What is the Ner Tamid Gala? 

The Hebrew expression "Ner Tamid" signifies an enduring flame, like the one you see on our logo. Our annual Ner Tamid Gala is a community celebration supporting Schechter. Each year we come together as a community to support our school and honor those who have made an enduring contribution both within the school and beyond.

On Sunday, April 7, 2024 we will celebrate Ner Tamid 2024 both in-person at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford, CT and virtually through our livestreamed event. This year Schechter Celebrates Our Connection to Israel. We will spotlight Sharon Conway and Ronny Siegel for their work weaving together Israel, Schechter, and Greater Hartford. We will also pay tribute to current emissaries Renana & Ruth Ben Porat and Asif Peretz.  All proceeds from this annual event supports the school's Scholarship Fund so that a Schechter education is accessible to all.

Sharon Conway

Sharon Conway’s commitment to Israel and Schechter has been unwavering. A mother of three Schechter students, Sharon was President of the Board and led the campaign to purchase and renovate our school. In 2004, she found her dream job as the director of the Southern New England Consortium Israeli Young Emissary Program, bringing Israeli high school graduates to live and volunteer in our community. Following October 7th, Sharon quickly mobilized a grassroots campaign with former emissaries, sending critical supplies for IDF soldiers. 

Ronny Siegel

Ronny Morris Siegel was born in Jerusalem and served in the IDF. In 1969, she came to the Hartford JCC as a shlicha, and has been strengthening the community’s connection to Israel ever since. She has been a leader in the Jewish communal field for decades, including supervising the shlichim who worked at the JCC and coordinating the Jewish Federation’s Young Emissary program.  Ronny and her husband, Al, were deeply involved at Solomon Schechter while their three children attended as students. 

Renana & Ruth Ben Porat

Renana and Ruth Ben Porat are spending three years as shlichot through the World Zionist Organization, traveling from their home in Tzur Hadassah, a small town near Jerusalem. As middle school teachers at Schechter, they bring a love of Israel and a vitality to the school community. They plan and facilitate hands-on projects for students, enabling them to connect Jewish identity to Israel, Jewish holidays, and Israeli culture. Their two adorable daughters also attend Schechter. 

Asif Peretz

Asif Peretz thrives on making meaningful connections with Jewish communities outside of her native Israel. Before coming to the Mandell JCC as a shlicha, Asif served in the IDF Intelligence Force and then worked at Camp Ramah in New England. She loves being a shlicha in Greater Hartford and creating connections between her adopted Jewish community and Israel.