Congregation Beth Judea honors Man, Youth of the Year

Each year Congregation Beth Judea's Men's Club honors a Man of the Year and Youth of the Year.

For 2015, the club selected Ron Friedman as Man of the Year and Larry Bender as Youth of the Year. The Congregation will recognize these men Sunday, Feb. 22, at a dinner from 5-8 p.m. at Beth Hillel Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3220 Big Tree Lane, Wilmette.

Ron Friedman has been a member of Congregation Beth Judea for 26 years. He currently serves on the synagogue Finance Committee and recently has become more active in the Men's Club. He serves on the board of directors of the Men's Club and is instrumental in coordinating Congregation Beth Judea's participation in assisting residents at the Lieberman Center on Shabbat mornings.

Friedman has found his experience with the Men's Club to be enriching due to the good will generated by this group of men. He would like to give a special "shout out" to those in the group whose leadership and traits of charity, spirituality and morality have been inspirations for him.

Larry Bender is the youngest member to serve on Congregation Beth Judea's board of directors. He is a member of the Education, Ritual, Membership and Israel committees. Bender is also a member of the Synagogue's United Synagogue Youth chapter, where he is currently co-editor of the Chapter newsletter and vice president of communications.

He has also participated on the USY Wheels Mission Mitzvah and the USY Pilgrimage to Israel. He attends Chicagoland Jewish High School, where he is a member of the baseball and bowling teams.

After graduation he plans on spending a gap year of study in Israel as part of NATIV, providing him a unique opportunity to continue his journey to becoming an adult Conservative Jewish leader of tomorrow.

Congregation Beth Judea is at Route 83 at Hilltop Road, Long Grove. For information, call (847) 634-0777.