Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, former USSR. Gary Kagan emigrated to the United States in 1979 with his parents and sister to pursue a life free from religious discrimination of the Soviet Union. After graduating from high school, he went on to graduate with a Pharmacist degree from Long Island University. He has a successful career as a community pharmacist, working for popular chain drug stores as well as running his own pharmacy for almost 30 years. During the COVID 19 pandemic he was a first responder, team leader, who worked at JFK and LaGuardia Airports doing testing for flight crews.
Gary Kagan is a proud member of Temple Gates of Prayer for almost 20 years. He participates in the synagogue’s Men’s Club, the daily minyans, as well as most other synagogue activities. Along with his son Aaron Kagan who was also nominated Youth of the Year, they continue learning Torah and being a part of Jewish identity. Gary recently flew to Washington DC to support the Israel rally to free the hostages from Hamas captivity. Gary is a strong supporter of Israel and stands with the IDF solders and people of Israel. His older daughter, Elizabeth who was nominated Youth of the Year in 2018 and recently made an Aliyah in the summer of 2023 and know is a proud citizen of Israel. Gary is very proud to have raised this amazing child. In June 2010 (Tammuz 5770), he completed a two year group study for Bar Mitzvah Reaffirmation led by Rabbi Albert Thaler. Gary is one of the Kohanim that participates in the Shabbat and daily minyans.
Gary is proud to receive the honor of Man of the Year from Temple Gates of Prayer Men’s club and looks forward to many more years of participation and support of Judaism in the shul.
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Aaron Kagan is a proud member of Temple Gates of Prayer/Congregation Shaarai Tefilla. He became a member at the age of 4 in 2005. He had his Bar Mitzvah ceremony in 2014 and that year 50 members of congregation along with the Rabbi Albert Thaler and Susan Smith (the best teacher to help him to get ready for his Bar Mitzvah) went on the trip to Israel with many kids to celebrate Bat/Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel and Robinson’s Arch. It was a really memorable experience. Now Aaron participates in daily morning and evening minyans and taking Aliyah on Shabbat mornings and helps carrying the Torah.
Aaron also took a trip to Washington D.C. to rally on November 14, 2023, in support of the State of Israel and people of Israel and he stands with IDF Solders. He marched with almost 300,000 people to give his voice out to U.S. government to help with the release of hostages that were taken on the black Saturday of October 7, 2023.
Also Aaron was very supportive when Temple Gates of Prayer made a large donation to different Israel agencies and organizations like: Friends of Magen David Adom, Friends of the IDF, Friends of Unit 669, and Jewish Agency for Israel, Leket, Lone Soldier Center, Zaka, Barzilai, Hadassah, Rambam, Soroka Hospitals, Eran and UJA Federation.
Aaron is involved in different activities such as playing tennis, doing intensive workout with private trainer, playing piano and performing violin concertos at The Atria Nursing Home for the elderly people. He is also volunteering at the Criminal Law Office of Milton H. Flórez, Esq. However, Aaron’s major distinction that everyone knows him by is his savant special abilities where he calculates the day of the week when the person is born on. He loves working with numbers.
He lives with his parents and little sister Rebecca who adores him.
His older sister Elizabeth made Aliyah in July 2023 and now is a proud citizen of Israel.
Aaron would like to thank Temple Gates of Prayer Men’s Club that chose him to be honoree this year as a Youth of the Year. He will continue to be a dedicated member and a proud Jewish scholar that has love in his heart.