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 union’s 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 year’s 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.