The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council [NEQJCC] holds a Community Forum, Empowering Women: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00 a.m. at Marathon Jewish Community Center, 245-47 60th Avenue in Douglaston, announced Corey B. Bearak, Esq. Chairman of the Council's Executive Committee.  The special program, includes presentations by former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman;  Member of the Assembly Ann Margaret Carrozza; and Dr. Christine A. Walsh, Prof. of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, & Acting Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Montefiore Medical Center, reported NEQJCC President Jeff Gurdus.  Hadassah National Vice President Dr. Sandra Alfonsi chairs this special event and will serve as the moderator.  For information call NEQJCC Executive Director Gail Eisenberg at (718) 225-6750 x247.

 In addition to the  Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council program sponsors (in formation) include: Queens Region-Hadassah, Metropolitan New York Council on Jewish Poverty, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater NY, NAACP Northeast Queens Branch. "Our program will explore opportunities for women to advance in society; where success and �breaks' have occurred; how the women panelists �broke through;' and what obstacles remain," stated Dr. Alfonsi.  The free program includes light refreshments.

Mr. Bearak said the 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, Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village (north).

"Our projects include Project Liberty, neighborhood development, Jewish continuity, Lay Leadership, social action, fostering intergroup understanding and building a multi-cultural coalition," said Mr. Bearak.  "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.  It also maintains a community website, www.northeastqueensjewish.org, which features a calendar for its members to post events of interest."

Mr. Gurdus said annual programs include its Installation of Officers and Awards Breakfast each fall (next year takes place Sunday, October 31, 2004), the lighting of the largest Chanukah Menorah in Queens (December 21), a Community Chanukah Party (December 14) and Purim Carnival at the Samuel Field YM&YWHA, and its annual Legislative Forum each Spring at the Y.     In October 2002, the Council, together with Queens Region Hadassah and the Consulate of Israel, hosted the Ben Yehuda Street Comes to Bayside, an Israeli Gifts Fair, 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. Dr. Alfonsi also moderated the NEQJCC's September Community Education Forum which featured Drum Major Institute President Fernando Ferrer and Councilman Robert Jackson, past-president of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.

The Council's Installation of its Officers and Awards Breakfast, Sunday, November 2, 2003 at  at Bellerose Jewish Center, honored  Dr. Sandra Alfonsi, also Past President of Queens Jewish Community Council and Queens Region Hadassah, for "Outstanding Service to the Community of Greater New York".  The Council presented 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.

A beneficiary of UJA-Federation, the NEQJCC works closely with the Queens Jewish Community Council, 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 via email at gail@northeastqueensjewish.org.  For more information on NEQJCC's collaboration with Met Council on Project Liberty, email 911outreach@metcouncil.org.

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