Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso joined the Jewish Community Relations Council’s annual Day of Remembrance in Nassau County to reflect and recognize the work of youth in creating a more civil society. The event was held at the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview.
“I was happy to work with the Jewish Community Relations Council to honor these outstanding students who have shown their potential to make this world a more civil place,” said D’Urso.
Students were nominated by their schools for projects including increasing public awareness about vitiligo, an immune disease; working at soup kitchens; holding events to raise funds for the Long Island Tourette Association and Camp Kesem for children who have lost a parent to cancer; volunteering at a food pantry, working with Holocaust survivors to share their story to ensure that the oral history of the Holocaust lives on; coordinating food drives, volunteering at hospitals; fighting for the rights of all students, particularly those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; feeding the homeless; serving as EMTs; helping maintain a community garden and aiding blood, clothing, and toy drives.
Adam Suttin, JCRC-LI’s chair, talked about how inspiring it was to be in a room with young adults who are committed to doing good deeds. The Long Island chapter of the JCRC reaches out to educate and continue building relationships to help unite our communities.
Guest of honor Leo Ullman of Port Washington shared his moving story of being a hidden child in Holland during the Holocaust. Rabbi Rafi Rank of the Midway Jewish Center lit six yahzreit (memorial) candles to symbolize the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
