Englewood’s Stacy Plotz Finkel Named Hadassah NNJ 2022 Woman of Valor

NEW YORK, NY, October 13, 2022 – Hadassah Northern New Jersey will honor Michael D. Cohen, Eastern Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center, with its 2022 Myrtle Wreath Award at an in-person ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 30th (EST), announced Geri Lipschitz, President, Hadassah Northern New Jersey.

Additionally, six local Hadassah volunteers will be honored as 2022 “Women of Valor” for their leadership, service and dedication to the largest women’s Jewish organization in the U.S. The award ceremony takes place at Temple Beth Shalom, 193 E. Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ, 07039. For more information or to order tickets, please call 973-241-1500 or email Metro@hadassah.org or visit this link.

In addition to honoring Mr. Cohen, Hadassah Northern New Jersey is honoring six local volunteers with their 2022 Women of Valor Award which recognizes leadership, service and dedication to Hadassah’s mission and values. 2022 honorees include: Nancy Ruderman (Caldwell Chapter); Stacy Plotz Finkel (Englewood-Tikvah-Chaverut Chapter); Leslie Felner (Fair Lawn Chapter); Gale Mark (Paramus-Bat Sheva Chapter); Linda Eagle (Millburn-Short Hills Tziona Chapter); Laura Sacks (South Orange-Maplewood Aviva Chapter).

Established by Hadassah Northern New Jersey in 1974, the Myrtle Wreath Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Jewish life in the United States or Israel in politics, diplomacy, science, the arts, education or organization work. Previous award recipients include Holocaust Educator Dr. Harriet Sepinwall; Author and Humanitarian Chaim Potok; U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Letty Pogrebin, founder of MS Magazine, former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger, and many Hadassah Past National Presidents.

2022 Myrtle Wreath Award Chair Gail Black states: “Michael Cohen has been instrumental in helping Hadassah Northern New Jersey combat the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) from succeeding in several of our towns and fighting antisemitism throughout our communities. He works tirelessly educating people on the dangers of all prejudices, and Hadassah Northern New Jersey is taking this opportunity to thank him with our highest award.”

Humbled by receiving the 2022 Myrtle Wreath Award, Cohen views it as an opportunity to continue his life-long work in Holocaust Education and fighting intolerance, bigotry and antisemitism in the U.S.

Said Cohen: “The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) has been in the forefront of the struggle against the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement around the world, in the halls of power and in the marketplace of ideas. BDS never helped a single Palestinian and is designed with the goal of demonizing, de-legitimizing, and ultimately seeing the demise of the Jewish state. Here in the Tri-State area, the SWC testified at the NYC City Council hearing condemning BDS, and I am proud that we were able to launch a process leading to over forty local New Jersey municipalities ultimately passing anti-BDS resolutions as well.”

He continued: “In Central NJ, Hadassah Northern New Jersey leaders such as Gail Black and Stephanie Bonder reached out to partner with the Wiesenthal Center on this effort and worked alongside in partnership to galvanize additional

governing bodies into action. The SWC is proud to have worked closely with local chapters of Hadassah here in New Jersey in our fight to combat antisemitism.”

Michael D. Cohen currently serves as Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global human rights organization using the lessons of the Holocaust to confront antisemitism, hate and terrorism, trains tens of thousands on prejudice, diversity and tolerance issues, and supports the State of Israel. Michael previously served as the NYC Director of Political and Strategic Affairs to Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin, widely recognized as one of the most influential lobbying firms in New York. He has also served as senior staff member to the NYS Senate Leadership, senior staff member to Congressman Edolphus Towns, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and as Senior Advisor to NYC Councilman Matthieu Eugene. He has served as a campaign strategist on over 100 political campaigns and is currently serving his third term on the Englewood, NJ City Council,

Hadassah recently issued a statement on the rise of Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Incidents on American college campuses.

For more information sponsorship packages or to order tickets, please call 973-241-1500 or email Metro@hadassah.org or visit this link.

ABOUT HADASSAH

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA), is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, Associates and supporters, HWZOA brings women together to effect change and advocate on such critical issues as ensuring the security of Israel, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) two hospitals in Jerusalem, HWZOA helps support exemplary patient care for over a million people every year and HMO’s world-renowned medical research. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace.” Additionally, HWZOA supports several Youth Aliyah villages that set at-risk children in Israel on the path to a successful future. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.