Jewish council honors leaders

The Bronx Jewish Community Council (BJCC) recently honored the Riverdale Jewish Center (RJC) and five community leaders for their contributions to the Bronx.

 At BJCC’s annual Breakfast of Champions on June 5 at RJC, honorees received awards for raising awareness about childhood illnesses, campaigning against drug use, providing social work to the elderly and expanding businesses in the Bronx. 

The ceremony brought out a handful of politicians, like Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who thanked the BJCC for services that extended to the entire community. 

“The entire borough of the Bronx benefits from this wonderful institution,” he said. “Our history in the Bronx and where we are today has so much to do with the foundation that the Jewish community laid here.” 

The breakfast honored BJCC members Mildred “Mintzie” Kaminsky, who died in May, and Lorance “Larry” Hockert who died in March. Both were Riverdalians.

Ms. Kaminsky, who served on the BJCC’s Amalgamated Housing Board, was remembered by co-workers for her dedication to community service. 

“Just a wonderful, generous, giving individual. I loved her, I absolutely adored her,” said Doris Spencer, who worked for the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative. “I learned so much from her.”  

Mr. Hockert, who served as a member of Community Board 8 and supported organizations like Riverdale Temple, Riverdale Mental Health Association and Riverdale Neighborhood House, was remembered with the first Lorance Hockert Labor of Love Award. 

Mr. Hockert’s wife, Dr. Ruth Rosenblatt, presented the award to recipient Judy Uman, whose social work for the BJCC in Riverdale has extended to elderly and disabled clients in need of resources and on the brink of homelessness. 

“In the Bronx, my life has been enriched, complicated and humbled by the journeys taken by the people I have encountered,” Ms. Uman said as she accepted her award. 

Mr. Diaz’s father, state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., presented the Bronx Realty Leader Award to Eliezer Rodriguez, whose work includes providing legal counsel to indigent clients, promoting recycling, preventing drug use and serving on Community Board 11. 

Both Diazes touched on the strong ties between the Latino and Jewish communities in the Bronx, pointing out that three of the honorees were Latino.  

Other honorees included Bronx Business Leader Award winner Lenny Caro, of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce; Public Service Award winner Marlene Cintron, of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; and Guardian of Chesed Award winner Andrew Golub, an accountant who has assisted BJCC.