One Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY, December 4, 2015: Yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams hosted his Annual Interfaith Breakfast at Brooklyn Borough Hall to highlight the multi-faith diversity of Brooklyn, and present some of the longest serving clergy leaders in Brooklyn with a “Golden” Cornerstone in recognition of their work and commitment to social justice.
“The Annual Interfaith Breakfast brings together different faiths that highlight the rich diversity of religious traditions in the borough of Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “Brooklyn is blessed to have spiritual leaders and interfaith chaplains who care and minister to the needs of the community across the borough. This breakfast is not only a celebration of Brooklyn’s multiple faiths, but also of my office’s concept of One Brooklyn.”
Borough President Adams recognized the longevity of several members of Brooklyn’s clergy, and highlighted their work in ensuring the spiritual, social and physical well-being of the residents of Brooklyn. Borough President Adams honored Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry, Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, and Overseer Dorothy Wright, who have a combined 230 years of leadership in their respected houses of worship.
“The ‘Golden’ Cornerstones honor those members who have become pillars of our faith traditions,” said Borough President Adams. “I congratulate them all on their longevity, sustainability and commitment to improving the body, mind and soul of their congregations and communities.”
The event was organized with key support from Con Edison, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Outback Steakhouse, the Council of People’s Organization, and the Turkish-American Eyup Sultan Cultural Center.
“The Interfaith Breakfast brings together the brothers and sisters of all faiths,” said Mohammad Razvi, executive director for the Council of People’s Organization. “Praying and breaking bread together will bring us closer in respecting and admiring each other’s differences. We are grateful that Borough President Adams continues to bring us all together as One Brooklyn.”
The breakfast was held a day following the tragic mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, and many of Borough President Adams’s comments emphasized the healing power of faith for those who are hurting inside.
“Hurt people, hurt people,” said Borough President Adams. “We must engage all corners of our community to ensure that we are raising emotionally intelligent individuals, and that we provide our most at risk with the resources they need to succeed.”
To do so, Borough President Adams launched his “Seeds of Kindness” campaign, which is designed to help empower our most vulnerable Brooklynites by helping them reach a level of independence.
Building off the results of a 2015 Harvard report that found that the lack of adequate transportation hinders social mobility, Borough President Adams called upon members of communities of faith to provide donations of weekly and monthly MetroCards to the “Seeds of Kindness” campaign, in order to ensure families and individuals can have access to mass transit. Doing so would make certain that they are able to connect to the referral appointments, which are important steps to obtaining housing, employment, and needed benefits in an effort to improve their social mobility and reduce poverty in the borough.
“These generous donations of MetroCards can be the gift that creates new opportunities, such as connecting people to seasonal employment during the holidays and beyond. Access to affordable transit is one of the most certain ways to improve social mobility,” says Veronica Vanterpool, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a non-profit policy watchdog.
The breakfast was opened with prayers from faith leaders across the borough, including Rabbi Andy Bachman, Reverend Richard Beaty, Pastor Amy Kienzle, Pastor Michael Turner Lewis, Guru Dileepji Maharaj, Imam Ibrahim Sen, and Bhupinder Singh.
The breakfast was highlighted by performances by The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir (BIC) and a reading of the famous Hafiz poem, “I Have Learned So Much” by artist Vishavjit Singh.
“We, the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir (BIC), were indeed blessed by being included in BP Adams’s Annual Interfaith Breakfast on December 3rd,” said Frank A.Haye, Artistic Director & Founder of The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir. “We believe the power of music transcends our cultural, political, financial, and religious differences to expose that which we truly share: faith, hope, and love.”
Borough President Adams with honorees and participants from his Annual Interfaith Breakfast. From left to right: Prince Yeriel Issachar, BP Adams, Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry and Guru Dileepji Maharaj.
Borough President Adams presenting the “Golden” Cornerstone to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik to FDNY Chaplain Ann Kansfield, who received the award on Rabbi Potasnik’s behalf.
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