Having grown up in Highland Park, Illinois, at a time when most of the suburban communities surrounding Chicago were bound by covenants that blatantly restricted the sale of property to Jews, Ron well remembers the hordes of neighbors parading in front of his house carrying signs reading, “Jews, Get out of Highland Park!” and “Jews, Go Back to Chicago!” But his father, Eddie Stackler, a stand-out attorney and former football player with the University of Chicago, was as tough as nails. Although not particularly religious, he was extremely proud of his Jewish identity, and had little tolerance for anti-Semitism.

After busting the barrier on home sales to Jews, the elder Stackler marched hand-in-hand with his two sons, Ron and Bud, down to the neighborhood beach along Lake Michigan where a private security guard stood with a list to restrict access. After telling Eddie that he could not find their name on the list of approved beach-goers, the guard made the mistake of asking the question, “are you Hebrews or Negroes?... Because they are not allowed to use this beach!” The man did not see Eddie’s fist coming before it sent him sprawling in the sand.

“All of the neighbors who had gathered eagerly at the shoreline that day to watch the confrontation got the message fast,” recalls Ron. “It was the last time anyone messed with us. We all got along swimmingly after that.” It was a lesson young Ron learned early on; a brashness in defense of his people he would make his own on numerous occasions – standing up to anti-Semitic buffoons on the streets, on university campuses, in corporate boardrooms and even in the halls of government.

Although Ron’s Bar Mitzvah in 1950 did not provide much by way of Jewish learning, he nonetheless always felt a curiosity in his soul with regard to Jewish theology and scholarship – one that he would more fully respond to later in life. After attending undergraduate school at Yale and graduating from University of Chicago Law School, Ron gained a wealth of experience clerking for two federal judges. A stint with his father’s law firm was followed by forays into the business world, owning and managing successful security and franchise companies in Chicago and Los Angeles, respectively. When Dan Walker was elected Governor of Illinois in 1973, he asked Ron to come back to Chicago and join his administration as Director of Registration and Education. After the Walker administration was voted out, Ron went back to practicing law, becoming one of the state’s top attorneys specializing in license revocation cases.

Upon turning 40, Ron, whose Hebrew name is Reuven Akiva, had something of an epiphany. Having learned that the legendary Talmudic sage, Rabbi Akiva, did not begin his scholastic journey in earnest until he was 40, Ron “Akiva” Stackler decided to likewise aim high, immersing himself in the study of complex Talmudic texts at a rabbinical seminary in Chicago known for its rigidity and intensity. He would attend study sessions whenever his hectic schedule would allow, but soon found himself disillusioned when the Rosh Yeshiva, or headmaster, took him to task for not changing his appearance and lifestyle dramatically or quickly enough, adding that his Yeshiva learning would preclude his being able to plead ignorance come Judgement Day.

Ron’s dress habits, like his personality, tend toward the nonconforming and nonconventional – to say the least; something that remains true to this day. A flowered Hawaiian shirt, baggy workman pants and broken-in running shoes, often crowned by a Sephardic-style multi-colored yarmulke, is a typical getup one might find Ronny Stackler adorned in on a given day. It was right around the time of his parting of ways with the seminary that Ron met up with Chabad in Chicago. The nonjudgmental approach of teaching Torah and sharing Judaism with a joyful spirit of unconditional love and acceptance was a breath of fresh air. In the years to follow, he would develop close ties with many of the Chabad rabbis throughout the Chicago area. The irony was not lost on him that those same suburban areas, once totally off limits to Jews, had become home to vibrant Jewish communities – Chabad and otherwise – including Highland Park, which had become perhaps the largest of them all.

Although Ron’s first marriage in 1996 to Barbara Weinstein ended in divorce, it produced two wonderful daughters, Jennifer and Leslie. His marriage thereafter to Polly Husting, whom he knew back in high school, made for a close relationship, only to be cut short by Polly’s illness and subsequent passing at age 73.

“Dad has certainly had more than his share of adversity in life,” says daughter, Jennifer, “but he is by far the most positive and optimistic person I, and most other people, have ever met. He always operates with the expectation that things will turn out great, and although he is initially shocked if they don’t, he just changes course and rolls with it. His spirit and energy are powerful forces of nature.”

In 1996, when the West Coast beckoned once again, Ron returned to Southern California where he partnered in the establishment of “Hatton, Petrie & Stackler,” an Orange County-based law firm specializing in commercial litigation. He also became an active real estate investor. Settling in Malibu, the hellish freeways that are a nightmare to most commuters were but a welcome challenge to motorcycle enthusiast, Ron Stackler, as he would defy and outmaneuver the traffic jams astride his striking yellow and black Goldwing bike.

“We call it his Bumble Bee,” says Jennifer. “When my father was in his 40’s, he developed two strong passions: Judaism and motorcycles. Bring up any of those subjects with him, and all I can say is, ‘fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!’”

Ron’s connection to Judaism, and Chabad, in particular, would be reignited in California. He dedicated the mikvah at Chabad’s Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon and the computer lab at its Chaya Mushka School. It was while attending services at Chabad of Malibu that he met Sandy Cohen.

“For twelve years, we were both attending Chabad of Malibu with Rabbi Levi Cunin and sharing in the discussions of Jewish issues at the Kiddush after services,” says Ron. “After Polly passed away, it dawned on me that perhaps I did not need to go searching to the ends of the earth, or allowing my daughters to try and fix me up, to find a new partner in life. Here was this smart, beautiful and charming single lady who, in addition to attending the same Shul as me, seemed to share many of the same interests as me. So one fine Shabbos, I took the plunge and floated the idea of courtship with her. I was floored when she immediately responded, “I thought you’d never ask!” Ron and Sandy were married in 2011 at Chabad of Malibu.

Always looking to broaden their spiritual horizons, Ron and Sandy Stackler were told by a friend one day that it behooved them to check out Chabad of the Conejo and its dynamic spiritual leader, Rabbi Moshe Bryski. After attending a number of services at Chabad of Agoura and Torah classes at the Conejo Jewish Academy, the Stacklers were hooked.

“A Wednesday class on Chumash with Rabbi Bryski, a Thursday class on Kabbalah with Rabbi Levine – whatever it may be – if there’s a learning opportunity at Chabad of the Conejo, Sandy and I are there,” says Ron. “We try not to miss any of the Shabbat services and Rabbi Bryski’s sermons at Chabad on Canwood… We’re still constantly learning new things. Moreover, the style and method of teaching and messaging is totally unique. We just love being there.”

For Sandy, attending Chabad represents something of a homecoming. Born and raised early on in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, her grandfather, the late Chaim Mendel Laiken, served as a “gabbai” (sexton) to the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe. Although her own parents would later move out to the suburbs and lead more of a secular lifestyle, some of Sandy’s fondest childhood memories include the Shabbos experiences she would enjoy in her grandparents’ home, and especially the aromas that would waft from the kitchen when her grandmother would bake challah and prepare the Shabbos delicacies on Friday afternoons. These became memories she would revisit with gusto upon becoming reacquainted with Chabad in California.

“Things just have a way of coming back around,” says Sandy, who identifies herself as the “Reluctant Honoree” with regard to Chabad’s tribute to her and her husband at its upcoming Gala. “Although he’s never gotten me to ride on the back of that motorcycle, when he told me that Chabad wants to honor us, I said, ‘For Chabad, I’ll hop aboard that ride with you!’... So here we are!”

Sandy Stackler has led – and is leading – a colorful and accomplished life in her own right. She is a Renaissance woman who believes “Every day is the first day of your life.” She attended Parson’s School of Design, Antioch College, and did a Master’s Degree in Design Science with legendary designer, author and inventor, Bucky Fuller; lived and worked in Europe for seven years; and was a political activist for peace and for women’s rights. Her 18-year marriage to Dr. Laurence Kravitz produced two charming daughters, Suzanne and Cathy.

When she was in her early 40’s, Sandy collaborated with a friend and partner on the West Coast, Twyla Martin, creating San Martin Bridals, a prominent bridal gown manufacturing business that designed wedding gowns for over 50,000 brides, among them many of the rich and famous. The pair of successful women entrepreneurs were written up in Fortune, Entrepreneurial and Success magazines, and had a chapter written about them in a book called the Wizards. With their manufacturing taking place primarily in Asia, Sandy spent more than 12 years working in China, Taiwan, Thailand and India.

Over the years, Sandy has taken up the study of Kabbalah, trained as hypnotherapist, a financial advisor, and has served as a financial and divorce coach for women. She’s written several “How To” books on living a physically and spiritually healthier lifestyle, including “The Secret to a Fabulous Wedding” and “How to be a Relaxed and Radiant Bride”, and is currently exploring the possibility of writing a “How To” book based on Maimonides’ approach to health issues. She is a regular volunteer for the Jewish Home, and is on the board of Senior Star Power and Prime Time Players that produce musical revues with professional performers over the age of 60. Senior rights is an issue Sandy is very passionate about. She is a certified Senior Advisor.

Together, Ron and Sandy Stackler have charted a course in life centered on doing for others, helping Jewish causes, studying Torah and enjoying nachas from their combined four children, two sons-in-law, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

For Chabad of the Conejo, having the Stacklers become part of the community has been a gift. “Ron is a character and Sandy is a doll,” says Rabbi Moshe Bryski. “It’s always a pleasure to be around people who say it like it is – especially when it comes to Israel and the preservation of the Jewish People. Moreover, they back up their words with actions. Whatever the issue or pressing need may be, the Stacklers try to help in any way they can… They are ‘Lamplighters’ indeed — for their families, for this community, for all who know them… And on May 26th, we will have a chance to honor them and thank them accordingly.”

Those sentiments are echoed by the community’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Moshe Bryski. “Chesed is not necessarily about quantity of dollars as it is about quality of character,” he says. “And in that sense, Farid and Shideh are multimillionaires.”

Though both originally from Iran, Farid and Shideh’s early lives took divergent paths before merging on the west coast of the United States in 2004. Born to a family of eight, Farid was raised in Tehran in a traditional, though not intensely religious, home. He attended an after-hours Hebrew School up until the time of his Bar Mitzvah in 1974, shortly after which his father was tragically killed in a traffic accident. Three years later, as signs of unrest were beginning to show in Iran, Farid was invited to come live with his uncle and cousins in Los Angeles. Over time, he would be joined by his siblings – with the last brother not getting out until 1986.

Farid adapted well to the American lifestyle, attending Beverly Hills High School and then joining his brother in the liquor store business. In the early 2000s, Farid relocated to the Conejo Valley and opened “Time Spot”– a retail watch store in the Oaks Mall – but was only vaguely aware of Chabad’s presence in the region.

Shideh’s family did not get out of Iran until the Khomeini revolution was well underway. They made Aliyah to Israel where they became very proud and engaged Jews and devoted Zionists. These passions and sensitivities would continue to animate Shideh’s life even as the family relocated to Los Angeles in 1989.

In 2004, Farid was introduced to Shideh and the pair almost instantly hit it off. It was early on in their courtship that Shideh brought to Farid’s attention that the day on which they were speaking was Tisha B’av (the fast of the 9th of Av), and that it would be the prudent thing for him to attend services at his local Chabad center. Initially motivated by not wanting to disappoint the special new woman in his life, Farid showed up at Chabad of Agoura for the first time, where he was struck by how warmly he was greeted and by how friendly and receptive everyone there was.

Following their marriage months later, Chabad of the Conejo would become a central fixture in the Hekmatjahs’ lives. Today, their two sons, Aaron, 10, and Oren, 8, go to school at the Emek Hebrew Academy. The entire family attends services every Shabbat at Chabad of Agoura, which they have come to regard as their second home. “I have never come across an organization that has so much respect for people’s differences and goes so far out of its way to make everyone feel equally welcome and comfortable,” says Farid. “Chabad reaches outward with love and looks at what you’re doing right, rather than withdraw inward and tell you what you’re doing wrong… That’s why they do things like provide food and shelter to perfect strangers who are poor and needy. And that’s why we are so happy to be involved and to support this cause in any way we can.”

The Hekmatjas words come as no surprise to Rabbi Bryski. “They always have that kind disposition about them,” he says. “They always have nice things to say, and they always do their utmost for our cause. Whether it’s helping with various special projects or donating a watch for our Food Bank drive, their response to any opportunity to support Jewish education or help those in need is always a resounding “YES”… If that’s not chesed, I don’t know what is.”

The scene was yet another sold-out crowd for a Chabad-sponsored Dennis Prager lecture at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel. A year earlier, Prager took on a similarly provocative topic in the same venue in a talk entitled “Why is Israel so isolated?” In fact, sold-out audiences have been a recurring phenomenon over the past thirty years, ever since Chabad of the Conejo hosted its first Dennis Prager lecture in 1986 at the North Ranch Community Center.

It is in recognition of what Dennis Prager has done throughout his storied career – not only on behalf of Chabad, but to advance the Jewish idea of serving as a beacon of light and truth to the world – that on Thursday, May 26, 2016, Chabad of the Conejo will fete him with its “Voice of Courage Award” at its gala at the Four Seasons Hotel.

“I am very proud of the fact that ours was one of the first Chabad outposts to recognize the potential power, impact and effect of an encounter with Dennis Prager,” says Rabbi Bryski. “After that first event at the North Ranch Community Center, not only would Dennis go on to become one of the most celebrated and well-received speakers to be featured at our Conejo Jewish Academy, annual banquets and at community celebrations, he also became a very dear and close personal friend of mine. Over the years, we have enjoyed many Shabbat dinners together and have shared many family milestones.

“Back in 1999, when we were looking to start up a Jewish day school in the Conejo Valley, Dennis, who was living in the area at the time, was one of the first pioneers to jump on board in support of the project. In fact, he opened his own home for the experiment, so that the first classes were held in the backhouse of his quaint ranch-style property co-occupied by some friendly farm animals. The kids loved it!

“In addition to the personal kinship he and I have developed,” Rabbi Bryski goes on to reflect, “he and I have this deep mutual respect and admiration based on the awareness that even as we occupy different platforms and come at issues from somewhat different angles, we nonetheless share the same essential common goals – including that of espousing the immutable truth of Torah’s ideals, seeking ways to promote ethical monotheism beyond the Jewish world, and, perhaps most significantly of all, standing passionately and emphatically for the rightness of Israel’s cause in the face of the bold-faced lies and outright anti-Semitism being perpetuated in the Arab world and widely beyond it as well...

“Nothing makes me prouder than hearing a man as influential as Dennis Prager using the powerful megaphones of his radio show, eloquent pen, and persuasive speaking prowess to call things exactly as they are, and constantly winning over hearts and minds in the process. It takes remarkable courage and clarity to do that, and, thank G-d, Dennis has both in more than ample supply; hence, our obvious choice to present him with this year’s ‘Voice of Courage Award.’”

The crossover between Dennis Prager’s Jewish/religious moorings and his broad appeal to the gentile/secular world is a seamless one indeed. In addition to his daily three-hour nationally radio talk show, which is heard by millions on radio stations across the United States, and on the internet and on podcasts internationally, Dennis is a syndicated columnist and New York Times bestselling author of six books, all of which remain in print and in high demand.

Named by Toastmasters as “One of America’s five best speakers,” Dennis Prager has lectured in 45 states, nine of Canada’s ten provinces, and on all seven continents to Jewish, Christian and secular audiences alike. He is widely sought after by television news shows for his opinions, appearing regularly on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC.

His latest project, the internet-based Prager University, which produces five-minute courses by some of the world’s most important thinkers on almost every subject of human interest, has been viewed by tens of millions of unique visitors. On the Jewish front, Dennis Prager has profoundly influenced Jews to take G-d and Judaism more seriously through his writings, lectures and Torah classes. He has coauthored (with Rabbi Joseph Telushkin) one of the most widely read introductions to Judaism, as well as a book explaining antisemitism. In 2005, Dennis was awarded the American Jewish Press Association’s First Prize for Excellence in Jewish Commentary for his writing on Jewish matters. He is currently a columnist for the Los Angeles-based Jewish Journal.

In 2002 Dennis Prager produced a documentary, “Israel in a Time of Terror,” a powerful look at how Israelis deal with the daily threat of terror. His Prager University video explaining the Middle East Conflict has been seen by more than ten million people, and his defense of Israel at the world’s most famous debating society, Oxford University Union, has also gone viral internationally.

Insofar as his involvement with Jewish organizations, Dennis Prager holds a special place in his heart for Chabad and its mission. “Most Jews acknowledge that Chabad is a uniquely successful Jewish enterprise,” says Prager. “Like many others, I am convinced that if mankind ever settles another planet, some Chabad couple will surely be among the first settlers… Having visited Chabad houses on six continents, one of my definitions of ‘remote’ has become ‘a place without a Chabad House.’… Just about anywhere a Jew travels; he or she will have a place to go for a Shabbat meal, as my wife and I did at the home of the Chabad rabbi in Casablanca, Morocco.”

Following Chabad of the Conejo’s lead, Chabad centers all over the world have been booking speaking engagements with Dennis Prager over the past three decades – to similar results. Dennis has also served as the host of Chabad’s nationally televised telethon, prompting Chabad’s West Coast Director, Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, to introduce Dennis at a convention of Chabad of California Shluchim as an “Honorary Shliach” (emissary) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

“There are several factors that account for Chabad’s success,” says Dennis Prager. “They subordinate themselves to the greater good of the cause, they invest young people with great responsibility, they have a transcendent mission, they act happy and they are nonjudgmental… I can tell you from own experience that when they say they love Jews regardless of their level of observance, they really mean it.”

The feelings of high regard and admiration between Rabbi Moshe Bryski and Dennis Prager are indeed mutual. “Ever since we first met, I knew this was a special man,” says Dennis of Rabbi Bryski. “If he were in secular work, he would excel in just about any area of life he devoted himself to. I believe he would be either a top aide to a presidential candidate or be a major commentator on American political and social life. His insights into contemporary American life, which he often shares with me, are among the most cogent I ever read or hear – and I am in contact with the biggest names in political and social commentary. Happily, he has devoted to life to the Judaism, the Jewish community, and to his local community of Jews and non-Jews.

“What he has done with an area of Southern California in which virtually no Jews lived when he first arrived there as a Shliach borders on the miraculous,” Dennis goes on to say. “It is only because of my close friendship with Rabbi Bryski, his wife, Matty, and their remarkable children that I agreed to be honored. I tend to refuse such events. But I can’t say no to Moshe Bryski.”

Even as Rabbi Bryski readily acknowledges that he might have put his friend on the spot, he feels that the upcoming tribute to Dennis Prager is bigger than the both of them. In his words, “I think that giving the greater community an opportunity to salute and say thank you to a man who speaks the truth plainly and unapologetically each and every day will, in itself, inspire people to do more of the same in their spheres of influence going forward... I am quite sure that those unique moments in which Dennis will be up there receiving honor rather bestowing it on others will be quite electric… Simply speaking, I just think it’s about time!”