County Board Celebrates 4th Annual

Jewish History and Heritage Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2007

County Board Bill Ryan started the tradition three years ago of formally acknowledging the many contributions the Jewish community has made to our country and our county. 

This year the County Board's program, which took place prior to the start of its September 24th regular meeting, featured Karen Hauser, the curator of Tzedakah: A Message of the Ages,an exhibit of Tzedakah boxes on loan from private collectors at the Westchester Arts Council on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Ms. Hauser spoke about the proud history of Jewish charity, visually manifested through Tzedakah or "charity" boxes, a common fixture in Jewish homes where families would deposit money to be used for charitable works. In addition to their social value, the Tzedakah boxes were often beautiful works of art.

The event also featured the presentation of the Board's proclamation declaring September Jewish History and Heritage Month in

Westchester, to Debra Abrahams Weiner, president of the Westchester Jewish Conference.

Chairman Ryan and Legislators Rogowsky, Spreckman and Kaplowitz present a proclamation to Debra Abrahams Weiner, President of the Westchester Jewish Conference, designating September 2007 as Jewish History and Heritage Month in Westchester.

Rabbi Neil Zuckerman gave the invocation.	Karen Hauser, curator of the Tzedakah exhibition, provided an artistic perspective.

Tzedakah: A Message of the Ages

An exhibit at the Westchester Arts Council in White Plains

Open to the Public: September 25-October 27

The County Board of Legislators co-sponsored the exhibit of Tzedakah boxes now on display at the Westchester Arts Council in White Plains. The exhibit examines the art and meaning of Tzedakah through a display of finely wrought charity boxes on loan from five prominent Westchester collectors. Large scale photographs by Zion Ozeri and Edward Serotta place the boxes in context, showing them in settings both traditional and unique. Curated by Karen Hauser.

An additional component in the exhibition features images and information regarding charitable giving traditions in other cultures. For more information on the exhibit, go to www.westarts.com.                   

A reception preceded the exhibit's opening prior to the County Board's meeting on September 24.

	County Board Chair Bill Ryan addressed the gathering at the exhibit's opening.

Faces in the crowd: