and then relocated in 1985 to Lawrence. The Mermelsteins were blessed with five children, Chani Reicher, their son Yossi, Chaya Greenwood, Shani Garbacz and Tobi Eisenberger. Chaya, Shani and Tobi attended and graduated from TAG and Chani also taught in the school. Both Shani’s and Tobi’s daughters attended or are currently attending TAG. The link in the chain continues as Mrs. Renee Mermelstein now, boruch Hashem, has three great granddaughters attending our school, Shari and Dalia Friedman and Aliza Garbacz. As a beloved and well respected member of Agudath Israel of Long Island, he shared his massive Torah knowledge by giving a Daf Yomi shiur. The National Agudath Israel recognized Dr. Mermelstein at one of their dinners. He was a much sought after speaker and lecturer and presented workshops at the Torah Umesorah and Agudah conventions, where the many attendees absorbed his meaningful views on life. Despite his illness in his last year, Dr. Mermelstein still saw patients in his home putting their needs before his own. Dr. Mermelstein has certainly left a lasting legacy in this community and beyond. Yehi zichro boruch.