Meet This Year’s Distinguished Honorees
James Maslow
JEWISH CULTURAL AMBASSADOR AWARD
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Erin Molan
GLOBAL MEDIA LEADERSHIP AWARD
Erin Molan is one of Australia’s most popular broadcasters and journalists. Erin is an Australian media personality and a passionate leader for change. She campaigned for the Australian Government to introduce new online safety legislation, which passed through Parliament in 2021. She hosts Erin on Sky News Australia every Friday night, is a seasoned radio presenter, and a columnist for the Daily Telegraph. Erin has also been a vocal and principled advocate for Israel and the Jewish people, using her platform to speak out against antisemitism and champion truth, moral clarity, and accountability in media coverage. Her strong connection to the Jewish community and unwavering support have made her a powerful and respected voice during a critical time. She is also the ambassador for multiple charities and foundations. Her most important job, of course, is being a mum to Eliza, who was born in 2018. Erin travels the country to share her story as a keynote speaker and master of ceremonies.
Bruce Pearl
CHAMPION OF ISRAEL AWARD
Bruce Pearl is one of the most accomplished and recognizable figures in college basketball. A former American college basketball coach, Bruce most recently served as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team for 11 seasons, leading the program to historic success including a Final Four appearance. He previously held head coaching roles at Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana, where he won a Division II national championship. Beyond the court, Bruce is a proud and outspoken member of the Jewish community. He is a co-founder and former president of the Jewish Coaches Association and has long embraced his Jewish identity as a central part of his life and leadership. Bruce is also a passionate advocate for Israel, using his national platform to speak out against antisemitism, support the Jewish people, and strengthen connections between the United States and Israel. He has brought his teams to Israel, coached Team USA to gold at the Maccabiah Games, and currently serves as Chairman of the U.S.-Israel Education Association.
James Maslow
JEWISH CULTURAL AMBASSADOR AWARD
James Maslow is an actor, singer, and entertainer best known for his role in the hit Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush and as a member of the internationally successful band of the same name. Beyond his work in television and music, James has built a diverse career spanning film, touring, and live performances, earning a global fanbase and widespread recognition. James is also proud of his Jewish heritage and has been an active and vocal supporter of Israel. He has traveled to Israel, participated in cultural and advocacy initiatives, and has consistently used his platform to stand with the Jewish people and speak out against antisemitism. His connection to Israel and commitment to strengthening Jewish identity among younger generations have made him an influential and inspiring voice.
Sid Rosenberg
FRONTLINE MEDIA AWARD
Sid Rosenberg is one of New York’s most recognizable and influential voices in radio. He is the host of Sid & Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC, where his candid style, sharp commentary, and engaging interviews have made him a staple of New York media. Over the course of his career, Sid has built a reputation for being outspoken, authentic, and deeply connected to the issues that matter most to his audience. Sid is also a proud member of the Jewish community and a passionate supporter of Israel. He has consistently used his platform to speak out against antisemitism, defend the Jewish people, and advocate for Israel during critical moments. His strong voice and unwavering support have made him a trusted and influential figure within the Jewish community.
Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal
RABBINIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
Sid Rosenberg is one of New York’s most recognizable and influential voices in radio. He is the host of Sid & Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC, where his candid style, sharp commentary, and engaging interviews have made him a staple of New York media. Over the course of his career, Sid has built a reputation for being outspoken, authentic, and deeply connected to the issues that matter most to his audience. Sid is also a proud member of the Jewish community and a passionate supporter of Israel. He has consistently used his platform to speak out against antisemitism, defend the Jewish people, and advocate for Israel during critical moments. His strong voice and unwavering support have made him a trusted and influential figure within the Jewish community.
Dr. Tuvia Book
JEWISH HEROISM AWARD
Sid Rosenberg is one of New York’s most recognizable and influential voices in radio. He is the host of Sid & Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC, where his candid style, sharp commentary, and engaging interviews have made him a staple of New York media. Over the course of his career, Sid has built a reputation for being outspoken, authentic, and deeply connected to the issues that matter most to his audience. Sid is also a proud member of the Jewish community and a passionate supporter of Israel. He has consistently used his platform to speak out against antisemitism, defend the Jewish people, and advocate for Israel during critical moments. His strong voice and unwavering support have made him a trusted and influential figure within the Jewish community.
Zoya Raynes & Naftali Friedman
COMMUNAL SERVICE AWARD
Zoya is active in the philanthropic community, including currently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Funders Network (JFN). Zoya is also on the board of UJA-Federation of New York, the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Jewish Heritage Program (JHP). She is past President of the Jewish Communal Fund (JCF), an honorary trustee at Congregation Shearith Israel (the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue) and a 2012 Wexner Heritage Fellow. Professionally, she is a Managing Director at Bank of America and a senior member of the Strategic Relationship Management team. Zoya leads coverage for a select group of strategic hedge fund, asset manager, pension, insurance, and sovereign wealth fund clients. With more than 25 years of Wall Street experience, Ms. Raynes previously held senior roles at Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and Bear Stearns. She began her career in the Salomon Smith Barney Institutional Sales & Trading Analyst Program after graduating with honors from Drexel University. Robert (Naftali) is active in NYSN and several other communal and local New York City & State political organizations. He was the founder of the Machal Hesder program for Yeshiva students in Israel. Naftali is a freelance writer whose essays, letters and articles on Middle East policy, Israel, Zionism, Jewish and cultural issues have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web Column, New York Magazine, The Forward, he Blueprint & Lifestyles. His award-winning documentary film "More Precious than Pearls" about faith after the Holocaust has been screened at film festivals including Jerusalem's Cinametec, San Francisco & Hong Kong. His award-winning story, "The Victor", was aired on NPR's Selected Shorts. Naftali was the co-founder and editor of the Israel Info Center, a grass roots Israel advocacy group in New York and hosted MidEast Mix, a radio program on the Progressive Radio Network focusing on regional culture, history and politics. Professionally, Robert is the Managing Principal of Tiberias Capital in New York, a commercial real estate advisory firm which arranges equity and debt on behalf of developers, owners and operators of substantial properties across the US. He was a Principal at Lanesborough Partners and a Managing Director at Bankers Capital Realty Advisors, New York commercial real estate firms which arranged several billion dollars of financing. Robert held a senior role on the international finance desk at Oppenheimer & Co in New York and began his career with Paramount Capital. He currently serves as the Chief Business Development Officer of FullStack Modular, a leading modular innovator in the design, manufacture, and construction of mid- and high-rise multifamily buildings, hotels, and student housing in urban environments. He was also a Co-Founder of TechPrefab, a modular developer that uses a proprietary, cloud-based construction platform for the design, procurement, material delivery and installation of homes, multifamily and commercial buildings. Robert received his MBA from Yale University's School of Management with concentration in Finance, Real Estate & Marketing and a BA with honors in Economics and History from Yeshiva University. Zoya and Robert live in Manhattan with their two sons, Avi and Samuel, both of whom had their brit ceremonies at MJE
Sarah Jocye Koch
STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD
Sarah Joyce Koch is a born-and-raised Upper West Sider, which apparently makes her something of a rare breed! She is about to graduate from CUNY Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with a bachelor’s in Latin and Hebrew, and she is thrilled to be beginning her PhD in Classics on the medieval philology track this fall at Princeton University. She began reconnecting in earnest with her Yiddishkeit after the attacks of October 7th, which packed a one-two punch: first the unfathomable horror and grief of the deadliest day for Jews since the Shoah, then immediately afterwards the apathy and and even overt celebration by those she had thought were her closest allies. These moments activated what she now knows to be her pintele Yid and came to symbolize, unfortunately, a profound wake-up call for her. She sees herself as extraordinarily blessed that the one-of-a-kind MJE has been there for her and countless other young professionals in the moments she yearned to connect the most. Indeed, with the guidance and mentorship of the wonderful rabbis, educators, staff, and lay leadership of this unique community, she has now been fully shomer shabbos for well over a year. When she is not translating medieval women’s Latin letters or parsing out new Greek syntax, she loves reading, writing, spending time with her dear parents and younger sister, and of course immersing herself further in Torah. While she is currently learning mishnayos with her Fellowship chavrusa, she has really never met a sefer she wasn't curious about, and she ardently looks forward to her next journey into Torah learning. She will always be deeply grateful to the entire MJE family for truly epitomizing the very best of a kiruv organization and for leading her with loving clarity to the ultimate gift of closeness with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.