Thursday, October 1, 2026
Noted trial attorney and Lawrence native Benjamin Brafman received the Ari Halberstam Award at the Jewish Children’s Museum’s annual dinner May 14 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Brafman, who has long been active in Five Towns Jewish organizations, was recognized for his commitment to Judaism and justice. Michael Mukasey, a former U.S. attorney general and chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, presented the award.
The award is named for Ari Halberstam, a 16-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy who was killed 32 years ago after gunman Rashid Baz opened fire on a van carrying Jewish students on a ramp leading to the Brooklyn Bridge. The attack was later classified as terrorism.
Devorah Halberstam, Ari Halberstam’s mother, has selected awardees for the past 21 years. She said she felt Brafman was deserving of the award because of his commitment to Judaism and fighting for justice.
“He’s a proud Jew in every way,” Halberstam said. “From his character to his family and heritage, he was exactly, in this time, day and age, who, who I felt was deserving of the award.”
Outside of his work as a criminal defense attorney, Brafman has served as an emcee for annual dinners at Congregation Beth Sholom, in Lawrence, for nearly 20 years. He has also hosted events for the Israel Cancer Research Fund and the South Shore division of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, which recently honored him and his wife, Lynda Brafman.
Brafman said he has received numerous recognitions from legal organizations throughout his career. He is set to receive an award from the New York Criminal Bar Association on June 15 for excellence in the legal profession.
In addition to his courtroom work, Brafman previously served as an on-air legal analyst for major news outlets including CBS News, NBC News and CNN.
In the Five Towns Jewish community, Brafman’s impact has also been significant. He helped found the Kulanu Center for Special Services, which provides special education services in Cedarhurst. The idea came to life in his living room with a dozen other members of the community.
“It began as 12 members of town who saw the need for a specialized school,” Brafman said. “Now, it’s an extraordinary program.”
Brafman also founded Toras Aaron, a school in Jerusalem named after his late brother Aaron Brafman. His son, David Brafman, is a rabbi and principal at the school, which has more than 300 students and 25 staff members.
Brafman, who has visited the Jewish Children’s Museum, said he was pleased to accept the award because of its history and the museum’s goal of educating Jewish people.
“I’ve gotten awards from so many different organizations,” Brafman said. “This felt different.”
