Annual Gala Honorees

The Breslau Goldman Award is named for JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) founders Rabbi Isadore Breslau and Hymen Goldman; two early presidents of the JCRC whose combined vision, energy and boldness contributed to the welfare of both the Washington community and the Jewish people. It is awarded to a person(s) of courage and conviction who has dedicated a lifetime of service to the Greater Washington community (and often beyond) and who has made a significant contribution to one or more of the goals of the Jewish Community Relations Council: social justice, inter-group understanding and the security and welfare of the Jewish people here and abroad.

1982: Governor Harry Hughes

1985: Joe Rauh, Jr.

1986: Rev. John Steinbruck

1987: Saul I. Stern

1988: Aaron Goldman

1990: Hyman Bookbinder

1993: Congressman Steny Hoyer

1994: Senator Barbara Mikulski

1995: Governor Parris Glendening

1996: Prince George's County Exec. Wayne Curry

1997: Congresswoman Constance Morella

1998: Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan

1999: Judge Peter B. Krauser

2000: Bernard S. White

2001: Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

2002: Senator George Allen

2005: A Tribute to S. Robert and Joy W. Cohen

2008: David Butler and Andy Stern 

2009: Governor Martin O'Malley

2010: Senator Ben Cardin

2011: Denis Berman and the Kramer Family

2012: Leslie and Sam Kaplan

2013: Carol and Gary Berman

2014: Paul Berger

2015: Ronald Glancz

2016: Michael Flyer

2017: Stuart Lessans

2018: Johanna Chanin and Randy Levitt

2019: Erwin Groner

2020: Liza Levy

2021: Helene and Richard Goldstein

2022: Mimi Brodsky Kress and Michael Kress

2023: Jen and Dan Mendelson

2024: Phil Margolius

 

 

The Community Leadership Award is provided to an individual(s) that has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Jewish community (and often beyond) and in areas of JCRC concern: Government Relations, Israel Advocacy, Social Justice and/or Inter-Group Relations. This award was renamed as the Sara and Samuel Lessans Community Leadership Award in 2020.

2006: Robert M. Johnson

2007: Stuart Kurlander and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt 

2008: Dr. Shulamith Reich Elster

2009:  Jocelyn & Danny Krifcher

2010: Toni and Ron Paul

2011: Esther Newman

2012: Alan Kronstadt

2013: Cindy and Rick Zitelman

2014: Yvonne Schlafstein Distenfeld and Jeffrey Distenfeld

2015: Bobbi and Larry Shulman

2016: Susan Turnbull

2017: Sheldon Grosberg

2018: Harvey Reiter

2019: Wendi and Daniel Abramowitz

2020: Susan and Brad Stillman

2021: Stacey and David Topol

2022: Shelly and Jeff Kupfer

2023: Janis and Phil Schiff

2024: Erika Dickstein and Todd Rosenberg

Some years, the JCRC has also conferred a Distinguished Service Award for a very worthy and special member(s) of the community who has provided superb leadership and unparalleled service in the Jewish community.

2006: Joan and Don Sacarob

2007: Cookie Hymer Blitz and Nelson Blitz

2012: Vivian Bass

2013: Judy Gross for Alan Gross

2014: William Daroff

2015: Rabbi Jack Luxemburg

2016: Warren Slavin

2017: Rabbi William Rudolph

2018: Meredith Polsky

2019: Tal and Steve Widdes

2020: Chris McCannell

2021: Rabbi Amy Schwartzman

2022: Al Munzer and Joel Wind

2023: Ellen and Dan Blalock

2024: Jane and Scott Brown