Edgar Snyder

Edgar Snyder, one of the Pittsburgh Jewish community's most significant leaders,  and Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, President and CEO of the United Jewish Federation, will be honored at the UJF's Annual Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 30. 7 p.m., at Levinson Hall in the Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill.

Snyder will be presented with the Emanuel Spector Memorial Award, the highest honor presented by the UJF, given in recognition of exemplary service to the community.

Finkelstein will receive the Doris and Leonard H. Rudolph Jewish Communal Professional Award, which recognizes a Jewish communal professional for exceptional personal and professional commitment and for contributing to improving the quality of services offered in the community. 

An officer of the UJF and member of many key committees, Snyder has been one of the community's leading figures in working to meet critical needs in Israel and the Former Soviet Union. As such, he has held top leadership positions in special campaigns for Israel emergency efforts; developed programs to meet critical needs throughout the Former Soviet Union and provided leadership related to funding Israel and overseas programs.

With his wife Sandy, the Snyders created the SOS Project designed to help the most needy Jews in Russia.  The program, administered by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has become a lifeline for hundreds of poor and disadvantaged Jews who have nowhere else to turn. 

The success of the program inspired the Snyders to create a mirror effort locally, called SOS Pittsburgh. Working with Jewish Family and Children's Service, together with UJF, SOS Pittsburgh helps those who have fallen through the cracks of traditional social services and who need help to overcome an immediate hardship.

In addition, Snyder has played a central role at the Holocaust Center of the United Jewish Federation, where he chaired the Holocaust Commission and, together with Sandy, has underwritten the annual Kristallnacht Commemoration, an educational outreach program that raises awareness about the Holocaust. 

Jeffery Finkelstein

Since joining the staff of the UJF 11 years ago as its Campaign Director and becoming its President and CEO in 2004, Jeffrey Finkelstein has transformed the organization into one of the most recognized and emulated Federations in North America.  Through his professional leadership and working closely with volunteer leaders he has forged significantly improved relationships with the Federation's beneficiary agencies and directed the launch of numerous new initiatives designed to bring added resources into the community to meet expanded needs.

The Annual Meeting will also recognize Daniel H. Shapira at the conclusion of his term as Chair of the Board and elect William C. Rudolph as his successor. Additionally, the incoming UJF Board will be elected.

Also to be recognized at the Annual Meeting will be the community's volunteers of the year selected by each community organization under the sponsorship of the United Jewish Federation with support from Giant Eagle. 

The UJF Annual Meeting is underwritten in part by a grant from the Lillian and Dr. Henry J. Goldstein UJF Annual Meeting Endowment Fund of the UJF Foundation. 

A dairy dessert reception will follow.  Dietary laws will be observed.  To make reservations, click here.