On Thursday, December 16, 2010, at the New York Hilton Grand Ballroom, Colel Chabad will be presenting awards and hosting a unique array of Jewish and non Jewish leaders.
Chief among them will be the popular Mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, who is gaining national recognition for leading the New Jersey city with a 40-year reputation for blight, crime, and poverty.
Booker, 41, in known in Jewish circles for his broad knowledge in Jewish studies, such as the Rambam, which he acquired at Oxford University’s Chabad House.
He will be receiving the Tikkun Olam award as part of this year’s Colel Chabad International Awards Dinner theme – “Repairing the world one hungry person at a Time.”
“The focus of this years dinner is “L’saken olam b’malchus Shin Daled Yud” and is accomplished through chesed, when Jews and non-Jews unite to help those in need especially those living in Eretz Yisrael,” said Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Executive Director of Colel Chabad.
Another non Jewish honoree, who will be receiving the Builders Award, will be Indian-American businessman, Sant Singh Chatwal, owner of the Bombay Palace chain of restaurants and Hampshire Hotels & Resorts.
The annual dinner supports Colel Chabad’s sole purpose of helping the most destitute residents of Israel in a manner that preserves and enhances their dignity.
Ralph Rieder and Joseph Kazarnovsky, friends and benefactors of Colel Chabad, are the dinner chairs.
Rabbi Duchman is particularly excited about the Keser Shem Tov award which will be given to Ohio luxury clothier David Schottenstein and his wife Eda, supporters of Chabad programs in the U.S. and Israel.
Schottenstein, founder and CEO of Astor & Black Custom Clothing, told COLlive.com he got involved with Colel Chabad a few years back after learning about “the wonderful work they do in Israel.”
“For me, feeding the hungry is one of the most important causes there can be,” he said.
Schottenstein said he commitment to Colel Chabad deepened following the 60th birthday of his father Thomas Schottenstein, a principal of Arshot Investment Corp.
“We were looking for a monumental gift and didn’t find one until Rabbi Duchman suggested that we help out 60 widows who are in need,” he said. “And let me tell you, my dad could not have been happier.”
The dinner will also present the Slager Logistic Center – home of the Blavatnik Food Bank, dedicated by British-American investor and philanthropist David Slager.
Other honorees will be Rickie Freeman-Platt – Guest of Honor, Abe Eisenstat – Tribute Chair, Russell Galbut – General Chair and Arthur Luxenberg – Chair, United Soup Kitchens.
Master of ceremonies will be New York real estate developer and hotelier Richard Born.
So great to see Morris and Rickie being honored at the event!
Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!
beautifuil dovid – azkir al hatzion bli neder.
Go David & Eda!
Hatzlocho in all the work you do!