Met Council is a not-for-profit organization representing and coordinating the efforts of grass roots Jewish Community Councils and citywide and national Jewish organizations. It is the primary advocate for the needs of the poor , reaching out to the isolated poor and elderly, and increasing public recognition of the extent and nature of poverty among Jews through legislative and social advocacy.

Created to alleviate the social, economic, housing, and related problems of the Jewish poor, working poor, elderly and recent immigrants in the New York City area, Met Council delivers needed services to thousands every day. Our most important task is to ensure that the hungry are fed, that the weak and frail are cared for, that the homeless are sheltered, and that those who are able to work are helped to find employment.

Met Council establishes linkages between Jewish groups, non-Jewish groups and government agencies. It helps stabilize and preserve neighborhoods with substantial Jewish population by assessing needs and bringing resources to those areas.

The mission of Met Council has not changed since its founding three decades ago. Anyone who needs our help will find us there for them.

Met Council Joins Coalition to Bid for Starrett City

 Continuing its commitment to build and operate affordable housing for New York’s neediest residents, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty has joined with the Central Labor Council and the Christian Cultural Center to ensure that Starrett City, the largest federally subsidized housing complex in the nation, will remain an affordable community for its residents.

            Met Council has long made it a priority to produce as much affordable senior housing as possible to ease the strain on New York residents struggling to cover rent costs, and currently owns or operates 1,200 units of supportive housing in New York City.  For low-income seniors, rising rents can mean less available income for medication or nutritious food, pushing them closer to the brink of poverty.

            Through the Starrett City effort, Met Council intends to advocate for increased affordable senior housing in the area.  Met Council already operates nearly 500 units of low-income senior housing in the Weinberg Council Towers complex across the street from Starrett City, with added features including community space, dining/activity rooms, libraries, lounges, and offices for health and social services.        

Read the Crain’s New York article about the Starrett City bid here. 

Nachum Segal’s famed JM in the AM radio show recently featured Met Council CEO William Rapfogel talking about the shocking numbers of poor Jews here in New York City and how the winter season makes it harder to get help and easier to go hungry and cold.

Click here: Playlist for Jewish Moments in the Morning with Nachum Segal - February 13, 2008  

See Met Council in the media: 

Bay Currents ran a feature story about Jewish Poverty with statistics and information from William Rapfogel: Yes, there is Jewish Poverty in Brooklyn and click on "Current Issue."

Joyce Traina, Met Council's Director of Home Care, talks about seniors and assisted living on Smart Money TV: Assisted Living Facilities

A Met Council client is featured as one of New York Times Neediest Cases:

For a Woman Who Has Trouble Getting Around, Help Getting By 

 Sandra Greenstein, Met Council's Director of Career Services, is interviewed by the New York Times about the Medical Pathways program: A Helping Hand for Technical Training 

Met Council Salutes Home Attendant Graduates with Ceremony

Shown below holding the diploma is Yesenia Diaz, one of 20 graduates who celebrated their completion from the Certified Personal Care Aide Course (CPCA) on Thursday, January 24th.  The CPCA Training Program, which is administered by Met Council and funded by the Robin Hood Foundation, trains low-income individuals who lack marketable skills to become certified home attendants.  The low-cost course enables them to work in a meaningful and better job with ample career growth.  

Yesenia is surrounded by (l-r) Nathalie Hodge, CPCA Program Assistant; Valentina Simon, a program R.N. instructor; and Rebecca Kirchheimer, Program Coordinator. The CPCA Training Program is administered by Met Council and funded by the Robin Hood Foundation.

 Met Council Volunteers Build Library for Formerly Homeless Mothers and Children on MLK Day

 Volunteers stamping and cataloging donated books as part of an MLK Day Project to create a library for Hillside House in Queens, a shelter for single mothers and children.

In the spirit of Martin Luther King's commitment to education and literacy, 60 volunteers from Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty spent Martin Luther King Day hammering shelves and cataloging books to create a children's library for formerly homeless mothers and children in Queens.

The library will be the first for Hillside House, a transitional shelter for homeless mothers and children located in Queens, and funded by the Department of Homeless Services. Renovated in 1995 as part of Metropolitan Council's affordable and charitable housing projects, the shelter serves an ethnically diverse population of 60 mothers and their young children, many of whom have been victims of domestic violence and abuse.

"We wanted to do something educational and fun for the kids [at Hillside House]" explained Stefanie Greenberg, Met Council's Volunteer Department Manager who headed the project. "They have after-school activities, but no educational materials. And Martin Luther King Day just seemed like the perfect day to construct it."

Creating the library was a process that spanned months of work, from painting the room to purchasing the shelves from IKEA to recruiting donations of books from Simon and Schuster and random donors off of Craiglist.

The 60 volunteers spent the day constructing the bookshelves, censoring the books for kid-appropriateness, and cataloging the books with a card filing system at the Jeanette Weinberg Senior Residence at 171 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan. The library will be transported to Hillside House later on this month.

Jess Wisloski covered the event for the New York Daily News.  To read the article, click here.

 Twenty-one Graduates Celebrate Completion from Met Council's MedPath Career Program

Twenty-one graduates from Medical Pathways celebrated completion of EMT, Paramedic and pre-training courses on Thursday, January 24th.

Cheering each other on, the graduates, who were mostly from the Chinese-American community, proudly accepted their diplomas from Louise Zimmerman, the EMT Training Program coordinator, listened to remarks from Met Council's William Rapfogel and Peter Brest, and celebrated their achievements with pizza and refreshments.

Met Council's Medical Pathways program is a low-cost training program for underprivileged individuals to train to work as NYS-certified EMT's and Paramedics.  Three courses are conducted within the program: pre-training, meant to prep students for the higher level courses, EMT training, and Paramedic training.  Recent trainings were organized by Assist Ambulance and targeted to the Chinese-American community to fill a need for EMT's and Paramedics in these communities, as well as provide solid career opportunities for those in need.

Tommy Wong, a graduate from the EMT Pre-training program, spoke about how grateful he was for the opportunity to make a meaningful career for himself that would better support his family. Wong, 40, is married with two small children and currently works in distribution. He always had a dream of helping people, he said, but having dropped out of high school, had never been able to pursue that dream.

Another graduate of the pre-training, Ho Chi Tam, 30, found himself recently married and in need of more income. Although he had graduated college with a degree in graphic arts, he had been unable to find employment in his field, and instead followed his father into construction work. Tam said that he plans on taking the MedPath program as far as he can, to become an EMT, then a paramedic, and after that a physician's assistant or nurse.

"These graduates of the MedPath program are superb-inspiring to each other and to the entire Met Council Career Services Staff," exclaimed Sandra Greenstein, Director of Met Council's Career Services Department. "We commend them on their commitment to helping their communities and themselves at the same time."

Governor Spitzer Lights the Menorah at Met Council’s Chanukah Party

 Governor Eliot Spitzer helped light the Menorah Tuesday evening at Met Council’s Annual Chanukah party, along with NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Met Council’s dedicated staff.  In his speech, Governor Spitzer compared the work of Met Council to the historical struggle of Chanukah, saying: “Just as they [the Maccabees] threw off the Greeks, you throw off poverty.”  The governor added, “Here at Met Council you say thanks to government officials for what they do, but writing the check is the easy part. What you do, by being there for the people you help 365 days a year, is the real work.”

 Met Council President Joseph Shenker introduced the Governor, who entered the Chanukah celebration to applause along with Speaker Silver.  Governor Spitzer and Met Council Executive Director William Rapfogel discussed innovative ways to provide social services and affordable housing to the needy.  Speaker Silver was praised for his lifelong commitment to helping the elderly, families in crisis and children-at-risk.

 Numerous appointed and elected officials joined with Met Council Board and Staff to celebrate Chanukah together amid jelly donuts and festive music.

NY State Senator Malcolm Smith Visits Met Council for Round Table Discussion

Pictured (L-R): Met Council CEO, William E. Rapfogel, Senior Executive Consultant, Rabbi David Cohen, and Senator Malcolm Smith at site visit

 New York State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, Senate Minority Leader since November 2006, joined Met Council for a lively, open discussion on community issues and program trends.  Executive Directors from Met Council's network of 25 community-based Jewish Community Councils participated.  The Senator listened to the needs of these community leaders, who interact with and serve at the grassroots level.  All who attended appreciated Senator Smith’s interest and ideas for our program areas and future work together.

Councilman Jim Gennaro Learns the “Tools” of the Trade

Pictured (L-R): Sergey Todoschenko, Councilman Jim Gennaro, Mikhail Dashut

 On July 13, Councilman Jim Gennaro met with Met Council’s Handyman operators to experience our Home Services program first hand.  Special thanks to Councilman Gennaro for his funding of Met Council’s Handyman program and Immigrant Opportunities Initiative, as well as to his staff for coordinating this event.

 Met Council CEO William Rapfogel and Marty Markowitz Celebrate Fifth Annual Russian Heritage Festival

Pictured (L-R): Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Met Council CEO William E. Rapfogel

 On Monday, June 11, Met Council’s William E. Rapfogel and the Russian American Arts Foundation joined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in the annual celebration of Russian Heritage.  The 5th Annual Russian Heritage Festival, a citywide celebration of the many cultural and economic contributions of the Russian-speaking community in New York, encompasses a series of events and is produced by the Russian American Arts Foundation and presented by the Daily News, in cooperation with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City of New York.  Honorees included Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian, Chairlady of the St. Gregory Armenian Mission Parish; Dr. Daniel Igor Branovan, President of Russian-American Jews for Israel; Leonard Petlakh, Executive Director of the Kings Bay YM-YWHA; Elie Rubinstein, Executive Director of Blue Card; Sofia Vinokurov, the late Naum Vinokurov, Fira Roytkov, the late Joseph Roytkov, and Mark and Berta Rachman, founders of “National” restaurant; William E. Rapfogel, Executive Director and CEO of Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty; and Rabbi Mark S. Golub, President and CEO of the Russian Media Group.  Feliks Frenkel, COJECO President and Met Council’s newest board member, presented the award.

 Councilman Garodnick Tours New East 77^th Street Residence

Pictured (L-R):  Met Council CEO, William E. Rapfogel and City Councilman Daniel Garodnick

 City Councilman Daniel Garodnick joined Met Council for a tour of our newest affordable housing in his district on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  The 6 story residence, built by the Arker companies through the Inclusionary Housing Program, includes 12 apartments for moderate-income elderly at 233 East 77th Street.  For more information on Met Council’s housing program, please visit www.metcouncil.org.

 Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal Tours Met Council’s West 61^st St Housing Site

Pictured: Edward Williams, West End Avenue resident with Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal

 Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal toured Met Council’s affordable housing apartments at West End Avenue and West 61^st St. in Manhattan’s Lincoln Center neighborhood. The building includes 119 newly constructed studio apartments for low-income seniors and is part of Met Council’s Housing Program which has over 1,140 units in operation and over 870 in pre-development.  During the tour, Rosenthal met with residents to hear about their experiences and their concerns for their neighborhood.  Met Council appreciates Rosenthal’s commitment to serving New Yorkers, and her interest in providing affordable housing in New York City.

 Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Loads Donated Clothing onto Machson Mobile

Pictured (L-R): Met Council’s Director of Home Services, Valeriya Beloshkurenko, Eric Lederman, owner of "Madeline Cleaners", and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz loading the Machson Mobile with donated unclaimed coats from Madeline Cleaners.

 Thanks to the leadership and coordination of Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and a generous donation from Eric Lederman, owner of “Madeline Cleaners” in Brooklyn, Met Council’s Machson Mobile picked up over 120 unclaimed, clean coats to distribute to clients throughout the five boroughs and our local Jewish Community Council network. Coordinated by Met Council and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, a longtime supporter of Met Council’s work, the coat drive will continue through August.  If you are interested in participating by donating to the Machson mobile, please call Helen Isakova at 212-453-9525.

Met Council Hosts UJA-Federation’s Executive for a Day

Pictured (L-R):  Met Council Housing Director, Gary Gutterman, Met Council CEO William E. Rapfogel, Americorps*VISTA member Sarah Hersh, Met Council COO, Peter Brest,  Met Council volunteer Hannah Diamond, Nancy Harrison Lascher, Robin Harrison Kaplan, and Gilbert W. Harrison, Met Council Chief of Staff Ilene Marcus, and Stefanie Greenberg.

 As a host for UJA-Federation of New York’s Executive for a Day program, the Gilbert Harrison family visited Met Council’s main office and met with program directors and staff.  Long committed to tzedakah, the Harrison family continually brings their expertise in the financial and legal sectors to better the Jewish community in New York.  As part of the Executive for a Day program, the Home Services Director Valeriya Beloshkurenko led a tour of Met Council’s Machson Mobile, a converted recreational vehicle that serves as a mobile clothing shop where children and adults can find new and lightly used clothing.  The Harrisons also met with Met Council’s Housing Director, Gary Gutterman to discuss Met Council’s over 1,900 affordable housing units in operational and pre-development stages.  Special thanks to UJA-Federation, the Harrison family, and Met Council Executive and Senior Staffs that made this event possible.

 Robin Hood Partners with Met Council’s Home Attendant Training Program to Host Graduation Ceremony

Pictured (L-R): Met Council CEO William E. Rapfogel, Robin Hood HATP Graduate Zosia Zeleska-Bobrowski, Director of Home Care Joyce Traina, and CFO Herb Friedman. 

 Partnering with the Robin Hood Foundation, Met Council’s Home Attendant Training Program has led the way in connecting the need for quality home care for the aging and disabled with low-income New Yorkers seeking dignified careers in health care.  On May 17, 2007, the Robin Hood-funded Home Attendant Training Program honored its graduates with its first-ever commencement ceremony.  Since the program’s inception in January 2006, we have trained and certified 283 Personal Care Aides from such diverse places as West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.   Ms. Zosia Zeleska-Bobrowski said “I felt so happy, excited and proud of myself because it was my first ‘graduation’ in America, and I think not only for me.”  Please join us in welcoming future graduates to the Met Council family at the upcoming graduation in Fall 2007.  Anyone who you think might be eligible for this training program, please call Rebecca at 212 453-9670.

Met Council Featured in UJA-Federation Management Assistance Program’s (MAP) Newsletter 

Met Council was recently featured in UJA-Federation’s Management Assistance Program (MAP) Newsletter, Solutions, for our agency’s focus on capacity building and innovative programming.  Thanks to this partnership, Met Council has been able to better coordinate with our 25 grassroots, local Jewish Community Council network to assist them in serving those in need.  To read the full article, please click here.

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty Joins in New York Salute to Israel Parade

The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was honored to participate in the Salute to Israel Day Parade on Sunday, May 6th.  Continuing a long-standing tradition, Met Council and our network of 25 Jewish Community Council’s Board and staff and even many of the more than 100,000 clients across the city joined together in celebrating our Jewish homeland and heritage by marching in the Salute to Israel Parade.  Met Council's CEO, William E. Rapfogel expressed great pride in  Met Council's continued commitment to the parade:  "There's no greater privilege than to support Israel, our Jewish homeland:  regardless of socio-economic level, country of origin, or family background, we as a Jewish community can join together – in unity - on this special day.  Met Council's leadership and those who benefit from Met Council services are proud to join together in participating in this great event".

Continuing a long-standing tradition, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and our network of 25 Jewish Community Council’s Board and staff and even many of the more than 100,000 clients joined together in celebrating our Jewish homeland and heritage by marching in the Salute to Israel Parade.  Met Council representatives included clients and staff: Levi Musheev, Naama Asherova, Larisa Asherova, Isabella Badalova, Yakov Sosovov, Yosef Mousheyev, Soloman Yagudayer, Esther Larson, Angela Nisimov, Aron Inoyatov, Raquel Bercovich, Jill Eden Strauzer, Marvin Strauzer, and Sharon Strauzer.

 Continuing a long-standing tradition, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and our network of 25 Jewish Community Council’s Board and staff and even many of the more than 100,000 clients joined together in celebrating our Jewish homeland and heritage by marching in the Salute to Israel Parade.  (pictured l-r) Levi Musheev, Naama Asherova, Larisa Asherova, Isabella Badalova, Yakov Sosovov, Yosef Mousheyev, Soloman Yagudayer, Esther Larson, Angela Nisimov, Aron Inoyatov, and Raquel Bercovich.  (Not pictured) Jill Eden Strauzer, Marvin Strauzer, and Sharon Strauzer.

Home Care Receives Prestigious Accreditation for Excellence in Service: 

Met Council is pleased to announce that Home Care Services has achieved the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) accreditation in Home Health.  Through this process, CHAP reviewed and revised the "Standards of Excellence" to ensure currency with and relevance to the community health care industry. This accreditation establishes the standards of excellence for licensed Home Health Service Agencies and is a great accomplishment for Met Council which will lead to serving more clients in need.

 Pictured (l-r) Dvorah Kohn, Executive Director of Met Council Home Care Services, Joyce Traina, RN, Director of Health Care Services, Scott Garnier, Executive Director of Met Council Home Care Services

JCC Network and Met Council Meet with

City Council Speaker:

 City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Met Council Board Chair Merryl Tisch, Executive Director William E. Rapfogel, and Met Council leadership met at City Hall to discuss programs and services.   Presidents and Executive of Met Council's network of 25 community based Jewish Community Council and the Speaker discussed current issues and program trends.  The forum allowed the speaker to hear the needs of these communities from those who interact with and serve at the grassroots level:  a special thanks to Speaker Quinn for hosting this important meeting.

 Met Council's Jackie Ebron Honored as Distinguished Woman of Valor at Canarsie JCC  Breakfast: 

Jackie Ebron exemplifies dedication to serving others, regardless of religion, race, creed, or gender. On Sunday, April 29^th, the Canarsie Jewish Community Council honored Ms. Ebron with the Distinguished Woman of Valor Award for her long term commitment to serving needy New Yorkers.  The Jewish Community Council's Annual Legislative Breakfast marked the JCC's 27^th year of service to the Southeastern Brooklyn community.  New York State Senator John L. Sampson, UJA Federation of New York's Renee J. Ward, Courier-Life publication's Daniel Holt, and Personal Touch Home Care's David Slifkin were also honored at the breakfast.   The award was presented by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes.  Jackie's mother, Shirley, her brother, Danny, and great-niece, Ariana, shared in the simcha as well!!  Mazel tov to Jackie and her family!

  Bat Mitzvah with a Purpose for Becky Weinberg:

When a 13 year old thinks about their Bat mitzvah, thoughts of the money they can spend on the latest ipod, new clothes, or going out with friends comes to mind.  Not for Becky Weinberg.

In December, Becky decided that instead of having people donate money to her, she would have them donate money to benefit the Jewish poor in New York, especially children in need. Through UJA-Federation, she contacted Met Council's Machson Mobile, a program that provides needy families with clothing and furniture donations. Becky and her mother, Pamela, visited the Met Council Machson Mobile (mobile clothing donation van) and heard how it benefits those that are less fortunate: both were moved to tears and Becky decided this is where she wanted to give her Bat Mitzvah money.

With $5,500 Bat Mitzvah money, Becky established a program "Becky's Closet" which provided financing for Becky and Met Council staff to purchase formal dresses at Macy's and make them available to low-income Jewish girls.   In coordination with the Canarsie Jewish Community Council, the program set up a day where children in need could come and choose a dress for their Bat Mitzvah celebration. Becky and her mother were there to meet the girls and see how these dresses encouraged so many young girls that the Jewish community supports them in their cultural and religious observance.  Special thanks to Becky Weinberg, UJA-Federation, the JCC of Canarsie, and Met Council's Machson Program for their coordination of this event.  A hearty MAZEL TOV and our thanks to Becky for her commitment to those in need.

pictured (l. to r.): NYU Wagner Capstone Group - Anat Barber, Lori Arfe, Melina Gimal, Courtney Wisotsky, William Rapfogel, Jessica Chait, Ilene Marcus, Irwin Nesoff and Esther Larson.

 NYU-Wagner Capstone Group Studies "Near Poor" Population:  Struggling to make ends meet but ineligible for government benefits, the near poor (or working poor) population is widely misunderstood or unrepresented.  To respond to this need, Met Council partnered with the NYU Wagner Capstone program to conduct a comprehensive study to examine this population's needs, as determined in the Met Council/UJA-Federation sponsored study "Jewish Near Poverty in New York City" (2002) and Met Council's Benefits and Entitlements Study (2006).  During this one year project, five NYU Capstone students worked closely with Met Council Senior staff and Executives from the local Jewish Community Council network to study the needs of the near poor population.  The group's findings explored the Haredi and immigrant populations of Bensonhurst, Boro Park, Flatbush, Queens, and Williamsburg and examined how employment services are the key to providing this population with self-sustaining solutions to provide for their families.  For a link to the Executive Summary of this report, please click here:  Wagner Capstone Report 2007.

 Met Council and Jackson-Heights Elmhurst Kehillah Executive Director Recognized for Immigrant History Week:  The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty's Executive Director, William Rapfogel and Ben Akselrod, Executive Director of Met Council affiliated Jackson Heights-Elmhurst Kehillah, joined the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) in celebrating Immigrant Week 2007.  Jeanne B. Mullgrav, DYCD Commissioner and other DYCD leadership honored Mr. Akselrod for his service to immigrant communities in New York City.

Councilmember John Liu Joins Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and Flushing Jewish Community Council in Passover Food Distribution

 Councilmember John Liu distributes Passover food packages in Flushing, Queens as part of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty’s Kosher Food Program Passover Outreach.

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and United Jewish Council of the East Side Host Passover Food Distribution

 Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty Executive Director, William E. Rapfogel and United Jewish Council of the East Side Executive Director, Joel Kaplan distribute Passover food to Lower East Side residents, Sylvia Steinberg and Sylvia Manne.

Met Council on Jewish Poverty’s Elissa Smith:  Honored in Hamodia Newspaper 

Social work requires not only academic training, hands-on experience, and dedication – it requires heart.  For this heart and passion for service, Elissa Smith was featured in the Hamodia daily newspaper this past month.  Elissa possesses a strong commitment to our clients, an intuitive understanding of human struggles, and compassion coupled with sound academic and practical training. Elissa is also known for her great sense of humor, an indispensable quality in the social services field.  In addition to providing direct service to hundreds of Crisis clients each year, Elissa now supervises seven Crisis workers and coordinates three interns with the Social Work Intern Program. Elissa is proud to be part of an organization that stays true to its mission.  We look forward to Elissa’s continued great work in the years ahead.  Click here for full article: 

Met Council, a proud affiliate of UJA-Federation, is honored to be part of the 95th annual New York Times Neediest Campaign. This campaign, which highlights the services of seven New York based charities including UJA-Federation of New York, has raised more than $7 million dollars to help New Yorkers in need.  The Campaign (as featured in the NY Times Metro Section), featured Met Council client, Margaret Silvestri, a resident of Met Council’s Bronx based affordable housing facility, Metro House.. To read the complete article, please click here: NYT Story

Jewish Sentinel Highlights Met Council’s Americorps*VISTA Program

After graduating from college, most graduates are thinking about paying student loans, finding an apartment, and carving a niche in the highly competitive “real world”.  Few are thinking about the homeless or the needy:  that’s what makes Americorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members Stefanie Greenberg, Sarah Hersh, and Tabor Banquer unique.  Dedicating one year of service to the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), these three devote their full-time energy to fulfill Met Council’s mission of “Acts of Charity and Deeds of Kindness”.  To see complete article, click here:    Vista Story

UJA-Federation Recognizes Met Council’s Jackie Ebron at Wall Street Division Dinner

On December 6, the UJA-Federation of New York recognized New York professionals and business leaders who have given over $21.5 million in support of the UJA-Federation and its network agencies.  Hosted at the New York Hilton hotel and chaired by Eric Schwartz and Lesley Goldwasser, the Wall Street Division’s dinner recognized local business and civic leaders for their support and dedication to tzedekah.  Scott Prince, senior managing director at Eton Park Capital Management, himself heavily involved in community service, awarded the Wall Street Young Leadership Award to Met Council’s Jackie Ebron for her thirty year commitment and service to the community. Commonly referred to as “Mitzvah Mama”, this award highlighted Jackie’s dedication to providing mitzvah for others. Committed to “Acts of Charity, Deeds of Kindness”, the Met Council applauds the UJA-Federation Wall Street Division for their philanthropy and appreciates their recognition of the sacrificial devotion of Met Council’s Jackie Ebron. 

To read press coverage on this event, please click here:  Jewish Week article

New York Times Neediest Case Campaign Highlights Met Council

Met Council, as a proud affiliate of UJA-Federation, is honored to be part of the 95th annual New York Times Neediest Campaign. Met Council/Bensonhurst COJO client Mila Glucheva and her two children, Eaness (6) and Jemila (11), were featured in the December 13th edition of the NY Times Metro Section. This campaign, which highlights the services of seven New York based charities including UJA-Federation of New York, has raised more than $3 million dollars to help New Yorkers in need. To read the complete article, please click here.

Jonathan Zalisky, Health Plus, Cynthia Zalisky, Health Plus, Benny Wechsler, Met Council, State Assemblywoman, Helene Weinstein, Akiva Goldfarb, Shorefront JCC, Katheryn Soman, Health Plus, Ilene Marcus, Met Council, Joel Kaplan, UJC East Side, Esther Schenkar, JCC of Rockaway Peninsula, Harvey Gordon, JCC of Rockaway Peninsula, and Yolanda Molero, Health Plus

On Thursday November 16, 2006 The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty joined Health Plus at Met Council’s Food Warehouse to participate in its Thanksgiving Turkey give-a-away.  This is the third year that Health Plus generously donated several hundred kosher turkeys for distribution to the Jewish community ensuring a festive thanksgiving for those in need.  This year Health Plus turkeys were given to the JCC of Rockaway Peninsula, United Jewish Council of the East Side, Canarsie Jewish Community Council, Queens Jewish Community Council, and Shorefront Jewish Community Council for local distribution.

 The turkey distribution is part of Met Council’s ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty and feed the hungry in New York City.  Met Council’s Food Program, the largest distributor of Kosher Food in the United States, provides over 120,000 families with 2.5 million pounds of Kosher food each year.  

 Health Plus, a not-for-profit managed care organization in New York City, was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families

Jewish Community Council of Kings Bay Hosts Community Brunch

On Sunday, October 29, the JCC of Kings Bay held their 13^th Annual Community Brunch at Merkqaz Hasimcha.  Honorees included Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Executive Director JCC of Greater Coney Island and Shorefront JCC; Pearl Siegelman, Brooklyn Democratic District Leader; Norma Fine, Acting Executive Director Kings Bay Y, Rabbi Shae Kane, Madison Jewish Center.  Local area elected officials in attendance include Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hines, State Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, State Assemblyman Stephen Cynbrowitz, State Senator Carl Kruger, NYC Council Member Mike Nelson and NYC City Council Member Lou Fidler.  It was a lovely, well attended brunch. Thank you to the Kings Bay JCC.

Met Council Ushers in Rosh Hashanah with Kosher Food Distributions

Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year, represents a time of renewal and new beginnings but for many Jewish New Yorkers, it’s a reminder of the challenges of fulfilling their physical, religious, and cultural needs.   With the help of elected officials and local community leaders, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty’s Kosher food distribution program provided over 20,000 Kosher food packages to New York’s needy last week.  Thanks to the participation of New York City Council Members Eric Gioia, Helen Sears, Melinda Katz, James F. Gennaro, Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes, and New York State Assembly Members Andy Hevesi and Nettie Meyerson, Jewish families will usher in Rosh Hashanah with their physical, religious, and cultural needs fulfilled.  L’Shanah Tovah!

Annual Builder’s Luncheon Was a Success!

Met Council’s Builder’s Luncheon was held on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at the illustrious Tavern on the Green. Shaya Boymelgreen, a world renowned builder, was honored for his social services to Jewish charities in New York, United States and Israel. The Honorable William C. Thompson, New York City Comptroller,  delivered the keynote address.  Various other elected officials were in attendance. The event was quite a success, and Met Council would like to thank  the more than 300 guests who attended and shared their support for Met Council.

(L-R) William E. Rapfogel, Met Council Executive Director / CEO; Joseph C. Shenker, Met Council President; Rabbi David Cohen, Met Council Senior Executive Consultant; Abraham Biderman, Met Council Board Member;  Shaya Boymelgreen, Guest of Honor; Meyer Eichler, Vice Chairman, LibertyPointe Bank

Honorable William C. Thompson, New York City Comptroller

Met Council’s Marvelous Morning:

Organization Marks 30^th Annual Legislative Breakfast

 Sunday June 11^th marked the 30^th Anniversary of Met Council’s Annual Legislative Breakfast.  A record number of community members were in attendance at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan.  U.S Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg all addressed the crowd of over 500 Jewish community leaders and officials.  Among this year’s honorees were City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Assemblyman and Brooklyn County Leader Vito Lopez, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who received the inaugural Toby Nussbaum Memorial Award and Congressman Anthony Weiner. 

Federal, State and City government joined forces on behalf of Met Council at this special event.  Pictured are Senator Hilary Clinton, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Judy Rapfogel, Chief of Staff to Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn speaks to the crowd, after being honored with the Metropolitan Leadership Award.  She was joined by many supporters in applauding her efforts including NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Councilmembers Lew Fidler, Quinn, Gale Brewer, Oliver Koppell, Eric Gioia, David Weprin, Alan Gerson, Met Council’s Chairman of the Board Merryl Tisch, President Joseph Shenker, and Executive Director William Rapfogel.