|
Justice John Leventhal, Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes
and
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
|
Geraldine Ferraro and Rabbi Diana Manber |
DAYENU
New Initiative Helps
In Domestic Violence
Story and Photos by Tim Boxer
LINED UP New York State Supreme Court
Justice John M. Leventhal and New York Board of Rabbis
executive vice president Rabbi Joseph Potasnik for a picture,
and Charles Hynes insisted, "I want to be the goy
in the middle."
Who am I to argue with the Brooklyn DA?
The three were among 37 men (and 101 women) at the
inaugural Voices of Valor Luncheon of Dayenu at the Mutual of
America boardroom on Park Avenue. Dayenu ("enough for us")
is a domestic violence initiative of the Board of Rabbis that was
founded three years ago by Rabbi Diana Manber.
Justice Leventhal accepted the group’s Elijah
Award from the DA and observed, "You know that Elijah went to
heaven alive. Does this award indicate that my time has come?"
The judge was accompanied by his mother. "She’s
91, maybe 93. Who knows? She lies."
|
Geraldine Ferraro said the
Miriam Award she received
from Dayenu was
appropriately named.
Ferraro was compelled to
leave Hillary Clinton’s
presidential campaign after
she told a newspaper that
"if Barak
Obama was a white
man, he would not be in this
position" (of a
presidential
candidate).
In accepting the
Miriam Award, Ferraro
compared
herself to Moses’
sister. "Just as my statement
about the son
of a Kenyan
man caused controversy, so
too did Miriam’s
observation
about Moses marrying a
Cushite [black woman] prove
contentious."
|
Hynes revealed that he grew up in a home where his
mother was abused. "No child should be forced to watch
that," he said. "We all agree that it is extremely
important to restore sholom bayis [domestic
tranquility]."
Geraldine Ferraro, 72, the only woman ever
nominated for vice president, on the Democratic ticket in 1984, said
abuse of children in the church was silenced too long. "Then it
came out in the open. I am a church-going Catholic and I’ve never
been more angry and disgusted. I wish Dayenu can be duplicated
across the nation."
"Domestic violence happens in every community,
no matter how wealthy or how observant," Rabbi Manber said.
"Enough silence – it’s time to speak out."
"We’ve been guilty too long," Rabbi
Potasnik agreed. "The rabbis were silent. Now we are ready to
rectify the injustices."
Dominic Carter, NY-1 TV’s political reporter,
said this issue is very personal. He grew up 40 years ago in a New
York housing project where domestic violence was no stranger at
home.
Carter, who served as emcee at the luncheon, has
something in common with Rabbi Potasnik. Carter’s daughter and
Potasnik’s son Harrison are students at Syracuse
University. So Carter gave the rabbi a Syracuse basketball T-shirt.
"This tee cost me $84,000," the rabbi
sighed.
|
Cover
