Ma’ayanot Annual Scholarship Dinner 2025

Meital & Howie Teitelman

Howie and Meital Teitelman are proud parents of Yehuda (YU ‘27), Tiferet (‘24), Ahava (‘27), Tehila (‘30), and Maayan (‘30), and have been dedicated supporters of Ma’ayanot since their eldest daughter began high school.

Meital serves on Ma’ayanot’s Board of Directors and the Executive Committee as the Recording Secretary. She is also a member of the Development and Dinner Committees and co-chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee. Howie contributes as a Parent Council member and Parent Ambassador.

The Teitelmans are also active members of their shul, Congregation Keter Torah. Meital serves as Vice President and co-chair of the Welcoming Committee, while Howie contributes as Chairman of the Yom Kippur Appeal and plays a key role in the CSS Security and Welcoming Committees.

Both Meital and Howie are deeply dedicated to advancing Jewish education and community engagement. Meital serves as the Middle School Principal at Tenafly Chabad Academy, while Howie has contributed as a Strategic Advisory Board Member at MTA High School and as a youth coach for Teaneck Baseball Organizations and the Mitch Gross Basketball League. Together, they are involved in numerous charitable organizations, including AMIT and Chesed 24/7.

The Teitelmans feel privileged to be part of the Ma’aaynot family, and are proud of the impact Ma’ayanot is making on Torah-based education for generations to come.

Beth & Victor Wittenberg

This year’s Hakarat Hatov award is being presented to Beth and Victor Wittenberg. Victor served on the Ma’ayanot Board and on the Executive Committee as Treasurer.

Victor also chaired the Board Finance Committee and was a member of the Endowment Committee.  Beth has been a Ma’ayanot parent ambassador and chaired multiple fundraising events in support of the Ma’ayanot parent council. Beth and Victor are committed to Ma’ayanot and have been involved in other community organizations including Sharsheret, Tomchei Shabbos, Yeshivat Noam, and Congregation Rinat Yisrael. Beth and Victor are very appreciative of Ma’ayanot for the excellent education and nurturing Torah environment it has provided for their daughters Talia (‘16), Amira (‘19), and Nili (‘25).

Mrs. Chava Lerner (’04)

Chava (Chaitovsky) Lerner knew she was going to pursue a career in teaching by the time she graduated Ma’ayanot in 2004.  She went on to learn at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) for two years, followed by the Honors Program at Stern College for Women where she double-majored in Psychology and Judaic Studies.  She then earned a Master’s Degree in Biblical and Talmudic Education at the Graduate Program for Women in Advanced Talmudic Studies (GPATS) as well as a Master’s Degree in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies.   After a brief stint teaching in a NY area middle school, Mrs. Lerner “came home” to Ma’ayanot in 2012.  She now chairs the Gemara department in addition to filling various logistical roles by coordinating the master schedule, the test calendar, and security drills.

Mrs. Lerner met her husband Zev at a Shabbos meal in Washington Heights, and they now reside in Teaneck with their three children.

Coach Jen Sanders

“Coach Jen” as she is affectionately known to her athletes, has been involved in physical education all her life. As a freshman at Wayne Hills High School, Jen competed as a freshman Varsity player on both Soccer and Basketball as well as running Track. She was named First Team All Passaic County in girls soccer as a sophomore in basketball as a senior as well in track. During her senior year, she was awarded 2nd place as the Coaches Scholar Athlete of the Year. Off the court,  she was a member of the National Honor Society for 4 years, captain of her dance team and a member of the drama society. At the University of Florida, Jen played on the Gators Club Soccer Team and was named MVP at the Georgia Tech tournament. She was also the intramural chair at her Jewish sorority.  In addition to earning a B.A. in psychology from the University of Florida, Coach Jen has also earned certifications as a WSI, LGI, and her personal trainer certification from A.C.E, the American Council on Exercise. She has helped form many championship teams at Ma’ayanot, as they currently hold the Varsity Soccer and Softball Championships. During Coach Jen’s time at Ma’ayanot, the Rapids have gone on to win 20 championships. During her free time, she encourages her family to stay healthy by leading by example  by taking her kids to swim, biking, and play sports outside with her. During her summer she serves as the current Sports Director at Camp Nesher.