2024 Banquet Highlights
The 2024 YES Banquet was a memorable night of celebration and appreciation. A crowd of 220 people enjoyed a magnificent evening in the ornate and historic Pfister Hotel. The ambiance, food, and remarks all combined for a beautiful tribute to YES and to the Torah V'Chesed Awardees, Rabbi Yechiel and Shaindy Pinsky.
The evening opened with the YES Guitar Ensemble, under the leadership of Mr. Josh Richman of RUACH. They performed two songs, including Acheinu as a prayer for our fellow Jews in Israel and around the world.
Rabbi Borsuk and Rabbi Baumann spoke about the unique warmth, joy, and positive energy that permeates YES. Miryam Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, spoke about the unique role that YES plays in the Federation's mission of building a vibrant Jewish community in Milwaukee, in Israel, and around the world.
The crowd thoroughly enjoyed a video, "A Day at YES," highlighting both some of the great things happening at YES every day and Mr. Zach Zussman.
Torah V’Chesed Award
Mr. Chananyah Pinsky, one of the Pinskys' sons, spoke about his parents and their dedication to teaching Torah, doing Chesed, and their use of humor to get through difficult situations.
Rabbi Michel Twerski spoke about the many worthy attributes of Rabbi Yechiel and Shaindy Pinsky and their decades of dedication to Torah and Chesed in Milwaukee, and at YES in particular. He remarked that Rabbi Pinsky, as a longtime gabai at Congregation Beth Jehudah, would call people to the Torah with the word "ya'amod" (literally, stand up), which also can be understood to be a call to growth and a call to rise up to greater heights. The Pinskys are examples of people who through their own conduct call us all to be greater.
In his acceptance remarks, Rabbi Pinsky shared his gratitude for the community, his family, his children, and his colleagues over the years at YES (and Yasser Arafat, too - check page 9 in the Dinner Journal below for the explanation). He closed by thanking his students over the past 32 years, quoting the Gemara that says "from my students, I have learned the most."
The evening ended with a musical tribute by Avi Pinsky, who wrote lyrics to honor his parents, and sang them while he played guitar.
We wish the Pinskys many years of strength and continued success, in the YES classroom and beyond!
Our Sponsors
We are grateful to everyone who attended and joined with us in celebrating our accomplishments and in honoring the Pinskys.
We are especially grateful to our Sustaining Partners and to our Event Sponsors:
We thank the following businesses for their professional services provided:
The Pfister Hotel for their exceptional hospitality and catering
Avi Berkman from JOR Productions for the superb video presentations featured at the banquet
BLM Creative- Mrs. Blimie Twerski for her graphics and designs
Shorewood Press for their printing services
Chana Eisenbach Design Studio LLC for graphics and designs
Encore Global
Kosherwine.com
Waterdale Collection
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
Banquet Leadership Committee:
Mrs. Leah Aviva Broch
Mrs. Chaya Censor
Mrs. Linda Chernin
Mrs. Rochel Robbins
Banquet Volunteers:
Mr. Alan Borsuk
Mrs. Robi Borsuk
Mrs. Numi Gewirtz
Mrs. Bracha Kramer
Mrs. Dena Krinsky
Mrs. Beth Meister
Mrs. Elisheva Milder
Mrs. Gilah Saltzman
Mrs. Karen Torem
Mrs. Miriam Yarmush
And our dedicated office team:
Rabbi Aryeh Borsuk
Mrs. Deborah Ordan
Rabbi Eitan Herskovitz
Mrs. Rochel Horowitz
Mrs. Brooke Gelfand
Mrs. Leah Degani
Mrs. Gavrielah Lechter
Mrs. Chaya Gitty Smith
Miss Leah Jarcaig
Rabbi Hersh Hiller
