Star of David Spirit of Judaism Honoree Jerome Grushkin
Jerry Grushkin was born to a family of modest means and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He always knew education would lead him on a path to a successful life. He worked his way through the New York City public school system and the City College of New York where he earned both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture degrees. At Pratt Institute, he earned his Master’s degree in Urban Planning. Shortly before graduating City College he met his future wife, Esther, whom he married in 1966.
Jerry and Esther had three sons: Orren, Ailon and Danny. Orren and his wife, Trish, have two daughters: Alexandra, 13 years of age and Charlotte, 10 years of age. In January 2017, Ailon and his wife Jennifer welcomed their daughter, Alexie. Sadly, after nearly fifty years of marriage, Esther passed away in October 2015.
In 1970, Jerome L. Grushkin, Architects, AIA was launched. In the course of his lengthy career, Jerry was also a builder and interior designer so his projects could benefit from all facets of his expertise. Over the years, Jerry achieved leadership positions in many professional organizations. He was president of the Staten Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and a delegate to the American Institute of Architects’ convention for several consecutive years. He was a member of the New York City Homebuilders’ Association, treasurer of the Council of Architects, Engineers and Surveyors of Greater New York, Inc. and financial secretary of the South Gannon Homeowners Association.
Jerry received many awards for excellence and achievement for craftsmanship and natural beauty of his buildings from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. He has had media coverage in the New York Times, NJ Star Ledger, SI Advance and other publications pertaining to various projects in the metro area. Always a believer in community service, Jerry was awarded the B’nai B’rith Torch of Liberty Award for Contribution to the Community and Mankind. He is a past president of B’nai B’rith, past board member of the JCC of Staten Island, chairman of the Construction Committee of the Staten Island Zoological Society and a Board member for over 25 years, and 2nd Vice-Chairperson for the Staten Island Museum of Arts and Sciences, and is currently on the boards of the Staten Island Archaeology Society and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun. Jerry is an active member of Building Bridges Coalition of Staten Island, an interfaith organization dedicated to fostering understanding and acceptance of the practices, values and tenets of the many religious groups in the borough.
Jerry enjoys reading, gardening, traveling and attending lectures, movies and the theater. An avid amateur photographer, he has won awards from the Staten Island Photography Society. As an artist, Jerry explores the use of various media such as pencil and ink drawing and oil, watercolor and acrylic painting. For the past thirty years, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun has been an integral part of his life attending services every Saturday morning.
As a tribute in memory of Esther, a Staten Island based educator and Hebrew scholar who devoted her life to the teaching of biblical archeology, Jewish literature and the Hebrew Bible, Jerry and his family established, with the support of the JCC, an endowment for an ongoing Jewish lecture series. The Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) is committed to funding lectures that will include topics of religious inquiry, community service, Biblical and Near Eastern language, literature, history, art, music, philosophy and archeology. It is Jerry’s dream to bring the best of Jewish education to the Staten Island community.
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