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Congregation Adath Israel of Hillside honored Jason and Erica David and Harry and Mimi Stadler at its 54th anniversary dinner at the YM-YWHA in Union on Jan. 3.

The Stadlers were the Guests of Honor at the dinner and the Davids were the recipients of the Bonei Olam Award.

The Stadlers have been members for 30 years and the Davids for the past five years, however, they each have contributed a great deal to the shul, Rabbi Jonathan Schwartz said.

"They are the epitome of past, present, and future," Schwartz said. "They are anchored in the wonderful tradition of Elizabeth and Judaism, they're very proactive in the present and have a wonderful life in the future. They truly are bonei olam, people who build worlds."

The Stadlers have meant a great deal to the shul, Schwartz said.

"Harry's dedication to the shul, whether through his generous service as a gabbai, whether through his progress as a board member, source of advice, cleaner-upper, even at erev when we all seem to disappear," Schwartz said. "Mimi, too, never shies away from helping at shul functions. Mimi, too, is part of a tremendous Stadler team. They epitomize the idea that 54 is only the beginning."

The Stadlers, who are residents of Hillside, said they have always felt at home at Adath Israel.

"From the first time we came to shul here we were always comfortable," Harry Stadler said. "The community has changed but it's always been a place where we have felt comfortable."

Over the past 30 years, the Stadlers have seen the ups and downs of the shul, but overall they have seen success, they said.

"In the last five years, the membership has doubled, so we became an overnight success," Harry said. "After 25 years of being here, the shul became an overnight success."

Harry said Adath Israel accepts all types of people.

"The shul is very accepting," he said. "It doesn't have one set of orientation other than the fact that it's an Orthodox shul, so you have people who come here for Shabbos who are wearing a black hat and other people who are wearing not a jacket and tie, just a shirt. And they're all comfortable in their own way."

The Stadlers said people like Jason and Erica have helped the shul grow.

"In the last number of years, because of the growth of the shul, we have gotten a tremendous influx of young families with lots of little kids, which has been great," Harry said.

Mimi said since the Davids joined the shul they have changed the youth programs and have made a big difference with the children.

"They're full of enthusiasm, the kids love them," she said. "A shul belongs to those who work for it. Jason and Erica David are doing a fantastic job with the youth program and I appreciate it."

The Stadlers were modest about being honored and said there were many other people worthy of being honored.

"There are many worthy people in our shul, and we're just two more," Mimi said.

Mimi said it has been amazing to be members of Adath Israel for the past 30 years.

"I am delighted to say that it is a thrill to be part of Adath Israel," she said. "Most of all Harry and I would like to tell you our love for this shul and this community hasn't diminished, but has also grown as we've gotten older."

The Stadlers have three children: Gila, who is married to Naftali Polachek; David, who is engaged; and Zahava.

The Stadlers, who met while attending Touro College in Manhattan, have been active in the shul since they joined. Mimi served as an officer in the Women's Division of the JEC from 1987 to 1999, coordinated "Perek on the Lawn" for more than 10 years, is a rotating host of Elisheva Teitz's weekly class, and runs a pottery business from her home called Mimi Stadler pottery. For the past 15 years, Harry has served as the second gabbai, while his close friend Marvin Rozenzweig is the main gabbai. He is one of the original board members and is best known as the Kiddush clean-up man.

Rozenweig said the Stadlers have been his friends and confidants for many years.

"I have known them for 30 years," he said. "Harry and I share the most coveted position in the shul."

The Davids said receiving the award was unexpected, but very exciting at the same time.

"We got married four years ago; we moved here first to Elizabeth, we joined the shul right away," Jason said.

Immediately after they joined, the Davids were asked to be the youth directors and they accepted the position.

The Davids said they hold learning programs, animal shows, and many other different types of programs that make it fun for the children.

"They (the children) really look forward to the programs that we run," Jason said.

"The community and the shul are an important part of our lives," Erica added.

Ultimately, it is the children that truly make the Davids happy, they said.

"I think just everyday their smiles, I appreciate it so much," Erica said.

Jason is a special education teacher in the Sinai program at Kushner Academy in Livingston, and Erica is a resource room teacher at Yeshivat Noam in Paramus. They have a 1-year-old son, Shimmy.

Schwartz said they are very dedicated hard-working youth directors who have a made a difference at the shul.

"They make each and every child feel special," he said. "They are also the vision of Adath Israel of tomorrow."