***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Contact: Tzipporah Shapiro, JCRC-NY

NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, NYC Council Jewish Caucus Host Model Seder Event for Holocaust Survivors

(New York – NY) April 16, 2024 - On Monday, April 15th, dozens of Holocaust Survivors gathered in lower Manhattan to celebrate the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover at a model seder event held by New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Council’s Jewish Caucus. Council Members in attendance were Speaker Adrienne Adams, Jewish Caucus Chairman Eric Dinowitz, Erik Bottcher, Gale Brewer, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Menin, Lincoln Restler, Lynn Schulman, and Inna Vernikov.

Organized in partnership with the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), the event was the first of its kind held by the City Council. In the spirit of celebration and unity, Holocaust Survivors sat alongside City leaders to partake in the retelling of the Passover story, as well as sharing their own stories of endurance and survival.

The seder was led by Rabbi Eli Marcus, a musician and singer who infused the event with energy and song, leading the crowd of over 100 participants in traditional Passover songs.

Community leaders in attendance included JCCGCI Executive Director Rabbi Moshe Wiener; JCRC-NY Chief Executive Officer Mark Treyger, Met Council Executive Director David Greenfield; Vice President of Government Relations at UJA Federation of New York Daniel Rosenthal; Rabbi Joe Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis; and Ben Golub, President of the Board of Directors at JCRC-NY.

"It was an honor to participate in today's model seder alongside my colleagues of the Council's Jewish Caucus, community partners, and Holocaust survivors, whom we cherish and continue to learn from,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Passover provides the opportunity to reflect on the past, as well as to pass on history and its lessons to future generations. We must equip our children to build a brighter and more just future, and the Council remains committed to uplifting our Jewish communities."

“Today was a historic day in our city’s proud history. Today, we saw members of the NYC Council, Holocaust survivors, and the proactive organizations of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) and the Jewish Community Relations of New York (JCRC-NY) come together to create our first-ever model Passover Seder. In one room, we spanned generations of love, and earned wisdom, trauma, and resilience. In one room we encompassed different backgrounds and beliefs to celebrate as one community. I am so grateful for the solidarity shown for the Jewish community today and the reverence shown for our Holocaust survivors and the Jewish people.” – Chair Eric Dinowitz, NYC Council Jewish Caucus

"JCCGCI is proud to have co-hosted this model seder event, offering Holocaust Survivors the opportunity to welcome the Passover holiday alongside city leaders. We are deeply grateful to NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, NYC Council Jewish Caucus Chairman Eric Dinowitz, JCRC CEO Mark Treyger, and all of our partners for working together with us to create a beautiful event. As we reflect upon the themes of Passover, we recommit ourselves to the retelling of Jewish stories of survival and endurance.”- Rabbi Moshe Wiener, Executive Director of Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island

“As the grandson of Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans, and now as CEO of JCRC-NY, it was a deeply personal honor for me to help convene a seder gathering with Holocaust survivors, NYC Council Members, including Speaker Adrienne Adams, Jewish Caucus Chair Eric Dinowitz, and other distinguished elected officials, community partners such as UJA-Federation of NY, JCCGCI, Claims Conference, Met Council, and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, celebrating our shared history and enjoying a seder experience that celebrates Jewish identity while bringing diverse communities together.” - Mark Treyger, CEO JCRC-NY

Photos of the event can be accessed at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBmwvU and credited to the New York City Council

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