The Beth David Annual Dinner will be held on Sunday, May 7, at 3 pm. Dr. Dora Polachek will be honored with the Jack and Mary Ferber Memorial Award during the dinner. The cocktail hour will begin at 3 pm, followed by dinner at 4 pm. The cost is $50 per person. Invitations have been sent out and reservations should be made by Friday, April 21, by contacting the synagogue at bethdavid@stny.rr.com, or 722-1793. Anyone who has not received an invitation and wants to attend should also contact the synagogue. Sponsorships are also available: gold $375 includes two dinners; silver $275 includes two dinners; and bronze $175 includes one dinner. A raffle will be held; the drawing will take place at the dinner. 

In 2020, the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton recognized Polachek’s contributions with its Spirit of Community Award. Polachek has served on the Editorial Committee of The Reporter, and continues to serve on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton’s College of Jewish Studies. She has introduced and facilitated discussions for the Binghamton Jewish Film Fest, which is sponsored by the Federation. A member of Beth David since she arrived in the area, Polachek founded and coordinates the monthly Shabbat Luncheon Speaker Series. She is also the synagogue’s representative on the annual Intersisterhood Committee, when the three Binghamton synagogues’ Sisterhoods develop and sponsor a joint program open to the community. 

As a faculty member of Binghamton University’s Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, she is the recipient of awards that include the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the University Award for Excellence in International Education. A graduate of Barnard College, New York University and The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she received her doctorate in French Literature, Polachek, moved to Binghamton in 1982.
“Dora’s talents and enthusiasm are visible in everything she undertakes, be it at Binghamton University or in the community,” organizers said. “Her contributions to the community are manyfold.” 

Shelley Hubal, Federation executive director, said, “Dora has a special gift in generating lively and engaged audience participation.” Most recently, Polachek facilitated the March discussion of the Israeli film “Tel Aviv on Fire.”

“Dora has contributed so much to making Beth David programs so successful, as well as to other programs,” added Rabbi Zev Silber. “She is very deserving of this prestigious award of recognition.”