Miles Leon
Monday, June 3, 6 pm
Every other year, the leadership and staff of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater come together to celebrate accomplishments, honor leaders, and chart the future. The Biennial meeting, taking place this year at the Sandler Family Campus, is an opportunity for the community to officially thank those whose work guides and sustains the health of the Tidewater Jewish community.
Alvin A Wall, outgoing UJFT president (who will be honored for his tenure as president that night), says of the event, “it’s a great opportunity to get together and recognize the hard work that happens every day. It was an honor for me two years ago to be on stage with [my predecessor] Lonny Sarfan and all of the other leaders of this community, and I look forward to passing the torch to Miles [Leon, incoming president].”
In addition to honoring Wall’s presidency, the meeting will see the installation of incoming president, Miles Leon, by his father, Arnold Leon.
Leon, president of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co., has a family legacy of commitment to maintaining a strong community. He has honed his leadership skills with decades of involvement in both the Jewish and greater communities.
A former UJFT Annual Campaign chair and past president of Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, one of Leon’s goals during his presidency is to bring community awareness to the UJFT’s positive impact, and the number of ways the organization extends its helping arms.
During the meeting, the UJFT also will acknowledge and pay tribute to exceptional volunteer and professional members of the Tidewater Jewish community. Karen Lombart will be presented a Special Community Recognition Award. Marc Abrams and Jason Hoffman will both be presented the Leonard R. Strelitz Young Leadership Award. Kurt Rosenbach will receive the Joseph H. Strelitz Community Service Award. Jewish News’ Terri Denison is to be presented the Jewish Communal Professional’s Award.
Outgoing UJFT committee chairs will be honored for their service, including Miriam Seeherman, outgoing Community Relations Council Chair, Alicia London Friedman, outgoing Holocaust Commission Chair, Laura Geringer Gross, outgoing Women’s Campaign Chair, and Jay Kelbanoff, General Campaign Chair from 2010-2012.
Other highlights of the evening will include a D’var Torah by Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz of Congregation Beth El, and the installation of new UJFT board members.
The entire Jewish community is invited to attend the event.
Miles Leon, incoming UJFT president, says, “it’s so easy to focus on where we need to go. I think it’s important that we take a moment and celebrate just how far we’ve come. That’s an important part of what the Biennial Meeting does.”
The meeting takes place on the Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community, 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Virginia Beach and is open to the community. Kosher hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served. RSVPs are strongly recommended. RSVP to Cynthia Wildes cwildes@ujft.org or 757-965-6131.