Honorees
Ariel Hana Ellman is a native New Yorker, born and raised in and around Yonkers, New York. She attended SAR Academy in Riverdale from pre-school through 3rd grade and was privately tutored for middle school and high school, traveling through Europe and Africa in her teens before earning her BA in English and History from Drew University. She and her husband, Damon Leavell, have been married for 20 years and have five children: Elijah, age17; Jonah, age 15; Gavi, age 12;
Chava Miriam; age 10; and Zahara, age 7.
Ariel is a writer by profession and deeply interested in social justice and affecting change through education. This passion has led her to volunteer over the years with various local organizations in the community, including Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter, Carrier Clinic, Bridges, JRA, Chabad Early Learning Center in Rockaway, Zimmer Preschool, and GRTWA.
Ariel and her family joined the GRTWA community eleven years ago when Elijah was in 1st grade and Jonah was in JK. Ariel has been very active in volunteering at GRTWA on many levels since becoming a parent. She has served as class mom in all of her children’s classes, run the school library and a weekly story hour for all the grades, helped with the art auction, taught a cooking class, raised money for 8th grade Israel trips, helped with fashion show fundraisers and tricky tray events, co- chaired the Tikkun Olum committee, cooked and served school lunches, packed challah orders on Fridays, helped out at Grandparents Day, model Seders and other holiday programs, co-chaired Mighty Mitzvah Day, and served as PA co-president and parent liaison.
Ariel’s hobbies include, writing, reading, hiking, traveling, and cooking. Her greatest joys are her family and friends, and she feels deeply blessed and honored to share her life with her husband, five children, and the wonderful GRTWA community.
Stacey Rubinfeld grew up in Monmouth County, attended Rutgers Preparatory School and graduated from Monmouth University with a BA degree in Sociology. She was very active in Kadima and USY at Temple Beth Ahm, where her family were members for 20 years. Stacey traveled cross country with USY on Wheels in high school and through Europe
after graduating college.
Stacey moved to New York City to pursue a career in production and design in the apparel industry. Years later, she worked as a property manager for high-end luxury condominiums in the city and, along with a friend, started a home design company. Her free time was spent volunteering at The Ronald McDonald House on the Upper East Side, the U.S Open Tennis Championship, and The Westchester Golf Open.
Stacey and her husband, Philip, reside in Mendham and have three children. Alex attended GRTWA through the 4th grade and is currently a senior at the University of Connecticut. Both Lily and Alana began in the Ima ve Ani class at 18 months old; Lily is now in 6th grade and Alana is in 4th grade.
Stacey served as a member of GRTWA’s Board of Trustees and was Co-President of the Parent Association from 2014 through 2016. She has been a class parent, has served on numerous Gala committees and has chaired many fundraisers over the years. She chaired the Shomrei Torah annual campaign last year and is doing it again this year. Stacey was also responsible for planning social activities for parents and families and co-chairing several fundraising events to provide enrichment programs for GRTWA students.
Stacey and her family are members of Adath Shalom where she currently sits on the Board of Directors, is on the Communications Committee, and is Incoming Membership Committee Chair. Stacey and her daughters are also UJC of Greater MetroWest Super Sunday volunteers.
Stacey enjoys travel, tennis, golf, art, and theatre. Her greatest love is spending time with her family.
Jodi Silbermann grew up in Livingston and graduated from Syracuse University with a BS in Accounting. She worked at Medco Health Solutions for over 20 years in various financial roles. She and her husband, Ron, currently live in Randolph with their daughter, Talia,
who is in the 8th grade at GRTWA.
Jodi is deeply committed to volunteering in the Jewish community and has been involved with several local organizations over the years. Currently, she is a Vice President on the Daughters of Israel Board of Governors where she has served on the board and on various committees over the past 11 years, including Executive and Strategic Planning and Nominating, as well as being involved in many other projects. At United Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, she was a member of the Board of Trustees, was on the Allocation Committee and has been active in the Young Leadership and Outreach Programs. At her synagogue, Adath Shalom, Jodi has chaired galas, participated in several committees and co-chaired the cookbook project.
Jodi and her family joined the GRTWA community when Talia started in the ECC. In addition to being a parent at the school, Jodi has been an incredibly active participant in school functions. She has chaired the Shomrei Torah Fundraiser, co-chaired the Raffle Ticket project, co-chaired holiday programs and the book fair, has spent many hours assisting in the kitchen, and is currently working on 8th grade fundraising. Jodi has a true passion for volunteering, and the GRTWA community is fortunate to have someone with her dedication supporting the school.
Jennifer Barer Zairi grew up in Westfield, New Jersey. She graduated from Westfield High School and got her BA from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem after making Aliyah at age 19. She was married in Israel
in 1997 to Ido in the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem.
Jennifer and Ido currently live in Mendham with their five children, the three oldest having graduated from GRTWA: Yonatan, age 18, is now serving in the IDF; Maya, age 16, and Eitan, age 15, attend Mendham High School; and Gaby, age 13, is in 8th grade and Tamar age 11, is in 5th grade at GRTWA.
As a family, the Zairis make time to do community-based projects when they can, including cooking and distributing food in Newark, delivering food to the food pantries in the area, and donating toys to local hospitals. Jennifer is a trustee of the Growing Hearts of Africa Foundation which provides funds for life-saving surgeries across Africa and builds schools for children who would otherwise not have an education. She is also the President of Mori Mor, an Israeli based company, and her free time is spent cooking, reading, and traveling with her family.
Jennifer served on GRTWA’s Board of Trustees from 2008-2016 as a trustee and was Vice President of Fundraising. She chaired two galas and was an integral part of the Capital and Endowment Committee to build the new building and secure the school for the future.
Jennifer just finished a two-year term as Co-President of the Parents Association as well being involved in other fundraisers for the school. Mighty Mitzvah Day is Jennifer’s favorite as she makes challah with the students and watch them participate in a full day of helping others.
Jennifer considers Gottesman RTW Academy a partner in raising her and Ido’s children, instilling the values and morals they believe in.