Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at 2015 Jewish Heritage Reception

June 11, 2015

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you so much Bruce. Ladies and gentleman, we are blessed, in this city, to have someone who just cannot stop giving of himself.  Bruce Ratner has never met a good cause he didn’t like and what he’s done as the chair of the board at this museum is absolutely outstanding, helping to make it – make it something for an even broader community; to make it a place where even more people. I particularly appreciate the partnership he has created with the National Yiddish Theater folks [inaudible]. Let’s thank Bruce Ratner for all he’s done.

[Applause]

This museum speaks to us in so many ways. It’s not just about a moment in history that we remember as an example of something we will never let happen again.  It’s not just about a tragedy, to say the least; it is about the totality of the greatness of the Jewish people and the resilience and strength of the Jewish people.  And so it’s a very appropriate place for us to gather to celebrate the heritage of the Jewish people worldwide, but particularly the extraordinary impact the Jewish community has had on this city. And there are so many manifestations of it and I’ll talk about it in a moment, but I can safely say, you know, we’ve hired some people at City Hall in the last months and I’ve realized that I make – part of the obligatory orientation at City Hall is key Yiddish phrases you have to know to work in New York City government.

[Laughter]

And I’ll be in a meeting and we’ll do something that, you know, is the kind of the thing we’ve been wanting to do as a part of our vision, and I’ll say this is a Mitzvah.

[Laughter]

And, you know, it’s important that people learn the phrases if you’re a true New Yorker, but that is a little vignette simply to say it’s impossible to separate the greatness of New York City from the extraordinary foundational contributions of the Jewish community to this city, and we celebrate that tonight. Now, because the community means so much to the city, many, many leaders wanted to be a part of this event tonight. I want to give a moment to appreciate them. Let’s start – I think it means a lot to us that so many international dignitaries are here – in particular I want to single out the Council General of Poland to New York City, the Honorable Ursula Gacek. Let’s thank her.

[Applause]

And we have some of our elected officials here with us tonight, including the Borough President of Manhattan Gale Brewer,

[Applause]

Councilmember Mark Levine,

[Applause]

Councilmember Andy Cohen,

[Applause]

Councilmember Raphael Espinal.

[Applause]

I want to acknowledge someone who might as well be an elected official – we all spend so much time with him –Michael Miller, the CEO of the Jewish Human Relations Council; thank you for your leadership.

[Applause]

And my personal tour guide in Israel, three times now, so if you really want to know Israel go with Michael Miller, let’s face it.

[Laughter]

The people from my administration, who do extraordinary things for the city – I hope a lot of you have had the chance to work with them because when you see these folks in action it really gives you faith in public service – the commitment is outstanding.  I’m going to call them all out; our Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Tom Finkelpearl;

[Applause]

My Community Affairs Commissioner, Marco Carrión;

[Applause]

Commissioner for Housing, Preservation and Development, Vicky Been;

[Applause]

Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Julie Menin.

[Applause]

Did I get everybody? I think I did. Yes, alright, now my friends, we look out in the harbor and you look at Lady Liberty and it reminds you that statue has an extraordinary effect on all of us as New Yorkers. It makes us remember the journey that brought so many of our forbearers here and the idea that this was a place for everyone. And this museum celebrates humanity, celebrates all the accomplishments of the Jewish people, but also what should be that connection between all of us. Yes, acknowledging the extraordinary pain of when that human link was broken and when immorality ruled, but reminding us why it’s our obligation to create every day. Now, I have a particular role and a particular honor as the mayor of the city of this world that has the single largest Jewish population within its city limits. And I’m very, very proud of that fact. And yes, I met with the mayor of Jerusalem a few months back. We all agree [inaudible] metropolitan area there may be more Jewish people than in New York City, but in my city, in my five boroughs there are more Jewish people than in any city on this earth, and that is a blessing.

[Applause]

And therefore I feel, not only a special sense of connection to the community, but a special obligation to speak out on behalf of the community. And brothers and sisters wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was no need to speak out.

[Applause]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if  the lessons of this museum were learned so deeply that we never have to say that there was anti-Semitism anywhere in the world. But we know – we know anti-Semitism sadly is alive and well. And we have an obligation to fight it. And I always say with no attempt at melodrama, with a cold eye, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of people around the globe in the 1920’s and the 1930’s, who saw the warning signs; somehow in too many cases explain them away or minimize them or hope for the best. Well, I’ve seen what’s happened in western Europe in this last few years, and I’ve spoken out against it because it’s very, very troubling. Not just that there’s still persistent anti- Semitist – and by the way much of that anti Semitisms is the same variety we knew before that never went away, that was latent, that was still in communities all over Europe and sadly it started to come back to life. But I also said it’s up to our national governments to cleanse history by doing what we wish they had done decades ago and stamping out anti-Semitism anytime it rears its head.

[Applause]

I was in Paris in the weeks after the tragic attack on the kosher market. I spoke to the mayor of Copenhagen just hours after the attack there. It is so obvious that we’re fighting a new kind of fight, but what I say to all of us is use our voices; use our connections; use our power to remind our allies, our friends in western Europe – and this will be true all over the world – but in western Europe it’s time for a strong and clear defense of the Jewish community that sends an unmistakable message of solidarity on behalf of the community.

[Applause]

And I say with humility, we here in New York City set a standard, and we’re proud of that standard. If there is an attack on the community anywhere in the world we reinforce community institutions here. We never explain away a bias attack here, we take each one seriously. And we know the NYPD follows up with great energy anytime we see an act of bias. So, we send the message that the government of this city is in solidarity with the community. And you don’t even have to ask are we going to respond when there’s an attack. It’s something we do automatically, and from the heart. I want to now just talk about something that you should be so proud of – that the ideas and the thinking of the Jewish community has so positively uplifted all of us and our public discourse, and our thinking on the Jewish principle of Tikun Olam is one of the elements of thought that I think summarizes so much of what has been good in this world; a way of thinking about our obligation one to the other. And it’s animated so much of what we do, I feel a kinship with that principle that we’ve brought in to so much of what we’ve done, whether it’s pre-k or identification cards for all New Yorkers of every background regardless of documentation status or –

[Applause]

What we’ve tried to do for our special ed. children; to help them get the help they need without all the struggles of the past.

[Applause]

What we’ve tried to do to get childcare vouchers to so many families who waited for so long for a chance for something better for their children.

[Applause]

That principle – that principle is so [inaudible] to me and my team. Well, Tikun Olam is a principle that obviously animated the man we honor today. My friends, I know you’re all involved in some good conversations, but I want to draw your attention for a moment because there’s a man we going to honor who really deserves our full attention, Sigmund Rolat. And I want you to understand this story because if you need to be a little more inspired Sigmund will do that for you. Sigmund had a hero, a role model, it was his brother. And before it was too late in the holocaust his brother told him a simple concept – he said never forget. And Sigmund lost his brother, but indeed he never forgot. And he devoted his life to ensuring that not only would there not be another atrocity, but that people could treat each other with decency and humanity. There was a day in 1939 where his life was [inaudible]. He was about to start fourth grade in Poland. It was the day that WWII began. He ended up in a Nazi labor camp, and finally at the age of 14 was freed, only to find that he was the only one of his immediate family to survive. He came to this country with no money, no connections, and achieved great, great things. He learned, he built a great business, and then he used his fortune to help others. He remembered the words of his brother, and he led in efforts to preserve Jewish history and to teach a lesson that the world needed to learn; because we can say never again, but it’s something we have to teach and act on every single day. That is the reality. And with Sigmund’s help the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw became a reality.

[Applause]

And he very powerfully called it a museum of life; not just a celebration or memory of those we lost, but a museum of life, and what can be achieved, and what can be rebuilt. And his work has touched so many people, and it’s our chance tonight to thank him for all he’s done for the Jewish community, and for the people of New York City, and in fact, the people of this world. It is my honor to present a proclamation from the City of New York to Sigmund Rolat.

[Applause] 

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not going to read all of the very elegant verbiage. I can tell you that what this proclamation says is this man has done so much for so many, and in such an inspirational fashion that he’s worthy of the kind of recognition someone gets when they truly serve all the people. So, as mayor of this city I do hereby proclaim Thursday, June 11, 2015 in the City of New York as Sigmund Rolat day.

[Applause]

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not about his life [inaudible] as it gets.

[Applause] 

I think that Sigmund has reminded us that all those who sought to defeat this community, and its culture – and to make it something that was impossible to survive – last laugh has gone to those like Sigmund who believe that they can rebuild and restore. And it’s quite a testament to the human spirit. I think we’re all enriched by his presence here tonight, let’s thank Sigmund one more time.

[Applause]

I also want to thank – I got one more thing to say after this – but first, let me thank – we’ve been joined by Deputy Mayor Richard Buery, the author of our pre-k program. We thank you for your great effort.

[Applause]

And Councilman Chaim Deutsch, thank you.

[Applause]

Now, we’ve got to be inspired by a great humanitarian, and you’ve had a lot of great leaders here – joined this evening – we thank them all, but now something that will be the [inaudible] of the evening, we’re going to here from the [inaudible].

[Applause]

So, this is going to be a real treat everyone get ready. Have a wonderful evening everyone, thank you.