On Sunday, November 6, West Windsor resident Don Leibowitz will be honored by the State of Israel Bonds for his efforts and commitment on behalf on Congregation Beth Chaim, the Jewish community, and the State of Israel. A brunch will be held at Beth Chaim at 11:30 a.m. with a guest speaker, Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, a leading analyst of American foreign policy in the Middle East.
Leibowitz has lived in West Windsor since 1989 with his wife, Karen Brodsky, a school psychologist for Mercer County Special Services. They have two daughters, both graduates of WW-P North; Mara, 21, a senior at Syracuse University, and Jenna, 18, a freshman at University of Michigan.
Currently president of the United Jersey Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks (PMB), Leibowitz has been a member of both the executive committee and the executive board for the past decade. He serves as vice president of the New Jersey-West Hudson Valley Council for the Union of Reform Judaism. In the recent past, he was the president of Beth Chaim, as well as the chair of its $2 million capital campaign, which resulted in a dozen new classrooms, and library, an expanded social space and kitchen, and additional offices.
“I like to be busy,” says Leibowitz, “and there’s something lacking if I have too much downtime. When I first got involved with Beth Chaim, I felt it was important to contribute my efforts to help the synagogue achieve its best. And leadership development is a real interest of mine. Well, one thing leads to another, because organizations, such as a synagogue, need lots of volunteers to make it work.”
Born in the Bronx, the older of two boys, Leibowitz grew up under the influence of his now deceased father Hy, who was an office manager for the City of New York, and his mother, Evelyn, a former bookkeeper. When he is not volunteering, Leibowitz works as an attorney with the corporate counsel for Public Service Electric and Gas company in Newark. He holds a BS in philosophy from SUNY at Binghamton, and earned his JD from Rutgers Camden Law School in 1980.
The commitment of Leibowitz and many others couldn’t come at a more auspicious time, as the building of a Jewish Community Center is expected to begin soon on an 80-acre plot of land located near the intersection of Meadow and Clarksville roads.
According to Leibowitz, this is the ideal location. “It’s smack in the center of the community that will be served — between Twin Rivers, Ewing, and Yardley. It’s right off of both Route 1 and I-295. Plus, anyone with a kid under the age of 17 goes to the mall at least twice a week. It’s also convenient to people who work locally.”
A contract has been signed to purchase the land from Dataram, and the closing is expected in the near future. Up until now, the fundraising campaign has been in the quiet phase, where large donors are targeted though private meetings. To date, Beth Chaim has raised more than $5 million of the $18 million campaign goal. Now, the public phase of the fundraising begins.
Talk of creating a central location for the Jewish community began about five years ago, at the urging of congregation members Joe Fath and Robin Persky. Their roles have recently been handed over to Ron Berman and Paul Schindel, who will work with the architect, and everyone else engaged in the process, to figure out exactly what can be built — and for how much.
As president of United Jewish Foundation PMB since July 1, Leibowitz’ role is to oversee the critical fundraising efforts, motivate people, and coordinate all the efforts necessary to see the project through to completion.
“You start with the most grandiose dreams and then you scale it down. Part of fundraising is being able to explain to people what could possibly be built with their donations and why they should be a part of it. It’s a slow process.”
The community campus, according to Leibowitz, is expected to serve as more than a social and recreational facility. It will also provide a central address for Jewish Family and Children’s Services and the United Jewish Federation PMB.
“Its value lies in serving as a focal point for the Jewish community, regardless of what synagogue you belong to, or even if you belong to none at all. It will benefit the entire Jewish community, and provide services that span the spectrum from infants and young families, to seniors. We want to make sure we accommodate the needs of people who deserve it, like the Senior Golden-Agers, because the fellowship is a real important part of their social lives.”
Leibowitz feels the campus center is also critical because of Beth Chaim’s phenomenal growth from 500 to 800 families in the past few years.
“As West Windsor and the surrounding areas have grown, Beth Chaim has expanded to serve people from 10 different towns, including Hamilton, Montgomery, Plainsboro, Jamesburg, Yardley, South Brunswick, and Robbinsville.
‘Having a dream is great, but you have to do the hard work to make that dream come true. It’s been important to me to improve things for others, and the Jewish Community campus is a part of that. Any time that I can work to showcase Beth Chaim, and the United Jewish Foundation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, I’m delighted because these places mean a lot to me.
“If people can come in and feel at home — that’s what we strive for. If we manage to do that, and fill their spiritual and educational needs than we’ve accomplished something. That’s why I’m involved.” — Fran Ianacone
Elegant Brunch, Congregation Beth Chaim, 329 Village Road East, West Windsor. Sunday, November 6, 11:30 a.m. 609-897-0053.
