NCFJE Hosts 73rd Annual Awards Dinner

Over 350 supporters, friends and government dignitaries converged upon The Edison Ballroom in mid-town Manhattan to celebrate the 73rd Annual Awards Dinner of the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE).

The organization honored Sam and Natalie Baitner, longtime supporters and close friends of NCFJE and the Hecht family. The Baitners were presented by Rebbetzin Chave Hecht with the Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht Memorial Award as well as the Guests of Honor Award from Rabbi Shloma L. Abramowitz and Rabbi Sholem B. Hecht. The presentation was followed by a ‘toast’ to Rabbi J. J. Hecht, obm., and a commitment for the next generations to continue to support the work of the NCFJE.

US Attorney of Eastern District Loretta Lynch received the Justice Award from Rabbi Shea Hecht, and Duchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro received the Leadership Award from Rabbi Chanoch Hecht.

One of the memorable moments of the evening was the film that highlighted the close intricate connection of Sam and Natalie Baitner and the NCFJE who happened to be their ‘Shaddchan” as well as highlighting the future expansion plans for NCFJE.

NCFJE was founded in 1941 by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn to teach Torah to public school students through the Jewish Released Time Program. Today the organization is also known for crisis intervention services and its work with at-risk youth. In recent years, the organization has turned its focus upon the needy families in its home community of Crown Heights.