SWAN-derful
Beautiful Roslyn club plays host to NST Hadassah’s 10th anniversary rebirth
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
STEPHEN VRATTOS
For as long as North Shore
Towers has graced the highest
point in Queens more
than 40 years ago, the Migdal
Chapter of Hadassah has had an
active presence. Unfortunately,
by 2005, Chapter was unable
to function effectively and its
vibrancy had waned. In 2007,
the Nassau Region of Hadassah,
the overseer of chapters in the
region, charged resident Joan
Newman with reviving NST’s
chapter. She, in turn, brought in
neighbors Lilly Cohen and Zona
Schreiber.
As word grew about the revitalization
initiative, Eva Kessner
2017
December and Roz Chumsky, enthusiastically
came on board. To serve as
president, this intrepid gathering
turned to noted educator of
¢Hebrew, Yiddish, Jewish history
COURIER and literature, and Towers resident,
Carolyn Dinofsky. Thus, was born
the nucleus of the renewed NST
Chapter of Hadassah.
TOWERS In the ten years which followed,
the chapter has grown tremendously,
its dynamism and vigor surpassing
its predecessor with no sign of
SHORE slowing. The chapter gathered at
the historic Swan Club in Roslyn,
Thursday, October 26, to celebrate
NORTH this rebirth, as well as honor Gloria
Beck, as Migdal’s “Woman of the
Year,” for expanding the chapter’s
10 programs through her unceasing
the-Year Beck Happy 10th Anniversary Hadassah Migdal Chapter; (l. to r.) Zona Schreiber, Lilly Cohen, Arlene Augenbraun,
Bern Rosenthal, Judy Paris, Eva Kessner, Gloria Beck, Marcia Jacobson, Ricky Nordhauser, Roz Chumsky,
Judy Wachs, Alyce Zaller, Carolyn Dinofsky, Cheryl Sperber
Former Migdal Chapter President Carolyn Dinofsky
stands behind (l. to r.) Phoebe Greenbaum, Annette
Mauer and Ronnnie Shulman
energy and enthusiasm.
Nearly 100 members and guests
attended, including Cheryl Sperber,
Incoming President for the Nassau
Region of Hadassah, and former
Migdal Chapter President Carolyn
Dinofsky, who flew in from her
home in Chicago, where she’s lived
for the past five years, teaching
and serving as docent at the city’s
Holocaust Museum. “Once I got
involved with these wonderful
women, with their dedication and
ability, I thought, ‘This won’t be so
hard’,” Dinofsky recalled of her initial
reluctance to lead the Chapter’s
renewal a decade ago. “YOU are the
wonder women!”
Honoree and 4-generation
Hadassah Life Member Beck
was joined by daughter Ilicia and
Daughter-in-Law Eileen. Her dedication
and tireless work for the
Chapter is no better evinced than
by the fact she made the lovely centerpieces
which adorned every table.
“When I joined Migdal Hadassah
four years ago, I struck gold.” Beck
said. “There is no greater mitzvah
than helping those who can’t help
themselves.”
The Becks; (l. to r.) Daughter Ilicia, Mom and
Woman-of-the-Year Gloria, and Daughter in Law
Eileen
Julie Weissman and Eneas Arkawy
Members and guests dance a hora around Womanof