Jerry and Nessa’s love story began 59 years ago in Tijuana, Mexico, where they met while volunteering at an orphanage. It was love at first sight when Jerry helped Nessa off a truck with her bag, and her humorous remark about expecting “breakfast in bed” led to Jerry tossing a banana into her tent the next morning. Their relationship, built on humor and a shared passion for tikkun olam (repairing the world), has flourished ever since.

Born in Fargo, North Dakota, just prior to WWII, Jerry moved with his family to California, where his father served as a military dentist. Meanwhile, Nessa, born in Petach Tikvah, Israel, immigrated to Los Angeles with her family in 1953. Though they grew up only miles apart, their paths crossed years later on a student volunteer trip to Mexico, when Jerry was a dental student at USC, and Nessa was studying at UCLA. Despite their “mixed marriage” as a Trojan and a Bruin, they’ve spent 58 years together, balancing school rivalries with enduring love.

Married in 1966, Jerry and Nessa raised five children and eventually welcomed 15 grandchildren, their greatest source of pride. Jerry built a successful dental practice with his father, while Nessa dedicated over three decades to teaching in Jewish day schools. They relocated from the San Fernando Valley to Beverly Hills in 2010, and were immediately drawn to the welcoming and inclusive nature of Beth Jacob Congregation. Not only do they attend shul almost every Shabbat, but they are active participants in the adult education program. They are committed to hachnasat orchim and they are quick to open their homes in Beverly Hills and Mammoth to our members. Their commitment to helping others has been a hallmark of their lives, from Jerry volunteering as a dentist in Israel and Mexico, to Nessa delivering food to those in need. Their journey, rooted in service and hospitality, continues to inspire all who know them.