PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Howard Teich, Founding Chair of Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative
0:17:52
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3 min
Howard Teich, Founding Chair of the Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative, testifies in support of Resolution 438, emphasizing the significance of Jewish history in New York City and the importance of recognizing "Landing Day". He highlights the contributions of the Jewish community to various aspects of New York life and the value of cultural recognition.
- Teich describes New York as one of the five greatest Jewish civilizations in 5000 years of history
- He mentions the creation of a Jewish heritage and history map of the city, which is now being used in school curricula
- Teich suggests the potential for a cultural tourism program focused on the Jewish community in New York
Howard Teich
0:17:52
hi.
0:17:52
I'm Howard Teach.
0:17:53
I'm founding chair of in on this Manhattan Jewish historical initiative.
0:17:58
And we felt for a a a long time we had a ceremony there last year.
0:18:03
We just had a tour yesterday that wound up down at the monument and Flagstaff, which is in Peter Minui Park.
0:18:11
And felt there's a need that was put in for the 300th anniversary of the Jewish community in in New York.
0:18:19
I wanna start by by actually where I usually end just for perspective.
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We consider New York.
0:18:27
Probably one of the greatest 5 Jewish civilizations in our 5000 year history, just so you understand the importance of what's happened here.
0:18:38
My family came over in the 18 eighties.
0:18:41
Some were in Brownsville, others in Lower East Side.
0:18:45
So there's been a long history here, and it's not just the the the few things we've been involved in, whether it be broadway, tin pan alley, culture, whether it be business, whether it be hospitals and healthcare.
0:18:57
It just expands out and out in terms of other groups that we've been involved in.
0:19:02
We've participated in partners because of who what we've gone through.
0:19:08
And it's been a a thousands of years of both celebration of being in positions where we controlled our own lives, other times where we were persecuted, that's part of the story of them coming up from recife.
0:19:24
When they were living a great life until they weren't, and they had to move very quickly.
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And one of the important things for now I would think is in terms of of we were refugees, we came here because we had no other place to go, basically.
0:19:40
And we had other choices, but not really.
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And so what we celebrate and what this is all about is we celebrate freedom and we celebrate what New York City and America has given to us throughout these 370 years.
0:19:56
I wanna end just by thanking the council after 15 years because they contributed to this.
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This is still the first and only Jewish heritage and history map of the city.
0:20:08
Has the whole story on the back and city council provided money for that this year.
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And speaking to the chancellor, we got this introduced in the curriculum, in the in the school system, that they're now using it.
0:20:22
And it was the first time that they really are talking about the current history.
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So this the significance now of this resolution at a time that it's very, very important is it brings forth the positive nature of who the Jewish community is, what we wanna contribute, how we should be discussed, and and I'll put it in as the last thing that I I've been wishing for for 15 years.
0:20:51
That we have a cultural tourism program in New York for the Jewish community.
0:20:55
It's in every city in the world where they don't even have Jews.
0:21:00
And here we have more than any place else who would create an enormous economic boon to New York, and I would hope the council at some point would take it up.
0:21:08
So this also would have that added feature in terms of your passage.
0:21:13
We thank you, Gail.
0:21:14
You've been unbelievable.
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In putting this forward and calling the thank you.
Carlina Rivera
0:21:20
Thank you.