Ma’ayanot Annual Scholarship Dinner 2026

Dassie & Ari Fuchs

Ma’ayanot is excited to honor Ari and Dassie Fuchs, devoted parents and cherished members of our community with the Amudei Ma’ayanot Award. Their leadership, generosity, and steadfast commitment have enriched our school in extraordinary ways.

Ari has served Ma’ayanot with distinction as Board President and a longtime Board Member, where he also contributed his expertise on both the Finance Committee and the Scholarship Committee. His dedication to Jewish communal life extends far beyond the school: Ari has been a Gabbai at the Nusach Sfard Minyan at Congregation Beth Abraham for the past five years, has served on the OU Board for 20 years, and is an active member of the Chevra Kadisha, offering quiet chesed to the community.

Dassie has been an equally dedicated partner in strengthening Ma’ayanot. As Parent Council President and a driving force behind the school dinner for the past several years, she has helped build community, connection, and support throughout the school. Before joining the Ma’ayanot family, Dassie served as PTA President at RYNJ and was an active member of its committees, bringing that same warmth and leadership to every role she takes on. She also contributes her time and energy to Yad Leah, supporting families in need with compassion and care.

Ari and Dassie are the proud parents of Tali ‘23, Adira ‘26, and Dovy, a graduate of TABC.

Michal & David Kahan

Michal and David Kahan, proud parents of Elie, Ariel and Tamar, Aliza (‘21), and Liana (‘26), have contributed to Ma’ayanot for nearly a decade, since their oldest daughter began high school in 2017. David serves on the Board and Finance Committee, and Michal has served as a parent ambassador. Michal and David are committed to Ma’ayanot and are involved in other community organizations including Congregation Shaare Tefillah and The Bayit Association.

Michal and David are honored to be part of the Ma’ayanot family and very appreciative of Ma’ayanot and all that the school does for their daughters and the community.

Divsha & Martin Tollinsky

This year’s Hakarat Hatov Award is being presented to Divsha & Martin Tollinsky in recognition of their long-standing dedication to the Ma’ayanot community.

Divsha has been a devoted member of the Ma’ayanot Board for the past eight years, where she has contributed meaningfully through her work on the Board Governance Committee and the Board Nominating Committee.

Divsha and Martin are deeply committed to Ma’ayanot and to the broader community, supporting organizations including the Chevra Kadisha, Tomchei Shabbos, Chai Lifeline, Sharsheret, and Congregation Rinat Yisrael. They are profoundly appreciative of Ma’ayanot for providing their family with an excellent education in a warm and nurturing Torah environment.

Divsha and Martin are the proud parents of Yitzchak & Kayla, Zali, Ateret (’22) & Abie, and Hannah (’26).

Rabbi Yaakov Samuels

Rabbi Yaakov Samuels is a distinguished World History educator, guiding students from the ancient world through the early modern era with a focus on historical insight, critical thinking, and meaningful lessons from the past. He holds a BA in History from Rutgers University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is a New Jersey state-certified teacher recognized as a “Highly Qualified Teacher of Social Studies.” Rabbi Samuels also holds semicha and brings a deep passion for integrating Jewish History into the broader World History curriculum. Beyond the classroom, he coaches the school’s Model UN team and is a dedicated martial artist, holding a black belt in Karate with extensive international training across multiple styles. We are thrilled to honor Rabbi Samuels with this year’s Faculty Excellence Award.