For only the third time in its 53 years, CHJ bestowed the Menschlekeit Award to very special members. At a well-attended luncheon in Saugatuck in October 2019, Ellie and Dave Shafer were honored for their exemplary devotion to CHJ over the past 43 years.
The first Menschlekeit Award was given to Jolly Zeleny, elegant and eloquent Holocaust survivor, whose faith in humanity touched everyone lucky enough to know her or learn from her stories.
In 2004, two longtime members were honored with the Menschlekeit Award: Lucy Katz, mentor, scholar, creator of rituals, environmentalist, activist; and Saul Haffner, bible student and teacher and interpreter of the Torah at High Holidays and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
