LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk upon the
occasion of their designation as recipients of a Sidney Albert Albany
Jewish Community Center Pillars of the Community Award on April 14, 2013

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors,
and community service are an example and inspiration to their
colleagues, friends, family, and community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr.
Stephen and Roberta Berk upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of a Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center Pillars of
the Community Award at the Center's 13th Annual Pillars of the Community
Awards Brunch to be held on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Albany's Congre-
gation Beth Emeth; and
WHEREAS, The Pillars of the Community Award is presented to individ-
uals who have made exceptional contributions to the Center and/or to the
Jewish community at-large through education, service, and acts of kind-
ness; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk truly merit such recognition;
and
WHEREAS, Highly acclaimed college professor, author, lecturer, commen-
tator and consultant Dr. Stephen M. Berk has become an eminent scholar
and much sought after expert in Judaic studies, educating students and
captivating audiences and readers alike with his superb lectures, spell-
binding stories and scholarly discussions; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Berk is a Professor of History at Union College and holds
the Henry and Sally Schaffer Chair in Holocaust and Jewish Studies; over
his 46 year tenure at Union, Dr. Berk has educated, advised and led our
next generation of leaders, serving in numerous distinguished positions
including Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European
Studies, and faculty advisor to the Jewish Student Organization; he is
also the former Chairman of the Department of History; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Berk's work has included presenting papers and delivering
lectures on the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, the American Jewish expedi-
ence, Contemporary Russia, Soviet and Russian Jewry, Polish Jewish
relations, Jews and Islam, Jewish-Black relations, and the contemporary
Middle East; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Berk has lectured at numerous prestigious colleges,
universities, and public, forums; he has been a consultant to the Wies-
enthal Holocaust Center in Los Angeles, and is frequently consulted by
newspaper reporters, and television and radio stations, including the
BBC; he is the author of YEAR OF CRISIS, YEAR OF HOPE: RUSSIAN JEWRY AND
THE POGROMS OF 1881-1882 and is presently working on his latest book:
OUR PEOPLE ARE YOUR PEOPLE: AMERICAN JEWRY AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS 1954-1965; and
WHEREAS, In 1996 Professor Berk received the prestigious Holocaust
Memorial Award from the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center
and was designated an Israel Hero for his defense of and advocacy for
the State of Israel by the Jewish Educational Resources of New York
(JERNY), and was a recipient of Temple Israel's Circle of Humanity
Award; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn, New York, and a resident of the Capital
District since 1967, Roberta Berk taught at the Hebrew Academy of the

Capital Distict for ten years; she was, at the same time, President of
the Schenectady chapter of Hadassah from 1974-76 after holding many
leadership positions including Vice President of Fundraising and
Programming; she was also very active in Congregation Agudat Achim as
chairperson of many fundraising events, as well as a board member for
several years; and
WHEREAS, Roberta Berk became Coordinator of Volunteers for the Sche-
nectady County Public Library; she then worked for Law, Order and
Justice in downtown Schenectady as a liaison with the Department of
Social Services, training and supervising volunteers for managing visits
between children in foster care and their biological parents; and, she
gets great satisfaction from volunteering for Congregation Agudat
Achim's Reyut program driving older members to and from various appoint-
ments; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk, members of Congregation Agudat
Achim in Schenectady, reside in Niskayuna and have two children; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of their professional and commu-
nity service, a period of constructive involvement, Dr. Stephen and
Roberta Berk have stood constant in dignity, good grace, and humor and
have earned the respect and admiration of their colleagues, family and
friends; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk have
displayed throughout their lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk upon the occasion of their desig-
nation as recipients of a Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center
Pillars of the Community Award on April 14, 2013; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Stephen and Roberta Berk.