The evening, organized in the wake of ongoing acts of terror in Israel, kicked off with a parade of representatives marching into the sanctuary carrying banners from 41 synagogues and organizations to display their unity with Israel.
Following the parade, the audience heard remarks from local elected officials Kevin Plunkett, deputy county executive, state Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, interreligious community leaders Bishop Martin Nelson of Bezer Holiness Church and Father Brian McWeeney, director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs at the Catholic Archdioceses of New York, and the Hon. Nick Minchin, Australian consul general.
“It is essential for the Jewish community to remain engaged with Israel. Tonight’s event sent a clear message to our elected officials, the Israeli people, and our children that Israel does matter and that the Westchester Jewish community does care”, said Paul Warhit, president of the Westchester Jewish Council.
“The ongoing news reports from Israel have left me — no doubt, all of us — feeling many things: frightened, sad, heartsick. We may feel despair or bitterness. But one thing an event like tonight’s confirms is that we are not powerless…and we are not alone. We stand together, united in our support,” said Michael Foreman of Rye Brook, who chairs UJA-Federation’s Jewish Peoplehood in New York Committee.
For more information on The Westchester Jewish Council, visit wjcouncil.org, or call 914-328-7001.
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