ABOUT OUR HONOREES
Fran & Alan Hirmes
Guests of Honor
Fran Hirmes helps change the lives of Emunah’s children and families every day. As Chairman of the Board, former National President, and former Co-Chair of Emunah’s signature Missions Department, Fran embraces every volunteer role with complete dedication to help Emunah’s children and families.
An advocate for those less fortunate, Fran does not limit her activities to Emunah. Former Co-President of the Sisterhood of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, camp mother and longtime board member of the Koby Mandell Foundation, and Co-Chair of the Zionism Committee of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), Fran was introduced to the world of Emunah, when she visited Emunah’s Bet Saba Elazraki Home in Netanya together with her husband Alan. “Alan and I were just blown away by the life changing work we saw going on at the home, and when I returned to the US, I started to become involved in Emunah, and haven’t looked back since.”
Fran and Alan are taking on the responsibility of providing the seed funding and initiative to create HELPS, “Hirmes Emunah Life Preparation Services,” a series of workshops, seminars, individual and group counseling sessions and classes throughout the network of Emunah homes, trauma counseling and therapy centers, and schools throughout Israel that will prepare Emunah’s children and young adults to successfully navigate life’s transitions and prepare for a lifetime of success. The establishment of Hirmes Emunah Life Preparation Services will be recognized at Emunah’s Circle of Life Dinner on Saturday night, November 19, when Fran and Alan will be the dinner’s Guests of Honor.
Fran has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from St. John’s University and a J.D. from St. John’s Law School, and worked as an attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Alan studied at Yeshiva College and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Hofstra and is a CPA. He is a real estate investment banker, and was a partner, COO and CFO of Related Capital Company, an affiliate of The Related Companies, and is now the CFO of Phoenix Realty Group. Fran and Alan live in Woodsburgh, New York. They are the proud parents of Justin and Riki Hirmes and Kim and Chaim Rothstein and grandparents of Zev, Shayna, Deena and Leeba.
Fran’s grandparents were among the founders of Yeshiva of Flatbush, and her parents, Lennard a”h and Sissy Greenberg, were involved in the Hillel School (which is now HAFTR) the school that Fran and Alan attended. Alan’s parents Greta and Eli Hirmes also have a long history of Jewish/Zionist involvement, through their affiliations with YU, Bar Ilan University, HAFTR and Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence.
Fran recalls that what she said at the beginning of her term as National President, holds true today. “I feel extremely proud to have the opportunity to make a difference, help in new ways, and move the organization forward. I want others to share in this opportunity. People need to know the full scope of how EMUNAH changes the lives of thousands of Israelis young and old. I want to help them learn.”
For more information about Emunah’s Circle of Life Dinner, how to honor Fran and Alan Hirmes, and become charter founders of HELPS, please contact Laurie Szenicer 212 564 9045 ext 315
Sharon & Matthew Herenstein
Emunah Chesed Award
Sharon Herenstein is past President of the Libby Kolb chapter of Emunah and has been intimately involved with Emunah for over a decade. She travelled to Israel on a past Emunah leadership conference and together with her family has spent time at several Emunah children’s homes in Israel.
Sharon graduated from SUNY Binghamton and is completing her masters in special education at Touro College. She has been a shadow and teacher at the Moriah School for the past eight years. She formerly served as President of the sisterhood at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun. Sharon is married to Matthew Herenstein, a real estate executive.
Matthew has worked with Emunah in an effort to develop a men’s outreach program and running a few successful events to promote Emunah among the men Sharon and Matthew have three children, Jacob, Gabriel and Jamie. Jamie spent the past year at the Midreshet Torat Chesed seminary at Emunah's Bet Elazraki children's home in Netanya. She also spent the summer as a supervisor on the summer program at Bet Elazraki. Jamie has a life-changing year at MTC and Bet Elazraki and developed such close relationships with many of the Emunah children. She looks forward to returning to Netanya next summer.
Dr. Jack Walker a"h & Marilyn Walker David a"h
Torah Scholarship Tribute - Accepted by Anita Walker
Anita Walker was born in Kremenetz Poland, the second daughter to Yitzchok and Glickl Wakman.
Although life with family and friends in a small town was nice the deep Polish hatred of the Jews was felt in every pebble you stepped on. And so, her father decided to leave and find a better life elsewhere for his family. He chose Portugal and, two years later in 1933, Anita and her mother and sister joined him.
After 5 years in the university town of Coimbra, the family moved to Lisbon which had a small but vibrant Jewish community. But they could feel the venom of Jew-hatred that began to spread over Europe. Even though they were safe in a neutral country, refugees began to arrive and the entire Jewish community of Lisbon, including the Wakmans, devoted their time and energy to helping them in any way possible.
Moreover because of her father’s connections in Switzerland (he was in the clock and watch business), he was able to provide valuable materiel to the Allies. Soon, these activities put him on the German black list.
The English government warned them of this extreme danger and gave them visas to leave right away for Montreal Canada for the duration of the war. They boarded the Serpa Pinto on Pesach 1943 with sad hearts, but with gratitude to Hashem that they were leaving once again for safety. After a harrowing two and a half week trip through mine-infested waters, they landed in Philadelphia, made their way to Montreal and ultimately moved to New York.
When they left Poland, they left behind many family and friends who were worried about them moving to Portugal. When they came to America, not one member of the community was alive. The 14,000 Jews of Kremenetz had been killed, including a large number who were gassed in the main shul where her grandfather, Matisyahu HaKohein was the chazzan.
Starting over again in New York required looking for housing and schools, re-establishing a business and finding resources in a new land and with a new language.
Anita remembers sometimes crying at the end of the day because it was so challenging. But here again she had a lot of gratitude to Hashem.
It all fell into place and a normal life started for the Wakmans. Anita’s sister Peppa, a’h, married a young YU student, Joe Karasick, who was getting smicha. Sometime later they introduced Anita to a handsome young boy who had been with Joe in YU. It was love at first sight.
Jack Walker, a”h, and Anita were married in June 1947 and a new phase of her life started. They lived in Manhattan for three years where they had their first daughter, Malka Chaya, a”h. They then moved to Brooklyn where they had two more girls – Jeanette and Gila.
They lived a full life, characterized by love and respect for each other and a deep gratitude to Hashem for all the miracles they had received.
Anita’s mother had always been deeply involved in community chesed – both in Portugal and New York - helping refugees, bikur cholim, chevra kadisha and Tora Voda’as. Anita followed in her footsteps, especially with the Yeshivah of Flatbush where her daughters went to school and where her husband served a term as President.
Later, when the children started their own lives, Anita became very active with Emunah. When she went to Israel, she had been inspired and overwhelmed by the range of services that Emunah was providing. From babies to seniors, the needy of Israel had an Emunah family who gave them not only what they needed, but who cared, listened and truly made their lives happier.
For over 10 years Anita served as Emunah’s National Vice–President. Some of her responsibilities included chairing the national convention honoring Ariel Sharon, representing Emunah at the Conference of Major Jewish Organizations, and much more.
For 67 years of marriage, their family was the light of Anita and Jack’s lives, filling their hearts with unending joy and pride. And now, this family, especially the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also a source of great comfort and vitality as they all dote on their beloved Bubbie.
Although life with family and friends in a small town was nice the deep Polish hatred of the Jews was felt in every pebble you stepped on. And so, her father decided to leave and find a better life elsewhere for his family. He chose Portugal and, two years later in 1933, Anita and her mother and sister joined him.
After 5 years in the university town of Coimbra, the family moved to Lisbon which had a small but vibrant Jewish community. But they could feel the venom of Jew-hatred that began to spread over Europe. Even though they were safe in a neutral country, refugees began to arrive and the entire Jewish community of Lisbon, including the Wakmans, devoted their time and energy to helping them in any way possible.
Moreover because of her father’s connections in Switzerland (he was in the clock and watch business), he was able to provide valuable materiel to the Allies. Soon, these activities put him on the German black list.
The English government warned them of this extreme danger and gave them visas to leave right away for Montreal Canada for the duration of the war. They boarded the Serpa Pinto on Pesach 1943 with sad hearts, but with gratitude to Hashem that they were leaving once again for safety. After a harrowing two and a half week trip through mine-infested waters, they landed in Philadelphia, made their way to Montreal and ultimately moved to New York.
When they left Poland, they left behind many family and friends who were worried about them moving to Portugal. When they came to America, not one member of the community was alive. The 14,000 Jews of Kremenetz had been killed, including a large number who were gassed in the main shul where her grandfather, Matisyahu HaKohein was the chazzan.
Starting over again in New York required looking for housing and schools, re-establishing a business and finding resources in a new land and with a new language.
Anita remembers sometimes crying at the end of the day because it was so challenging. But here again she had a lot of gratitude to Hashem.
It all fell into place and a normal life started for the Wakmans. Anita’s sister Peppa, a’h, married a young YU student, Joe Karasick, who was getting smicha. Sometime later they introduced Anita to a handsome young boy who had been with Joe in YU. It was love at first sight.
Jack Walker, a”h, and Anita were married in June 1947 and a new phase of her life started. They lived in Manhattan for three years where they had their first daughter, Malka Chaya, a”h. They then moved to Brooklyn where they had two more girls – Jeanette and Gila.
They lived a full life, characterized by love and respect for each other and a deep gratitude to Hashem for all the miracles they had received.
Anita’s mother had always been deeply involved in community chesed – both in Portugal and New York - helping refugees, bikur cholim, chevra kadisha and Tora Voda’as. Anita followed in her footsteps, especially with the Yeshivah of Flatbush where her daughters went to school and where her husband served a term as President.
Later, when the children started their own lives, Anita became very active with Emunah. When she went to Israel, she had been inspired and overwhelmed by the range of services that Emunah was providing. From babies to seniors, the needy of Israel had an Emunah family who gave them not only what they needed, but who cared, listened and truly made their lives happier.
For over 10 years Anita served as Emunah’s National Vice–President. Some of her responsibilities included chairing the national convention honoring Ariel Sharon, representing Emunah at the Conference of Major Jewish Organizations, and much more.
For 67 years of marriage, their family was the light of Anita and Jack’s lives, filling their hearts with unending joy and pride. And now, this family, especially the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also a source of great comfort and vitality as they all dote on their beloved Bubbie.