A message of unity at Hanukkah celebration

Unity of the human spirit was the order of the day at Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s annual pre-Hanukkah celebration last week. 

The event, which is traditionally held at Borough Hall but was moved to the Riverdale YM-YWHA on Dec. 22, featured Mr. Diaz, an array of local elected officials and a performance from the SAR Academy elementary school student choir. 

Speeches from Mr. Diaz, as well as Rabbis Michael Miller and Joseph Potasnik emphasized harboring the spirit of the Jewish festival of lights to brighten a seemingly darker world. 

“Here in the United States, it seems like the country is creating a divide, wedge among different groups and organizations, and it seems like we are headed for an uncharted wilderness of uncertainty,” Mr. Diaz said. “This is a time that we should all come together and show the whole world that diversity is our strength.  Show the world that we truly embody the holy seasons, that we truly embody the spirit of being good to each other and doing God’s work.”

Others present at the celebration included Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Sen. Jeff Klein, Rep. Eliot Engel and representatives from Councilman Andrew Cohen’s office. 

Mr. Diaz’s speech centered around an ecumenical view for the Bronx, one that champions diversity. 

I think it’s important more than ever now for us to continue to celebrate the different groups, different religions that have been here for quite some time,” he said. “Especially during this time that we quite often [read] across seas that there is so much turmoil, so much divisiveness, where there is hate.”