NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (May 15, 2026) — The City of New Rochelle marked Jewish American Heritage Month with a ceremony at City Hall on May 11, featuring remarks from elected officials, a historical presentation by the city historian, and a library grant announcement.
Council Member Matt Stern (District 6), who organized the event alongside fellow Council Member Sarah Kay and committee members Mark Klee, Heidi Sisfeld, and others, opened the program by noting this was the city’s third annual Jewish American Heritage Month celebration. He acknowledged that organizers again refrained from promoting the event too publicly, citing the current climate for Jewish Americans.
“We didn’t really feel comfortable promoting this event too publicly,” Stern said. “And what does that mean for Jewish people today?”
Stern cited a recent study in which more than half of American Jews reported experiencing antisemitism in the past 12 months, 48 percent had taken steps to increase their personal security, and 14 percent had considered plans to leave the country.
Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert and City Manager Wilfredo Melendez also offered greetings. County Legislator Judah Holstein attended the event.
City Historian Barbara Davis profiled two former New Rochelle residents with ties to the American toy industry: Charles Sanford Raizen, founder of Transogram, and Beatrice Alexander, founder of the Madame Alexander Doll Company. Both grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the children of families who fled Russian pogroms, and both later lived in New Rochelle’s Beechmont neighborhood in the 1930s. Both were inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame — Raizen in 1986 and Alexander in 2000.
Davis noted that a bronze statue honoring Raizen stands at the western edge of Memorial Highway in downtown New Rochelle, dedicated Oct. 20, 1969, and sculpted by Harold Castor of New Rochelle.
Alexander pioneered dolls durable enough for children to play with, introducing sleep eyes with closing eyelashes, creating thematic dolls based on films and literature — including Scarlett O’Hara and Alice in Wonderland — and launching the first fashion doll, Cissy, four years before Barbie.
Lisa Itzkowitz, community relations and development coordinator at the New Rochelle Public Library, announced the library had received a grant through the Yiddish Book Center’s “Between Two Worlds: Exploring Jewish Culture and Religion through Yiddish Literature” program. New Rochelle was among 40 libraries nationwide to receive the grant, which it also received in 2022. Programming will run through December and includes a seven-book discussion series, four film screenings, a Klezmer concert on July 21, and a virtual cooking demonstration. All events are free. The series kicks off June 8 with a discussion of “Tevye the Dairyman” by Sholem Aleichem.
Approximately 40 members of the public attended, with light refreshments served following the program.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound.com (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 89 972 0669.
RELATED:
New Rochelle Council Member Defends Low-Key Jewish Heritage Event, Promises More Outreach Next Year (5/14/2026)
New Rochelle Holds Jewish-American Heritage Month Ceremony Out of Public View Citing Safety Concerns(5/13/2026)