On Tuesday, April 13, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee hosted the Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Night Salute to Israel ceremony and reception at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president, New York Board of Rabbis, served as master of ceremonies and delivered the keynote address.

“As always, we have so much to celebrate,” said BP Markowitz. “New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, and the largest Jewish population in the City is right here in Brooklyn, making our borough the proud Jewish Capital of America. From the beginning, Brooklyn’s Jews have defined the character of our borough—and from Williamsburg to Crown Heights, Borough Park to Starrett City, Midwood to Gravesend, Mill Basin to Bergen Beach, Brighton Beach to Marine Park, our Jewish communities span all of Brooklyn.”

Special presentations were made to this year’s event honorees:

• Douglas Balin, LMSW (Hessed Award)
• Ari Goldstein, EMTP (Pikuach Nefesh Award)
• Rabbi Hailu Paris (Kiruv Award)
• Masbia (Community Service Award)
• HASC Center (Jewish Heritage Service Award)

The Student Holocaust Memorial Competition winners for 2010 were also honored:

• Yelena Khaimova, Edward R. Murrow High School (first place, essay contest)
• Stephanie Zhang, New Utrecht High School (second place, essay contest)
• Shalva Kakon, Masores Bais Yaakov High School (third place, essay contest)
• Daisy Wu, John Dewey High School (first place, poetry contest)
• Zurnain Kazzao, Edward R. Murrow High School (second place, poetry contest)
• John Fitzgibbons, New Utrecht High School (third place tie, poetry contest)
• Sunny Li, Edward R. Murrow High School (third place tie, poetry contest)