The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council [NEQJCC] presented three Awards for Outstanding Service, including one to City Council Member David I. Weprin who chairs the City Council's Finance Committee, at its Annual Installation and Award breakfast, this past Sunday (October 29) at Bellerose Jewish Center, announced NEQJCC President Jeff Gurdus. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall installed Mr. Gurdus to a sixth term as President, reported Corey Bearak, chair of the NEQJCC's Executive Committee.

          Mr. Bearak presented the Council's �Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Greater New York� to Councilman Weprin, a strong NEQJCC supporter who formerly served the largest regional Jewish community council as Vice President and Treasurer. State Senator Frank Padavan presented the �Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Queens� to Michael N. Rosenblut, President and CEO of the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation [�Parker�]. Marathon Jewish Community Center' s Rabbi Gary Greene presented to congregant and NEQJCC Vice President Corinne Steel, the NEQJCC's Salute to Israel Parade coordinator. NEQJCC Trustee and Samuel Field/Bay Terrace Y Executive Director Dr. Steven Goodman and BBYO Big Apple Region Executive Director Hali Herman presented �Northeast Queens Outstanding Youth Awards� to respectively Robby Schwendel and Shari Burshtyn. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown also delivered greeting and congratulated the honorees and officers. NEQJCC Executive Director Gail Eisenberg thanked Parker Jewish Institute for it generous support for the reception, Parkver Vice President Ron Shafran for his assistance on the event and Bellerose Jewish Center and it s president Jeff Berzon for hosting the event.

          Borough President Marshall installed the following officers: Corey Bearak [Temple Sholom] to a tenth term as Chair of the Executive Committee; Jeff Gurdus [Bellerose Jewish Center] as President, Helene Zaro [Bell Park Jewish Center] as First Vice President, Ethel Levine [Hillcrest Jewish Center] as Second Vice President, Corinne Steel [Marathon Jewish Community Center] as Third Vice President, Herb Friedman [Jewish Center of Oak Hills]as Treasurer, Marilynne Vogel [Congregation Ohr Moshe and Utopia Jewish Center] as Secretary and Dr. Steven Goodman [Samuel Field YM&YWHA as Trustee].

          Many prominent member community members and public officials attended the breakfast. Elected officials included State Senator Toby Stavisky, Members of the Assembly Mark Weprin and William Scarborough, Council Member Leroy Comrie, and Civil Court Judge Bernice Siegal.

          Jewish communal and agencies leaders included Rabbi Michael Miller, Executive Vice President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York (JCRC), JCRC's Assistant Director for Intergroup Relations and Community Concerns Rabbi Robert Kaplan, Flushing Jewish Community Council Executive Director Paul Engel, Queens Jewish Community Council Administrative Director Jerome Demner, Nahum Kaziev of the Educational Center for Russian Jewry, and Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services/PRIDE Executive Director Shoshana Garber.

          Others presented included Amalgated Transportation Union Local No. 1056 President Ed Figueroa, Vice President Mark Henry and Financial Secretary Luis Alzate, Queens Community Director Phil Goldfeder representing Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Past Honoree Manny Behar representing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Craig Lindward representing Member of Congress Gary. Ackerman, Queens District Attorney's counsel Lois Raff, Democratic District Leader Honey Miller, Community Board 2 District Manager Debra Markell Kleinert, Councilmember Weprin chief of staff Jack Friedman and communications director Austin Shafran, Councilman Comrie's Chief aide Joseph Goldblum, Deputy Chief of Staff  Zoe Epstein representing Councilman Eric Gioia, Associate Director for Community Relations Bruce Solomon representing Comptroller William Thompson, Queens Borough President's Director of Immigrant Affairs Susie Tanenbaum and Service Now for Adult Persons (SNAP) Executive Director Linda Leest.

          For further information, view the Council's www.northeastqueens jewish.org website or contact NEQJCC Executive Director Gail Eisenberg at (718) 225-6750 x247 or via email at gail@northeastqueensjewish.org.

          An association of 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). 

          NEQJCC projects include neighborhood development, Jewish continuity, Lay Leadership, social action, promoting involvement and volunteer opportunities, 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.

          As part of its Neighborhood Development efforts, the Council helped form the NORC-WOW, a pilot program to serve seniors in one and two family homes. The Council publishes a (four-fold, 8.5 by 14-inch) brochure, You Can Have It All, touting life in northeast Queens communities, also available through its website.
Annual programs include its Installation of Officers and Awards Reception (click here for an invite) sponsored by each fall by Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, the lighting of the largest Chanukah Menorah in Queens, a Pre-Passover Food Drive, a Fall Food and Clothing Drive sponsored by Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, and a Purim Carnival at the Samuel Field Y. 

          Each Spring, the Council holds its Annual Legislative Forum, co-sponsored by Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, and Queens Region-Hadassah, at the Samuel Field Y. In 2002 and 2004, the Council, together with Queens Region Hadassah and the Consulate of Israel, hosted the Ben Yeduda Street Comes to Bayside, an Israeli Gifts Fair, which attracted thousands of visitors who purchased direct from Israeli merchants and listened to Israeli entertainers. 

          A beneficiary of UJA-Federation, the NEQJCC works closely with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty ("Met Council"), Samuel Field/Bay Terrace Y, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Queens Region-Hadassah and Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York.

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