Chai Society 2021
- Virtual Community Mitzvah Awards - Honoree Bios

Arthur Spielman - Courage Award

The Courage Award celebrates an inspirational individual who personifies strength and resilience in overcoming adversity and prejudice and is a role model to others.

Arthur Spielman was born in December 1928, in Krakow, Poland. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family with his father, Simon, mother, Czarna, and two sisters, Helen and Barbara. Arthur’s neighborhood in Kazimierz, Krakow was primarily Jewish. In 1939, the Nazi flag was raised at the Wawel castle marking a German victory, the invasion of Poland, and the beginning of World War II. The Germans declared Krakow as the designated capital of the General government. Hans Frank was appointed Governor-General and established his headquarters in the Wawel Castle, former home to Poland's royalty. The Nazi officials wished to remove Jews from the rest of the Polish society. After December 1939, Jews living in ghettos were required to wear identifying badges or armbands and a decree was issued requiring them to perform forced labor for the German Reich. Arthur, a young boy at the time, remembers being afraid to walk in the streets in fear of deportation.

Although his family was not required to move into the Krakow ghetto due to his father’s status as an international diplomat, the Spielman family chose to move to live closer to their extended family. Within the Krakow ghetto, Arthur lived in a single apartment with his parents, sisters, and grandparents. In 1942, the Gestapo entered the ghetto and took Spielman's grandparents. Arthur never saw them again. Many of Arthur’s relatives were brutally murdered in the ghetto. Due to the escalating violence, Spielman's father moved the family to a secluded house outside of the ghetto. Soon after, the Spielman family was given a tip that life was going to get much worse in Krakow, so they left.

Arthur's father paid a man to take him and his sister Helen out of the ghetto into Slovakia and then Hungary, where they were placed in different orphanages. Later, his parents and youngest sister, Barbara, also fled to Hungary, where they reunited while visiting him in the orphanage. Arthur's father received word that the Nazis would be liquidating the orphanages, so he sent a Polish officer to release Arthur and his sister Helen. The officer approached Arthur and told him, "Follow me. Don’t talk, don’t say anything, just follow me." His parents had papers as Christians, so he went to a Polish ministerial and said he was Roman Catholic to get his papers using the name of Nieczkowski in order to receive them. From Budapest, they went to Miskolc, another city in Hungary, and lived there as Gentiles for about a year.

In April 1944, the Nazis marched into Hungary. Arthur recalled, “Everything was happening very fast. We had some Jewish friends. We warned them to do something, go into hiding or run away. A lot of them did not believe the stories we were telling them about what happened in Poland, they didn't think what happened to the Polish Jews would happen to them. We saw people walking carrying their belongings. We ourselves went into hiding. We were afraid, so we didn't go out of the house. For a couple of weeks, every morning at like 10 o'clock in the morning sirens blew and there were planes over the city bombing the factory."

He recalled hiding out, only leaving when his mother sent him to the marketplace. Arthur said, "We lived across from a marketplace which was huge. They mistook the town market for an army camp and dropped the bombs on the town market and a lot of people were killed.”

"Towards the end of the war before the Russians came in, we were hiding in the wine cellars, most people were hiding in wine cellars in Miskolc. There were bombs going back and forth. We didn't have much food then. I was standing in line at a bakery...a bomb hit and a few people got killed next to me. I slid into a basement, I don't know how I wound up there and I was saved by just a scratch. We stayed in the wine cellar for about six weeks, from October until we were liberated. We slept between barrels, big barrels with thousands of liters of wine. A lot of times we had no water to drink [so] we drank fresh wine. My mother cooked on a little furnace, gas stove, whatever she could make, soup blette, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish occasionally. We were very lucky in the city of Miskolc. We were hearing news from other people and propaganda papers. While we were in the wine cellar we heard cannons, shooting, then it quieted down...a few hours later first patrol, then half an hour later Russian soldiers on horses, then trucks and boogies filled with soldiers. They were coming by the thousands and then we realized we were liberated.” Arthur and his family left the cellar and returned to their apartment a few days later. He recalled his Hungarian neighbors were shocked when they found out Arthur’s family was Jewish. “A little later me and my father went to Krakow to Poland, by train. We walked part of the way over the mountains, went to see if there were any survivors." Tragically only two out of 300 family members survived. Arthur and his family lived for three years in Displaced Persons camps outside of Munich and immigrated to the United States in May 1949.

Arthur continues to share his story in hopes of preserving the significance of the Holocaust, encouraging meaningful conversations, and teaching respect and appreciation to younger generations. He has spoken at Susan E. Wagner High School, Port Richmond High School, Lavelle Prep Charter School, P.S. 19, Jewish Foundation School of Staten Island, Ben Porat Yosef in New Jersey, and at a 3GNY Descendants of Holocaust Survivors event. His message for the younger generation is simple - "never forget."

Joel Cohen - Monroe J. Klein ‘66 Humanitarian Award

Born in old Staten Island Hospital on May 25, 1929, Joel Cohen is a lifelong Staten Islander. The only child of Shirley and Irving Cohen, he (along with Ron Avis, among others) attended a two-room public schoolhouse through grade 3-B, then P.S. 16, Curtis High School and Wagner College. He then earned a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, before serving for three years in the U.S. Army.

Upon discharge, he worked successively as a reporter for a trade newspaper, speechwriter for the Secretary of State of New York State, and publicist for the news division of ABC-TV. Joel then became a full-time freelance writer, publishing some 35 books, mostly for young readers, with or about prominent sports figures, as well as biographies of Norman Rockwell, Bill Cosby and a Holocaust survivor. He fulfilled a variety of assignments, including three years writing a weekly family-humor column for the Staten Island Advance and articles or essays in Parents magazine, TV Guide, the New York Times, the Baltimore Sun. Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and magazines of Brown University and Smith College.

For three year recently, he wrote a weekly column for the online San Diego Jewish World. Some columns were on serious subjects, such as learning he and Anne Frank were born less than three weeks apart, and the implication thereof...but most were spoofs of former President Trump. Recently Cohen compiled about 30 of those columns in a book titled, "Mostly Mishegas (craziness)...How Trump Tried to Make My People Greater than Ever." via, among other means, gefilte fish and Borsht Belt humor.

Joel and his wife, Nancy (who met at the Jewish Community Center of S.I, where he later served as President) have four children: Ann, Harvey, Alan and Ivan; and have one grandson, Adam; as well as two daughters-in-law and one son-in-law. One couple lives on the Island of Kauai in Hawaii; the others in Manhattan. Nancy and Joel now live in Bay Terrace and are members of Congregation B'nai Israel, and the Staten Island Giving Circle.

Dr. Ginny Mantello, is the Director of Health Wellness, Office of Staten Island Borough President, Attending Neuroradiologist, at Montefiore Medical Center and Main Line Health System, PA, Current and Past Co-Chair of multiple large initiatives and Coalitions including, Staten Island Asthma Coalition, Staten Island Child Wellness Initiative, SI Medical Ecosystem for Disaster Preparedness.

Dr. Mantello works very closely with public health-focused agencies like SIPCW (Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness) and the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) working on emerging public health needs, Medicaid Health reform, and Population Health improvement projects. She also works closely with the two hospitals and five Federally Qualified Health Centers and 10 skilled nursing facilities along with over 75 Health Care, Government, and community-based partners on Staten Island.

Her focus is upstream primary prevention and early intervention in the youth, with emphasis on Asthma, Obesity, and Behavioral Health. In the past, she has worked closely with schools on implementing Wellness Councils and prevention programs and with the community on promoting preventive screenings and Healthy Lifestyle programs.

Over the past year, she has dedicated a large part of her time leading a COVID Incident Command System team and local Emergency Operations Center to help our community during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is currently involved and focused on vaccine rollout on Staten Island, particularly focusing on the vulnerable populations including seniors and those with Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Mantello has received numerous awards for community service including the DaVinci Society’s Renaissance award, the Carnation Award for improving the health and wellbeing of Staten Islanders through the Richmond County Medical Society, the women of distinction award through the Staten Island Borough based council, the Leadership and community service award offered by Community Health Action of Staten Island and the YMCA Community service award to name a few. Dr. Ginny was also one of few recently named on the City and State Staten Island Health hero list for her work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reverend Dr. Terry Troia, is President and CEO of Project Hospitality, an interfaith effort providing emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing & services to hungry and homeless New Yorkers, where she has worked for the last 35 years. She is also the minister of the Reformed Church of Huguenot Park in Staten Island.

The Reverend is actively involved in racial, economic, and social justice work related to health, housing and educational equity, LGBT inclusion, immigrants’ rights, and the right to shelter. Troia serves by appointment to the Governor's Clergy Council, the Mayor's Clergy Advisory Council, the NYC HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council, the NYPD Training Advisory Committee, the NYPD SI Borough Command Immigrant Task Force, The Richmond County District Attorney Hate Crimes Task Force, the NYC Council Gun Violence Task Force, the New York State Interfaith Immigration Network, the NYC Supportive Housing Task Force.

She serves on the board of directors of the Supportive Housing Network of New York, Homeless Services United, El Centro del Inmigrante, New World Prep Charter School, and Coordinated Behavioral Health. Locally she serves as President of The Staten Island Long Term Recovery Organization and is chair of the Staten Island Tackling Youth Substance Abuse Initiative and serves on the executive committees of the Staten Island Immigrants Council, Communities United for Respect and Trust, Staten Islanders Against Anti-Semitism, the Staten Island Inter-Religious Leadership, Staten Island Council of Churches, Staten Island Family Health Care Coalition, New Brighton Coalition of Concerned Citizens and the Port Richmond Civic Association.

Efrat LaMandre is a Family Nurse Practitioner that owns and operates her own Family Medical practice, EG Healthcare. Her practice includes Pediatrics, Primary care, Women’s Health/GYN, and Mental Health services. Recently, she added a holistic branch to the practice which offers Integrative Medicine treatments as well as vitamin infusions. The practice also prides itself on being LGBTQ friendly and collaborates with a practitioner that provides transgender health care. The practice consistently meets and exceeds industry standards and has achieved the honor of PCMH status indicating excellence in patient care.

In addition to her practice, Efrat is the President-elect of the Nurse Practitioner Association New York State Board. The mission of The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State is to promote and support the highest standards of healthcare throughout New York State; through education, advocacy, leadership, and fostering the empowerment of the nurse practitioner professional practice.

She is also the Vice-Chairman of the Staten Island University Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. The mission of the foundation is to achieve philanthropic relationships for support and endowment, providing the highest quality care, services and state-of-the-art equipment. It helps improve the hospital's healthcare, quality of life and better serve the patients and their families throughout our community. She is the only NP to sit on this board.

Recently, the College of Staten Island Athletic Department also asked her to be on their medical team. Her practice now serves as the primary care provider for the athletes of the school.

In addition, she is a Clinical Faculty member at Wagner College. She lectures on several topics including Healthcare Finance and Policy. Her practice also provides medical exams and clearances for every nursing student in the college in all undergraduate and graduate programs.

Efrat is married to Gina LaMandre who is a Physician Assistant and a Professor at Monmouth University. Together they raise three children and four cats. In addition, to helping humans, they spend their time and resources helping animal rescues.

Bethany Friedman ’21 is a senior at Wagner College from Manalapan, New Jersey. She is a Philosophy major and English minor pursuing law. Bethany is currently the president of Hillel and the founder of Shir Levav (Sing from the Heart).

Three years ago, she met Auschwitz survivor Hannah Steiner as an incoming freshman at Wagner College. Hannah is brave, smart, personable, and beautiful. Even in Auschwitz, Hannah kept her spirits up by sharing recipes with those around her. In a course that paired Holocaust Studies and Acting, Bethany had the privilege to pick a monologue from Hannah to perform for her classmates, with guidance from Professors Theresa McCarthy and Lori Weintrob. She was ecstatic when she found out that she would be reading her monologues in an original play, Rise Up: Young Holocaust Heroes. It was an honor for Bethany to recall Hannah’s hope and tragedies in her own words.

Bethany will never forget the day she met her and got to talk with Hannah Steiner. She found out about Hannah’s love story with her husband, Abraham, how proud Hannah was of her children and grandchildren, how much she loved elephants, she got to see all of her family pictures. Bethany and Hannah talked to each other for hours and Hannah looked so happy.

After her experience interacting with Hannah, Bethany wanted to continue to see her, because she truly cared for her. This is when Bethany started to think about the other survivors she studied or met. Bethany then formulated the idea of an organization where students of Wagner College could use the arts to make Holocaust Survivors and others of that generation smile. Shir Levav means Sing from the Heart in Hebrew. With support from the Wagner College Holocaust Center and Chai Society, Bethany and Dr. Weintrob took action. Shir Levav sang and connected with survivors starting in 2019 and in 2020-2021, even virtually during quarantine. Bethany believes that the arts give people the opportunity to connect with others in a universal way. It is amazing to see that Holocaust survivors have the same favorite songs as members of Shir Levav or love the same meals. Through Shir Levav students learn about their heroes in a way that truly connects them - through music.

In addition to Shir Levav and Hillel, Bethany was Professor Mickey Tennenbaum’s assistant director for the second production of “Rise Up: Holocaust Heroes”, which premiered at the St. George Theatre in 2019 for hundreds of young students. She has also been a Holocaust Center Intern since her freshman year at Wagner College.

Bethany is the president of the Pre-Law Society and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. She volunteers for the CLARO Group on Staten Island. And during the fall she offered free LSAT tutoring to the students of Wagner College (LSATurday).