We are extremely proud to share the news that Staten Island Holocaust Center (SIHC) Chief Executive Officer and Staten Island Civil Court Judge, Philip S. Straniere will be recognized for his outstanding community service over the years on Thursday, May 2 at the Staten Island JCC.
Along with Judge Straniere, the "Hillel Kavod Circle Reception" evening (6:00 - 9:00 pm) presented by Staten Island, JCC of Staten Island, and UJA New York will include recognizing Council Member David Carr and Nancy Tricorico, with Marielle Braunstein, Jaclyn Nussenblatt, and Molly Nemirow being presented with the Fran & Joe Harris Student Leadership Award.
"Thank you to Staten Island Civil Court Judge, Staten Island Holocaust Center CEO, and long-time community member Philip S. Straniere for his dedication, contributions, and service to the people of Staten Island," said SIHC President, Rachel Borenstein.
"It's only fitting that we take time to honor Judge Straniere and the others in the community by coming together on this special evening. The achievement is well-deserved."
A native of Staten Island a graduate of Curtis High School, Judge Straniere was elected to the Civil Court in November 1996 from the 2nd Civil Court District on Staten Island.
In 2004, he was named an Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court and served as the Supervising Judge of the Civil Court Richmond County until 2017. He received his JD degree from New York University School of Law and his BA (Magna Cum Laude) and MA in history from Wagner College on Staten Island. Prior to going on the bench he was in private practice for over 20 years and also taught full time at St. John’s University in the College of Business Administration before becoming a judge, where he served as an administrative law judge for the New York City Board of Education Impartial Hearing Office, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, Parking Violations Bureau and the Environmental Control Board.
In 2002 his colleagues elected him to serve as President of the Board of Judges of the Civil Court. Unable to fulfill his childhood dreams of playing center field for the New York Yankees or starring in a Broadway musical, he has strived to achieve his parents’ expectations of him to make the world a better place when you leave it than when you found it, by serving the public as a judge.
In 2019, Judge Straniere was named CEO of the Staten Island Holocaust Center, with the 501(c)3 organization providing a safe space to learn about the Holocaust through art collections, archives, community events, and Holocaust Education programs.Â
Since then, the SIHC has endured the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting Holocaust Education programs with schools across Staten Island (both on Zoom and in-person), obtained the 1775 Torah Scroll from the Czech Republic for display, hosted community events like the Kristallnacht Commemoration at the JCC of Staten Island, while also furthering partnerships with the Ninth Candle, Ganzach Museum in Israel, and the Amud Aish Memorial Museum in Brooklyn, among other organizations.
It's yet another example of how one man's work continues to make a positive impact for the greater good.
Learn more about the Honorable Philip S. Straniere: