Brooklyn Brandeis Society hosts Judge George Silver during annual meeting

June 9, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Brooklyn Brandeis Society hosted its annual meeting on Tuesday where Hon. George J. Silver (right), deputy chief administrative judge-designate of the NYC Courts, served as the guest speaker. Also pictured are Andrew Fallek and Hon. Miriam Cyrulnik. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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The Brooklyn Brandeis Society held its annual meeting, the last under President Hon. Miriam Cyrulnik, where Hon. George J. Silver swore in its new slate of officers and directors in Brooklyn Heights on Tuesday.

“This event marks the conclusion of my term as the president of the Brooklyn Brandeis Society [BBS],” said Cyrulnik. “It has truly been a labor of love and it is without question one of the most meaningful endeavors of my entire career.”

Cyrulnik, the young organization’s first president, reflected on her time leading the group. She mentioned the first annual Day of Service, the Hanukkah luncheon, the Faith in the Law event on immigration, its annual Purim Bash and the ongoing Tuesday with Talmud series, among others.

“I want to thank the officers and board of directors for their support of the society,” Cyrulnik said. “We’ve already accomplished a great deal and we should be proud of the work that we have achieved.”

The incoming president, Andrew Fallek, presented Cyrulnik with gift — a Torah scroll inscribed with the BBS logo and the words “Founding President.” She had to fight back tears the first time she laid eyes on it.

“A lot of people in the room know how difficult it is to be the president of an organization and being the first president of an organization is an even more difficult thing,” Fallek said. “Miriam started with a blank slate. All we had was a name and an idea and she filled in all of the blanks.”

Hon. George J. Silver, deputy chief administrative judge for NYC Courts, then swore in Fallek as the new president along with the rest of the officers: Judge Katherine Levine as secretary, Richard Klass as treasurer, Aimee Richter and Avery Okin as vice presidents and Hon. Ellen Spodek as president-elect.

The new slate of directors included Hon. Mark Partnow, Hon. John M. Leventhal, Jeffrey Miller, David Chidekel and Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine.

Following the induction ceremony, Silver gave a speech about calling Brooklyn home and the importance of bar associations like the Brandeis Society. He explained that the most important aspect was mentorship.

“I have had some great mentors in my career,” Silver said. “I look around this room and see a lot of them here — one person is Judge Muriel Hubsher, and another is Judge John Leventhal.

“It is important for all of us to mentor people,” Silver continued. “To take on someone and impart our knowledge on them, to give them advice and to help them along the journey.”