julie-menin-john-catsimatidis-michael-hershman-nystrong-2026-gala-photo-credit-heidi-green.png
julie-menin-john-catsimatidis-michael-hershman-nystrong-2026-gala-photo-credit-heidi-green.png
NEW YORK-NY-The 2026 Chabad of Sutton Place, New York Strong Gala was held at the Harmonie Club in New York City on January 13, 2026, a historic venue long associated with civic, cultural, and philanthropic gatherings. The evening brought together community leaders, supporters, and honorees for a program focused on Jewish identity, resilience, and responsibility during a period of heightened concern for Jewish communities locally and globally to celebrate the Builders of New York City.
Honorees of the Evening
The Gala celebrated the Builders of NYC, and recognized several individuals for leadership and service aligned with Chabad’s mission of strengthening Jewish life and community engagement:
- Michael Hershman, received of the Builders Award for his role in shaping New York City and supporting civic and communal initiatives.
- Israel Zipes, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his service and enduring contributions, including his distinguished military record as a U.S. Marine during the Korean War.
- Sam Weinberger, received of the Young Leadership Award in recognition of his emerging leadership and commitment to community involvement.
According to Chabad of Sutton Place, the honorees were selected for exemplifying values of service, leadership, and responsibility central to the organization’s work.
Reflections on Courage and Community
The Gala unfolded as more than a celebratory evening, welcoming members of the community, government officials, and friends, including Speaker of the New York City Council, Julie Menin, and John and Margo Catsimatidis, becoming a moment of reflection on identity, courage, and communal responsibility. Guests gathered in support of Chabad’s mission to foster Jewish life through inclusion, education, and moral leadership.
Special guest speaker, John Catsimatidis, spoke candidly about the importance of standing visibly with the Jewish community. He reflected on his long-standing tradition of 27 years lighting a menorah on East 59th Street, emphasizing that acts of faith and solidarity carry meaning precisely because they require courage. Catsimatidis also paid tribute to his longtime friend and honoree Michael Hershman, describing him as one of the city’s true builders who continues to invest in New York despite uncertainty. His remarks reinforced a central theme of the evening: resilience through commitment.
“I’m here with my Jewish brothers and I’m here to say fight, fight, fight, but I’m also here because of my friend Michael Hershman, he is one of the builders of this city and there are people scared to build in the city, at the end of the day New York is resilient, New Yorkers are resilient, we will win this”, said Catsimatidis.
Addressing Antisemitism with Moral Clarity
Michael Hershman, recipient of the Builders Award, delivered a thoughtful and measured address, focused on confronting antisemitism without losing moral clarity. At the same time, he urged care in how the term antisemitism is used, warning that overuse can weaken its meaning and allow genuine hatred to go unchallenged. He stressed that disagreement, debate, and even sharp criticism are not acts of hate by default, noting that Jewish tradition itself is rooted in questioning and discourse.
Hershman drew a clear distinction between legitimate political disagreement and antisemitism, emphasizing that criticism, including criticism of Israeli government policy is not inherently antisemitic. However, he was unequivocal that denying Israel’s right to exist or singling out Jews as undeserving of sovereignty crosses a moral line.
“Denying the existence of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people is anti-Semitism, saying Jews have no right to sovereignty is Anti-Semitism, saying every people has a right to safety and self-determination except the Jews, is anti-Semitism, singling out Israel and only Israel is Anti-Semitism”, said Michael Hershman.
He also highlighted the deep compatibility between Jewish values and American democratic ideals, noting that Jewish identity and American patriotism are not in conflict but mutually reinforcing.
A Call for Unity
Hershman concluded by pointing to Chabad as a model for Jewish unity, welcoming all Jews with dignity regardless of background, observance, or political views, and urged the community to lead with generosity, wisdom, and courage.
The evening closed with a shared sense of purpose from Andew Sassoon: to bring light, integrity, and unity forward in New York City and beyond.
Photo Credits : Heidi Green
For more information, visit: chabadsutton.org.
