NCJW Bergen Section honors state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal
The Bergen County section of the National Council of Jewish Women presented New Jersey’s attorney general, Gurbir S. Grewal, with the Hannah G. Solomon award at NCJW’s annual spring luncheon at the Estate at Florentine Gardens in River Vale on June 4. Gladys Laden, the section’s past president, received the Woman of the Section award.
The luncheon, which celebrated the organization’s 96th anniversary, included installati of officers, raffle, silent auction, and a journal.
Governor Phil Murphy appointed Mr. Grewal to serve as New Jersey’s 61st Attorney General; he took office on January 16, 2018. Before becoming New Jersey Attorney General, Mr. Grewal was Bergen County prosecutor. His successor in that office, Mark Musella, was at the luncheon.
The Hannah G. Solomon award is named after NCJW’s founder. In 1893 Hannah G. Solomon was asked to organize the participation of Jewish women at the Chicago World’s Fair. When she discovered that women’s participation meant pouring coffee, she walked out. By the end of the World’s Fair, she had founded the National Council of Jewish Women, which changed the nature of Jewish women’s volunteerism.
Gladys Laden, who won the Woman of the Section award, is an NCJW past president and has been a member since 1964. She has chaired many committees and now represents NCJWBCS on the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, which provides free primary care to low-income working families with no means to pay. Before she retired in 2010, she was the financial aid director at Cornell University Medical College in New York City.
The two honorees were presented with Joint Legislative Resolutions of the Senate and General Assembly by State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
Officers who were installed included Bea Podorefsky as the new honorary president. Marcia Levy continues as honorary vice president. New co-president Bari-Lynne Schwartz joins co-presidents Elizabeth Halverstam and Ruth Seitelman, who were installed for their third year of service. Joan Cooper, Joan Schnuer, and Virginia Wasserman are new vice presidents. Phyllis Betancourt, Marilynn Friedman, Karen Kurland, Nanette Matlick, Elaine Meyerson, Joan Ornstein, and Ilene Wechter will continue as vice presidents. Norma Goldsmith is recording secretary and Elizabeth Roditi is treasurer.
Proceeds from the annual spring luncheon benefit the work of NCJW’s Bergen County section, which includes 1,000 members who are committed to improving the lives of women, children, and families. For more information, go to ncjwbcs.org or call (201) 385-4847.
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