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The Westchester Jewish Council's
WE-stchester
Comm-UNITY
Connection
March 26, 2026 8 Nisan 5786
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Dear {First Name}
Good morning.
Passover is less than a week away, and how can we celebrate without having a parody? Read on to view Six13's latest work. If you are looking for a community seder or volunteer opportunity, we have included some options in the Passover section below. In addition, there are countless events from the Council and our member organizations coming up, so be sure to read the newsletter in its entirety.
We are honored to join UJA Federation in welcoming Rachel Goldberg-Polin to a special community wide event to be held in the central Westcehster area on Thursday, April 23rd, The gathering will include the launch of her new book, When We See You Again, a powerful and universal story of grief and remembrance, perseverance and love. More details and the registration link can be found within the newsletter. Please sign up in advance as space may be limited.
Here are some additional upcoming community and Council events to note in your calendars (the spring will be filled with so many meaningful chances to gather!):
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County-wide Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Commemoration on Tuesday, April 14th at noon in partnership with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center
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Yom Hazikaron/Israel Memorial Day Observance on Monday evening, April 20th
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Yom Ha'atzmaut/Israel Independence Day Family Celebration on Sunday, afternoon April 26th, sponsored by our Jewish Agency for Israel delegation led by our senior shlicha, Hila
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Westchester Celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, produced by the Council and AJC Westchester and hosted by the Westchester County Board of Legislators, on Monday evening, May 4th
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31st Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony on Tuesday evening, April 28th - Free and open to all
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Celebrate Israel Parade, Sunday, May 31st - march with our Westchester delegation
In the next few weeks leading up to our 31st Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony, we will continue to introduce you to the remarkable volunteer honorees. We look forward to your getting to know them before the event! Scroll below and meet four of the honorees. And also don't forget to sign up for the event below.
The next two weekly newsletters will be sent on Tuesday due to the Passover holiday.
Shabbat Shalom!
Michael Mittelman, President
Elliot Forchheimer, CEO
Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
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HERE WHEN YOU NEED US - YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW:
Since 1975, the Council has connected our Jewish community to:
Each other, to Israel, to our elected officials and
to our brothers and sisters from other faiths and ethnic groups
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(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,
dues from 120 member organizations and generous financial support from UJA-Federation.)
| | UPCOMING COUNCIL PROGRAMS | | |
Get Ready: Our Annual Julian Y. Bernstein
Disntiguished Service Awards Ceremy Is Coming Soon!
| | We invite you to join us on Tuesday, April 28th to celebrate this year's Distinguished Service Awards honorees, each of whom has an amazing story to share. Details can be found below and on our website. | |
Spotlight on
Julian Y. Bernstein
Distinguished Service Awards Honorees
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KAREN ROSENFELD
Karen’s journey to advocacy began early, shaped by a home grounded in traditional Jewish values and a deep sense of responsibility to community. She served as Co-Chair of ADL Westchester for six years. During her tenure, Karen also served on the organization’s Advocacy and Education Committees, helping to advance critical work focused on combating antisemitism and providing anti-bias education in the community.
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EMELIA POZHARSKY
Emelia is a vibrant 13-year-old from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where she attends seventh grade at Terrill Middle School. Emelia balances a busy academic life with her passion for competitive cheerleading. For her bat mitzvah project, she partnered with The Blue Card to assemble care packages for Holocaust survivors for their summer retreat.
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ALAN SEPTIMUS
Alan spent eight summers at Camp Massad Aleph, a Hebrew-speaking Zionist camp. Its friendships, language, and spirit of Yisrael haK’tana shaped his lifelong dedication to Jewish life. He has been a dynamic part of Bet Am Shalom for 27 years, serving 6 years on its Board.
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AMY LEVEEN
Born in Queens and raised in Elmira, NY, Amy grew up in a family deeply engaged with their synagogue and the broader community. She has been a fundraising consultant for much of her professional life. Since moving to Riverdale and joining Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) in 1992, Amy has served as both member and chair of the Education Board. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees.
| | UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND HELPING ISRAEL | | |
We are thrilled to be joined by our Westchester community shlicha (emissary) and our shinshinim (young emissaries) who will be finishing their year in Westchester
by marching with us up 5th Avenue.
IF YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, PLEASE LET DONNA (donna@wjcouncil.org) KNOW BY FRIDAY March 31st, 2026.
| | ENGAGEMENT ACROSS INTERFAITH COMMUNITIES | | Governor Kathy Hochul hosted a reception at the Executive Mansion in celebration of Women's History Month, during which she honored prominent women leaders. Rika Levin, Government Relations Manager and Mayor of Ossining, participated in the event which included many advocates from non-profits and government entities. | | |
Pictured from L to R:
Mayor Rika Levin, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Luisa Granda and Kelly Martinez of Neighbors Link of Westchester
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Pictured:
Governor Kathy Hochul
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COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM AND ALL HATE
You may have heard that antisemitic graffiti was found on a sign at the Irvington train station on Monday morning.
Chabad of the Rivertowns convened a community gathering on Tuesday evening at the Irvington station to show solidarity with the community. Rabbi Benjy Silverman said, "We're choosing to respond by coming together with pride, unity, and light... We'll gather briefly at the station to stand together and bring something positive into that space. We'll share a few words and invite everyone to take on a small mitzvah—adding light in our own way. If someone chose to write hate on a wall, we will respond by showing up—with strength, dignity, and more Jewish life."
County Legislator David Imamura, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Irvington, representatives from the police department, several rabbis, and several Westchester Jewish Council staff members were among the 150 people in attendance.
Governor Hochul's statement about this incident is as follows:
"I strongly condemn this hateful display of antisemitism in Westchester County and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community statewide and all New Yorkers in rejecting hate in every form. An attack on one is an attack on all of us, and I have directed the New York State Police to be on standby to assist the MTA Police Department as they investigate this incident. As Governor, I will never stand for antisemitic rhetoric or any actions that threaten the safety and security of New York communities." - Governor Hochul
The Irvington community (and beyond) also attended a special unity and listening gathering on Wednesday night arranged by the Irvington Mayor and Trustees, in partnership with local clergy and leadership and was held at the Shames JCC. Council leadership as well as leadership from so many of our member organizations attended to demonstate that we are stronger together.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATE
“Repetition Reinforces Retention and Recall”
| | For more information about the Westchester Jewish Council's Security Roundtable initiative, contact security@wjcouncil.org. Working together we are all safer. | | WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES | | |
Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming Community Roundtables
(The Council thanks the hundreds of people who dedicate time to attend our Roundtables - a signature initiative of the Council, often sponsored with wonderful partners from among our member organizations)
Synagogue Presidents - Wednesday, May 6
Security - Thursday, May 14
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An Evening with Professor Stephen Berk: Antisemitism: Past and Present
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 • Doors open at 7:15 pm
Antisemitism is the world’s oldest and most persistent hatred. Not because Jews change, but because antisemitism continually mutates to fit the prevailing ideas of the time — repackaged again and again like old wine in new bottles.
To better understand how these changes have appeared across history — and why they matter today — join UJA Westchester to hear from Stephen Berk, professor of Holocaust and Jewish studies at Union College.
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Rachel Goldberg-Polin Book Launch
Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Doors open at 6:30 pm
Our greater community stood in solidarity as Rachel Goldberg-Polin turned unimaginable pain into fierce advocacy for the return of her beloved son, Hersh, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, and later murdered by Hamas.
Join UJA Westchester to hear from Rachel about her new book, When We See You Again. Rachel will discuss some of her book's major themes, including intense grief, love, loss, devotion, and faith.
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UJA Westchester Annual Celebration
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • 6:30 pm
Celebrate our community’s support for UJA and help us honor Karen and Ed Friedman for their deep commitment to the Jewish community and recognize Kim Goldberg and Lauren Shalem as the recipients of our Young Leadership Award.
| | A SMALL SAMPLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING... | | |
Thank you to Areyvut for putting together this resource to help spark thoughtful conversation at the Seder and beyond. Wishing you a Chag Kasher V’Sameach.
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Passover is about the whole Jewish people sitting down together. It's about retelling the story as one family. No one should spend Seder night alone,
If you or someone you know don't have a Seder to go to this year, you do now.
No Jew should be alone on Passover.
What: Community Passover Seder
When: April 1, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Where: Chabad of the Rivertowns - 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry NY 10522
We'll have everything: the wine, the matzah, the charoses, the meal, the songs, the Four Questions (yes, even if the youngest person at the table is 85). All you need to bring is yourself.
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MORE SEDERS OPEN TO COMMUNITY:
Congregation Kol Ami
April 2, 2026
Seder is open to non-synagogue members and will be hosted on the second night of Passover. Register here.
Hebrew Congregation of Somers
April 2, 2026
Community Passover Seder is open to non-synagogue members and will be held on the second night of Passover.
Email hebrewcongregationofsomers@gmail.com to register.
Pleasantville Community Synagogue
April 2, 2026
Pleasantville Community Synagogue is delighted to partner with the organization, Neighbors Link to host an Immigration-themed Passover Seder, "Walking Towards Freedom, Together," in Ossining.
Register for seder here.
| | OTHER MEMBER ORGANIZATION UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND NEWS | | |
Easily Connect Your Congregants to DOROT’s Acclaimed Aging Alone Together® Program – Online!
Over the last several months, DOROT Westchester has been bringing their highly impactful Aging Alone Together® program into synagogues around Westchester.
While each of these synagogues collaborated with DOROT to bring the program into their own spaces, this April, DOROT will offer this transformative program online, open to Jewish Westchester residents age 60+. “This is a perfect opportunity for synagogues to support older congregants in their aging and strengthen bonds among Westchester’s Jewish community, all with little effort from busy synagogue staff and lay leaders”, says DOROT’s Regional Director Lorraine Novack. “Synagogues can simply share the information through a DOROT flyer or one of our blurbs in your normal communication channels and DOROT will do the rest!” Not affiliated with a synagogue? “No problem”, adds Lorraine. “All Jewish Westchester residents age 60+ are invited to join us”.
| | | | We share with you a press release from the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, Record Number of Area High School Students and Teachers Attend Education Event at Iona University Featuring Holocaust Survivor Speaker. | | WESTCHESTER COUNTY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES | | We share with you a Passover Resource Guide, "Agents of Hope - The Women at the Heart of Passover", from Momentum. | | |
Jewish Film Festival
Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville
March 24–31 & April 3–6
The Jacob Burns Film Center’s Jewish Film Festival returns with a compelling lineup of films and conversations exploring Jewish history, identity, and culture from around the world. Featuring narrative and documentary films along with special guest speakers and discussions, the festival brings together filmmakers, scholars, and audiences for engaging cinematic experiences. View the full schedule and purchase tickets at: https://burnsfilmcenter.org/series/jewish-film-festival/
| | SOME QUICK MEDIA/COMMUNITY LINKS | | |
Westchester Jewish Council
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200, White Plains, NY 10604
914-328-7001 | info@wjcouncil.org | www.wjcouncil.org
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For information regarding submissions, please contact Lori Kurlander
The next Community Connection will be published on or about March 31, 2026
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