Teacher to be honored at annual Chabad event
Adynamic teacher who enriches the lives of her family, community, students and fellow educators will be honored by Chabad ofWesternMonmouth County during its annual Women's Day program on Feb. 10.

MonicaAgor, of theMorganville section ofMarlboro, will receive the Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor) award during the symposium, which will begin at 11 a.m. at the Morganville Volunteer Fire Company, Tennent Road, Marlboro. The annual event, which honors all Jewish women, takes place prior to Purim, which commemorates Queen Esther's heroism in ancient Persia, according to a press release.

"Being Focused in an Unfocused World" is the theme of this year's event, which will feature a brunch and an auction.

"Monica is a very focused person," said Tova Chazanow, coordinator of Women's Day. "She is unassuming and modest and yet a dynamic leader. She learns as well as teaches."

Agor has been employed by the New York Department of Education for 32 years and currently teaches English at Midwood High School at Brooklyn College. For the past 11 years she has taught history through the literature of China, Japan and Israel.

In addition, she teaches at the Temple Emanuel religious school in Manhattan and teaches a course about Israel to New York City teachers. She served as a group leader during a recent trip to Israel with a select group of educators.

"The education that I receive from Chabad helps me to convey in clearer ways who we are as Jews to the secular world," Agor said. "I can't think of any other way I would want to be honored. Chabad has given me more purpose in my life, and focus for what I've yet to do. It has intensified my sense of purpose as a Jewish woman."

A graduate of the State University of New York, Buffalo, Agor majored in English and minored in theater. She earned a master's degree in education from Manhattan College and became certified as a teacher for grades kindergarten through 12. Through the Teachers on Volunteer Service, she went to Israel, where she tutored high school students in Jerusalem, and taught English to immigrants and soldiers on army bases. She later met her Israeli born husband, Alexander, in New York.

The couple has four children. SonAriel, 24, works as a financial consultant for Deloitte and Touche in Honolulu, Hawaii. Daughter Sarah, 22, works as an actress in Los Angeles. Daughter Morlie, 16, is a student as Moshe Aaron Yeshiva in South River.

Under her mother's guidance and inspiration, Morlie recently established a Friday night "Teen Scene" at the local Chabad House. Son Eitan, 13, is a student at Shalom Torah Academy, Morganville.

Jamie Geller, a nationally syndicated food and lifestyle columnist, an awardwinning freelance television producer, and the host of "Simply Kosher," will speak at the event. For the Food Network she recently produced the "Summer Seafood" episode of the successful show, "Tyler's Ultimate," starring celebrity chef Tyler Florence.

As an award-winning senior writer and producer for HBO, she has spearheaded HBO's television and theatrical campaigns for the network's original series, including "The Sopranos" and "The Wire"; award-winning films; and she worked on Madonna's Drowned World Tour, Janet Jackson Live from Hawaii and on HBO boxing matches. Her latest project was a behind-the-scenes look at "The Sopranos" final season. Geller also worked for CNN where her stories and profiles appeared in the United States and across the globe.

In addition to a hot and cold buffet brunch, theWomen's Day program will include an auction of themed gift baskets created and donated by the women of Chabad.

The cost of the program is $30 with a prepaid reservation prior to Feb. 3. Admission after that date and at the door will be $36. Contributions, which include one ticket, can be made in the categories of Golden Patron ($126), Patron ($100), Sponsor ($72), and Donor ($54). For information or reservations call (732) 972- 3687.