Edited by: TJVNews.com
On Thursday, August 18, 2022, at the Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, located in the New Springville section of Staten Island the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organization (COJO) held a day of Engaging in Chesed and Activism that was capped off with a food distribution. “As a community Rabbi, I felt the need to stress Chesed and encouraging our community that in the aftermath of Tisha Ba’Av to engage in a day of Chesed and activism as a gesture of Ahavath Chenam that would serve to unite our community on the Mitzva of appreciating the good in our lives and by taking the time to consider the needs of our fellow community members and to take steps to lend love, support and a helping hand. I am proud that when I suggested the idea to our President Oshri Reuven how happy he was and how enthusiastically he spoke to his wife Iva Reuven who serves as COJO’s Service Committee Chairperson and the next thing that came about was the day of engaging in Chesed and activism.
I appreciate Iva assembling her hard-working team on a hot grueling and boiling summer day and truly making this day of activism and Chesed so special and memorable. I appreciate the fact that this collaborative effort is a true Mitzva that stressed the need for Ahavath Chenam and Achduth which is so lacking at times in the world we live in. Thank you Iva and her dedicated Service Committee Team and Mendy Mirocznik, for making this happen. As a congregation, Aur Torah stands behind the work of COJO and we are proud to support COJO in its mission in spreading Chesed,” so remarked, Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Rabbi, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan.
Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO thanked, “Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Rabbi Aharon Zeev, President Oshri Reuven and the Synagogue family for their generosity, big heart and support that made the day of engaging in Chesed and activism a reality. Truthfully, we must acknowledge and thank the key person Iva Reuven one of Staten Island’s great community leaders, thanks to Iva there is a COJO pantry. Iva takes her responsibility at COJO seriously and she understands the reality of raising inflation and the skyrocket pricing in the cost for food. She is a person who engages the public and witnesses firsthand the need for families to eat and their struggle in combating food insecurity. This interaction fuels her passion to help as many people that she can.
Rabbi Zeev’s vision of having a day of Chesed and activism truly came alive today thanks to Iva. Working hand in hand with Iva and her great team was our collaborating partners. On hand was Terry Troia, president, Project Hospitality, Gloria Novoa, director of volunteers, Project Hospitality, Carina Vizhany, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Events Coordinator & Community Relations Representative, Yenni Martinez Pavia, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Retention Representative, Gaby Contreras Torres, Beanstalk Childcare Academy Outreach Coordinator, the NYPD, Department Chaplain Tahir Kukai and Community Affairs Officer John Sibal, Pct. 121 who blended the diverse peoples of Staten Island as one family for the purpose of engaging in acts of kindness, love and unity. Rabbi Zeev, we at COJO cannot thank you enough that as one of Staten Island’s premiere Rabbis you took precious time from your hectic schedule to influence the community to come together to pause from our daily routine with the goal of making as many people we could touch and connect with feel special. It is thanks to your leadership that Staten Island is a great place to live.
Iva Reuven, commented, “I have witnessed since the start of Covid and now entering my third year of working with COJO the important need to be there for as many people we can uplift and give hope to. Although, we are transitioning to a healthier world the only way we can successfully move forward is by infusing Chesed in our lives. Thank you Rabbi Zeev, Mendy, Terry, Gloria, NYPD and my great team for inspiring me to push forward. I know that together we are making a difference and this truly is a great healing and growing process.”
