For the first time in its history, Queens Hospital Center held a public Chanukah menorah lighting inside the hospital, drawing a packed crowd of staff, administrators, community leaders, clergy, and elected officials. The gathering was notable not for ceremony, but for context: a public institution making visible space for Jewish life at a moment when many feel increasingly unseen.
Organized by the hospital’s Jewish Inclusion Group, the program was direct and unscripted in tone, focused on recognition rather than celebration for its own sake. The message was simple: the Jewish community is part of the fabric of Queens Hospital Center.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mira Inoyatov and Ramiz Rafailov, co-chairs of the Jewish Inclusion Group, who spoke about the need for cultural awareness and respect within public healthcare.
Hospital leadership followed with brief remarks, including CEO Neil J. Moore, who framed the event as an acknowledgment of Jewish staff, patients, and families, and as a statement that diversity inside the hospital must be recognized, not assumed.
Elected officials in attendance included John Liu, Nily Rozic, David Weprin, and James Gennaro. Their remarks centered on safety, visibility, and the responsibility of public institutions to stand clearly with communities facing rising antisemitism.
Assemblywoman Rozic underscored that point directly, noting that hosting a Chanukah lighting inside a major public hospital sends a message of belonging that words alone cannot convey.
From a clinical perspective, Isaac Sachmechi, MD, Director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence, spoke about how community trust directly impacts patient outcomes, particularly in diverse populations where cultural disconnects often lead to delayed or avoided care.
The central moment of the evening was the menorah lighting, led by Rabbi Mendy Hecht, who kept his remarks brief and pointed, focusing on Chanukah’s core message: Light does not negotiate with darkness; it confronts it by existing.
Queens Hospital Center also presented a recognition plaque acknowledging local leadership and ongoing collaboration around community safety - an understated but deliberate gesture.
Closing remarks were shared by Ilana Rachnaev, LMSW, and Oksana Abramova, RN, who spoke from the ground level of care. They noted that moments like this matter not because they are public, but because they shape how staff and patients experience the institution every day.
