Two Palisades Residents Earn 'Woman Of The Year' Honors

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Kehillat Israel's Rabbi Amy Bernstein and community leader Maryam Zar were recently honored as part of a “Woman of the Year” ceremony by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

The two Palisades residents were bestowed with the honor last month in Sacramento. Bernstein was picked by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, and Zar by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, as part of a class of "Women Making Herstory." Each year, legislators pick women in their district to earn the honor.

Bernstein is the senior rabbi of the Reconstructionist synagogue Kehillat Israel. Her congregation includes the philanthropic organization Kellihat Israel Tzedakah Teens, which has donated over $400,000 to nonprofits over the past 15 years. Another one of the community's organizations, The Mitzvah Circle, provides spiritual, social, educational and philanthropic programs and support, according to a release.

"In these fractious and challenging times I am deeply grateful for work that is about building relationships, creating community, and contributing to making the world a more respectful and supportive place for all people,” Bernstein said. “I am so honored to have been chosen to receive this award from among so many talented women doing important work in the 42nd Assembly District. I pledge to use whatever publicity it garners to further the mission of all who are working to make our society more welcoming, more reflective and more enlightened."

Zar, who was born in Iran, is a human-rights advocate and strong supporter of the women's movement taking place in Iran. She is president of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, chair of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils Land Use and Planning Committee, secretary of the local Park Advisory Board, and chair of the board of her community YMCA.

“I’m thrilled to be receiving this accolade from Sen. Ben Allen, who is a pleasure to work with and represents the kind of public servant all districts should be lucky enough to have. This year, with the Woman Life Freedom movement for civil rights inspired by women in Iran underway, the WOTY award is particularly meaningful to me and I’m grateful and humbled to have been chosen,” Zar said in a statement.