A meaningful Mother’s Day celebration brought together family, friends, activists, and elected officials at the Young Israel of Forest Hills for the bris of David Berel Ha’Kohen Goldman, the b’chor of Henry and Maxine Goldman.
The joyous occasion marked the arrival of the first grandson of veteran activist Jeffrey Wiesenfeld and his wife, Cynthia, of Great Neck. Proudly “kvelling” as a first-time zayde, Wiesenfeld was surrounded by longtime colleagues, community leaders, and public figures who came to share in the family’s simchah.
Wiesenfeld is widely known for his decades of public service and advocacy. He served as Special Executive Assistant to U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato, New York City Mayor Edward Koch, and New York State Governor George Pataki. A former CUNY trustee, he has long been recognized as a forceful voice for Jewish rights, a passionate defender of Israel, and an outspoken advocate at numerous pro-Israel and anti-Iran rallies.
His communal involvement also includes service as Chairman of the Board of the National Yiddish Theatre/Folksbiene, where he helped support the preservation and celebration of Yiddish culture and Jewish heritage.
The family’s deep connection to Jewish history and service was reflected as well in the legacy of Wiesenfeld’s mother, Chana z”l, who served in the pre-state Haganah in 1947 and later in the IDF until 1954.
The paternal grandparents of the newborn are Simon and BJ Goldman of Minneapolis.
Among those pictured at the celebration were Steve Cohn, Vice Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party; activist Shalom Maidenbaum; first-time zayde Jeffrey Wiesenfeld; New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; Dr. Paul Brody, ZOA President for Long Island and Queens; Jeff Goldfarb, Director of Developm for General Amir Avivi’s Israel Defense and Security Forum; Rabbi Joe Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis; and U.S. Colonel Jacob Goldstein, retired.