Benefits

Some free benefits* of Council membership (as of October 2019):

  • Send representative(s) to our signature Roundtables, tailored to the specific roles of professionals and volunteers in your organization so that they can learn from presenters, share best practices, and create relationships.  Roundtables exist for almost all functions of synagogue and organizational professionals and volunteers. In addition, Roundtables exist for Israel Lone Soldier families, leaders of the LGBTQ community, Israelis, and more. Roundtables are a key initiative of the Council with outstanding attendance and outcomes.
  • Access the Council staff’s and volunteers’ expertise and connections to enhance your organization’s visibility and programming and benefit from personal entrée to our Westchester and vicinity network of 140 organizations.
  • Enhance your organization’s Security.  The Council is Westchester Jewry’s center of communication regarding matters of security. Through the Council, you are able to access the expertise of the Westchester Intelligence Center and the Department of Homeland Security. Your designated security liaisons are invited to workshops, including a special High Holyday briefing, and trainings with professionals and are regularly updated on security matters, including grant opportunities. Designate up to 3 people to be notified by our unique Westchester Emergency Communication System. A full-time security professional, housed in our office, and funded by UJA, is available for consultations to our member organizations.
  • Appear in our Connect-ory.  This is the community’s GO TO resource, providing a directory of Jewish organizations and synagogues, as well as contact information for Westchester’s elected officials. The Connect-ory, which is updated biennially, is distributed to over 7,000 leaders and is also available online at our website and linked to in our biweekly e-newsletter.
  • Highlight your organization’s mission, events, and photos as well as post job openings in our bi-weekly e-mail newsletter, Community Connection.  The e-newsletter reaches 8,000 households across the county and vicinity.  Also, input your events into our Westchester Community Calendar on our website.  The calendar is a resource to county residents interested in Jewish happenings in the county and facilitates the scheduling of non-conflicting events.
  • Join the Council’s online community – The Council administers a Facebook page as well as a Westchester Jewish Council Facebook group.  The Council also is active on Instagram.  Coming soon:  Our brand new website designed to better serve our member organizations.
  • Provide training to one or two of your emerging leaders via the Samuel G. Fredman Leadership Development Institute (LDI).  This is a biennial leadership training institute open only to leaders nominated from our member organizations.
  • Develop relationships with our local elected officials who regularly attend many of our events and who consider the Council a main point of contact with the Jewish community.  Of special note are our Government Legislative Breakfasts co-hosted with UJA.
  • Nominate a volunteer from your organization to be recognized at our annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony.  Approximately 20 recipients are honored each year for their dedicated volunteer efforts at an event attended by over 400 that is free and open to the community and concludes with a lavish dessert reception.
  • Promote your organization with a display table at 3 of our most widely attended events:
    • The annual Westchester Jewish Music and Arts Festival at the Kensico Dam Park in August is a family friendly festival that attracts over 1,200 attendees who come to enjoy musical performances, dancing, buy Jewish art, jewelry, and Judaica, and eat summertime food treats.
    • Night of Jewish Learning & Celebration/ Night of Jewish Music & Joy. On alternate years, the Council presents a night of learning in partnership with the Westchester Board of Rabbis and a night of music in partnership with Kol Hazzanim: Westchester Community of Cantors.  These events are attended by over 400 county residents.
  • Send a representative(s) to our annual fall Westchester Leadership Reception attended by Israel and local elected officials and local celebrities.
  • Participate in Westchester’s Jewish History and Heritage Month.  In May, the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the Council sponsor an award ceremony where select member organizations are officially recognized by the County Board of Legislators.  Apart from the ceremony, awardees are highlighted on the huge electronic board at the County Center.
  • Promote Israel and March in the annual Celebrate Israel parade in NYC with our Westchester cluster as well as be represented in Westchester’s mega Yom HaAtzmaut celebratory events
  • Take advantage of other opportunities to promote your organization such as presenting to our 70-member Board, participating in Council sponsored events celebrating Israel and commemorating the Holocaust, with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, as well as the annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast with AJC.

Please contact Helene Schonbrun, Engagement and Special Projects, with any questions – 914-328-7001 x106 or by email at helene@wjcouncil.org.

(*benefits subject to change)