Inside Philanthropy – Fall 2021
Ready, Set, Dream!
Over 200 athletes from across the tri-state area participated in The IVDU Dream Triathlon at the American Dream mall in New Jersey in May. An epic run-swim-cycle competition, the event raised awareness and over $100,000 in support of Yachad’s the Marilyn and Sheldon David IVDU Boys and Girls Upper Schools for Orthodox Jewish individuals with disabilities. Photo: Dmitriy Kalinin
Over the Edge
OU Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph rappelled down the Tower at Nassau Community College, a 146-foot high building, at New York NCSY’s Over the Edge rappelling event this past May, which raised $30,000 to support the region’s programming. Photo: Abbie Salamone
You can only safely step off a ledge if you trust those who are supporting you. As a new member of the OU team, I’m grateful for our supporters, both professional and volunteer, and was confident in their backup.
– Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, OU Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Hole in One
Mike Lemay (left) of Reset IV, an IV therapy service, with Las Vegas NCSYer Idan Malka, who is measuring the distance of Lemay’s golf ball. The ball landed just eighteen inches short of a hole-in-one at Las Vegas NCSY’s inaugural golf tournament, held last April. The brain-child of the Silver family of Las Vegas and presented in partnership with Reset IV CEO Daniel Rubenstein, the tournament raised $30,000 for the Las Vegas chapter, with forty-eight golfers competing.
The tournament also marked the official announcement of the region’s Scholarship Campaign, held in June, which raised $120,000 to send NCSYers in Las Vegas on NCSY Summer programs in Israel.
And the Winner Is…
From left: OU-JLIC Brooklyn College alumnus Moishe Wolbrum; Shea and Esti Neuman, parents of alumni; and alumna Deeni Mayer perusing the prizes at OU-JLIC Brooklyn College’s Seventh Annual Year in a Day Auction. Sponsored in memory of Bella and Marty Wolf by their children, the evening, attended by 300 students, friends, family and alumni, raised $75,000 in support of Orthodox Jewish life on campus. Photo: Mod Schwalbe
Over the past year, OU-JLIC has been constantly devising new, creative ways to support Jewish students on campus while ensuring their safety.
– Yael, OU-JLIC student at Cornell
Back Yard Bash
Yachad member Jake Rosenthal (center) joined performers (from left) Benny Friedman, Mordechai Shapiro, Shulem Lemmer and Eli Schwebel on stage at Yachad’s Backyard VIP Concert, held this past May in Lawrence, New York. Hosted by Ruthy and Aaron Jungreis at their home and sponsored by the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, the outdoor concert attracted 250 people, and was later watched virtually by 20,000 viewers. The event raised $275,000 to support and expand Yachad’s programming on Long Island and around the US. Photo: Michael Drandoff
Yasher Koach!
Yachad New England’s Virtual Gala, held in May, raised over $80,000 in support of the region’s programming. The evening honored Keter Shem Tov Awardees Dr. Jamie and Loren Rosenzweig, Dor L’Dor Awardees Mike and Rissy Hirsh and Family, Women’s Leadership Awardee Jaimie Ballon and Rising Star Awardee Rena Weinberg. Forty high school seniors who participated in Yachad programs in 2020 and 2021 were honored as well.
OU-JLIC Cornell students walked, ran and even unicycled a 5K around Cornell’s Collegetown campus last May, raising $12,812 for their campus’ activities.
OU-JLIC West’s energetic campaign in May raised over $80,000 from students and alumnae in general funds for OU-JLIC programming on campuses in the region, which include UCLA, Santa Monica College, Western University, CSUN, Pierce College and Valley College.
Highlights of the NCSY Gala
Showcasing decades of NCSY’s impact, the annual NCSY Gala, held at the Marina Del Ray in the Bronx, New York this past June, raised over $670,000 in support of NCSY’s programs across North America, Chile, Argentina and Israel. The evening also included the announcement of an annual scholarship for NCSY’s Camp Maor in memory of Ari Kahn, z”l, at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Ben Zakkai Honor Society Scholarship Reception, held concurrently with the Gala. Photos: Josh Weinberg
From left: OU National Vice President and NCSY Youth Commission Co-Chairman Laizer Kornwasser; OU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph; NCSY National Development Director Tiffany Yankovich; Guest of Honor Becky and Avi Katz; NCSY International Director Rabbi Micah Greenland; OU President Moishe Bane; and OU Chairman of the Board and NCSY Youth Commission Chairman Mitchel Aeder.
From left: Mr. Kornwasser, Mr. Bane, Mr. Aeder, Rabbi Dr. Joseph, Rabbi Greenland, Stephen Wallach, Distinguished Service Awardee Miriam L. Wallach of the Nachum Segal Network (NSN), Staci Segal, and Distinguished Service Awardee Nachum Segal of NSN.
From left: Mr. Kornwasser, Mr. Aeder, Rabbi Dr. Joseph, Mr. Bane, Champion of the Jewish Future Awardee Mike Leven, Rabbi Greenland, and Southern NCSY Director of Special Projects Evan Levitt.
OU Benefactor Circle Coordinator and Ben Zakkai Liaison Elaine Grossman (left) and NCSY National Youth Commission Member and Ben Zakkai Reception Co-Chair Vivian Luchins (right) present the Dedicated Service Award to Isabelle Novak.
From left: Mrs. Luchins; Ben Zakkai Awardees Leah (Feuerstein) and Rabbi Daniel Feldman; Yeshiva University Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky; NCSY Managing Director Rabbi Moshe Benovitz; Rabbi Greenland; and BZ Reception Co-Chair Dr. David Luchins.
Over the years, we’ve seen the impact NCSY’s programs have had on our next generation of young people. NCSY is value-based, dedicated to Jewish learning, and strives to provide young people with the skills they need to be our next generation of communal leaders.
We’re proud to be a part of it.
—Avi and Becky Katz, Guests of Honor
Awardee Bernie [Marcus] and I believe it’s critical to support our young people and provide them with knowledge and inspiring experiences that will have a lasting impact for generations.
—Mike Leven, Champion of the Jewish Future Awardee