United Jewish Care
On
Sunday, December 16, 2007, community activists from several observant
communities in the Greater Metropolitan Area of New York City gathered
to envision and establish an umbrella organization titled United Jewish
Care (UJCare) to represent the communities, all their religious and
charitable organizations, all their religious schools, as well as their
respective constituents. The aim is to coordinate delivery of City
Programs, educational programs, health care, Municipal services, and
public transportation to individual communities. Its office was
established at 157 Harrison Avenue in Williamsburg.
The
first meeting was held in Williamsburg's Rose Castle and had
participants from Bayswater, Boro Park, Kiryas Yoel, Monsey, and Williamsburg.
On Sunday, March 30, 2008, a second meeting was held and
representatives from many of the communities' organizations took part.
Notably, UJCare will serve as a statewide extension of Williamsburg's Central Jewish Council (CJC).
Officers
were appointed as follows: Honorary President, Avrohom Wieder; Vice
President, Yitzchok Rosenberg; Williamsburg Representative, Menachem
Gershon Liebowitz; Boro Park Representative, Rabbi Aaron Weltz; Monsey
Representative, Moshe Yosef Hartman; and Bayswater Representative,
Rabbi Elisha Stern.
Rabbi
Aryeh Leib Glantz was appointed as executive vice president and Howard
(Yechezkel) Katz as executive director. Additionally, committees and
chairmen were appointed for specific projects. Collectively, the
chairmen will formulate the way the organization functions, so as to
achieve maximum possible success.
At the session, a committee titled Anash (a contraction of Anshei Shem
– men of renown) was formed to serve as the organizations political
arm. It will interview and endorse political candidates as well as
conduct voter registration drives.
In Williamsburg,
on Tuesday evening, April 1, members of the board met with Rabbi Aaron
Teitelbaum, Satmar Rebbe, to receive his approval and blessing.
UJCare and Congestion Pricing
In a letter to New York
States Representatives who are evaluating the Congestion Pricing
proposal of Mayor Bloomberg, UJCare seeks ''…an exemption clause for
those programs and services, which spend out-of-pocket funds, with
limited resources, for vehicle maintenance, gas, tolls and other
transportation expenses at no cost to those whom they serve.
Organizations such as Chesed, Chai Lifeline, Bikur Cholim, Hatzolah and
Friends Help Friends – just to name a few – provide medical-related
transportation services to hospitals, doctors, clinics, therapy
sessions, as well as transport to family members across New York State to provide respite care for loved ones at no charge.''
