By COLlive reporter
Photos, Video: Itzik Roytman
The NYPD Shomrim Society, the official organization of Jewish members of the NYPD, held their annual memorial service and award breakfast on Sunday in New York City.
Activist, NYPD liaison and counter-terrorism expert Devorah Halberstam received the 2018 Person of the Year Award from Dr. Alvin Kass, chief chaplain of the New York City Police Department.
The event, which was attended by members of the NYPD, and supporters and members of the NYPD Shomrim Society, was especially poignant, coming only a day after the horrific anti-Semitic shooting at a congregation in Pittsburgh.
Rabbi Kass, who introduced Halberstam, praised her efforts as a “great leader” who has helped not only the Jewish community, but the greater community.
In the years since the murder of her son Ari Halberstam by a terrorist in 1994, Halberstam has become an authority on terrorism and counter terrorism, Kass said, and her work has come to symbolize a “good world of peace.”
“Ari was taken from us for the same reason the 11 Jews in Pittsburgh died. He was chosen because he was a Jew,” Rabbi Kass said. “Somehow, by some miracle and tremendous inner strength, you turned the worst adversity into an infinite blessing for mankind.”
Halberstam’s emotional speech left many in tears, as she spoke about the devastation of yesterday’s horrific attack.
“I cannot be silent, because I know the face of death,” Halberstam said. “It is true that my son’s murderer is in jail, but only a mother, whose child is part of her flesh and blood, can understand that day one and twenty five years later, will always be the same.”
Halberstam said that when her son was murdered, she had two missions: to get justice for her child, and to “sound the alarm in America that terrorism is here, and that we are all fair game.”
In the wake of the horrific attack in Pittsburgh, Halberstam said, “You will never silence us, we will stand strong, united, as one people with one heart, in the greatest country in the world.”
“Am Yisrael Chai,” Halberstam declared. “The Jewish people will live on.”
Video:
so proud of Devorah Halbershtam
kidush Hashem!!
Well deserved honor. Moving touching and excellent speeches
Am Yisrael Chai!
May we all find healing
Thank you Devorah for all you do. May hashem comfort you for your loss and give you the strength to be there for others.
Devorah Halberstam has taken the teaching of The Rebbe out to the wider world with the grace (chen) of a great Chassida. May she continue to help CH, klal Yisroel and everyone else find the answer to the troubles in the world. The Shluchot should see this and be inspired
What a kiddush Hashem.
Very well said and deserving Introduction.
We in crown heights are so fortunate to have Devorah Halberstam represent us locally and globally!!!
Devorah your building, the JCM, your leadership, your vision, personal strength and Jewish pride are a force we can not Thank you enough for.
You dedicate your life for the needs of Klal Yisroel – and do it so well!!
Devorah you delivered an amazing speech, and as the Biblical Prophetess Devorah, you take a lead where others do not tread.