Rebecca Gold of Mountain Lakes and Gregg Russo of Randolph will be honored at the 51st Annual Julius and Bessie Cohn Young Leadership Award Dinner on Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Adath Shalom Synagogue, 841 Mountain Way, Morris Plains.

Julius H. Cohn created the Julius and Bessie Cohn Young Leadership Award in 1956. The award is given annually to two young leaders who demonstrate growth in their leadership and have given leadership service to United Jewish Communities (UJC) of MetroWest NJ and the MetroWest Jewish community. The award provides broad opportunities for the development of young men and women as community volunteers.

This year’s honorees exemplify that ideal. Rebecca Gold serves on the UJC and Women’s Department Boards of Trustees, Executive Committees, Campaign Cabinets, and the Unified Allocations Committee. She is the Women’s Campaign Vice Chair for Young Women B’Yachad, and a member of the Young Leadership Council and National Young Leadership Cabinet. Rebecca sits on the JCC Board of Directors and is the current chair of the Morris County Connection. She is also a proud member of Morristown Jewish Center Beit-Yisrael.

Gregg Russo attended his first UJC mission to Israel in 1996. Since that time, he has traveled extensively in Israel and has become involved with the Partnership 2000 Renewal Project, helping to strengthen UJC’s partner communities in the Jewish homeland. He is a UJC Vice President and serves on the UJC Executive Committee, UJC Board of Trustees, and United Jewish Appeal (UJA) of MetroWest NJ Campaign Cabinet. Gregg also serves on the Unified Allocations Committee. He is a former chair of the Young Leadership Division and the Arthur Borinsky Young Leadership Development Program. Gregg is also an active member of Adath Shalom Synagogue in Morris Plains and serves as a trustee of the Hebrew Academy of Morris County.

Gerri Russo of Randolph and Renée Waas of Mountain Lakes are co-chairs of the event.

According to Gerri Russo, the annual award and the dinner celebrating the winners are important parts of securing the future of the Jewish community. “We have to preserve our Jewish identity for future generations,” she said. “To do that we need to have young leaders in our communities to insure Jewish continuity. Gregg and Rebecca feel a strong connection to Judaism and to Israel. They are examples to their peers and teach their peers how to be leaders.”

Renée Waas agreed. “The Cohn Award recognizes the hard work and commitment of our next generation of leaders. It is important to show the younger generation what can be achieved through leadership, and to inspire them to take a stand, step up and give more of themselves.”

The event will include cocktails and dinner. Kosher dietary laws will be observed. There will be a couvert of $65 per person for those who register by March 20; $75 after that date. A minimum gift of $180 to the 2008 United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ is required.

For additional information, contact the UJC Young Leadership Division at (973) 929-3128 or register online at www.ujcnj.org/youngleadership.