JCRC-NY Hosts 2026 50th Anniversary Gala, Honors Leaders Strengthening Jewish Life in New York

NEW YORK, NY (05/15/2026) (readMedia)-- The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) celebrated its 50th Anniversary Gala on Monday at a packed Plaza Hotel with over 500 guests, raising over $2.4 million. The memorable event honored Lauren Jupiter Weiss, JCRC-NY Officer and Managing Director of Alternative Investments at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, and Merryl H. Tisch, Chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees. They were honored for their distinguished leadership furthering JCRC-NY's mission to advance the values, interests and security of the New York Jewish community and create a more interconnected New York for all.

You can find additional Gala details, including its sponsors here.

Photographs from the event are available here (password to access is jcrc, and please credit the photographer).

Watch a full video of the program here.

JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger welcomed guests and shared a personal message from Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, followed by greetings from Governor Kathy Hochul. JCRC-NY's Chair of the Board Bennett W. Golub followed with acknowledgements of special guests, including JCRC-NY's Honorary Officer, Past Presidents, and CEOs Emeriti before the premiere of a new JCRC-NY video. President David Moore shared reflections, followed by a video tribute to the 50th Anniversary Gala honorees. On behalf of her family, Betsy Blumberg presented the Blumberg Family Young Leadership Award to Lauren Jupiter Weiss, JCRC-NY Officer and Managing Director of Alternative Investments at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch then presented the Visionary Leader Award to her mother, Merryl H. Tisch, Chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees.

Several other prominent New York elected officials also attended the event, including:

• New York State Attorney General Letitia James
• New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli
• NYC Comptroller Mark Levine
• NYS Assembly Member Alex Bores
• NYS Assembly Member Micah Lasher
• Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson
• Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark
• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
• NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin
• NYC Council Member and Chair of the Jewish Caucus Eric Dinowitz
• NYC Council Member Harvey Epstein
• NYC Council Member Farah Louis
• NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman
• NYC Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers
• NYC Council Member Inna Vernikov

"JCRC-NY was thrilled to honor two exceptional individuals who exemplify the values of public service and community building at last night's 50th Anniversary Gala," said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY. "Our honorees have made a lasting contribution to New York and to the communities we serve. Their work inspires our continued efforts to advance intergroup understanding and strengthen the civic fabric of our city. We are deeply grateful to them, and to everyone who generously contributed to JCRC-NY at a time when our voices, our values, and our engagement matter more than ever."

"I'm going to continue to stand in the vanguard, protect every single one of you, your children, your right to worship where you want, and just live as New Yorkers. And I'm going to do that because this is something I feel passionate about, because I'm the first mom governor. This is my family, you are part of my family, and no one can hurt a member of my family -- you have to get through me first. I'll keep investing money for protection and security grants. I believe in investing where people need it the most and I'm going to continue making that commitment to every one of you and I'm going to stand up to make sure we are the leaders in fighting antisemitism," said Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Over five decades, JCRC has earned something that cannot be taken for granted: trust. Trust to convene in difficult moments. Trust to speak with credibility. And trust to act when it matters most. And yet, this moment calls on us in new and urgent ways. This past year has tested our community. We have seen a troubling rise in antisemitism and experienced moments of real pain and uncertainty. These are not abstract challenges-they affect our neighbors, our institutions, and our sense of belonging. And they remind us that the work of building a more just and inclusive society is never finished. But we have also seen something else: resilience, unity, and the determination to move forward together. We have seen communities stand beside one another, leaders speak out with clarity, and individuals step forward with courage. That is the enduring strength of JCRC. This organization has never simply responded to challenges-it has helped lead through them," said JCRC-NY President David Moore.

"The work of the JCRC epitomizes the words of Hillel... First and foremost, we work to defend our people. But we do so in the context of our great responsibility to the communities in which we live and share our lives. Hillel summarized the teachings of the Torah with these words: that which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbors. That is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary. We are undoubtedly living through a challenging, frightening moment. But we refuse to be expelled. We refuse to be cancelled. We refuse to submit to discrimination and xenophobia. We embrace all communities, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Protestant. We demand dignity, safety, and respect for all," said Merryl H. Tisch.

"What makes JCRC so special is its premise that relationships matter. Communities are strongest when we show up for one another, especially during moments of difficulty and division. At a time when it can feel easier to retreat into our own corners, organizations like JCRC remind us that leadership means doing the opposite. It means listening, building trust, standing firmly against antisemitism, driving education to fight ignorance and hate, and remaining committed to dignity, dialogue, and building bridges in our community," said Lauren Jupiter Weiss.

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About JCRC-NY: JCRC-NY, a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.