NJ.com posted a write-up on the 60th annual Union County Dinner Dance in Springfield, N.J. event. The event was attended by more than 160 people and a number of awards were handed out to outstanding B’nai B’rith and community members.
The award recipients were noted in the story, and are as follows: Master Of A Good Name Leadership Award winner Kenneth Lavroff, Women Of Valor Award winner Davida Berkowitz, Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award winner Miriam Gershwin, Young Leadership Award winner Adam Levoy, and Joseph Tenenbaum, Lodge President and recipient of the B’nai B’rith Lifetime Service Award and 50 year members’ pin.
B’nai B’rith of Union County hosted its 60th annual dinner dance on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael in Springfield. Over 160 people attended.
The honorees were feted at a gala dinner dance, which has been held by B’nai B’rith of Union County for the past 60 years. “Each of our honorees has made a unique contribution to the life of our community here in New Jersey and we are proud to honor them and acknowledge their commitment” said Ross who, as a member of the B’nai B’rith International Executive Committee, also brought greetings on behalf of B’nai B’rith International.
The honorees were feted at a gala dinner dance, which has been held by B’nai B’rith of Union County for the past 60 years. “Each of our honorees has made a unique contribution to the life of our community here in New Jersey and we are proud to honor them and acknowledge their commitment” said Ross who, as a member of the B’nai B’rith International Executive Committee, also brought greetings on behalf of B’nai B’rith International.
Miriam Gershwin is a survivor of the Holocaust. During the war, at great personal risk, and while seeming to work for the Nazi’s, she delivered messages from one ghetto to another keeping each community informed of what was going on at the other. After the war, because of her language skills, she aided the American Joint Distribution Committee helping to resettle many displaced persons. Later she came to America, settled in Springfield along with her late husband Naum, also a Holocaust survivor, and their son Sam. She was one of the founding members of Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael of Springfield and a tireless worker for the synagogue’s sisterhood and Hadassah.
Joe Tenenbaum, was honored with the Lifetime Service Award and also received a 50 year member pin for his dedicated service to B’nai B’rith. Joe has been the longtime President of the Union County Lodge, serves as a V.P. on the B’nai B’rith Tri-State Regional Board, the Board of the Elin-Unger Post 273 of the Jewish War Veterans, is a life member of Hadassah, a member of Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael of Springfield and a member of the Senior Set of Congregation Israel of Springfield. Joe was honored for his over 50 years of service to the community and to B’nai B’rith.
Davida Berkowitz, the 2016 Eshet Chayil Award recipient is the Executive Director of Congregation Beth Israel of Scotch Plains. Davida is a graduate of the Solomon Schechter Day School and has worked as a Jewish professional for over 19 years. Davida was recognized for her ongoing committment to the Jewish community in her work as a synagogue professional.
Kenneth Lavroff, the recipient of this year’s Keter Shem Tov Leadership Award is the owner/manager of Deli King in Clark, N.J.. Ken was honored for his continuous efforts in serving our community for the past 32 years, including feeding our volunteers on Super Sunday, supplying holiday dinners to families in need after 9/11 and in supporting B’nai B’rith and other community service organizations.
Adam Levoy, the fifth honoree this year, was presented with the B’na’ B’rith Young Leadership Award for his work on behalf of the Young Leadership Network (YLN) of B’nai B’rith. Adam currently serves as the groups Chairperson and was a participant in the 2015 B’nai B’rith Young Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. and accompanied the YLN group trip to Japan in March 2016 as a guest of the Japanese Government.
B’nai B’rith is an international Jewish service organization which has been serving our communities for over 170 years and is currently found in over 50 countries. For more information about B’nai B’rith you can contact Mark Ross, c/o P.O. Box 111, Springfield, N.J. 07081.
