OHEL looks back, moves forward, at Nov. 23 gala

Moishe Hellman and Mel Zachter, Co-Presidents of OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, announced that the organization’s Annual Gala will be held on Sunday, Nov. 23 at the New York Marriot Marquis.

The format of the gala is different this year, with a lavish sit down buffet at 5 pm, followed by an inspiring program at 6:30, with dessert to follow the program. The focus of this year’s Gala is Looking back, While Moving Forward, and over 1,000 friends and supporters are expected to attend.

The evening will be dedicated to the memory of Miriam Lubling A”H, a true Angel of Mercy for OHEL, as well as the thousands of community members she has helped. To fit the theme of this year’s Gala, we look back with admiration and gratitude on Mrs. Lubling’s remarkable compassion, generosity, and accomplishments, as she inspires us to move ahead with great optimism. She reminds us of the human capacity for kindness, selflessness, and devotion to our community.

The corporate guest of honor at this year’s annual gala is Pomegranate Supermarket. Abe Banda, the owner of Pomegranate, is the recipient of OHEL’s 2014 Community Partner Award. Abe’s heart is as large as his spacious, ultra-modern supermarket—an impressive 18,000 square feet of the freshest and finest kosher food.

We’re proud to recognize Abe’s exemplary commitment to “creating something better for a community that deserves more”. Pomegranate partners with OHEL to sponsor SibShops, a program of companionship, recreation, and support for the brothers and sisters of people with developmental disabilities. Pomegranate chefs volunteer their time to offer program participants creative experiences of kosher culinary instruction, among SibShops’ most popular activities. Abe and Pomegranate are proud to be OHEL’s food vendor for residences in Brooklyn and the lower East Side, and providing the best food and service to OHEL individuals is paramount to Abe and his staff. Abe is a model of chessed and tzedaka, and his contributions to our community, and to OHEL, will be celebrated.

OHEL will also be honoring Rabbi Philip and Rebbetzin Malka Goldberg, recipients of OHEL’s Pioneers of Advocacy Award. Rabbi Goldberg was the Chaplain of Willowbrook State School for those with disabilities, and following the national exposé and closure of The Willowbrook School, where over a third of residents were Jewish, Rabbi Goldberg single handedly undertook the daunting task of providing for these individuals. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Goldberg are prestigious, original founders of OHEL Bais Ezra.