Editor’s note: This event has already taken place.

The annual Maimonides Hebrew Day School Dinner for 2026 will be held on Thursday, May 28, 6:30 p.m. at Shabbos House, 320 Fuller Rd., Albany. This year’s theme — “To Be Continued!” — will honor three generations of the Laber family that have been involved with the Maimonides School and with the area Jewish community: Shmuel and Gittel Laber, Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Laber, and Rabbi Mendy and Chaya (Laber) Shepherd. The dinner will also recognize the efforts of Dr. Aaron and Rebecca Zlatopolsky.

Shmuel and Gittel Laber.

After long careers in federal service, Shmuel and Gittel Laber retired to Albany to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Prior to their government service, Shmuel (Mass., Northwestern University) taught at the University of Wisconsin for 10 years, and Gittel taught elementary education prior to becoming a full-time homemaker. Gittel Laber volunteers on Fridays at the school.

Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Laber.

For nearly 30 years, Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Laber, parents of 11 children and now grandparents, have served as Chabad shluchim in Rensselaer County and have also taught at Maimonides School. They are directors of Chabad of Southern Rensselaer County, the Jewish GROW Retreat, Jewish Girls Retreat and Jewish Girls Unite educational programs and experiences, both in-person on-site, as well as virtual online programs. They are former teachers at Maimonides and their children are Maimonides alumni, with one son currently in its middle school.

Nechama Dina founded the Capital Region Bat Mitzvah Club in 1998, which evolved into the Jewish Girls Retreat and expanded into the global Jewish Girls Unite (JGU) online community in 2015 and the GROW Connection Network in 2021 for women and leaders. Through JGU Press, she authored books and curricula empowering girls and women through prayer, trust, and the legacy of Jewish women.

Rabbi Avraham Laber is a Chabad rabbi who spreads Torah through his “GROW in Nature” workshops. As a beekeeper and gardener, he helps people recognize the divine presence and Torah teachings in the natural world. He also leads Boys Build Bitachon, a Sunday nature-based program infused with Torah, character-building, and connection.

A student of Jewish history, Avraham Laber launched Jewishdata.com in 2003, an online database for Jewish history and genealogy. The database has grown and is now recognized as a resource by thousands worldwide.

Rabbi Mendy and Chaya (Laber) Shepherd.

Rabbi Mendy and Chaya (Laber) Shepherd moved to Albany in fall of 2017. Chaya is a Maimonides alumna. The couple ran the Maimo-Gan daycare program for Maimonides for six years. They are parents of five children, four of whom attend Maimonides.

Originally from Detroit, Mendy Laber attended yeshivos around the world, and in Albany has been involved in the Vaad Hakashrut, Chevra Kadisha, Torah reading at Shomray Torah and CBAJ as needed, and EMS volunteering. Professionally, he works as a nursing home administrator. Chaya is known for her homemade challah and sourdough.

Dr. Aaron and Rebecca Zlatopolsky.

The dinner will also recognize and note five years of communal dedication by Dr. Aaron and Rebecca Zlatopolsky, parents of four children at the school. Dr. Zlatopolsky, who is also rabbinically ordained, is completing his five-year surgical residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and plans to pursue his career in Houston, Texas with a focus on otologic surgery.

Rebecca, from Austin, Texas, earned an accounting degree from Stern College and is the longest-standing employee in her division in the administration of the Jewish Learning Institute’s Chabad on Campus “Sinai Scholars” program. She also volunteers for the Maimonides PTA, spearheading projects to support the teachers, and other communal endeavors.

Information on the dinner event and/or the tribute journal may be obtained by contacting Raizy Rubin, coordinator, at 518-772-7299, the school office during school hours, or @@LNKMASK2@@.