School Dedicated to Girl Who Died in Climbing Accident

Jewish community members in Tenafly, N.J., attend the groundbreaking of Lubavitch on the Palisades’ new educational wing, which is being named after 22-year-old Stephanie Prezant.

Hundreds of people banded together to pay tribute to a local Jewish girl who perished in a rock-climbing accident by dedicating a new wing at the preschool she served for several years in her memory.

Coordinated by Lubavitch on the Palisades, a Chabad-Lubavitch center in Tenafly, N.J., last week’s groundbreaking ceremony recalled the special connection 22-year-old Stephanie Prezant had with the children who attended the center’s preschool and elementary school. Lubavitch co-director Rabbi Mordechai Shain, who founded the preschool 15 years ago with his wife Malka Shain, called the new 10,000-square-foot wing a fitting memorial to a young woman who loved the children of the Jewish community.

“We have 17 classes now,” explained Rabbi Mordechai Shain, who launched the preschool 15 years ago with his wife Malka Shain. “We don’t have enough room.”

Prezant, who was tragically killed on April 29, came to synagogue every Sabbath to run the children’s programs as well as the local Friendship Circle – which pairs teenage volunteers with children with special needs – before embarking for the University of Delaware; she was scheduled to graduate next week.

“The kids loved her,” said Shain, who also addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 people at a memorial service for Prezant on May 1. “She always had a smile.”

In a letter to the community, Jeffrey and Elana Prezant said their daughter was a born educator.

“Stephanie was one who showed her true light when surrounded by children,” they wrote. “She took tremendous pride in her Jewish faith and heritage and was overjoyed when she could pass that on to children around her.”

Shain said that while plans to add the educational wing were already in the works before the tragedy, his board decided to name the wing in memory of the young woman who gave so much to the children.

“We look forward to having Stephanie’s name continue the legacy that she began,” wrote the Prezants. “Provide love and joy to children and instill a pride and love of Judaism to children early on in their lives so it will continue to radiate throughout their lives.”

Shain called the Stephanie Iris Prezant Educational Wing “a continuation of her life.”

While the preschool and elementary school now boasts 298 students, the new wing will be able to accommodate another 140 students.