County Executive Curran, Elected Officials, Clergy and Community Leaders Stand in Solidarity with the Jewish Community in Aftermath of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
Dozens Gather in Show of Unity
Mineola, NY—Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, joined today by elected officials including Congressman Thomas Suozzi , Senators Todd Kaminsky, Elaine Phillips and John Brooks, District Attorney Madeline Singas, Comptroller Jack Schnirman, Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello, Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, Legislator Arnold Drucker; area clergy members including Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum from Temple Israel in Lawrence, Rabbi Art Vernon from Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead, Father Walter Kedjierski from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Rabbi Kenny Hain of Beth Sholom in Lawrence; and community leaders including Isma Chaudhry from the Islamic Center of Long Island, spoke out against anti-Semitism, hateful speech and acts of violence. Dozens of supporters stood in solidarity and unity in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
County Executive Curran called for all Nassau County residents to stand together in the memory of victims and end the hateful rhetoric that continues to fuel deadly incidents.
The gathering, held today on the steps of the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative and Executive Building in Mineola, offered support for those affected by the violence in Pennsylvania.
“Today, we all stand in solidarity with our Jewish community,” said Curran. “We are here to say we are together. We are with you. Your house of worship should always be a place of safe refuge, where community, love and faith are the focus. We will support our vibrant Jewish Community in every way.
“The health and safety of our residents is always our number one priority,” said Curran. “In response to the shooting, our police department stepped up patrols and performed a public safety analysis throughout the county. We will continue to be vigilant in the wake of this tragedy.”
At the close of today’s gathering, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder provided a security update on efforts to secure the safety of our Houses of Worship.
“We continue to urge our residents to report any incidents: If you see something, say something,” said Curran.
In attendance today were the following:
-US Congressman Tom Suozzi
-Representative (Garret Armwood) from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office; Rep from US Senator Gillibrand (Magda Campbell)
-State Senators Todd Kaminsky, John Brooks, Elaine Phillips, Carl Marcelino
-State Assembly Members Chuck Lavine, Melissa Miller, Tony D’Urso, Christine Pellegrino
-District Attorney Madeline Singas
-Comptroller Jack Schnirman
-Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello
-Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams
-County Legislators Arnie Drucker, Siela Bynoe, Howard Kopel, Tom McKevitt, Ellen Birnbaum, Carrie Solages, Denise Ford, Debbie Mule, William Gaylor, Vincent Muscarella, Delia Deriggi Whitton, James Kennedy, Laura Schaeffer, John Ferretti, Rose Walker, Josh Lafazan, Steve Rhoads
-North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth
-North Hempstead Town Clerk
-North Hempstead Councilwomen Dina De Georgio, Anna Kaplan
-North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman
-Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino
-Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Tony Magcanone
-Village of Malverne Mayor Patti McDonald
-Village of Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson
-Israel Wasser, Trustee of the Village of Cedarhurst
- Village of Rockville Center Mayor Fran Murray
-Town of Hempstead Clerk Sylvia Cabana
-Town of Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman
-Rabbi Art Vernon, Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead
-Rabbi Shalom Axelrod, Young Israel of Woodmere
-Rabbi Shay Schachter, Young Israel of Woodmere
-Rabbi Mordechai Kaminetsky, Yeshiva of South Shore
-Rabbi Baruch Bender Acheizer
-Rev. William Watson
-Rick Lewis of North Shore JCC of Plainview
-Sean Collins from the LGBT Network
-From the NCSY/Orthodox Union: Yehoshua Marchuck & Jon Ackerman
-Father Walter Kedjierski – Director of Ecumenical & Inter-Religious Affairs for the Diocese of Rockville Centre
-Rabbi Steve Conn of the Plainview Jewish Center
-Adam Novack, Chair of Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island
-Mindy Perlmutter, Executive Director JCRC-LI
-Isma Chaudhry from the Islamic Center of Long Island
-Bishop Ronald Carter from Refuge Apostolic Church of Christ in Freeport
-Rabbi Kenny Hain of Beth Sholom in Lawrence
