Bronx Jewish Community Council '6th Annual 'Breakfast for Champions'

  It was the Bronx Jewish Community Council's 6th Annual 'Breakfast for Champions that was held at the Riverdale Jewish center this morning. The Champions being honored at this Breakfast of Champions were those who have given of themselves to help others who are in need or need help. The many honorees and volunteers who are a part of the Bronx Jewish Community Council do so without thanks, but this was one way to say thank you to those who were being honored. On hand were NYC Public Advocate Leticia James. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senators Jeff Klein and Ruben Diaz Sr., Assembly members Jeff Dinowitz, Mark Gjonaj, and Luis Sepulveda, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, Councilman Andrew Cohen, and several Judges from the various courts. 

   The Executive Director of the BJCC Mr. Brad Silver gave the opening remarks, and then turned the event over to Mr. Mark Engel the Master of Ceremonies. The nathional anthems of both the United states and the State of Israel were sung by Mr. Shelly Fine. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was the Keynote speaker, and the photos below will tell the rest of the story.

Above - A large number of elected officials were on hand including BP Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, who were joined by Public Advocate Leticia James, State Senator Jeff Klein, and Bronx DA Robert Johnson.

Above - Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lenny Caro received the Bronx Business Leader Award from Public Advocate Leticia James, with BCC Executive Director Michelle Dolgow Cristofaro holding the award.

Below - State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. gives the Bronx Realty Leader Award to Eliezer Rodriguez.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Ms.Niti Minkove present the Leaders of Tomorrow Award to S.A.R. Academy students Donna.and Yael of Project Hope.

Below - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Ms. Arlene Salman present the the Guardian of Cheses Award to Mr. Andrew Golub.

Above - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. and former Assemblyman Steve Kauffman Present the Public Service Award to Ms. Marlene Cintron President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

Below Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj presents the Lorance Hockert Labor of Love Award to Ms. Judy Uman.

Above - Even after foot surgery that has Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson walking with crutches, he said that he did not want to miss today's breakfast to show his support for the BJCC.

Below - Rabbi Israel Greenberg thanks those who came and introduces Judge Barry Salman.

Above - Judge Salman give his wife Arlene an award for her many years of service to the BJCC.

Below - A group photo of the Honorees, elected officials, and other members of BJCC.

SCRIE/DRIE/EPIC TOWN HALLS

BP DIAZ & BRONX JEWISH HISTORICAL INITIATIVE LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE & HALL OF FAME

  On Tuesday, June 2, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Jewish Historical Initiative co-hosted an event launching the initiative’s new website and celebrating the induction of the inaugural class of the “Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame.”

Inductees included former Bronx Borough President and New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, activist and author Blu Greenberg, comedian and author Robert Klein, author Cynthia Ozick and Daniel Reingold, President and CEO of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health. The event’s emcee was Mike Woods of FOX 5’s “Good Day New York.” The event was sponsored in part by the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health, MacQuesten Development and Riverside Memorial Chapel.

“The Jewish community has a long and proud history in The Bronx, and we would not be where we are today without their significant contributions,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This new website will help document the stories of our borough’s Jewish experience for future generations, and the ‘Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame’ will help us honor some of the legends from this community who have made an impact not only in The Bronx, but across the world.”

Tomorrow Night: Town Hall for Immigrant Businesses

Dear Friend, Tomorrow night I will be hosting a town hall for immigrant businesses in the Bronx.  It will take place at PS36 Unionport, located at 1070 Castle Hill Avenue from 6:30pm-8:00pm.   Please see the flyer below for more details. I hope to see you there. Your Assemblyman, Luis R. Sepúlveda

Celebrate National Running Day at St Mary's Park with a Free 5K Run TOMORROW Wednesday June 3, 2015 - 6PM

Just Who Else is in the Sights of the U.S. Attorney

  According to The Daily News Blog Daily Politics there are four major political insiders that are (as the blog states) in the Feds Crosshairs. 

  1 - Anthony Bonomo, who is mentioned as having friends on both sides of the isle in Albany, including the governor who recently named Bonomo the new chair of NYRA. 

 2 - Steve Pigeon, a familiar name to many is again under investigation according to the News blog.

 3 - Charles Dorego, of Glenwood Management is reported to be cooperating with federal agents.

 4 - Brian Meara, a so called influential lobbyist with ties to the former Assembly Speaker.

The Daily News ends the story with a quote that if anybody knows about the governor, his office, or anyone else in Albany the four do. Read the entire Daily News Blog article at the highlighted link at the top.

Senator Klein Celebrate Israel in the Bronx Part Two - Pelham Parkway

     As part t of Jewish Heritage Month, on Sunday State Senator Jeff Klein held his First Annual 'Celebrate Israel in the Bronx' event. This event occur ed in two parts with part Two being held at The Bronx House to honor three very special Pelham Parkway residents. Jewish American Heritage Month is a national month of recognition of the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society and culture. 

Senator Klein honored important leaders in the community who are making a difference. Senator Klein repeated the story about his grandmother from part one of this two part celebration of Israel in the Bronx, because it is very special to Senator Klein who wanted the people here to hear the story also. The three honorees at Bronx House were 

• Edith Blitzer was born in the South Bronx and grew up on East Tremont Avenue. Ms. Blitzer has served as President of P.S. 100’s PTA, President of the Beth Jacob/Beth Miriam Yeshiva and as Chair of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association. Most recently, Ms. Blitzer was appointed to serve on Community Board #11 by Councilman James Vacca.
• Andrea Seigel is a founding member of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and currently serves as Vice President. Additionally, Ms. Seigel is a member of Community Board #11, the Liberty Democratic Association, the Age-Friendly Neighborhood Initiative Advisory Committee and Bronx Women United. Ms. Seigel resides in the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx where she also serves as an 80th Assembly District Leader.
• Barbara Davis Gelnick is the Board Chair of the Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway and sits on the board of the Bronx Jewish Council Home Attendant Services. In 2008, Ms. Davis Gelnick won the Tom Twyman Citizen of the Year Award for her work on the Jewish Community Council at the 49th precinct community breakfast.

Israeli music was provided by the rest of the group Metropolitan Klezmere (from the part one event).. A special guest (and good friend of Senator Klein) Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda arrived after marching in the Puerto Rican Day Parade to announce that his roots go back to his Great grandmother who was Jewish.

Above - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda tells all that his roots are not just Puerto Rican, but go back to his Great grandmother who was Jewish.

Below - Howard Martin CEo of Bronx House welcomed everyone, and introduces Senator Klein. 

Above - Community Activist Edith Blitzer was first to be honored by Senator Klein.

Below - Andrea Siegel stands with Senator Klein as she holds her proclamation given to her by Senator Klein.

Above - Barbara Gelnick thanks senator Klein who holds her Proclamation.

Below - The three honorees with Senator Klein and Rabbi Ben Newman of the Young Israel of Pelham Parkway. 

The Bronx House was packed as you can see for Senator Klein's 1st Annual Celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

Senator Klein Celebrate Israel in the Bronx Part One - Riverdale

   As part t of Jewish Heritage Month, on Sunday State Senator Jeff Klein held his First Annual 'Celebrate Israel in the Bronx' event. This event occur ed in two parts with part one being held at the Riverdale Y to honor three very special Riverdalians. Jewish American Heritage Month is a national month of recognition of the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society and culture. 

Senator Klein honored important leaders in the community who are making a difference. The three honorees in Riverdale were. 

• Charles Moerdler, a partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, has been an active public servant for years. For more than a decade, he has held an array of high-level positions serving the state of New York including as a member of the New York City Housing Development Corp., the New York City Board of Collective Bargaining, and most recently, as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Character and Fitness of Applicants to the Bar of the State of New York. Mr. Moerdler is also a trustee of St. Barnabas Hospital, member of the advisory board to the School of International Affairs at Columbia University and Chair of Bronx Community Board #8’s Land Use Committee.

• Mark Friedlander, who retired last week, served as a justice for The Bronx County Supreme Court for more than a decade. Previously, Mr. Friedlander was commissioner and president of the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal and as a Captain Judge for the United States Air Force. Mark’s civic activities have included his service as President of the Riverdale Jewish Community Council, Chairman of Bronx Community Board #8, Vice President of Young Israel of Riverdale and more. 
• Farrah Rubin grew up in Riverdale and attended Riverdale Country Day School. Ms. Rubin currently serves as Development Director for the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation and as parents’ association co-president at P.S. 24. In 2012, Ms. Rubin lead the effort to provide teaching assistants in every kindergarten classroom and has also implemented the school’s first sustainable recycling program.

   
    Senator Klein told the story of his grand parents and how they met. He also mentioned that as a little boy he asked his grandmother why she had no other relatives. It was later on in life that he would learn the reason why, that being because of the Holocaust where the entire town and all its people (with some exceptions such as his grandmother who had left one year before the Holocaust) who were exterminated by Nazi Germany. 

Above - The proclamation each honoree was given by Senator Klein.

Below - Three members of Metropolitan Kiezmer who provided live Israeli music.

Above - Senator Klein tells of the story he had asked of his grandmother one Passover Seder night as a young boy. Klein also spoke of his trip to Israel, and of seeing the 'Terror Tunnels' that were used to kidnap and kill innocent Israeli citizens.

Below - Charles Moerdler holds up his proclamation with Senator Klein.

Above -  Mr. Moerdler has only kind words for Senator Klein, calling Klein one of the hardest working, most honest elected officials

Below - Former Judge Mark Friedlander shakes hands with Senator Klein, also thanking the senator for the proclamation given to him.

Outgoing PS 24 P.A. President Farah Rubin listens as Senator Klein tells of her hard work at PS 24 on behalf of all the children who attend the school.

All who attended were treated to a buffet of Glatt Kosher sandwiches, sides, soda, cookies, and Kosher pickles.