LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Debbie and Abbe Dienstag upon the
occasion of their designation as the Guests of Honor at the 31st Annual
Dinner of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on March 10, 2012

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in the Empire State are
greatly enriched by the faithful and generous service of those who
devote themselves to endeavors of family, faith and community; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals of such magnanimous conduct and bearing who demon-
strate a deep and continuing concern for others, and in so doing,
inspire others to do the same; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Debbie and Abbe Dienstag upon the occasion of their designation as the
Guests of Honor at the 31st Annual Dinner of Young Israel of Lawrence-
Cedarhurst, to be held at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence on Satur-
day, March 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, In honoring Debbie and Abbe Dienstag, Young Israel of
Lawrence-Cedarhurst (YILC) recognizes a couple who have a long associ-
ation with the synagogue and pays fitting tribute to them for their
tireless efforts on behalf of the shul and the community; and
WHEREAS, Debbie and Abbe Dienstag moved to the Lawrence-Cedarhurst
community from the Bronx in 1985; at the time, Young Israel of
Lawrence-Cedarhurst had just moved into its then new building, which has
since been torn down to make way for the shul's most recent expansion on
Spruce Street; and
WHEREAS, A few years later, Abbe Dienstag started the shul's first
Shabbat morning hashkama minyan, the forerunner of today's 8:15 minyan
which meets in the Gluck-Gelnick Beit Medrash; around the same time, he
began the Nach shiur which follows the hashkama minyan; that class
started with Sefer Yehoshua and, over the last twenty odd years with the
participation of many others, has run through all of Nevi'im Rishonim,
Daniel, Ezra, Nechemia and most of Divrei Hayamim; Abbe, in addition,
launched the shul newsletter, coining the name "CeLaw," and has served
for many years as the Chair of the Shul's Library Committee; and
WHEREAS, Debbie Dienstag is the long-serving Chairperson of the shul's
Tzedaka Committee and a member of the shul's Board of Directors; she
also serves on the boards of TOVA, a community mentoring program, and
the Davis Memorial Fund, a multifaceted community chesed organization,
and the Leon Lief Children's Fund, a project of the Davis Memorial Fund
which sponsors summer camp for needy children and runs a program for
divorced mothers, which is named after Debbie's late father; and
WHEREAS, Abbe Dienstag is a graduate of the Jerusalem College of Tech-
nology, Bar Ilan University and Columbia Law School; he practices corpo-
rate law with the firm of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in Manhat-
tan; Debbie Dienstag is a graduate of the City University of New York
and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has a well-known local
practice in pediatric and adolescent medicine; and
WHEREAS, In recognizing Debbie and Abbe Dienstag for their many years
of inspirational and devoted service to the synagogue, Young Israel of
Lawrence-Cedarhurst proudly honors a couple who exemplify the highest
aims and ideals of the Young Israel movement, adherence to Torah and
mitzvot, maintenance of the traditions of the Jewish people, both at
home and in the land of Israel, and commitment to their community and
American society; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the course of their service to Young Israel of
Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Debbie and Abbe Dienstag have exhibited uncommon

valor and wisdom; their involvement and leadership have been character-
ized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncom-
promising standard of excellence in all their endeavors on behalf of the
synagogue; and
WHEREAS, Debbie and Abbe Dienstag are the proud parents of Aryeh and
his wife Penina, Chaim and his wife Suri, Sarah, and Rivka and the
loving grandparents of Tifferet, Moshe, Leah and Atara, all of whom are
proud to be part of their lives and rejoice in their accomplishments;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to extend its highest commen-
dation to Debbie and Abbe Dienstag for their dedication and commitment
to their community and their heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to Debbie and Abbe Dienstag upon the occasion of their desig-
nation as the Guests of Honor at the 31st Annual Dinner of Young Israel
of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on March 10, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Debbie and Abbe Dienstag.