Aaron Ko May 13, 2023
Aaron is in 7 th grade at The School at Columbia. His favorite subjects are math and science, but he is an avid reader as well. Outside of school, Aaron is a member of the Condors swim team in Westchester, and he also is an excellent guitarist and downhill skier. He was born in Chelsea, grew up on the Upper West Side, and moved here to Hudson Heights in 2020. Since moving here, he attended Hebrew Tabernacle Hebrew School, where he was lucky enough to study with Rabbi Ben Dyme. He also was fortunate to be introduced to Susan Gellert-Gershonowitz for additional Hebrew lessons, and she has remained an incredible mentor and friend. In addition to Susan, Aaron is grateful to Rabbi Paula, Shelly, and Susan Edelstein, his extraordinary Bar Mitzvah tutor.
Aaron is big brother to 10-year-old Jordan, and 4-legged Picasso. He adores burgers, sushi, and dumplings. He is smart, funny, and caring. He loves to make people laugh, and to help anyone in need. We are so proud of him and look forward to celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at Hebrew Tabernacle.




Samuel Maurice Sesquin May 6, 2023
Born May 1, 2010, in NYC, Samuel Maurice Sesquin is named after his paternal grandfather, Maurice Sesquin.
Sam loves soccer, cats, video games, spicy food, playing the saxophone, and summer camp. He enjoys spending time in the Catskills with his parents, Stéphane and Mandy, and his younger brother, Jonah. He also loves visiting his family in France, where he indulges in cheese, and western New York, where wings are the things.
Sam joined his many friends at the Hebrew Tabernacle Hebrew School during sixth grade. He is grateful to our neighbor Susan Gellert, for helping him learn to read Hebrew, and his tutor, Susan Edelstein, who guided him so patiently through his Bar Mitzvah preparation. For his mitzvah project, he spent many Sundays volunteering with the residents at the YMHA of Washington Heights.
He is looking forward to sharing this important milestone with the HT community, friends and family from all over the world.
Boaz Garelik March 11, 2023
Boaz is in 7th grade at TAG Young Scholars, where he is on the student council, plays basketball during every recess, and has never once eaten school lunch. He spent his first ten years in Washington Heights, playing in Bennett Park, getting chips from the deli, and living on Fresco’s pizza. He moved to Riverdale in 5th grade, where he now dines frequently at Palace of Japan and stocks up on 2 for $3 candy at Walgreens.
Boaz is big brother to Lior, his greatest fan and also frequent sparring partner. Boaz loves playing basketball, is a huge Giannis Antetokounmpo fan, and lives on his X Box.
Boaz has been coming to the Hebrew Tabernacle since Tot Shabbat as a two year old. He started Hebrew School in Kindergarten, and is grateful to Shelly, Rabbi Paula, his Bar Mitzvah tutor Eve, his teachers and many friends.
Boaz is a huge lover of life. People gravitate towards his amazing sense of humor, his kindness, and his joy. We are so proud to watch him become a Bar Mitzvah and to be a part of the wonderful Hebrew Tabernacle community.
