Devorah Halberstam is an American
political activist
A political movement is a collective attempt by a group of people to change government policy or social values. Political movements are usually in opposition to an element of the status quo, and are often associated with a certain ideology. Some t ...
who rose to prominence following the
murder of her son Ari in 1994. This has led to recognition and prominence deemed unusual for a Hasidic woman.
Several years after the FBI's re-classification of the shooting from an act of
road rage
Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior exhibited by motorists. These behaviors include rude and verbal insults, yelling, physical threats or dangerous driving methods targeted at other drivers, pedestrians or cyclists in an effort to intimid ...
to an act of terrorism, Halberstam was awarded with the FBI's New York Division's Director's Community Leadership Award in 2009.
Former Governor
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki (; born June 24, 1945) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 53rd governor of New York from 1995 to 2006. An attorney by profession, Pataki was elected mayor of his hometown of Peekskill, New York, and went on ...
cited the Halberstams’ efforts in his quest to have the death penalty restored. She, together with Governor George Pataki and other officials, was instrumental in enacting the
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, the first of its kind in New York State.
Halberstam is the mother of 5 children, 2 daughters and 3 sons, of whom Ari was eldest.
Halberstam is one of the founders of the
Jewish Children's Museum, which was dedicated in the memory of her son.
Halberstam is the museum's director of External Affairs. The museum promotes tolerance by educating children about Jews and Jewish culture.
She is noted for her work as an educator on the dangers of antisemitic terrorism.
Halberstam is an advocate for gun control.
She advocated for Ari's Law which prohibits interstate gun trafficking.
Awards
Halberstam is the recipient of numerous awards including the FBI Community Leadership Award,
Top Brooklyn Businesswomen Networking Award, Con Edison's Brooklyn Women of Distinction Award, and was a nominee for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halberstam, Devorah
Living people
American gun control activists
Year of birth missing (living people)