Martinsville Resident Honored at RVCC Institute

The Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren was pleased to be a part of a wonderful program on Nov. 18 at Raritan Valley Community College honoring Len Knauer at the Len Knauer at the Holocaust and Genocide Institute “Make a Difference” event.

For 33 years, the Jewish Federation has cosponsored the Holocaust and Genocide program at RVCC and has helped to educate more than 100,000 students and hundreds of teachers and community members on the realities of the Holocaust and other genocides.

Each year, an honoree is selected for the Make a Difference award designation. This year, Len Knauer was selected.  Knauer, who is a commercial realtor by profession, and a resident of Martinsville,  has been a volunteer leader in the community for more than 40 years, and was a major force in the creation of the Holocaust and Genocide Resources Library and program at the college.  He has worked tirelessly to fight bias, prejudice, bullying and hate and to promote tolerance and diversity.

Knauer has been a president of the Jewish Federation, working tirelessly to raise philanthropic dollars for people in need locally and overseas, and to assist people who are the victims of natural disasters whenever and wherever they occur. Most recently, the Federation has been raising funds for the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines, and has assisted isolated elderly, severely disabled children and those with economic difficulties.

Knauer has also been a key factor in the planning and building of the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, and has been a leader at Temple Beth El.

Those lauding Knauer included RVCC Acting President James Ventantonio,  Jacki Bellin, Dean at RVCC, Diane Naar, Director of the Jewish Federation, Holocaust survivors George Blank and Margit Feldman and many others.  A special Holocaust dance performance was presented in the theater prior to the event, and was also seen by almost 1,000 students who had attended the earlier “Learning Through Experience” program at the college.