Park Avenue Synagogue 2026
Steven and his wife Jana, along with their children Gavin and Samantha, have been active members of Park Avenue Synagogue for over 15 years. Their commitment to PAS includes attending synagogue, meaningful travel to Israel, and a shared commitment to Jewish life. Jana and Steven’s journey together began when they met on a USY Poland/Israel Pilgrimage in 1996, setting the foundation for their family’s ongoing engagement to Judaism.
A current member of the PAS Board of Trustees, former Advisory Council member, and past Men’s Club co-chair, Steven has worked to strengthen the congregation and foster a welcoming community.
Steven grew up in a conservative Jewish home in Toledo, Ohio, with his parents Allen and Hindea and siblings Andrea, Nina, and Daniel. Synagogue life and Jewish traditions were at the center of his upbringing, and he and Jana now take joy in sharing these meaningful customs with their own children through family celebrations and holiday observances.
The legacy of Steven’s grandparents, Philip and Ruth, both Holocaust survivors, inspires his ongoing work with 3GNY, a nonprofit that educates diverse communities about the dangers of intolerance. Through 3GNY, Steven shares his grandfather Philip’s story to educate others about what can happen when hate prevails. Steven regularly speaks at schools and synagogues across the NY Metro area, including PAS, ensuring the next generation of students hear these stories.
An active congregant, one of Steven’s greatest joys at PAS is to chant the Haftarah throughout the year, especially on the High Holidays. Professionally, he is a licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman, and he enjoys connecting with fellow members both inside and outside the synagogue.
Receiving the Men’s Club Man of the Year award is a privilege that inspires Steven to continue fostering community and tradition at PAS for years to come. He looks forward to building on his experiences, supporting others, and helping make PAS a welcoming home for all.
Support Steven Markowicz by placing an AD in his honor.
Ethan Kassenoff is a senior at Trevor Day School and will be attending the University of Michigan. Starting in the fall, he will be enrolled in Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and Art as an intended economics major.
Since preschool, Ethan Kassenoff has been an active member of the Park Avenue Synagogue community. From there, he continued on to congregational school and then celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at the height of COVID in 2021. During his time in the Synagogue, Ethan has been a part of several key programs, including being a Park Avenue Synagogue Teaching Assistant (PASTA), teaching first graders Hebrew school, and spreading values of positivity, inclusivity, and warmth. Aside from teaching, Ethan has been a dedicated member of the Park Avenue Synagogue Food Pantry, where he now resides as a Co-Chair. In this role, he has helped provide goods to and feed thousands of New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity.
Beyond Park Avenue Synagogue, Ethan has worked with both DOROT, visiting elderly individuals to provide comfort and socialization while they were confined during COVID-19, and Grassroots Grocery, helping bag meal kits and sandwiches for a community fridge. These experiences have helped him gain an understanding of the privilege he carries and the necessity that he continues to express gratitude and give back to a community that has done so much for him.
In his free time, Ethan enjoys skiing, scuba diving, playing baseball, investing, and having intellectually stimulating discussions regarding current events.
Support Ethan Kassenoff by placing an AD in his honor.
Asher Klein is a senior at Beacon High School, a public school in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. For over a decade, Asher and his family have been members of Park Avenue Synagogue, regularly attending services, Hebrew school, and community events. At the synagogue, Asher has taken on a role beyond that of the average member, participating in the Tikkun Olam Committee, the Beren Scholars program, completing the Tzedek Fellowship in 2023, and joining the PAS Food Pantry Board that same year, which he now chairs.
Asher is the founding president of his school’s Jewish Student Union, where he leads weekly programs to build community, combat antisemitism, and foster Jewish culture. Outside of school, Asher is deeply involved in BBYO, having served as chapter president, regional vice president, and currently international vice president. In this role, he manages a network of more than 50 regional vice presidents and serves as a coordinator for BBYO’s International Convention in February, bringing together 3,500 Jewish teens from around the world.
During the winter, Asher spends his weekends working as an alpine ski coach at the Windham Mountain Club in Windham, New York. He coaches a group of 15 young athletes, designing training courses and helping them develop both gross and fine motor skills.
When he is not at school, PAS, BBYO, or work, Asher can be found playing guitar with friends, hiking in the Catskills, or reading one of his favorite books.