On March 27, 2023, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island’s security Committee (COJO) in conjunction with the NYPD, FDNY and DSNY held its Annual Pre-Passover Briefing at the Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan located in the New Springville section of Staten Island. Host Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Rabbi of Aur Torah, welcomed the honored guests to his Congregation and opened the meeting with an Invocation. In addition to engaging in holiday preparations with the Uniformed Services, the COJO Security Committee was briefed on the satisfactory response of the department to recent antisemitic incidents and was satisfied with the response.

Mendy Mirocznik, president of COJO remarked, “As with the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Passover gatherings traditionally bring out larger numbers of Jewish residents, as many families travel throughout the Island to synagogues and community centers for seders — the traditional Passover meal celebrated over the course of the first two nights of the weeklong holiday.

Mirocznik said with the continued rise of antisemitism, he’s confident police are able to assess any security concerns of the Jewish community and was very satisfied with the meeting.

“I’m very proud to say we have the best of the department working in the borough,” so said Mirocznik and he emphasized that “We’re in good hands.”

COJO Officials and top brass of the NYPD, FDNY and DSNY were in attendance to discuss the holiday and preparations were made to help facilitate a smooth holiday experience. Hon. Mark Stewart, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Community Affairs,Chief John Chell, NYPD Chief of Patrol, Inspector Richard Taylor, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Bureau, Rabbi David Heskiel, NYPD Clergy Liaison represented NYPD headquarters. Locally, Chief Gin Yee, Staten Island Borough Commander, Chief Terence Hurson, executive officer, Patrol Borough Staten Island, Lt. Rafet Awad, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs, Patrol Borough Staten Island, Sgt. Dennis Hu, Commanding Officer, Neighborhood Coordinating Officers, Patrol Borough Staten Island and the Island’s four precinct commanders Inspector Stephen Spataro, Pct. 120, Captain Eric Waldhelm, Pct. 121, Inspector Timothy Wilson, Pct. 122, Inspector Andrey Smirnov, Pct. 123 and Captain Bailey Goon, Staten Island Ferry Command and as a group planned the Passover holiday preparations. Edward Jackson, Staten Island Borough Director, Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, represented Mayor Eric Adams at the meeting.

Mendy Mirocznik thanked NYPD Staten Island Borough Commander Chief Gin Yee, for coordinating security, FDNY Joe Harris and Chief Mark Egan for coordinating bread burning and DSNY Chief Daniel Lindley and Chief Michael Abbatantonomo for coordinating sanitation for the Passover holiday.

Mirocznik praised and credited New York’s Uniformed Service People as great public servants who’s around the clock dedication to public safety and general welfare allows the residents of Staten Island to enjoy a great quality of life.

Mirocznik, thanked Scott Maurer, the CEO and Executive Vice-President of COJO; and Ari Weiss, COJO Security Chair and Coordinator of the Staten Island Shomrim for organizing a great security briefing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)