{"id":369378,"date":"2026-10-09T23:40:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T23:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/369378\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T23:40:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T23:40:21","slug":"menin-presents-1-16-million-check-to-orthodox-jewish-brooklyn-group-ujo-israel-jewish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/369378\/","title":{"rendered":"Menin presents $1.16 million check to Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn group UJO &#8211; Israel &#038; Jewish News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                            (Oct. 9, 2026 \/ JNS)\n                    <\/p>\n<p>Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, and fellow council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez presented a $1.16 million check to the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, an Orthodox group founded in 1966 by Holocaust survivors that represents 70,000 people and more than 200 nonprofits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis large check is emblematic of the respect that we have for UJO for the incredible work that you are doing for the community,\u201d she told attendees, gesturing toward a large depiction of the check on an easel. \u201cWe really are presenting this check to say, \u2018thank you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are so excited about this expansion that you are doing,\u201d she said of the new UJO headquarters, which is under construction. \u201cI can\u2019t think of a more fitting place than to do this announcement in this facility, which we can\u2019t wait to see the incredible work that I know that you\u2019re going to continue to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Menin said that she takes very seriously that she is the first Jewish speaker of the council.<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" href=\"#image-570000\" id=\"image-570000\" name=\"image-570000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"David Niederman UJO\"  width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791589220_268_.webp\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, at a meeting with New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured), Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I was coming over here, I was thinking about the fact that my mother and grandmother were Holocaust survivors in Hungary,\u201d she said. \u201cThen I was thinking about the work that UJO did in starting in 1966 and really making sure that those who survived the Holocaust and who were new to New York City were able to get the services that they needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust \u201cjust because he happened to be Jewish,\u201d Menin said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen my mother and grandmother settled into the east side of Manhattan, and they moved into a rent-controlled apartment in what was then known as \u2018Little Hungary,\u2019 which was the Hungarian Jewish community, that Hungarian Jewish community opened their hearts to my mother and grandmother and really welcomed them with open arms,\u201d the speaker said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow I have the tremendous honor of representing that same community by representing the east side of Manhattan, encompassing Little Hungary, in the City Council,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s all really come full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Menin said that she was proud of her efforts at the council to protect Jewish New Yorkers, including her five-point plan to fight Jew-hatred.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAntisemitism is right now the worst that we have seen it since the Holocaust,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is what is happening, and it\u2019s unfortunately taken root in our great city. It\u2019s unacceptable, and it\u2019s unconscionable, and we all need to be calling it out with a loud and clear voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" href=\"#image-790000\" id=\"image-790000\" name=\"image-790000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Menin UJO\"  width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791589221_358_.webp\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of the UJO, thanked Menin for the funding and for passing laws that help protect Jews. \u201cYour coming to Williamsburg shows that Williamsburg has a special place in your heart,\u201d he told her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAntisemitism is an issue. I know you all know. Williamsburg, unfortunately, one looks at numbers, is the epicenter of antisemitic attacks,\u201d he told attendees.<\/p>\n<p>According to the City Council, Menin and Guti\u00e9rrez, along with fellow council members Chi Oss\u00e9 and Lincoln Restler, helped secure the funding in the 2027 fiscal year budget.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to say to you, Rabbi Niederman, you and I have worked together for almost a decade. I started as commissioner of consumer affairs when I started in public service, and we were working on trying to reduce fines on businesses,\u201d Menin told the rabbi. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know that there were a number of businesses in the community that were receiving unfair fines, and back then, and that was in 2014, really working with UJO, making sure that we were listening to that and lowering those fines on small businesses,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" href=\"#new-york-city-council-members-meet-with-ujo\" id=\"new-york-city-council-members-meet-with-ujo\" name=\"new-york-city-council-members-meet-with-ujo\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>2 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>3 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>4 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>5 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>6 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>7 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>8 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (right) and council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meet with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>9 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>10 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>11 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>12 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>13 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>14 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>15 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>16 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>17 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>18 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>19 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>20 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>21 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>22 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>23 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>24 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>25 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>26 of 26<\/p>\n<p>\n                New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.\n            <\/p>\n<p>New York City Council members meet with UJO<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (right) and council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meet with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (not pictured) meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council member Jennifer Guti\u00e9rrez meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin meets with Brooklyn Jewish leaders, Oct. 9, 2026. Credit: Gerardo Romo\/New York City Council.<\/p>\n<p>When she was city commissioner of media and entertainment, Menin also worked with the rabbi, who called to ask her to ensure that streets weren\u2019t shut down for filming on Jewish holidays,\u201d she said. \u201cWe worked together on that.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>She added that she was \u201chonored\u201d to partner with UJO on the census to \u201cmake sure that we would get the proper resources for our schools, for our infrastructure, for over 300 programs that New York City relies on.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Oct. 9, 2026 \/ JNS) Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, and fellow council member&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":369379,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[98,100,99,9,24,63],"class_list":["post-369378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/369379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}