[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

An overflow crowd of communal figures, joined by elected officials and organizational leaders gathered at the Lipschitz Halls on Sunday November 22nd for the annual Boro Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC) Legislative and Community Tribute Breakfast.

Coming on the heels of the recent spate of terrorism in Israel and a week after the horrific attacks in Paris, many of the speakers assailed the scourge of terrorism, and especially called out those who do not stand with Israel in their time of need. Senator Charles Schumer, in his first public appearance in Boro Park, since the latest wave of terror began in Israel spoke about how we all identify with victims of terror. “Terrorism in Paris is the same as terrorism in Israel,” declared the Senator forcefully. “Terrorism against one nation is terrorism against all nations” Schumer concluded.

A similar sentiment was echoed by the keynote speaker New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.”We cannot give in to fear and terrorism,” said Schneiderman. “If they have us afraid they have won,” he concluded.

Another focus of the morning was the incredible response by the first responders and the community at large to the horrific explosion that took place on 13th in Boro Park over Sukkos in which two people tragically lost their lives, and dozens of others were injured or displaced. The JCC gave a special tribute to those that stood out including, the New York City Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Housing Preservation and Development, Hatzoloh, Mayors Community Affairs Unit, and Community Board 12. In presenting the tribute, Councilman Brad Lander, who played a major role in coordinating the effort of city agencies in the aftermath of the incident praised the Boro Park community for their chessed and compassion as well as their embrace of first responders.

Many of the speakers also praised the work of the JCC. Attorney General Schneiderman whose office regulates nonprofits called the Boro Park JCC “a gem of a nonprofit” and a “superb organization.” Councilman David Greenfield, in his remarks introducing the Attorney General said the JCC serves “the nameless and faceless and those with nowhere else to turn” And Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, who received the Humanitarian Leadership Award, lauded the efforts of the JCC in signing up close to 1100 people for IDNYC, the New York City Identity Card, at the popup site which was recently located at the JCC offices.

Other honorees at the event were Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, City Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Jewish Caucus, Marcia Eisenberg, General Counsel of the JCRC-NY, Ronald Larsen, Senior Vice President Signature Bank, and Rabbi Joel Rosenfeld Bobov Community Government Relations Advocate.

Other dignitaries at the event included NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, Assemblymembers Dov Hikind and David Weprin, and Councilmembers Mathieu Eugene and Chaim Deutsch, Met Council CEO Alan Schoor, and President Abe Biderman

Menachem Lubinsky, CEO of Lubicom and long time board member of Met Council served as breakfast MC. The breakfast was sponsored by Maimonides Medical Center, Investors Bank, Health First, MJHS, Signature Bank, Con Edison, Boro Park Center Apple Bank, Preferred Health Care, NYU Lutheran, and Dime Savings Bank. The Boro Park JCC is a proud affiliate of Met Council and UJA-Federation of New York.

PHOTOS BY HILLEL ENGEL

(YWN Desk – NYC)