The 21st annual Ben Zakkai Hon
or Society (BZHS) NCSY National Scholarship Reception took place on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan. Chaired by Vivian and Dr. David Luchins, the dinner will present awards to longtime outstanding NCSY trailblazers. Additionally, there will be an induction ceremony for four young NCSY leaders entering the Society.
The honorees included Terry and Dennis M. Eisenberg from Brooklyn who received the Ezra Ben Zion Lightman Memorial Award; Dr. Murray Leben of Teaneck who received the Enid and Harold Boxer Memorial Award; and Chani and Rabbi Dave Felsenthal of Passaic, NJ, who received the Rebbetzin Elaine and Rabbi Pinchas Stolper Service Award.
The 2016 inductees were David Cutler of Staten Island, NY, David Statman of Los Angeles, and Elliot Tanzman and Eli Weinstein both of Manhattan.
Prior to the dinner there was a shiur given by Rabbi Paysach Krohn, noted author and lecturer, in memory of NCSY pioneers Zahava (Janet) Goldwasser a”h and Sharon Kurzer Sabbagh a”h. NCSY National Teen President, Sarah Engel spoke to the crowd of 250, about how NCSY inspired her decision to be a pioneer and attend a new Orthodox day school, an hour away from her hometown in Northern California.
BZHS was founded in 1965 to provide a means of recognizing the achievements of NCSY Alumni who have demonstrated personal Torah growth and the promise of future meaningful service to the Jewish people and the Orthodox community. The society raises critical funds to provide direct scholarships for NCSYers to continue their Jewish education after high school or to participate in various NCSY programs.
Dinner co-chairman Dr. David Luchins explained, “The vitality and success of NCSY is largely a tribute to the devotion, dedication and passion that our inductees and honorees bring to every aspect of their personal and communal lives.”