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An overflow crowd of communal figures, joined by elected officials and�organizational leaders gathered at the Lipschitz Halls this past Sunday December 4th for the�annual Boro Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC) Legislative and Community Tribute�Breakfast.

The underlying theme of the breakfast was highlighting community service and indeed all the�honorees were feted for their remarkable contributions to the community at large, each in their�own field.

Two city government officials, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, Richard Buery and City�Councilmember Rafael Espinal both received Leadership Awards. Deputy Mayor Buery was�honored for his role as the architect of the Universal Pre K program as well as many other�initiatives which have brought tremendous benefits to many in the Boro Park and other�communities. In his remarks, Deputy Mayor Buery emphasized that the work of the Boro Park�Jewish Community Council is close to the heart of the work of the city as evidenced by the�number of leaders in attendance. And in a most poignant address Councilmember Espinal, who�was honored for his leading role in spearheading the City Council Holocaust Survivor Initiative,�recalled his visit to Auschwitz which moved him to do something meaningful for the thousands�of holocaust survivors living in poverty, even though none live in his own district.

Kenneth Gibbs, the new CEO of Maimonides Medical Center, was formally welcomed to Boro�Park by JCC President Isaac Stern, who recognized the continued service and highlighted the�partnership the community has with the hospital. And the theme continued with the presentation�of the Distinguished Community Service Award to Nachman Feig who serves as Assistant�Administrator at Boro Park Center, and has spent many years coordinating local blood drives.

Other honorees included Deputy Chief Charles M. Scholl, Executive Officer of Patrol Borough�Brooklyn South, who received the Public Safety Award for his 38 years of service in the NYPD�where he has held many important roles contributing to the overall reduction of crime in our city,�as well as Investors Bank commemorating five years of service to Boro Park.

Other speakers at the event were Boro Park JCC executive Director Rabbi Yeruchim Silber,�Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Tish James, Acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez,�Congressman Jerry Nadler, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Councilmembers Chaim Deutsch�and Mathieu Eugene.

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, ,�MJHS, Signature Bank, , Boro Park Center, Preferred Home Care, Con Edison, NYU Langone,�and Dime Community Bank. The Boro Park JCC is a proud affiliate of Met Council and UJA-�Federation of New York.

Photo Credit: Hillel Engel