Union Y hosts evening of unity and remembrance
A collaborative program, “Local Shuls. One Community. Standing Together,” joining the Union Y and area synagogues including Adath Israel, Adath Jeshurun, Anshe Chesed, Beis Hillel, Congregation Israel of Springfield, and the JEC Elmora Avenue Shul, was held last week. The program of remembrance and solidarity marked the anniversary of October 7.
Ira Kohler, author of “Once a Paratrooper — The Story of a Lone Soldier in the Gaza War,” described his experiences as a lone soldier, including October 7 at Kibbutz Be’eri and more than 100 days of service in Gaza. The evening also honored the memory of Mr. Kohler’s close friend, Captain Omer Neutra, who was from Long Island.
Organized by Seth Huttel, the Union Y’s program director, and supported by Tara Speyer, the Y’s executive director, the gathering created an opportunity for neighbors from different congregations to come together as one community.
Rabbi Anthony Knopf, Rabbi Chaim Marcus, Rabbi Uzi Beer, and
Rabbi Pinchas Shapiro
The emphasis on achdus — Hebrew — was central to both the planning and the purpose of the evening.
The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ were supporting partners along with the participating congregations.
The evening was made possible through the generosity of Achdus sponsors Henry and Sherry Stein and Chai sponsors Karen Ostrove, Rivkie and Avie Pinsker, the Bloomberg family, and Tzipi Kaminer. Supporters also included Jeri and Michael Bergman, Bracha Schechter, Jeremy and Elana Erez, Barbara Mason, Heidi Pekarsky, the Freund family, Susie and Yossi Meyersdorf, Jonathan and Yaffa Walzman, and Marvin and Lynn Rozenzweig.