My wife, Sharon, and I have been proud members of the Plainview Jewish Center for almost 35 years. Plainview Jewish Center has been an integral part of our lives and that of our two daughters, Rachel and Sarah. They both attended its Hebrew School and celebrated their Bat Mitzvahs at Plainview Jewish Center. When Rachel married her husband, Andrew and when Sarah married her husband, Myles, we celebrated their Aufrufs there as well. We are now also blessed with two beautiful grandchildren Jillian, age 6 and Jacob, age 3. When they visit us, we bring them to participate in the children’s services that the Temple conducts. I have been a member of the Men’s Club since joining Plainview Jewish Center. I am a Past President and currently serve as its Parliamentarian.
My Jewish identity was forged by the experiences of my late parents, Fred and Adele. Both of them were originally from Vienna, Austria and both were forced to flee the Nazis at a young age. They both played roles in significant historical events. My mother was a child of the Kindertransport, one of 10,000 Jewish children from Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia who were taken in by Great Britain shortly before the outbreak of World War II. Placed with a family on a farm in the English countryside, she was one of very few witnesses to the Battle of Britain.
My father made his way to London where, in June of 1940, he and 2,000 other Jewish refugees were rounded up by the police as “enemy aliens” and sent on the infamous Dunera transport ship to an internment camp in Australia. It was more than 2 years before they were released. My parents met and married in London after the war and in 1952 immigrated to the United States, where they settled in Brooklyn.
Among my earliest memories is that of accompanying my father to a shtiebel in a neighboring Rabbi’s house in Brooklyn for Shabbat and Holiday services. I still remember the religious fervor with which the congregants there prayed.
When I was seven years old my parents, my younger sister, Carolyn, and I moved to the New Jersey Shore, where I grew up. I attended Rutgers University, where I majored in Economics. I subsequently enrolled in Brooklyn Law School and then a graduate tax program at The University of Miami Law School. I was admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey and Florida in the early 1980’s.
Professionally, I have practiced law in Huntington for the past 43 years. I concentrate in trusts, estates and the representation of closely held business owners and professionals. I was formerly an instructor in the Certified Financial Planning Program at Adelphi University and for a period of ten years wrote a monthly column on estate planning topics for Financial World Magazine. I am a trustee of The Huntington Lawyers Club and a longtime member of the Estate Planning Council of Long Island.
Support Mark Hochberg by placing an ad in his honor.
Mia Bernstein is a junior at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. She is taking AP and honors classes in English Language, Psychology, Algebra, and Spanish. She is also an active member of the Social Studies, English and Spanish National Honor societies. Mia has made a high honor roll every quarter of her high school career. Mia currently holds three executive board positions in her high school. She is the president of the Kindness Club, the secretary for the Hebrew Heritage Club, and the secretary for the Animal Rescue Club. She is an active member of her school’s DECA program and the Youth Against Cancer Program. Mia has enjoyed being on Varsity softball and Varsity track.
Mia’s interests go beyond high school, as well. She has been a member of Grandpals, a club that connects with senior citizens in a local assisted living home, since the 5th grade. She is now a co-director of programming for Grandpals. Mia has been a member of TAL, Teens As Leaders, since the 9th grade. TAL is a community service organization in which Mia has helped with fundraising and giving of her time to the community. She volunteers at Top Gymnastics, helping children with autism.
Mia continues to be an active member of the Plainview Jewish Center. Mia became a Bat Mitzvah in 2021 and continued on to be a member of the temple’s Teen Social Action Committee. Her strong connection to Judaism through Hebrew school, attending services and holidays at temple has paved the way for Mia to become involved in BBYO, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. Since 8th grade, Mia has been the Shabbat chair, the spirit chair, Nsiah chair, RLN and currently is the Katvanit. Mia has attended multiple BBYO conventions in which she has met other Jewish teens and collaborated in spiritual and meaningful events.
Mia is currently exploring colleges and universities in preparation for her senior year in high school. When she is not actively involved outside of her home, Mia is busy with her studies, spending time with friends and family and of course, her dog, Charlie. Mia is the daughter of Robin and Jeffrey Bernstein and has an older sister, Zoe. The entire family, including her grandparents and many relatives, are very proud of all that she has achieved as well as her deep commitment to Jewish values.
Support Mia Bernstein by placing an ad in her honor.
Andrew Guttman is an 18-year-old senior at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School and plans to study meteorology in college. His interest in the field came about as a result of his experience after Superstorm Sandy and his wanting to be able to predict weather events. Andrew has also had a lifelong interest in protecting animals, especially wild cats, and the environment. Andrew is an honors and AP student, with an aptitude for the sciences and social studies, and is a member of the social studies, science, music, and National Honors societies. He enjoys taking long walks and hikes at various nature trails throughout Long Island.
Andrew began his Jewish education at Plainview Jewish Center by attending the shul’s Hebrew school. He grew to love his time at the shul and had his Bar Mitzvah in late 2019, where he chose wild cat conservation as his charity of choice, raising over $700 for the Big Cats Fund at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Andrew chose to continue his work at the shul by volunteering for the Teen Social Action program, where he and his peers work with Rabbi Steven Conn to raise money for Jewish charities by hosting a series of fundraising events, including a car wash, a bingo night, and a restaurant fundraiser. Further, Andrew participates in his school’s Jewish heritage club by participating in activities, including a weekly ice cream social.
In addition to his love of the weather, nature, and his Jewish heritage, Andrew has played the clarinet since the fourth grade and is now a member of his high school’s wind ensemble, marching band, and is an officer in the school band. Andrew has completed solo performances for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) each year since grade six. In March 2023 he had the privilege of representing his school by performing at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, where the band also worked with a Disney conductor. Andrew is also a member and officer of Mathletes and a member of METMUNC (Model United Nations).
Outside of school, Andrew is a certified lifeguard and works at the Mid-Island Y JCC. He has also worked for that agency’s camp as a supply counselor after spending his youth there as a camper. He also has an avid interest in traveling and enjoys visiting and experiencing new places, with an interest in exploring the nature of a particular place. Between the Mid-Island Y JCC’s travel camp and family vacations Andrew has visited multiple states as well as Canada and has the goal of visiting all 50 states.
Andrew is grateful for the recognition that the FJMC Youth of the Year affords and thanks the organization for its consideration of his hard work. He plans to further his commitment to Tikkun Olam and his Jewish heritage in college and beyond.
Support Andrew Guttman by placing an ad in his honor.
Jacob Wayne is a junior at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. Jacob began his Jewish journey at Chabad of Northeast Queens attending their Early Learning Center from the age of one through four. After moving to Plainview at the age of five, he joined the Plainview Jewish Center community attending Hebrew School from Alef class through Zayin class, tot shabbats, junior congregations as well as holiday services and special programs and activities. Jacob became a Bar Mitzvah in 2021 and has since continued to be involved in making a positive impact in the Jewish community.
For the past 4 years, Jacob has served on Rabbi Conn’s Teen Social Action Committee. As part of this program, he helps organize fundraisers to raise money for charity organizations. One of his responsibilities is advertising. Jacob designs the flyers used to promote the events. Jacob also volunteers once a month with Plainview Jewish Center’s Sandwich Making for Long Island Connections program. He helps to make bagged lunches for the homeless and needy of Long Island.
Jacob has many interests outside of the Temple as well. He enjoys engineering and is an active member of POBots – The Plainview-Old Bethpage Robotics team. The team builds a robot that then participates in a yearly competition against other schools. Jacob is the assistant secretary on the team and assists by encouraging alumni with life experience in engineering fields to help mentor the team as needed. Jacob is also on the high school’s varsity track team.
Jacob spends his summers working at Mid Island Day Camp as a counselor. There he continues to help promote Jewish values and principals with his campers. Gathering with all the campers and counselors to sing Jewish songs every Friday during the Shabbat Oneg is one of his favorite experiences. It allows the community to gather and show their pride in their culture.
Jacob is extremely honored to be chosen to receive this award and would like to thank Plainview Jewish Center in helping him shape his Jewish identity.
Support Jacob Wayne by placing an ad in his honor.