Devorah Benjamin of Keren Simchas Chosson V’Kallah and Rabbi Levi Shemtov of the Friendship Circle were among five finalists named Tuesday in the UJC Jewish Heroes contest.
Another finalist is Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder of a Jewish social justice organization that called for a consumer boycott of all products manufactured under the Rubashkin label in May.
Many in Chabad circles have registered surprise over his inclusion.
“How can a Jew who fights other Jews even be considered a hero?” asked one Shliach who spoke to COLlive on the condition of anonymity.
Jewlicious founder Yonah Bookstein and Ari Teman, a friend of Brandeis Rabbi Peretz Chein, round out the top five.
Where do I vote for the top 5?
Don t know if you remember me . I used to teach with you in in retzahd . I always admired your work.
I did not even know there is a boycott of Aaron’s products. Now thanks to Mr. Yanklowitz I will make sure to buy Aarons products whenever I can!
For a fact, Devorah has helped me, my husband
& my other married siblings!!!! We do not live in CH.
Go Devorah Benjamin & Hatzlacha Rabba!!!
thank you for everything
winning is not everything Hashem has his plans but its the honor as the only woman in the top 5 to rep all the women what they do for everyone
plus comment number 11 i have helped couples from all over the world
go levi and bassi!!!!!!!!!!!
changing the lives of thousands of children with special needs and influencing those who volunteer
I am from out of town and Devorah helped me sit and plan my first daughter’s wedding, aside of finances. She methodically coached me on many issues. In her busy life, it was a huge chesed, not to be underestimated. Her beauty is her humility.
I am personally aquainted with Rabbi Shemtov, and I know how amazing he is. I lived in their house, and they mae me part of the family, and I can not express how much he deserves this award! His dedication to the work he does, and especially in the area of Friendship Circle, is incredible, he is a selfless and kind person. I am so happy for him, and may this be a continuation of only good things for him!
Devorah only managed to stay in the top 3 throught the entire campain because of the KSCVk facebook group hat sent out daily reminders to vote.
It is about time people realize the positive potential fb has when it comes to making a dirah betachtonim. See article about rabbi gluckowsky elsewhere on this site.
i am a fellow detroiter, and have volunteered at friendship circle there for over 6 years. Levi is a amazing person and i wish the best for him, but my hopes are for Devorah. I know so many people whos wedding would not have happened if not for her.
she is amazing, and i hope she wins
mark my word, they will not give it to a lubavitcher. moshiach has not come yet.
I know from personal experience that Devorah helps out of town boys and girls who get married out of town too. She’s amazing! I hope she wins!
Devorah helps everyone who gets married in CH! not just CH girls and boys.
Should be tried by his own rules. Yosher is that someone innocent till proven guilty. He came to conclusions about Rubashkin before there was any proof.
Devorah is a great women and helped meny girls but she only helps crown heights girls and not out of town. i hope rabbi shemtov wins
ya levi shemtov and devorah benjamin!
you did amazing things!
hatzlocha rabo!
yanklowitz will win this is a scam by the federation. Now they have all your emails etc…
GO LEVI!!! we all knew it!
praty tell, why would the other lubavitchers be worthy recipients, as opposed to the other people in the contest/ most of who i saw were shluchim without much to distiguish them from the other 4k+ out there. i hope devorah gets it. i’m a shliach, she helped pay for my wedding, but unlike shluchim that have’phenomenal’ ‘caring’ projects, the money she raises doesn’t go to her ‘moised’ but to real people in ‘real’ need. Go devorah!
Devorah Benjamin does not get paid for what she does. All are great…but Devorah is the HERO!!!!!!!
While the other 4 have some majour ACCOMPLISHMENTS under their belt… this clown yankelowitz doesent… even in the video he cant tyalk about the past, he only talks about the future…
bad choice!! I hope the judges read collive 🙂
Devorah Benjamin and Levi Shemtov are very deserving candidates. As the Friendship Circle has a truly national reach across communities and levels of observance, Rabbi Shemtov seems to best fit the criteria for choosing the finalist.
Yanklowitz is indeed a disgrace to the contest. He does not even speak or act normally on the video, nor has his work had any positive impact even for leftists. He is a sideshow, a freak, a throwback to the Jewish socialists of old.
out of the top 20 there were 13 lubavitchers more then half now we are down to 5 and less then half are lubavitch. tells you something about this program!!
Yshar koach for mentioning this jew hater yanklowitz. We must not stand silent!
Its says, our destroyers will come from within and this guy is the perfect example.
You don’t have to agree with rubashkin or what they do or did – but to fight them with they are fighting for their life? To attack a jew publicly? To spill more blood when a person is already stabbed?
This guy is a disgrace and to say he is a hero is not less worse.
keep up the awesome work you do