CARY FELDMAN
BETH EL - BETHESDA
A member of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County for over 20 years, a successful lawyer, a loving husband and father of three, Cary is the personification of the FJMC's goal of "involving Jewish men in Jewish life." Cary has spent many years in the service of his Congregation, its Men's Club and the FJMC. The relaxed and natural willingness with which he has done so has been a source of both pride and inspiration to his fellow Congregants and Men's Club members, his family and his friends.
He began his service to the Congregation in 1990 as its Israel Bonds Chairman, and led Beth El to the top of the list of Washington area synagogues in bond purchases in each year of his tenure. Realizing it had found something, the Congregation quickly elected him to its Board of Trustees and then as its Financial Secretary. Following two terms as Financial Secretary, he was elected as synagogue Vice President. After seven years on the Board of Trustees, the last six of which he also was serving as an officer and as a member of the Executive Committee, Cary decided to take what he described as a sabbatical from schul leadership. It turned out to be short lived. Within a year he was asked to chair a Constitution Review Committee. Not too long after that, he, along with his wife Nancy, served as two of the co-chairs of the Capital Campaign that began the process of raising the funds that led to the recently completed major renovation and addition to the synagogue. Then, in the fall of 2000, with the Congregation facing a crisis, the officers prevailed upon Cary to return for another stint as a Vice President, where his balanced and steadying manner was instrumental in getting Beth El through a difficult period. He also has been a member of the schul's Construction Committee, its Nominating Committee and the list goes on.
When Cary finally stepped down as synagogue Vice President a few years ago, the Men's Club took no time in installing him as its President for two terms. Cary already had been an active member of the Men's Club and its Board of Directors. He had chaired the Men's Club Kavod Awards Committee for a few years, and served as the moderator for the Men's Club sponsored political debates among candidates for public office. Currently, he is one of two Club Vice Presidents. For many of the young families at the schul, something would be amiss if they did not see Cary working the food counter at the annual Purim Carnival put on by the Men's Club, greeting them in his bright green Palm Restaurant apron. Further, Cary has been the overall chair of the Purim Carnival for the last two years. In addition to his involvement with the Beth El Men's Club, Cary has become active in Seaboard Region and National FJMC programs. He has attended the FJMC convention and the last two Regional Retreats. He is currently serving as one of the Seaboard Region's Vice- Presidents.
Cary grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and is a graduate of Teaneck High School, University of Rochester and George Washington University Law School. Professionally, he is a partner at the law firm of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP in Washington DC, where he practices in the areas white collar criminal and commercial litigation. He is a former federal prosecutor who went back to the Government for a second stint from 1998-2000 as the Deputy Independent Counsel in connection with the investigation of former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. Cary has been recognized by The Washingtonian Magazine and by Best Lawyers in America for his expertise and skill in the area of white collar crime. He also volunteers his time with the Council for Court Excellence, a non-profit civic organization that works to improve the administration of justice in the local and federal courts and related agencies in the Washington metropolitan area and in the nation. Cary is a member of the Council’s Board of Directors, and a former Chairman of its standing Criminal Justice Committee.
Cary, and his wife Nancy, take much pride in having raised three wonderful children: Michael, Steven and Jaclyn. The boys are working and living together on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, enjoying that 20-something lifestyle in New York City. Jackie is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in its unique Psychology Neuroscience and Philosophy Program. Nancy, a sought-after math tutor and educational counselor, and an accomplished team tennis player, has volunteered a lot of her time over the years to school and PTA activities at Luxmanor Elementary School, Tilden Middle School and Walter Johnson High School. Cary credits his children with inspiring him to become more active in the life of his synagogue since they already were spending much of their time there in the Hebrew and Nursery Schools. And, of course, he credits Nancy who, with everything else that she does, has been able to hold the fort at home while he was spending chunks of his time over the years engaged in synagogue and Men's Club activities.
Cary truly appreciates his selection by the Beth El Men’s Club as its Man of the Year, especially in light of the fine men from Beth El and the other Clubs who preceded him and who are being honored today.
