INERFAITH FREEDOM SEDER

UNITY IN ACTION

COMMUNITY Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, D.A Eric Gonzalez Headline Interfaith Seder Y On Sunday April 14.2019 The Bridge conducted its third annual Interfaith Unity Seder.Over three hundred guests of Jews, Muslims and Christian faith attended the unity Seder on Sunday that both celebrated both the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover and served to highlight that beneath our cultural, religious and ethnic differences, we all share the common bond of humanity. The Bridge Multicultural Advocacy Project, 1894 Flatbush Avenue, hosted the annual event, which featured live music by FELINA BACKER AND EZZY GLUCK, dancing and both Kosher and Halal food. The eight-day Passover holiday celebrates the ancient Hebrews exodus from slavery in Egypt, and the Seder is the meal on the first two nights of the holiday where the tale of that exodus is recounted. The chair of the event Dr Monalisa Ferrari welcomed Rabbi Joseph Potasnik executive vice president of THE NY BOARD OF RABBIS who led the event with a powerful prayer for unity It is always a pleasure to join @thebridgemcp at their annual Seder, where people of different religions, cultures, and backgrounds came together to celebrate unity and our borough’s diversity,” tweeted Gonzalez, who has been celebrating at all of the freedom seders in the past Among those honored were NYPD officers Sergeant Zagham Abbas and Detective Mohamed Amen. Among the other elected officials in attendance included City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Prospect Lefferts Gardens) and Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus (D-Coney Island, Bay Ridge). Also in attendance were a number of judicial candidates, and several candidates running in the upcoming special 45th District City Council election. “Bringing together so many hundreds of people of all faiths at our unity Seder shows how we as a community are united in standing against hate and bigotry,” said The Bridge Founder Mark Meyer Appel. The Mission of The Bridge Multicultural Advocacy Project (MCP) is to unite and energize people of every racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious group across New York City and the United States to address social issues facing society today. Only as a united community can we promote and advocate for government to educate society as a combined unified voice.

The Bridge Multicultural Advocacy Project | 1894 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 718 338 5200

The Bridge Project Led By Mark Appel Aid Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims

Monday, October 2, 2017

Brooklyn’s Diversified Communities Unite to Help Victims of Maria’s Wrath in Puerto Rico

"EMERGENCY RELIEF DRIVE"            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community ASSEMBLYPERSON HELENE WEINSTEIN AND EVENT CO-CHAIR JOUSE PIERRE Brooklyn’s Diversified Communities Unite to Help Victims of Maria’s Wrath in Puerto Rico By Posted on October 2, 2017 In an unprecedented display of unity,  The Bridge Multi-Cultural Project,   1894 Flatbush Avenue, sponsored an emergency relief drive to assist the beleaguered victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Sunday, October 1, 2017.  Over 200 people donated an abundance of food, clothing, shoes, non-perishable items, first aid kits, medical supplies,  feminine hygiene products  and much more during the five-hour donation drive. The  Bridge MCP emergency drive was given an imprimatur by  City Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, NYS Assembly members Helene E. Weinstein & Rodneyse Bichotte  as well as  City Council members  Jumaane D. Williams & Matthieu Eugene . Diversity on display as the Flatbush community pitched in to lend a hand to Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico. Co-sponsors of the drive reflected the true diversity that illuminates the neighborhoods in Brooklyn’s Flatbush district. Such prominent religious organizations as the Rabbinical Council of America (RAA) – the Igud HaRabbonim, the Interfaith Dialogue Project, the Haitian American Caucus, the Yemeni  American Association , the American Council of Minority Women, the New York Rescue & Response Team were among those groups that lent their sponsorship to the hurricane drive. In a voice reverberating  with palpable emotion,  Mark Meyer Appel , the founder and CEO of The Bridge Multi-Cultural project introduced the co-chairs of the emergency hurricane drive;  Brooklyn district leader Josue Pierre  and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik.  Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, the executive vice chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim – an organization with well over 800 member rabbis representing communities all across the United States and Canada addressed the gathering. “The mission of all of us in our respective communities are to support each other in times of crisis. I am so proud that our community has unified and is working hard to support those victims who were adversely affected by this terrible tragedy,” declared Rabbi Mirocznik. Assemblymember Helene Weinstein, third from left, was among the many Flatbush lawmakers pitching in to help prepare care packages for the victims of Hurricane Maria. Contributed photo. Joining Rabbi Mirocznik was Rabbi Yaakov Klass , and other members of the presidium of Rabbinical Alliance of America. Speaking from a vantage point of his impressive experience as a community leader, Pierre told the assemblage how Brooklynites from all walks of life, always band together and unify in  times of desperate need. “Today, we join our Muslim, Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters in showing our love and deep concern for all those adversely affected by Maria’s unforgiving wrath by providing them with everything they will need to survive,” said Pierre. Mr. Abu Khaliquzzaman, an esteemed and highly respected leader of Brooklyn’s Muslim community, is the founder of the Interfaith Dialogue Project events. The humanitarian effort at The Bridge. Mr. Khaliquzzaman focused his remarks on the treasured legacy of Brooklynites always “stepping up to the plate” and showing compassion for the needy. “ Mr. Mark Appel offered plaudits to the  remarkable work done through the partnership with the  New York Rescue and Response Team to save lives in the aftermath of the string of hurricanes that wrought disaster to Florida and the Caribbean. Mr. Appel was quite generous with his words of high praise for  Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City’s  elected officials. He particularly took note of the fact with their rapid response to the devastation of these hurricanes

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The Bridge Multicultural & Advocacy Project | 1894 Flatbush Ave Brooklyn NY 11210 917.804.3942

WATCH YOU TUBE OF EVENT

HURRICANE RELIEF DRIVE SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 2917 1:00 TILL 6:PM

MAYOR de BLASIO TIME FOR ACTION............ KEEP YOUR PROMISE YOU MADE TO AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA AND THE CATHOLIC CONFRENCE TO HELP SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

IN 2014 YOU PROMISED TO HELP THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN   KEEP YOUR PROMISE 

THANK YOU SENATOR SIMCHA FELDER FOR LEADING THIS FIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN
Mayor Bill de Blasio  on Tuesday 2014 announced a package of administrative changes that Would make the process easier and less contentious for parents who are entitled to reimbursement of tuition for their child’s special education program.

The deal was announced as the Aseembly was about to vote on a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, and passed in the Senate by Senator Simcha Felder earlier this month. The changes announced by Mayor de Blasio will render decisions about whether to settle cases within 15 days, to expedite reimbursements to parents, and to limit the paperwork they are required to submit.

“Every child in this city deserves a quality education. But for years, parents of children with special needs have had to wait for the City to settle legitimate claims for tuition reimbursement. Today, we are turning the page, making changes that will ease the burden on these parents. We are cutting red tape, speeding up the process, and reaching outcomes that do right by families,” de Blasio said at the press conference.

Noting that New York City had an opportunity to do “something foundational and right some wrongs,” Mayor de Blasio called the deal a “streamlined, parent-friendly, family-friendly, respectful approach.”

The plan, the mayor announced, following changes by September 1, will expedite decisions and seek a settlement within 15 days of receiving notice of parent intent to unilaterally place their child in a school. The DOE will also refrain from re-litigating settled or decided cases, unless there is a change in the IEP placement recommendation and avoid unnecessary litigation in cases where the agency is unable to offer a placement, or when a child is about to enter the final grade of a school.

Under the agreement, the DOE will only require that paperwork every three years, allowing for income eligibility updates to be made each year, as needed.

“Each and every child in this state is entitled to a sound, basic education. Unfortunately, our public school system is not always able to accommodate children with special education needs, and many parents must turn to non-public schools. For too long, parents of special needs children had to engage in a lengthy fight to get their children placed in a private school. Parents have had to sue the City for reimbursement of tuition, placing an undue financial burden on these families. Worse yet, parents have to fight this battle year after year,”