16th Annual Productive Aging and Humanitarian Awards Gala
The 16th Annual Productive Aging and Humanitarian Awards Gala was held May 11, 2009 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. Judith Viorst received JCA's 2009 Productive Aging Award and Rabbi Matthew H. Simon received JCA's 2009 Humanitarian Award.
Judith Viorst is a noted author of eight collections of poems for adults and eighteen books for children, including her "Alexander" series (her son, Alexander, introduced her at the Gala). Many of her books have been published abroad and several have been made into short films. A musical version of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" was performed at the Kennedy Center and now appears at theaters across the country.
Rabbi Simon has served B'nai Israel as Senior Rabbi and Rabbinic Campaign Consultant for more than three decades. During his tenure, B'nai Israel grew from 400 to 1200 families, the Talmud Torah was expanded and consolidated, Havurot were added and women were accorded equality. He is a past President of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Washington Board of Rabbis. He is currently a JCA Trustee.
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