January 2026
Benjamin Gelber
Rabbi Kass. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering dedication to our community continue to inspire us. We know his spirit will always be with the Shomrim Society, guiding us and bringing us together in even greater ways.
We also held our annual Chanukah party with Marks JCH of Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, and it was truly a wonderful experience. The kids had an absolute blast, and the joy in the room said it all. Thanks to Sis. Sara Saltzman-Izon on chairing the event and to those who volunteered. A heartfelt thank you to Yana of JCH for their incredible hospitality and partnership—it meant so much to our families and to our organization.
I would also like to extend special thanks to Lisa White, who has supported our society tremendously throughout 2025. Thank you as well to all the dedicated members of DCER. As Commissioner White prepares for her well-deserved retirement, we want her to know how deeply grateful we are for everything she has done for the Shomrim Society. She will truly be missed. Please join us at our upcoming meeting on January 20th. This will be the last meeting I attend as your President, and I ask everyone to come out in strong support of our incoming President, Bro. Josh Zucker. Josh is a dedicated leader and a hard worker.
The Torah teaches us “Gam Zu Letova”—everything happens for a good reason. I am a true believer in this. We may not always understand the “where” or the “why,” but in the end, things do work out as they are meant to. I want to sincerely thank every member who trusted me to lead this amazing organization, and a very special thank you to all those who ran or participated in our many events, you know who you are. Without your support, guidance, and hard work, none of our accomplishments in 2025 would have been possible. I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to publicly thank my beautiful, always supportive and hard working wife, Marcie for giving so much of herself so I could devote an abundance of time and energy to this society that we both cherish.
There is no doubt in my mind that Josh will lead the Shomrim Society to thrive in many new and meaningful ways. I will remain here in support, as a proud Past President, committed to ensuring that this organization continues to stand strong for our members—today and always.
And don’t worry… while I may be stepping down as President, I’m not disappearing. I’ll still be around – offering advice no one asked for, reminding everyone “how we used to do it,” and, of course, sitting comfortably without having to run the meeting.
Thank you again for the trust, the support, and the privilege of serving. It has truly been an honor. Now please come to the January 20th meeting, support Josh, and let me enjoy my new title: Past President with Opinions.
With gratitude and pride,
Benjamin Gelber, President