An Evening of Celebration + Inspiration

An Evening of Celebration + Inspiration

Sunday, November, 15th, 2026 at 5:00 P.M.

Honoring Orit Lender, Bella Smorgonskaya & Lou Barrella

For more information on the event, contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com

Special Guest Entertainer & Speaker

Joel Chasnoff

Stand-up comedian, former lone soldier in the IDF, and National Jewish Book Award-winning author, Joel delivers hip, clever, and wholesome comedy about the joys and oys of Jewish life. Rest assured, he leaves stereotypes and Borscht Belt cliches on the bench.

Our Honorees

Orit Lender

Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, is a community-minded leader with more than 20 years of experience in outreach, community building, and philanthropy.

Prior to her time at the JCC, Orit served as the Youth Coordinator at Seaman’s Society for Children and Families, where she facilitated youth groups throughout Staten Island. She built on this background in her first role at the JCC as the Youth Empowerment Director. This position gave her the opportunity to make a positive difference in young people’s lives through programs like camp and an anti-tobacco campaign. After taking on the role of Program Director in 2009, Orit’s work brought her out into the community to work with Staten Island’s senior population. Working closely with community leaders and government agencies, she developed and supervised all of the JCC’s senior centers including the Innovative Senior Center. In 2015, Orit was appointed Assistant Executive Director, and as she expanded her portfolio, she was named Deputy Executive Director. In these roles, her vision and leadership touched all aspects of the JCC’s work across Staten Island. During this time, she also completed the Duke University Executive Leadership for Non-Profit Certificate program. In 2020, Orit was selected to be the JCC’s next Chief Executive Officer. She has the distinction of being the agency’s first female CEO. In 2023, Orit also became the CEO of Hillel of Staten Island, which the JCC operates through a management agreement that came to fruition under her leadership.

Across her work, Orit fosters a sense of community driven by the Jewish principle of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. Her leadership fosters a spirit of teamwork within the JCC, but also helps to bring the JCC out to the larger Staten Island, New York, and Jewish communities. Under her leadership, the JCC has greatly expanded its social services, most recently diving into the field of career readiness. During the COVID pandemic, Orit led the charge of providing food and social services for vulnerable Staten Islanders, as well as overseeing a mass vaccination effort.

Orit cultivates meaningful relationships between the JCC and religious and lay leaders, government agencies, and other community organizations. She serves as a member of many of these organizations, including UJA-Federation of NY, JCC Association of North America, Metropolitan Centers Executives Association, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) Business Council, the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO), and the Wagner College Chai Society—to name just a few. Orit serves on the board of Nonprofit Staten Island, American Friends of Israel Community Centers, and the Richmond University Medical Center Foundation Board. She serves on the Mifgash Steering Committee for JCC Association’s national conference and the ExecNet Steering Committee for UJA-Federation. She was recently named a member of the JCRC New York Jewish Coalition.

These relationships, stewarded by Orit’s leadership, have allowed the JCC and its partners to serve more Staten Islanders of all ages and backgrounds and work towards building a better, more caring community. Orit has also received awards and recognitions for her work from the Wagner College Chai Society, NYC Digital Media Center, and Soroptimist International of Staten Island. She was named one of PoliticsNY’s Power Players in Corporate Social Responsibility and City & State’s Power 100 multiple times. Orit has received awards from local government and economic organizations, including the NYS Senate’s Women of Distinction Award, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce’s Louis Miller Award, and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation’s Executive Woman of the Year Award. Under her leadership, the JCC also received an award from Protecting One Young Heart at a Time for its work serving youth.

The daughter of two Israeli parents, Orit lived in Israel on Kibbutz Urim before moving to Staten Island as a child. She has been married to her husband Ed for 24 years. Orit and Ed are the proud parents of two children, David and Ethan. David is currently a student at the University of Delaware, and Ethan is a student at Wagner High School and the JCC is their second home.

Bella Smorgonskaya

Bella Smorgonskaya has dedicated nearly two decades to nurturing a vibrant cultural community in Staten Island, New York.

She began her career in 2006 as a Russian Outreach Coordinator at the JCC of Staten Island, using her unique perspective to engage and educate the Russian-speaking community.

At the inception of the JCC’s CLLD program, Bella became the Arts & Culture Program Coordinator. In this role, she implemented groundbreaking programs that brought art, music, and Jewish education to life for seniors, ensuring that every initiative resonated deeply with participants and giving participants social, intellectual and emotional connections that enhanced their life.

In her current role as the JCC’s Director of Arts & Culture, Bella finds new ways to enhance and expand the cultural offerings at the JCC, continually seeking to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of the community. Her dedication is evident in the thoughtful programming she curates, from lectures and film screenings to art exhibitions and special events. Bella approaches each project with creativity and a keen understanding of what will inspire and engage participants, ensuring that the JCC remains a dynamic hub for cultural exploration.

Beyond her administrative duties, Bella is a passionate advocate for building connections—both within the Jewish community and beyond. She spearheads annual celebrations of Israel Independence Day, bringing in celebrated Israeli figures and fostering a greater appreciation for Israeli culture. Through these initiatives, Bella helps bridge the gap between diverse communities, promoting deeper understanding and sharing values.

Everything Bella does is a testament to her belief in the importance of fostering relationships that transcend borders, giving a better understanding of Israeli culture and identity.

Bella’s leadership style embodies warmth and inclusivity. She has a remarkable ability to connect with individuals, making everyone feel valued and engaged. This has cultivated a sense of belonging at the JCC, where members are not just participants but integral parts of a thriving community. Her unwavering support and encouragement have fostered a deep sense of loyalty among those she serves.

In her personal life, she enjoys spending time with her husband Benyamin, traveling around the world. Her daughter Katy and her grandchildren Misha, Ethan, and Athena Maria are a safe haven for her.

Lou Barrella

He has been a Guest Lecturer at Colleges, Museums and Cultural Institutions, having made 1000+ presentations since 1993. Lou was introduced to the Bernikow JCC of Staten Island by Bella Smorgonskaya in 2021 to conduct an opera Class. Additionally, he has presented programs on Klezmer, the Yiddish Theater, the Borscht Belt, Celebrating Hanukkah, Remembering Jewish Opera Stars like Richard Tucker, Beverly Sills and Regina Resnick. To commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2023, he moderated the film “Defiant Requiem” in the Stolzenberg Social Hall. Currently, he presents opera luncheons and dinners at Casa Belvedere, conducts an opera class at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum and for United Federation of Teachers retirees in Manhattan. Lou also makes presentations for Opera at Florham audiences at Fairleigh Dickinson University.