On Sunday, May 18, Met Council on Jewish Poverty held its annual Legislative Breakfast at Manhattan’s Cipriani 42nd Street. The breakfast, sponsored by the James S. and Merryl H. Tisch Foundation, highlights the Met Council’s services to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers every year. Their network includes food pantries, social services and affordable-housing sites, and are affiliated with all five boroughs’ Jewish Community Councils.
David Greenfield, Met Council CEO began: “This past Friday, many in the Jewish community celebrated Lag B’Omer, a unique Jewish holiday marked by bonfires. While this tradition might seem unusual, it carries a very powerful message: the importance of shining a light into the world. Lag B’Omer commemorates the day that the great sage Rabbi Akiva’s students stopped dying from a devastating plague nearly 2,000 years ago. … Rabbi Akiva tragically lost 24,000 students because they failed to show respect to one another. Rabbi Akiva is renowned for elevating Judaism beyond the golden rule of treating others as you like to be treated, to an even higher standard, which is to love your neighbor as yourself.
“Rabbi Akiva’s profound lesson from the students’ tragic deaths is that it’s not enough to treat others well. We must genuinely love our fellow human beings. That’s exactly what we strive for at Met Council. When you truly love somebody, you ensure they have safe and dignified housing. When you love someone, you provide them with healthy and nourishing food. When you love someone, you support survivors of domestic violence. When you love someone, you stand with seniors so they’re never alone. When you love someone, you show up in their moments of crisis. This is our mission, our purpose and why we’re proud to be the largest Jewish charity fighting poverty, not only serving our own community, but we, at the Met Council, serve more Latinos, African Americans and Muslims than any other Jewish charity in America.”
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams expressed: “Organizations like the Met Council bring our communities together by serving all New Yorkers in need, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. In its fight against poverty, Met Council serves more than 300,000 people annually throughout our city, never turning their backs on someone seeking help.”
New York’s Deputy Consul-General of Israel Tsach Saar noted: “Met Council won’t leave anyone behind. Whether it’s food, housing or a place in a moment of crisis, Met Council shows up, assisting people of different religions, backgrounds and color with dignity and compassion. As an Israeli representative, I want to thank Met Council not only for helping so many here in New York, but for standing with us, with Israel and the Jewish people during these incredibly difficult times. Since October 7, we’ve experienced horrific pain, but also extraordinary solidarity with Israel and with Israelis. You helped keep the hostages, our hostages, on the public agenda. You reminded this city and this country that behind every headline there are real families still waiting.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James stated, “I’m here today because Met Council serves the needs of individuals who unfortunately are living under the weight of poverty… there are a significant number of individuals who unfortunately go to sleep each night in our city and our state without any food. This wonderful organization provides them with food, regardless of their religious affiliation, race, or ethnicity. …
“It’s also an honor and a privilege to stand with this organization as we see an increase in antisemitism,” she added. “As an African American woman, the Jewish community stood with us. It’s my responsibility to stand with the Jewish community, particularly in good and in bad times. It’s important that we march and celebrate 77 years of Israel, that we talk about antisemitism, and that we stand shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm against hate in New York State. Let’s march down Fifth Avenue. Let’s stand together. … Let’s celebrate Israel.”
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said: “We’re in a very challenging time for Jewish people in America, for Jewish people in Israel, in New York and around the world. One of the things we all pray for is the release of all of the rest of the hostages. We were all overjoyed when Edan Alexander came back. We have to keep fighting until the hostages are released. The hostage families are the heroes. They embody the best in our Jewish faith and our Jewish tradition. We love them, we fight for them, and we continue working for them.
“Met Council has done a fabulous job feeding the hungry. We don’t want any Jewish children or any children to go hungry. These are tough times…”
Met Council also honored Weil, Gotshal & Manges attorneys Yehuda Buchweitz of Westchester, Shai Berman of Bergen County and Pejman Razavilar. Buchweitz said: “It’s always a pleasure for us to work with Met Council. Doing pro bono work is one of the essential things for the firm, and has always been since our founding almost 100 years ago.”
Following the breakfast, most speakers and attendees headed to Israel Day on 5th to show their support for Israel.
