The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council [NEQJCC] unanimously elected Corey B. Bearak, Esq.,Chairman of the Council's Executive Committee, at its last meeting June 9, 2003 at the Samuel Field YM&YWHA in Little Neck, announced NEQJCC President Jeff Gurdus.

Bearak, the Council's Delegate from Temple Sholom in Floral Park, also serves as Executive Vice President of the Queens Jewish Community Council. He currently maintains a private practice in law, serves as a consultant to public officials and institutions, and writes a weekly column on public policy.  Bearak previously served more than two decades in government.  He joined Bronx Borough President Ferrer's staff February 1, 1999 as Legislative Counsel.  For Mr. Ferrer, his primary responsibilities included developing issues and proposing new initiatives and counseling the Borough President on legislation and policy.  Since January, 2002, Corey served Mr. Ferrer's successor, Adolfo Carrion Jr. as Director of Planning, Policy and Budget. Before heading to the Bronx, Corey served more than 16 years as Counsel/Chief of Staff to a northeast Queens City Councilman.  Active in many community organizations, Bearak's involvement's include the borough-wide Queens Civic Congress [a founder, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and founding chair of its special committee on Creedmoor], the North Bellerose Civic Association [Past-President and Newsletter editor], Temple Sholom of Eastern Queens [Delegate to Queens and Northeast Queens JCCs, Vice President, 1986-1988, and Brotherhood President, 1984-1986].  His most recent projects include founding director of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Conservancy and founding Co-Chair of the Eastern Queens NORC-WOW (naturally occurring retirement community without walls).  His political involvement includes 13 terms as President as President of the northeast Queens based regular Democratic organization Queens County Line Democratic Association and board member of the Eastern Queens, and United for Progress Democratic Clubs.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hofstra University School of Law Alumni Association. He has managed or coached teams including his son or daughter in the Glen Oaks Little League since 1992, including three district champions.  Bearak served on Community School Board 26 from 1989 to June 1993 and Community Board 13 from 1980 to 1988, 2001 to present. Corey helped found the Northern Queens Health Coalition, was its first chairman and wrote its original By-Laws.

In 1988, the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council honored Bearak with its Outstanding Service to the Northeast Community Award. Congresswoman Nita Lowey presented Bearak with a Congressional Certificate of Merit and Assembly Members Mark Weprin and Ann Margaret Carrozza also presented an NYS Assembly Citation for Bearak.  In 1997, he received the Community Service Award from the Young Israel of New Hyde Park and Citation of Honor from Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.  Before joining city government, he previously served as an Assistant to then Secretary of State Mario Cuomo and in the Office of Bronx District Attorney Mario Merola.

Under Bearak's leadership the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council implemented a Neighborhood Development Program including the design of the brochure You Can Have It All!, a Lay Leadership Committee and collaborated with the Samuel Field Y in the establishment of the N'areinu Hebrew High School and programs in Jewish Continuity.

Born in Forest Hills, Corey attended P.S. 191, J.H.S. 172, Martin Van Buren High School and earned a B.A. in Political Science and J.D. at Hofstra. With his wife, the former Rachelle Confino, Corey resides in Bellerose with sixteen-year-old Jonathan and fourteen-year-old Marisa.

The Council's Installation of its Officers and Awards Breakfast takes place, Sunday, November 2, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at Bellerose Jewish Center in Floral Park.  This year the Council presents its Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Greater New York to Dr. Sandra Alfonsi [Jewish Center of Bayside Hills], Past Presdent of Queens Jewish Community Council and Queens Region Hadassah and about to be elected National Vice President of Hadassah.  The Council presents its Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Northeast Queens to Past President, Joseph M. Varon [Young Israel of New Hyde Park], an educator and environmentalist.

The next Council program, a forum to address Hate Crimes, take place Sunday, June 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the Torah Center of Hillcrest Manor.

NEQJCC, an association of 30 synagogues and other religious, education, fraternal and community organizations, covers Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hillcrest Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village (north). Council projects include Project Liberty, neighborhood development, Jewish continuity, Lay Leadership, social action, fostering intergroup understanding and building a multi-cultural coalition.  The Council combats anti-Semitism and discrimination, sponsors forums with major public figures, Jewish cultural events, open discussions with local Rabbis and represents community concerns.  The Council publishes a (4-fold 8.5 by 14-inch) brochure, You Can Have It All, touting life in northeast Queens communities, including a map locating its member synagogues and institutions.  Its website, www.northeastqueensjewish.org, features a community calendar.

Mr. Gurdus said annual programs include its Installation of Officers and Awards Breakfast each fall, the lighting of the largest Chanukah Menorah in Queens, a Purim Carnival at the Samuel Field Y, and its Legislative Forum each Spring.  Last October, the Council, together with Queens Region Hadassah and the Consulate of Israel, hosted the Ben Yeduda Street Comes to Bayside, an Israeli Gifts Fair, Sunday, October 27 at Bayside Jewish Center, which attracted thousands of visitors who purchased direct from Israeli merchants and listened to Israeli entertainers.  Dr. Sandra Alfonsi chaired and coordinated the fair.  A beneficiary of UJA-Federation, the NEQJCC works closely with the QJCC, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and the Samuel Field Y, noted Executive Director Gail Eisenberg who can be reached at (718) 225-6750 x247 or or via email at Gail@northeastqueensjewish.org.  For more information on NEQJCC's collaboration with QJCC and Met Council on Project Liberty, email 911outreach@metcouncil.org.

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