Jewish Press of Pinellas County

CATALYST 2020

2 young adults honored for leadership, involvement

Dean Hershkowitz, left, last year’s recipient of the Dr. Edward N. Ludin Young Leadership Award, presents this year’s award to Lance Misztal.

Dean Hershkowitz, left, last year’s recipient of the Dr. Edward N. Ludin Young Leadership Award, presents this year’s award to Lance Misztal.

Community honors were awarded to two young emerging leaders during the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast Catalyst 2020 event on Nov. 14.

Nearly 150 community members attended the dinner and program at Nova 535 in St. Petersburg. The annual Catalyst event marks the beginning of the Federation’s Annual Campaign.

The two honorees were Sarah Siverberg and Lance Misztal.

The Dr. Alfred and Lisl Schick Family Scholarship was awarded to Silverberg, a member of Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg. She is currently in Israel completing the Young Judaea’s Year Course, learning Hebrew, earning college credit, and experiencing Israel as a resident rather than as a tourist. Silverberg also has been involved with Camp Judaea for seven years, from attending summer camp to working as a counselor there.

Silverberg’s parents, Tom and Shevy, attended the Catalyst event to accept the award on their daughter’s behalf.

The Schick Family scholarship re-envisioned the Alfred Schick, MD Memorial Award, which annually recognized a healthcare professional. The scholarship supports the cost of one young person’s educational and leadership-building experience in Israel.

Lisl Schick, left, congratulates Shevy and Tom Silverberg, parents of Sarah Silverberg, recipient of the Dr. Alfred and Lisl Schick Family Scholarship.

Lisl Schick, left, congratulates Shevy and Tom Silverberg, parents of Sarah Silverberg, recipient of the Dr. Alfred and Lisl Schick Family Scholarship.

“Thank you for allowing this year to happen for me,” said Silverberg in a video from Jerusalem, where she is currently staying.

The Dr. Edward N. Ludin Young Leadership Award was presented to Lance Misztal. This award is meant to honor an individual who embodies both the present and future of the Jewish community. It includes a stipend that Misztal can use to attend a national or regional event sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America or another major Jewish organization.

Misztal is the current chair of the Young Adult Division and is also involved with the Hope Cohen Barnett Jewish Leadership Institute, which is sponsored by the Jewish Federations of Florida’s Gulf Coast and Tampa. Misztal attended the Young Leadership Summit in Israel as part of the Federation Fellows Program. He is the force behind programs like monthly in-home Shabbat dinners and the local Lag B’Omer bonfire tradition.

Ezra Singer, president of the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Ezra Singer, president of the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The Ludin award was established by Arlene Ludin in 1994 to honor the memory of her late husband, Edward. The award recognizes a young leader between the ages of 25 and 45 who demonstrates significant leadership ability in the Jewish community and has potential for greater leadership responsibility in the future. Dr. Edward Ludin was involved in the Cherry Hill, NJ Federation, especially in the area of young leadership. In 1968, Dr. Ludin offered a quote that emphasizes the importance of both of these awards honoring young people within our community. “We must measure up to the greatness of our potential,” he said. “We must measure up to the greatness of our heritage. If we believe it enough and want enough to do it, there is almost nothing beyond our reach.”

In addition to the awards, Ezra Singer, president of the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast, presented the State of the Federation report, pointing out in particular the organization’s expansion to serve Hernando County.

Attendees included: (L-R) Alan Schwartz and Ed Marks

Attendees included: (L-R) Alan Schwartz and Ed Marks

Singer also touched on the current news in Israel and how donations to the Annual Campaign are funneled to programs that support people there.

As an example, he said, when 400 rockets were recently launched into Israel from Gaza by the Islamic Jihad, the Federation network activated the Victims of Terror fund, which provides emergency assistance to those who have lost homes and been injured by the rockets. In addition, Singer noted that federation supports the Israel Trauma Coalition 24-hour phone line, which operated at full capacity during the two days of intense rocket fire, and a hotline for seniors who live alone and may need evacuation assistance.

The Catalyst 2020 dinner and program was sponsored by the Bank of Tampa.

(L-R) Scott Daniels and Louis Orloff

(L-R) Scott Daniels and Louis Orloff

One response to “CATALYST 2020”

  1. Thank you all so much (תודה) for choosing NOVA 535 for your Catalyst 2020 event. We were delighted and honored to host you all, and are looking forward to our next event. Happy Holidays!

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