Welcoming Stacey Bloom as newly installed Board President, appreciating Adam Suttin for his impact as President
Stacey is a long-time leader at JCRC. She is Past Chair of the Israel and Global Jewry Committee (IGJC) and has also served on the Public Policy and Membership Committees. Stacey sits on the Governance Committee and served as chair of JCRC Celebrates in 2017. She previously served on the CJP Strategic Israel Engagement Commission, was Campaign Chair for their Young Leadership Board, and Co-Chair of the Young Lawyer’s Committee. Stacey is also a former member of the AJC New England Board of Directors.
Adam Suttin’s wise counsel and thoughtful leadership were invaluable in discerning how to reimagine our unique role for these times. In that vein, he also helped launch us into an exciting new initiative for the future – where we will take a fresh look at our work in the context not only of changing times but of a shifting community. Adam’s legacy is a rich and dynamic one, that will continue to unfold long after he takes his place as our Immediate Past President.
Abby Flam, recipient of the Nancy K. Kaufman Award for Excellent in Volunteer Leadership
This award was presented to Abby as an outstanding Jewish community lay leader, in honor of Nancy K. Kaufman, immediate past Executive Director of JCRC.
Abby is finishing her term as JCRC Board member, and continuing on the JCRC Council, where she has served previously. She has also been an Officer of the JCRC board and served on the Executive Director support and evaluation committee. Abby and several other leaders founded the Greater Boston Synagogue Organizing Project, which eventually became JCRC’s community organizing effort reaching out to so many congregations across Greater Boston. Abby also lent her professional expertise in multiple other ways, including consulting on JCRC’s Dnepopetrovsk medical clinic project. In addition to her JCRC roles, Abby has also served as a Vice President of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) and a member of its Strategy Team, and on the Boards of the Jewish Vocation Service (JVS), Temple Emanuel, the advisory board of Jewish Labor Committee, and CJP’s Caring & Social Justice Commission.
“I love seeing the profound joy she experiences in her Judaism, whether it’s participating in life at Temple Emanuel, living out her understanding of Jewish values in her pursuit of justice, or her sharing the lessons of her tradition in interfaith circles.”
– Chuck Koplick, presenting the Nancy K. Kaufman Award to Abby Flam
Robert Trestan, Recipient of the Warren B. Kohn Award for Outstanding Professional Jewish Community Relations
This award was presented to Robert Trestan, Regional Director of ADL New England, as an outstanding Jewish community relations professional, in memory of Warren B. Kohn, past president of JCRC (and past chair of ADL New England).
As a civil rights leader and attorney for more than 25 years, Robert has prioritized developing community partnerships and initiatives that advocate for justice, equity and fair treatment for everyone. In his current role with the ADL, Robert is responsible for overseeing ADL’s program delivery, community relations, and advocacy initiatives across the region. Robert was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes.
When presenting this award, Jeremy quoted the words of Warren B. Kohn’s daughter, who said, “JCRC was so important to my father, and he would be so happy that this award is continuing to be presented to individuals who continue to do wonderful work in the community.”
“It was really JCRC that inspired me towards doing Jewish communal work in Boston and I look forward to continuing our work. We have a lot to do and it’s only possible if we do it together.”
-Robert Trestan accepting the Warren B. Kohn Award
About our awards:
Nancy K. Kaufman Award for Excellence in Volunteer Leadership is presented to an outstanding Jewish community lay leader in honor of Nancy K. Kaufman, past Executive Director of JCRC.
The Warren B. Kohn Award is presented to an outstanding Jewish community relations professional in memory of Warren B. Kohn, past president of JCRC.
