On a sunny Sunday afternoon in July, 1997, after a tiring day traipsing around New Rochelle looking at houses for sale, we visited the Sterman home to learn more about the community. Marc recounted the warm welcome the community had extended when his family moved in several months earlier. Dina explained how easy it was to become involved in Women’s League and participate in YINR events. She proudly pointed to a picture on the fridge, drawn by five-year-old precocious Rachel, of a smiling family in front of a white and brick house, titled “Thank you for New Rochelle!”
We thank Dina and Marc for their graceful leadership and countless contributions to our shul. They are consistent and long term leaders and have devoted time, energy, wise counsel, and abundant skills to the community.
Everyone who knows Marc is struck not only by his dry wit, but also by his unassuming, modest nature. With humility and tact, Marc served in the challenging role of Gabbai for seven years. As an active member of the Shiva Committee and Chevra Kadisha, he cared for our members and their families with compassion and respect. For the past two decades Marc also provided YINR with expert IT management. He has worked, often late into the night and from far flung locations, to solve YINR’s technical issues.
Dina’s service to our community and shul has been groundbreaking and unparalleled. Under Rabbi Fink’s guidance, she helped establish the YINR Chevra Kadisha, providing our members with the ultimate chesed shel emet. With unwavering determination, Dina was also part of the team that founded the Mikvah of New Rochelle and she has continued to serve on the Mikvah Committee.
As President of Women’s League, Dina led the restructuring of the Shiva Committee to address the myriad practical details of setting up and running a shiva house. She also raised critical funds to support our shul and those in need in the greater community by launching our annual Mishloach Manot project.
Dina has served in numerous Board of Trustees positions, culminating in her position as the original Executive Board Chair, a position created just to enable YINR to elect Dina as a top shul lay leader. It was during her tenure that the mezzanine loan on our new shul building was retired and that she established our beloved Ruach program. Even after completing her Executive Board service, Dina continues to dedicate her time to the annual dinner and other shul programming.
She injects intensity and passion into every endeavor she undertakes. Her fantastic sense of humor and warm, friendly manner attract and inspire others to join in working for the communal good. Dina deftly applies her keen emotional intelligence and diplomatic skills to resolve conflicts and elicit the common denominator among competing interests. She works to promote harmony and unity in our shul, where members of diverse backgrounds and philosophies all join together as part of the tzibur. She champions the needs of all of our members with grace and empathy.
It’s quite obvious that both Dina and Marc inherited the community service gene. Their parents set an example of dedication to Torah and service to their community. When Dina and Marc moved to New Rochelle in 1997, they followed in the footsteps of Dina’s sister and brother-in-law, Lolly and Hertzie Bak, pillars of YINR.
Dina and Marc are an amazing vital force in our community. They are passing on that gene to their four terrific children, Rachel, Zach, Evan, and Perri. Zach has already started to make his mark as Yeshiva University’s Student Council President. We wish them a mazel tov on Rachel’s recent marriage to Zev Rosenbaum. May the Stermans continue to be blessed with mazel and nachat.
Dina and Marc, thank you for all that you do for your community and friends. On behalf of your New Rochelle Friends, we thank you for being such giving, supportive, and inspiring friends.
In their five years since joining the Young Israel of New Rochelle, Doni and Mickey have had an outstanding impact on our community. The Nyers have been extremely involved in multiple aspects of the shul and always eager to volunteer since the moment they first arrived. The shul is a central value of the Nyers in their personal, spiritual and communal lives.
Doni has called New Rochelle “home” since he was 3 years old. In attending Westchester Day School, Breuers, MTA and Yeshiva University, Doni developed a deep connection with and understanding of the importance of Jewish education and the adage of “Aseh Lecha Rav U’kneh Lecha Chaver.” Over the years in New Rochelle, Doni established meaningful relationships with his contemporaries, youth leaders, youth directors, and of course our Mara D’Atra, Rabbi Fink. It was these relationships which helped forge a greater appreciation and affection for the New Rochelle community.
Growing up in Brookline, MA, Mickey attended Maimonides Day School for elementary through high school and spent her summers in Camp Morasha. It was there years later with Mickey returning as a staff member and Doni, on sports staff, that they would meet on a mini golf date. Their passion for educating and mentoring children was something they bonded over.
The two continued their romance throughout college and were married in May 2006. They graduated from Yeshiva University, Mickey with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Doni gaining acceptance into dental school. As newlyweds, they spent four years in Boston while Doni attended Boston University Dental School. Fittingly, Mickey returned to her roots and served as the student activities director for her alma mater, Maimonides High School.
In 2010, Doni graduated from dental school and began a Pediatric Dentistry residency program at Jacobi Medical Center. Mickey, in turn, jumped right into teaching early childhood in the Ganon at Westchester Day School. Mickey feels fortunate to call WDS her “second” home for the last 8 years, where she has made lasting impressions on both students and parents. Doni has since opened his own pediatric dental practice in The Bronx and is also on staff at Jacobi Hospital.
Doni and Mickey moved to New Rochelle in 2013 and never considered another neighborhood. For both, establishing a home in an inter-generational community was something special and important. Moreover, the large number of family within the community, including parents across the street, sisters and brothers a few blocks away, and other extended relatives within walking distance helped solidify their decision.
Upon moving in, they instantly took on active leadership roles. Doni joined YINR’s security team ensuring a safer shul and helped develop programming for Yom Ha’atzmaut and Hoshanah Rabbah. He currently serves as co-chair of the Youth Department and has successfully implemented many new learning initiatives, including the exciting Shabbat afternoon parent-child learning program and the revitalized youth davening groups. Dr. Doni, as his New Rochelle patients know him, regularly assists in the distribution of matanot l'evyonim on Purim and is a natural baal tefilah leading the Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat and the selichot preceding the Yamim Noraim.
Mickey assumed the chair of the Hospitality Committee for a number of years where she warmly welcomed several new YINR families. Currently, she co-chairs the annual Purim Break-Fast event, prepares the Women’s League mishloach manot and organizes the annual Chazzan Shabbat weekend and concert. In addition, Morah Mickey, who has taught many of our children, can occasionally be found running Tot Shabbat morning groups.
Doni and Mickey are known for their open home filled with Shabbat guests, delicious meals and resonating zemirot. Their infectious smiles, warm hearts and positive energy are felt by everyone at YINR, evident by the friendships they have forged throughout the years. You can often find them out socializing with friends or participating in their children’s afterschool activities. Mickey and Doni are the proud parents of Ephie, Abigail, Jacob and Aaron. In making the shul a priority in their lives, Mickey and Doni have created an opportunity for their children to learn the importance of the community, davening and love of yiddishkeit. It is already evident that they strive to instill in their children a strong connection and commitment to Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael.