On Sunday, August 27th over seventy Long Island organizations and religious communities came together to promote mutual respect and strengthen community ties. The event was held at the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview. The evening event featured Congressman Thomas Suozzi (3rd district), interfaith clergy members and community leaders, and Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino (Oyster Bay).
The group of organizers issued a joint statement in which they called on the community to “come together and stand strong against hate in all its forms. To stand together, look out for each other, respect difference and honor shared values so that we can strengthen our Long Island community and our country.”
One of the event organizers, Rabbi Rank (Midway Jewish Center) explained, “The event came together as a community response to Charlottesville and with the realization that to confront hate we must be more visible in our community building. While many of these congregations and organizations work together, it was necessary to show our commitment publicly to further interfaith efforts against hate and bigotry.”
The event featured both Democratic and Republican speakers, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan responses to hate. Congressman Suozzi said of the event, “We all have an obligation to make this country live up to its promise to the future”. Similarly, Country Supervisor Saladino, stated, “It’s time to focus on the real issues we need to work on, not get sidetracked or stand divided”
Community speakers echoed these calls for unity and led the participants in music and non-denominational prayers. Other featured speakers included: Rabbi Lina Zerabini (Long Island Board of Rabbis), Father Valentine (St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church), Jamal Mohsin (Pakistani American Community of Long Island), Lou Karol (Anti-Defamation League New York), Adam Novak (JCRC Long Island) and John Held (UJA Federation.)
“The time is now, and it is going to take all of us.” Said Rabbi Hecht of Temple Chaverim in closing.
Full list of supporting organizations:
ADL-New York; ATLI (Action Together Long Island); Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC; B’nai Israel Reform Temple of Oakdale; Central Synagogue- Beth Emeth; Rockville Centre; Chabad Lubavitch of Long Island; Community Church of Syosset; Community Reform Temple of Westbury; Congregation Simchat HaLev; Conservative Synagogue of the Hamptons-Bridgehampton; Dix Hills Jewish Center; East Meadow Jewish Center; East Northport Jewish Center; Good Shephard Lutheran Church; Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre; The Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County; Huntington Jewish Center; Interfaith Clergy Council Syosset-Woodbury; JCRC-L.I; Jericho Jewish Center; Long Island Board of Rabbis; Makom NY; Malverne Jewish Center; Manetto Hill Jewish Center; Marion and Aron Gural JCC; Masjid al Baqi; Mid-Island Y JCC; Merrick Jewish Centre; Midway Jewish Center; North Country Reform Temple; North Shore Synagogue; PACOLI (Pakistani American Community of Long Island); Plainview Jewish Center; Plainview Old Bethpage Interfaith Clergy Coalition; Plainview Reformed Church; Sid Jacobson JCC; St. Edwards Roman Catholic Church; St. John’s Episcopal Church Cold Spring Harbor; St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church; St. Pious X Roman Catholic Church; Suffolk YJCC; Temple Beth David; Temple Beth El of Huntington; Temple Beth Emeth of Mount Sinai; Temple Beth Torah-Melville; Temple Beth Torah-Westbury; Temple Chaverim; Temple Hillel; Temple Israel of Great Neck; Temple Or Elohim; Town of Oyster Bay Chabad-Woodbury; UJA Federation NY; Woodbury Jewish Center; Woodbury Methodist Church: Young Israel of Plainview