Community Corner
Jewish Group Honors Local Pols
Elected officials, past and present, honored for good works on behalf of northeast Queens Jewish community
In a room buzzing with praise, the area's Jewish community came together to honor the hard work and dedication of several New Yorkers who they said truly made a difference through the years.
"Today is Rosh Chodesh Adar, the beginning of the most joyous month on the Jewish Calendar … What greater joy than to celebrate the achievements, past, present and future of the Jewish Community Council,” said Rabbi Manny Behar during his invocation given at an award ceremony to honor several Queens politicians at Parker Jewish Institute in New Hyde Park.
The event, held by the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council, honored Queens Borough president Helen Marshall, Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, and former 26th District Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza, recognized for their outstanding service to the northeast Queens community.
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“The leaders of this organization [NEQJCC] and I go way back and it is a pleasure to join all of you here today to celebrate such a happy occasion,” said Marshall as she accepted her award.
Other honorees recognized were longtime Samuel Field Y volunteers Danielle Schaefer and Andrea Gavora, who both received the Rivka Fox Youth Awards for their dedication to serving the community.
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“I want to thank everyone at the Y who helped shape me into the woman I am today,” Gavora said during her acceptance speech. “Working at the Y all these years helped me cultivate my passion for children,” a tearful Schaefer added.
Sunday's celebration also featured the installation of this year’s NEQJCC officers, who were sworn in by Justice Siegal of Queens.
Over the next 12 months, office holders will include Jack Friedman, elected to a third term as president, Corey Bearak, re-elected to a 13th term as the chair of the executive committee, vice presidents Helene Zaro, Ethel Levine and Corinne Steel, treasurer Dennis Novick, secretary Ed Harap, and trustees Dr. Steven Goodman, Jeffrey Gurdus and Ron Shafran.
Perhaps the biggest honors of the afternoon were bestowed upon the Parker Jewish Center, which opened its facilities up to the NEQJCC for Sunday's event.
“The [Parker] Institute is thrilled they allowed us to be part of such a wonderful day... We've sponsored this event for many years now, but this was the first time we got to host,” said Stuart Almer, executive vice president of the Parker Institute.
Though for Bearak, master of ceremonies for Sunday's reception the honor was shared by all attendees.
"Today event shows the wide breadth of involvement the Council has within the community," he said.
The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council is an association of religious, educational, fraternal, and community groups. For more info about the NEQJCC, visit northeastqueensjewish.org.