Brooklyn lawmakers visit Israel to meet with Israeli president

August 14, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The delegation paid a visit to Israel’s official 9/11 memorial, located in Jerusalem. Photo courtesy of Councilman David Greenfield’s Office

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A delegation of lawmakers, religious leaders and heads of nonprofit organizations recently visited Israel on an eye-opening trip that included a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin where the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal was a topic of discussion.

Rivlin outlined Israel’s strong objections to the deal that the Obama administration reached with Iran, according to Councilmember David Greenfield’s office. Greenfield (D-Borough Park-Midwood-Bensonhurst) was a member of the delegation.

The trip was organized by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, a leader of the New York Board of Rabbis.

In addition to Greenfield, the elected officials who made the trip included Councilmembers Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights) and Robert E. Cornegy Jr. (D-Bed-Stuy-Crown Heights); state Sens. Kevin Parker (D-East Flatbush-Flatbush-Midwood) and Jesse Hamilton (D-Crown Heights); and Assemblymember Ron Kim (D-Whitestone-Flushing).

Community Board 12 Chairman Yidel Perlstein, Sephardic Federation Executive Director Avi Spitzer and the Chairman of Renewal Mendy Reiner also made the trip. Renewal is a nonprofit organization that assists patients in need of kidney transplants.

During the trip, the delegation had dinner with New York Consul General Ido Aharoni and met with a tank battalion commander in the Golan Heights.

The group’s itinerary included stops in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Golan Heights and the Dead Sea. The group also made a special visit to Israel’s 9/11 memorial in Jerusalem.

“This trip connected New Yorkers of different cultures and showed the elected and community officials the diversity, beauty and strength of Israel. It was really amazing to spend a week with so many of my colleagues who had never been to Israel before and witness their first-hand emotional connection to the Jewish state,” Greenfield said. “It’s one thing to read about Israel, it’s quite another to walk the streets of the old city, share a bowl of chulent with residents of Meah Shearim, visit the community of Sderot and talk first-hand with Israel’s political, civic and religious leaders.”

Potasnik said the delegation was made up of leaders “who genuinely care about the state of Israel, the City of New York and bringing people of different faiths together.”

Cornegy called the visit “illuminating for me” and said it was important to him in his capacity as the council’s chairman of the Small Business Committee.

“As one who grew up in the Christian faith, the visit to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was the highlight for me,” Parker said. “To see where Christians alongside Jews and Moslems worship peacefully literally feet from each other highlights the common thread to the Abrahamic traditions both spiritually and intellectually. The Jewish community is an important community in both Brooklyn and throughout New York City.”

“This trip to Israel was a great learning experience. It reinforced to me the importance of community, cooperation, and demonstrates what can be achieved when pulling together towards a common end,” said state Sen. Jesse Hamilton. “But more than that, this trip to Israel was a moving experience. It showed the vitality and variety of Israeli culture.”