Golda Och Academy plans spring gala
Golda Och Academy in West Orange will host its annual Spring Gala, this year honoring school parents Julie and Jonathan Schwartz, on June 5, at 7 p.m. The Schwartzes exemplify the strong Jewish values that Golda Och Academy gives to its students by leading by example through their tireless efforts and generous philanthropy on behalf of GOA and K’lal Yisrael.
“Each year, the Spring Gala offers us a chance to celebrate the impact of a GOA education, raise transformative charitable funds to strengthen our school, and pay loving tribute to deserving honorees,” Head of School Rabbi Daniel Nevins said. “As volunteers, leaders, and philanthropists, Julie and Jonathan Schwartz have done so much for so many at GOA. Our community’s enthusiasm for this opportunity to recognize them is inspiring.”
The Schwartz family has been actively involved at Golda Och Academy since 1982. Jonathan’s mother, Betty Pantirer Schwartz, was the president of its board from 1999 to 2001. Following in her footsteps, now Mr. Schwartz is on the GOA board, where he lends his expertise on the school’s building committee. He is also a trustee for the Friendship Circle-LifeTown and Congregation Etz Chaim of Livingston and has held leadership roles at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Professionally, he is a third-generation partner and principal of BNE Real Estate Group.
Ms. Schwartz is on the Women’s Philanthropy board of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, where she is a Lion of Judah. She is an active member of the Sisterhood of Congregation Etz Chaim and has been on the board at Daughters of Israel. At GOA, Ms. Schwartz has volunteered with the Parents’ Association to serve lunch in the school cafeteria, worked in the library and at the book fair, and helped with many Shabbat and holiday celebrations. Julie and Jonathan Schwartz hosted the GOA Major Gifts Appreciation Dinner in 2018 and were honored by the Friendship Circle in 2020.
The Schwartzes both went to Jewish day schools: Julie was at the Ramaz School in Manhattan and Jonathan went to Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union (now Golda Och Academy). The couple graduated from Muhlenberg College, which is where they met. They live in Livingston with their three children, Mia ’25, Mason ’27, and Stella ’30.
Sponsorships, journal ads, and tickets are available at www.goldaochacademy.org/gala. For information, email Michael Bressman, GOA’s development director, at mbressman@goldaochacademy.orgor call him at (973) 602-3667.
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