Rabbi Aryeh Meir

Although they hail from different backgrounds, honorees at the Jewish Federation of Rockland County's Education Center dessert reception have in common dedication and love of Jewish learning.

Rabbi Aryeh Meir and Roberta Seitzman, former directors of the Federation's Florence Melton Adult Mini School, will receive the community leadership award. Debby Jacobson, of Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland will receive the Phylllis and Herb Schulman Jewish Educator of the Year award, and Jesse Olitzky of Orangetown Jewish Center will receive the Ellen Kahn Froncek Creative Teaching Award.

They will be honored at a dessert reception on Sunday June 13 from 2-4 p.m. at New City Jewish Center, 47 Old Schoolhouse Rd., New City. Also taking place that afternoon will be the graduation of 16 Melton students from that two-year course of study. As well, an ongoing online auction, which can be visited at www.biddingforgood.com/cjerock/jfed, will culminate in a silent auction at the event to raise money for the Federation.

"This year's honorees show real dedication to Jewish education and community," said Laurie Hoffman, executive director of the education center. "They are enthusiastic and creative and bring diverse experiences to the table, making our community that much richer."

Roberta Seitzman

Meir and Seitzman both ran the Melton program as director and assistant director respectively before the positions were eliminated through downsizing 18 months ago. Prior to running the Melton program, Meir, who is the spiritual leader of West Clarkstown Jewish Center, was assistant principal of the Upper School of the Solomon Schechter of Essex and Union. In addition to teaching in Midreshet Rockland, Aryeh is on the faculty of the 92nd Street Y in New York where he teaches in the Derekh Torah program and is on the faculty of the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale, N.Y.

He is also preparing to facilitate several groups at Jewish Family Service of Rockland:  "From Ageing and Sage-ing: Making Your Elder Years Meaningful, Fulfilling and Joyous" and a Support Group for Parents and Significant Others of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Individuals. He is active on the rabbinic advisory board of several national organizations: Rabbis for Human Rights, J Street, and Americans for Peace Now.|

Seitzman is a longtime member of Congregation Sons of Israel in Nyack. While her background is in one in business, working as an executive in several positions in customer service for a catalogue company in New Jersey, she graduated herself from Melton in 2004. She worked closely with Rabbi Meir and with Hoffman in organizing and running the Melton program for five and a half years. She will works as a volunteer for the program, where she and her husband continue to take classes.

Debby Jacobson

Jacobson, who currently teaches middle school students at ASHAR in Monsey, began her teaching career at Yeshiva University of Los Angeles. After moving back to the East Coast, she began teaching at the Hillel Academy in Passaic, N.J.  teaching 7th and 8th graders their entire Judaic curriculum including Chumash, Navi, Lashon and Halacha. 

Since moving to Monsey with her family she spent a short period teaching at the Montebello Jewish Center. When her husband accepted the position of rabbi with Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, she quickly became involved with the synagogue's youth, her informal teaching began almost immediately in my very own den.

Jesse Olitzky

Olitzky, a fifth year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, has served as rabbinic intern at the Orangetown Jewish Center since 2008. He is a Schusterman Rabbinical Fellowship, a program that develops "visionary rabbinic leaders" in both the Conservative and Reform movements to create vibrant, inclusive synagogue communities. He was also selected to be a part of the Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellows, a program meant to strengthen and invigorate underserved congregations while providing intensive training and support for rabbinical school students. He has been a leader and educator for Conservative Jewish youth since 2001, working extensively with the Ramah summer camps and United Synagogue Youth.

"We're really fortunate to have such outstanding educators to honor this year," said Hoffman.