Micole and Dan Richter have been pillars of the CBI community since joining in 2000.  Micole grew up in Westfield, NJ, attended Solomon Schechter School (now Golda Och Academy), and earned her BS in psychology from Rutgers.  Dan spent his childhood in Pittsburgh, earned a BA at the University of Michigan in political science and Middle Eastern studies and an MBA at the University of Rochester, and then became a certified public accountant.  After growing up in Young Judaea, they met at the movement’s senior camp, Camp Tel Yehudah, were married in 1996, and lived in Edison and Springfield before finally settling in Short Hills in 2008.

Dan and Micole’s service to CBI has been extraordinary.  Dan served in various leadership roles in the Men’s Club, culminating in two years as president.  He has served on the CBI board, spearheaded the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, led the Young Families Task Force, served on the Israel and membership committees, organized community lag b’omer picnics, planned Men’s Club Shabbat, and made calls for many years for the High Holiday appeal – a tireless task that is nonetheless critical to the synagogue’s health.  His service goes beyond CBI, however.  He served on the board of the local chapter of the Jewish National Fund for many years, inspired by his two years living in Israel.  He also regularly delivered leftovers from simchas and kiddushes to local food banks and shelters, where he also volunteered his time.  But perhaps Dan’s greatest (certainly kookiest) contribution to the CBI community has been his composing the annual Men’s Club Parsha Players, a task which he looks forward to months in advance!

Micole has helped organize several of the synagogue’s fundraising galas, led the pre-school parents’ association, served on the BBRS board, and is a member of the diversity and environmental committees.  Locally she committed a great deal of time and effort to the town’s clean-up and rebuilding efforts following the destruction brought by Hurricane Ida.  She has volunteered for and served on the board of the Millburn Education Foundation for many years, which organizes such events as Rocktoberfest, FilmFest, and Millburn Schools Rock, which serve to fund educational, innovative student programs and activities such as One Millburn, robotics, virtual learning needed during Covid lockdown, and outdoor education programs. (If your child enjoyed the Millburn High School ropes course, you can thank Micole!)

Micole currently works on a freelance basis in public relations.  Dan worked in the areas of financial operations, administration, and reporting for many years for a variety of firms, most recently at Gen II Management.  Micole and Dan have three sons: twins Jesse and Ethan who are currently studying at Northwestern University and at the University of Colorado, and Simon, who is a junior at Millburn High School.  Micole’s parents, Ira and Chaya Cohen, are also active CBI members and regulars at the Journeyers Minyan and Dan’s mother, Barbara Richter, has just joined CBI.