Earlier this week I was able to visit one of Met Council’s local Jewish Community Councils. The Jackson Heights-Elmhurst Kehillah in Queens has been around for many years, serving the Jewish and other neighborhood communities. Visiting the Kehillah’s new offices located at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights, I was intrigued to see firsthand the diverse neighborhood in which the agency operates. At the Jewish Center’s thrift store for example, I noticed that many of the people shopping there were not Jewish, but rather Latino, Asian, and other ethnicities who live in the area. It is wonderful that these different groups, who can sometimes be insular and close-knit, rely on and engage in one another to build a stronger community. I think that this scene really defines the current climates of Met Council, New York City, and the United States as a whole. Especially since the economic recession, people are looking past their differences and focusing on finding assistance and help wherever they can. I can only hope this cooperation continues beyond this crisis, creating a permanent bond between the diverse residents of New York City.
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