Tzedakah Award
In 1986, the Board of Directors of the Jewish Endowment Foundation voted unanimously to create an award to be given to a deserving individual for unselfish, meaningful service to the community; especially to and through JEF.
Recipient is honored for: “Demonstrating Tzedakah: Justice and righteousness, doing for others, thinking and acting philanthropically.”
The recipients of the Tzedakah Award have been:
Bart Family
Joan* & Gerald* Berenson/ Byrde Haspel*/ Sara Stone
Bissinger Family
Alan Bories*
Mike Brener*
Cahn Family
Marianne* & Dr. Isidore* Cohn Jr
Marjorie* & Scott Cowan
Linda & Richard Friedman
Goldring Family Foundation
Harriet & Maurice* Handelman
Shirley* & Dr. Robert* Haspel
Dotty & Buddy* Jacobs
Hugo Kahn
Robert L. Kohlmann*
René Lehmann*
Charles A. (Rusty) Levy III
Anne P. Lowenburg
Julie Grant Meyer
Betty Meyers*
Bernard D. Mintz*
Jean and Saul* Mintz
Melinda & Morris Mintz
Max Nathan Jr*
P.R. (Sunny) Norman*
M. E. Polson*
Joyce & Sidney Pulitzer
Edie* & Paul* Rosenblum
Karen* & Dr. Edward Soll
Beverly* & Lester* Wainer
Roswell J. Weil*
Carol B. Wise
Frankie Wolff*
Young Award
Criteria established by JEF: A demonstration of extraordinary concern for the needs of the New Orleans Jewish community through wise counsel. An understanding of the meaning of Tzedakah with the ability to communicate it to others. Sensitivity to the benefits of philanthropy in ways that have enhanced the future of the Jewish community.
Encourages philanthropy with knowledge of laws affecting charitable giving. Given to an attorney, accountant, financial planner, investment advisor, insurance professional, banker or other consultant for outstanding professional service.
Past recipients of the Young Award have been:
Ian Arnoff*
Charles Bennet*
Robert Cahn*
Francis L. (Shorty) Fraenkel
Dotty Jacobs*
Richard Katz*
Morton H. Katz
Abe Kupperman*
David Kushner/ Mark Stein
Lawrence M. Lehmann
René Lehmann*
Andrea S. Lestelle
Charles A. (Rusty) Levy III
Joel A. Mendler
Albert Mintz*
Max Nathan Jr*
Carole Cukell Neff
William D. Norman Jr
Joe Pasternack Jr.*
Leon H. Rittenberg Jr*
Leon H. Rittenberg III
Sam Rosenberg*
James M. Spiro
Bruce Spizer
Leopold Stahl/ Lee B. Brown
Roswell J. Weil*
Ellen S. Yellin
JFNA Endowment Achievement Award
The award reads, “In recognition of providing creative and outstanding leadership to the Endowment Program.” The award is presented annually by the United Jewish Communities to members of the lay community who, through their leadership, vision and dedication have helped in the successful growth of their Federation’s endowment funds.
Past recipients if the JFNA Award have been:
Ian Arnof
Jack C. Benjamin Sr*
Charles Bennet*
Richard Cahn
Joan Brooks Cox
Alan Franco
Margot Garon*
Marcus Hirsch*
Marvin L. Jacobs*
Abe Kupperman*
Anne P. Lowenburg
Sanford R. Maslansky
Joel A. Mendler
Helen A. Mervis*
Julie Grant Meyer
Bernard D. Mintz*
William D. Norman Jr
Rickie Nutik
Joe Pasternack Jr*
Joyce S. Pulitzer
Leon H. Rittenberg Jr*
Edward L. Soll MD
Bruce Spizer
Michael Wasserman MD
Roswell J. Weil*
Linda B. Weiner
Carol B. Wise
Frankie Wolff*
Ellen S. Yellin
Helen A. Mervis Jewish Community Professional Award
Established by JEF: To be given annually to an outstanding professional employee of a Jewish community organization in the Greater New Orleans area.
Past recipients of the Helen Mervis Award have been:
Ellen Abrams
Arlene Barron
Gwynne Bowman
Lindsay Baach Friedmann
Deena Gerber
Caitrin Gladow
Ned Goldberg
Wendy Goldberg
Catherine C. Kahn
Saundra K. Levy
Helen A. Mervis
Sharon Pollin
Yonah Schiller
Ed Smith
Sherri Tarr
Ellie Wainer
Michael Weil
*Deceased