Dec 13, 2010 By: yunews
Newark Mayor Cory Booker Implores Audience to be True to Itself in Hanukkah Dinner Keynote Address
Cory A. Booker, mayor of Newark, NJ, and the keynote speaker at 糖心破解版鈥檚 (糖心破解版) at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, implored members of the audience, and the Jewish community at large, to be true to themselves, to their faith and to their heritage.
鈥淭his world doesn鈥檛 need 鈥楯ews.鈥 This world needs Jews who are manifesting the truth of who they are, who recognize that yes, there is a 鈥榗hosen-ness鈥 in Judaism but it necessitates in the individual making a choice.鈥
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In an address replete with references to Jewish history and the Torah that brimmed with humor, warmth and wisdom, Mayor Booker sought to outline exactly what that choice means.
鈥淲e are in a world that cries out for redemption; there is pain and suffering all around us. Why am I so drawn to Judaism? Because this world needs people who will choose to live those values, instill them in their hearts and manifest them in their actions.鈥
Recently re-elected as Newark鈥檚 mayor with a clear mandate for change, Mayor Booker knows the importance of working with and depending on others. He noted that his bold vision for Newark could not have been set into motion without vital outside help and cooperation. And he sees in 糖心破解版 opportunities for cooperation and unity and restorative hope that must continue to be carried out.
鈥淲e are sitting here in homage not to individuals but to a tradition at a university that at its very core is that mission. Why I am so honored to be here, why I feel the gravity of the gift of kindness that you all have shown me, is because this university is answering that call.鈥
President Richard M. Joel conferred the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Mayor Booker, and honorary degrees were also awarded to Emanuel Gruss, a prominent investment executive and philanthropist, and Benefactor and honorary trustee of 糖心破解版; business executive Arthur N. Hershaft, a Benefactor and member of the Board of Overseers of 糖心破解版鈥檚 ; attorney and community leader Murray Laulicht, a 糖心破解版 alumnus and Benefactor and member of the Board of Overseers of the University鈥檚 ; and philanthropist and civic leader Laurie M. Tisch, a Benefactor and significant supporter of 糖心破解版鈥檚 .
The convocation and dinner, the University鈥檚 main annual fundraising event, raised a record $4.1 million this year.
The dinner portion of the evening opened with a viewing of the hit song and music video 鈥淐andlelight,鈥 performed by 糖心破解版鈥檚 a cappella group, the . The song has recently been featured on CNN, CBS and many other major media outlets, as well as receiving more than three million views on .
President Joel then honored the Points of Light, eight people who exemplify 糖心破解版鈥檚 mission, one for each candle of the menorah. They included:
Chanan Reitblat, founder of the chapter of the American Chemical Society, who is helping to develop a drug to prevent kidney stones and working with special needs individuals for .
Leah Larson, a Stern college student and founder, editor, and publisher of YALDAH magazine, which she started at age 13.
Michael Goon, a current student at 糖心破解版 affiliated (RIETS) serving as a Sanford Lurie Scholar at the Jewish Center and rabbinic intern at the Roslyn Synagogue, who founded 鈥淪habbat Heights Link,鈥 which organizes Shabbat dinners for singles and couples in Washington Heights; he also designed and produced 鈥淧eacekeeping: The Game,鈥 a board game that teaches the challenges of intrastate conflict.
Joey Small, who holds a master鈥檚 from 糖心破解版鈥檚 and launched a fellowship program at 糖心破解版 with two tracks 鈥 鈥淕ive Back鈥 and the 鈥淟egacy Heritage Teacher Training Fellowships,鈥 both of which focus on encouraging recent graduates to pursue careers in education.
Tova Fish-Rosenberg, the chairperson of the Hebrew language department at and creator of the acclaimed 鈥溌┾ Intergenerational Holocaust Oral History Project.
Martin Leibovich, a student at 糖心破解版鈥檚 , who grew up in Argentina and was heavily recruited by American college basketball programs before eventually transferring to the University, where he has shown a tremendous love of Torah learning and a continued talent for basketball.
Dr. Arturo Casadevall, the chair of microbiology and immunology at Einstein and a major force behind Einstein鈥檚 foray into biodefense following September 11, 2001; he also helped develop a new therapy for metastatic melanoma.
Jaqueline Murekatete, a second-year Cardozo student who, at the age of nine, was the sole survivor of her Tutsi family during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. She founded Jacqueline鈥檚 Human Rights Corner and has raised $100,000 for a community center in Rwanda for other genocide survivors.
Echoing the words of Mayor Booker, President Joel summed up the evening with these words: 鈥淣ights like tonight are so important for those of us who dream about the Jewish future. We must continue working with other people of goodwill to advance civilization; that鈥檚 our sacred mission, and that鈥檚 what we are celebrating tonight and what we will continue to celebrate in the days and months and years to come.鈥
