On Thursdays February 3 and 10, 2022 at the Jewish Heritage Nights for the Fairleigh Dickinson women’s and men’s Division 1 basketball games, the outstanding Jewish basketball players on teams in the local New Jersey, New York and Connecticut yeshiva, Jewish elementary, middle and high schools will be honored for the first time.
The award is given in memory of philanthropist and Holocaust survivor Joseph Wilf and in honor of his wife Elizabeth “Suzie” Wilf. The awards are endowed by sons Mark Wilf, chair of the Federation of North America, and Zygi Wilf, alumnus of Fairleigh Dickinson University— both owners of the Minnesota Vikings.
Each yeshiva and Jewish elementary, middle and high school with an organized basketball team was asked to submit the name of the outstanding male and/or female member of the team. The following are the award guidelines.
1) Best, or one of the best, players on the team.
2) Excellence in both Jewish and general studies.
3) Active in co-curricular activities in school.
4) Involved in chesed and charitable activities.
The names of the awardees for each team, in each grade, male and female, should be submitted to [email protected]. Only one awardee per basketball team.
It is only fitting that the award, a lovely plaque, be given to the female players at the FDU women’s basketball game vs. St. Francis-Brooklyn at Jewish Heritage Night on Thursday February 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the Rothman Athletic Center, 100 University Plaza Dr. in Hackensack, with the male players’ award similarly being given on Thursday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rothman Center at the Jewish Heritage Night for the men’s basketball game vs. St. Francis-PA. In addition, all members of all the school’s basketball teams are invited to the game, at no charge, where they will also be given a Certificate of Honor. Family and friends of the awardees and team members are invited at no charge as well.
Each Joseph z”l and Elizabeth Wilf Awardee will also receive a voucher from FDU to attend a future event, summer program, camp or course.
Attending the Joseph z”l and Elizabeth Wilf Award Ceremony will be FDU President Chris Capuano, Mark Wilf, Zygi Wilf, Elizabeth Wilf, Teaneck Deputy Mayor Mendy Schwartz, Teaneck City Council Member Karen Orgen and New Jersey State Assemblyman Gary Schaer. Congressman Josh Gottheimer may be in attendance as well and members of the two FDU Hillel chapters in Teaneck and Madison will also be there.
The deadline for submitting names of female awardees is Friday January 31, 2022 for the February 3 award and for the male awardees, Friday January 4 for the January 10 award.
All those attending the Jewish Heritage Night basketball games and award ceremonies must show proof of vaccination or negative PCR test within 72 hours. Masks must be worn in the athletic center.
Please contact Prof. Ira Jaskoll [email protected], 917-232-2176 with any questions.
