Josh Richman will be the focus of celebration this month, when he is named the 2011 recipient of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Benjamin E. Nickoll Award at a luncheon at the Pfister Hotel.
A native Milwaukeean, Richman graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1994 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in music from Yale College in 1998. He studied for two years at Machon Shlomo, a yeshiva in Jerusalem, before returning to Milwaukee in 2000.
Since his return, Richman has attempted to synthesize his interests in Judaism and the arts. In 2004, he founded the Jewish and music organization, RUACH, for which he continues to serve as executive director.
RUACH’s active past year has included its Creative Arts in the Community Initiative and its Milwaukee Jewish Arts Festival, both of which served the Jewish community and diverse underserved populations in the City of Milwaukee.
The MJF has presented the Benjamin E. Nickoll Young Leadership Award since 1962. It was established to honor Ben Nickoll, a leader of the Federation and the Jewish community in the 1940s and 1950s.
The award includes a stipend to attend the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, a yearly gathering of thousands of professional and volunteer leaders from around the world that will be held in Denver this year.
Mitch Moser was the 2000 Nickoll Award winner and currently serves as campaign chair of the MJF. “Josh is a strong volunteer throughout Milwaukee’s Jewish community and lends his charismatic leadership and guidance in particular to programs and agencies of the MJF,” Moser said.
“The list of past recipients of the award forms a close fraternity of those who were dedicated to our community as young leaders and who invariably went on to lead our Jewish community, and Josh fits perfectly in this group,” said Moser.
“The Ben Nickoll Award is very meaningful because you’re selected by your peers, and you are following in the footsteps of tremendous past recipients that have done wonderful things for the community,” said last year’s recipient, David Arnstein.
“I personally got to know Josh as co-chair of the Weinstein Fellowship III, and it gives me great pleasure to see him receive this prestigious reward,” Arnstein said. “He has shown a strong commitment to the Federation and community-at-large, and I know he will continue to be a strong leader into the future.”
The desire to volunteer is a Richman family tradition. Josh’s father, Steve Richman, is a past-president of the MJF.
“As both a father and someone who’s been active in the Jewish community, I’m delighted and proud that Josh is being recognized for his community contributions with a very meaningful honor,” said Steve Richman.
Josh considers his family’s service to be one of his driving inspirations. “My parents continue to set the tone and foundation for everything I do in life and serve as role models for me in personal, professional and communal arenas,” he said. Moreover, “I have a strong partner in my wife, Hillary, who is a blessing.”
Josh has become increasingly involved with Milwaukee’s Jewish community and MJF. In addition to participating in the third George Weinstein Fellowship in 2009-10, Josh co-chaired Super Sunday for the 2010-11 campaign, served on the MJF’s Agency Review Council and Nominating Committee, and remains involved in the Young Leadership Division’s Israel-related activities.
Richman’s commitment to his community is a fundamental part of his observance and an expression of gratitude to G-d.
“I believe it is my duty to give generously to those who will benefit from my resources and I feel a special inclination to give to others who are underserved in a way that will truly help them,” he said. “Volunteering and giving are acts that I believe make me a better person and, by extension, can help others to become strong people.”
The Benjamin E. Nickoll Young Leadership Award Luncheon will be held Tuesday, Oct. 25, 11:45 a.m. Luncheon is $40 (dietary laws observed).
RSVP by calling 414-390-5700 or online at www.milwaukeejewish.org.
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