Congressman Mike Lawler hosted a Pre-Rosh Hashanah Celebration and Jewish Changemaker Awards ceremony Sunday evening at Chabad Shaarey Israel in Montebello, bringing together community leaders, public officials and local residents to recognize individuals whose service and leadership have made an impact across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
The event, held ahead of the Jewish New Year, honored 21 individuals representing emergency services, law enforcement, government, healthcare, education, community organizations, advocacy, music and Jewish communal life.
Among those recognized were Devorah Gancz, leader of Chabad of Suffern and CTeen of Suffern; Eli Ungar, Chief of Spring Hill EMS and a detective with the Spring Valley Police Department; Zeldy Broyde, founder of Ray of Hope; Samuel “Sam” Hartstein, founder of Kol Yisroel; Meyer Tauber, founder of Harmonious Hearts and a member of the Rockland County Planning Board; Mark Jacobs, Board Chair of Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Vice Chair of Saint Dominic’s Family Services; Lisa S. Katz, Chief Government Affairs Officer of the Combat Antisemitism Movement; musician and cultural leader Lipa Schmeltzer; Mattis Gilbert, founder of RSK; and Karen Hochhauser, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Dutchess County.
Also honored were Josef “Yossi” Margaretten, Coordinator of Chaverim of Rockland; New Square Mayor Israel “Izzy” Spitzer; Andrea Myer-Winograd, Executive Director of the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education; Dr. Alan Gotesman, orthopedic surgeon and community leader; David Y. Hoffman of The Mevaser; Chaim Meisels, volunteer EMT, IDF veteran and community advocate; Chaim Klein, a Tallman Fire Department firefighter and W.P. Faist EMS EMT; Avi Goldstein, community advocate and organizational leader; Aron “Moshe” Kaff, Public Safety Director of New Square; New Castle Town Board Member and former Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Leigh Chemtob; and Yorktown Town Supervisor Edward Lachterman.
The evening combined recognition of the honorees with a celebration of community ahead of Rosh Hashanah, highlighting their contributions to public safety, healthcare, charitable work, civic leadership and Jewish communal life.
