White Plains, NY — The Westchester County Board of Legislators marked Jewish History & Heritage Month with a special ceremony Monday night honoring Westchester Jewish Community Services and three of the organization’s top leaders.

Board Chair Ben Boykin (D-Harrison, Scarsdale, White Plains) presented a proclamation to WJCS’s Director of Development Susan Lewen, honoring the organization’s 75 year history.

Over that time WJCS has grown into is one of Westchester’s largest providers of human services, touching 20,000 people and families annually with a range of mental health programs; residential services for people with disabilities; early childhood and afterschool programs; and more.

Majority Leader Catherine Parker (D-Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Rye), presented a proclamation to Alan Trager, Chief Executive Officer of WJCS.  Trager, who joined WJCS 42 years ago and has served as CEO for the past 20, is retiring next month. He created the organization’s trauma center for treatment of victims of sexual abuse, a program which has grown and now bears his name, the Trager Lemp Center.

Trager said that he viewed WJCS and the County Board of Legislators as twins because both have served the whole county for a long time with concern for everyone in the community.

Legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington) presented a proclamation to WJCS Chief Operating Officer Bernie Kimberg.
Kimberg said, “Together with our Westchester County partners, we build a house, a house of human potential, a house of human potential that allows us in turn to build positive communities and a county where we can all be proud to work and to reside.”

Vice Chair Alfreda Williams (D- Elmsford, Greenburgh, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown) presented a proclamation to WJCS Director of Government Foundation and Agency Relations Jan Fisher.

“Westchester government and WJCS are truly partners in the mandate of tikkun olam -- to heal and repair the world," said Fisher.