All Attendees Welcome
The Unique Threats of Antisemitism on the Orthodox Community
Featuring Sara Scheinbach, Devorah Halberstam, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Rivkie Feiner
Speakers
Devorah Halberstam
Chair, NYPD Hate Crimes Review Panel & Co-founder and Director of External Affairs of the Jewish Children's Museum
On March 1st, 1994, a Lebanese gunman murdered 16-year-old Ari Halberstam in an antisemitic and terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Grief and fury over her beloved elder son’s murder transformed his mother, Devorah, into an activist and crusader against terrorism.
After the FBI’s initial classification of the shooting as an act of “road rage”, Devorah led a one-woman battle to have her son’s death reclassified as an act of terrorism. Six years later, the FBI finally recognized the attack as a terrorist act.
She pounded the halls of Congress, offices of elected officials and the New York court system, where she advocated reforms in our government. She campaigned for changes in our judicial and immigrations systems, where she pursued deportation proceedings against the accomplices who flouted American immigration laws.
She brought the first lawsuit in the history of American jurisprudence against the gun manufacturer that supplied Ari’s killer with the arsenal of weapons he used in the shooting.
Her endless struggle for justice did not end there. She continued, advocating in the state for the passing of “Ari’s Law” as part of a comprehensive gun control bill, which prohibits interstate gun trafficking.
Ari’s Law is also pending in Congress which would ban the sale of gun kits.
She helped craft new laws in Congress that has reduced the abuses found in the political asylum process.
Devorah authored together with Governor George E. Pataki the first New York State laws to counter terrorism, which included the death penalty for the crimes of a terrorist. These were signed into law by Governor Pataki in 2001. Devorah was appointed by the Governor to serve on the New York State Commission on Terrorism.
Devorah is a frequent speaker who has traveled around the country speaking to the civic community and on college campuses, educating the public about the threats of antisemitism and terrorism in New York, United States, and around the world. She currently instructs local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on terrorism- related issues in the United States and other Governments including AFP, EU Counter-terrorism and Belgian law enforcement.
She is one of the founders of the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, New York and presently its Director of External Affairs. It is a 50,000 Square-Ft. landmark with hands-on workshops and exhibits on the history and culture of the Jewish people. Since its opening in 2005, there have been over 3 million visitors. The museum is dedicated to her son’s memory and its mission is to promote tolerance and understanding through education and culture.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the FBI Community Leadership Award and was nominated for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Devorah is a NYPD Hon. Commissioner for Community Safety and Chair of NYPD’s Civilian Hate Crimes Review Panel.
Rabbi Moshe Hauer
Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union
Rabbi Moshe Hauer joined the Orthodox Union (OU) as its Executive Vice President on May 1, 2020. In this role he serves as the organization’s rabbinic leader, heading its communal-oriented efforts and serving as its professional religious/policy leader and primary spokesman. Prior to joining the OU, Rabbi Hauer served as the senior Rabbi of the Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation in Baltimore, MD for 26 years, where he was active in local communal leadership in many areas, with an emphasis on education, children-at-risk, and social service organizations serving the Jewish community. Rabbi Hauer is an active teacher of Torah who led a leadership training program for rabbis and communal leaders, and was a founding editor of the online journal Klal Perspectives. Rabbi Hauer received his rabbinic ordination and doctor of Talmudic law from Ner Israel. He received his master’s of science from John Hopkins University.
Rivkie Feiner
Community Activist, CEO, Feiner Grant Strategies
Rivkie is a community activist and the CEO and Chief Visionary Officer of Feiner Grant Strategies (FGS), a program development consulting firm that assists clients in obtaining program funding. Her firm has succeeded in raising hundreds of millions in funding for nonprofits. Rivkies resolve to break barriers in the world of Jewish fundraising has successfully facilitated the expansion of numerous nonprofits worldwide. Dynamic and passionate, Rivkie Feiner is deeply involved in community affairs stemming from a deep sense of responsibility and concern for both the individual and the community. Her dedication is reflected in the positions she has held as a Fellow in JCRCNYs Community Connections Fellowship Program, a former Board member of JCC Rockland County and current Board member of Rockland Federation and a member of their Community Relations Committee, a Board member of the American Zionist Movement, and an Eretz Hakodesh delegate to the World Zionist Organization. A powerful motivational speaker and presenter, Rivkie has been a panelist in forums about government and foundation funding, at the annual Presidents Conference of Torah Umesorah National Society of Hebrew Day Schools, the USAID/ASHA conference in Washington, D.C., in a roundtable discussion in an antisemitism working group, and the Jewish Woman Entrepreneur conference, among others. Just recently, upon hearing that that a pro-Palestinian demonstration was being organized in Rockland County, Rivkie managed to mobilize 1,000 people to turn out for a pro-Israel rally on less than 24 hours notice. As a consummate leader with outstanding communication and people skills, she has used her abilities to network and foster cooperation and collaboration between diverse populations, always respectfully seeking to find common ground.
Moderator
Sara Scheinbach
Director, Jewish Partnerships, ADL
Sara Scheinbach is ADL’s Director of Jewish Partnerships. In this role, she works with national and international Jewish organizations to create meaningful opportunities to join forces and fight hate. Prior to this role, she served as the Cleveland Region’s Senior Associate Regional Director, during which time she responded to incidents, developed a synagogue engagement program, led young leadership work, and represented ADL in the media. Prior to joining ADL staff, Sara taught as a Teach For America corps member in Atlanta, then earned her JD and worked for several years as a litigator in Cleveland.