opening. when i say “teaching torah,” i don’t just mean text; i mean teaching history,...
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opening
When I say “teaching Torah,” I don’t just mean text; I mean teaching history, sociology,
political science, the study of who the Jews are in interaction with
the other civilizations of the world, as well as the text they
have written.
—Arnold Eisen
I salute JTS Board Chair Abby Joseph Cohen,
JTS Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen, the entire Board of Trustees,
and members of the administration.
With their “new energy,” we all can anticipate important progress going
forward.
From strength to strength,
Gershon Kekst
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A N C E L L O R ’S M I N Y A N S U P P O R T
“A righteous man is the foundation of the world.”
Thank you for the foundation on which we can
build the future.
Abby Joseph Cohen and David M. Cohen
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
Gershon,we salute you for your
leadership, your vision, and your commitment
to JTS.You have been our mentor
and role model.
The JTS Board of Trustees
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
We must teach and demonstrate community;
we must teach and hold to Torah. This is of course a
tall order. We have no choice but to meet it.
—Arnold Eisen
To Gershon
The blessing to the patriarch is contradictory. A childless old man is promised that his progeny will be as numerous as the grains of sand at the
shore and as many as the stars in the sky.
“There are far more grains of sand than there are stars,” the Sages note.The reason for the disparity is important.
“Some people are like grains of sand on the shore, indistinguishable one from
the other; washed away by the tide. Others are beacons of light illuminating the
heavens. They are guiding stars to the wanderers.”
Undoubtedly our Sages, Chazal, had Gershon in mind when they offered this interpretation of the blessing to the patriarch Abraham. This shining light
has been a beacon to many. They heed his advice and navigate by wise luminescent counsel. Gershon’s influence on his friends, on society, and on
JTS will be long lasting.
How fortunate I have been in my personal life to have had such a warm, nurturing guiding star.
Rabbi Malcolm Thomson (JTS ’64)
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
Gershon,All our love and admiration for your many contributions
to JTS and all your accomplishments on the
bigger stage of life.
Jerry Rosenfeld and Judith Zarin
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
Gershon, thank you for 18 years of
leadership as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees and for your support of Jewish
learning and community.
From the Faculty, Students, and Staff of JTS
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
We are pleased to join in honoring
a truly extraordinary leader,Gershon Kekst.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
The Wexner Foundation
Congratulations to our dear friendGershon Kekst.
With our respect, admiration,and love,
Leslie and Abigail Wexner
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
We join The Jewish Theological
Seminary
in honoring Gershon Kekst
as the recipient of the
2009 Louis Marshall Award.
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
Congratulations to our good friend
Gershon Kekst.
Irene and Bernard Schwartz
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
Jews are not meant to be a people
off to the side, talking to God and one another; they are meant to be
out in the world, doing good things for the world, making sure
that Blessing comes to be pervasive in this world.
—Arnold Eisen
Levine
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
Dear Gershon,
Congratulations to a first class Chairman Emeritus.
Your commitment to the Jewish people, your love of JTS, and your tremendous leadership have
strengthened the ideals of what JTS stands for and have opened the door for the next
generation of Board of Trustee leadership.
May you continue to make a difference in all your
future pursuits, as well as here at JTS.
May you go from strength to strength.
Diane and Howard Wohl
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
JTS is part of a much larger picture. It’s a picture of the
Jewish people and Jewish past, Jewish tradition, Jewish faith.
It’s an institution that’s in service to something
larger than itself.
—Arnold Eisen
CONGRATULATIONS
David and Carol Feinberg
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I R M A N ’ S C I R C L E S U P P O R T
In honor of Gershon Kekst,
whose wisdom, leadership, and selfless devotionhave touched the lives of so many, so profoundly.
May the blessings you generate come back to youmultiplied many times over.
We honor and salute you.Kol Hakavod!
Jeanette and Joe Neubauer
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R C H A I S O C I E T Y A N D S E M I N A R Y S O C I E T Y S U P P O R T
We applaud your incredible service and
devotion to JTS.
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
Thank you, Gershon,for your leadership,
advice, and friendshipover the years.
Mary and Saul Sanders
Quarter Page StartQuarter-page Message
Shep Goldfein
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S E M I N A R Y S O C I E T Y S U P P O R T
Congratulations to Gershon Kekst
from Arkin Kaplan Rice
LLP
Gershon,Thank you for your
splendid leadership and many years of devoted
service to JTS.
Rob Kaplan
All through Genesis we see Jews entangled in a web of relations with non-Jews . . . all because of
this mission that we’re not supposed to simply serve
ourselves, but somehow be an agent of transformation.
—Arnold Eisen
Gershon Kekst,
a most deserving individual and a role model.
May you continue to be an inspiration.
Congratulations!!
Oded Aboodi & Family
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P L A T I N U M – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Congratulations toGERSHON KEKST
for all you have done for JTS over 18 years as Chairman.
FromRobin Chemers Neustein
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Congratulations to our dear friend
Gershon
on receiving this wonderful honor.
Helen, Beth, and Joshua Nash
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R P I L L A R S O F J T S S U P P O R T
Simpson Thatcher
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
We appreciate the wonderful job you’ve done.
Now it’stime to sit back and relax!!
Irma and Paul Milstein
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
To our great friend Gershon,
with thanks for all the good you do.
Congratulations,
Joanne and Mike
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Congratulations To Our
Good FriendGershon Kekst.
Thank You For All You Do.
Eva and Marc Stern
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
The Coca-Cola Company is pleased to honor Gershon Kekst tonight for his
long service to The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Gershon is a trusted friend, a valued mentor, and an inspired leader who has touched the lives of countless
people, always instilling quiet confidence through his dedication and
service to others.
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R G O L D – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Torah includes not just text and ideas but
lives and communities.
—Arnold Eisen
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
The trustees, faculties, and students of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in
Jerusalem express their boundless gratitude, respect, and affection for
Gershon Kekst, whose generous support and wise leadership have nurtured our Institute
through its first quarter century so that it now brings each year Jewish learning to more than 40,000 teachers, scholars, and school children
throughout Israel and Eastern Europe.
Professor David Golinkin Robert S. Rifkind President Chairman, Board of
Trustees
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Best wishes to our friend Gershon Kekst.
We are honored to celebrate with you as you have honored us and klal Yisrael
through your leadership and devoted efforts.
The Officers and Directors of theWorld Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues
( Masorti Olami )
Alan H. Silberman Rabbi Tzvi GraetzPresident Executive Director
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHESTO
GERSHON KEKST
Thank you for your 18 years of exceptional serviceto the Jewish Community as Chair of
The Jewish Theological Seminary.You are a great role model.
Fondly,Steve & Dedee Lovell and Family
LOVELL SAFETY MANAGEMENT CO., L.L.C.“The Workers’ Compensation Experts”
110 William StreetNew York, NY 10038-3935Telephone (212) 709-8600
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Mazel tov to Gershon and the entire Kekst family.
Gershon, we are thrilled to celebrate this prestigious honor with you. Hazak v’ Ematz!
With love and admiration from your family at Park Avenue Synagogue.
Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove Steven M. Friedman, Chairman
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Frank
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
TAG ASSOCIATESis pleased to support
THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
and to honor our friend and clientGERSHON KEKST.
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
We congratulate
Gershon Kekst
for his years of service toThe Jewish Theological Seminary and express
our appreciation for his dedication.
*****
We congratulate as wellour good friend
Alan Levine
for his election asvice chair of the Board.
Roni and Bob Jossen
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S I L V E R – L E V E L S U P P O R T
Wishing Gershon, his wife, and family continued health, happiness,
and long years to recount his many achievements.
Carol and Paul Miller
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R H A L F – P A G E S U P P O R T
TO GERSHON KEKST . . .THE BEST OF THE BEST!
F R O M
The Slovin Foundation and the Center for Jewish History
Quarter Page
MAZEL TOV!
Much love,Betty Feinberg
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R Q U A R T E R – P A G E S U P P O R T
In honor of our good friend Gershon Kekst.
Your sage advice and wisdom have been invaluable to us.
May Hashem give you strength to continue your noble endeavorson behalf of the Jewish people, which has been an inspiration to
us all.
Lori and Brian Schreiber
We honor our friend,Gershon Kekst,
a man of vision, integrity, and generous spirit.
Joan and Paul Schreiber
Best wishes Gershon
Jonathan and Mary Aaron
Gershon, we salute you for your
years of dedication to JTS and the Jewish community in the United States and
abroad.
Beatriz and Harold Jacobsohn
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R Q U A R T E R – P A G E S U P P O R T
General Atlanticproudly supports
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Greenwich New York Palo Alto São Paulo London Düsseldorf Mumbai Hong Kong Beijing
www.generalatlantic.com
General Atlantic: Providing
Growth
Equity and Strategic Expertise
to
Build Market Leaders
Mazel tov, Gershon!
Your kippah mate,Aaron
Mazel tov, Gershon, on this enormous honor —Arthur Ainsberg
To Gershon, with great admiration for all you have accomplished —Amy and Bob Bressman
Congratulations to our dear friend, Gershon —Caryn Schacht and David Fox
Congratulations Gershon —Anita Gluck and Family
Kol Hakavod to a great leader —Temma and Alfred Kingsley
We salute a preeminent community leader and wonderful gentleman
—Nancy and Morris W. Offit
Congratulations Gershon —Blanche and Neil Sosland
In honor of Gershon Kekst —Bettina and Spencer Waxman
T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R S U P P O R T
Closing