Stephen Nitkin at the Colel Chabad Dinner - 2013 / 5774

the kesar shametov the crown of a good name is the crown that transcends all others stephen nitkin is truly the master of a good name radiating sensitivity joy and optimism in every direction stephen is a genuine and loyal friend a true nishama he is exemplary humility genuine ahava's israel and considered sadaka a joyful duty he gives to the fullest always wishing he could do more steve's motto is thank god i've been blessed ladies and gentlemen tonight's kessler shanetov award stephen nitkin okay why are you not in any of the pictures shame toe presented to stephen nitkin inspired to do good and beloved by all who know him new york hilton kolachabad international awards dinner i have to say i feel so good tonight i feel i'm feeling very lucky thank you it's nice to see everyone here again i really really love this event and i really love that it's become a tradition for so many of us and every year we get to see the same people over and over again it's really becoming something special it's always a special night but for me the highlight is surely the annual report when rabbi dukeman gives the recap for me it's like being in shul yum kipper i'm asking let me be a part of it for another year i want to take a moment to recognize the efforts of rabbi dukeman we call him the duke in my circles the duke is living proof that while it is nice to have good intentions good deeds can truly change the world our previous business was a private aviation business called marquis jet and while we were soaring to new heights in aviation the duke would always help us soar to new spiritual heights and also keep us grounded at the same time we would joke that uh we wanted to hire him to be a sales guy for us because no one could no one can tell him no but honestly i've never met a person like him and duke had just a you know mazel tov on another incredible year like so many of you i was brought up to believe that giving charity was not viewed as a magnanimous act but simply an act of justice it was just what you did no matter the circumstance and even more important when times were tough over the years i've been involved with a lot of charities and even been honored by a few but the truth is this is the one that really feels like an honor it's just an honor to be associated with this organization because what they accomplish is simply astonishing it's an honor for me to be a part of a charity that was founded by the ultra rabbi 225 years ago that today does so much as you heard in the dukes report tonight i receive a great deal of love and support for my parents phyllis and barry nitkin and i'm joined here tonight by my mother and sister and nephew and my girlfriend dana i also have my work families here tonight including psych fitness wheels up and toward gcx i'm lucky that i have a business partner and friend like ken victor tonight's dinner chair who for the last 20 years along with his wife shoshanna have been part of my immediate family our common interest in charity has enabled us to incorporate into our work culture now i'm not going to give a dvar torah like senator booker did last year but he did say something at this dinner that really stuck with me he said that ultimately we are all gathered in this room because we are the result of a grand conspiracy of love he said there were people who did not give up who fought and sacrificed for us who were part of a movement of people that through kindness decency and love enabled us to live the lives we are living now this certainly continues to be true this evening with your help and support continues to be a grand conspiracy of love for so many in israel and i hope that like me you all feel honored to be a part of it thank you enjoy the rest of the evening