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JNF to honor 15 leaders at annual banquet on Sept. 9

By Mardee Gruen
of The Chronicle staff

August 22nd, 2003

Jewish National Fund-Wisconsin Region will honor 15 community leaders for their devotion to humanitarian causes, the Jewish people and the State of Israel at a banquet on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The theme of the evening is “JNF, for Israel forever.”

Recipients of the JNF Honoree Award for 2003 are: Joe Aaron and Rick Aaron, Sondra and Robert Breslauer, Susan and Jeffrey Conn, Judith and Rabbi Leonard Lewy, Roberta and Dr. Richard London, Beth and Robert Peterman, and Robin and Henry Zaks. In addition, Sidney Rivkin, regional director, will be recognized for his Chai years of service to JNF of Wisconsin.

Musical icon for over 65 years, Joe Aaron continues to perform at bar/bat mitzvah and wedding celebrations. His name is synonymous with the local Klezmer scene and the JCC’s Summer Evenings of Jewish Music series. In addition, he teaches and plays with local bands. Recently, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Jazz Hall of Fame.

His son, Rick, is a classical musician and jazz player. He sings in the Congregation Shalom Choir, plays Klezmer music, teaches flute and performs with local jazz groups and with his dad.

Robert Breslauer, an engineer, is a member of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation board and former co-chair of its Lifeline Division, a member of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations board and its Israel Task Force, and a vice president of the American Jewish Committee—Milwaukee chapter. Also, he is a sponsor for the Washington Institute of Near East Policy and a recruiter and lobbyist for AIPAC. He is also involved in many organizations in the general community, including the Wisconsin chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

He and his wife, Sondra, a Life Master bridge player, co-owned a property management firm for 29 years.

Jeffrey and Susan Conn met at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, where they worked together as youth group advisors.

Jeffrey became the director of the Beth El religious school while Susan taught Judaism through art to students in grades K-10. They remain active in the Brotherhood and Sisterhood and volunteer at the synagogue. Jeffrey is president of its Chevra Mishna.

He is the religious leader and cantor at Anshe Poale Zedek Synagogue in Manitowoc. He recently retired from a 34-year teaching career in the Mequon-Thiensville School District.

The Lewys moved to Milwaukee four years ago when Rabbi Leonard Lewy became director of the Jewish Chaplaincy Program of the federation in cooperation with Jewish Family Services.

He has attained the level of Supervisor Candidate in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, served on the board of the National Association of Jewish Chaplaincy and co-chairs the Wisconsin Rabbinical Council’s committee on Jewish prisoners.

Judith Lewy works at the Coalition for Jewish Learning, MJF’s education program, serving as the coordinator for Learning Links, an online directory that she developed for area adult Jewish education offerings.

The Londons are active members of Congregations Beth Israel and Shalom. Roberta has served as a member of the State of Israel Bonds Campaign Cabinet and is a past president of the Women’s Division of Wisconsin State of Israel Bonds. She is a founding member, past president and board member of Keshet of Wisconsin, a board member of Jewish Family Services and an adult literacy tutor for Meta House, a residential treatment program for addictive women and their children. Also, she is an active volunteer with the MJF and a member of the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund.

Board-certified in geriatrics and family practice, Rick London is chief of geriatric services for St. Michael Hospital and has a geriatric practice. While he was a faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin, he established the Covenant Memory Loss Center. Also, 16 years ago, he organized a group of volunteers to establish a health care clinic for homeless people and remains its medical director. He has been a federation volunteer and is involved in the Wisconsin Jewish Genealogical Society.
A nurse practitioner and clinical assistant professor in the UWM College of Nursing,
Beth Peterman is clinic director for the Community Nursing Center at the House of Peace. She has been involved with COA—Youth and Family Services, the National Council of Jewish Women/Milwaukee Section and the Women’s Seder. Also, she is a campaign worker for the MJF’s Women’s Division and Super Sunday.

An investment management analyst with Salomon Smith Barney, Robert Peterman was the first chair for the Russian resettlement operation for Jewish Family Services, vice president of development at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, and a board member and chair of the Endowment Committee at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue.

Robin Zaks has served as secretary to the JNF board for the past three years. She is a life member of Hadassah and a member of the Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood.

Henry Zaks is active in The Generation After and a member of CBI’s Men’s Club. He is co-president of the state JNF region and active on various national committees dealing with JNF mergers and acquisitions.

As director for the past 18 years, Sidney Rivkin is being recognized for raising funds for the State of Israel on behalf of JNF and for developing a cadre of local supporters and volunteers who share his passion.

The banquet will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, 6 p.m. Couvert is $55 per person. For information or reservations, due Aug. 29, call the JNF office, 414-963-8733.