Sakolsky-Melzer Scholarship

Arlene and David Sakolsky, along with their three sons, Eliot, Harvey and Bill were pillars of the Jewish community. Eliot was the United Synagogue Youth (USY) leader at Congregation Beth Shalom in Pompton Lakes. He passed away at the age of thirty-one.

A scholarship fund was established by Congregation Beth Shalom in Eliot’s memory. The goal of the Fund is to provide financial aid to youth participating in Jewish activities such as Kadima, USY, Camp Ramah, Israel trips and other Jewish educational activities.

Congregation Beth Shalom has transferred the funds to Pine Brook Jewish Center where it will continue to perpetuate Eliot's memory. May his memory be a blessing to our youth.

Eliot’s brothers, Harvey and Bill, are current members of Pine Brook Jewish Center. Upon learning of the sudden and tragic loss of Aaron Melzer, a Pine Brook Jewish Center Hebrew School Student, Congregation Beth Shalom honored the Melzer family by rededicating the Fund as the Eliot Sakolsky Aaron Melzer Scholarship Fund.

Aaron is the son of Margo and Jason Melzer, and the older brother of triplets, Anna. Brielle, and Brian. Aaron was a Hebrew School Student at Pine Brook Jewish Center, beginning at the age of two in its Pre-School. Aaron was a kind, loving, thoughtful and empathetic young man who was looking forward to his Bar Mitzvah.

It was Aaron's dream to travel to Israel, but he never did, as a result of his sudden passing at the age of eleven. The Melzer Family shares the Sakolsky Family's mission to offer financial assistance to Hebrew School students so that they can further their Jewish studies at home and abroad.

In memory of Eliot Sakolsky and Aaron Melzer, this Fund will continue to financially assist Jewish youth to obtain a meaningful Jewish education and to fulfill their own individual dreams. Please note that recipients of this scholarship must be members of Pine Brook Jewish Center and that all decisions related to this Fund will be governed by the Eliot Sakolsky Aaron Melzer Scholarship Fund Committee.