Community Corner

On Monday, November 13, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) led two concurrent solidarity missions to Israel for Elected Officials and Faith Leaders, respectively. They returned on Friday, November 17.

Earlier this month, the Men’s Club and the Sisterhood of the Great Neck Synagogue raised over $200,000 to sponsor a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Ambulance and an Intensive Care Medi-Cycle Motorcycle – equipped with advanced life support and intensive care modalities – via the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pledged matched MDA donations during the current crisis.

“What makes you proud to be a Jew?” This question was presented to a group of young women who gathered for an Emet Outreach “Shabbos of Unity” recently. “Women from all backgrounds who were religious, non-religious, Ashkenazi, Sefardi, and Mizrahi were there. We all felt connected despite our differences,” Michelle Aminova explained. “When we gave our answers as to why we’re proud to be Jewish, I was so touched by the thoughts everyone shared. We laughed, we cried, and we grew closer to our Jewishness. It felt like we were one big family.”

US Rep. Grace Meng issued the following statement on her no vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib:

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, today welcomed the censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) by the House of Representatives, on a resolution by Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA), “for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the State of Israel.” CJV Midwestern Regional Vice President Rabbi Ze’ev Smason made the following statement:

The animosity and incitement that has characterized “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations is abhorrent. And now it has taken the life of an elderly Jewish man, Paul Kessler, in Los Angeles.