Rosh Hashana L’Chaim & Volunteer Awards
16:00 Tuesday 16 September
The success of Netanya AACI is due to the dedication of a huge team of devoted volunteers who contribute selflessly and enthusiastically to our many activities throughout the year. We will be saluting their tremendous achievements and showing our appreciation of their wonderful work at our Bill Bernstein Volunteer Event. Bill Bernstein was a man who embodied the true sense of volunteerism, and it is his spirit that we see in so many of our volunteers which allows us to grow from strength to strength. The afternoon is dedicated to all our volunteers, collators, deliverers, and members of Management.
This year we are pleased to honour three individuals who have made a dramatic difference to our programming and our strength as an amuta (non-profit) organisation:
Ari Gerber
was born in Albany, NY, and received a Bachelors Degree in Business at University at Albany in 1978 and a Diploma in Computer Programming at CPI in Boston. He worked as a Software Programmer for over 15 years in NY and the Boston area, before making Aliyah in 1999 with his wife, Yael (a native of Rhode Island), and their daughters, Sara and Elana. The family started off in Raanana for two years, followed by 20 years in RBS/Beit Shemesh. In Israel, Ari worked in Hi-tech as a Team Leader and Technical Writer, for over 25 years, primarily at NDS/Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle. After their daughters “left the nest” for university and employment, Ari and Yael moved to Netanya in 2022, as part of their sea-side retirement plans.
As a volunteer, Ari has been involved in organising and promoting lectures, concerts and other events – at his university, at many shuls and non-profit organisations over the years, and during retirement. At Netanya AACI, Ari’s activities include serving on the Management and Lecture Committees, and leading the Concert Committee (which includes Café Netanya). Ari thanks Netanya AACI and commends its many volunteers for their contributions and services for the Netanya Anglo community.
Larry Hepner and his wife, Shirley, made Aliyah to Netanya in September 2014, immediately becoming members of Netanya AACI. He brought with him many years of experience and a commitment to volunteering.
Larry has a varied professional background including teaching at an elementary school, computer programming and sales, and art auctioneering to name a few. His main focus for volunteering was the Synagogue, where he was President of the Men’s Club and of the Synagogue and also served on several committees. Here, in his new home, Larry is very active in Bet Israel, the Masorti Synagogue.
He volunteers at Netanya AACI as a member of the Management Committee, but his main volunteering comes in the form of Theater (his love) with the Drama Group. He is the Chairman of the Group and Producer of the plays which involves many different aspects including before the audience gets to enjoy the actual performances. Larry adds, “there are many people who contribute to all the aspects. It is a team effort with the emphasis on team!”
Larry concludes with the statement that his association with Netanya AACI has been an enjoyable experience that is dear to his heart.
Donna Patkin and her husband, Yehuda, made Aliyah to Kiryat Hasharon, Netanya in 2022. During a pilot trip they met with Paulette and Melissa to find out about Netanya and Netanya AACI, and also joined some tiyulim. By the end of the pilot trip, they had decided Netanya was the right fit and the past three years have only confirmed that it was the right decision. They have a daughter/son-in-law/grandson living in Kiryat Hasharon to whom they love living so close, and a son/daughter-in-law/grandson living in Knoxville, Tennessee whom they visit several times a year and Zoom with frequently.
Donna has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Binghamton University, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont. She worked as an Assistant Director for Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania until their oldest child was born. After, she joined as Office Administrator for Yehuda’s Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating business. They retired before making Aliyah. After a year of attending Netanya AACI programmes, Donna was asked to help out on the Lecture Committee and subsequently became the Chair of that committee, and very successfully has met the goal of bringing in two-three speakers a month.
No charge for this event.