In a departure from Met Council’s traditional annual legislative breakfast the morning of the parade, this year began with the harrowing personal account of Michal Ohana, a survivor of the Nova Massacre. Michal spoke in tears about the day she was shot and left for dead to a sold-out audience of over 400 leaders, including 75 elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels.
“Met Council’s mission each day is tzedakah. The word “tzedakah” is rooted in the Hebrew word “justice.” Beyond the work that we do to fight poverty, domestic violence, and elder abuse, we must also lift the voices of our sisters and brothers who were attacked and are still being held hostage in Gaza,” explained Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield. “Ever since October 7, the Jewish community has felt the injustices caused by Hamas’s attack and the ensuing wave of antisemitism across the world and here at home, that’s why we must advocate for ourselves.”
“On a recent trip to Israel, I had the opportunity to meet Michal, a remarkable young woman who lived through the atrocity committed by Hamas on Oct. 7. Michal is a nurse with a bright future who put her life on hold to ensure that Hamas’s atrocities were never forgotten so that her ten friends would not have died in vain. Today, she’s here in New York, addressing our state’s leaders from Albany, our representatives in Washington, and City officials from across all five boroughs, to ensure that we not only understand the scope of Hamas’s terror but to ensure that we stand up in the face of hate and of October 7 denial,” he added.
Michal’s moving address was preceded and followed by footage she recorded on her phone at the Nova music festival, first of the peaceful celebration and followed by the realization of the Hamas attack and ultimately her hiding from terrorists who eventually found, shot her, and left her for dead until she was discovered more than eight hours later by the Israeli Defense Forces. She spoke of her friends, many of whom were murdered during the attack and two who were kidnapped back to Gaza, and who remain hostages there to this day nearly eight months later. Her heartfelt story brought tears not only to her own eyes but to the eyes of many of the attendees who later mentioned her moving testimony during their own comments throughout the event, joining with her in her closing call to bring those held hostage home.
“I’ve been to festivals before, and until 6:30 a.m., the Nova festival was one of the greatest,” said Ohana. “First at 6:30 the rocket alerts began. Approximately 90 minutes later, Hamas terrorists had arrived and were shooting at all of us. I ran, ran like I never did before, and over bodies that included some of my friends. I hid until Hamas found me and shot me. I thought I was going to die. On this one day, I lost 10 of my friends and two more were kidnapped to Gaza where they still remain today. We must bring them home, not tomorrow, but today!” Seeing a chance for New York Governor Kathy Hochul to hear from Ohana firsthand in the moments before marching down Fifth Avenue, QJL Senior Consultant Shabsie Saphirstein worked with Jake Adler, Jewish Liaison to the Governor, and ensured the two shared an embrace.
“My message is very simple. As the home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel anywhere, when the people of Israel are hurting, the people of New York are hurting,” said Governor Hochul in her remarks. “That is the sentiment we feel right now. We are here today, and to me that’s what this parade is all about, to stand with the hostages, and their families and to make sure they are reunited once and for all.”
Hochul was the first elected official to travel to the border by Gaza and gave an eyewitness account that those who were murdered by Hamas terrorists were making efforts “to have connections with the people just across that border, yet they were the ones whose blood was on the walls when I entered. And the horrible things that happened to women, how are we not as a nation calling that out every single day; that day was inhumane.” The governor urged all to use the solidarity of that mission today as her colleagues work to criminalize hate crimes and establish a desperately needed reeducation on the Holocaust.
Partnering With UJA
At the event Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, revealed a project with Met Council to provide an array of social services under one 14,000-square-foot roof at the cost of $12 million. Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY, thanked Met Council’s Greenfield for coming to his aide when he served as Coney Island’s Council Member. “Towards the tail end of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the government had a difficult time setting up meal deliveries for seniors. Many senior centers were forced to close temporarily because it was not safe enough to operate in person. Having represented one of the highest concentrations of public housing senior housing, including nursing homes in southern Brooklyn, who was the first to reach out to offer help to seniors and to helping communities during their moments of need, it was David Greenfield and the incredible team at Met Council. Trucks and trucks of boxes of food and meals for seniors and high need families during their moments of need.”
Rep. Grace Meng, who earmarked $3 million to Met Council over the last two years, explained how the group serves over 325,000 people via their weekly food pantry network, support for affordable housing, assistance of domestic violence victims, help for Holocaust survivors and seniors. More than 2,540 Holocaust survivors are serviced by Met Council. “There are people in my district who may not even know how to speak English, but they know the words Met Council,” she said, adding, “I’ve been dreaming of starting a diaper bank in Queens for many, many years, but it took Met Council and their team to make that happen.” Meng also spoke of Greenfield’s multiple annual visits to Washington DC, where he urges for an increased access to kosher and halal food via the Department of Agriculture. Meng concluded with remarks to the families of hostages, many of whom she has met on their trips to Washington, and discussed revelations where elected officials who have supported Israel have dealt with pro-ceasefire protestors at their homes, offices, and on the streets.
Meng presented Rep. Tom Suozzi the Community Bridge Builder Award. Following the program, Suozzi was joined by Reps. Ritchie Torres and Dan Goldman for a presser with the families of IDF soldier Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. “The American people and New Yorkers need to recognize that Americans are held hostage right now by Hamas.” Suozzi made note of Omer’s parents’ strength “to not only stand up for their son, but for all the hostages.” Eight Americans were taken hostage on 10/7; five are reportedly alive.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James spoke of shared history, referencing the silent march of African American pain and struggle that is engrained in American history. “Today I march as an ally of the Jewish community because of the same pain and struggle, the same devastation, the same death, and for all that they have been subjected to.”
As US Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced funding of one million dollars from Washington to help “build a beautiful warehouse,” Greenfield was forced to quiet the room that jeered the senator, opposing his recent demand for the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I appreciate that we have a diverse group… but there are few people that work harder for the community than Senator Schumer.” In Hebrew, the senator joked about there being decorum, which the dignitary received for the remainder of his remarks. “We’re gathering at one of the most challenging times for the Jewish people in America and in all of history,” said Schumer. “My heart breaks for the hostages. I met with them on October 10, three days after the attack and carnage in Gaza. The leaders of Hamas do not care one iota about the Palestinians; they’d rather use them as human shields. Until Hamas is defeated, we cannot have peace in our approach to this conflict.” He then offered four ambitious targets: “The threat of Hamas must be radically reduced. Hamas cannot have any role in the future Gaza if we’re to have peace. As long as Hamas exists, there will never be a two-state solution. Second, we have to bring the hostages back home. Third, Israel should do everything possible to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties.” Schumer had no remorse for international groups turning on Israel. “Of course, Israel has a fundamental right to defend itself. What the ICC and other international organizations have done to Israel is despicable. They’ve always been viciously against Israel. There’s nothing new about that. Fourth, we have to supply humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza who are being used by Hamas as mere shields.” Schumer ended by taking credit for Congressional support to Israel’s military, for creating the initial nonprofit security grant program, and for being first to speak out against rising anti-Semitism to his colleagues on the Senate floor. “Together, we will persist, persist, persist till there’s peace in a safe Israel and anti-Semitism is vanquished here in America.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards proudly named borough-based organizations with whom he continuously partners. The QJCC was represented by Hon. Barry Grodenchik, President, and Rabbi Mayer Waxman, Executive Director. District Leader Shimi Pelman, President of Tomchei Shabbos of Queens, was in attendance; Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, Executive Director at Project Lead; Hon. Daniel Rosenthal and David Aronov of the UJA-Fed. NY, Pesach Osina of NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ office, Shimon Sebag for Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Community Advisor Alan Sherman; Rabbi Shomo Nisanov of Kehilat Sephardim Food Pantry; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik of the Igud HaRabbonim; Israel Peskowitz, Director of Governmental Affairs at Chazaq Organization, Shalom Zirkiev, an Executive Board Member, and Victoria Zirkiev, President of their women’s division joined along with the new food pantry coordinator, Will, who appeared with his wife to truly get a feel of the massive force that is Met Council, a partner in Chazaq’s work in Queens; and radio hosts Zev Brenner and Nochum Segal joined.
Richards praised the JCCRP in the Rockaway Peninsula where he worked to secure a $2 million capital grant for the construction of a daycare. Richards made it a point to showcase an upcoming Holocaust memorial in partnership with QJCC that is set to sit outside of Borough Hall. “We will never, ever forget what happened in the Holocaust and we will dance again.” Richards then turned to Michal and exclaimed, “Michal, you will dance again!”
Richards presented NYC Council Member Linda Lee of the Holliswood region the Champion of Seniors Award for her unwavering efforts. As the founder of Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Lee knows firsthand the importance of ensuring that our nonprofits get full support. Lee retains widespread support of colleagues as the co-leader of the Queens Council Delegation. Lee, like the other awardees, was honored with the Bread of Life, a coveted award in the New York political sphere.
Lee focused her remarks to Michal and expressed profound thanks for being brave in sharing her harrowing tale and continued by keeping the focus on the families of hostages for whom we all shed tears, adding, “We stand with our Jewish communities here in New York City, especially because when we were facing hate crimes in the Asian community, you guys were the first to stand by us.”
Referencing the families of hostages, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz observed, “I can’t even pretend to understand the pain and the torture that they go through every day. I am very proud about our support to the State of Israel and proud to say the world needs to see [this unity of strength].” Katz spoke of her outrage at Hamas’ heinous acts and recalled how she was forceful in urging worldwide women’s rights groups to speak out about October 7 when outrage failed to materialize. “I am 30 years in elected office, so I’m a little nostalgic. I march today for my uncle, who fought in the War of Independence, who made sure that in my household dinners included conversations about the importance of the State of Israel, about anti-Semitism, and the fact that our families stood with Israel in the War of Independence and still stand with them today. As far as I can tell, I am the only Jewish District Attorney in the state of New York. I wear that as a badge of honor.”
Katz welcomed Far Rockaway Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato to accept the Fighting Hate and Discrimination Award. The lawmaker is part of the first mother-daughter team in the Assembly. Audrey Pheffer, the outspoken Queens County Clerk of the Courts, is a champion of families, responders, and veterans, and chairs the Government Employee’s Committee.
“There is no hate in this state. It is the most ridiculous thing not to accept people for who they are,” stated the Assemblymember, expressing her pride in being Jewish.
The distinguished crowd at this year’s event included New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Congress Members Yvette Clarke; Jerrold Nadler; and Dan Goldman. As in prior years, the event saw a significant showing from New York’s state and city elected officials from all five boroughs.
Met Council is America’s largest tzedakah fighting poverty. In the past year, Met Council served over 325,000 people in need through a wide array of services including affordable housing, free food, crisis intervention, combating domestic violence, and assisting over 2,000 underprivileged Holocaust survivors.
