The Audubon Tea Room was the place to be on Dec. 11 when the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans hosted its annual Fed Fest.
Formerly known as the Annual Celebration, this year’s event brought the community together to honor those who go the extra mile to make New Orleans a better place to live.
The Hatikvah sung by Alix Paige and a blessing by Rabbi Philip Kaplan set the tone, after which Federation Board Chair Jonathan Lake applauded Michele Gelman and Mike Dodd for their stellar work as 2024 Community Campaign Co-Chairs.
Among those honored were Dr. Marc Behar with the Roger Bissinger and Allan Bissinger Memorial Award for embodying leadership and integrity; Sara Lewis, who was bestowed the Herbert and Margot Garon Leadership Award, which recognizes a young individual’s commitment to the New Orleans Jewish community and Myron Goldberg, chosen for the Oscar J. Tolmas L’Dor V’Dor Award, which celebrates the unsung heroes of the New Orleans Jewish community.
Topped off with Dickie Brennan’s unforgettable cuisine and music from the Russell Ramirez Trio, Fed Fest 2024 was a heartfelt tribute to the mission of the Jewish Federation: to connect, uplift and strengthen Jewish life in New Orleans and beyond.
Fun Fact: The federation awarded $100,000 in 2024 to early education agencies for security, donated over $2.5 million to the Israel relief fund, and graduated 728 people through their Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program.
