Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999

Release #139-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2971


MAYOR GIULIANI AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE HOST THE JEWISH HERITAGE-NY99 CELEBRATION

The Mayor Proclaims Jewish Heritage Week

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC), and thousands of New Yorkers today celebrated "Jewish Heritage-NY 99" (JHNY) at Bryant Park. The focus of this year's event is promoting New York's status as the center of Jewish American culture, and celebrating New York City's diverse Jewish communities. In commemoration of this event, the Mayor proclaimed April 18th through 25th as Jewish Heritage Week in New York City.

The theme of this year's celebration, "As the Century Draws to a Close: Reflections on 100 years of Jewish Life in the City," is a reminder of one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of the Jewish people. In attendance were: Ambassador Shmuel Sisso, Consul General of the State of Israel; Howard Teich, Co-Chairman of JHNY 99; Michael Miller, Executive Vice President of JCRC of New York; Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Psychosexual Therapist; Julie Budd, Singer; Robert Merrill, Baritone; and Fyvush Finkel, Actor.

"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."

1999 marks the 22nd Anniversary of Jewish Heritage Week, honoring the history, culture, traditions and contributions of the Jewish people to New York City. The Bryant Park celebration was sponsored in part by Consolidated Edison Company, Bell Atlantic Foundation and NBC 4.

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