New York City Mayor Eric Adams Urges Building Bridges & Fighting Hate in Address to JCRC-NY Assembly
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and JCRC-NY CEO Gideon Taylor
New York, January 31, 2022 – On Monday evening, New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams gave a Leadership Briefing to the JCRC-NY Assembly during the organization’s meeting to elect a new President and Chair.
Click HERE for all press coverage.
At the briefing, Mayor Adams noted, “I am not a new friend, I’m an old friend – I’m on familiar ground whenever I visit JCRC. It’s built in your culture to show respect to all human begins – to make the city a safe place to raise children and families.
On discussing responses to the rise in antisemitism in New York City, the Mayor said, “It breaks my heart – when I look and see the increase in antisemitism in this city and how much people don’t really appreciate the beauty of our diversity and as the Mayor, we want to put in place some real tangible short-term and long-term ways of how to come together as a City. No one understands this better than JCRC. In your interfaith and intercultural activities – you intentionally reach out and ensure that people come together and collaborate – I like to say cross-pollinate our cultures and ideas.”
While commenting on the increase in hate crimes, Mayor Adams said, “We also must be clear on those who participate in hate crimes. We are going to make sure every crime is investigated and as fast as possible, make an apprehension. It is crucial to send the message that hate has no place in our city.” The Mayor continued, “I want to hit reset with my police department. We’re going to build back support for our police. A safe city from gun violence, hate crimes, a safe city from antisemitism.
The Mayor also commented on the necessity to build and strengthen relationships between diverse communities, “Anytime you have a 14 year, 15 year old draw a swastika on a building, that’s a clear indicator that we have failed by not introducing them to the cultures and rich contributions that all of our brothers and sisters of different faiths have contributed to this City, particularly the Jewish community.”
Turning to the subject of school-based anti-hate education, the Mayor noted, “We also want to look into our schools. We have a captive audience, every day with young people. We must be more intentional of having them do class projects communicating together, working in groups and seeing how we can walk through our communities and point out different locales synagogues, dress, attire, what it is to go to a Baptist Church, the Mosque, or just simply learn different foods and flavors and sounds of a community; a classroom cannot only be in the sterilized environment of four walls.”
Finally, Mayor Adams called on JCRC-NY for assistance to achieve his goals for our City: “I need your help and partnership to do so.”
“JCRC-NY is honored to have hosted Mayor Eric Adams in these early days of his taking office. The Mayor has been a longtime friend to JCRC-NY and has been engaged with JCRC-NY throughout his years of service. Many of his priorities mirror those of our organization, most especially in regard to ensuring the safety and welfare of Jewish and non-Jewish New Yorkers and their institutions. It is so appropriate that on the same day that the Mayor addressed JCRC-NY, we launched a new Partners Against The Hate Fellowship, together with the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, dedicated to building bridges across the diversity divide in our City. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the Adams Administration and identifying new initiatives to improve the quality of life for all,” said Gideon Taylor, JCRC-NY Executive Vice President and CEO.
At the Assembly Dr. Bennett W. Golub and Dr. Cheryl Fishbein were elected as JCRC-NY President and Chair respectively. Click HERE for announcement.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. JCRC-NY builds relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.
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JCRC-NY Elects Dr. Bennett W. Golub President and Dr. Cheryl Fishbein Chair
January 31, 2022 – Dr. Bennett W. Golub and Dr. Cheryl Fishbein were elected as President and Chair, respectively, of the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY (JCRC-NY).
Dr. Bennett W. Golub will assume the role of President of JCRC-NY on July 1st and will serve as President-elect until that date. Much like his predecessor, Ben has shown dedication to the Jewish community over the span of his career and has been involved with JCRC-NY for over a decade. His contributions to the organization have been vital to JCRC-NY’s success, leading him to become a recipient of the JCRC-NY Continuing Legacy Award in 2010. The following year, Ben was elected to the Board of Directors and currently serves as an Observer on our Executive Committee.
Professionally, Ben is the founder of BlackRock, Inc., a member of its Global Executive Committee and co-head of its Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group. He has served as BlackRock’s Chief Risk Officer since 2009. Since the company’s inception in 1988, Ben has organized and led BlackRock’s UJA-Federation campaign. He also serves on the Investment Committee of the Claims Conference and co-authored “Kaddishel – A Life Reborn” with his father, Aharon, z’l, which details Aharon’s experiences during the Holocaust and his subsequent immigration to British Mandate Palestine in 1946.
In his personal life, Ben has been married to Cindy Golub for almost 35 years and is the proud father of Alexandra, Phillip and Jill Golub and grandfather of Tara Golub.
JCRC-NY is extremely confident in the election of Dr. Bennet Golub as President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
Dr. Cheryl Fishbein is the current President of JCRC-NY and will assume the role of Chair on July 1st. Cheryl has a history of exemplary leadership to the Jewish community including serving as the Past Chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and has served on the Executive Council of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. She is currently active in-UJA Federation New York, serves on its Presidents’ Advisory Board, and is past chair of the Caring Department, the Missions Committee and the Trauma Task Force. Additional Jewish nonprofits that have benefited from Cheryl’s board service include: the Jewish Agency for Israel, the JCC Association, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Funders Network, JCC of Krakow, the Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, and many more.
Outside of Jewish communal life, Cheryl is a clinical psychologist and attorney with her own private practice, as well as a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.
JCRC-NY builds relationships within the Jewish community and with New Yorkers of all backgrounds and faiths to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.
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Community Security Statement on Situation in Texas
Statement to the Community on the Hostage Situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas
No one should ever be afraid to assemble in their place of worship. We stand with our brothers and sisters in the Texas Jewish community as this frightening situation continues to unfold, and we pray for a swift and safe resolution. We also thank NYPD, FBI, and law enforcement throughout the state for monitoring the situation and ensuring that our synagogues and communal institutions are protected. We are grateful to our many partners in the interfaith community and elected officials – including Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams – who have conveyed their thoughts and prayers.
The following are updates from our Community Security Initiative – a joint program of JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation of New York:
1/15/22: 11:18 PM: Texas Governor Abbott has announced all hostages are alive and safe! CSI has been in direct contact with NYPD, FBI, and the Department of Justice, and there is no reason to believe that there is any local threat to synagogues here in New York. Nevertheless, we expect a heavier NYPD presence at Jewish locations around the city overnight.
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1/15/22, 6:00 PM: Colleyville Police have said that one of the hostages was released unharmed. He did not require medical attention and will be reunited with his family as soon as possible. FBI Crisis Negotiators continue contact with the subject and investigators believe three hostages are still being held inside the synagogue.
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1/15/22, 5:40 PM: CSI was made aware early this afternoon of a dynamic hostage situation involving a synagogue in Colleyville, TX, that occurred during morning Shabbat services.
https://www.star-telegram.com/
It is our understanding that there are currently as many as four individuals being held by the hostage taker who is supposedly demanding the release of an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist, Aafia Siddiqui, currently in prison in the U.S.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/
CSI is closely monitoring the situation and is directly in contact with the NYPD and FBI. There is a New York area link to the situation that is currently under investigation; however, we have no reason to believe that there is any clear and present danger to the greater New York area. CSI will continue to update as the situation evolves.