Alan Septimus

Alan grew up in a traditional Jewish home and attended the Yeshiva of Flatbush and Yeshiva University High School.  He went on to attend Cornell and earned an MBA from Stanford University. Alan owes his lifelong love of Hebrew and Israel to his yeshiva education and decade-long experience growing up at Camp Massad.

In his high school and college years, when not occupied by his passion for baseball, Alan found time for much political activism. He saw the inside of a paddy wagon in the fall of 1969 while
demonstrating against the Vietnam War at the Moratorium March on Washington. Alan agitated for farm workers and, in 1972, he organized pickets of Ithaca’s grocery stores to publicize the plight of
California’s migrant workers and promote the boycott of non-union grapes and lettuce. Alan’s activism continued when he joined the Young People’s Socialist League and actively campaigned in the summer of 1972 for Congressman William Fitts Ryan. In 1976, Alan was admitted to the Stanford Graduate School of Business to study economics and finance and his socialism got lost in the shuffle.

After graduate school, Alan moved to the Upper West Side and was introduced to the Carlebach Shul by his friend Randall Rose. In 1982, Alan began davening regularly at the Shul and, despite moving to White Plains 18 years ago, has remained actively involved. It was his privilege to serve two terms on the Shul’s Board of Trustees.

Reb Eli Chaim Carlebach, z”l and Reb Shlomo Carlebach, z”l, are credited by Alan with shaping his spiritual and personal life as well as the lives of a generation of young adults who found a home at the Carlebach Shul over the decades.

Alan respectfully accepts the honor bestowed upon him by the Shul and, in turn, desires to honor and acknowledge the leaders who have made this Shul so great: Reb Eli Chaim and Reb Shlomo, Reb Shmuel Chaim Intrator, Rebbetzin Hadassah Carlebach and, Alan’s close friend, the long-time President of the Shul, Moshe Liebert, of blessed memory.

Alan also acknowledges the dedication of the current Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Shy Yellin.
He salutes Rav Naftali Citron and blesses him with many years of strength and wisdom so that he continues to lead all of us to ever greater heights.