Community Leadership Award
Melissa and Leeor Jerushalmy are so involved in community work, you wonder how they fit in everything else they have to do. Whether serving on the board of RPRY, coaching sports, running programs for the PTA, or fundraising, they have stepped up to leadership roles and set an example for the rest of the community.
Melissa and Leeor joined the Highland Park/Edison community in 1992, right after they were married. Though Leeor began his legal career in New York City, he soon discovered the merits of staying local, and joined M. Weiss & Associates, PC in New Brunswick, NJ. He has worked there for eighteen years. He handles plaintiffs' personal injury cases, workers’ compensation cases and traffic violation matters. He also sits on the Middlesex County Assignment Judge's Civil Lawyers Committee.
Melissa began her career as a fashion buyer in New York City. After the Jerushalmys' eldest son Avi was born, Melissa took time off to dedicate herself to raising her family and doing volunteer work. Avi (Class of '09) is now a Junior at SUNY Binghamton, Jake ('12) a senior at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, and Noah ('17) is in the seventh grade at RPRY. One of Melissa's hobbies these past twelve years has been cheering on her sons at their basketball games, many of which were coached by Leeor.
As their boys made their way through RPRY and beyond, the Jerushalmys became more involved in the school. Melissa has long been an active member of the RPRY PTA. She has led and coordinated the school's dairy lunch program for the past decade. This is also her second year as the RPRY Dinner co-chair. Leeor is currently a vice president on the Executive Board of RPRY. He has been a board member for the past six years, working tirelessly on the annual raffle, the scholarship breakfast and other financial initiatives.
In addition to their efforts on behalf of RPRY, Melissa and Leeor serve the greater Jewish community. Leeor is a member of the Board of Directors of Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, for which Melissa does volunteer outreach and recruitment. Melissa runs Congregation Ohr Torah's sisterhood's tribute card program, and Leeor is a member of the shul's security team. Melissa has served on the Middlesex/Monmouth County Jewish Federation Board of Directors for the past eight years. She is a Tanzman Fellow, has served on the allocation committee and has chaired numerous successful events for which she has received a leadership award. She is also on the Women's Philanthropy Board. And, six years ago she started her own business customizing beautiful wedding and bar/bat mitzvah invitations and social stationary.
Leeor and Melissa are constantly strengthening and enlivening the fabric of the community in which they live. Though Leeor's starring role in a TV commercial didn't result in an acting career, he never fails to entertain his friends, while Melissa is known for being the "go-to" home decor and fashion consultant to her peers. The Jerushalmys' family and wide network of friends are proud and pleased to be celebrating with them as they are recognized for their distinguished accomplishments.