Congresswoman’s Adviser Visits Brooklyn Communities

By COLlive reporter

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s Legislative Director and her Community Liaison Eli Slavin met with dozens of Jewish community leaders and constituents in Crown Heights and New York, last week.

Clarke’s district includes Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Park Slope. “She has been a proud champion for the Jewish community, as well as the U.S-Israel relationship, in Congress since 2007,” Slavin said.

At the national headquarters of Agudath Israel in Manhattan, high-level conversations occurred with Executive Vice President Rabbi Dovid Zwiebel, and Rabbi Yeruchem Silber, Director of NYC Government Relations.

The talks covered issues regarding the Congresswoman’s longstanding support for religious freedom and ensuring yeshivas receive the support they need, COLlive.com was told.

Given Rep. Clarke’s senior position on the Homeland Security Committee, she has also championed nonprofit security grants which allow synagogues and shuls to receive federal funding to defend against attacks. Rabbi Zweibel introduced the many initiatives that Agudath Yisroel was active in all around the globe.

In Crown Heights, they first visited the Jewish Children Museum and its co-founder, Devorah Halberstam and Mica Soffer, Publisher and Editor of community news service COLlive.com. Both residents expressed the community’s concerns about the continued violent attacks on Jews in the neighborhood.

Congresswoman Clarke sent her personal congratulations to Mrs. Halberstam on her being newly appointed by the state of New York as Commissioner on Human Rights. The congresswoman also commended her on her tireless work with Law Enforcement on behalf of the community.

The liaison and Slavin then continued to Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway where dozens of constituents had the opportunity to share their thoughts, and to learn more about the Congresswoman’s work in Washington, D.C. to combat BDS and support Israel’s security.

After consultations with Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, Executive VP for Intergovernmental affairs for the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, he put on tefillin and prayed. He also met with the Rebbe’s personal secretary Rabbi Leibel Groner and Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, members of the Crown Heights Beth Din.

In the meeting with Shua Rubinstein of the Marine Park Jewish Community Council, again the concerns of the community were expressed, and Rubinstein introduced all the programs of his active organization. Also present was Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, head of Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs (CHYE) organization.

In a meeting with Rabbi Avraham Gopin, a victim of a recent anti-Semitic attack, he extended the Congresswoman’s wishes for a full recovery and condolences on the recent passing of Rabbi Gopin’s father.

“The congresswoman’s commitment to combatting hatred, intolerance, and anti-Semitism was related to Rabbi Gopin,” Slavin said. Congresswoman Clarke also released a statement condemning the attack on Rabbi Gopin.

This senior staff visit comes shortly after Congresswoman Clarke held a roundtable with community leaders such as Rabbi Eli Cohen, Rabbi Chanina Sperlin of the CHJCC, Leon Goldenberg, and Josh Mehlman of Flatbush FJCC.