CHJCC Legislative Brunch Honors Community Leaders and Elected Officials

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Tzvi Levenhartz/COLlive

A full crowd gathered Sunday at Anshei Lubavitch Hall in Crown Heights as the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council hosted its annual legislative brunch, honoring elected officials and local activists who work to strengthen the community.

The event brought together a wide range of city leadership and community figures, highlighting ongoing collaboration between government officials and grassroots leaders. Among the speakers were Julie Menin – Speaker of the New York City Council, Tom DiNapoli – New York State Comptroller, Mark Levine – New York City Comptroller, Jessica Tisch – New York City Police Commissioner, Letitia James – NYS Attorney General, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Council Member Crystal Hudson, Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, Chanina Sperlin, longtime activist, and Devorah Halberstam – Honorary NYPD Commissioner of Community Safety and Chair of the Board of Commissioners to Combat Antisemitism. The program was emceed by Sam Stern.

Also in attendance were NYC Council Members Darlene Mealy, Phara Louis, and Lincoln Restler, and NYS Assembly Members Latrice Walker, Simcha Eichenstein, and Kalman Yeger.

Community members and leaders were joined by members of the NYPD, along with many local elected officials, activists, and partners for the event.

Rabbi Yossi Garelik – Rov of Anshei Lubavitch Shul, Rabbi Moshe Pinson – founder of Bais Shmuel Chabad and Mikvah Mei Chaya Mushka, Devorah Benjamin – founder of KSCVK organization and Devorah Scheiner of the Shabbos and Yom Tov fund, were honored for their dedication and impact on the Crown Heights community.

In his remarks, CHJCC Chairman Shmuly Rosenstein reflected on the neighborhood’s transformation and growth over the decades, tracing its roots back more than a century. He described how, despite periods of decline, community members chose to remain and rebuild, ultimately creating the thriving environment seen today in new areas of Crown Heights, which have expanded with Jewish families, showcased by the vibrant Anshei Lubavitch Shul and community center, which hosted the brunch.

“Over the past 15 years, streets that for decades did not have a single Jewish family are now filled with life, with hundreds of families, children walking to school, playing in the streets, building their futures here,” Rosenstein said. “This very building stands at the center of that growth… a symbol of what is possible when a community believes in itself.”

He emphasized the role of CHJCC as a central hub supporting residents in all areas of life, from housing and insurance assistance to food programs and childcare resources. “Whether it’s a young couple trying to build their first home, a senior navigating benefits, or a family facing an unexpected crisis, the council is there,” he said.

Speaker Julie Menin highlighted the challenges facing the Jewish community, particularly the rise in antisemitism, and thanked CHJCC for its partnership during what she called a critical time.

“I’m the first Jewish Speaker of the New York City Council, and I don’t need to tell you what a difficult time this has been for the Jewish community,” she said. “The scourge of antisemitism – we have an epidemic in our city,” she said. “Antisemitic hate crimes are 53% of all hate crimes, yet our Jewish communities are approximately 12% of New York City,” she said.

Menin related that she recently visited a Brooklyn playground which had been vandalized with 73 swastikas. “What kind of city have we become where this is normalized and socialized? It’s totally offensive and unacceptable,” she said.

Menin pointed to a recently passed five-point legislative plan aimed at combating antisemitism and ensuring safety in houses of worship and schools. “It is vitally important that we stand together and that we stand strong in the face of antisemitism,” she said.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch underscored the importance of partnership between law enforcement and the community, especially in the current climate.

“Partnership, especially with Jewish New Yorkers, has never been more important,” she said, referencing the heightened tensions since October 7. “The international and domestic threats aimed at Jewish communities around the world have put us all in a state of ongoing heightened alert. I have not seen a threat environment quite like this in my 18-plus years in government, which started in counter-terrorism,” Tisch said. “The NYPD is relentless in investigating every complaint and confronting hate in any form.”

Tisch noted that while antisemitic incidents spiked following the attacks, recent data shows a decline in both overall hate crimes and anti-Jewish incidents this year. She stressed that vigilance remains critical, calling on the public to speak out and remain engaged.

“Crimes like these tear at the fabric of society,” she said. “We cannot afford to turn away. It is time to stand up and speak out.”

Throughout the program, speakers repeatedly pointed to the strength of Crown Heights as a model of cooperation, crediting organizations like CHJCC for fostering unity and providing essential services.

Rabbi Mendel Marasow, CEO of the CHJCC, emphasized the organization’s mission and the daily realities faced by those who turn to it for help.

“Our work is rooted in values – people have to live in harmony and with dignity,” he said. “People don’t come to the Community Council because they’re happy; they come because they’re desperate – they have nowhere else to go.”

Marasow noted that whether it’s housing, employment, or financial struggles, these are real challenges affecting families every day.

He pointed to mounting pressures within the community, particularly the rising cost of housing and financial strain on families. “For many, the majority of their income goes just to keep a roof over their heads,” he said. “The reality is that people are hurting in our community.”

Another rising issue, he noted, is that many people need jobs in our community. “The reality is, that many people are out of work,” he said. “They’re not working – and they have to live.”

Marasow added that the CHJCC continues to serve as a critical support system for residents navigating complex challenges – from legal assistance to benefits, from job guidance to family support, “we are dealing with real-life situations that require real solutions,” he said.

“The Crown Heights Community Council is not perfect, and it may never be. But the people we serve cannot wait for us to become perfect. They need help today,” he said.

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