COJO fosters unity, assures Jewish voice is heard on Staten Island (opinion)

The Hamas terrorist assaults on Israel on October 7, 2023, took place thousands of kilometers abroad. However, antisemitism in the US has skyrocketed, and Jewish communities around the world have felt the effects.

An Israeli flag was taken from a synagogue’s flagpole on Staten Island, New York.A bat was used to attack a man.Strong anti-Israel demonstrations have swept across college and high school campuses, and they have even reached Staten Island’s Young Israel.

Since October 7, the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) has worked to ensure that the Jewish voice is heard, that antisemitic and anti-Zionist defamation is rejected, and that students and synagogue goers are secure because it firmly believes that these developments call for a strong reaction.

Following the Six-Day War in 1967, Joe Harris established COJO. He claimed that everyone was rushing in different directions to help Israel. There was no cohesive strategy. By acting as a hub for cooperation within the Jewish community and a gathering place for different Staten Island Jewish organizations, COJO aims to foster achdusunity. After October 7, COJO’s mission became even more crucial.

Following the terrorist assaults, COJO organized the Staten Island Rally in solidarity of Israel, which brought together a diverse gathering to show solidarity for the Jewish state. In reaction to an anti-Israel protest outside the synagogue, COJO organized a Unity and Love Israel Gathering with the Young Israel of Staten Island and organized excursions to Washington, D.C. for the March for Israel and the Stand Together event a year later.

Following an anti-Israel walkout by students, COJO organized a counter-protest. The severity of the problem was demonstrated by the fact that a typically peaceful Jewish community came out with force, which prompted the Board of Education to respond to a disciplinary complaint far more quickly than they have in the past, according to Mendy Mirocznik, president of COJO.

In keeping with the spirit of Achdus, COJO is pleased to provide a forum for leaders from all political backgrounds who want to honor the Jewish people and denounce antisemitic and anti-Zionist discourse.

The yearly menorah lighting event at Borough Hall is a prime example of COJO’s ethos. This year, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, a Republican, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, were present. Regarding their relationship, James remarked, “We are friends.” She underlined the significance of being nonpartisan in defending Israel and the Jewish people and against antisemitism, which has no party affiliation at all. That has no knowledge of gender or race.

Many Staten Island officeholders attended and spoke at COJO’s Oct. 10, 2023 solidarity conference, which was organized in the wake of the Oct. 7 tragedies. It was a magnificent show of solidarity and support during this trying time. In the middle of the contentious and crucial 2024 election, incumbents and candidates enthusiastically affirmed their commitment for the Jewish people and the State of Israel during COJO’s 57th Annual Legislative Breakfast.

As COJO president, Mirocznik promotes the Jewish community at a variety of cultural and civic events throughout New York City because COJO recognizes the importance of relationships built over time. Even the City & State New York’s 2024 Staten Island Power 100list, which identifies the borough’s leading influencers, ranked Mirocznik at number 50.

In addition to the several public safety-focused member groups that COJO supports, COJO considers local law enforcement to be crucial and ensures that they are consistently informed of the high regard the Jewish community has for their outstanding work. In addition to its Chodesh Kislev charity program, COJO regularly collaborates with the New York City Police Department on events such as yearly turkey distributions and holiday toy giveaways.

Since October 7, COJO has also been actively fighting antisemitism. It has met with Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon, held a news conference following an antisemitic attack, and hosted a town hall with Josh Kramer, regional director of the American Jewish Committee New York. The Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force is co-chaired by McMahon and Scott Maurer, executive vice president and CEO of COJO.

Particularly prevalent has been antisemitism in high school and college settings. Teachers’ and students’ views are heard and they feel comfortable thanks to COJO. Three educators and a student were given the opportunity to speak to elected leaders about their experiences during the legislative breakfast. For Jewish Heritage Night with the Staten Island FerryHawks, COJO partnered with the Wagner College Holocaust Center. The event’s main objective was education, according to the center’s director, Professor Lori Weintrob: We honored a number of educators as a means of demonstrating our support for individuals who have been actively fighting against antisemitism.

Through the Jewish Culture Club, COJO’s ambassador to the Staten Island school system, Mikal Magori, works to ensure that Jewish teachers and students have a support network and a way to express their Jewish identity and connection. COJO also met with the superintendent of Staten Island schools in District 31 on multiple occasions.

According to Magori, the network of support that Mirocznik and Maurer fostered had a significant impact since officials were aware that Jewish students were being actively monitored and had a strong group behind them. Under a Committee on Jewish Education, COJO is working to integrate these initiatives.

In light of the difficulties that the Jewish community has faced since October 7 and the successful efforts to address them, COJO would like to express its sincere gratitude to the police, city officials, and community leaders for their commitment, involvement, and action, all of which have contributed to the success of the Jewish community on Staten Island. Such unrelenting dedication is essential to COJO’s efforts to combat hate and unite Staten Islanders from all walks of life in order to better all neighborhoods.

COJO hopes to build on this significant achievement in 2025 and that the upcoming year will bring peace in the Middle East, the return of all hostages held in Gaza, and even more empathy for one another.