Western Massachusetts’ "Jewish Movers & Shakers 2009" List Announced By The Western Massachusetts Jewish Ledger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 11, 2010 -- (Longmeadow, MA) -- Officials at the Western Massachusetts Jewish Ledger newspaper announced the list of the region’s "Jewish Movers & Shakers for 2009". Selected by the newspaper's editors, this year's group of 11 accomplished and dedicated business professionals and community leaders are being recognized for their leadership roles and the impact they made in the Jewish community in western Massachusetts during the past year.

“I am honored to announce this year’s important list of top Jewish 'Movers & Shakers'. During this tough economic climate, community, business leaders and individuals involved in bettering our region need to be even more resourceful these days in order to initiate and maintain programs. That’s why it’s a true honor to recognize this group. These are some of the hardest working, dedicated and generous professionals in our region.” said N. Richard Greenfield, publisher, Western Massachusetts Jewish Ledger. "Our editors focused on what has taken place in our corner of the world during the past 12 months and selected 11 people who stood out in 2009. We are very much aware that they also represent many more people who help others and give of themselves through our Jewish organizations and institutions to make western Massachusetts a better place. So, we also express our appreciation to the many others who also make our synagogues, federations and other Jewish organizations and institutions work as they do every day of the year."

In alphabetical order, the 11 people named as Western Massachusetts’ Jewish Movers & Shakers for 2009 are:

Kenneth Abrahams, Enfield, CT
Last year, the merger teams of the Alliance of Orthodox Synagogues and Temple Beth El and B’nai Jacob were named Movers & Shakers. This year, we honor Kenneth Abrahams, 80, who in 2009, oversaw the purchase of the former B’nai Jacob building and renovations on the facility which is now Congregation B’nai Torah, the synagogue housing the Alliance of Orthodox Synagogues.

Meredith Dragon, Longmeadow, MA
She has been in town for less than a year, but already Meredith Dragon has made her mark. Dragon arrived in Springfield to become executive director of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts after serving as assistant director for the Jacksonville, FL. Jewish Federation. Dragon threw herself into the job, quickly getting to know community leaders, lay people and agency representatives and immersing herself completely in the local Jewish community.

Susan Weiss Firestone, Longmeadow, MA

Susan Weiss Firestone was appointed to sit on the prestigious National Board of the Jewish Federations of North America in November 2009. One of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachhusetts’ most active leaders, Firestone also serves as vice president of the Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowments and Lion of Judah Endowment. This year, she is also serving as chair of the Federation’s Major Gifts division.

Josh Grey, South Hadley, MA
This is the second year as chair of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts’ Super Sunday for South Hadley resident Joshua Grey. In addition to his Super Sunday duties, Grey also is now chair of the Jewish Federation’s Young Adult division. An assistant general counsel at Health New England, Grey has also served as the Senior Major Gifts Officer for the National Yiddish Book Center. He is on the board of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and the Hillel House at the University of Massachusetts.

Harold Grinspoon, Longmeadow, MA

Harold Grinspoon creates programs that constantly build momentum. The PJ Library is now in more than 100 communities around North America and this year PJ Library expanded into Israel, offering Hebrew language books to its young recipients. His Grinspoon B’nai Tzedek Youth Foundation continues to churn out young Jewish philanthropists. In March 2009, the Jewish Funders Network presented the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award to Harold Grinspoon and his wife, Diane Troderman. In November 2009, Grinspoon was honored with the Union for Reform Judaism’s 2009 Alexander M. Schindler Award for Service to World Jewry for his effort and support toward the promotion of Jewish camping. Since 2004, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation has provided more than $20 million in services and matching grants to help make camping a central part of Jewish life.

Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz, Longmeadow, MA
Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz’ vision is to create a compelling and relevant Conservative synagogue for the 21st century and to ensure Temple Beth El will be a strong presence for Conservative Judaism in Western Massachusetts. She is the first female rabbi to lead a synagogue in the Greater Springfield area. Besides her work at Beth El, Rabbi Katz has also been instrumental in getting the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School up and running again in Springfield.

Susan Kline, Longmeadow, MA

She tries to leave, but they keep pulling her back in. Sue Kline was all set to take it easy by June 2009. She retired from her position as director of the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy, a position she had held since January 2005 and was set to end her three-year term as president of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. But after three months, she came out of retirement to oversee the Create a Jewish Legacy Program of Western Massachusetts, which helps Jewish organizations in Western Raise secure legacy gifts from loyal donors.

Robert Marmor, Westhampton, MA

It is no secret that the Jewish community was been hit hard by the recession in 2009. But despite having to cut back on some programs and plans for future expansion, Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Western Massachusetts came through this past year staying true to its original mission of helping the local Jewish community. Executive Director Robert Marmor was the guide post for the agency’s good work. Though intense planning and some organization restructuring, Marmor (along with the JFS board) kept the agency in the black going into next year. Despite the tough economic, year, JFS was able to provide the Jewish community with things like financial counseling, employment workshops and referrals to the Jewish Federation’s emergency assistance fund, developed this year to aid local Jewish families in dire straits.

Stass Shpanin, Springfield, MA

In 2002, at the age of 12, Stass Shpanin was listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the Youngest Professional Artist in the World. Today at 19 years old, his work has been exhibited all over the world in solo art shows around the United States, Israel, Russia, Italy, his native Azerbaijan, England and France. Now the Longmeadow resident and graduate of the MacDuffie School is a student at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. He is the winner of numerous art competitions and his works are on public display in museums around the world.

Vivien Weiss, Florence, MA

Vivien Weiss, LMHC, a therapist in Florence and faculty member at Smith College, School of Social Work, was honored this year as a “Top 100” by Massachusetts General Hospital for her contributions to the lives of people living with cancer throughout the Pioneer Valley. The “Top 100” celebrates the 100 individuals and groups who are devoted to making an impact on cancer. Weiss was nominated by staff and cancer survivors at Cancer Connection, a local not-for-profit organization, with a mission is to provide a haven where people with cancer, their loved ones and caregivers can learn to cope with the physical and emotional turmoil of the disease.

Bil Zarch, Florence, MA
Since arriving in Northampton to become head of school of the Lander-Grinspoon Academy, Bil Zarch has helped the Solomon Schechter day school to continue to thrive. With a stunning enrollment of 95 students, the school has been growing in leaps and bounds since it was founded as a group of eight kindergartners in one room in Congregation B’nai Israel.

The Jewish Ledger newspapers were founded in 1929 and have been dedicated to furthering Jewish life in the region and serving the community. As a weekly source for the latest news about current events, people and issues in the Jewish communities across the state, the Jewish Ledger has been recognized by the New England Press Association, American Jewish Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. To read the full news story, which includes background information and more details, about the Jewish Ledger's Movers & Shakers List, visit www.jewishledger.com.

More information can be found online at http://www.jewishledger.com/western_mass/

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