NJOP Celebrates 28 Years of Achievements at Annual Dinner
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 25, 2016 -- Wednesday evening, February 3, 2016, NJOP (http://www.njop.org) will hold its Annual Dinner at the Grand Hyatt New York. The dinner will celebrate the organization’s twenty-eight year history and honor community leaders for their outstanding contributions to the organization and their unwavering commitment to supporting Jewish life. The festivities also celebrate the 70th birthday of NJOP Founder and Director, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, who has been the driving force behind the organization’s decades of achievements.
“This year’s honorees embody our commitment to spreading the joy of Jewish life and enriching Jewish communities,” said Rabbi Buchwald. “Our programs would not be possible without the support of these passionate and committed individuals.”
Longtime NJOP supporters Ellen and Mordecai (Mordy) Lipkis will receive the Elli and Israel Krakowski Memorial Award. Both Ellen and Mordecai were personally inspired by Rabbi Buchwald and NJOP’s programs: Mordecai studied directly under Rabbi Buchwald at Ramaz High School and Ellen was a member of the Lincoln Square Synagogue Beginners Service. As a couple, they have made it their mission to support Jewish engagement activities and foster community involvement. In addition to being ardent supporters of Israel and active members of AIPAC, the Lipkises have become an integral part of the Upper West Side’s Carlebach Shul, where they are known especially for Hachnasat Orchim (providing hospitality).
Known throughout Manhattan’s Jewish community as leaders and innovators, Rachel and Rabbi Daniel Kraus play a dynamic role in local Jewish education in Manhattan. Rabbi Kraus’ outreach/engagement work at Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE), Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (KJ), and KJ Beginners has been widely lauded. Additionally, he recently began working as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Birthright Israel Foundation where he will be able to play a role in furthering Jewish education on a national scale. Rachel Kraus is also a highly sought-after Jewish educator who has worked side-by-side with her husband at MJE and KJ. They maintain an open home, hosting weekly Shabbat meals together with their three beautiful children, and their table has become the center of a vibrant community of young Jewish professionals, first in Midtown Manhattan and now on the Upper East Side. NJOP is thrilled to give the Carl and Sylvia Freyer Young Leadership Award to this outstanding couple.
Receiving the Leslie Nelkin Special Service Award is NJOP’s Publications Coordinator, Sarah Rochel Hewitt. Upon joining the staff in 1999, Sarah Rochel quickly assessed the need for NJOP to produce more original material--particularly on its website. Her NJOP projects have included a series of companion guides to the Crash Courses in Basic Judaism and Jewish History, supplemental Shabbat programming for SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA AND CANADA, holiday workshops, and 4 Spirituality at Your Fingertips guides for Shabbat celebrations. Sarah Rochel is also the writer and editor of NJOP’s Jewish Treats: Juicy Bits of Judaism Daily emails. In this capacity, Sarah Rochel produces original Treats five days a week and over 200 original Treats each year! In her 16 years at NJOP, Sarah Rochel has become an integral part of the team whose true passion for Judaism and writing shines through in all of her work. With her help, NJOP has been able to greatly widen its reach and provide positive, joyous Jewish experiences for people across the internet and across the globe.
About NJOP
NJOP*, an independent, non-denominational, non-profit organization, was established in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald in response to the spiraling losses of Jews from Jewish life due to assimilation and lack of Jewish knowledge. Through its highly innovative and stimulating educational programming and influential social media platforms, NJOP conveys the relevance and vibrancy of Judaism to contemporary Jews by providing a greater understanding and knowledge of the basics of Judaism and Jewish life. Over the last 28 years, more than 1,520,504** North American Jews have been engaged Jewishly through NJOP’s positive, joyous Jewish programs and experiences.
NJOP's renowned programs, such as READ HEBREW AMERICA AND CANADA, SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA AND CANADA, Shabbat and High Holiday Beginners Services and Crash Courses in Basic Judaism and Jewish History, have been offered at nearly 5,000 synagogues and Jewish organizations across North America and in 40 additional countries around the globe. NJOP's ever-expanding efforts, and its keen ability to recognize the most current cultural trends, have allowed it to become an acclaimed leader in Jewish social media. Every day, tens of thousands of fans and followers are presented with a means to positively and joyously participate in Jewish life through @JewishTweets on Twitter, NJOP's Jewish Treats daily email and Facebook fan page. NJOP's Jewish Treats’ YouTube channel boasts more than 1.7 million views.
Since its founding, NJOP has become one of the largest and most successful organizations, impacting broadly on Jewish engagement throughout the world .
NJOP extends special thanks to Mr. Sam Domb for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of NJOP and the Jewish People.
*National Jewish Outreach Program is now NJOP.
**As of December 2015
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Ilya Welfelf, Seymour PR, +1 9082854236, [email protected]
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