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- Clockwise, from the bottom: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin; Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, NY Government Relations, Agudath Israel; Isaac Eckstein, Chair, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Joel Stern, Board Representative, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Chazaq; Abe Schlisselfeld, Managing Director, Marks and Paneth; Miss Miri Szpilzinger, Assistant, Communications Department, Agudath Israel; Ms. Sorrele Idels, Queens Jewish Alliance; Mrs. Rachel Salem, Assistant, Pirchei Agudath Israel of America; Ms. Leah Zagelbaum, Vice President of Media Affairs, Agudath Israel; and Eva Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs, Office of the Governor.
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- Agudath Israel delegates and NY Jewish community leaders meet with Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin
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- Left to Right: Ari Weiss, Staten Island Shomrim Coordinator, Rabbi Josh Mehlman, Chairman, FJCC; Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; NYC Councilmember and Incoming Manhattan Boro President Mark Levine; and Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin
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- Left to Right: Ari Weiss, Staten Island Shomrim Coordinator; Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; NYC Councilmember and Incoming Manhattan Boro President Mark Levine; Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin; Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, NY Government Relations, Agudath Israel; and Isaac Eckstein, Chair, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove
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- Group Photo: Back Row: Yisroel Peskowitz, Government Affairs, Chazaq, Naftali Reiner, Bobov 45; Rabbi Mordechai Biser, Special Counsel, Agudath Israel; Rabbi Avi Greenstein, CEO, Boro Park JCC; Rabbi Labish Becker, Executive Director, Agudath Israel; Ari Weiss, Staten Island Shomrim Coordinator; Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Chazaq; Isaac Eckstein, Chair, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Joel Stern, Representative, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Abe Schlisselfeld, Managing Director, Marks and Paneth ; Front Row: Rabbi Josh Mehlman, Chairman, FJCC; Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; NYC Councilmember and Incoming Manhattan Boro President Mark Levine; Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin; and Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, NY Government Relations, Agudath Israel.
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- Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel, Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin and Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, NY Government Relations, Agudath Israel
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- Group Photo: Back Row: Ms. Leah Zagelbaum, Vice President of Media Affairs, Agudath Israel; Miss Miri Szpilzinger, Assistant, Communications Department, Agudath Israel; Naftali Reiner, Bobov 45; Rabbi Mordechai Biser, Special Counsel, Agudath Israel; Rabbi Avi Greenstein, CEO, Boro Park JCC; Rabbi Labish Becker, Executive Director, Agudath Israel; Ari Weiss, Staten Island Shomrim Coordinator; Yisroel Peskowitz, Government Affairs, Chazaq, Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Chazaq; Isaac Eckstein, Chair, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Joel Stern, Board Representative, United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove; Abe Schlisselfeld, Managing Director, Marks and Paneth; Ms. Sorrele Idels, Queens Jewish Alliance; Tamar Spoerri, Government Affairs Assistant, Agudath Israel; Eva Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs, Office of the Governor; Mrs. Rachel Salem, Assistant, Pirchei Agudath Israel of America; and Mrs. Rochel Miller, Director of Strategic Development, Agudath Israel. Front Row: Rabbi Josh Mehlman, Chairman, FJCC; Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; NYC Councilmember and Incoming Manhattan Boro President Mark Levine; Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin; and Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, NY Government Relations, Agudath Israel.
Agudath Israel of America was honored to host Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin on Monday, for a meeting with Agudah and community leaders. The discussion at the meeting covered a slew of important topics, including antisemitism, zoning issues, and yeshiva education.
Councilmember and incoming Manhattan Boro President Mark Levine also attended, expressing that he is looking forward to continuing his friendship with Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Jewish community. Agudath Israel looks forward to continuing its relationship with Governor Kathy Hochul, and was excited to be able to meet with Eva Wyner, deputy director of Jewish affairs for the governor, who will be working alongside Jake Adler, director for Jewish affairs.
Over the course of the meeting, Lt. Governor Benjamin reaffirmed his commitment to fighting antisemitism. A specific issue of concern in this regard was addressing a bill passed by the New York legislature earlier this year. The bill established a Community Preservation Fund in Blooming Grove, a town adjacent to Kiryas Yoel in Orange County, but which in reality is aimed at restricting Orthodox Jews from living there. Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, director for New York affairs of Agudath Israel, introduced Joel Stern of the United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove, who explained the history of the issue and what solutions might be implemented.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel, went on to discuss the importance of yeshiva education, how parental choice and autonomy is a factor in this, and the highly effective outcomes a yeshiva program produces.
“Lt. Governor Benjamin showed his commitment to working with us and to helping our communities continue to grow and thrive in New York. I was singularly impressed by how well he grasped all of the issues at hand,” said Rabbi Zwiebel.
“It was an honor to have the Lt. Governor come and visit us,” said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber. “I look forward to continuing to work with him and Governor Hochul in benefitting the Orthodox Jewish community in New York.”