“Grace Meng has been a friend to our community for a very long time. She did not start being our friend on October 7 or October 8 or October 13 when it became a thing to do for some; she was our friend way before,” began Sorolle Idels, chairperson of Queens Jewish Alliance, in her opening remarks this past Monday evening at the Young Israel of Queens Valley at a reception in honor of Congress Member Grace Meng. Idels’s political engagement consortium honored Rep. Meng for standing by Israel and its people since the Hamas atrocities of October 7. “Many of you remember years ago, former President Obama wanted the Nuclear Iran Deal, and Grace Meng said no. She has been a staunch supporter of our community, of our people, and of our country.”