THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016
AT B’NAI JESHURUN
FEATURING
Dinner honoring Matthew Grob
Learning honoring Yaffa Epstein,
in Conversation with Yiscah Smith
Zion 80 in Concert
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LIMMUD NYTE CHAIRS
Marla Alt
Sheridan Gayer
BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Linda Barat
Julie Peters and Nathaniel Berman
Rachel Bloom
Eric Hamerman
Steve Kay Kupietzky
Corrine and Michael Kohlmeyer-Hyman
Elisheva Urbas and David Morris
Dasee Berkowitz and Leon Morris
Rachel Podell
Marcella Kanfer Rolnick and Josh
Rolnick
Lisa Sacks
Jeffrey Schwarz
Samuel Sondheim
Sivya and Nahum Twersky
Phyllis Bieri and Marco Veissid
Sharone Waldman
Ruthie Warshenbrot
Lisa and Mike Weis
Gertrude Wolff
Keeli Sorensen and David Wolkin
Sissy and David Zoller
Penny Arons, President
Jennifer Altman, Vice President
Jeff Wallace, Treasurer
Charles Skop, Secretary
Sivya Twersky, President Emeritus
Marla Alt
Sheridan Gayer
Rachel Kanter
Katy Schwalbe
ADVISORY BOARD
Lisa Capelouto, co-chair
Karen Radkowsky, co-chair
Martin Kaminer
Elie Kaunfer
Alisa Rubin Kurshan
Naomi Less
Deborah Lipstadt
Abigail Pogrebin
Gary Rosenblatt
Nigel Savage
Jeffrey Schwarz
Ella Shteingart
Elisheva Urbas
STAFF
Daniel Infeld, Director of Programming
and Operations
Limmud NY celebrates Jewish learning in all of its diversity, by
bringing together Jews of all backgrounds and ages.
OUR HONOREES
Matthew Grob attended the first
Limmud NY conference in 2005, and
has missed only one Limmud NY
since. His volunteer journey started
with helping at conference and grew
to pre-conference planning, steering
committee, and two terms on the
Board of Directors. Professionally,
Matt’s role includes management
consulting and planning, and he has
leveraged those talents – along with a
healthy sense of humor - for Limmud
NY. Matt is passionate about Limmud
NY because it is the only place where
one can step out of their comfort zone to explore and experience so many
different aspects of Judaism. And because they always serve black & white
cookies.
Yaffa Epstein serves as the Director
of Education, N.A., for the Pardes
Institute of Jewish Studies. She
received Rabbinic Ordination from
Yeshivat Maharat and holds a Law
Degree from Bar-Ilan University.
Epstein has been a teacher of Talmud,
Jewish law, and Liturgy at Pardes
and has served as the Director of the
Beit Midrash at the Dorot Fellowship
in Israel. She has taught at Yeshivat
Maharat, Drisha Institute, The Wexner
Heritage New Member Institute and
has lectured at Limmuds around the
world.
OUR PRESENTERS
Yiscah Smith is a spiritual activist,
Jewish educator and mentor. Her
life has been an inspiring and
courageous journey of the joy
and struggles with her spirituality,
gender identity and commitment
to living a life of authenticity. She
recently published her memoir,
Forty Years in the Wilderness: My
Journey to Authentic Living. Yiscah
lives in Jerusalem and teaches
classes that emphasize the Torah’s
spiritual insights and is a teacher in
Jewish Spirituality at the Conservative Yeshiva. In her private practice, Yiscah
provides spiritual mentoring to individuals.
Zion80 explores Jewish music—
from Carlebach to Zorn and
everything in between—through
the lens of the Afrobeat funk master
Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Led by Jon
Madof (Rashanim, Matisyahu), the
11-piece band arranges Jewish
melodies using the polyrhythmic
intensity of Afrobeat, blended with
the madness of the Downtown
scene. Madof’s most ambitious
project to date, Zion80 is blazing
hot and tight as a drum. Spiritual,
grooving and endlessly exciting, this is essential Jewish music for the 21st
century.
On behalf of my family
and the Azrieli Foundation,
it is my pleasure to salute
Limmud and honor one
of my dearest, oldest
friends, Matt Grob.
May he continue to go
from strength to strength!
Naomi Azrieli
WWW.AZRIELIFOUNDATION.ORG
Hmm . . . let me see. What should I put in this ad? Well, I
guess I should start by saying how absolutely floored and
thrilled I am to be honored at this event. It came as quite a
surprise to me, and I am so flattered. I only hope that I was
able to convince enough people to make donations to
Limmud NY so that the Board doesn’t regret its decision.
What I really should do is thank all the people who have
made my Limmud NY experience so rich and fulfilling, and
worthy of the time and effort I put into it. It’s easy to read the
website and understand what Limmud NY stands for, and
what its values are. But at its core, what it really is about, is
people.
I have had the opportunity to meet so many people across a
broad spectrum of every demographic. I have learned from
them, as I hope some have learned from me. I have worked
with these people, and I have laughed with these people. I
have shared meals with them and shared memories. I have
even frozen my tuches off with some at the Nevele (but
enough about that).
To all of these people – especially tonight’s co-chairs
Sheridan and Marla, auction organizer par excellence
Karen, and the members of the benefit committee – to
Board members and staff, current and past; to the partners
who have contributed to Limmud NY’s success; to twelve
years of conference chairs, steering committees, and
countless volunteers; and to all of those who have attended
Limmud NY conferences since 2005, I say a hearty and
heartfelt “thank you.”
B’Shalom (that means “In Peace”),
Matt Grob
TO MATT:
Have Car
Will Travel
Going near and far
Matt is a marvel
To fill all of the gaps
He says yes in a snap
A voice of reason
In every season
Saved the day at the Nevele
When it was so very chilly
So we could have on what to eat
Without of second of Shabbat did he cheat
Always with a smile
He goes the extra mile
For the greater good
Of Limmud
THANK YOU
SIVIE AND NAHUM
IN HONOR OF YAFFA EPSTEIN
,‫ ו ְּקנֵה ְל ָך חָ בֵ ר‬,‫שה ְל ָך ַרב‬
ֵׂ ֲ‫ע‬
‫ֶו ֱהוֵי ָדן אֶ ת ָּכל הָ ָא ָדם ְלכַ ף זְכוּת‬
“Make for yourself a Rav, and acquire for yourself
a friend, and let it be such that you always judge
each person according to their merits” (Ethics of
the Fathers 1:6)
‫יפה כשמה היא‬
Beautiful inside and outside
Sharing her intellect, knowledge, and empathy
Trail blazer, role model, and LimmudNYk in every
sense of the word
With admiration and gratitude,
Sivie and Nahum
Mazal Tov
Matthew Grob – the Pillar of Limmud
Rabba Yaffa Epstein – Inspiring Teacher and Leader
and Limmud NY!
Love,
Nathaniel Berman, Julie Peters, and Kaia Berman-Peters
CONGRATULATIONS TO A WELL DESERVING “OLD TIMER” LIMMUDNICK,
WITHOUT WHOSE VOLUNTARY EFFORTS, TIME, ENERGY, EXPERTISE & COSTCO
RUNS LIMMUD NY WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
MY LONGTIME LIMMUD “ROOMIE” & FRIEND
I LOVE YOU MAN
MATT GROB
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY JERUSALEM NEIGHBOR
I AM HONORED TO CALL YOU MY TEACHER
TO A FELLOW WORLDWIDE
LIMMUDNICK & STARBUCKS DEVOTEE
RABA YAFFA EPSTIEN
MAY YOU BOTH CONTINUE YOUR GREAT WORK
MAZAL TOV
STEVE KAY KUPIETZKY
DearMatt,
Wearesohappytobecelebratingthisspecialeveningwithyou.Yourwise
wordsofJudaismteachusallsomethingneweveryyearatthePassover
Seder. Yourfunandplayfulattitudeatpartiesissomethingthatbringsa
smiletoeveryone. Wealwayslookforwardtospendingtimewithyou.
Wecan’tthinkofanyonemoreworthyofthisrecognition.
TheMecklerFamily– Carolyn,Jeffrey,RebeccaandFred
In honor of Yaffa and Matt,
two very special people,
who give so much to Limmud.
With affection for you both,
Karen Radkowsky
To our dear friend and mentor. This is
an honor you so richly deserve.
May you go from strength to strength.
Love,
Talia, Laila, Mia, Phyllis and Marco
Mazal Tov to Matt on your well
deserved honor! Thank you for all
you’ve taught us over the years... May
you continue to go from strength to
strength!
Shmulie, Shelly, Pam, Hody, Gabi,
Sharone, and Ephraim
To our great honoree
Matt Grob, Mazal Tov!
Thank you for all your dedication,
hard work and ongoing humor to
LimmudNY.
Marla Alt and Jeff Wallace
123
o rganize
The Arons family thanks, honors and celebrates Matt Grob!
You have been an extraordinary volunteer, participant,
advocate, Board member, roommate, buyer, Master of
Ceremonies, schlepper, blogger, presenter, site surveyor,
supporter, mentor, tummler and more. Your love for
Limmud NY is evident.
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Linda Barat
So proud of Matt. With love from UCJ & Judy.
Rabbi Matt and Sharon Cutler applaud the work of Matt
Grob - a true mensche!!!
Mazal Tov!!
In honor of Yaffa Epstein, a fabulous teacher and inspiring
personality. - Carole Daman
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Michael Freed
Yaffa and Matt, You are two of the most inspirational people
I know, thanks for everything you do for the Limmud NY
community. B’vracha (With Blessings), Sheridan
Yaffa- You go girl! - Judy Heicklen
Mazel tov to Matt and Yaffa! Limmud NY is lucky to have
you. - The Ely/Kanter family
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you
go from strength to strength. - Corrinne and Michael
Kohlmeyer-Hyman
Matthew, you have inspired us with your great spirit, cool
thinking under pressure, and fantastic appreciation of
strange trivia. If they renamed it “LimmudNYGrob”, we
would not protest. - Eric Kollin
Matt, thanks for all your valuable contributions to Jewish
learning, and levity. And for your friendship.
- Andrew Koopman
To Matthew - This cause is very dear to your heart and
this acknowledgment of all your wonderful efforts are
recognized by tonight’s tribute. - Jack Lichtenstein
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Mark Lichtenstein
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Kim Price
Matt, Mazel Tov on this honor. With immense gratitude for
all you do for Limmud NY and the Jewish people.
- Lisa Sacks
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Susan Salwen
To Matt Grob and Limmud NY, may you go from strength to
strength. - Katy Schwalbe
Thank You, Matt, for Tirelessly Serving Limmud NY with
Wisdom, Resourcefulness, Wit and Good Cheer. Kol
Hakavod. - Charlie and Joanne Skop
Always great to eat, learn, and dance with Limmudnyks!
Mazal tov Matt Grob! - Elisheva and David
Mazal Tov to the honorees and to Limmud NY! May you go
from strength to strength. - Lisa and Mike Weis
HONOR ROLL
Art Altman
Jennifer Altman
Deborah and Irving Askow
Diana Ayton-Shenker
Joan Berkowitz
Rachel Brumberg
Robert Daley
Billy Dreskin
Rob Eberhardt
Avraham Epstein
Ellen Flax
Liz Freirich and Saul
Kaiserman
Cantor Rebecca Garfein
Debbie Geiger (Leiderman)
Allison Glasser
Alice Goldfinger
Douglas and Hiromi Grob
Eric Hamerman
Chaya Hexter
Sara Hurwitz
Rachel and Daniel Infeld
Allie and Josh Kanter
Ruth Kaufman
Robin Kerner
Jerrold Klein
Rabbi Neil and Alisa Rubin
Kurshan
Matthew Lees
Hodiah Nemes
Jonah Peretz
Rachel Podell
Joseph Pollak
Eliza Scheffler
Sara Shapiro-Plevan
RIchard Skeen
Pamela Skop
Naomi Skop Richter and Joe
Richter
Eliza Scheffler
Jordan Soffer
Samuel Sondheim
Abigail Dauber Sterne
Birgitte and Richard Stoerger
Ephraim Tropp
Sharone Waldman
GabiWeinberg
Todd Wiener
Tamar Zeffren
Save the date...
Learning
Diversity
Community
February 17 - 20, 2017
Hyatt Regency Princeton
Princeton, NJ
Registration opens Fall 2016 - limmudny.org