Suffolk Signature Event
Thursday, November 20, 2025
6:30 PM
placeTemple Beth Torah, 35 Bagatelle Road, Melville, NY, 11747

Join us as we honor UJA’s critical work and celebrate the contributions of our inspiring honorees. At a time when UJA is responding to urgent needs in Israel and rising antisemitism here in New York, coming together as a community has never mattered more.

The suggested minimum donation is $500 to UJA’s 2026 Annual Campaign. 

A ROLL OF HONOR is published for the Signature Event, distinguishing the generosity of the honored guests, from Philanthropist to Supporter levels. Whether this is your first Signature Event or one of many, we urge you to place yourself on the Signature Event Roll of Honor.

The deadline for the Roll of Honor is Friday, October 31, 2025. 

 
Level Contribution
Philanthropist $25,000 and over*
Visionary $18,000 - $24,999*
Presidential $10,000 - $17,999*
Ambassador $7,500 - $9,999
Guardian $5,000 - $7,499
Benefactor $3,600 - $4,999
Patron $1,800 - $1,799
Friend $1,00 - $1,799
Supporter $500 - $999


*A donation of $10,000 or more includes membership in one or more of UJA's donor giving societies: Tzedek Society ($10,000+), King David Society ($25,000+), Ambassador's Round Table ($50,000+), and Prime Minister's Council ($100,000+). Membership includes exclusive access to briefings, volunteer experiences, missions, and other benefits.  

Dietary Laws Observed 

MAKE A DONATION

Show your support for our honorees with a gift to UJA.

DONATE NOW

Honoring

Rabbi Howard Buechler

Rabbi Howard Buechler

Rabbinic Leadership Award

Rabbi Howard Buechler has served as the spiritual leader of the Dix Hills Jewish Center since 1992, guiding the congregation with wisdom, compassion, and a deep commitment to Jewish life and learning. A respected voice in the broader Jewish community, Rabbi Buechler has held numerous leadership roles, including president of the Rabbinical Assembly of Nassau-Suffolk (1996 – 2000) and the Suffolk County Board of Rabbis (1990 – 1992). He is a founding member and officer of the Suffolk County Mikveh and has served on the Board of Governors of the New York Board of Rabbis since 1997. 

Rabbi Buechler’s dedication to Jewish education...

Show more
Julie Gray

Julie Gray

Community Advocate Award

Julie Gray’s lifelong commitment to Jewish values and community engagement began in a Boston suburb, where tradition and giving back were part of everyday life. A graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in business, Julie built a successful career as the designer shoe buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue before dedicating herself to raising her three children—Alexandra, Brett, and Tyler—each of whom has embraced Jewish causes and leadership in their own way. 

Julie and her husband, Kenneth, who leads the fifth-generation family business, Bushwick Potato Commission, have made philanthropy a cornerstone of their lives. From supporting...

Show more
Leslie and Jed Hantverk

Leslie and Jed Hantverk

Community Leadership Award

Leslie and Jed Hantverk are honored and humbled to receive the Community Leadership Award from UJA. Residents of Melville for 32 years, they have raised their two children, Sam and Emily, with strong Jewish values and a deep commitment to community. Jed, a dedicated internist, has served the Long Island community for 36 years. Together, they have instilled in their family the importance of giving back to both the Jewish and broader communities. 

Their Jewish journey has been deeply rooted in synagogue life, beginning at Temple Beth Torah, where their children became bar and bat mitzvah. A transformative trip to Israel in 2007 inspired...

Show more
Craig Padover

Craig Padover

Business Leader Award

Craig Padover has dedicated over 25 years to Jewish communal service and philanthropy. He began his involvement with Suffolk Association for Jewish Education Services (SAJES), eventually becoming president during its merger with the Board of Jewish Education to form the Jewish Education Project, a UJA partner. Under his leadership, the agency expanded from serving the New York metropolitan area to supporting Jewish communities nationwide. Craig is a past president and current board member of the Suffolk Y JCC. He has also played a key role in UJA’s Synergy initiative, aimed at strengthening synagogues. Craig was a member of the UJA Suffolk Business...

Show more

Leadership

Chair

Dr. Jay Steinberg

Dr. Jay Steinberg

contact us

Questions? Get in touch.
Laurie Birzon

516.762.5819