By: TJVNews.com

This week, the air at Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan was filled with more than just the anticipation of the Festival of Lights. It was charged with the resilience of a community determined to help its neighbors. Despite the challenging weather, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) successfully held its annual Chanukah Food Distribution, ensuring that local families can celebrate the holiday with dignity, traditional foods, and joy.

The cold, icy rain could not extinguish the flame of Chanukah hope nor detract the hard-working volunteers. Instead, the elements only highlighted the warmth and dedication of the Staten Island community. Volunteers, law enforcement, and community leaders stood shoulder-to-shoulder, proving that kindness is the most powerful force of all.

More Than a Meal: A Tradition of Light With food prices on the rise, many neighbors—especially seniors and working families—are feeling the strain. This distribution is about lifting a heavy financial burden during a time that should be focused on celebration. By fighting food insecurity head-on, COJO is not just feeding bodies; it is nurturing the spirit of the community.

A Word From Our President

Mendy Mirocznik, President of COJO, captured the resilience of the event: “In a time of increasing economic strain, ensuring our neighbors don’t have to choose between paying a bill and putting food on the table is our sacred duty. The weather today tested us, but the cold, icy rain could not extinguish the flame of Chanukah hope nor detract our hard-working volunteers. We are immensely grateful to all our partners and elected officials who made this possible. Helping our neighbors in need is the foundation of building a stronger, better Staten Island for everyone.”

Nurturing the Next Generation

A highlight of the event was the involvement of the community’s youth. Annesa Ali, COJO’s Chief of Staff and founder of Making a Change With Kindness (MACK), led the charge through her “Kids Give Back” program. Along with her daughters, Mia, and Mya Ali, she organized young volunteers who worked tirelessly despite the weather.

Annesa Ali reflected on the dedication of the youth volunteers: “This distribution isn’t just about food; it’s about fueling the soul of our community with kindness. Seeing our youth from the ‘Kids Give Back’ program brave the icy elements alongside law enforcement and community leaders is the ultimate lesson in empathy. It proves that when we come together, we can weather any storm to help those in need.”

The Heart of the Operation

The pantry’s success is a direct result of the tireless efforts of Iva Reuven, COJO Food Pantry and Social Services Director, and her team of dedicated volunteers who manage the logistics of such a massive operation.

Iva Reuven shared her perspective from the front lines: “Every day we see the reality of rising costs and the stress it places on families. Seeing the relief on the faces of the people we serve makes every second of hard work worth it. The demand has grown but so has the heart of our volunteers. We are not just handing out boxes; we are sharing hope and letting our neighbors know they are not alone during the holidays.”

A Broad Network of Support

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the venerable Rev. Dr. Terry Troia, COJO Project Supervisor, and Tommy Bond for their unwavering care, support, and dedication to this mission.

Rev. Dr. Troia highlighted the scope of COJO’s impact across the borough: “Aur Torah is just one of the dozen sites that COJO supports throughout Staten Island. I am incredibly proud to be part of the COJO family, an organization that truly cares about feeding people. Whether it is here or at any of our other distribution points, the commitment to ensuring no one goes hungry remains the same.”

A Legacy of Partnership

An undertaking of this magnitude is a team effort, and gratitude runs deep for the partners who made this day possible:

Hosting Partner: We express our deepest thanks to Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Spiritual Leader of Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, and Oshri Reuven, President of Aur Torah. We specifically recognize the members of the congregation who have adopted the pantry as their “Mitzvah project,” ensuring its ongoing success.

Rabbi Aharon Zeev expressed his deep appreciation for the community’s spirit, stating: “I am incredibly proud of how our congregants have rallied in support of this special Mitzvah project. To see the Aur Torah family adopt this pantry and work so diligently to assist those in need is a true testament to our shared values of compassion and charity.”

Our Food Distribution Ally: Our efforts were powered by our incredible food distribution ally Met Council. We give special recognition and thank you to the Met Council team, whose leadership and generosity were instrumental in making this a reality: David Greenfield (CEO), Aaron Cyperstein (Managing Director of Legal and External Affairs), Benjamin Zaintez (Agency Relations Manager), and Hannah Lupien (Managing Director of Food Programs).

We also extend deep gratitude to our corporate and community supporters: Joe Rayski of Amazon, Gary Tai and Carina Vizhnay of Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Jenny Palaguachi of 1199SEIU, Carlos Londono of VNS Health, and our friends at Santander Bank.

Law Enforcement: Partners in Safety and Service The day ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to a seamless partnership with law enforcement, who braved the rain to help pack food and direct traffic.

Chief Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Bureau, noted: “Our participation goes beyond traffic control; it’s about bridging community relations with law enforcement. Working alongside COJO, we are actively demonstrating our commitment to serving and protecting the residents of Staten Island.”

We extend sincere thanks to the officers from NYPD Community Affairs—including Lt. Yesina Gomez, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs, Patrol Borough Staten Island, Detective Nick Skomina, Detective John Sibal, Officer Sean Mondello, Officer Scott Gusenfitter, and Officer Robert Adams, for their crucial support.

Joe Rayski of Amazon commended the partnership: “I am incredibly impressed with the essential work being done by COJO and MACK to support our neighbors in need. I particularly value the important integration of police and community working together in this effort, which is key to building a better Staten Island community.”

From all of us at COJO, we thank our volunteers for weathering the storm to bring light to others. We wish all of Staten Island a Happy Chanukah!