Yavneh Academy to celebrate 82nd annual dinner
On Saturday night, January 11, Yavneh Academy of Paramus will hold its 82nd annual dinner. The celebration, at Keter Torah in Teaneck, will honor Keren and Jeremy Nussbaum, Chaikie and Jason Berg, Marsha Motzen, and Rabbi Shmuel Burstein. It also will honor Yavneh’s rich legacy and serve as a critical fundraiser for Yavneh’s annual campaign, which bridges the gap between tuition revenue and the resources needed to provide Yavneh students with the wide array of education and experiences the school offers. Dinner proceeds support the school’s mission to foster academic excellence, a love for Medinat Yisrael, a passion for Torah, and the development of children with self-confidence and exemplary middot.
Keren and Jeremy Nussbaum, the guests of honor, have been pillars of the Yavneh community since their family joined the school in 2010. Keren has served on the board, been YPAA president during the pandemic, and chaired many events, including the annual dinner and the raffle and auction fundraiser. Jeremy has chaired the annual golf outing and has coached Yavneh’s 7th-grade girls’ basketball team. Beyond Yavneh, the Nussbaums are involved in other community initiatives, including Keter Torah of Teaneck, Tomchei Shabbos, and youth sports leagues. The Nussbaums have five children: Daniella ’18; Kayla ’20; Zac ’23; Sami, who is in fifth grade, and Brayden, in second grade.
Chaikie and Jason Berg, the service awardees, have been supporters of Yavneh since 2009. Jason, the vice president of development on Yavneh’s board, has contributed to the school’s annual golf outing, while Chaikie has been active in the YPAA, leading initiatives like the book fair and apparel sales, and stepping in as a substitute teacher. The Bergs have three children — Talia ’18, David ’21, and Layla, who is in eighth grade. The Bergs are active members of Teaneck’s Congregation Bnai Yeshurun and supporters of local nonprofit organizations.
Marsha Motzen, the faculty award recipient, has been a member of Yavneh’s staff since 2000. As the force behind Yavneh’s music program, she has inspired countless students through opportunities such as the “Link Up” program with Carnegie Hall, “Access Opera,” and performances at Citi Field and the New Jersey Devils’ Jewish Heritage Night. Marsha and her husband, Chazzan Yaakov Motzen, have been married since 2010 and between them have eight children, 25 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Rabbi Shmuel Burstein, recognized for his transformative Holocaust curriculum, has been at Yavneh for 24 years. Through his Holocaust play and other educational initiatives, Rabbi Burstein has helped students connect to their heritage and develop a profound sense of responsibility for the future. He is the author of “The War Against God and His People.” Rabbi Burstein and his family live in New City, where they are active in growing a new and expanding Orthodox Jewish community.
Call (201) 262-8494, ext. 309, email Aliza.Schulman@yavnehacademy.org, or go to www.YavnehDinner.com for information.
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