Mr. Menachem Lieber
Mr. Menachem Lieber
Mr. Menachem Lieber
Mr. and Mrs. David Brier
Mr. and Mrs. David Brier
Mr. Avi Blisko
Mr. Avi Blisko
Jack Merkin, a’h
Jack Merkin, a’h
Rabbi Elchonon Zomber, a’h
Rabbi Elchonon Zomber, a’h

From the moment a talmid enters the portals of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, he is embraced by a steadfast commitment to his personal and academic success. The mesivta’s dedicated rebbeim, teachers, and hanhalah, led by Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, invest tremendous efforts into each young man. This extraordinary level of personal attention, coupled with high academic standards, enables the talmidim to grow and succeed, both during and after their tenure at yeshiva. These efforts help make the goal of “Building Our Future” a reality, year after year.

This year’s Mesivta Ateres Yaakov annual dinner is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. at Congregation Ohr Torah in North Woodmere.

Menahel Rabbi Yaffe commented, “The yeshiva’s annual dinner is an opportune time to acknowledge and express our hakaras ha’tov to these wonderful partners who have invested so much time and effort helping our yeshiva grow into the premier educational and community institution it has become. This year’s honorees truly embody the values of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov’s mission.”

Visionary Leadership Award: Mr. Menachem Lieber. Menachem and his wife, Mariam, are completely devoted to the klal, always going above and beyond to help build our community. As a parent of two MAY talmidim, Ushi (12th grade) and Dovi (10th grade), Menachem and Mariam witness firsthand the huge impact the mesivta has on their sons and friends. Menachem’s efforts go well beyond his role as a vice president of the yeshiva and longtime trustee. Although extremely busy in his family and professional life, Menachem regularly finds time to spearhead many initiatives at the mesivta. His leadership demonstrates the value he and his wife place on MAY’s caring rebbeim, serious limud haTorah, and strong academics.

Menachem and Mariam are heavily involved in many other chassadim such as annually serving as dinner chairs for the Chai Lifeline gala. Menachem is also an active board member at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. The Liebers are close with Rabbi Yaakov Feitman and are active members of Kehillas Bais Yehuda Tzvi (the Red Shul). The mesivta is fortunate to have a deep bond with Menachem and the entire Lieber family.

Parents of the Year: Mr. and Mrs. David Brier. The Briers represent the best traits of a MAY family, making their avodas Hashem, chinuch ha’banim, community leadership, and professional careers top priorities in their lives. They are proud parents of Shmuel, who is in 11th grade at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, and their daughters, Rina and Ema, who attend TAG.

David is a true ben Torah. Upon returning from learning at Yeshiva Mercaz HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael, David continued his learning at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, where he attended the shiur of Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l. Upon graduation from Queens College, David attended Cardozo Law School. As an active member in the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center (Rabbi Ginzberg’s shul), David serves as a ba’al kriah and ba’al tefillah. Although extremely busy in his profession as a partner at a Manhattan law firm (Riemer, Braunstein LLP), David has a set schedule of daily learning.

Rochel Brier (née Wanounu) is an amazing educator at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Rochel studied dental hygiene at New York City Tech and attended Brooklyn College, where she received a B.S. is in health and nutrition. After working as a licensed dental hygienist, Rochel decided to pursue her true passion and become an educator. Rochel is renowned for the care and warmth she lavishes on every child.

Alumnus of the Year: Mr. Avi Blisko. Avi Blisko was not only a popular and accomplished MAY student, but has continued a close relationship with the yeshiva ever since. After graduating MAY in 2003, Avi spent his post-high school years learning in Eretz Yisrael at Yeshivat Sha’alvim. He returned to New York to study business at Touro College, and then went on to earn an MBA from Bar Ilan University. Avi also learned in the Aish Hatorah kollel, the Mir Yeshiva, and gave va’adim in Yeshivat Sha’alvim. Avi now utilizes his strong business skills working at Excalibur Systems, which supplies advanced electronics to both American and Israeli defense forces. He lives in Lawrence with his wife Aliza (née Kollander) and newborn son, Noach Chaim.

Avi is a wonderful example of the type of students that MAY produces by providing “Rebbeim for Life, Education for Life, Torah for Life.” Although he graduated many years ago, Avi has remained close with many of his rebbeim and often seeks their guidance. He has also maintained a close kesher with the menahel, Rabbi Yaffe, with whom he learns regularly. Avi has followed in the footsteps of his father, Mayer Blisko, supporting Torah education and community chesed, here and in Israel, as well as being active members of Hatzalah. Avi exemplifies the MAY goals of building a family and pursuing productive professions without compromising chesed, Torah learning, and fine middos.

Establishment of the Jack Merkin a’h Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jack Merkin, a’h, was a special man. He grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, a city with no yeshiva high school. He decided on his own to leave home at the young age of 14 in order to attend yeshiva, and never looked back. Jack attended Torah Academy in Baltimore, Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, and Yeshiva University. Upon graduating from YU, Jack devoted his life to educating the next generation of young boys and girls. Himself a fine product of Jewish day schools, he spent his life giving back to the future of Klal Yisrael. Aside from teaching in the Suffern public-school system, Jack, a’h, taught in many yeshivas and Bais Yaakovs throughout the Monsey area.

In Lawrence, the Merkins found a perfect fit at Kehillas Ateres Yaakov. Rabbi and Mrs. Mordechai Yaffe and the entire congregation welcomed them with open arms. The heartening warmth, davening, learning, and chesed that permeated the institution was exactly what they had been looking for. It was a perfect shidduch.

The uniqueness of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov in providing talmidim with a quality Torah education coupled with an excellent secular education was beloved to Jack, and is beloved by his wife, Pumpy, ybl’c. Adored by all who knew him, Jack’s legacy and lev tov will be perpetuated through the establishment of this scholarship fund. The funds raised for this scholarship will provide financial assistance to students from economically burdened homes, allowing them to get the same excellent well-rounded education as their peers.

Establishment of the Rabbi Elchonon Zomber a’h Arista Society. The recent untimely petirah of Rabbi Elchonon Zomber, a’h, was a tremendous shock to the entire MAY family and the Five Towns community, and has left an enormous gap in the lives of those who knew him. His life was closely intertwined with MAY. He was a member of MAY’s first graduating class in 1991, and then returned to teach both limudei kodesh and general studies at MAY for the last 14 years.

Rabbi Zomber grew up in the Five Towns, and after graduating high school went on to learn at Yeshiva Mercaz Hatorah and the Mir Yeshiva. He continued his professional studies at Queens College and received a degree in mathematics from Excelsior College. Rabbi Zomber was a person of substance, whose caring and devotion for his students radiated through his every interaction. He was a consummate and expert educator who taught many subjects, including Chumash, halachah, math, calculus, and “night seder.” He also tutored many students, served as a ba’al kriah on Shabbos, and even coached MAY students in weight training.

Rabbi Zomber recognized the respect MAY students have for each other and the unity that enhanced their learning and interactions. He served as a role model of bein adam l’chaveiro middos, his sincere devotion and broad smile having a most positive influence on the lives of his students. He epitomized the mesivta’s mission of commitment to both limud haTorah and academic excellence. The MAY Arista awards program recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary effort in specific areas of study, and it is only fitting that this annual recognition of student excellence and achievement bring honor to Rabbi Zomber’s memory.

Rabbi Yirmi Lasker, MAY’s executive director, noted, “We are very lucky to have such strong supporters of the mesivta who both champion and personify the goals of the school. It is extremely gratifying that these wonderful honorees are equally proud to support our yeshiva.”

By attending the MAY annual dinner on Sunday, May 22, you will assure the continuity of the mesivta as a vibrant Torah center for our community, our families, and our children.

For more information, reservations, or dedication opportunities, contact the office at 516-374-6465 or at dinner@ateresyaakov.com. v

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