Major Programs
ANNUAL GALA
47th Anniversary Gala
The Council’s Annual Gala was held in person on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, NY. We honored Pam and Bruce Wexler, Steven L. Young and Alan Weissman of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, LLC. Click here for more photos. To view the journal, please click here.
To view the video of honorees speeches and member organization tributes, click here.
46th Anniversary Gala
The Council’s Annual Gala was held in person and virtually on Saturday, February 5th, 2022 at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, NY. We honored Marc Klee and Jen Sokol, Council Board members and RPW Group, Inc., Robert P. Weisz and Andrew Weisz. Six13 entertained us with their music.
45th Anniversary Gala
The Council’s Annual Gala was held virtually on January 30, 2021. We honored Council President, Lisa Roberts, Harriet Kaplan Suvall and Marc Suvall. Entertainment included a welcome message from WABC meteorologist Lee Goldberg and music from Broadway actor Bruce Sabbath and Music Director, Dan Micciche.
This event brings together the community for fun and entertainment while raising necessary funds for the ongoing work of the Council including coordinating our community wide effort to fight hate, build bridges and secure Jewish Westchester.
To view the Gala video in its entirety, please click here.
To view the 2021 Online Gala Journal, please click here.
44th Anniversary Gala
To view the entire Gala Journal 2020, click WJC 44th Anniversary Journal Final Lo-Res
To listen to the honorees speeches, click here.
List of past honorees:
| Debra Abrahams Weiner |
| Lisa Roberts |
| Sue Baer, Sheila Friedland, Stuart Kolbert |
| Joyce Claar and Marty Rogowsky |
| Ron Burton |
| Nancy Zaro and Martine Fleischman |
| Elliot Forchheimer |
| William Schrag and Harriet Schleifer |
| Paul Warhit and Jeff Kohn |
| Betsy Bernstein, Michael Karnes and Gary Trachten |
| Tracy Bilski, Elizabeth Lampert and Harry Mamaysky |
| The Singer Family, David Alpert and Arlene Kleinberg |
| Lisa Roberts, Harriet Kaplan Suvall and Mark Suvall
Marc Klee. Jen Sokol and RPW Group, Inc., Robert P. Weisz and Andrew Weisz
Pam and Bruce Wexler, Steven L. Young and Alan Weissman of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, LLC |
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This biennial program brings together emerging volunteer leaders from various member synagogues and organizations with a goal of developing future leaders. It provides access to established leaders who present on a range of topics and it creates a network of peers who can exchange ideas about common issues. The current cohort includes 18 participants who began their training in January 2022. These emerging volunteer leaders meet monthly to learn about a variety of leadership topics including “Introductions and Getting to know Westchester” by David Eppinger and Elliot Forchheimer, “Engagement” presented by Rachel Klein and “Marketing” presented by Stu Seltzer. The Institute was recently named in memory and of the 3rd president of the Westchester Jewish Council, the Hon. Samuel G. Fredman.
The Class of 2019/2020
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How do we thank our community volunteers?
Every spring, the Westchester Jewish Council honors deserving member organizations and their leaders with the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award (DSA). Julian Y. Bernstein was a former Westchester Jewish Council board member, who was a visionary communal leader. Julian believed that doing tzedakah was just as important as giving tzedakah. In tribute to his passion and devotion to the Jewish community, we honor those who follow in his footsteps. Member organizations are invited to nominate an honoree from within their organization whose dedication and leadership has enriched our Westchester community.
This year’s program took place on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
The 2023 honorees:
AJC Westchester/Fairfield ……………………………………………..Stephne Behrend
Beth El Synagogue Center ………………………………………………Alan Greenberg
Community Synagogue of Rye ……………………………………………. Susan Zeitlin
Congregation Anshe Sholom …………………………………….Morris Schoeneman
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester …………………………………. Jane Meryll
Congregation Kol Ami……………………………………………………. Alison Gilmore
DOROT …………………………………………………………………………….Linda Levine
First Hebrew Congregation …………………………………………………Fran Olmsted
Greenburgh Hebrew Center …………………………………………………Bruce Segall
Hillels of Westchester ………………………………………………….. Michael Scheffler
JCC of Mid-Westchester ……………………………………………………James F. Lasser
The Leffell School …………………………………………………………. Allison Kellman
Pleasantville Community Synagogue …………………………………Robert Marshak
Shaarei Tikvah ……………………………………………………………… Lauren Lappen
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester ………………………………. Norma Klein
Temple Israel Center of White Plains …………………………… Jonathan Shankman
Temple Shaaray Tefila of Bedford ………………………………………………. Ira Russo
UJA Federation of NY / Westchester Region ……………………………Ben Messafi
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism ……………………………Ron Arsham
Westchester Jewish Community Services ………………………………Meira Fleisch
Westchester Jewish Council ………………………………………………..Dan Reingold
To view the gallery of photos, please click here – DSA Photo Album 2023
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For a history of past Julian Y. Bernstein Award Recipients, please click here.
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The Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration 2023 is scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Beth El Synagogue Center. Register here.
The Biennial Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration took place virtually on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. There were 20 different class offerings from 20 different Rabbis with over 350 registrants taking part in this community learning experience. We would like to thank the Westchester Board of Rabbis and the following Rabbis who made this a meaningful and successful event:
- Rabbi David Schuck, Beth El Synagogue Center
- Rabbi Zack Sitkin, Beth El Synagogue Center
- Rabbi Evan Hoffman, Congregation Anshe Sholom
- Rabbi Joshua Strom, Congregation B’nai Yisrael
- Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, Congregation Emanu-El
- Rabbi Ben Goldberg, Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel
- Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center
- Rabbi Shoshana Leis, Hebrew Congregation of Somers & Pleasantville Community Synagogue
- Rabbi Jennifer Goldsmith, Jewish Education Project
- Rabbi Harry Pell, The Leffell School
- Rabbi Solomon Hoffman, Mishkan Ha’am
- Rabbi Daniel Sayani, Plaza Jewish Community Chapel
- Rabbi Jeffrey Brown, SSTTE
- Rabbi Sara Freidson, Temple Beth Shalom Mahopac
- Rabbi Josh Lookstein, Westchester Day School
- Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Westchester Reform Temple
- Rabbi Fredda Cohen, White Plains Hospital
- Rabbi Nuriel Klinger, Young Israel of Scarsdale
- Rabbi Molly Karp
The 2019 Night of Learning took place on November 23, 2019 at Beth El Synagogue Center, presented by the Westchester Board of Rabbis and Westchester Jewish Council. With 31 Rabbis and hundreds of community members in attendance, the night was a wonderful way for the community to connect through learning and celebrating. Thank you to the Westchester Board of Rabbis for presenting this biennial program along with the Council. Special thanks to Beth El Synagogue Center for hosting and to Rabbi Ethan Tucker of Council member Hadar for presenting the community lecture to conclude the evening.
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The joy of music brought us together on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Over 400 people gathered together to hear the beautiful voices of the Kol Hazzanim/The Cantors of Westchester. We were thrilled that we could host this program once again in person. Thank you to all of the participating cantors for illuminating the room with your songs and to Westchester Reform Temple for hosting.
The following Cantors/Hazzanim took part this year:
Gaby Schvartz, Beth El Synagogue Center, Margot Goldberg, Temple Beth Abraham, Mia Fram Davidson, Westchester Reform Temple, Melanie Cooperman, Community Synagogue of Rye, Chair Kol Hazzanim Robin Joseph, Temple Beth Shalom of Hastings, Amanda Kleinman, Westchester Reform Temple, Event Co-chair, Lilah Sugarman, Congregation B’nai Yisrael, Shoshi Levin Goldberg, Temple Israel Center of White Plains, Danielle Rodnizki, Westchester Reform Temple, Meredith Stone, Congregation Emanu-el, Jack Mendelson, Temple Israel Center of White Plains, Isaac Sonett-Assor, Westchester Reform Temple ,Anna May, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Rita Glassman, Temple Israel of New Rochelle, Fredda Mendelson, Larchmont Temple, Event Co-chair Lauren Phillips Fogelman, Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, Katie Oringel, Larchmont Temple, Ethan Goldberg, Westchester Jewish Center, Ellen Dreskin, Sarah Zemel, Melissa Puius
The biennial Night of Music and Joy took place virtually on Saturday, November 21, 2020 and was attended by over 600 people. Presented by the Westchester Jewish Council and the talented Cantors of Kol Hazzanim – the Cantors of Westchester, the theme of the evening’s music was “Together at Home”. The night began with a lovely Havdalah service and then transitioned into the concert which showcased a beautiful mix of Broadway tunes, spiritual, and traditional music.
Click here to view photos from the 2016 event.
Click here to view 2014 event photos
Click here to view 2012 event photos
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The Westchester Jewish Council celebrates Jewish History & Heritage Month at an annual event hosted by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
In 2019, we honored Anti Defamation League – Evan Bernstein, NY/NJ Regional Director and John B. Harris, National Executive Committee Member and J-Teen Leadership
