Please join us for a Champagne Brunch as we honor this year’s recipients.

Registration is required to attend the brunch. To RSVP, complete the form below.

Questions? Contact us at info@bethshalompgh.org

2026 Volunteer Awards Honorees

Lester A. Hamburg Member of the Year Award Honoree

Zarky Rudavsky

Zarky grew up in Northern Jersey, where his father was a Reform Rabbi.  He is named after his great grandfather, Zerach Rudavsky.  His parents thought they would make his life easier by not naming him Zerach.  He had a mixed Jewish education:  Reform, Conservative and Orthodox.  He graduated from Rutgers University, after spending sophomore year studying at Hebrew University, where he met his late wife, Laurel Tobias, a native Pittsburgher.  After college, they returned to Israel to spend a year working on a kibbutz.  Next, was back to the States for graduate school.  Zarky attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, and Laurel attended the Drexel school of Information Science.  They decided to settle in Pittsburgh, where Laurel’s family resided. They had three children:  Shira, Rena, and Aliza.   Zarky was a practicing Optometrist in Squirrel Hill for over 40 years.  

After experiencing many Pittsburgh synagogues, they ended up at Young Peoples Synagogue for many years.  Zarky served as Gabbai, Vice President, and President.  Repeatedly.  The young people got older.  Laurel pushed to switch to Beth Shalom, and so they did.  Zarky was happy to bring his synagogue skills to Beth Shalom as needed.  He became a regular at morning minyan after his mother passed away in 2014.  Then two years later his father and Laurel both passed, and he just continued to attend minyan.

In 2019 Zarky married Merrianne Leff, a native Pittsburgher who left after college and vowed never to come back.  They are both retired, and split their time between Pittsburgh, and Merrianne’s home in Greensboro NC.  They are both very involved in Beth Shalom, and also in Beth David of Greensboro.

Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle Volunteer of the Year Award Honoree

Alan Himmel

Alan and his wife, Dana, became part of the Beth Shalom family in 1996, following the closing of B’nai Israel. From the very beginning, Alan embraced the community with a spirit of dedication, generosity, and quiet leadership that has only deepened over the years.

Since joining the Beth Shalom Board in 2013, Alan has given countless hours in service to the congregation. He has taken on a variety of leadership roles, including Executive Vice President and Cemetery Chair, always approaching each responsibility with thoughtfulness and care. Today, he continues that commitment as Secretary and Development Co-Chair, while also contributing his time and expertise to the Finance, House, Cemetery Committees as well as the Architect Steering Committee. Alan is someone who doesn’t just step up when asked, he consistently goes above and beyond, often working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly for the benefit of the entire community.

Beyond Beth Shalom, Alan’s dedication to Jewish communal life extends throughout the Pittsburgh area. He has served on the board of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and as Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Life & Learning Commission, helping to strengthen and enrich Jewish life for so many.

Professionally, Alan has been a valued member of Wagner Insurance Agency since 1997, building a career rooted in trust, relationships, and integrity.

At the heart of everything Alan does is for his family. He is deeply grateful for the love and support of his wife, Dana, and their children, Sammy and Benji, who share him with this community and are an important part of his journey.

Daniel M. Plaut Youth Service Award Honoree

Arielle Jacobs

Hi, I’m Arielle Jacobs, a rising junior at Fox Chapel Area High School.  At FCAHS, I founded a club which I currently run called the Ventriloquist Club which meets weekly.  I also participate in many other clubs, such as the student council, JSU(Jewish Student Union), TSA(Technology Student Association), and more.  
Before attending FCAHS, I attended Community Day School, which gave me so much insight on Jewish life and how to be a mensch.  Most importantly, CDS taught me how to be a leader.   I led the Torah Service and more during my Bat Mitzvah in 7th grade, and I became a member of USY there.  Ever since then, I’ve been leading services on a constant basis at Beth Shalom.  Additionally, in 10th grade, I was accepted into the Hartman Teen Fellowship, in which I have gained a deeper understanding of Jewish life and tradition.  To this day, I also volunteer at Friendship Circle.  I serve on the Teen Leadership Board, the Cooking Specials host committee, and the Art Club host committee.

Outside of school and religious events, I have so many interests.  I love ventriloquism, swimming, playing with Pokemon, the zodiac, attempting gymnastics, and spending time with my brother.