Each year at its Annual Meeting of the Westchester Jewish Council, the Council honors 18 volunteers from among its member organizations whose dedication strengthens our community. Honorees are nominated by their organization in a process that begins in the early winter. The ceremony event will take place on May 22, 2013
The award is named after the late Julian Y. Bernstein whose dedication to community remains an inspiration to us all.
The Council and its member organizations, particularly the Jewish Education Project, help the community in its pursuit of life-long learning. A variety of lectures and long-term educational programs are available for all members of the community. Click on READ MORE for 2012-2013 information.
The Council maintains and fosters communications within and external to the Westchester Jewish community. Our website, wjcouncil.org, is the home of the Westchester Jewish community calendar where member organizations can post significant events and learn about other events. The Council also has Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Email communications are sent out on a regularly scheduled and – if needed – emergency basis to the broad leadership of the Jewish community. To be included in our email distribution list, contact our offices.
The Council is the Jewish community’s link to our County’s elected officials, and the County government in turn uses Council resources to communicate with the Jews of Westchester. Programs include the celebration of Westchester’s Jewish History and Heritage Month (sponsored by the Westchester County Board of Legislators), the annual Westchester Legislative Breakfast (co-sponsored with UJA-Federation of New York) as well as other events with our elected officials.
The Council is proud to co-sponsor the annual County-Wide Holocaust Commemoration, along with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. This program includes Holocaust survivors, second generation family members, and elected officials for a moving commemoration. The program is held annually and will be held on Sunday/Yom HaShoah 7, 2013.
To foster understanding and respect among different faith and ethnic communities, the Council is deeply involved in interfaith initiatives and collaborations with other Westchester organizations and our elected officials. Our goal is to build relationships and to encourage understanding and unity. Programs and projects we support include our annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast, co-sponsored with the AJC, the Westchester Interfaith Clergy Network (WICN), and various events on a local level. For more information, contact Nancy Zaro in our office. Nancy@wjcouncil.org
The Council is proud to support “The Rabbi and the Judge,” a regularly scheduled radio show featuring Rabbi Amiel Wohl and Judge Samuel G. Fredman. These two founders of the Westchester Jewish Council discuss important issues of the day on Mondays at 1:00 PM on WVOX – 1460 AM. They are available to present programs for our member organizations. For booking information, contact our office.
The Council facilitates ongoing “Roundtables” where lay and professionals leaders gather to build bonds and share best practices on a variety of topics and issues. These sessions help to improve the sharing of information and the deepening of communication among a cross-section of our community.
Our Jewish community security initiative helps to provide safety awareness and training to Westchester synagogues, Jewish Day Schools and other Jewish organizations. As the first responder in the Jewish community, we maintain vigilance through ongoing communications, workshops and seminars, often shared with our partner organizations. With a top priority of protecting the Westchester Jewish community, we work closely with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of New York, the Westchester County Police, the Office of the Westchester District Attorney and local police departments.
Helping others is an important Jewish value. Our Council and our member organizations provide meaningful opportunities to engage volunteers. Thousands of people devote countless hours each year to the betterment of the community whether they work on “mitzvah projects” or serve on various committees.
The Council supports not only current leaders of the community but also those of the future. Working with the Jewish Education Project, we support the roundtable for youth professional and volunteer leadership. Our goal is to increase youth engagement in the Jewish community and to teach the values of Judaism including service and philanthropy.
DOROT 37th Annual Spring Benefit honoring Diane Katzin & Rick Kurnit and their daughter, Katrina Kurnit with a performance by cabaret singer, Carole J. Bufford
