Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony Program

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21st Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony Wednesday, March 2, 2016 22 Adar 5776

Jewish Community Center of Harrison

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Julian Y. Bernstein Julian Y. Bernstein, z�l, was a well-known and admired leader in the Westchester Jewish community. Some of the organizations that benefited from his leadership were UJAFederation of New York/Westchester and the Jewish Community Center of Harrison. Julian was also a long-serving Executive Committee member and board member of the Westchester Jewish Council.

Julian believed that doing tzedakah was just as important as giving tzedakah. The Westchester Jewish Council Distinguished Service Awards, named in memory of Julian, is our recognition and appreciation of his visionary leadership, guidance, and friendship. It is the highest honor we can bestow on those with whom we celebrate this evening.

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MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

Noah E. Rockowitz Noah Rockowitz, z”l, was the embodiment of distinguished service. Through both his volunteerism and his philanthropy, Noah led by example.

A board member, officer and executive board member of the Westchester Jewish Council, a leader at the American Friends of Magen David Adom, Beth El Synagogue and the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, Noah touched many with his wisdom, unwavering principles and dedication to family.

We on the Distinguished Service Awards committee benefited greatly from his leadership, eagle eye, attention to detail … and love of dark chocolate. With this evening’s celebration, we remember him fondly.

Please join us after the program for some delicious Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at the Noah Rockowitz Ice Cream Cart.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Robert A. Cohen

National President of AIPAC Bob and his wife Louise have been residents of Westchester for over 25 years and have been active supporters of various organizations in the Jewish and pro- Israel community, including UJA-Federation of NY, The Jewish Education Project, The Jewish Theological Seminary, PJ Library, Hillel, Birthright Israel and the Westchester Jewish Council. They are active members of the Westchester Jewish Center, where Bob has served as a trustee and officer. Bob has also been active in civil affairs, having served both on the Town of Mamaroneck Planning Board and the Executive Committee of the Times Square Business Improvement District. Bob has been on the National Board of Directors of AIPAC for many years and is currently finishing his term as National President. He will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board. Bob is both humbled and honored by the support of his home community of Westchester and grateful for this recognition from the Westchester Jewish Council.

Bob is a graduate of the NYU School of Law and is President of R.A. Cohen and Associates, Inc., a NY real estate firm. Bob and Louise are the proud parents and grandparents of Sarah, Jake, Ezra, David and Susanna.

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Westchester Jewish Council

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Westchester, est. 1975

21st Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards March 2, 2016

22 Adar 5776

Program Welcome Paul B. Warhit President, Westchester Jewish Council Moment of Jewish Thought Rabbi Eytan Hammerman Jewish Community Center of Harrison Memorial Tribute To Noah Rockowitz (z�l) Former JYBDSA chair, WJC officer and community leader Betsy Bernstein Musical presentation by The Teen Choir of Temple Sholom of Greenwich Special Recognition to Robert A. Cohen outgoing AIPAC President Paul B. Warhit Introduction to the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Michael Bernstein Presentation of the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ron Arsham, Susan Taxin Baer, Betsy Bernstein, Louise Challop, Karen Firestone, Keith Reich, Carolyn Schrier, Mark Teich Closing Elliot Forchheimer, Executive Director Westchester Jewish Council DSA BOOKLET 2016 3

March 2, 2016

Dear Friends,

Thank you for attending the annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony. Created in memory of an individual who embodied what it means to give back to one's community, this ceremony honors Julian Y. Bernstein, a selfless community leader who was taken from us at an early age.

This evening also gives us an opportunity to celebrate a group of individuals who make their own communities stronger with the work they do. Not designed as a fundraiser, tonight's program is merely an opportunity for the Westchester Jewish Council to recognize a fabulous group of individuals who make their communities stronger in a variety of ways.

As the program unfolds, we hope you will be impressed by the breadth and depth of our honorees and the wonderful work each of them does. We are truly a sacred community, and the more people doing good work for others, the more sacred our community will become. Kol HaKavod to all of tonight's honorees. May their efforts serve as a legacy to the man who lends his name to tonight's ceremony and inspire others to do the same.

Shalom,

Paul B. Warhit Paul B. Warhit President

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Westchester Jewish Council Officers and Board of Directors

President ....................................Paul B. Warhit Vice Presidents..........................Marc Klee Jeffrey Kohn Lisa Roberts Treasurer.....................................Michael Karnes Associate Treasurer ..................Keith Reich Secretary ....................................Joyce Claar Associate Secretary .................David Ruzow At Large ......................................Irwin S. Davison Hon. Samuel G. Fredman Debra Abrahams Weiner Past Presidents ..........................Ronald E. Burton Irwin S. Davison Hon. Sam Eisenberg (z”l) Hon. Samuel G. Fredman Donald Landis (z”l) Lester J. Millman Clarice Pressner Saul Singer Samuel Stein (z”l) Debra Abrahams Weiner Rabbi Amiel Wohl Honorary Directors ..................Andrew Benerofe Froma Benerofe Hon. Eliot Engel Donald Fleishaker Robert Friedland Hon. Nita Lowey Abigail Mandel Jeremy Abramson Mona Abramson David A. Alpert Liat Altman Ron Arsham Harold Aspis Susan Taxin Baer Ellen Jancko-Baken Peter Baum Betsy Bernstein Gerry Cohen Steve Cony Richard Elkind David Eppinger Karen Firestone Larry Frankel David Glasser Sharon Gorman Millie Jasper

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Board of Directors Jeff Kapelus Gary Katz Michael Katz Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky Stuart Kolbert Elizabeth Lampert Betsy Landis Tony Lembeck Arnold Linhardt Harry Mamaysky Marvin Medow Barbara Merson David Miller Warren Newcorn Mitchell Ostrove Barry Richman Marilyn Kneller-Rimsky Hon. Martin Rogowsky

Judith Stern Rosen Beverly Rosenbaum Ellen Plum Rosenberg Harriet Schleifer Helene Schonbrun Dan Schorr William H. Schrag Carolyn Schrier Yael Schulman Alan Shepard Roman Shuf Rabbi Seth Sternstein Mark Teich Gary Trachten Diane Werner Pam Wexler Steven L. Young Nancy Zaro Harriett Zeller

We Keep the Westchester Jewish Community Connected!

The Westchester Jewish Council includes over 160 member organizations and synagogues.

The Westchester Jewish Council is...

A place for the Westchester Jewish community to unite!

A place to create a collective Westchester Jewish voice!

A place to learn about the wonder that is Israel!

Go to www.wjcouncil.org for a calendar of all Westchester Jewish Council and member organization events and happenings throughout Westchester Here is just a small portion of what the Westchester Jewish Council does and sponsors: WAJE – Westchester Adult Jewish Education Westchester Jewish Council Leadership Development Institute Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast with AJC Celebrate Israel Parade Westchester Jewish Music and Arts Festival each summer Biennial Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration Biennial Night of Jewish Music and Joy Jewish History and Heritage Month Celebration each May Westchester Legislative Breakfast with UJA-Federation Annual County-Wide Holocaust Commemoration with the HHREC Roundtables on topics such as Security, Israel, Social Action, Intergroup Relations, Finances, Education Synagogue Presidents plus one Roundtable with Synergy of UJA-Federation Synagogue Executive Director Roundtable Co-sponsor of the Westchester community Shaliach TO MAKE A DONATION IN HONOR OF TONIGHT’S HONOREES AND TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING WORK OF THE WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WJCOUNCIL.ORG OR MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE. www.wjcouncil.org 914-328-7001 (Fax)914-761-6309 Donna@wjcouncil.org 701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 203E, White Plains, NY 10604

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Sasson

The Teen Choir Temple Sholom of Greenwich

The elite choral group, “Sasson” is comprised of 12 to 17 yearolds, and provides young musicians the chance to perform while learning about Jewish musical traditions. It is led by Cantor Asa Fradkin who has tripled the size of the choir since his arrival in 2007. The teens have performed in Los Angeles and are scheduled to perform this March in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton. They have been featured artists at Citi Field, NYC Israel Parade and AJC of Westchester Gala.

SAVE THE DATE!

The Westchester Jewish Council invites you to join us The Westchester Jewish Council invites you to join us at the at the 2011 2016Celebrate Celebrate Parade on Israel Israel Parade on

Sunday, June5,5,2011 2016 Sunday, June

parade runs fromfrom 11 a.m.11am to 4 p.m. to along Fifth Avenue Manhattan TheThe Parade runs 4pm alongin Fifth Avenue (between 57 and 74 Streets) in Manhattan (between 57th and 74th Streets) th

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For more information, contact Donna Bartell at donna@wjcouncil.org or 914-328-7001 donna@wjcouncil.org or 914-328-7001 For more information, contact Donna Bartell at

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This year’s Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award recipients will each receive an original Magen David sculpture from the artist Gary Rosenthal.

Gary Rosenthal has been sculpting in welded metals since the early 1970s. Together with a team of talented craftspeople, he creates one of the most popular and unique lines of Judaic art in the country. Combining copper, brass, and steel with brilliant fused glass, the Gary Rosenthal Collection has a contemporary style rooted in tradition. His inspiration comes from the rich history of the Jewish people that tells us it’s a blessing – a mitzvah – to make beautiful, functional art. Works from the collection have been presented to Presidents and celebrities, and have been seen worldwide in the finest galleries.

We believe this sculpture is a perfect fit with our award winners and hope they will treasure adding it to their own collection of memories from the important moments in their lives.

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Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards 2016 Honorees The Alexander Muss High School in Israel ................ Joan Muss Bet Am Shalom Synagogue ........................................Joan Rosen Beth El Synagogue Center ...................................... Donna Bartell The Community Alliance for Jewish Affiliated Cemeteries .... Gary Katz

First Hebrew Congregation .................................... Daniela Rosen Greenburgh Hebrew Center .................................... Sherry Padva Hadassah Westchester ......................................Deborah Wiskind Hebrew Congregation of Somers..................................Amy Post JCC of Mid-Westchester ................................... Stephanie Kirwan Larchmont Temple.......................................................Ed Jacobson Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation ........................ Sol Gibbons Northeast Jewish Center............................... Eugene Konigsbach Pleasantville Community Synagogue ..... Vivian Chang-Freiheit Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation ......................... Elizabeth Spiro Scarsdale Synagogue - Temples Tremont and Emanu-El............................................................. Karen Chapro Solomon Schechter School of Westchester ..........Ross Zelman StandWithUs ..................................................... Andrew Kligerman United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/USY ...... Hana Epstein

Westchester Jewish Council ................................ Arnold Linhardt Young Israel of White Plains .........................................Jerry Adler

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Joan Muss

Alexander Muss High School in Israel Joan Muss has dedicated her time to the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (“AMHSI”) ever since her children attended middle school in Miami Beach, Florida. In 1972, Joan’s father-inlaw, Stephen Muss, endowed the AMHSI program in memory of his father, Alexander Muss, to support Jewish continuity through pluralistic Jewish education.

Two years ago, AMHSI partnered with Jewish National Fund (JNF) to expand annual attendance from 1,000 to 5,000 high school children. Under the umbrella of JNF strategic partnerships, Joan now enjoys an expanded ability to offer Jewish teens the opportunity to live, learn and love the land of Israel. Throughout the year, Joan visits schools, college fairs, synagogues, Jewish community centers and homes to share her enthusiasm for AMHSI. Joan says her passion for AMHSI developed when her son, Alexander Muss, started school. Many of Alexander’s teachers were AMHSI alumni who shared amazing stories of studying 4,000 years of Jewish history on foot. The concept of using the land of Israel as a classroom is what students, teachers and administrators alike call the “Muss Magic.”

Joan constantly reaches out to AMHSI alumni. Recently, she has reconnected with notable alumni such as Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, Brett Ratner, film director and producer and Tara Rosenblum, News 12 Westchester Weekend Edition anchor. Part of Joan’s mission is to have these alumni share the “Muss Magic” with the next generation of AMHSI teens.

After finishing her studies at the University of Miami, School of Business Administration, Joan entered the family textile business. She operated knitting mills in Charlotte, Miami and Los Angeles.

In 2006, Joan moved to Greensboro, North Carolina so her children, Hillary and Alexander, could attend the American Hebrew Academy. Both children now live in New York City and work in real estate. Joan spends her free time composing floral arrangements for friends and JNF and synagogue events.

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Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s mission is to promote, build, and strengthen life-long bonds between youth and Israel through study of the history and culture of the people of Israel. AMHSI is a premier, pluralistic, high school academic experience in Israel that prepares students for college and beyond. Since its founding in 1972, AMHSI has successfully impacted over 20,000 students.

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Joan Rosen Bet Am Shalom Synagogue Joan Rosen joined Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains in1989. Initially her participation in synagogue life revolved around her family. She served on the school board and, with her husband Seth Rosen, organized the first Bet Am Shalom family trip to Israel.

Joan’s first leadership position was as co-chair with Seth of a major capital campaign to fund the building of a new sanctuary. At the start of the campaign in 2003, Bet Am Shalom’s main building, the beloved old house, was destroyed in a fire and the campaign was expanded to include its rebuilding. Joan still gets tremendous satisfaction when she sits in the “new” sanctuary on a holiday or Shabbat and the room is packed to the gills with members, their families and other guests.

In 2008, Joan became Bet Am Shalom’s Communications Chair, a newly created position. In that capacity, she oversaw the creation of a new website and revamped email communications.

Joan became synagogue president in 2012 where she oversaw a yearlong process to engage members of all ages in choosing a focus for a new Tikkun Olam initiative. As a result, the community is learning about the problems of immigrant communities, working with local organizations that support those communities and considering advocacy efforts. The process also resulted in the creation of a Green Chevre focusing on practical efforts to address the environment and climate change.

In other areas, Joan has traveled with a Bet Am Shalom group on post-Katrina rebuilding trips to New Orleans, helped plan the synagogue’s first family/adult overlapping trips to Israel and participated in a variety of social action efforts.

Joan is currently the Reconstructionist movement’s liaison to the board of SYNERGY, a UJA effort to strengthen synagogues; a cochair of the President’s Forum for Reconstructionist Synagogues; and vice chair of the board of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic.

A graduate of Cornell University and New York University Law School, Joan and Seth live in Larchmont. They are very proud of their family: their son Dan and his wife Courtney; their grandson Sammy; and their daughter Emily and her future husband Dan.

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Bet Am Shalom is a fully egalitarian, “hands-on” synagogue, where participation by all members is considered essential to maintaining the warmth and vibrancy of the synagogue community. Congregants attend services, organize special events, serve on committees, take and teach courses and chant Torah. Participation is the special characteristic of Bet Am Shalom. Members vary widely in levels of Jewish education and observance, and opportunities abound for learning. Non-Jewish spouses take an active part in the life of the community, except where ritual restrictions apply. BAS welcomes all family configurations, and the dues structure includes special rates for single parents, single adults and young adults under age thirty-five.

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Donna Bartell Beth El Synagogue Center Donna Bartell moved to New Rochelle in 2001 with her husband, Abe, and their two-year-old daughter Hannah. Donna’s twin sons, Jesse and Stephen, were born in 2002. When choosing a synagogue, Donna gave Abe no choices. They would join a conservative shul and, since they lived in New Rochelle, they were zoned to attend a New Rochelle synagogue. The obvious and only choice was Beth El Synagogue Center. Beth El quickly became the family’s second home.

Donna has served on numerous committees at Beth El. She especially enjoys working on youth activities and really enjoyed organizing meals when Beth El hosted the USY Spring Kinnus three years ago and the METNY Fall Kinnus this year. Donna has served as co-chair of the membership committee and couples club. She has been on the nursery school board and was a part of the search committee that recommended the amazing Erica Leventhal.

Donna grew up on Long Island, where she attended Commack Jewish Center. She graduated from SUNY Binghamton and went on to get her Law Degree at Emory University. After spending time working as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, Donna happily retired from the practice of law and moved to Rhode Island, where Abe was completing his medical training.

Donna currently works for the Westchester Jewish Council, a job she considers an extension of both her life at Beth El and her connection to the Jewish community.

Donna especially enjoys watching her children grow and learn at Beth El as people and as Jews. She feels lucky to have such an amazing community filled with amazing friends.

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Beth El Synagogue Center is a large, multi-generational, egalitarian congregation, located in New Rochelle, New York, and affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. They thrive on activity. Their energetic members and guests of every age come to Beth El for spirituality, learning, socialization and recreation. Whatever brings you to Beth El, you will see that they pour their enthusiasm and their love for each other into all they do. Once here, you will find more than you expected - and you will feel very much at home. Their congregation includes traditional and non traditional families, couples and single individuals of all ages, able-bodied and differently-abled, intermarried, gay and lesbian.

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Gary Katz

Community Alliance for Jewish Affiliated Cemeteries Gary has been focused on issues surrounding Jewish cemeteries since the untimely death of his father when Gary was 18 years old. While living in Boston in the 1990s, Gary learned of a then small charitable group called the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts funded with a seed grant from Combined Jewish Philanthropies. It sought to “roll up” what was initially understood to be fewer than a dozen distressed and nearly abandoned Jewish Cemeteries in Boston. That organization, JCAM, today owns and/or operates over 120 cemeteries in Massachusetts.

Upon moving to New York in 2001, Gary became a board member of the Hebrew Free Burial Association (HFBA), where he has continued to serve on its executive committee. Recognizing that cemeteries in the New York metropolitan area face the same challenges as those in Massachusetts (but that HFBA’s mandate did not extend from burying indigent Jews to caring for underfunded and abandoned Jewish cemeteries), Gary and several peers founded the Community Alliance for Jewish Affiliated Cemeteries (CAJAC), a charity dedicated to advocating for Jewish cemeteries on an individual and group basis. To date, through its coordination of volunteer cleanup activities, operations and management consulting from its professional staff, and work with the NY State Attorney General’s Office and the NY State Division of Cemeteries, CAJAC has been instrumental in turning around the fortunes of over 12 underfunded cemeteries in the region. Most recently, CAJAC has been laying the groundwork for the Jewish community of New York to launch a regional effort of its own to roll up and centrally manage cemeteries in need of fiscal and operational renewal along the lines of the Massachusetts JCAM model.

Gary lives in White Plains with his wife, Diane, and their four children ages 7-15 who attend the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester and the Windward School. They are active members of Temple Israel Center and The Hebrew Institute of White Plains. Gary also sits on the executive committee of the board of Solomon Schechter. Gary and Diane are active supporters of AIPAC, Camp Ramah in the Rockies, the Aleph Society, and Pass It On…Kids’ Kloset. A former corporate restructuring lawyer, Gary is the founder and managing partner of Downtown Capital Partners, a value oriented private investment firm focusing on the turnaround of underperforming companies and real estate projects and other similar special situations.

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CAJAC serves as an ombudsman and watchdog for Jewish cemeteries throughout Metropolitan New York. CAJAC’s primary objective is the preservation of Jewish cemeteries, which often includes comprehensive projects to remediate distressed Jewish cemeteries. CAJAC also provides guidance and consultation to a diverse array of cemetery owners and operators regarding best practices for efficient and cost-effective cemetery operations. Additionally, CAJAC advocates for cemeteries within and external to the Jewish community, with a significant focus on relationships with local and state government officials.

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Daniela Rosen

First Hebrew Congregation Daniela Rosen joined First Hebrew Congregation in 1997. Born in Heidelberg, Germany to Holocaust survivors, her family’s past had a great influence on her appreciation for Jewish life and tradition.

Daniela graduated from Vassar College with a bio-psychology degree and a greater love for art history and writing. After college she pursued a career in television which was highlighted by years working for NBC’s Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea.

Growing up, Daniela experienced her mother’s devotion to family every day while actively volunteering at the synagogue, school, Hadassah and at the VA Hospital. Her father was the quintessential small town doctor who made house calls daily and took patient calls well into the night. Her parents were passionate about community, commitment, caring for others and remaining steadfast and strong even at times of great difficulty.

Daniela’s volunteer work at First Hebrew Congregation began with Bikkur Holim in 1999. Motivated by the recent death of her mother, Daniela felt that being present for others would ease some of her grief. Many years later she continues to write cards, deliver gifts and meals (complete Passover Seders twice!) and visits the elderly, ill and homebound. A member of the board of education, administrator of First Hebrew’s Lil’ Sprouts Early Learning Center, a board member for over a decade and a past president, she is still currently an executive officer. Daniela has coordinated and been “co-chef” for Shabbat Across America and numerous Chanukah dinners over the years. The legacy of the Shoah moved her to be part of the Yom Hashoah Interfaith Committee and she has shared her family’s story during past commemorations. Always a gardener and a lover of constructing and deconstructing, she enjoys being part of the beautification and buildings and grounds committees.

Daniela is a lucky mom to Aaron, Adam, Ariel and Gabriella.

These four young adults inspire, support and strengthen her every day. She also owns Four Sprouts Floral Designs, a company specializing in small events and artistic endeavors.

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All Jews are welcome as members regardless of life choices or lifestyles. The congregation conducts full egalitarian services from the Conservative Siddur on Friday nights, Shabbat mornings and holidays.

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Sherry Padva Greenburgh Hebrew Center Sherry, her husband Ira, and daughter Amy moved to the Rivertowns in 1986 and immediately joined The Greenburgh Hebrew Center. Due to her commitment to Judaism and Jewish community life, she jumped right into serving the community.

Over the years, she has been involved as a member of the nursery school PTA, religious school PTA, junior congregation committee, shalach manot committee, gift shop committee, and rabbi search committee. Sherry has been a member of the board of trustees for many years and has held several offices including vice president for membership, executive secretary, and executive vice president. Following her three years as sisterhood president, she rose even further to become the president of the congregation and is now the immediate past president. As the chair of the newly formed marketing committee, she oversees many of the synagogue’s internal and external communications.

Perhaps the position that she has been most proud of over the years is her role as the head of in-house catering and chief chef who, along with other unpaid volunteers, prepares a full Kiddush luncheon for their membership every Shabbat.

Sherry attends the morning minyan five days a week, as well as Shabbat services on Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

Born in the Bronx, Sherry attended high school in Rockland Country. She is a graduate of Syracuse University. Sherry is an avid Mets and New York Giants fan as well as a Food Network devotee. When she is not at Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Sherry is self-employed specializing in the field of sales incentives and promotional merchandising.

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Greenburgh Hebrew Center is a warm, inclusive, egalitarian, participatory congregation located in central Westchester County, serving the river towns and environs for over 60 years. In addition to Shabbat and Holiday services they offer daily morning services. Their two day a week Religious School is creative and innovative, emphasizing Hebrew reading fluency, Bible, holidays, history, and ethics. Their licensed Early Education Center offers classes for toddlers, 2, 3, and 4 year-olds, as well as an extended day program. Strong educational opportunities exist for all ages. They have a wide variety of programs, activities, and events to engage those with various interests including Young Families, USY (Youth), Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Empty Nesters, Retirees, Social Action, and Israel. They welcome singles and families, including interfaith and non-traditional families.

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Deborah J. Wiskind Hadassah Westchester

Deborah J. Wiskind of Ardsley is the immediate past president of Hadassah Westchester and currently the Metro Area Resource Chair for National Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., serving the tri-state area.

Previously, Deborah served as organization vice president of Hadassah Westchester, where she also held various portfolios such as vice president, National Young Leaders Advisory Council representative, and regional representative for the Metropolitan Young Women’s Institute. Deborah received Hadassah’s National Leadership Award in 2001 and the Judith Epstein Memorial Award in 2007. She was also selected to participate in the 12th Young Leaders Mission to Israel/Poland in 2005. Deborah joined Hadassah as a Life Member in 1994 in the Rayim Chapter, where she served in multiple capacities including president before moving onto Hadassah Westchester positions.

In addition to her work with Hadassah, Deborah has served in a number of volunteer positions with her children’s schools, such as coordinator of a support group for parents of children with learning differences and parent advocate in the special education department.

Deborah, who grew up in Scarsdale, earned her BA in art and art history from Connecticut College and her MFA in painting from Bard College’s Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts.

She later received her teaching certificate in art from the School of Visual Arts. Deborah is an artist/graphic designer and the owner of DeeJ Design, a distributor of promotional products, advertising specialties and imprinted apparel to individuals, business, and non-profit organizations.

Deborah, a proud Hadassah donor, is the fourth generation of a five-generation Hadassah family. She and her husband, Michael (a Hadassah associate), have been married for 25 years and are members of Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains.

They have two children: Rachel (22), a fifth-generation Hadassah life member, and David (18), also a Hadassah associate.

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Hadassah has over 7,000 members in 25 chapters here in Westchester. They have special interest groups - Young Women’s Chapter, Business and Professional Club and Nurses’ Council. Hadassah is the largest women’s volunteer organization in the U.S. and the largest Zionist organization in the world. The mission of Hadassah is to build communities of women who share the commitment to the ideals and values of Judaism and Zionism, educating ourselves and working to support their projects in Israel and their advocacy efforts here in the United States.

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Amy Post

Hebrew Congregation of Somers Amy and her family have been members of the Hebrew Congregation of Somers for nearly a decade. Soon after joining HCS, Amy became involved with the HCS sisterhood becoming president of the sisterhood in 2012. With the continuous dedication of the HCS sisterhood members, Amy has initiated fundraising projects, organized holiday celebrations, social activities and outings for the sisterhood, the congregation and Hebrew school. She continuously works to bring members of the congregation together.

Amy’s family is a tremendous support to her. Her loving husband, Peter, and sons, Aaron (17) and Andrew (11) are always by her side. As a family, they work on HCS projects and events. From planting bulbs to manning the grill on Hebrew school opening day, you can always find Amy and her family participating. It is a huge source of pride for her.

Outside of HCS, Amy is a past president of the North Salem Improvement Society, a position she held for five years and has been on the board of directors for 20 years. NSIS is a local organization, which focuses on maintaining North Salem as a beautiful town and a wonderful community. It sponsors numerous projects such as the town’s annual roadside cleanup, maintaining many of the gardens around town, hosting electronic recycling days, and sponsoring other community events.

Amy volunteers with DOROT, visiting homebound seniors.

She and her son, Aaron, volunteer with the Midnight Run organization, distributing food, clothing, and personal care items to the homeless on the streets of NYC. Professionally, Amy has worked as the Cultural Arts Director at Westchester Meadows, a continuing care retirement community for the past 14 years. There, Amy plans all facets of the many activities at Westchester Meadows, which serve to nurture the body, mind and spirit of the residents who live there.

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Hebrew Congregation of Somers, Northern Westchester/Putnam’s Reconstructionist Synagogue, is located at Cypress Lane and Mervyn Drive in the Shenorock neighborhood of Somers. They offer a warm, friendly atmosphere, vibrant Hebrew School program, teen youth group, weekly Shabbat services, monthly family services, festive holiday celebrations, adult education, an active Sisterhood, and special holiday workshops throughout the year for 4 and 5 year-olds. They welcome members of all ages and family compositions, including interfaith families, the LGBTQ community and those with little formal knowledge of Judaism who want to learn. Dues are low and affordable.

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Stephanie Kirwan JCC of Mid-Westchester Stephanie Kirwan is an active member of the board of the JCC of Mid-Westchester. She first became involved with the JCC four years ago when her oldest child, Emery, attended the nursery school. In 2013, she joined the PTA and was elected president that same year. Stephanie served as PTA president for two years and remains very active providing young families with the best possible experience at both the nursery school and broader JCC. In 2013, Stephanie reinvigorated the JCC PTA by creating community-building events for young families and chairing fundraising events for the school. She continues to work closely with the director to enhance the school and remains a fixture among the JCC’s volunteers. In 2015, Stephanie was elected to the board of the JCC where she continues to contribute to the nursery school and help in fundraising efforts.

Stephanie feels a strong tie to the Jewish community. Her parents are both European Jews whose families were forced to flee from the Nazis. Her loving family instilled the importance of helping others and serving her community. Stephanie raises her family and leads others with these same values. She loves that they are shared and taught at the JCC. Stephanie is a graduate of Tufts University where she earned a BA in biology in 2000. She then earned her JD and graduated cum laude from New York Law School in 2004. Stephanie practiced law for six years in New York City before transitioning to professional parenting and community service in 2011.

Stephanie currently lives in Scarsdale with her husband, Andy, and their three beautiful children, Emery, 6; Thomas, 4; and Ryan, 18 months, who are all past, present and future students of the JCC of Mid-Westchester.

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The Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages, backgrounds, religions, or sexual orientation.The JCC of Mid-Westchester offers a wide array of programs for newborns to seniors, and everyone in between, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!

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Edward Z. Jacobson Larchmont Temple

Ed and Amy and their two children moved to Larchmont in 1977, becoming members of Larchmont Temple in 1980. Ed joined the house committee and soon became its chairman for more than a decade. He also served on the board of trustees. In addition to managing the temple’s building repairs, Ed has designed numerous projects within the temple including a bronze structure for the display of an antique hanging oil lamp and the new reception lounge. Ed headed the building committee when Larchmont Temple undertook extensive renovations to its sanctuary. Beyond volunteering his skills as an architect, he has been a member of the Temple’s choir for more than 20 years, and intends to continue singing with the choir as long as his voice permits.

Megan and Blair, Ed and Amy’s children, attended Larchmont Temple Hebrew School through confirmation. They have had the honor of Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman officiating at their weddings and the naming ceremonies of the four grandchildren who now range in age from eight to fifteen years old.

Ed is an architect with his own residential practice in Larchmont.

He has volunteered his time and experience to sit on the Planning Board of the Town of Mamaroneck and has long served as chair of the town’s Board of Architectural Review.

In addition to his private practice and volunteer work, Ed finds time to paint as a watercolorist, winning awards as a member of both the New Rochelle and Scarsdale Art Associations. He assisted in managing Larchmont Temple’s recent Members Art Show in January. Larchmont Temple has meant a great deal to Ed and his family for its sense of community and the opportunity to contribute to its well-being over many years.

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Larchmont Temple is a vibrant Reform congregation with a commitment to lifelong learning and dedication to spiritual searching - seeking God’s presence through sharing Shabbat and holidays, reaching out through mitzvot to others in need, and working together to create a congregation that feels like home.

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Sol Gibbons Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation This is a biography of a man who has dedicated his time, energy and skills to maintain a small dilapidated building in Mount Kisco.

The Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation (MKHC) located at 15 Stewart Place is such a building, erected in 1906 on a tiny piece of property.

There were a total of fifteen stalwart families when the Gibbons family joined the shul in 1967. The electrical system was in a sad state of affairs, bordering on the danger zone. Sol, a master electrician, volunteered his skill and talent to modify the circuiting and in doing so kept the building safe.

The congregation dwindled by attrition in 1988 to a point when it no longer could muster a minyan for services. As a result, attempts were made to merge with Bet Torah without success. Fast forward to 1991 when a fuse was lit by Jerry Roth and the shul resumed services. It was decided to update the building, spurred and supported by Andre Bernard. Now it was Sol who installed a new electrical service, installed recessed fixtures and paddle fans. He restored some antique fixtures. He called in markers from fellow electricians to help, all done on a volunteer basis.

The congregation grew to a point when it was decided to double the size of the building, from 30’x30’ to 60’x30’. Sol designed a new electrical layout. He removed 30 years of paint from the existing wall brackets, reconditioned them to their original luster and rewired them to meet modern code standards. He installed a lighting timer control system for Shabbat and the Yom Tovim.

The original building was rewired completely making the electrical system 100% compliant.

Sol’s community service extends to volunteering at Northern Westchester Hospital and serving on Mount Kisco’s Planning Board. Sol acted as an important liaison between Mount Kisco Town Hall and the Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation to build an eruv for the shul.

Sol’s near half century of volunteerism to the Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation has been unsurpassed by any other member. Sol’s hard work is a labor of love for his people and for the decades of members devoted to Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation.

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Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation is a growing congregation of 65 families that welcomes Jews from all backgrounds to come worship and enjoy the spiritual setting for G-d. Regular educational classes are held for men and women of all ages, and we offer a 2 day a week Hebrew School. This is a congregation where one will find intimacy and warmth.

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Eugene Konigsbach Northeast Jewish Center

Jewish observance, ideals, and culture have been the lifelong, defining characteristics for Eugene Konigsbach.

Eugene was born in 1924 in town of Munkacs which was the largest Jewish community in the Sub-Carpathian region of Czechoslovakia.

Munkacs was renowned for its rabbis, dedication to Torah, and rich Jewish life. Eugene is the second youngest of six children. His family lived a modest existence, but didn’t lack for anything. Their house was filled with music and a devotion to Jewish life and education.

In May 1944, the Jews of Munkacs were taken to AuschwitzBirkenau. Upon arrival, Eugene’s mother Serena, oldest sister Helen, and her two young daughters were murdered by the Nazis. After liberation, Eugene ended up in Prague and then Germany, spending a year recuperating from tuberculosis and other conditions brought on by his time in the concentration camps.

Eugene settled in the Bronx with his surviving sisters, after being sponsored by their uncle. He founded Fordham Weaving Service with a partner offering luggage and handbag repair, reweaving, and sundry garment services. It is a business he had for 30 years.

In 1951, Eugene married his wife, Pearl, and had two children, Daniel and Mark. They kept a kosher home on the Grand Concourse. As in his childhood home in Munkacs, education, both Jewish and secular, was the main focus of the home. Both Daniel and Mark went to Bronx High School of Science and Jacob H. Schiff Center. Daniel graduated Columbia University with a degree in mathematics, and Mark graduated from Lehman College with a degree in computer science.

For over 25 years, Eugene has been a key member of the Northeast Jewish Center in Yonkers. At NEJ, he has spent over a decade as the head of the religious affairs committee. He has led the 6:30 am weekly minyans, leading the prayers and reading the Torah. Eugene is always the first to arrive, preparing breakfast for the minyan with a smile and a song. He fills in when the Rabbi is unavailable, always makes sure the Torahs are rolled to the proper place for services, and handles anything else he is called upon to do in support of the shul.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Northeast Jewish Center of Yonkers is dedicated to providing a friendly, welcoming Jewish community and environment to all members of the Jewish faith in and around the area. NEJC’s goal is to offer their “family” the opportunity and ability to join together on a path of spiritual growth through prayer and celebration of Jewish life and its milestones, to learn more about their heritage, to educate their children, and to practice the tenets of their faith. Together with an active Sisterhood and Men’s Club, NEJC holds around-the-year events and is actively seeking to expand its member base.

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Vivian Chang-Freiheit

Pleasantville Community Synagogue Vivian Chang-Freiheit makes her home in Pleasantville, where she is the proud mother of two children, one of whom has special educational needs. Several years ago, Vivian discovered that a fellow congregant had never brought her 13 year-old son with autism to synagogue. Upon further inquiry, she found there were others in similar situations or whose circumstances made it too difficult for their families to come at all. To address this, Vivian created a Friday night SNAP service (Special Needs At Pleasantville) to help these families experience Judaism in their community.

As a Juilliard Doctorate, Vivian has been instrumental in directing Pleasantville Community Synagogue’s music program. Her written scores of the synagogue’s liturgical traditions have helped enable the successful transition of new clergy. Vivian also leads the music committee and volunteers with musical accompaniment on both piano and violin with PCS’s new leader, Rabbi Julie Danan.

In furthering the needs of the Westchester Jewish community, Vivian represents PCS in “Building Community One Lecture at a Time,” a Westchester-based organization that provides special needs programming for Jewish families. In this capacity, Vivian helps actively with programming and marketing.

Finally, Vivian supports PCS by helping with congregational meeting planning, reaching out to new and prospective members by hosting progressive dinners, parlor meetings and other synagogue events.

Vivian maintains a piano and violin studio in Pleasantville and teaches at the nursery schools of the Greenwich Chabad and Church of Our Saviour. She performs with Chameleon Arts, a Boston-based chamber music group, and Motyl Chamber ensemble, specializing in music composed during the Holocaust.

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Pleasantville Community Synagogue was founded in 1997 as an inclusive community welcoming intermarried, LGBTQ, multi-racial, traditional and non-traditional families. Rabbi Mark Sameth was named “One of the 36 Most Inspiring Rabbis in America” by the Jewish Daily Forward. Their members come from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Jewish Renewal backgrounds and - at last count - from 20 towns, villages, and cities all across Westchester.

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Elizabeth Spiro

Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation Her parents were secular Jews; Elizabeth Spiro is a Reform Jew by choice. When she was eight, her family moved from Brooklyn to a suburb of Pittsburgh that had been restricted through WWII. Elizabeth and her younger brother were the only Jews in their school. While walking home, a friend explained that Jews are born with horns which are immediately removed and asked to feel Elizabeth’s head so she could touch the stumps. Elizabeth was quite certain this wasn’t accurate. Her friend felt Elizabeth’s head and exclaimed the doctor had done an excellent job. When Elizabeth asked, her mother burst into tears. Elizabeth determined that her children would know what being Jewish meant and would live a Jewish life.

Elizabeth and her husband, Timothy Costello, joined a temple, and both of their children attended religious school. In 2007, Tim became Mount Vernon City School District Assistant Superintendent for Business. While looking at a house in Mount Vernon, Elizabeth noticed a Yahrzeit candle. She asked if a nice, welcoming Reform synagogue was near. The owner grinned; Elizabeth and Tim joined Sinai Free Synagogue before the closing.

Tim, Elizabeth, and her father were embraced by the SFS community.

Elizabeth, a retired school administrator, was invited to join The Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation. She became Maccoby secretary and a SFS trustee. At a Westchester Jewish Council President + 1 Roundtable, Elizabeth heard about having an early-dinner-and-aservice, to engage families with children. SFS instituted monthly 6:30pm Family Friendly Services with free dinner. Maccoby pays half the cost and congregants co-sponsor the other half, so dinner is free for participants and SFS. Family Friendly Services are so successful that SFS has extended the model to the night before B’nai Mitzvahs. The Maccoby Foundation is thrilled to support Jewish community and education by co-sponsoring dinners. Congregants love to recognize milestones, simchas, and Yahrzeits by co-sponsoring dinners.

Elizabeth kvells as congregants of all ages enjoy family-friendly services and dinners together.

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The Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation is dedicated to sponsoring programs that enrich the Jewish experience for the youth and adult members of Sinai Free Synagogue. It provides funds to assist the young people who are spending summers at Jewish camps and taking trips to Israel.The Foundation supports youth group members when they participate in local, regional, national and international Jewish leadership seminars and conclaves. It provides funds to assist the education of Jewish Professionals in our membership. It sponsors adult education with lectures, such as the Scholar in Residence Weekend and the Louis A. Friedman Scholarship Dinner and Lecture. In addition, it subsidizes additional guest lecturers throughout the year.

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Karen Chapro

Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El Karen Chapro has been serving on the executive committee and board of trustees of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and EmanuEl, with her emphasis being the coordination and support of Tikkun Olam programs. Karen’s other major role in the synagogue has been to chair the by-laws committee, which leads a multi-year review and reconsideration of the synagogue’s governance structure. Their recent review culminated in congregational approval of a new governance structure and by-laws, creating a flatter leadership structure and freeing the board for strategic planning and generative thinking.

Karen also co-chairs the social action committee. Together with her cochair, the clergy, the professional staff and a team of volunteers, Karen has been working to revitalize social action at the synagogue. Their guiding principles have been to identify and build on congregants’ existing concerns and passions, to integrate Tikkun Olam throughout the synagogue’s activities, and to build relationships and community through social action. Highlights of the past few years include the great participation and bonding over the 2014 High Holy Day Gift of Life Bone Marrow registration drive; the 2015 Human Rights Seder which focused on domestic violence and human trafficking; expanding Mitzvah Day to Mitzvah Weekend in 2015; and participation in UJA’s Live with Purpose initiative to help intentionally build meaningful and effective social action programming.

Karen has also served on the boards of the Junior League of Central Westchester, the Scarsdale League of Women Voters and the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association. She has also worked on countless PTA and JLCW committees, and co-led a troop of 27 Brownies at its peak.

When not volunteering, Karen works as a residential real estate broker at Houlihan Lawrence in Scarsdale. Karen’s greatest loves are Andy, her husband of 23 years, their two daughters, Danielle and Tamara, and the two dogs, Lulu and Sadie.

Karen has treasured her volunteer experiences and, above all, the friendships she has formed with the people she has come to know through volunteering.

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Education for children, adults and families, spirituality, community and social action form the core of Scarsdale Synagogue-Temples Tremont and Emanu-El. While most of the members are families, singles are welcome, as are people with alternative lifestyles. The synagogue is inclusive of interfaith and inter-married families, with a very open policy of involvement for the non-Jewish spouse. The Religious School provides a challenging, nurturing, creative environment and is very responsive to students with special needs. Family education programs promote further family learning and observance at home. Involvement, as members embark upon their own Jewish journey, is the cornerstone there.

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Ross Zelman

Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Ross Zelman is a current co-President of the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester (SW) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) with Adar Gurvitch. This is Ross’s first year as co-president, following a year as one of the SW PTO’s Vice Presidents of the Lower School.

Ross’ volunteer work on behalf of SW includes his years on and chairing the PTO’s challah program, a fundraiser for the PTO. He oversaw the sale of approximately five thousand challahs each school year for the past five years. The sale of the challahs served essentially two purposes, one as a fundraiser for the school and the other as a kehilah building effort to help the rabbis and teachers in the Lower School teach the students how to prepare each Friday morning for Shabbat at home later that evening by saying the kiddush and hamotzi together.

Ross also co-chaired the SW Lower School play the past two years with Danielle Levine, as the students put on “Aladdin” and “The Wizard of Oz.” As co-president, Ross is perpetually enjoying the fun of volunteering with friends united with the common purpose of supporting the school’s administrators and faculty in their jobs in many of the ways they have been called upon and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Ross is married to Jennie Friedman, an audit partner at KPMG. Ross is a full time stay-at-home parent of three Schechter Westchester students: Alexandra (7th grade), Caleb (2nd grade) and Charlie (kindergarten). He and his family moved to Westchester from Manhattan twelve years ago, first to Rye Brook and then to White Plains two years ago. They have been members of Temple Sholom in Greenwich CT for almost ten years, where Jennie is on the shul’s board of trustees and Ross is looking forward to participating in the shul’s ad hoc committee on egalitarian issues. In a prior life, Ross graduated from Hamilton College and Fordham University School of Law.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Schechter Westchester is an independent, K-12, college-preparatory Jewish day school, cultivating intellectual rigor, innovative thinking and strong community spirit – assets that set our students apart as learners and leaders. Their integrated academic curriculum emphasizes critical inquiry throughout, immersing students daily in the nurturing context of their Jewish culture and identity.

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Andrew S. Kligerman StandWithUs Andrew’s passion for Israel and the Jewish people was ignited about a decade ago, a passion that has manifested itself in Andrew’s work and embrace of some exceptional organizations.

A primary focus has been the critical importance of the next generation of Jews and Jewish leadership.

StandWithUs is a unique organization dedicated to educating our next generation youth. Andrew is a member of StandWithUs’ Northeast Region Board and recently co-chaired its first annual Leaders of Tomorrow gala. Also, on behalf of StandWithUs, he hosts a variety of quarterly speaker series, which has recently included former Ambassador Michael Oren and well-known columnist Bret Stephens. Andrew has been co-chair of the FIDFWestchester chapter for several years. Numerous visits to Israel have opened his eyes to major contributions being made to the Zionist ideal by Americans For A Safe Israel and the strength of the Likud leadership. Andrew is deeply committed to Israel as well as the fight against anti-Semitism.

Andrew is an investment consultant, advising insurance companies, investment banks, money managers, and other financial services businesses. Over nine-plus years through July 2012, he was UBS Investment Research’s senior life insurance analyst, global insurance strategist and financials group sector head. He ranked first or second in the life insurance category of the Institutional Investor All-America Research team in each of his last 10 years, including four consecutive years at number one. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Biology from Tulane University.

He lives in Rye with his wife. They are the proud parents of Matthew and Jackson, who are currently in college.

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StandWithUs is an international, non-profit organization. They believe that education is the road to peace. StandWithUs is dedicated to informing the public about Israel and to combating the extremism and anti-Semitism that often distorts the issues. They believe that knowledge of the facts will correct common prejudices about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and will promote discussions and policies that can help promote peace in the region. Through print materials, speakers, programs, conferences, missions to Israel, campaigns, social media and internet resources, they ensure that the story of Israel’s achievements and ongoing challenges is told on campuses and in communities around the world. Based in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has sixteen offices across the U.S., Canada, Israel and in the UK.

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Hana Epstein

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/ United Synagogue Youth Hana Epstein has been an active member of USY since 2010.

She currently serves as the president of her chapter at Bet Torah Synagogue. In her division and region, Emek and METNY respectively, her leadership has grown even more. Hana served on the Social Action/Tikun Olam Divisional general board for three years, and loves being the region photographer. One of Hana’s most powerful experiences in USY was attending Mission Mitzvah, a summer program which enabled her to perform community service across the United States. Activities included cleaning up beaches in California, restoring homes in New Orleans, and building homeless shelters in Alabama.

Outside of USY, Hana is an active member in the Sustainability Club and Bridges to Community Club at her school. She helped create a school-wide program to replace plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles. Hana helped raise money for the Bridges to Community Club to go to Nicaragua to build houses for the residents. She frequently donates blood through the Red Cross. For the past four years, Hana has been a member of the “Too Inspired to be Tired” Relay for Life team, and she had the wonderful opportunity to be a co-captain for the last two years.

Last year, her team was able to raise close to $5,000 for cancer research.

Hana lives in Katonah, where she is a senior at John Jay High School. She is an honors student and loves to take pictures and hike in her free time as well as tutoring students in the local schools. Upon her graduation, Hana looks forward to attending Nativ, United Synagogue’s gap year program in Israel, where she will study at Hebrew University and work at a Kfar Hassidim Youth Village.

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The Metropolitan New York District (METNY) of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) represents and serves the needs of over 100 affiliated Conservative congregations in the greater New York area.

METNY USY offers high school students the opportunity to engage in various Jewish and social activities while forming friendships that last a lifetime. Their teens enjoy numerous conventions, a week-long summer encampment, dances, and special programs. In METNY USY, there are many leadership opportunities that teens can take advantage of such as board positions, co-chairing events, and leading programs throughout the community. Through the variety of programs throughout the year they strive to inspire meaningful encounters with Judaism and the Jewish people.

They believe that study, action, and fellowship lead to personal fulfillment and growth, and they aim to give teens opportunities to make a significant contributions to their synagogues, communities, society, and the Jewish people.

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Arnold Linhardt

Westchester Jewish Council Arnold Linhardt has over 40 years experience in the government and non-profit sectors. He is currently president of his own consulting firm, Strategic Services Inc. Strategic Services Inc. is a public affairs firm specializing in political and governmental consulting and lobbying.

Prior to establishing Strategic Services, Arnold was chief of staff for over 12 years to Congressman Eliot Engel of New York. Mr. Linhardt has also functioned as the public affairs director of two New York State public benefit corporations as well as the director of operations for a major non-profit organization.

Arnold has been very active in the Jewish community including serving on the National Board of the National Jewish Democratic Council and as a former officer of the Westchester Jewish Council.

He currently serves as the chair of the Council’s government affairs committee.

He has been an adjunct professor in political science and government at Fordham University, Baruch College, Lehman College, Manhattanville College and Mercy College. He teaches courses including: “US Congress,” “American Political Parties,” “Interest Group Politics,” and “Campaigns and Elections” among others.

Mr. Linhardt has a BA degree in political science from Fordham University and an Executive Masters degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. Arnold and his wife, Debby, have two children and live in the town of Eastchester.

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The Westchester Jewish Council is the central communicating, coordinating, advisory and resource body for the County’s Jewish community, representing over 140 Jewish organizations and serving 150,000 Jews.

As Westchester’s Jewish community relations organization, the Council unites Westchester Jewry with the State of Israel, encourages Jewish education at all ages and spurs the development of the next generation of Westchester Jewish leaders, fosters communication among Jewish organizations, and cultivates and strengthens relations with other ethnic groups, elected officials and the community at large. The Council also undertakes initiatives and programs to meet emerging and existing communal needs that are not fully or practicably served by its individual member organizations.

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Jerry Adler

Young Israel of White Plains Jerry Adler has been an active member of the Young Israel of White Plains for 23 years. He follows the model of his grandfathers and father: synagogue founders, members of the board of directors or just doing whatever is needed. Jerry was taught at an early age that the synagogue could be the central part of any neighborhood. It is a place to socialize, to celebrate happy occasions and to comfort one another in times of sadness.

Jerry has served the Young Israel in many capacities throughout the years, including building maintenance, Gabbai, leading prayer services during the High Holy Days and even as president. In 2013, Jerry saw that new leadership was needed at the Young Israel. He assembled a board designed to accomplish two important goals: installing a new leadership structure and improving the synagogue’s youth department.

In 2014, a sprinkler line cracked on the main floor of the Young Israel building, spilling 1600 gallons of water and literally making the building uninhabitable. Jerry assembled a small team and developed an action plan. A tent was erected in the parking lot, allowing services to continue on Shabbat. Spending every free minute at the building during the renovation, Jerry helped the Young Israel reopen a mere ten weeks later.

Jerry is a sales associate for Borax Paper Products in New York City and serves his many customers throughout the metropolitan area. He is married to his wife, Marlene, for 32 years. He has two children, a son-in-law, future daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Jerry has instilled in his family that giving charity to their houses of worship, both financially and through hard work, is of the upmost importance.

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The Young Israel of White plains is a warm and personal synagogue that caters to the needs of individuals. The traditional religious services are lively and user-friendly. Classes run the gamut from beginner Hebrew to exploring the mysticism of Torah to Talmudic jurisprudence.

They assist with all religious needs and services, including adoptions and conversions to Judaism.

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WE ARE PLEASED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PAST DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS AND THEIR NOMINATING ORGANIZATIONS 2015 Elliot Rose ..................................... AJC Westchester/Fairfield Gregg Mashberg......................... Anti-Defamation League David Simhon .............................. Congregation Anshe Sholom Susan Hope Davis....................... Congregation Kol Ami Richard Koh .................................. Hillels of Westchester Lisa Rosenshein Todes ............... Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Michael Maron ............................ JCC on the Hudson Robert Miller ................................ Jewish Community Center of Harrison Sarene Shanus ............................. Jewish Education Project Michael Salpeter ......................... Jewish Family Congregation Peggy Garfunkel ......................... Jewish Women’s Foundation Jessica Morgenthal ..................... Rosenthal JCC David Rolle ................................... Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Ruth Greenfield ........................... Temple Beth Elohim Richard Alter ................................ Temple Israel of New Rochelle Vivian Steinberg Cohen ............. Temple Shaaray Tefila Trudy Catherine Cummings ...... The Mollie and Jack Zicklin Jewish Hospice Residence of MJHS Susan Miller ................................. Westchester Jewish Center Bob Mensch ................................. Westchester Jewish Community Services 2014 Melissa and Herb Baer............... Temple Beth Abraham Robin Blum ................................... Bronx Jewish Community Council Judy Boehr .................................... Congregation Sons of Israel - Briarcliff Arlene Cole .................................. Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Alyssa Erber ................................. Beth El Synagogue Center Larry Genser ................................ Sinai Free Synagogue Pam Goldstein ............................. Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Wendy Hollander........................ JCY - Westchester Community Partners Haina Just-Michael ..................... American Friends of Magen David Adom Michal Kellner.............................. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/ METNY- United Synagogue Youth Vicki Prusnofsky .......................... Hebrew Congregation of Somers Susan Rozin.................................. UJA - Federation of NY in Westchester Alan Schulman ............................ Hebrew Institute of White Plains Mindy Steinholz .......................... First Hebrew Congregation Joel Taman .................................... Dorot Andrew Weissman ..................... Bet Torah Paula Markowitz Wittlin ............. Bet Am Shalom Synagogue 2013 David A. Alpert............................ Jewish War Veterans of the USA/Westchester County Linda Barat ................................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Karen Blumenthal ....................... Westchester Jewish Community Services Grace Fass .................................... Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation Josh Goldstein ............................. J-Teen Leadership Candy Gould................................ AJC Westchester Eugene Grant ............................... Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center John Harris.................................... Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Phyllis Hartstein........................... Hadassah - Westchester Region Alexis Kashar ............................... Jewish Deaf (and Hard-of-Hearing) Resource Center Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum ........... Academy for Jewish Religion Shari Kibel .................................... Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel Harriet Leibowitz ........................ Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Leah Leonard ............................... Pelham Jewish Center Clifton Rothman .......................... Temple Israel Center of White Plains Joel Rotner.................................... Jewish Community Center of Harrison Judy Sarch..................................... Congregation Kol Ami Jay Irving Selinger ....................... Jewish Home Lifecare/Sarah Neuman Center

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2012 Andrew Benerofe........................ JCC of Mid-Westchester Cheryl Vigder Brause ................. Westchester Jewish Center Brian S. Cohen ............................. Temple Sholom Barry J. Effron ............................... Westchester Jewish Council Michael Gold ............................... Pleasantville Community Synagogue Lesli Klein ..................................... Temple Beth Elohim Samuel Landau............................ Schnurmacher Center for Rehabilitation/Nursing Arlene Lowenstein ..................... Fleetwood Synagogue Mitchell Maller ............................ State of Israel Bonds Cookie Markhoff ......................... The Jewish Education Project Isabel Merrin................................ MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care Susan Pecker ................................ Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Masoud Radparvar ..................... First Hebrew Congregation Evin Rubin..................................... Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Neil Siegel .................................... Greenburgh Hebrew Center Ilissa Warhit .................................. Jewish Student Union Susan Katz Truwit........................ Tzahal Shalom of Northern Westchester Heidi and Lloyd Widom ............ UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester 2011 Ellen Brown .................................. UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester David Fine..................................... Bet Am Shalom Synagogue Jill Goldenberg............................. Pelham Jewish Center Richard Grayson .......................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Wendy Greenberg ...................... Congregation Kol Ami Larry Heligman ........................... Congregation Anshe Sholom Liz Landau .................................... Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Betsy Landis ................................. Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York Lynn Michaels ............................. Temple Beth Shalom - Mahopac Meryl Moser ................................ Shaarei Tikvah Larry Prospect ............................. Sinai Free Synagogue Lew Reznik ................................... Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Susan Rudolph ............................ Community Synagogue of Rye Anne Schaeffer ........................... JCY/Westchester Community Partners Naomi Snider ............................... United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/METNY Sandy Waters............................... DOROT Herbert Weiner............................ Westchester Jewish Community Services Harriett Zeller .............................. Temple Shaaray Tefila of Westchester 2010 Hon. Samuel G. Fredman ......... Lifetime Achievement Award Jane Agdern ................................. Temple Beth Abraham, Tarrytown Ronit Ben-Tov .............................. Tel Aviv Foundation Emily Cohen ................................. Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Susan Darrow & Marty Tanenbaum ...................... Congregation Sulam Yaakov Karen Hertz Everett .................... Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services Barbara Fix .................................... StandWithUs Barry Gold .................................... Rosh Pinah Chavurah of the Rivertowns Malcolm H. Lazarus ................... United Hebrew of New Rochelle Estelle Linz ................................... Temple Israel of Northern Westchester 2010 (continued) Russell Mannis............................. Westchester Day School Edwin A. Margolius .................... Jewish Community Council of Mt. Vernon Barbara & Martin Marks ............ Hebrew Institute of White Plains Leslie Brandeis Novack .............. Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel (KTI) Geralynn C. Reifer ....................... Beth El Synagogue Center Elizabeth & Alison Schnitzer .... UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester Jennifer Shepard.......................... Hillels of Westchester Barbara & John Stern .................. Jewish Family Congregation Bernhard Storch .......................... Jewish War Veterans

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2009 Mona Abramson ......................... David Project Minna & Ken Brown ................... JCC Harrison Naomi Brunnlehrman................. Jewish Deaf Resource Center, Inc. Fred Claar...................................... Board of Jewish Education, Westchester Gerald Cohen & Joel Kudlowitz Scarsdale Synagogue-Temples Tremont and Emanu-El Cantor Erik Contzius ................... Kol Hazzanim: Westchester Community of Cantors Corey Friedlander........................ Woodlands Community Temple Albert Krull ................................... United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/METNY Larry Levy .................................... Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Ira Mines ....................................... Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation Robert Mitgang ........................... Yorktown Jewish Center Ella Newman ................................ Hadassah-Westchester Region Harriet Schleifer .......................... American Jewish Committee Mark Shainker.............................. Temple Israel of New Rochelle Fran & Saul Singer....................... UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester Melody Weisman ....................... Temple Beth Shalom, Mahopac Rosel Wolf .................................... Larchmont Temple Rabbi Neil Zuckerman................ Westchester Board of Rabbis 2008 Special Community Trail Blazer Award Robert Friedland, Eugene Lubin, Roy Stillman, Alan Weissman Cantor Susan Alcott .................. Academy for Jewish Religion Joseph Askinasi ........................... Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel Ron Axelrad ................................. Berkshire Hills Emanuel Camps AnnBeth Cohen ........................... Congregation Anshe Sholom Fredda Cohen .............................. Bet Am Shalom Synagogue Dr. Gary Cohn .............................. Temple Shaaray Tefila, Bedford Corners Drs. Bonnie & Eric Eilen ............. Congregation Kol Ami Carol Fasman ............................... Westchester Jewish Center Karen Spar Kasner ...................... UJA-Federation of NY- Westchester Barbara Korner............................. Sinai Free Synagogue, Mt. Vernon Mel & Marion Lipetz .................. Temple Israel Center Nancy Lonky ................................ JCC on the Hudson Alan Markowitz ........................... Westchester Reform Temple Hildy Martin ................................. Pelham Jewish Center Shelley Rasekh ............................ Magen David Sephardic Congregation Phil Sassoon ................................. Greenburgh Hebrew Center Stanton Selbst.............................. Jewish Council of Yonkers Karen Cherney Zaltz ................... Community Synagogue of Rye 2007 Harold B. Aspis............................ Young Israel of Scarsdale Marilyn Berkowitz....................... Hebrew Institute of White Plains Amanda Bilski ............................. UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester Tova Effron ................................... Westchester Jewish Community Services Terrance A. Elkes ......................... Jewish Outreach Institute Stephanie Garry .......................... Union for Reform Judaism-Greater NY Council Esther Goldman .......................... New Rochelle Jewish Coalition Morris Hartman........................... Beth Emeth Synagogue Ruth Hendel ................................. Jewish Theological Seminary Randee Horowitz ........................ Scarsdale Synagogue-Tremont Temple Amy B. Iles ................................... Jewish National Fund Dr. Mitchell L. Kaphan................ Beth El Synagogue Center Frank Linde ................................... American Jewish Committee Aaron Marcus .............................. UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester Olga Prince................................... Temple Beth Abraham Spencer Rosman ......................... Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Debbie Schiff ............................... Jewish Community Center of Harrison Sylvia Stein ................................... Northeast Jewish Center Marjorie Sunshine ...................... Dorot, Inc

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2006 George Mandel .......................... Distinguished Lifetime Service Award Linda Altabef ............................... Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Ella Badin ...................................... Temple Israel Center Annleah Berger ........................... Congregation Sons of Israel, Briarcliff Manor Rabbi Lester Bronstein ............... Westchester Board of Rabbis Ted Brown .................................... Beth Emeth Synagogue Richard Cohen ............................. Jewish Reconstructionist Federation of Metropolitan NY Laura Copel .................................. Temple Israel of Northern Westchester Alan Ganapol............................... Hazon Joseph Gottlieb ........................... Richard G. Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester Stuart Kolbert............................... Hillels of Westchester Ellen Lewis ................................... Shaarei Tikvah, Scarsdale Deanne Miller .............................. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, METNY Georgene Perlman...................... Temple Beth Shalom, Mahopac Isaac Piha...................................... Magen David Sephardic Congregation Adrienne Price ............................. Florence Melton Adult Mini-School of Westchester Bertram S. Schwarz .................... Board of Jewish Education, Westchester Hon. Adam Seiden ..................... Jewish Community Council of Mt. Vernon Marlene Subit .............................. Sinai Free Synagogue, Mt. Vernon 2005 Lorraine Benowich...................... Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel(KTI) Louise Cohen............................... Westchester Jewish Center Linda Dishner............................... Bet Torah Synagogue Harriet & Joseph Fibel ................ Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Dr. Norman Gordon ................... Beth El Synagogue Center Wendy Greenberg ...................... Temple Beth Shalom Herbert Horn ............................... The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Lynn Kotzen ................................. Beth Emeth Synagogue Andrew Lewin ............................. Youth Centers of Israel, Inc. Civia Mclean ................................ Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy William Poltarak........................... Temple Israel Center David Rosen ................................. Hebrew Institute of White Plains Robin Rosenberg......................... Greenburgh Hebrew Center Helen Schwartz ........................... Lincoln Park Jewish Center Jane Silverman............................. Temple Beth Abraham Janet & Gary Waller .................... Congregation Anshe Sholom Annabelle Wolfzahn ................... Zionist Organization of America Trudy & Jack Goldberg .............. Jewish Family Congregation 2004 Arlette Baker ................................ Temple Shaaray Tefila Alexandra Berdebes ................... The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale Dr. Roger Challop ........................ Jewish Community Council of Mt. Vernon Daniel Fass.................................... Shaarei Tikvah Meg Fienberg .............................. Larchmont Temple Barbara Horowitz ........................ Bikur Cholim of Westchester Harriet Kaplow ............................ Sinai Free Synagogue Laura Leach .................................. Community Synagogue of Rye Dr. Alan Legatt ............................ Zahal Shalom Eric Nodiff .................................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Frances D. Pugatch ..................... Workmen’s Circle Tobi Rogowsky ............................ JCC Harrison Roberta Roos ............................... Woodlands Community Temple Ellen Plum Rosenberg ................ Scarsdale Synagogue-Tremont Temple Dr. Samuel & Myra Ross............ Temple Beth Elohim Lee Schwartz ............................... Congregation Kol Ami Raymond Topkis ......................... Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Franne Manne Weinberg ........... Westchester Jewish Community Services

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2003 Anita Better .................................. Beth El Synagogue Center Arthur Citrin ................................. Jewish Community Council of Mt. Vernon Leonard Fischman....................... Congregation Kol Ami Bruce Freyer ................................. Westchester Jewish Community Services Jonathan Goodblatt .................... Hebrew Institute of White Plains Marilyn & Robert Harris ............ Temple Beth Abraham Joni Jablansky............................... Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Richard Jacobs ............................. Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare & Rehabilitation Nancy Klein .................................. Jewish Council of Yonkers Gertrude Landau......................... Zionist Organization of America Nancy & Bruce Lumish .............. Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel Sue Merims .................................. Congregation Anshe Sholom Bruce Rapkin................................ Bet Am Shalom Synagogue Doris Reich ................................... Fleetwood Synagogue Andrew Rothlein ......................... Jewish Childcare Association/Edenwald Adrienne Silver ............................ Hadassah-Westchester Region Sari Singer .................................... Temple Shaaray Tefila Robert Stone ................................ Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Harriet Kaplan Suvall .................. American Jewish Committee 2002 Dianna Andrus............................. Bikur Cholim of Westchester Monica & Alan Blum.................. Fleetwood Synagogue Ruth & LeRoy Grayson............... Congregation Anshe Sholom Hal B. Greenwald ........................ Jewish Council of Yonkers Bob Gross ..................................... Larchmont Temple Larry Hepner ............................... Temple Beth Elohim Michael Karnes ........................... Temple Beth Abraham Howard Lampert ......................... Beth El Synagogue Center Patricia Lampl .............................. Temple Israel of New Rochelle Arlene Leiter ................................ Community Synagogue of Rye John Lightstone ........................... Hebrew Institute of White Plains Helga Luden ................................ Zionist Organization of America Sylvia Nissen................................ The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale Judd Stern Rosenblatt ................ Zahal Shalom Geralyn Rubenstein .................... JCC Harrison Michael Turek .............................. Young Israel of New Rochelle Judith Uhry ................................... Community Synagogue of Rye Arlyn Vogel .................................. Hadassah-Westchester Region Sherry Wolf .................................. Temple Shaaray Tefila 2001 M. Mac Schwebel ....................... Lifetime Achievement Award Belle Fabel .................................... National Council of Jewish Women Iris & Isadore Farber ................... Congregation M’vakshe Derekh William Gips................................. Zahal Shalom Barbara Gordon ........................... Beth El Synagogue Center Joseph Greenfield ....................... Temple Beth Elohim Helene Handelman .................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Diana Kern .................................... Workmen’s Circle Jeffrey Kleinberg ......................... Young Israel of Scarsdale Janet & Stephen Meyers ........... Community Synagogue of Rye Barbara Morris ............................. Bikur Cholim of Westchester Manfred Moses........................... Westchester Jewish Conference Herbert Ratet ............................... Hebrew Institute of White Plains Neil Rimsky .................................. Westchester Jewish Community Services Carol Scharff ................................ Larchmont Temple David Tantleff............................... Congregation Anshe Sholom Judy & Stephen Underberg....... JCC on the Hudson Barbara Weiss .............................. Jewish Council of Yonkers Susan Weiss ................................. Westchester Jewish Conference

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2000 Rabbi Amiel Wohl ....................... Lifetime Achievement Award Froma Benerofe ........................... UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester William Blumstein ....................... Westchester Reform Temple Ferne Cogan ................................. American Jewish Congress Jane Dubin .................................... Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Thelma Fixler................................ Temple Israel of New Rochelle Glen Hockley ............................... B’nai B’rith, United Mid-Westchester Laure Kaminsky ........................... Zahal Shalom Zina Klang .................................... Temple Shaaray Tefila Evelyth Lewis ............................... Greenburgh Hebrew Center Janet Mauro ................................. Temple Beth Elohim Kenneth May ............................... Beth El Synagogue Center Jay Miller ....................................... Zionist Organization of America Gustave Nathan .......................... Jewish Council of Yonkers Honey Neier ................................ Congregation Anshe Sholom Roy Raizen ................................... JCC of Mid Westchester Marc Schulman ........................... Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy Michael Stolzar............................ Community Synagogue of Rye Alice Weiss................................... Westchester Jewish Center James Woolner ............................ Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare & Rehabilitation Sue Zeidman ............................... JCC Harrison 1999 Bernice & Julie Chaiken ............. Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Carol Corbin ................................. Westchester Jewish Community Services Lawrence Ecker ........................... Greenburgh Hebrew Center Linda Essner ................................. Bikur Cholim of Westchester Florette Ganis............................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Stuart Gordon .............................. JCC Harrison Rita Grunbaum ............................ Larchmont Temple Rindi Klarberg .............................. Congregation B’nai Yisrael Stuart Kolbert............................... UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester David Morris ................................ Fleetwood Synagogue Rose Shuffman ............................ Zionist Organization of America Carol Slotkin ................................. Congregation B’nai Elohim Gloria & Gene Sosin .................. Community Synagogue of Rye Terri Trieger .................................. Westchester Jewish Center Richard Woodrow ....................... Bet Am Shalom Synagogue 1998 Allan Abrahams........................... Bet Am Shalom Synagogue David Arnow ................................ New Israel Fund Sue & John Baer .......................... American Jewish Congress Nir Barzilai .................................... Westchester Jewish Conference Esther Goldman .......................... AMIT Philip Halper ................................ Westchester Jewish Community Services Ernest Hammer ........................... Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Norma Hurwitz ........................... Westchester Jewish Conference Robert Immerman ...................... Larchmont Temple Barbara Kessler ............................ Temple Israel Center Betty & Henry Krakeur............... Congregation Kol Ami Miriam Maderer .......................... Women’s American ORT Abigail Mandel ............................ Workmen’s Circle Bree Robin .................................... Bikur Cholim of Westchester Beth Rosen ................................... Westchester Jewish Conference Jeffrey Simon ............................... Temple Shaaray Tefila Rose Simon .................................. National Council of Jewish Women Sara Trauner ................................. Westchester Jewish Conference

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1997 Froma Benerofe ........................... Westchester Jewish Community Services Julian Bernstein............................ JCC Harrison Laureen Lefkowitz Curry ........... Jewish Family Congregation Yvette & Larry Gralla.................. Woodlands Community Temple Carol Grossman........................... Women’s American ORT Marilyn Heimerdinger ............... Congregation B’nai Yisrael Mala Hermon .............................. Bikur Cholim of Westchester Elliot Kracko ................................. Congregation Anshe Sholom Ellen Lazarus ................................ YW&YMHA of Mid-Westchester Michael Liechtling ...................... Friends of Israeli Disabled War Veterans Harley & Richard Lewis ............. Congregation Kol Ami Rose Lott ...................................... Workmen’s Circle Paula Peck..................................... National Council of Jewish Women Shirley Queen .............................. State of Israel Bonds Ann Schaffer ................................ Bet Am Shalom Synagogue Rabbi Norton Shargel ................. JCC Harrison Robert Schepp............................. Beth El Synagogue Center Allida Stauber .............................. Temple Shaaray Tefila Roy Stillman ................................. Jewish Council of Yonkers 1996 Arnold Bernstein ......................... B’nai B’rith of White Plains Helen Brauner.............................. Women’s American ORT Judith Cohen ................................ Westchester Jewish Conference/Singles Network Bobbie Cohlan ............................. Jewish Family Congregation Mina Crasson ............................... National Council of Jewish Women Donald Fleishaker ....................... UJA-Federation of NY-Westchester Arlene Freudenberger ................ Jewish Community Council of Mt.Vernon Aileen Gluck ................................ American Jewish Congress Norman Goodfarb ...................... JCC on the Hudson Stanley Goodman ....................... Congregation Kol Ami Reta Koch ..................................... Temple Israel of Northern Westchester Barry Konner ................................ Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel George Mandel ........................... Workmen’s Circle Janet Meyers ................................ Community Synagogue of Rye Rita Rosen .................................... Temple Israel of New Rochelle Dr. Richard Rosen........................ Linens for Olim Sherry Salzman ........................... Jewish Women International Philip Schussel ............................. Westchester Jewish Community Services Frances Shahar............................. Beth El Synagogue Center Marilyn Shebshaievitz................ Temple Emanu-El Claire Simpkins ............................ Jewish Council of Yonkers Sanford Stogel ............................. Jewish War Veterans of White Plains Susan Tolchin ............................... JCC on the Hudson Aba Ward ..................................... Zionist Organization of America

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Westchester Jewish Music and Arts Festival Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla (12-6pm) Rain or Shine/Free and Open to All

The Westchester Jewish Council is proud to sponsor this event with the Westchester County Parks Department.

Co-sponsors include the Westchester Klezmer Program, Kol Hazzanim – Westchester Community of Cantors and the Workmen’s Circle.

There will be musical performances and Israeli dancing,a vendor exhibition area including Jewish Art/Judaica and family fun activities Kosher food will be available for purchase...Free parking For more information, contact the Westchester Jewish Council, 914-328-7001 or pam@wjcouncil.org

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The Westchester Jewish Council extends its thanks to the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Committee members: Ron Arsham, Susan Taxin Baer, Betsy Bernstein, Louise Challop, Karen Firestone, Keith Reich, Carolyn Schrier, Mark Teich and Charlotte Yudin for their dedicated efforts.

Special thanks to: • Joni Jablansky for typesetting and layout • Jewish Community Center of Harrison for hosting this event • Roger Denhoff of Beehive Press for his patience and printing • Ken Gellerman of KCLB Ice Cream, Inc. for the delicious ice cream • Will Landin for taking photos of the evening’s events • Temple Sholom of Greenwich Teen Choir led by Cantor Asa Fradkin

Who We Are

The Westchester Jewish Council connects Westchester’s Jewish communities and strengthens relationships among Jewish organizations and other ethnic and faith based groups, elected officials, Israel, and the community at large.

Westchester Jewish Council 701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 203 East – White Plains, New York 10604 Phone: 914-328-7001 • Fax 914-761-6309 • Email: info@wjcouncil.org Website: www.wjcouncil.org Elliot Forchheimer Executive Director

Pam Goldstein Assistant Executive Director

Donna Bartell Program Director

Lisa Itzkowitz Marketing & Communication Director

Alice Tenney WAJE Director

Margo Lampert Financial Administrator

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Member Organizations and Synagogues Member Organizations and Synagogues (as of March, 2016) (as of May, 2014)

Academy for Jewish Religion Academy for Communities Jewish ReligionHelping Israel ACHI-American ACHI AIPAC AJCAIPAC Westchester/Fairfield AJC Westchester Alexander Muss High School in Israel, The (AMHSI) Alexander Muss High School in Israel American Friends of ofHebrew American Friends HebrewUniversity University American Friends of ofIDCMigdal Ohr American Friends American Friends of ofMagen American Friends ReuthDavid Adom American Friends of ofReuth American Friends Soroka Medical Ctr. American Friends of ofSoroka Medical Ctr. American Friends Tel Aviv University American Jewish Joint Distribution American Jewish World Service Committee (JDC) Anti-Defamation League (ADL) American AreyvutJewish World Service Anti-Defamation League (ADL) ARZA Areyvut Bet Am Shalom Synagogue - White Plains Association ReformKisco Zionists of America Bet Torahof- Mount (ARZA) Beth El Synagogue Center - New Rochelle BBYO Bi-Cultural Day School BetBirthright Am Shalom Synagogue Israel Bet(The) TorahBlue - Mount Card Kisco Beth El Synagogue CenterNorth Region B’nai Brith Int’l.-Metro Bi-Cultural DayYouth School B’nai Brith Organization (BBYO) Birthright Israel Community Council Bronx Jewish Blue Card,Academy The Carmel B’nai Brith ofInt’l.

- Metro North Region Chabad Bedford Bronx Jewish Chabad of Community Briarcliff Council, Inc. Camp Zekeof the Rivertowns Chabad Carmel Chai Academy Mitzvah Chabad of Bedford Chavurat Tikvah - Mamaroneck Chabad of Briarcliff and Ossining Children’s Jewish Education Group Chabad of Larchmont & Mamaroneck Community Association for Jewish At-Risk ChabadCemeteries of Rivertowns Chabad of Yonkers Community Synagogue of Rye Chavurat Tikvah Anshe Sholom Congregation Children’s Jewish Education Group New Rochelle Community Alliance forYisrael Jewish-Affiliated Congregation B’nai Armonk Cemeteries (CAJAC) Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Community Synagogue of Rye Rye Congregation Anshe Sholom Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel Congregation B’nai Yisrael Port Chester/Rye Brook Congregation Emanu-El Westchester Congregation Kol Ami of - White Plains Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel Congregation M’vakshe Derekh - (KTI) Scarsdale Congregation KolSons Ami of Israel - Briarcliff Congregation Congregation M’vakshe Derekh Congregation Sons of Israel - Yonkers Congregation Sons of Israel - Briarcliff Congregation Sulam Yaakov - Larchmont Congregation Sons of Israel - Yonkers The David Project Congregation Sulam Yaakov - Larchmont DOROT Council of Jewish Emigré Community First Hebrew Congregation Organizations (COJECO) - Peekskill Fleetwood Synagogue - Mt. Vernon DOROT Friends of Israel Defense Forces First Hebrew Congregation Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc. - Tzofim Fleetwood Synagogue Friends Yad Scouts Sarah, -Inc. Friends of of Israel Tzofim Greenburgh Center -Forces Dobbs Ferry Friends of The Hebrew Israel Defense Hadassah, Westchester Friends of Yad Sarah, Inc. Region Haroldof Grinspoon Foundation/PJ Library Friends Yemin Orde HaZamir Weschester Greenburgh Hebrew Center Hazon Hadassah - Westchester Region HebrewWeschester Congregation of Somers HaZamir Hazon

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Hebrew Congregation of Somers HebrewFree FreeBurial BurialAssociation Hebrew The Hebrew for the Aged at Hebrew HomeHome at Riverdale Riverdale Hebrew Hospital Home Continuum of Care Hebrew WhiteofPlains HebrewInstitute HospitalofHome Westchester Hillels International Hebrew Institute of White Plains Hillels HillelsofofWestchester Westchester Holocaust Holocaust&&Human HumanRights RightsEducation Education Ctr. Ctr. Israel IsraelBonds 21C (Development Corp. for Israel) Israel Bonds J-Street J-Street JCY - Westchester J-Teen LeadershipCommunity Partners Jerusalem U JCY - Westchester Community Partners Jewish Board Jerusalem U of Family and Children’s Services Jewish Board of Family and Children’s JewishServices Broadcasting Service Jewish JewishChild ChildCare CareAssociation Association Jewish JewishCommunity CommunityCenter Centerofof Harrison Harrison Jewish Community Center Jewish Community CenterofonMidthe Hudson Westchester, Jewish CommunityScarsdale Center of MidJewishWestchester, Community Center on the Hudson Scarsdale Jewish JewishCommunity CommunityCouncil Councilofof Mt. Mt. Vernon Vernon Jewish Hard Center of Hearing) JewishDeaf Deaf(and Resource Resource Center, Inc. (JDRC) Jewish Education Project Jewish Project - South Salem JewishEducation Family Congregation Jewish JewishFamily HomeCongregation Lifecare, Sarah Neuman JewishCenter High School of Connecticut Jewish Lifecare, Sarah Neuman JewishHome National Fund of Greater NY Center Jewish Renaissance Experience Jewish National Fund of Westchester and Jewish Student Connection Southern CT Seminary Jewish Theological Jewish JewishRenaissance War VeteransExperience Jewish Seminary of New York JewishTheological Women’s Foundation Jewish War Veterans of the USA/ Justice Brandeis Westchester Law Society Westchester County Kehillat Chaverim - WhiteCouncil Plains Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York Kol Hazzanim – Westchester Jewish J-TeenCommunity Leadershipof Cantors Justice Brandeis Westchester Law Kol Rinah, Westchester CommunitySociety Chorus Kehillat Chaverim Larchmont Temple Kol Hazzanim – Westchester Community Lincoln Park Jewish Center of Cantors Magen David Sephardic Synagogue Kol Rinah, Jewish Chorale of New The Rochelle Westchester Matan Larchmont Temple Mishkan Ha’am - Hastings-on-Hudson Lincoln ParkPark Jewish Center Mohegan Jewish Center Magen David Sephardic Synagogue Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Masorti Foundation for Conservative Moving Traditions Judaism in Israel New Israel Fund Matan New Rochelle Mishkan Ha’amJewish Coalition NortheastPark Jewish Center - Yonkers Mohegan Jewish Center One Family Moishe HouseFund Parentsof ofWestchester North American Israelis Mosaic Pelham Jewish CenterCongregation Mount Kisco Hebrew Plaza Jewish Community Chapel Moving Traditions Pleasantville Community Synagogue New Israel Fund Pound Ridge Jewish Jewish Coalition Community Chavurah New Rochelle Project Kesher Northeast Jewish Center Rabbi Max Maccoby Foundation One Family Reconstructionist RabbinicalIsraelis College Parents of North American Rosenthal JCC Center of No. Westchester Pelham Jewish

PJ Library Rosh Pinah of the Rivertowns Plaza JewishChavurah Community Chapel, Inc. Scarsdale Synagogue – Temples Tremont Pleasantville Community Synagogue Pound Jewish Community andRidge Emanu-El Program for Jewish Health Schnurmacher CenterGenetic for Rehabilitation Project Kesher and Nursing of CenterLight Health RabbiSystems Max Maccoby Foundation Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Shaarei Tikvah - Scarsdale Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester Sinai Free Synagogue - Mt. Vernon Rosh Pinah Chavurah of the Solomon Schechter School of Rivertowns Westchester Scarsdale Synagogue – Temples Tremont StandWithUS Emanu-El Steinand Yeshiva of Lincoln Park Schnurmacher Center for Rehabilitation Tel Aviv Foundation andBeth Nursing Temple Abraham - Tarrytown Shaarei Tikvah Temple Beth Am - Yorktown Hts. Sinai Free Synagogue Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Solomon Schechter School of Westchester - Chappaqua Stand with Us Temple Beth Elohim - Brewster Stein of Lincoln Park TempleYeshiva Beth Shalom - Hastings Tel Aviv-Yafo Foundation Temple Beth Shalom - Mahopac Temple Beth Abraham Temple Israel Center of White Plains Temple Beth Am Temple Israel of New Rochelle Temple Beth El Northern Westchester Temple Israel of ofNorthern Westchester Temple Beth Elohim - Croton on Hudson Temple Beth Shalom Temple Shaaray Tefila -ofHastings Westchester Temple Beth Corners Shalom - Mahopac Bedford Temple Israel Center of White Temple Sholom of Greenwich Plains Temple Israel ofof New Rochelle Tzahal Shalom Northern Westchester Temple of Northern Westchester Union forIsrael Reform Judaism (URJ) Temple Shaaray Tefila of Westchester United Hebrew of New Rochelle Temple Sholom of of Greenwich United Synagogue Conservative Tzahal Shalom of Northern Westchester Judaism/METNY UJA-Federation of NY/Westchester Westchester Association of Hebrew Region UnionSchools for Reform Judaism United Hebrew of New Rochelle Westchester Board of Rabbis United Synagogue of Conservative Westchester Community for Humanistic Judaism/METNY Judaism - Mamaroneck Westchester Association Westchester Day School of Hebrew Schools (WAHS)Association of Westchester/Fairfield Westchester Board of Rabbis Temple Educators - WATE Westchester Community Humanistic Westchester Hebrew Highfor School Judaism Westchester Jewish Center - Mamaroneck Westchester Day School Westchester Jewish Community Services Westchester (WJCS) Hebrew High School Westchester Jewish Center Westchester Klezmer Program, Inc. Westchester Jewish Community Services Westchester Reform Temple - Scarsdale Westchester Klezmer Program, Inc. Westchester Torah Westchester ReformAcademy Temple Woodlands Community Temple Westchester Torah Academy Greenburgh Westchester/Fairfield Association of Workmen’s Circle Branch 1066 Temple Educators (WATE) Yorktown Jewish Center Temple Woodlands Community Young IsraelCircle of Harrison Workmen’s Young Israel of New Rochelle Yorktown Jewish Center Young Israel Young Israel ofof Scarsdale Harrison Young Israel of White Plains Young Israel of New Rochelle Young Judaea Young Israel of Scarsdale Mollie &Israel Jack Zicklin Jewish Young of White PlainsHospice YoungResidence Judaea of MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care Zicklin Jewish Hospice Residence of MJHS Zionist Organization of America Hospice and Palliative Care Zionist Organization of America