On Sunday morning, May 18, the stunning Cipriani 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan set the stage for Met Council’s Annual Legislative Breakfast. In a venue known for hosting the most elegant affairs in the city, hundreds of leaders from across government, law, and communal service came together to celebrate the mission of Met Council: providing dignity, stability, and support to over 325,000 New Yorkers annually. From the heart of Midtown, this event radiated a bold reminder that fighting poverty is not a partisan issue — it’s a moral obligation.
The breakfast honored an impressive list of elected officials and communal advocates whose partnership with Met Council helps drive transformative change across all five boroughs. Among the honorees was Assemblymember Sam Berger, whose award was of special note to our readership and whose advocacy for the Kew Gardens Hills community has been steadfast and impactful. Council Member Joann Ariola, honored for her leadership and dedication to the Richmond Hill Jewish community, was warmly received — a powerful moment reflecting years of community-backed advocacy. Councilmember Sandra Ung was likewise recognized as a proud Queens honoree, continuing the close partnership she has built with Jewish communal leadership since her candidacy. Councilmember Julie Menin, a standout member of the City Council’s Jewish Caucus, was joined at the event by Chair Eric Dinowitz and member Lynn Schulman, both attending with pride. Other notable elected officials present included Congress Members Grace Meng and Greg Meeks, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz — underscoring the borough’s strong voice and deep connection to Met Council’s work.
The breakfast was graciously sponsored by The James S. and Merryl H. Tisch Foundation, whose philanthropic leadership in Jewish communal life was represented by the attendance of Merryl Tisch, Chair Emeritus of Met Council’s Board of Directors, and their daughter, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Opening remarks were delivered by Met Council CEO and Executive Director David G. Greenfield, who praised the assembled leaders for their unwavering commitment to fighting poverty, and by Benjamin Tisch, Co-President of Met Council, who reflected on the importance of collective responsibility in times of rising need. Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, spoke passionately about the organization’s decades-long partnership with Met Council and how that collaboration fuels one of the most robust social service networks in the country. Met Council’s impact is staggering: over 1.2 million pounds of food distributed monthly, 19.5 million dollars in SNAP benefits secured last year alone, 2,030 Holocaust survivors receiving regular services, and more than 1,000 families supported through domestic violence prevention programs. Last Passover alone, over 358,000 New Yorkers received fresh food thanks to Met Council’s efforts — a testament to both scale and compassion.
Among the morning’s most powerful moments was the address by Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, President of COJO of Staten Island. Introduced by Reb Aaron Cyperstein, Met Council’s Managing Director of Legal & External Affairs, Rabbi Mirocznik began by invoking the image of massive food pantry lines before Yom Tov: “I want everybody in this room to close their eyes for a moment, look at those pantry lines, especially before Passover and Rosh Hashanah.” He then thundered the word “Help!” to underscore the urgency of the moment. “I said it publicly before, and I’ll say it again today: Met Council is the gold standard. It’s like Churchill told Roosevelt — ‘Mr. President, give us the tools.’ If it wasn’t for the generosity of Met Council, I dare say that thousands of New Yorkers would go hungry and face shame.”
Also honored at the breakfast were prominent legal advocates Yehuda Buchweitz, Esq., Pejman Razavilar, Esq., and Shai Berman, Esq., all of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, who have supported Met Council, helping expand its reach and protect the vulnerable.
The morning’s success was made possible by a remarkable team of Met Council professionals, many of whom are known to the Queens Jewish community. These include Hannah Lupien, Managing Director of Food Programs; Benjamin Segal, Chief of Staff; Avi Spitzer, Managing Director of the Brooklyn Hub in Boro Park; Steven Alter, Director of Information Technology; and Benjamin Zaientz, Senior Manager of Agency Relations. Their dedication to operational excellence ensures that Met Council’s promise is not just rhetoric, but real help delivered every day.
While Cipriani dazzled with its historic splendor, it was the cause that elevated the event into something greater than ceremony. It was a reminder that beneath the marble and under the crystal chandeliers, real lives are being changed — and that the Jewish value of v’hechezakta bo — “You shall strengthen him” — is alive and well in the center of 42nd Street. Met Council is more than an institution; it is a lifeline. And on this morning, its mission stood tall.
For more information or to support their ongoing work, visit www.metcouncil.org.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
