By Reporter staff
The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton and the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life will hold a “Farewell gathering to honor Michael Wright” event on Wednesday, September 13, at 7 pm. The event will take place at the Chabad Center, 420 Murray Hill Rd., Vestal, and will feature light refreshments and tributes to Wright. Registration is required by Thursday, September 7, and can be done by clicking here or by calling the Federation office at 607-724-2332.

Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation noted all that Wright has done for the community. “For decades Michael has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of Jewish life for the entire Binghamton community,” she said. “He has been president of Federation, Chabad and Beth David Synagogue, and has remained on their executive boards for years. He is a generous leader who has shaped this community. He will be missed.” 

Hubal was especially appreciative of how easy it was to work with Wright. “What I have enjoyed most about working with Michael is his calm demeanor, his directness and the passion he has for bettering our local institutions,” she noted. “He has been a wonderful mentor. I hope the community will come out to wish him well as he and his wife, Susan, begin the next chapter in their lives.”

Rivky and Rabbi Aaron Slonim, directors of Chabad Center, also noted how important Wright has been to the Binghamton community. “Michael Wright has been so pivotal to the smooth function and continued blossoming of the Jewish community of Broome County – even as we have experienced attrition – that it is quite impossible to think of Binghamton with Michael gone,” they said. “Which is why we have concluded that Michael is not actually leaving, even as he and Susan will be moving from Binghamton to Stamford, CT. Instead, we know that Michael will continue to do what he has always done: put others before himself and think in a critical and calm fashion about each issue as it is juxtaposed against the greater good of the whole.”

They also said how important Wright have been to the development of Chabad Center. “For Chabad, Michael, like the proverbial ‘good neighbor,’ has always been there going all the way back to 1985,” they added. “He has steered us through thick and thin and has most generously agreed to continue in his current position as president of our executive board. We wish Michael and Susan great blessing and every success on this move. We look forward to joining Michael and Susan’s many friends and admirers at the farewell reception.”