STATEN ISLAND, NY — Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY, and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella celebrated Hanukkah by sampling sufganiyot at two Island locations, bringing together community leaders to honor the Jewish holiday while supporting local businesses.
The officials visited Island Kosher and the JCC of Staten Island to taste the traditional deep-fried jelly doughnuts, which are eaten during Hanukkah to symbolize the holiday’s miracle, when one day of oil burned for eight nights.
Board members from JCRC-NY, the JCC of Staten Island, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island joined the event. The group sampled doughnuts from both locations and discussed the meaning of Hanukkah.
Mark Treyger and Borough President Fossella participated in a Sufganiyot Crawl that emphasized joy and community support during Hanukkah celebrations.Courtesy of Kara Roche/SIJCC
“Today’s Sufganiyot Crawl was a joyful, delicious way to celebrate Hanukkah while supporting a Jewish small business and strengthening communal bonds on Staten Island,” Treyger said. “Food is a powerful way to bridge divides across communities and a vehicle for deepening understanding of cultural traditions and values.”
Treyger emphasized the importance of year-round support for Jewish-owned businesses, not just during difficult times.
Fossella described the event as a celebration of tradition and community values important to Staten Island residents.
“As a kickoff to the second day of Hanukkah, it was a pleasure to enjoy this sufganiyot tasting and to highlight and support some of the local small businesses dedicated to serving the community during the holiday season,” Fossella said.
Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, said the gathering fostered unity at an important time for Jewish communities.
“In light of the recent attack on the Jewish community in Australia, it is more important than ever to stand together in unity,” Lender said. “As we celebrate Hanukkah, our Sufganiyot Crawl underscores the shared joy and connection that brings our kehillah — our community — together.”
JCRC-NY is a UJA-Federation of NY agency that serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area.