PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Cheryl Fishbein, Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, on Resolution 438-2024
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4 min
Cheryl Fishbein, Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, testified in support of Resolution 438-2024, which seeks to recognize "Landing Day" in the second week of September annually. This resolution commemorates the arrival of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654 and celebrates the continuing importance of the Jewish community in New York City.
- Highlighted the 370-year presence of Jews in New York, starting with the arrival of 23 Sephardic Jews in September 1654
- Emphasized the significant contributions of Jewish citizens to New York City and the country
- Noted that New York City's current Jewish population exceeds 1,600,000, making it the largest in the world
- Urged the committee to pass Resolution 438-2024 to recognize the historical significance and ongoing vibrancy of the Jewish community in New York City
Cheryl Fishbein
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Good afternoon, Chair Rivera, and members of the Cultural Affairs, Libraries And International Intergroup Relations Committee.
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I'm Cheryl Fishbein, Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
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On behalf of JCRC of New York, which is the primary community relations agency for the Jewish people in the New York Metropolitan area, we thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding resolution number 438 2024, relating to recognizing landing day in the 2nd week of timber annually to commemorate the arrival of the 1st Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 16 54 and to celebrate the continuing importance of the Jewish community in the city of New York.
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Let me begin by saying that the area comprising our great city has had a Jewish presence for 370 years.
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The Jewish people are clearly no strangers to New York, and this resolution which seeks to recognize an honor landing day is a fitting recognition of the fact making the arrival of these 23 Separtic Jews in September 16 54 in New Amsterdam now lower Manhattan, they were the 1st group of refugees fleeing persecution from the Portuguese after the conquest of Brazil.
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Those 23 plus 3 Ashkenazi Jews who arrived 1 month earlier with the start of the Jewish history in the in North America.
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In the century since our city and its image have been shaped and reshaped in no small part by its Jewish citizens, from Emma Lazarus, to mayors, a, Beam, and Ed Koch, to Irving Berlin, to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and countless others.
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Our city and country have been indelibly influenced by what the Jewish community has accomplished.
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And how we've worked with other people and other communities, what we've started, and the positive differences that we have made.
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Indeed, the story in North America and the Jewish story in North America is the story of any and every immigrant group seeking a better life, a life fleeing persecution or wanting basic freedoms.
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Resolution 4 38 sent seeks to simply recognize that the Jewish community has been part of the fabric of life in this city, in our city since its earliest inception.
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With New York City's Jewish population now reaching over 1,600,000 more than any other city in the world.
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Now is the time to salute the courage tenacity and perseverance of the earliest Jewish settlers and honor the achievements of their descendants.
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The Jewish community relations council of New York urges this committee to pass Resolution 4 38 and recognize landing day in the 2nd week of September annually to commemorate the arrival of the 1st Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654 and to celebrate the continuing importance and vibrancy of the Jewish community in the city of New York.
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We'd like to thank the committee, its chair, again, for convening this hearing today, and to express appreciation for this resolution to counsel member Gail Brewer as well.
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And just I have to add personally, I am a child of immigrants and have become a Jewish person Inside the fabric of New York City, and I have to say, I'm so proud and I'm so proud to be here to help to encourage you to vote for this resolution.