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COJO Dedicates a Day of Action & Kindness in Respect to the Victims of the Surfside Building Collapse

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Edited by: TJVNews.com

On June 30, 2021, amidst a sweltering heat wave with weather in the upper 90’s, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) gathered at the Aur Torah Sephardic Congregation of Staten Island located in the New Springville section of Staten Island for a Day of Action and Kindness in Respect to the Victims of the Surfside Building Collapse. Sadly, as of June 30, at least a dozen people are reported dead and about 149 others remain unaccounted for after a 12-story residential building partially collapsed at the Champlain Towers South condominium in the small, beachside town of Surfside, which is located about 6 miles north of Miami Beach.

Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Spiritual Leader of the Aur Torah Sephardic Congregation approached Oshri Reuven, president of the Congregation and his wife Iva Reuven who is active in COJO where she serves as the Chair of COJO’s Service Committee to help organize a Day of Action and Kindness in Respect to the Victims of the Surfside building Collapse.

“ Whenever a calamity and a tragedy occur anywhere in the world it is the responsibility of all those worlds over who were unaffected by the tragedy to reflect and to thank the Al-Mighty that they were not in harms way and to take the time to thank the Al-Mighty for the bounty and blessings that He has graciously gifted and showered upon them. Why a tragedy happens we will never know, but we must engage in acts of kindness to demonstrate our appreciation and thanksgiving to what we have. It is incumbent to take a minute to appreciate and to give back to society and to help make this world a better place for all people.

That is why even in the squelching heat we must look for no excuse, but demonstrate our appreciation and that is why I suggested the Day of Action and Kindness in Respect to the Victims of the Surfside building collapse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and we pray that in merit of the kindness preformed the Al-Mighty have mercy on the world, give comfort to the victims and their families and help heal this world and to shield it from any further calamities. By changing ourselves we help to transform this world into a better place for all people” so remarked Rabbi Aharon Zeev, Spiritual Leader of the Aur Torah Sephardic Congregation.

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, president of COJO thanked Terry Troia, the beloved and venerable President of Project Hospitality for, “once again responding to the clarion call and for mobilizing an all-out effort in making certain that Rabbi Zeev’s dream of implementing a Day of Action and Kindness in Respect to the Victims of the Surfside building collapse becomes a reality. Terry truly cares about people, as busy as she is the word “No” is not in her lexicon. Her enthusiasms to help people is contagious and she truly inspires others and brings out the best in all people. I knew as soon as I got the call from Iva Reuven that Rabbi Zeev’s call to action will be heeded and something special will happen.

My assumption was correct, COJO once again partnered up in sweltering heat and worked on a Day of Action and Kindness in Respect to the victims of the Surfside building collapse which culminated in a food distribution at the Aur Torah Sephardic Congregation.

What this Day of Action represents to me that as community we in Staten Island reached out to friends, family neighbors and Borough residents to come together to be better people. Rabbi Zeev is correct when he stresses that through good deeds and kindness we become better people and help make this world a better place for all people.

Thanks to the support and vision of Terry Troia and the dedication of Iva Reuven and her hard-working COJO team Rabbi Zeev’s vison became a reality and as a community not only did we reflect on the bounty and blessings so generously showered upon us by our Creator we took the time to emulate His ways by helping others.

Thank you Rabbi Zeev, Terry Troia and all the volunteers who helped take a hot June summer day and did not permit the scorching heat and the elements from preventing us from helping to transform this world into a better place. This action truly demonstrates a rock-solid commitment by Staten Islanders to appreciate the world, give back to community and work on making a better more just and equitable world for all people. I am truly humbled and honored to be part of this process, it truly is historical and humbling. I thank you Terry for being Staten Island’s source of inspiration and all that is good, it is thanks to you and your efforts this positive vision of Rabbi Zeev became a reality and standard way of life in Staten Island.”

Rabbi Mirocznik, thanked the NYPD, for their support and collaboration in this important community project. “We thank Inspector Bruce Ceparano, Commanding Officer, Pct. 121, Captain Michael Galletta, Executive Officer, Pct. 121, Community Affairs and Crime Prevention Officer Charles Carlino, Pct. 121, and Ari Weiss, COJO Security Chairman and Coordinator Staten Island Shomrim for their support and friendship. Not only did these great Officers enthusiastically come in a blistering heatwave to show their support they got deep down and dirty and heavily involved with the positive civic action. They helped not only with traffic control, but they even rolled up their sleeves and with sweaty tanned and burnt faces helped pack and distribute food packages.

This truly is hands on and is further evidence how Staten Island is blessed and fortunate to have finest caring officers. Inspector Ceparano you and your Officers are a credit to the department. Thank you for being for all of Staten Island around the clock, your support and participation once again demonstrates to the world the NYPD truly cares about public safety and are commitment to working with the community in making Staten Island a great place for all its residents. Words cannot express our appreciation, but we thank you for who you are and what you are and that is good decent people who dare to care.”

Inspector Ceparano stated, “the NYPD thanks COJO and Project Hospitality. Thank you Mendy Mirocznik and Terry Troia. It is leaders like Mendy, Scott and Terry who bridge community and this is our secret to success. We at the NYPD look forward to further community engagement and together I know we will make a difference.”

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