City, Jewish leaders unite in Williamsburg for High Holiday food help, opening kosher pantry • Brooklyn Paper

As they sought to address hunger during the Jewish High Holy Days, city officials and community leaders cut the ribbon on a new kosher food pantry and delivered food to families preparing for the holidays.

The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty distributed food to the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg on Sept. 2 as UJO Williamsburg opened its first site exclusively dedicated to a kosher pantry.

The pantry is located at 365 Flushing Ave. within the W Mall, also known as Williamsburg Square Mall, and was designed to be at the center of the community.

The groups provided kosher food for 400 families on Thursday evening, celebrating not simply the holidays but a chance for “food-insecure families to celebrate the Jewish high holidays with dignity.”

The Met Council is distributing 2,016,982 pounds of kosher food, funded by philanthropy and government grants, to 162 sites across the five boroughs ahead of the Jewish High Holidays.

The council said this year’s campaign includes more than 15 sites participating for the first time, as well as 13 Met Council sites.

Kosher food, because of special rules for preparation and fewer competitors, can be more expensive than conventional food, contributing to food insecurity. The new UJO Williamsburg pantry is located in an area designed to be accessible to those in need.

The two Jewish High Holidays are Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, from Sept. 11-13, 2026, marking the start of the Jewish year 5787, and Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, from Sept. 20-21.

The groups described the food they provided for individuals and families as “kosher pantry staples,” such as fresh produce and traditional holiday foods, including honey, grape juice, apples, chicken, fish, eggs, rice, pasta, beans and canned goods.

The Met Council said it will distribute 55,026 bottles of grape juice, 48,384 bottles of honey and 659,432 pounds of fresh produce.

“The High Holidays are about family, tradition and hope, but for too many families they also bring the added stress of figuring out how to afford a holiday meal,” Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield said. “That is simply unacceptable.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul counted down from three before thanking the organizations present for “bringing healthy food to the people of South Williamsburg” at this pantry, and beyond.

She and other leaders then collectively cut a red ribbon with red scissors to open the food pantry dedicated to kosher food.

“This is extraordinary in advance of the high holy holidays,” Hochul said of the need to “anticipate” and fulfill demand.

Jewish leaders and city officials gather in Williamsburg to open a new kosher food pantry ahead of the High Holidays.

United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg Executive Director Rabbi David Niederman and Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield helped lead the event for the Met Council, which describes itself as “America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to fighting poverty.”

Other officials in attendance included Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James, City Comptroller Mark Levine and City Council Member Lincoln Restler.

“We owe it to the governor, providing resources to our community to be able to deliver much needed social services and food,” Rabbi David Niederman said. “Thank you so much.”

Leaders spoke near signs indicating “This high holiday distribution is sponsored by Met Council” and tables piled high with honey and challah, as well as boxes of food to be distributed.

The Met Council typically distributes kosher food during the holidays, serving a network of about 100 pantries across New York City, including the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where cars typically line up.

The council said it is expanding this year to serve those in Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida based on need.

Greenfield said “distributing more than 2 million pounds of kosher food” is designed to help those celebrate who may be struggling financially.

“Through this campaign, we are sending a clear message to families in need,” Greenfield said. “You are not alone.”

While Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered the two High Holidays, donated food is also meant to provide help for Sukkot, Sept. 25-Oct. 2; Shemini Atzeret, Oct. 2-3; and Simchat Torah, Oct. 3-4.

UJO Williamsburg will distribute food year-round through this kosher pantry, and the Met Council distributes food all year long, although it does special distributions before major Jewish holidays.

The council also does a major distribution for Passover, which next year is April 21-29, 2027.