FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
| Contact: | Sunny Mindel/Michael Anton (212) 788-2958 |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC), and thousands of New Yorkers today celebrated "Jewish Heritage-NY 2000" (JHNY) in Bryant Park. Celebrated since 1976, Jewish Heritage-NY highlights New York City's diverse Jewish communities and promotes New York's status as the center of Jewish American culture. This year's event takes place on Israel's Independence Day. In commemoration of this event, the Mayor proclaimed May 7th through 14th, 2000 as Jewish Heritage Week in New York City.
The theme of this year's celebration, "New York's Jewish Community: a Legacy of Caring and Responsibility," is a reminder of the Jewish community's long and distinguished tradition of service and civic involvement. In attendance were: Ambassador Shmuel Sisso, Consul General of the State of Israel; Howard Teich, Co-Chairman of JHNY 2000; Michael Miller, Executive Vice President of JCRC of New York; Actress Tovah Feldshuh; Actor Tony Randall, Cantor Alberto Mizrahi; and singer Bruce Adler.
"Today, we celebrate Jewish history, culture, and life. But the most meaningful way to measure Jewish history is through its people," the Mayor said. "From our City's earliest days as a Dutch colony to our position now as the Capital of the World, Jewish New Yorkers' emphasis on faith and family, and on the importance of hard work and education, has given them a primary role in New York's cultural and civic life. Today our City boasts the largest Jewish population of any city outside Israel, and it goes without saying that Jewish American New Yorkers are leaders in every field imaginable."
The Bryant Park celebration was sponsored in part by the Consolidated Edison Company, Bell Atlantic, KeySpan Energy, the Joseph Alexander Foundation, El Al Israel Airlines, the Kamber Group, and NBC 4.
www.ci.nyc.ny.us