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Jonathan Flaxer
Linda and Jonathan moved to Scarsdale in July of 1991, and realized they needed a synagogue for the upcoming High Holidays. Linda took Joey (who was 1 ½) over to TIC and within an hour and a half had Joey signed up for “Mommy & Me” and the family signed up as members.
Very shortly thereafter, Jonathan was asked to serve on a committee to re-write the Synagogue by-laws, and then joined the Ritual Committee, where he was put on a subcommittee to create a pamphlet for the pews about our Shabbat service. Jonathan continued with the Ritual Committee through many interesting debates, and became co-chair with Robin Friedman six years ago. For several years he has served as an usher, which he has enjoyed and found to be a wonderful way to get to know more of our members. Ushering somehow led to an unofficial role as “spotter” for Torah carriers coming down the five steps from the Bimah (perhaps his most visible role at TIC).
Jonathan gained an appreciation of the dedication and commitment of our many volunteer members through service on the Board of Trustees of TIC, as well as on the School Board. He feels that it is truly admirable how a large, multi-faceted institution functions in many respects by the unselfish efforts of volunteers, most of whom carry a full workload, family and community obligations.
TIC has been and will continue to be an important part of the life of the Flaxer family including prayer, education, good deeds – and perhaps most importantly – friendship. For Jonathan, our inspirational clergy, past and present truly embody the theme of this event. Through learning, guidance and song, they play a meaningful role in Jonathan’s, Linda’s, Joey’s and Melanie’s lives, and will surely continue to do so.
In his “other life,” Jonathan is a bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer and partner at Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP. He holds a BA from NYU in English Literature, and a JD from Brooklyn Law School. He belongs to several professional organizations, and writes and speaks on topics related to his field.
Dorothy Roer
What a wonderful ride it has been! Born in the Bronx, Dorothy grew up in Mt. Vernon when it was still the small, sleepy suburban town that she loved and enjoyed. After attending William Wilson Jr. and A.B. Davis High Schools, she went off to Ohio Wesleyan University, where she enjoyed great courses and stimulating classes. After two years, she transferred to Syracuse University, and by the most amazing series of coincidences, met Ed Roer (z”l).
Dottie and Ed married and lived in Riverdale and it was there that they were blessed with the first of their three unbelievably perfect children, Robert. Before Robert could be joined by his two sisters, Ricki and Lynn, the Roers had moved to White Plains and became members of TIC.
The children started at the Rosedale Elementary School, and Dottie got "involved" by joining the PTA. As those things go, she eventually became the President of the Rosedale School PTA, and later served on the Junior and High School Boards. By the time Lynn was in first grade, Dottie’s earlier involvements led to an unintended seventeen year tenure with the White Plains Board of Education, first in Inventory Control, then as Internal Auditor, and last as Clerk of the Board. After leaving the Board of Education, Dottie was appointed to the White Plains Zoning Board of Appeals and later to the Board of Ethics.
It was in her position at the Board of Education, at a propitious time, that Dottie was able to play a part in enabling the Solomon Schechter School to find a permanent home. Solomon Schechter was growing out of space at their temporary accommodations at TIC. The White Plains Board of Education was interviewing and negotiating with prospective buyers interested in acquiring elementary schools.....one of which was Dottie’s beloved Rosedale School. It was her delight to help this wonderful facility become the perfect home for the Solomon Schechter School.
Dottie’s involvement with Temple Israel Center began with the PTA. After serving as a Vice-President on that Board, she moved onto the Hebrew School Board. After chairing that Board, she chaired the Community High School Board when it was still in its formative stage. Before Ed became a Vice-President of TIC, and then President, the Roers served on the New Members Committee, and helped start the College Committee. They also worked for and were honored by UJA-Federation and Israel Bonds.
Dottie and Ed were involved with the planning and fundraising for the expansion of TIC. Both in the old building and in the new, under the leadership Rabbi Gelb, Rabbi Turetsky and Rabbi Tucker, this wonderful Temple has been inexorably entwined in Dottie’s and Ed’s very happy and wonderful lives.
Gail Wiesenfeld
When Nathan and Gail moved to Scarsdale in 1993, they immediately looked for a synagogue to join. Gail knew that she wanted to replicate for her children the warmth of the close-knit, Conservative Jewish community that she had experienced in her hometown of Harrisburg, Pa., and to find a place with which Nathan, raised in a Reform background, would connect. At that time, they could not imagine that their synagogue search would result in joining a community that has become pivotal in their lives, and which would happily occupy the majority of Gail’s “free” time for the next 15 years!
Gail and Nathan’s daughter Sara began her years in TIC’s Religious School and their son David was enrolled in the Nursery School. Although Gail had attended a Jewish day school in Harrisburg, the Wiesenfelds chose a different path for their children, and Gail wanted to become involved in the TIC schools in order to help enhance the kids’ experience in any way she could. Apparently, the opportunities were many! Gail first joined the Religious School Board, soon served as PTA co-chair for the Religious School and later became co-chair of the Religious School Board. At the same time, she joined the Nursery School Board and served as co-chair of that Board as well. These involvements led to membership on the Board of Trustees – a position she has been honored to hold for the past 10 years. Gail joined the Executive Committee in 2001 as a Committee Member-at-Large, and was then elected Treasurer for 2 years, followed by 2 years as a Vice-President. During these years, she served as liaison between the Executive Committee and TIC’s schools. Gail has watched with pleasure and pride as our schools have changed and grown over the years, incorporating new learning methods, curriculum, and programs that have enhanced our children’s educational experiences.
As all TIC volunteers know, one project leads to another! Over the years, Gail chaired a number of search committees for key personnel at TIC, served on the Bikkur Holim committee, spearheaded a Bar Mitzvah task force committee, and served on the Synagogue 2000 task force. She also served as co-chair of the Project Re-Imagine Task Force: a 15-month dialogue intended to help “re-imagine” or create a new vision for our Religious School/High School and as co-chaired the popular Holiday Boutique.
Outside of TIC, Gail has have been involved with UJA, the Scarsdale High School STEP Board (Student Transfer Education Program) and Westchester Jewish Community Services.
Gail attended Emory University (BA), earned an MBA from New York University and became a Chartered Financial Analyst. For 13 years, she worked as an equity research analyst at Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, and CJ Lawrence. She and Nathan were married in 1987. They are proud parents of Sara, a sophomore at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications, and David, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School.
Alta Eisenpress
Alta has happily been librarian at the Monte Daniels Memorial Library at TIC since March 1979.
Alta was born in Brooklyn to Zionist parents who spoke Yiddish to each other and Hebrew to her. Both were Hebrew teachers, graduates of the Yiddisher Lehrers Seminar (Jewish Teachers Seminary). At the age of 3, she discovered in the outside world the existence of English, and briefly refused to speak Hebrew. She is grateful for her exposure to Hebrew and Yiddish at an early age.
Alta’s studies at Brooklyn College, Teachers College of Columbia University, and the School of Library Science at Columbia University earned her B.A., M.A., and M.S.L.S. (Library Science) degrees. In addition, she is a graduate of the Herzliah Hebrew Teachers Seminary in New York City. All subjects, History, Prophets, Pedagogy, Talmud, Hebrew Literature, and Chumash, were taught Ivrit b’Ivrit (entirely in Hebrew) in a challenging environment. The teachers were educated in Europe, and all were expert in their field. She particularly remembers the teacher of Prophets, who looked like a prophet himself! The students were enthusiastic, and never complained about the schedule of four days a week, 6 PM to 10 PM classes, and Sunday, 1 PM to 6 PM, or the one-hour subway ride each way from Brooklyn. It was a wonderful environment for learning.
Alta also took several graduate courses at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). She started teaching Hebrew while at college, and continued thereafter. For several years, she taught English in High School. After substituting as Librarian at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, she realized that it was her favorite job, for it combined her love of books and her love of teaching. This led her to pursue the M.S.L.S.
She and Harry (z”l) were married on Shabbat HaGadol in 1947. He was a JTS graduate and shared Alta’s interests in Hebrew and Judaism. They moved from Brooklyn to White Plains in 1959 and joined TIC soon thereafter. Their three sons, Aron, Eli, and Samuel, all became Bar Mitzvah at TIC, and each graduated with distinction from the Hebrew High School. Each was active in USY, and in addition, Eli was editor of the USY newspaper at TIC and then nationally. The family enjoyed Shabbat services and various other TIC activities. The love of Jewish learning has been passed on to Alta’s grandchildren, Ben, Sasha, and Pooja.
In 1979, Alta was intrigued by an ad she noticed in the Jewish Week for a synagogue librarian. She responded and was pleased to discover it was for TIC. Eventually, after an interview by Barbara Wenglin and the search committee, she was offered the position. She found the library excellent and enjoyed the prospect of continuing to build it. At that time, it was housed in what is now a section of the administrative office. After the building expansion of 1985-1987, the library was increased in size for all to enjoy in comfort. Throughout, Harry was her trusted consultant. They attended many conventions of the Association of Jewish Libraries together.
Alta is at her happiest when our books are in use at the library and at home, and encourages all to use our excellent resources. There is something of interest for all ages from 1 to 101.