Receiving the 2026 Outstanding Member of the Year award, winner Jay Johnson addressed the attendees with this extemporaneous acceptance speech (as reported by his adoring wife Debbie Simon):
"First, I want to thank my wife, Debbie, the love of my life."
(Long pause and look toward Debbie.) "Did I get that right, Debbie?"
"Second, I want to thank Mike for telling me what to do and 'You missed a spot.'"
"Third, I want y'all to know that when my grandfather was in the shtetels of West Virginia, he could only dream of a moment like this. It really means a lot to me...
"...And next year, you could get this award, too, if you can change a lightbulb without a ladder."
Among Jay’s many contributions are his leadership in raising and taking down the sukkah, organizing buffet tables, reorganizing the library (with Debbie, Lynn and Jizhak Alster), bringing old books to receiving libraries such as the Yiddish Library in Western Mass, sending travel photos from all over the US and abroad, and replacing light bulbs with just the extension of an arm.
Big Up Jay!
Learn more about Jay and Debbie here.