Temple Emanu-El's 98th Annual Celebration

March 19th, 2026 | 1st of nisan 5786

Honoring: Nancy & Josh Gillon, Alicia & Hal Messer, Rachel & David Harris

It's going to be Madness!

For 98 years Temple Emanu-El has been a spiritual, religious, and communal center for Bergen County and beyond. We have touched lives, exercised our minds, shared milestones and wiped away tears all while strengthening the bonds of our greater community, connecting in meaningful ways with Israel and coming closer to God.

You are the most important part of our future as we chart the path for the next century. Together, we will grow through our commitment to making our world a better place. In partnership, we remain dedicated to the study of our traditions and demonstrating our values of Tikkun Olam and Derech Eretz. We look forward to the path ahead and walking hand in hand with you for each stride.

Josh and Nancy Gillon have deeply held beliefs in the spirit of Tzedakah. This value was instilled in them by their parents, who modeled humility, unwavering commitment to family and doing good in the world as both a privilege and a responsibility.

Josh was born in Philadelphia, before moving to Hollywood, Florida. He matriculated through the Florida public school system, graduated from University of Florida in 1984, and Georgetown law school in 1988. He practiced law in NYC until 2005, before starting his own Internet marketing company. That business struggled, grew, morphed, multiplied and acquired and is now What If Media Group where Josh serves as CEO.

After graduating from the University of Rochester, Nancy worked in her family’s furniture business. At age 48, she earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from NYU and joined Jewish Family and Children’s Services where she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and provides mental health services. She led support groups at the JCC including Strength 2 Strength, for parents of children facing addiction and psychological challenges, and bereavement groups for widows and widowers.

Josh and Nancy’s connection with Temple Emanuel has had a significant impact on their lives and support for Israel. Josh attended the Men’s Mission to Poland and Israel celebrating Israel’s 60^th anniversary. The family returned later that year with their daughters to contextualize the meaning of becoming Bat Mitzvah. Nancy traveled to Israel on a Women’s Mission and experienced the camaraderie and insight provided by the Temple community. Josh joined Rabbi Kirshner shorty after October 7^th to show support and commitment to the state of Israel

Josh and Nancy are so proud of their daughters Leah and Danielle and of the spectacular partners that they have chosen in Zach and Max.

Temple Emanuel has provided spiritual sustenance in times of great joy during the holidays and two recent wedding celebrations, and counsel and comfort in times of deep sorrow at funerals and Shivas. We feel truly blessed to be part of the thriving, warm and spiritual community of Temple Emanuel and feel deeply humbled to receive this honor.

Hal and Alicia Messer first met as students at Babson College, where they quickly bonded over their shared values and deep connection to Jewish life. Both were active in Hillel—Hal even served as President—and their commitment to Jewish community became the foundation of their relationship.

Today, they are the proud parents of Lauren, a junior at Northern Valley Demarest, and Sam, an eighth grader at Demarest Middle School. Together, the Messers have embraced Jewish life as a family, supporting numerous organizations and maintaining a strong connection to Israel. They have traveled to Israel several times and remain active members of AIPAC and other Jewish organizations that reflect their values.

Alicia grew up in West Long Branch, New Jersey, where her Jewish identity was shaped at Bezalel and Lakewood Hebrew Day School, and later at Shore Regional High School. After beginning her career in marketing, she followed her passion for Jewish communal work by joining the Claims Conference, supporting Holocaust survivors with compassion. Inspired by motherhood, she later earned a Master’s in Education and spent five meaningful years teaching Hebrew School at the JCC of Paramus, helping children form their own connections to Jewish life.

Hal was raised in North Caldwell, New Jersey, attending Hebrew School at Agudath Israel before graduating from West Essex High School. He began his career at NAI James E. Hanson, Inc. in Hackensack and later helped launch its affiliate, Columbia Property Investors, which owns and manages commercial properties across the country.

Hal’s relationship with Temple Emanu-El deepened after traveling with Rabbi Kirschner and community leaders on a Solidarity Mission to Israel during the 2014 war with Gaza. The experience inspired him to become more involved. Upon returning home, he joined the Board of Trustees and went on to serve on the Executive Board and as Treasurer. He continues to support the synagogue as a member of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Facilities Committee.

The Messers are deeply grateful for the warmth, kindness, and sense of belonging they have found at Temple Emanu-El. Being recognized by a congregation that has become such a meaningful part of their lives is an honor they cherish.

David and Rachel Harris were both raised in Conservative Jewish homes rooted in strong tradition, with a deep emphasis on education, community service, and giving back. Rachel’s parents, Debra and Robin Klein, have been devoted members of Temple Emanu-El of Closter for more than forty years. Since joining in the early 1980s, they have remained deeply involved in Temple life, regularly attending weekly services and community events. Continuing that legacy, Rachel and David have been members of the Temple for nearly 15 years and were married there in 2010. All three of their daughters — Jordana (13), Marlow (11), and Aria (7) — received their Hebrew names at Temple Emanu-El. Jordana celebrated her Bat Mitzvah there in the spring of 2025, with Marlow’s Bat Mitzvah planned for fall 2026 and Aria’s to follow in 2031.

Rachel earned her master’s degree in education and spent several years teaching pre-K special education students in the Bronx, many of whom were in foster care, before dedicating her time to raising their children and contributing to community life in Bergen County. David has practiced as a corporate attorney in New York City for more than 23 years, spending most of his career at Paul, Weiss before joining Ropes & Gray in January 2025. He is currently a partner in the firm’s corporate group, focusing primarily on public and private M&A transactions.

Together, Rachel and David are committed to nurturing the same sense of belonging, Jewish identity, and community engagement that shaped their own upbringings. They are grateful to be part of a congregation that continues to inspire their family and strengthen connections across generations — past, present, and future — through shared tradition, values, and purpose. The Temple is far more than a place of worship for their family, and Rachel and David are deeply honored and humbled to be recognized by Temple Emanu-El as part of this year’s celebration with the L’dor V’dor Award, reflecting the enduring values of faith, family, and community passed lovingly from one generation to the next.

Annual Celebration Chairs

Felice Popper

Louann Reed

Clergy & Staff

Rabbi
David-Seth Kirshner

Cantor
Israel Singer

Assistant Rabbi
Gabe Cohen

Rabbi for LifeLong Learning
Jeremy Ruberg

Executive Director
Becky Skoff

Director of Youth Engagement
Adam Schwartzbard

Member Services Manager
Tracy Anser

Administrator for LifeLong Learning
Shelby Effron

Director of Marketing
Tiffany Garavito

Executive Assistant to Clergy
Chareen Kramer

Director of Operations & Facilities
Julia Vazquez

Executive Committee

Marilyn Steinthal
President

Daniel Herz
1st Vice President

Arielle Friedman
Vice President

Wendy Hurst Levine
Vice President

Jon Nichols
Vice President

Tracy Lerner
Secretary

Rick Gold
Treasurer

Robin Miller
Immediate Past President

Felice Popper
Board Officer

Mark Hirschberg
Board Officer

The congregants and leadership of TE have been warm and welcoming, and although we have only been members for a short time, TE already feels like home.

- Brittnay Alter

Our family has found a second home at Temple Emanu-el. For us it is a place for meaningful worship; but also it's a vibrant community that caters to every member of our family. From enriching religious school programs and fun holiday celebrations for our kids, to engaging study sessions and social activities for my husband and me, there's always something happening at the Temple.

- Ruthie Nussbaum

My family is not only connected spiritually to our Temple Emanu-El community generationally from the Tenafly Road days, we are also connected physically through this beautiful stained glass dome. My parents were married under this dome in 1955 when it sat atop the Brooklyn Jewish Center at 667 Eastern Parkway. And my Son Harry and daughter Aline had their B’nai Mitzvahs under this same dome. This dome is a magnificent example of the ornamental elements found in Neo-Moorish design used by 19th and 20th century synagogue architects in Europe and the Americas.

- Neil Chalfin

I can’t believe our Hebrew school journey has come to end. Thank you to all of our Morahs, the Rabbis, Cantor Singer, and Adam who have all made an impact on my Jewish values. I always love learning about where I come from and the traditions we keep. Not to mention the ice cream truck we get rewarded with at the end of the year has made it all worth it. But seriously, learning the stories of our people and seeing how they connect to the traditions my family observes during the holidays has given more meaning to those stories.

- Maya Kent

I am blessed to have four generations active as members of Temple Emanu-El. Spending time here with my grandkids creating lifelong memories is a priceless gift.

- Robin Miller

The first time I arrived on the Temple Emanu-El campus I could feel the vibrant and warm energy. I knew immediately that this is where I wanted my children and family to engage in their Jewish life. Since then, we have been blessed to watch our children move through the Temple’s Hebrew school and become Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Jillian and I have built deep and meaningful friendships with fellow members and the clergy. The energy we felt at the beginning has grown to become a vibrant Jewish light.

- Daniel Herz