This year’s High Holidays Security Briefing, held last Tuesday, September 12, put the Jewish community at ease, citing no known threats, allowing the city’s Jewish community to pray calmly and celebrate with family joyously. The gathering of 400 community leaders and police officers was held at One Police Plaza, the department’s headquarters, and was painstakingly organized by Insp. Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer of Community Affairs Outreach. The event reassured the public of Mayor Eric Adams’ commitment to keeping the Jewish community secure at all costs.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban focused his thoughts on public safety and the strong relationship between the department he commands and the Jewish community. Caban reassured attendees of an increased police presence at shuls throughout the holiday season. Lt. Jack Conway, Commanding Officer of the Ceremonial Unit, introduced the NYPD Honor Guard that presented the colors followed by a rendition of the national anthem by popular international Jewish recording artist Yoni Z, who did an even better job than last year! Speaking on the deep meaning of Rosh HaShanah, Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass pinpointed the giving nature of klal Yisrael.
Rebecca U. Weiner, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, detailed the efforts of the police department to keep the city’s Jewish community protected yearlong. A hate crimes briefing was then delivered by Capt. Gary Marcus, Commanding Officer of the Hate Crime Task Force. It was thankfully reported that anti-Semitic hate crimes have seen a year low. Marcus pledged that his team is prepared to investigate and arrest those who commit a hate crime.
In his first appearance at the briefing, Tsach Saar, Consul General of Israel in New York, reiterated the meaningful relationship shared between our great state and his hometown. Saar exemplified the depth of the connection by noting the visit that Mayor Adams and Joel Eisdorfer, his Senior Advisor, recently took to Israel.
Mark Stewart, Taylor’s Deputy Commissioner, closed out the program by making special mention of the valiant work performed by the vast array of chesed organizations operated in partnership with the NYPD throughout the boroughs.
Queens was represented by Capt. Jeremy R. Kivlin, Commanding Officer of the 102nd police precinct, and his clergy liaison Rabbi Daniel Pollack; Deputy Inspt. Kevin Chan, Commanding Officer of the 107th police precinct, and his clergy liaison Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov; Avraham Pinkhasov, QBSP-Shmira coordinator, and liaison to the 112th police precinct; as well as Deputy Chief John Clune, Executive Officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, and New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman. Queens residents Pesach Osina, liaison to Council Speaker Adams; and Simon Sebag of the Public Advocate’s office also showed support.
First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Chief of Patrol John Chell, Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber, Chief Surgeon Dr. Eli Kleinman, Chief of Brooklyn South Charles McEvoy, Chief of Brooklyn North Scott Henderson, Chief of Manhattan South James McCarthy, Chief of Staten Island Joseph Gulotta, Chief of Queens South Kevin Williams, and the Chief of the Bronx Benjamin Gurley attended the briefing beside Eisdorfer and Fred Kreizman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit.
