GAYLE KROST

A ROLE MODEL WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE

SARINA ROFFÉ

DR. GAYLE KROST’S BEAMING SMILE GREETS THE CROWD OF STUDENTS AS SHE ENTERS THE HILLEL SCHOOL BUILDING ALMOST EVERY DAY. WHETHER IT’S VOLUNTEERING AT HILLEL YESHIVA, HER WORK GUIDING WOMEN AT PROPEL, OR HOSTING SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE MORRIS I FRANCO CANCER CENTER OR THE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CENTER, GAYLE IS A DYNAMO IN ACTION.

The take charge mother of four grew up in Oakhurst, attended Hillel Yeshiva and lived among the community her entire life—all while managing a professional career.

“You can have a family, be a professional and volunteer—you can have it all. If I can do it, so can you,” said Gayle. Her husband, Dr. Brian Krost is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He wholeheartedly and unequivocally supports and encourages Gayle in all of her philanthropic work.

Motivated into a life of volunteerism and hesed by a community she grew to love and cherish, Gayle says that volunteerism was ‘in the air’ as she was growing up. Gayle’s father, Dr. Barry Elbaum, is a Holocaust survivor who came to America from Poland, mastered English and became an oral surgeon. Her mother, Libbie Elbaum, is a Certified Public Accountant.

“My parents were always doing the right thing and taking care of people. My mother was on the Hillel board and worked on their scholarship committee. I grew up with that. They led by example, helping everyone around them, and were wonderful role models,” she said. “My parents graciously opened their home and hosted fundraising events for a variety of charities whose work was meaningful to them.”

An endodontist (root canal specialist) by profession, Gayle received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, earned a DDS from New York University College of Dentistry, and then finished her endodontics training at The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (now part of Rutgers University).

“Many of my values came from being entrenched in this fabulous community. The community has so much to offer. Our traditions and values and charity,” she stated.

Multi-tasking her professional life with her family obligations and volunteering is in her DNA. Married while in dental school, Gayle was pregnant and taking care of children as she studied. Her amazing parents helped with childcare while she was in school, allowing her to pursue her career.

When the Krosts enrolled their children in Hillel, Gayle was immediately invited to be on its Board of Education. Her parents instilled in her and her siblings that education was the foundation for the future, a principle she brought with her when she joined the Board of Education in 1994. Almost three decades later, she sits on the Board of Education (she was chair for 13 years). She is currently vice president of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board of Hillel Yeshiva and is actively involved in the school, bringing her positive energy with her. Her contributions to the school are immeasurable, She spearheaded the school’s Middle States Accreditation.

“When you love what you do it’s not work. I get true joy by talking to people and am lucky I can help with their problems.” Gayle’s professional career ended when she injured her hand. She viewed it as a gift from Hashem that she should give more time to her family and hesed work, something her husband and family completely support.

“Hillel Yeshiva has been blessed with Gayle’s warmth, compassion and positive energy over the last 27 years,” said Sammy Saka, Chairman of the Board.

In the 2019 Hillel Journal it said “Gayle’s most lasting legacy would certainly be the Follow Your Dreams program that she created ten years ago with the aim of inspiring and motivating students to reach their full potential professionally and as leaders of the community. Each year, through this program, various alumni and other community trailblazers share with high school students the paths they took towards realizing career success.” She also created a Career Track program to inspire and expose high school students to the many career options available.

Ezra Ashkenazi said, “Truly, there is no one like Gayle. She is professional and an excellent listener who evaluates the issues at hand and comes to a sound solution for all parties. She is usually my first pick when preparing a list of board members for any community organization. She does not like drama. She’s a pro, a go-to person with a great attitude and one you can trust.”

“I grew up in a highly educated household. It was assumed you would go to college,” she said. “In today’s world, a higher education is essential for career success. Rebecca Harary recruited me when she had the vision to start PROPEL, a community organization to help women get into the workforce. Women in the community needed jobs to help pay the bills. A one income home was not enough to meet their financial obligations.”

Six years later, PROPEL is sending young women to many different types of programs, as well as college and graduate school, to learn and expand their horizons in different career paths. “The determination and tenacity of today’s women is so different from when I was growing up, and I am so proud of where these community women are today,” she said with a smile.

According to Rebecca Harary, “Gayle has demonstrated an incredible capacity for leadership for many years in our community. I am both thrilled and excited to see the new heights Gayle will bring us to as our new President at PROPEL.”

Each summer, Gayle hosts the Morris I. Franco Cancer spa day. The clients receive a catered lunch and swim in the pool, do arts and crafts, plant herbs, and for one nice day, they forget about their illness and enjoy themselves, along with volunteers.

“Gayle and Brian have graciously hosted our Cancer Center‘s annual Day at the Shore event for the past few years,” said Gerrie Bamira, Jersey Shore coordinator for the Cancer Center. “It’s a day of respite and fun for all. They not only open their home but open their hearts to our Brooklyn and Jersey clients and their families. We are very grateful to their commitment and generosity.”

Fifteen years ago, Gayle became involved with The Special Children’s Center, a respite for families with over 400 special needs children. The Center slogan is Special Needs Never Take A Break, Neither Do We.” The Center runs on love and provides gentle loving care in its after school and summer programs for children with specialized needs and multiple disabilities. The respite program provides programming, feeds the children snacks and dinner, bathes them and sends the children home ready for bed. All with the care and nurturing they would find in their homes.

Gayle works with them to organize a huge fundraising event that supports the Center’s year round and summer camp programs, which are staffed entirely by volunteers. At the end of the summer, she hosts a BBQ and pool party for the volunteers to thank them for all they do for the children.

“You get so much more from helping others than what you give; to me life is so much more fulfilling when you give back and help people. As Jews, we take care of each other. So, I want to help in any way I can, with whatever talents Hashem gave me,” she concluded.

Gayle’s parents had an influence on her and her volunteer work. Not only is she an extraordinary leader and role model, her unparalleled commitment is both elegant and compassionate. Now her four children are helping others and giving back with their involvement in many community organizations—and her grandchildren are Hillel students!

A genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad, cookbooks and the app, Sarina’s Sephardic Cuisine. Editor of Dorot, Sarina holds a BA in Journalism, an MA in Jewish Studies and an MBA. She is president of the Sephardic Heritage Project, Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative and Chair of the Sephardic Research Division of JewishGen.