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Public Employee Press
DC 37 celebrates
Jewish Heritage From
its beginning in the 1940s, DC 37 was a multi-ethnic union, but its constant focus
on social and economic justice for members and all New Yorkers sprang from the
politics and philosophy of the culture of Jewish immigrants. Today,
we live and work in a house built by two strong Jewish labor leaders Jerry
Wurf and Victor Gotbaum, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts told hundreds
of members June 29 at the unions annual celebration of Jewish Heritage Month.
She spoke after a warm kosher meal and a moving invocation by Rabbi Dr. Alvin
Kass, the Senior Jewish Chaplain of the city Police Dept. DC 37 Jewish
Heritage Committee Chair Larry Glickson presided as participants heard remarks
from State Sen. Diane Savino, a former SSEU Local 371 member who was elected with
strong support from DC 37, and political and media consultant Hank Scheinkopf.
A representative of Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger, spoke and explained
how the Jewish charity works to feed the hungry of many religions worldwide.
The
evening ended on a lighter note, with comedian Cory Kahaney and klezmer music,
the songs and instrumental arrangements that Jewish immigrants brought with them
from Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s, by the Howard Leshaw Ensemble.
Keynoter Scheinkopf a retired city Police Officer who worked on the
Clinton campaign in 1995 and 1996 and currently advises City Council Speaker Christine
Quinn and the DC 37 Retirees Association said he believes the Democrats
could take back Washington this year if they deliver a bold Democratic
message and stop trying to imitate Republicans. On his feet,
Scheinkopf made up television and radio commercials that drew laughter as they
focused on the foibles of this years political wannabes. Civil
Service Technical Guild Local 375 held its own Jewish Heritage celebration at
its May 17 delegates meeting. The event was chaired by Pension Chair Mike Troman
and featured Jewish folk music and guest speaker Marty Markowitz, the borough
president of Brooklyn. | |