Rosh Hashanah is a time to pause, reflect, and step into the new year surrounded by the people who matter to us most. For JCCGCI, that meant bringing together a community we serve with the leaders who stand behind them.

Last week, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), hosted a Rosh Hashanah celebration that brought together community leaders, public officials, Holocaust survivors, and older adults for a day of holiday traditions, delicious food, and an overwhelming sense of togetherness to enter the new year with sweetness and care.

The afternoon opened with remarks from former Council Member and current JCRC-NY Executive Director Mark Treyger, and JCCGCI Executive Director Rabbi Moshe Wiener, who took the time to welcome everybody with warmth and gratitude and share stories that set a reflective tone for the celebration ahead.

“Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection, but also a time for gratitude,” said Rabbi Wiener. “Today, surrounded by all of these incredible people, I feel grateful for a community that shows up for one another, and for the leaders who show up for that community in return.”

One by one, community leaders and representatives took the floor to address the room. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams spoke first, reflecting on the power of leaders and communities working side by side to protect the people who need it most. “When we have leaders like Rabbi Wiener and Mark Treyger who are making sure folks feel protected, and doing it together as a city, it brings me hope,” he shared.

Mayer Waxman of JCRC-NY, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, and Council Member Mercedes Narcisse each followed with a few words of their own, speaking to the significance of the holiday and echoing that same call for unity that carried throughout the morning: that our older adults and Holocaust survivors have public leaders in their corner who will take the time to listen and understand the issues they are facing in order to take action to address them.

In the spirit of the holiday season, the room then fell silent to celebrate in a familiar fashion, as the sound of the shofar filled the room with comfort and tradition. Then came the most powerful moment of the morning, an occasion that no one will forget. One of our dear Holocaust survivor clients stepped up to speak, and her words captivated everyone’s eyes and filled their hearts. As she neared the end of her remarks she began to sing the timeless “God Bless America,” and within seconds, guests rose to their feet as dozens of voices joined together in song. It was unplanned, unscripted, unforgettable, and an incredible testimony to the resilience and spirit our survivors carry with them every day.

Once all of our speakers had concluded their statements, guests enjoyed a delicious meal, sharing stories and embodying the spirit of togetherness that makes the holidays special. Before heading out, everyone left with holiday treats in hand as a sweet send-off to close out a wonderful morning.

None of this would have been possible without the people who showed up to make it meaningful. We are endlessly grateful to the elected officials and community leaders who took time out of their day to celebrate the new year with us, including NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Assemblyman Michael Novakhov, Assembly Candidate Joey Saban, Phylisa Wisdom and John Binderman from the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, and representatives from the offices of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, NYS Senator Stephen Chan, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Assemblyman Lester Chang, and Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso. Also joining the celebration was Kalvis Mikelsteins, Executive Director of the Coney Island Business Improvement District.

A special thank you as well to UJA-Federation of New York for helping make this celebration possible, and to JCRC-NY for co-hosting an afternoon that brought so many corners of our community together. Partnerships like these allow JCCGCI to continue showing up for New Yorkers when it matters most, ensuring that our older adults and Holocaust survivors are met not only with critical services, but with joy, dignity, and a true sense of belonging.

As one year closes and another begins, JCCGCI remains as committed as ever to the communities we serve that remind us every day why this work is worth doing. Shana Tova.