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We are delighted to once again partner with our Jewish community organizations for our 5th Annual Mensches & Mimosas, but with a twist. This year, we added 29 more honorees, making the total over 140!

This year, mensches were captured in short videos. Watch them here:
 

We encourage you to make a tribute gift to JFS in honor of your favorite mensch(en). Donate online here or call 518-516-1102.

Proceeds help support and grow the free services we provide to our community.

2024 HONORALE MENSCHEN 

This slideshow includes short blurbs as to why community organizations nominated their mensch(en).

Nancy Allen
DAUGHTERS OF SARAH COMMUNITY FOR SENIORS

Zakhar Berkovich
HILLEL AT UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY

Kenneth H. Carpenter
CONGREGATION AGUDAT ACHIM

Karen Davda
TEMPLE ISRAEL

Annette Farkas
CHEVRA KADISHA OF THE CAPITAL DISTRICT

Bob & Lauren Finkle
SHALOM FOOD PANTRY

Linda Gellman
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

Sally Goldberg
B’YACHAD COLLABORATIVE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Michele Fisher Gomez
Bess Wadler
HEBREW ACADEMY OF THE CAPITAL DISTRICT

Scott Hollander
ALBANY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Daniel & Tammie Kaufman
CLIFTON PARK CHABAD

Shayna Kudan
B’NOS ISRAEL MIKVAH

Susan Kushner (z”l)
CONGREGATION BETH EMETH

Daniella Steinberg Lans
MAIMONIDES HEBREW DAY SCHOOL

Linda & Dana Mandel
CONGREGATION OHAV SHALOM

Neal Packer
SCHENECTADY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Larry & Clara Sanders
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK

Alex J. Shoenbart
COLONIE CHABAD CHAI LIFE CENTER

Howie & Bettina Stoller
B’NAI SHOLOM REFORM CONGREGATION

Ellen & Stan Strauss
CONGREGATION GATES OF HEAVEN

Phyllis A. Wang
JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK

Karl Yesse
CONGREGATION BERITH SHOLOM

Here is a list of previous Mensches & Mimosas honorees.
We are delighted to once again partner with our Jewish community institutions for our 4th Annual Mensches & Mimosas, adding 30 more honorees to our group of community champions!
Click HERE to see why our community organizations nominated their mensch.

As part of this celebration, we will present the JFS Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award to Marvin A. Freedman for his lifetime commitment to serving humanity with humility.

We encourage you to support our honorable menschen and JFS.
Proceeds from this event help support and grow the free services we provide to our community.

  1. Click HERE to use our online form
  2. Click HERE to download a printable form
  3. Call JFS to process your credit card via phone: 518-516-1102
If you have any questions, please call Monica Tan at 518-516-1104 or email mtan@jfsneny.org.
 
 See a list of past Honorable Menschen here.

 

 

 

This year’s JFS Mensches & Mimosas virtual celebration honored 30 unsung heroes from the Capital Region, who were nominated by partner organizations from the Jewish community for their selfless dedication and leadership. As part of the celebration, Alan Iselin received the JFS Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award for serving humanity with humility.

The virtual celebration included pre-recorded videos of the Honorable Menschen who answered, “What inspires you to be a mensch?” Honorees shared inspiring tales of their organization’s members, leadership and of their volunteerism being passed down from their parents, “It was the Jewish values instilled in me as a child,” said Melanie Hecker from Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany. Mark Koblenz from Daughters of Sarah Community for Seniors spoke about their mensch nominee Neil Manasse who embraces the organization’s core values: honoring your mother and father and performing acts of loving kindness. Ruth Facher Mendel (Congregation Beth Emeth) was interviewed by her daughter Lisa Finkle to whom Ruth passed down the tradition of serving.

Rabbi Scott Shpeen (Congregation Beth Emeth, Albany) presented Alan Iselin the JFS Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award commenting on Alan’s years of leadership in the Albany Jewish community, greater Capital Region and nationally. In accepting the award, Alan Iselin, a JFS board chair in 1966, said he is “dazzled” by the services at JFS and the breadth of their coverage. “This organization has grown, it has added services, and continues to be a wonderful [resource] for the community,” said Iselin.

Several JFS service recipients shared their gratitude to JFS. Rosyln Foote commended JFS Project 5 for giving for helping her maintain her independence by giving her private rides to appointments. Steve Lobel recounted how the JFS Senior Resource Network provided critical resources and support so that he and his sister could move their mother from Florida to Albany after some serious health issues. Lenore Kesten expressed her appreciation for receiving kosher home delivered meals, particularly because she can no longer prepare her own meals.

“Monies raised from Mensches & Mimosas help support and grow JFS services that are provided regardless of an individual’s ability to pay,” said JFS president & CEO Jane Ginsburg. “It is through the generous philanthropic support from our community that helps our programs, and in turn our community, thrive.” JFS support groups, grocery and meal delivery, and senior adult services are just some examples of programs that are provided at little or no cost to recipients.

Here’s where you can watch this year’s celebration:
Watch on the JFS YouTube Channel
Click this Screen

Many Thanks to Our “M&M” Supporters! View them here!

You can still support our honorable menschen and JFS.  Proceeds from this event help support and grow the free services we provide to our community.
  1. Click here to use our online form,
  2. Click here to print a pdf form, or
  3. Call JFS to process your credit card via phone: 518-482-8856
If you have any questions, please call Monica Tan at 518-516-1104 or email mtan@jfsneny.org.
 
 See a list of past Honorable Menschen here.
We are delighted to once again partner with our Jewish community institutions for our
3rd Annual Mensches & Mimosas, adding 30 more honorees to our group of unsung heroes!

Over the past two years, the annual JFS Mensches & Mimosas has recognized 49 honorable menschen from organizations throughout our region for selflessly giving their time, their passions, and their hard work to our community. 

As part of this celebration, we will present Alan Iselin with the JFS Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award for his commitment to serving humanity with humility and being a role model for future generations.

Here’s where you can watch this year’s celebration:
June 2, 2022
7:00 p.m. Mensches & Mimosas
6:55 p.m. Preshow
Watch on the JFS YouTube Channel
Watch on the JFS Facebook Page
OR
Click this Screen

Many Thanks to Our “M&M” Supporters! View them here!

You can still support our honorable menschen and JFS.  Proceeds from this event help support and grow the free services we provide to our community.
  1. Click here to use our online form,
  2. Click here to print a pdf form, or
  3. Call JFS to process your credit card via phone: 518-482-8856
If you have any questions, please call Monica Tan at 518-516-1104 or email mtan@jfsneny.org.
 
 See a list of past Honorable Menschen here.

The community’s response to our 2nd Annual Mensches & Mimosas community-wide celebration of mensches has been astounding!  We honored 23 men and women who selflessly give their time, their passions, and their hard work throughout our community.

As part of this celebration, Herman Ungerman received the Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award for his commitment to serving humanity with humility and for acting as a role model for future generations. This is evident by his loving family, who continue to carry on the legacy of philanthropy.

VIEW OUR VIRTUAL CELEBRATION HERE!

 
Facebook @JFSNENY or
YouTube

If you still wish to support your mensch and JFS, here’s how:

  • Make your contribution here.
  • Print and mail in your form here.
  • Call JFS and process credit card payment: 518-482-8856

If you have any questions, please call Monica Tan at 518-516-1104 or email jfsevent@jfsneny.org.

Thanks for Supporting JFS and our Honorable Menschen

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Wednesday, February 3 at 10 a.m.

How healthy and safe is your home? Do you have multiple smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors? Do you have a fire extinguisher, and do you know how to use it? Have you ever spotted black mold? In this session, staff from Cornell Cooperative Extension will discuss the benefits of the Albany County Healthy Neighborhoods Program. While they are not currently conducting in-home safety assessments, they can set up a phone or Zoom appointment, ask a series of questions, and then make a contactless delivery of products that will improve your home’s healthy and safe. Healthy Neighborhoods is a FREE program, and there are no income requirements to participate. Many NNORC residents have had a HNP home visit or “phone visit” and are comforted to know their home is healthier and safer. They were also thrilled to receive so many helpful products!

NNORC has embraced Zoom (online video and audio conferencing) so we can continue to offer you programs. If you prefer not to use a computer or smartphone to participate, all you need is a telephone line to join in. Please call 518-514-2023 or email us at NNORC@jfsneny.org to sign up for a program. We will give you an access link or phone number for you to participate. You can also contact us for a one-on-one Zoom tutorial. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

Thursday, January 28 at 1 p.m.

Join us for a new year of our stimulating monthly program.  The Capital region has a rich history dating back more than 400 years. In 1797, Albany became the official capital of New York State in 1797 and since then it has become of the hub of the Capital Region for banking, railroads, and international trade. Join us for a movie about the region followed by a discussion.

Save the date for the next Let’s Talk Albany on Thursday, February 25 – topic will be announced in the January NNORC News.

NNORC has embraced Zoom (online video and audio conferencing) so we can continue to offer you programs. If you prefer not to use a computer or smartphone to participate, all you need is a telephone line to join in. Please call 518-514-2023 or email us at NNORC@jfsneny.org to sign up for a program. We will give you an access link or phone number for you to participate. You can also contact us for a one-on-one Zoom tutorial. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

Wednesday, January 27 at 1 p.m.

Lack of restful sleep is a considerable stressor to the body. Not only do sleepless nights make you irritable and crabby, but it adds stress. When our bodies are stressed, it adds to inflammation and the risk for diabetes, obesity, cancer, and heart disease. Join Fran Weiss, MS RD, CDN, Hannaford Registered Dietitian, to learn about nutritional approaches for stress management and restful sleep.

NNORC has embraced Zoom (online video and audio conferencing) so we can continue to offer you programs. If you prefer not to use a computer or smartphone to participate, all you need is a telephone line to join in. Please call 518-514-2023 or email us at NNORC@jfsneny.org to sign up for a program. We will give you an access link or phone number for you to participate. You can also contact us for a one-on-one Zoom tutorial. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

Monday, January 25  at 1 p.m.

To honor MLK’s birth month, we’ll be reading Shirley Grau’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Keepers of the House. The story is set in rural Alabama, covering seven generations of the Howland family who lived in the same house and built a community around themselves. As such, it is a metaphor for the long-established families of the Deep South, their encounter with changing values and norms, and the hypocrisy of racism.

Save the date for the next book club discussion on Monday, February 22 at 1 p.m.

NNORC has embraced Zoom (online video and audio conferencing) so we can continue to offer you programs. If you prefer not to use a computer or smartphone to participate, all you need is a telephone line to join in. Please call 518-514-2023 or email us at NNORC@jfsneny.org to sign up for a program. We will give you an access link or phone number for you to participate. You can also contact us for a one-on-one Zoom tutorial. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

Wednesdays, January 6, 13, and 20 at 10 a.m.

Looking for a way to increase the joy and manage the stress in your life?  Look no further than your next breath!  A regular meditation practice benefits body, mind, and spirit in many significant ways.

Whether you’re brand new to practicing meditation or find your established practice could use a little boost, this program is for you. In these three sessions, NNORC Senior Health Education Coordinator Judi England will discuss what meditation is and how it relates to reversing the stress response.  We’ll then explore different meditation techniques and ways to bring mindfulness into each and every day. Most importantly, you’ll receive support and encouragement to help you build a practice that works in your busy life.

NNORC has embraced Zoom (online video and audio conferencing) so we can continue to offer you programs. If you prefer not to use a computer or smartphone to participate, all you need is a telephone line to join in. Please call 518-514-2023 or email us at NNORC@jfsneny.org to sign up for a program. We will give you an access link or phone number for you to participate. You can also contact us for a one-on-one Zoom tutorial. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

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