ANNUAL DINNER 2011

Celebrities Grace the Carlebach Shul’s Annual Dinner
June 20th 2011, New York City

THE CARLEBACH SHUL’S ANNUAL DINNER at The St. Regis hotel on Monday June 20th honored three outstanding couples: Lewis and Hindy Weinger, Dr. Raphael and Chasya Kellman and Abe and Lisa Altman. After the lavish cocktail hour offering stunning views of Central Park, people settled down in one of New York’s classiest ballrooms. The decorations and flower arrangements, as well as the food and the drinks were exceptional.

LEWIS AND HINDY WEINGER told the audience how they had met, got married and had their sons’ brissim in the Shul. Rabbi David Sacks from the Happy Minyan in Los Angeles spoke of Lewis’s commitment to the founding of the Happy Minyan. Lewis and Hindy were joined by colleagues and members of their family, including their son Natan. Many came not only to honor them, but to bid them a fond farewell as they are leaving Riverdale and the Carlebach community that they created there in order to live in Israel. Dr. Jeremy Chess and his lovely wife Sheila presented them with a silver mezuzah, as a blessing for their new home.

DR. RAPHAEL AND CHASYA KELLMAN have been involved in many aspects of our Shul’s life. Raphie, who reads the torah so beautifully, has also started teaching every Wednesday night. Chasya has led a number of programs for women. Together their involvement in the Shul goes beyond the call of duty. Raphie thanked his wife Chasya for allowing him the time on Friday nights to prepare for the Torah readings. They spoke about how they had met through Raphie’s association with the Day of Kabbalah, a highly successful lecture series that got him more involved with the Shul. He was especially thankful to Shy Yellin for introducing him to the Shul and to Rabbi Citron for including his rabbi, HaRav Avraham Brandwein in the program series. “Sometimes people don’t get rewarded for the wonderful gift they are bringing to their communities, but the beautiful family Raphael has built since he got more involved, clearly shows that sometimes people do get rewarded in their lifetime,” Rabbi Citron said when presenting their award, an elaborate, sterling silver yad that Dr. Kellman will use when reading from the Torah.

THE CARLEBACH SHUL has had many celebrity visitors before. Michael Jackson called his visit the best day of his life. Mattisyahu has said that he rediscovered his love of Judaism here. At the Annual Dinner ABE AND LISA
ALTMAN brought four Hollywood celebrities as their special guests: John Goodman, John Turturro, Katherine Borowitz, and Macaulay Culkin. Not only do John Goodman (Blues Brothers, Roseanne) and John Turturro (You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Hannah and her Sisters) share Abe as an accountant, they also formed a bond while playing competing bowlers on cult movie, The Big Lebowski. Goodman played a volatile Jewish bowler. When a bowling tournament was scheduled to take place on a Saturday, he spoke a line that became a classic:
“I don’t roll on Shabbos.” John Goodman gave a moving tribute that was both humorous and touching. He thanked Abe for sorting out his financial life as well as being such a mensch. Lisa, Abe’s wife, has been a source of chesed for all those who have been touched by her.

FOR THE NEARLY 300 GUESTS who came to the dinner, the night was one of elegance, sophistication and great joy and the highlight of many people’s year. Special thanks to our Dinner Chair, Joy Fishman and Journal Chairs, Patricia and Mitchell Udell and Linda Blum and Jeremy Merrin who have helped to take us up to this level with assistance from Dinner Coordinator Maria Fordin and the shul staff.

To view photos from this year's Annual Dinner, Click here:
Annual Dinner 2011

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