Barbara and Barry Zimmerman	Alan Dershowitz returns "The Amboy Dukes" to Barry Zimmerman
Rabbi Arthur Schneier and NYC Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein	Rabbi Arthur Schneier and Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Elisabeth Schneier, NYC Comptroller William Thompson Jr, and Rabbi Arthur Schneier

PARK EAST SYNAGOGUE
It’s Safe For Dershowitz
To Bring The Book Back

Story and Photos by Tim Boxer

A

SAF SHARIV, Israel’s consul general in New York, decided to send his young son to Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School on the Upper East Side, just like previous ambassadors with family had done.

"It was the smartest decision we ever made," he said as the rabbi beamed.

"My son knew no English when he started school," Shariv added. "Now he’s correcting my English."

At the 119th annual synagogue dinner at the Pierre Hotel, Rabbi Schneier announced that he’ll open the first branch of his day school in September 2010 in Tel Aviv.

The honorees at the dinner were Harry Lis, Alla and Philip Weisberg, and Barbara and Barry Zimmerman.

Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, who presented a community leadership award to the Zimmermans, recalled the day a young Barry obtained a copy of The Amboy Dukes, a racy novel that was banned at the time.

A few excited pals gathered at Barry’s home where Alan read the book aloud. Suddenly everybody grew silent. There at the door stood Barry’s dad. He was not amused.

"I left with the book," Alan recounted. "I kept it all these years. Tonight, Barry, you can have it back."