Newark Mayor Cory Booker, left, will be the featured speaker at the annual Vanguard event of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, where Harriet and Joseph Tabak of Highland Park will be honored for their contributions to federation and the community.
August 12, 2008
Cory Booker, the African-American mayor of Newark known for his close ties to the Jewish community, will be the featured speaker at the annual Vanguard event of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County.
Harriet and Joseph Tabak of Highland Park will also be given an award for their dedication to federation and the Jewish community.
The Wednesday, Aug. 13, gathering will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Milltown home of Lisa Kaplan and Scott Siegel. This kick-off event for the fund-raising year is for those who have given $5,000 or more to federation’s annual campaign. Last year’s Vanguard brought in $1.2 million.
The federation’s fiscal year ended June 30 with a campaign that took in more than $3.4 million, including endowments, grants, corporate sponsorships, and contributions.
“Federation is the basic Jewish charity,” said Kaplan. “When you show your support for federation it has such a far reach. I think it’s important because not only are you helping your community, but Jews in Israel and communities far away.”
While he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England, Booker became a leader of the L’Chaim Society there, run by author and Orthodox Rabbi Shmuely Boteach.
Booker has said his engagement with Judaism deepened his own Baptist faith and inspired him to study other religions, including Hinduism and Islam.
Joseph and Harriet Tabak have been involved with federation more than 40 years. Harriet has chaired federation events, is a life member of its board, and spearheaded many events for its Women’s Philanthropy. She has chaired federation’s Lion of Judah Endowment and has herself reached the emerald level.
Joseph is an honorary board member at the Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Emeth, a trustee of the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva in Edison, a member of the World Presidents’ Organization, past chair of State of Israel Bonds, and a recipient of the State of Israel Peace Medal.
He currently chairs the boards of St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, the McCarrick Care Center, and Community First Bank.
He has received the Bishop’s Award, and two years ago was given a papal knighthood in the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester, becoming the first non-Christian in the 25-year history of the Diocese of Metuchen to receive the honor.
The Tabaks, who have been married 53 years and have two sons and five grandchildren, have also received the Chaver Award from the Highland Park temple.
For information, call the federation at 732-432-7711.
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