Kislev 5774
Jennifer and Jeffrey Bernstein have lived in Montclair since 2005, just before Benjamin (7) was born. Jeffrey is from Brooklyn and Jennifer from Pittsburgh. Jeffrey was raised in an Orthodox household, while Jennifer converted to Reform Judaism in 2002. “We have been searching for a synagogue in which our family could all be comfortable and our son could learn more about the religion, get prepared for a Bar Mitzvah and learn what it’s like to be Jewish. Though we both work in Manhattan and have intense-hour jobs, we feel it is important to find time for religious activities in our newest hometown.” Jeff is the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information at NYU and Jennifer is a Production Director at Ralph Lauren. Emily Goldberg, Noah Schambelan, and their son Benjamin (22 months) recently moved from the Upper West Side to Montclair, and are still adjusting to life in the ‘burbs! Both Emily and Noah are lawyers – Emily is the Director of the Pro Bono Program at McCarter & English and Noah is in-house with UBS. They were introduced to BK through Emily’s colleagues on the Board of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, Brian Saltzman and Ruth Lowenkron, and through her former colleague from Seton Hall Law School, Linda Fisher. Emily and Noah are particularly excited to meet other BK families with young children, and look forward to having Ben grow up in a vibrant and progressive Jewish community. Evan and Ilysa Michelson joined Bnai Keshet this fall. They moved to Montclair three years ago, and have been searching for a warm and welcoming community to reconnect to Jewish traditions and values. They are thrilled to have found BK, and look forward to engaging their family in ongoing Jewish learning. Their daughter, Mira (age 2), is already an enthusiastic member of the synagogue – she is our rabbis’ biggest fan, and loves to sing along with Shabbat tunes at Kinder Keshet
The Max family (Daniel, Sarah, Flora and Jules) have been in Montclair for 5 happy years. Daniel, known as D.T. professionally is a writer at the New Yorker and an author. Sarah (Blustain) is a senior editor at the Nation Institute, a funder of investigative articles on progressive causes. Flora and Daniel are joining BK, excited by the fun academic environment and the commitment to spirituality and equality in everyday life. They have watched their friends come out of the building on South Fullerton with glowing faces for years. Flora is especially eager to learn Hebrew!
Kent Gibson and Ralph Buchalter are new members at BK, along with their kids Abby (2), Hannah and Isaac (both 5). Kent and Ralph both work in finance in Manhattan. They moved from the city to South Orange about eight years ago to start a family. Hannah and Isaac began Kitah Gan this year, and are loving it. Looking forward to getting to know and being part of the BK community.
“For many years Esther Brochin followed a path and took it to Orthodoxy. She found it an interesting journey but slowly she began to feel that that life was not for her. Finally, after six years of feeling to be not belonging, she came back to BK during the High Holidays. She knew that it was the spiritual home that she should have stayed in. The warmth of community and spirituality really hit home. Esther says, “Thanks for welcoming a stranger. OK, I am not exactly a stranger, but I am new to some and thanks for welcoming me to Bnai Keshet.”
Bill Fischer is a self-described techno-phobe and first class kibitzer. He loves living in Montclair which he has called home for the past 10 years. “With 104 restaurants and the Y how could I want to live anywhere else?” he explains. Bill was born in West Hempstead, Long Island and lived for 23 years in Teaneck, NJ before moving to Montclair. He describes himself as very well informed and a longtime retiree from Wall Street. He is delighted to be a part of the Bnai Keshet community.
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