The Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council [NEQJCC] presented three Awards for Outstanding Service, including one to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, at its Annual Installation and Awards Reception, Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, announced NEQJCC President Jack Friedman. The program also featured the nstallation of the NEQJCC's officers, including Mr. Friedman to a third term as President, by NYS State Supreme Court Justice Bernice Siegal, chairwoman of The Brandeis Association, reported Corey Bearak, chair of the NEQJCC's Executive Committee. 

Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jack Friedman presented to Borough President Marshall..  Corey Bearak presented the Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Queens to  Council Member and Chair of its Zoning Committee Mark Weprin.  NYS Assembly Member Rory Lancman presented the Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Northeast Queens to  former 26th District Assembly Member and Elder Law Attorney Ann Margaret Carrozza.  Samuel Field Y Assistant Executive Director Rick Lewis presented the Rivka Fox Youth Awards to Danielle Schaefer and Andrea Gavora.  Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Assembly Member David Weprin, a former MEQJCC officer and two-time honoree (2002 and 2006), also delivered greetings.

Rabbi Manny Behar, former executive director of the Queens Jewish Community Council and 1996 honoree, delivered the invocation. Al Sirowitz, President of Community Partnership Referrals and Resources sang the Star Spangled Banner and led the audience in Hatikvah. Parker Jewish Institute Executive Vice President Stuart Almer delivered greetings and introduced the a brief film on the agency's programs and services.

In addition to Bearak [Temple Sholom], re-elected to a thirteenth term, and Friedman [Bellerose Jewish Center], Council officers include First Vice President Helene Zaro [Bell Park Jewish Center], Second Vice President Ethel Levine [Hillcrest Jewish Center], Third Vice President Corinne Steel [Marathon Jewish Community Center], Treasurer Dennis Novick [Hollis Hills Jewish Center], Secretary Ed Harap [Bell Park Jewish Center] and Utopia Jewish Center] and Trustees Dr. Steven Goodman [Samuel Field Y], Jeffrey Gurdus [Bellerose Jewish Center], and Ron Shafran [Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation].  Bearak (1998), Friedman (2007), Zaro (2001), Levine (2004), Steel (2006), Goodman (2000) and Gurdus (2008) are also past honorees.

Among the many distinguished guests were Assembly Members Grace Meng and Ed Braunstein, Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik, Amalgated Transit Union Local 1056 President/ Business Manager I. Daneek Miller, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York Director of Intergroup Concerns and 1995 honoree Rabbi Robert Kaplan, Kupferberg Holocaust Memorial Research Center Executive Director Arthur Flug, representatives of the Council of Supervisors & Administrators, JBFCS/ Pride Executive Director Heath Bloch, Democratic District Leaders Honey Miller, Martha Taylor and June Bunch, State Committee Member Leroy Manuel, Joe Goldbloom representing Council Land Use Chair Leroy Comrie, Council Member Weprin Chief of Staff Ruthie Wimpfheimer, Assembly Member Special Assistant Anthony Lemma Sr. and Press Secretary Lisa DelValle, Barbara Baruch representing NYC Comptroller John Liu, Simcha Eisenstein representing NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, NYS Senate Democratic Conference Press Secretary Austin Shafran, and Assembly Member Braunstein Chief of Staff David Fisher.

Also NEQJCC Past-President and 1992 honoree Dr. Arnold Honig, Past Queens Jewish Community Council and current Flushing Jewish Community Council President Byron Dresner, Queens Jewish Community Council Treasurer Marcia Federman, Rabbis Gary Greene (Marathon Jewish Community Center), Lawrence Teitelman (Young Israel of New Hyde Park and Moshe Kwalbrun (Bell Park Jewish Center, Bellerose Jewish Center President Jeff Berzon, Queens Chamber of Commerce Trustee Josh Bienstock, Parker Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Ron Shafran, Friends of Cunningham Park President Marc Haken and Queens Civic Congress Vice President Harbachan Singh. 

NEQJCC Executive Director Gail Eisenberg thanked The Parker Jewish Institute for it generous support for this and past receptions, including hosting the annual event for the first time.

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

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View the Parker website account of the reception.

View the AOL Douglaston Patch story with pics and video

Rabbi Manny Behar who later delivered the invocation, performs the Motzi.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Council Member Mark Weprin and Democratic Leader Honey Miller.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Assemlyman David Weprin, Lisa DelValle of his office and representatives from the Council of Supervisors and Administrators.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Corey Bearak, David Weprin and Marc Haken of The Friends of Cunningham Park.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Rabbi Behar, Past NEQJCC President Dr. Arnold Honig, Past Queens Jewish Community Council President Byron Dresner, Democratic Leader Martha Taylor.

Assemblyman Weprin staffer Anthony Lemma Sr and the CSA representatives.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Honorees Ann Carrozza and Helen Marshall with Democratic Leader Martha Taylor.  Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Honorees Mark Weprin, Helen Marshall and Ann Carrozza.   Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Assembly David Weprin delivers greetings before the formal program.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Corey Bearak.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography..

A vie of the wonderful room at Parker.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography..

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer delivers greetings before the formal program.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Corey Bearak introducing Mark Weprin.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

The Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Queens.  Corey Bearak, honoree Mark Weprin and Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman presenting the Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Northeast Queens to his former colleague Ann Carrozza.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography..

Corey Bearak, honoree Ann Carrozza, Rory Lancman, and Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Ann Carrozza.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Jack Friedman presents the Award for Outstanding Service to the Community of Greater New York to Borough President Helen Marshall.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Corey Bearak, honoree Helen Marshall and Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

The Borough President address our guests.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Assembly Member Ed Braunstein who succeeded Carrozza, Youth Honoree Danielle Schaefer, Corey Bearak, Ann Carrozza, Jack Friedman, Helen Marshall, Assembly Member Grace Meng, Youth Honoree Andrea Gavora.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Rick Lewis of the Y introducing Rivka Fox Youth Honorees Andrea Gavora and Danielle Schaefer.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

Corey Bearak, Andrea Gavora, Rick Lewis of the Y, Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Corey Bearak, Danielle Schaefer, Rick Lewis of the Y, Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Corey Bearak, Andrea Gavora, Danielle Schaefer, Rick Lewis of the Y, Jack Friedman.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Rick Lewis of the Y, its Teen Council, some alumni and advisors with youth honorees Andrea Gavora and Danielle Schaefer.    Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

A "councivil view" - Rick Lewis of the Y, its Teen Council, some alumni and advisors with youth honorees Andrea Gavora and Danielle Schaefer.  Photo courtesy Joe Levine/ NEQJCC.

NYS Supreme Court Justice Bernice Siegal installs the Council's officers, Secretary Ed Harap, Vice Presidents Corinne Steel, Helene Zaro, and Ethel Levine, Treasurer Dennis Novick, Trustee Ron Shafran, President Jack Friedman and Chair Corey Bearak.   Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

Vice President Corinne Steel, Secretary Ed Harap, Vice President Helene Zaro, Treasurer Dennis Novick, Chair Corey Bearak, Vice President  Ethel Levine,  installing officer NYS Supreme Court Justice Bernice Siegal, Trustee Ron Shafran, and President Jack Friedman.   Photo courtesy of Dominick Totino Photography.

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