UJC/Jewish Federations announce 20 semifinalists in First Annual Jewish Community Hero Awards

UJC/THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES 20 SEMIFINALISTS IN FIRST ANNUAL JEWISH COMMUNITY HERO AWARDS 

Online Polls Close With More than 500,000 Votes Placed for 430 Nominees Across the Continent 

October 13, 2009

UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America today announced the 20 semifinalists for the First Annual Jewish Community Hero Awards, which has generated an overwhelming response across the continent. 

The semifinalists were chosen by the public via an open, online selection process that received more than 570,000 votes. In just over eight weeks, individuals across North America nominated 430 heroes from all walks of Jewish life. More than 60 partner organizations, including Jewish Federations throughout North America, are participating. 

A panel of 10 judges will select the Jewish Community Hero of the Year along with four additional finalists, who will be announced at this fall’s General Assembly (GA) in Washington, D.C., which takes place Nov. 8-10. The Jewish Community Hero will receive $25,000 to put toward his or her work.  

“On behalf of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America, we’d like to thank everyone who nominated a hero or voted for a hero – you have made the First Annual Jewish Community Hero Awards a tremendous success,” said Adam Smolyar, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications, UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America.  

“Most of all, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to all of the nominees, the heroes of our communities, who contribute invaluably to our collective well-being. You inspire so many people in so many ways.”   

Smolyar also congratulated the semifinalists. “It’s in the judges’ hands now, and we eagerly await their decisions.”      

The 20 semifinalists are as follows:           

• Eli Backman, College Park, MD
• Devora Benjamin, Brooklyn, NY
• Yonah Bookstein, Los Angeles, CA
• Alex Budnitsky, Brooklyn, NY
• Rabbi Moishe Engel, Long Beach, CA
• Rabbi Mannis Friedman, St. Paul, MN
• Aryeh Goldsmith, Brooklyn, NY
• Pearl Krasnjansky, Honolulu, HI
• Bentzion Kravitz, Los Angeles, CA
• Chaim Lazaroff, Houston, TX
• William Levin, Brooklyn, NY
• Mendel Rivkin, New Orleans, LA
• Mike Rovinsky, St. Louis, MO
• Rabbi Mendel & Raizy Rubin, Albany, NY
• Rabbi Levi Shemtov, West Bloomfield, MI
• Rabbi Ephraim Simon, Teaneck, NJ
• Ari Teman, New York, NY
• Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, Cambridge, MA
• Shmuly Yankowitz, New York, NY
• Benny Zippel, Salt Lake City, UT 

The panel of judges will vote for five finalists from this group, who show exceptional qualities and commitment that exemplify the mission of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America: strengthening the Jewish community, and the ideals of tikkun olam (repairing the world). The individual who receives the highest number of votes from the judges will be named the Jewish Community Hero of the Year.  

“The Jewish Community Hero Awards’ 430 outstanding nominees demonstrate that there are so many ways, both big and small, to be a hero,” said Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America.

“Indeed, the diversity of important issue areas in which the nominees work is a reminder that countless opportunities exist for all to help others,” he added.  “Community service and volunteerism hold our communities together. With that spirit in mind, I’m excitedly looking forward to the announcement of the Jewish Hero of the Year and four other finalists honored at the GA.”   

The GA is the premier annual North American Jewish conference, attracting Federation lay leaders and professionals as well as the leadership of partner organizations and other important national Jewish organizations. 

This year's GA – with the theme, "Remember When Anything Was Possible? It Still Is" – will emphasize community service and volunteerism, and the Jewish Hero of the Year and four finalists will play a central role in the proceedings. The GA will include a plenary announcement honoring the winners, the Hero of the Year will take part in a media presentation, and GA participants will have an opportunity to meet the Jewish Community Hero of the year at the UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America booth. For more information on the GA, please visit: www.ujc.org/ga.  

The Jewish Community Heroes initiative is part of a broad effort by UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America to promote public service throughout the entire Jewish community. The effort includes service projects, outreach initiatives and tools that help Federations develop and promote service activities. 

Visit the Jewish Community Heroes Web site at www.jewishcommunityheroes.org. 

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