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Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley held their annual dinner March 25 honoring Shelly and Steve Talmud and Sharon and Robert Lipson. Former New York Mayor Ed Koch also spoke at the dinner.

Sharon Lipson said she and her husband were very excited to be honored after planning and attending these dinners for years. The Lipsons said after attending Jewish day school growing up, they felt the tradition had to continue.

"We were both class graduates of day school ourselves, and it's important to us," Robert said.

Their three children -- Shelby, who is in 8th grade; Hayley, who is in 5th grade; and Lyndsey, who is in 2nd grade have loved their time while attending the school, they said. They participate in student council, dancing, singing, and many other activities at the school. The school provides a very warm and friendly atmosphere, which is why the children feel at home there, they said.

"One of the things that's been phenomenal about the school is really being able to cater and address each child's needs, and they've done a phenomenal job working to make sure that all of our kids had what they needed when they needed it, so we've been very happy," Sharon said.

Sharon said they have been involved at the school since Shelby began attending. The Lipsons said they made the right decision by sending their children to Schechter.

"Not only did we get to live the school through their eyes and their experiences, but we've also been on the other side of making sure that there were opportunities for other kids," Sharon said.

The Lipsons said Schechter has helped them prepare their children for their future and instilled great values in them. Sharon said it has taught them good study habits, how to take a test, and how to handle a dual curriculum.

"From the little stages to the older stages, they have learned to give back to the school as well as the school giving to them," Sharon said.

"All of Israel is responsible for each other," Robert said. "As Jews, we're all responsible for each other and healing the world."

Robert served on the board of the school for four years, including one year on the executive committee, where he created the first employee benefits package for teachers and staff. He also ran the Shomrei Torah Campaign for two years until Sharon took over two years later. Sharon is currently in her fifth year of serving on the board, two of which were served on the executive committee. She has been heavily involved in fundraising, created the tribute books for many diner dances, and chaired many dinner dances as well.

The Talmuds, who both attended Yeshiva in Flatbush, felt it was important to strengthen their children's Jewish education by sending them to Schechter. Their children -- Adam, who graduated from SSDSEU last year and is currently in Israel with the USY program NATIV; Jesse, who is in 10th grade at SSDEU; and Mikayla, who is in 4th grade fell in love with the school when they first started, they said.

"We really love the school, and we think they do a great job academically; it's just very nurturing," Steve said. "So, the kids come out not only smart, but like mensches."

The staff and faculty are professional and accommodating, Steve said. Because it is such a small school all of the teachers and the students know each other.

"Not only do they know who you are, but if your kid isn't on a list for some activity, they know that child is in that activity," Shelly said. "It's really a family."

The school has helped their children become better people, more active in Judaism, and better prepared for life, Shelly said. The school also assisted Adam and Jesse in becoming leaders in the United Synagogue Youth, she said.

"I think it's academically rigorous, which is good," Steve said. "The school's always had a history of getting kids into good schools and as important as that is, it's also important to be good people."

Steve has served on the board for six years, with four of those years on the executive committee, where he is currently the first executive vice president. He assisted in the budget and finance, education, strategic planning, tuition assistance, and running Shomrei Torah. For the past 15 years, Shelly has been heavily involved in volunteering at the school, specifically as PTA co-president for three years.

Mickey Kaufman, the president of the school, said he was thrilled that the Talmuds and Lipsons were honored and it was the first time the school honored people that were still involved. They are always volunteering at the school, he said, making things not only easier for the school, but for the president as well.

"They're very talented people," Kaufman said. "They're bright, they're energetic, and they're fun."

Headmaster Dr. Howard Rosenblatt said the school is blessed to have such hard working and dedicated people like the Talmuds and Lipsons. They are one of a kind and set a great example for other parents and their children.

"They've really helped sustain us by raising funds, through helping develop leadership in our school, and supporting the school through the PTA," he said.

Linda Benesh, who teaches social studies and language arts, said the Lipsons and Talmuds are people that deserved to be honored for their dedication to the school. She has had the privilege to have taught some of their kids and the values of being good people and Jews are evident in their children, she said.

"It's always a wonderful thing having students that come to school knowing that I can count on their parents for all the support," Benesh said. "The Talmuds and the Lipsons are both always here. These two families are the example that should be set."

Koch said he is very proud to be a Jew and to be living in a country where 10 senators are Jewish. More importantly, Jewish people need to have allies, he said.

"Hundreds of billions of [Muslims] want to cut our throats and kill us," Koch said. "They also want to cut the throats of Christians and what they refer to as infidels. I believe it's essential that Jews do as much as they can to reach out to Catholics."

Koch, who is a registered Democrat, said he often crossed party lines and supported Republicans. He supports New York's current mayor Michael Bloomberg, supported George W. Bush, and supports President Barack Obama now.

"I made the choice and the decision because I believe when the chips are down he (Obama) would stick with the Jews against the rest of the world," Koch said.