Courtesy TABC

Mazal tov to Torah Academy of Bergen County senior Dovid Greenfield, who made wrestling history on Dec. 30 as the first and only yeshiva wrestler throughout the United States to ever place in the top two in a county tournament. Dovid took second place in the Bergen County Holiday Tournament of the Bergen County Coaches Association after pinning the top seed wrestler and then ultimately gave up an escape point in the final. He lost a nail-biting match in the finals by a score of 1-0. Next month he will be going for his fourth Henry Wittenberg National Wrestling Championship at Yeshiva University.

TABC’s wrestling program also sent wrestlers to the Brick Memorial Tournament on Dec. 29, with two wrestlers taking second place: sophomores Yosef Greenfield (145 lbs.) and Yishai Kaplan (170 lbs.). Both wrestlers went 2-1 at the tournament to medal.

Mitchell Dean Falkow, son of Deborah and Howard Falkow of Ramsey, brother of Peter and Robin, and grandson of Carol and Howard Kaplan of Teaneck, and Marilyn and Bernard Falkow of Margate, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on Dec. 10 at Temple Beth Haverim Shir Shalom in Mahwah.

Sam Elias, son of Maria and Steven Elias of Haworth and brother of Jeremy, Erika, and Mia Ann, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on Jan. 7 at Temple Beth El of Northern Valley in Closter.

Mazal tov to Michelle Ribustello of Englewood, who is the Jewish Home at Rockleigh’s Employee of the Month for January. A physical therapist at JHR, she has been with the rehabilitation department since 2009 and works with long term, subacute residents, and outpatients. Most recently, she stepped in for a three-month maternity leave for Sarah Pilato-Wolfe, director of rehabilitation services. The EOM program, designed to recognize outstanding, caring employees, has been made possible through an endowment established by Bill Lippman of Fort Lee, a member of the board at JHR, and Debbie and Stuart Himmelfarb of Tenafly, in memory of Bella and Martin Himmelfarb.

Mazal tov to Lea Dorman of Westwood, a student at the Hebrew school at Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn, who finished Level Black in the school’s Aleph Champ program. The Hebrew reading system has levels where students receive medallions, with black the highest level.

Mazal tov to staff members employed at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh for at least five years, who were honored on Dec. 28. About 25 employees were at the awards presentation, led by Chuck Berkowitz, president and CEO of the Jewish Home Family. Myrna Block, JHR’s president, also spoke. The honorees received a fleece jacket with JHR’s insignia.

Mazal tov to Leonard and Florence Rosenthal, residents of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, who celebrated their 70th anniversary on Dec. 4 at the facility with their family. Great-grandson Aidan Kern, seated front, right, presented his great-grandparents with gold medals. Pictured standing from left, are granddaughter Deborah Kern, great-granddaughter Emma Schnall, granddaughter Lisa Schnall, daughter Audrey Model, and great-grandson Jack Schnall. Great granddaughter Kate Schnall is pictured front, left. After the celebration, there was a dance performance by students from Mariann’s School of Dance in Paramus.

Mazal tov to Yvette and Louis Tekel, who celebrated their 65th anniversary on Nov. 20 with 100 guests. They honored six of their physicians who helped them reach their milestone at the celebration. The Tekels have been involved with many Jewish organizations.

Lou, a decorated World War II veteran, served as the first campaign chair for United Jewish Appeal in the Northern Valley area and served on the board of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. Yvette founded the Northern Valley chapter of Hadassah, serving as its first president. She was also the first president of the Women’s Division of UJA/Bergen County (now Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey) and received its first Woman of Achievement award in May. She is also a past president of the Northern New Jersey region of Hadassah and has served on Hadassah’s national board.

The couple are members of the Society of Major Donors and Guardians of the Dream. As president of the Rockland County Jewish Home for the Aged, Yvette was responsible for an apartment building with 113 low-income senior housing units in 1982 and a second one in 2009, named in the Tekels’ honor.

The couple has a son, Harvey and his wife, Jill; grandchildren, Erica and Glenn Lieberman and Adam and Sheryl Tekel; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Zoe, and Hannah; and a daughter, Tova Szporn; and grandchildren, Joshua and Rachael.