This past Thursday was Jew in the City’s Fourth Annual Orthodox Jewish All-Stars Premiere Party, which honored an astonishingly accomplished and diverse group of individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their respective fields while maintaining a Torah-observant lifestyle. Hundreds of guests attended the red carpet event at the Museum of Jewish Heritage along with this year’s All Stars and previous honorees.
Jew in the City, founded and directed by Allison Josephs (aka “Jew in the City”), harnesses the power of social media to break down stereotypes about religiously observant Jews and offer a humorous, meaningful look into Orthodox Judaism.
The VIP pre-party was packed with guests excited to meet the All Stars, as well as “Top Chef” Alex Reznik, and past All Stars including self-made billionaire and hedge-fund manager Henry Swieca, Disney director Saul Blinkoff, ping pong phenom Estee Ackerman, and the CEO of 360i, Sarah Hofstetter. The premiere party also featured wonderful food by Reznik, of Bedford Kitchen, and chances to win once-in-a-lifetime prizes in the All-Star Experience Auction.
During the program, the audience got a look into the lives and careers of the All Stars and heard brief words of inspiration from each All Star as they accepted their awards:
Baroness Ros Altmann, United Kingdom Minister of Pensions:
“Being Orthodox does not need to preclude or prevent a successful life in the secular world. If you have the belief, if you have the dedication and if you do the hard work nothing should really stop you…At the end of the day I have found…that being frum doesn’t mean that you cannot achieve in the secular world, you just have to believe it.”
Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, creator of Kids Kicking Cancer, combining therapy and martial arts for children fighting cancer:
“Tonight..is all about light. It’s about bringing light through Jew in the City and it’s about the obligation of a Jew in the world. That despite the darkness that seems to envelope us more and more each day the requirement of responding with that light…and no matter how great the darkness, we can breathe in the light and push out the pain, the fear, the anger that interrupts our ability to connect to Hashem above.”
Lawrence Burian, executive vice president of The Madison Square Garden Company, owner of the famed arena in New York City, as well as of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty sports teams:
I subscribe to the philosophy of synthesis—that we can do both, we can be fully observant Orthodox Jews and proud of that, and fully engaged in the modern world and contribute to it. In order to be a light unto the nations…we need to be part of the world and contribute. You can be an All Star…you just can’t pitch on Shabbos.”
Gail Hoffman, treasurer of Columbia University:
“People do respect you…if you stand up for what you believe and you do a job…It’s always been important to me to be a mentor, certainly for other females who are looking to achieve in their professional way, and I must say that I really never thought so much about being a model as an Orthodox Jew, and maybe this experience has given me a lot to think about.”
Gregory Zuckerman, award-winning business journalist for the Wall Street Journal, and best-selling author:
“I grew up watching my father and seeing the priorities he had, and first and foremost it’s living as a dati Jew and trying to be the best Jew you can be…and then doing the best you can in the secular world and combining the two…I’m proud, and the older I get, the more I appreciate being Orthodox.”
Ilana Wernick, co-executive producer of the hit TV series Modern Family:
“When I first heard about [being named an All Star] I felt very funny, because it seems odd to be honored for being frum and successful in the secular world, because it’s never occurred to me to be anything but frum—and so for that, you…should be honoring my parents.
“Watching [my children’s] faces, I want to tell you, getting this means more to me than winning the Emmy…I want to tell you that but it’s not really true—I’m not that good a person, but this is great also! Thank you.”
Ambassador Norman Eisen, former US envoy to the Czech Republic, and champion for ethical government practices:
“I couldn’t help but think of my mom…listening to that video…My mother had a wonderful line when she was with the other Jewish bubbies…one would say my son is a doctor, my son is a lawyer, and my mother would say the Nazis took us out of Czechoslovakia in cattle cars and my son flew back on Air Force One.
“The responsibility of being a Jew in public service is a profound one. Because I feel that I not only have the privilege to represent the United States but that also I was being judged and evaluated as a representative of klal yisrael…It is actually a responsibility that everyone in this room shares and understands.
Unable to attend, and missed, were All Stars Jeremy England, the MIT physicist referred to as “the next Darwin” for his mathematical theories and explanations of the origins of life, and Ahmed Zayat, owner of triple crown–winning thoroughbred racehorse American Pharoah.
Through a total of eight online channels including a website (JewintheCity.com), YouTube channel (where its videos that have been viewed over a million times), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and more, Jew in the City explains important Jewish concepts like Shabbat, kosher and mikvah, and tackles topics like the Orthodox Jewish approach to homosexuality, feminism and conversion.
