Jewish Federation honors Warwick couple

NEWBURGH — The Jewish Federation will recognize Donna Applegate and Jonah Mandelbaum as well as Marlene and Gerald Jacobowitz for their support of the Orange Jewish community and the community at large.

Jonah Mandelbaum and Donna Applegate’s work of providing safe affordable homes is an ongoing mission in their life. Mandelbaum immigrated to the United States from Israel in 1970. He settled in Warwick in 1984 and established MJJ Builders, of which he is the CEO.

In 1990 Applegate brought her years of experience in engineering and architecture and joined MJJ Builders. Together, they transitioned MJJ Builders from design and construction of single-family homes to builders of multi-family homes and communities in Orange County. Residents include seniors, people with special needs and those in the work force.

Jerry Jacobowitz is a son of Orange County, having graduated Walden High School. He and his wife returned to Walden early in their marriage after Jacobowitz was discharged from the U.S. Army. Subsequently, he opened his single practitioner law office; it has since grown as Jacobowitz and Gubitz, LLP.

Marlene is a retired teacher who became a law office bookkeeper and then a real estate manager.

“Because of the generous support from people like these, the Jewish Federation will continue to be able to support the needs of the community,” Joyce Waschitz, executive director of the Jewish Federation, said in a press release announcing the awards.

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The two couples will be honored Saturday night, Oct. 27, at the home Drs. Leslie and Glenn Green. The featured speaker is Jeannie OpDyke Smith. She will tell the story of her mother, Irene Gut OpDyke, a tiny Polish teenager who resisted the Nazis and hid 12 Jewish friends in the basement of a Nazi major’s home.

Since 1977, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County has been working together with community members to build and support a strong Jewish community – enriching people’s lives, helping those in need, and embracing new Jewish families. Each year our recipient organizations in Orange County, subsidized by federation funding, help tens of thousands of people here at home.