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Mazal tov to our Simhat Torah honorees, Judith Trachtenberg and Micah Torres Dicker!

Cantor David Mintz

This year, we are thrilled to honor Judith Trachtenberg and Micah Torres Dicker by naming them the Kallat Torah and Hatan Bereshit, respectively. Mazal Tov to Judith and Micah!

Judith Trachtenberg

Judith Trachtenberg has had a long and meaningful connection to Jewish life, but one made more central when she and her late wife, Renie Rutchick, joined BJ. Together, they found joy and pride in Judaism through BJ’s Panim el Panim, where they fought for social justice, including working to pass the New York State Marriage Equality Bill in 2011. Judith served on BJ’s Board of Trustees and was involved in a number of committees and activities in her role. She is currently a member of the Kol Nidre Partnership, the Shabbat Engagement Team, and the Al Tashlikheinu Havurah (a small group for those near and over 80), and works with DEI initiatives.

Judith has a long career in social work, and served as national president of the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care. She has worked as a consultant in addition to teaching at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College since 2003, where she is currently an adjunct professor.

Judith continues to cherish her connections with others, and considers BJ and its ways of being Jewish as the true core of her life.

Micah Torres Dicker

Micah Torres Dicker has been a BJ member since birth. He and his family regularly attend Shabbat morning services, and he currently splits his time between the main level and the balcony of the Sanctuary. Micah attended the BJ Hebrew School, children’s services, and Junior Congregation, and participated in Teen Shabbat. Since becoming a Bar Mitzvah, Micah has been a regular Torah and Haftarah reader at BJ and has also learned trop for the High Holy Days, Eikhah, and Megillat Esther. He is a regular attendee at Aviv events for people in their 20s & 30s, and is happy to welcome new and prospective members to the BJ community.

Micah graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2019 with a degree in Political Science and currently works in Queens overseeing community outreach and advocacy for immigrants and asylum seekers. He is an avid genealogist, an amateur pianist, and is currently learning the oud and the harp. Micah is grateful to BJ and its leadership for this honor and for instilling a lifelong commitment to Judaism.