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CUNY’s Jay Hershenson Receives Humanitarian Award at NYBR Gala

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Jay Hershenson (left), the Senior Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York received the 2015 Humanitarian Award from Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner, the president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Publisher of the Jewish Voice David Ben Hooren (left) discusses baseball legend Mariano Rivera’s (right) upcoming trip to Israel.

On Tuesday evening, June 2nd, the New York Board of Rabbis presented their annual humanitarian awards in cooperation with the Mariano Rivera Foundation at Guastavino’s on Manhattan’s east side. Hundreds gathered at the glittering gala to recognize the extraordinary humanitarian work performed in the New York community by such distinguished individuals as Jay Hershenson, Senior Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York, Rebecca A. Seawright, member of the New York State Assembly, 76th District, Caryl M. Stern, President & CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF, and Michael J. Dowling, President & CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Serving as master of ceremonies for the grand event was David Price. Presenting the 2015 humanitarian awards to the honorees were Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the chairman of the New York Board of Rabbis, former New York Yankees relief pitcher and baseball legend, Mariano Rivera, Mark Claster, President of the New York Board of Rabbis, Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner and Robert Tucker.

The Jewish Voice sat down with Jay Hershenson of CUNY to gain a glimpse into his role in making New York City a better place for its entire citizenry.  In an exclusive interview, Mr. Hershenson said, “I am very humbled to have received the humanitarian award that was bestowed upon me by the New York Board of Rabbis.  I am so proud to serve on the lay advisory board of this magnificent organization that is comprised of 750 members and is the largest interdenominational organization of its kind.”

Speaking of his admiration for Rabbi Potasnik, Mr. Hershenson said, “He is most definitely ‘New York’s Rabbi’ and even beyond that. It is he who should be the recipient of an award for visionary leadership as he posited the New York Board of Rabbis as an organization that truly dedicates itself to helping all New Yorkers; with each of its member rabbis serving their respective communities with such incredible selflessness and valor.”

He added that, “Their remarkable outreach events help a multitude of people; those who are in the throes of poverty; those who suffered the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy; those who are in need of physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance. They are always there for everyone in need.”

Mr. Hershenson is certainly no stranger to the world of humanitarian assistance. Since his days as a student at Queens College back in the 1970s, Mr. Hershenson displayed his commitment to inclusion by spearheading voter registration efforts on campus while honing his leadership style.

In 1996, he was to become CUNY’s Senior Vice Chancellor and together with Hostos Community College, Professor Allan Wernick, they decided to create a project that would provide the highest standard of education to the rapidly growing numbers of CUNY’s foreign born student population and afford them the right to vote. Henceforth, CUNY’s ‘Citizenship Now’ program was conceived.

By the end of 1997, staff and volunteers had held application assistance events on every CUNY campus.

In the decade that followed, Citizenship Now! put down roots in each of the five boroughs beginning with City College in Manhattan in 1998, to Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn in 2009.

The program provides free, high quality, and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship.  Their attorneys and paralegals offer one-on-one consultations to assess participants’ eligibility for legal benefits and assist them in applying when qualified. They also coordinate community, educational, and volunteer initiatives to help expand opportunities for New York City’s immigrant population.

City, state and federal government endorsements allowed Citizenship Now! to expand its reach to faculty, staff, friends, family and neighbors. Over the years, Haitian immigrants with Temporary Protected Status, parents of public school children, victims of fraud, young undocumented youth, and innumerable green card holders were assisted with immigration matters and services, including fee waivers for indigent citizenship applicants.

Volunteers have always formed the backbone of Citizenship Now! and in 2006 a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs saw the launch of the NYC/CUNY Volunteer Corps.

“Students who attend CUNY come from 205 countries, and I know what the challenges in the immigrant experience can be like,” said Mr. Hershenson. “My own father came to this country from Warsaw, Poland, and I well aware that it can make all the difference in the world to someone settling in a new country to be warmly welcomed and given a helping hand,” he continued.

He says that ‘Citizenship Now’ is the “most comprehensive program of its kind around the country” and has even widened it scope to include the general population of immigrants seeking citizenship and career opportunities.

Mr. Hershenson says that the program has enhanced the lives of a vast majority of immigrant New Yorkers and hopes that further expansions of the “Citizenship Now’ will occur in the future.

“The truth is, I am awed by the humanitarian efforts and amazing work done by my fellow awardees. Each and every one of them has made significant and historic contributions to the people they serve and the lives of all us here in New York are better and stronger because of the courageous leadership roles they have taken,” he said.

On a lighter note, Mr. Hershenson summed up one of the highlights of the NYBR gala event. As a life long basketball fan, one of Mr. Hershenson’s hero of the “full court press” was hoop legend,  Earl “the Pearl” Monroe.  Having spent his illustrious career with both the former Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks, the 70-year old Monroe spends his time helping people through his charitable efforts. Attending the NYBR event, Monroe and Mr. Hershenson found the time to chat.

“ Sitting next to Earl ‘the Pearl’ Monroe was something I will always remember. Sports legends and such admirable human beings such as he don’t come along very often.  It was indeed my great honor and privilege,” said Mr. Hershenson.

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