Jewish Community Relations Council - Long Island (JCRC-LI)

06/21/2026

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth! Today marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure all enslaved people were freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

06/18/2026

Last week, JCRC-LI’s Executive Director Mindy Perlmutter was recognized by Schneps Media as one of their 2026 Long Island Power List honorees. The Power List honors influential business, civic, and political leaders in our community .

06/18/2026

A night of music, pride, and community at ! 🇺🇸🇮🇱

Nearly 3,000 people came together for Israeli-American Night — celebrating Israeli heritage, culture, and the strong bond between Long Island and Israel. From the opening ceremony with the Color Guard and Long Island Cantors singing the Star-Spangled Banner and Hatikvah, to the music, dancing and laughter throughout the evening, the spirit of unity was felt all around.



CC: Bruce Blakeman for Governor - Make New York Affordable Mazi Melesa Pilip - County Legislator District 10 Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. Senator Steve Rhoads Jeff Pravato - Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Supervisor Jennifer DeSena TOH Receiver Jeanine C. Driscoll Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums

06/18/2026

Sunday night, approximately 3,000 people gathered at Eisenhower Park for Israeli-American Night, part of Nassau County’s International Night series. The event was proudly co-produced by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI) and Sid Jacobson JCC, with UJA-Federation of New York serving as the lead sponsor.
The evening was emceed by JCRC-LI Executive Director Mindy Perlmutter and featured a memorable lineup of entertainment and community celebration. Acclaimed a ca****la group Six13 opened the program with audience favorites before a moving ceremonial presentation.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by Jewish War Veterans Post 652 and Shevet Gefen. Long Island cantors led the audience in both the American and Israeli National Anthems, followed by prayers for the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel. Bruce Blakeman, along with numerous County, State, and Town officials, joined in the program and welcomed attendees.
During the ceremony we recognized 4 outstanding individuals: Michelle Ahdoot of End Jew Hatred, Esther Alter of the Town of Oyster Bay, Father Chris Ballard of Trinity-St. John’s Church, and Dagan Cohen of the Center for Israel.
Following the ceremony, former hostage and pianist Alon Ohel took the stage for a powerful musical performance, accompanied by his brother, Ronen Ohel, on guitar. The evening concluded with an energetic performance by Israeli superstar Noam Buskila, who had the crowd singing and dancing along. Guests were also treated to a special appearance by rising Israeli singer Ghazal Mizrahi.
The event was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, including The Jewish Agency, Nancy Waldbaum, SterlingRisk, Long Island’s JCCs, Naot Footwear, RootOne, Schechter School of Long Island, StandWithUs, ADL, AJC, Birthright Israel Foundation, JNF-USA, Mercaz Academy, SHAI, and synagogues from across Long Island.
Adding to the festive atmosphere were community vendor tables and a variety of Glatt Kosher food options available for purchase throughout the evening.
Israeli-American Night was a joyful celebration of culture, community, resilience, and the enduring connection between Long Island and Israel.

06/15/2026

Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School junior Emily Novak was awarded the 2026 Students Building Bridges award by the NY State Senate via the office of Senator Monica Martinez.

The Students Building Bridges Award is a highly competitive youth honor presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI) in partnership with local school districts. It recognizes outstanding students who work to build ties across diverse communities, volunteer and promote inclusion.

Congratulations to Emily on this amazing achievement!

06/14/2026

Today is the day!

Grab your picnic blankets and lawn chairs and join us for an incredible community celebration. No tickets are required—just come and enjoy the festivities!

Security will be enhanced, so please plan to arrive early.

This year’s entertainment promises to be our best ever! We are also proud to recognize our outstanding honorees:
• Michelle Ahdoot
• Esther Alter
• Father Chris Ballard
• Dagan Cohen

We are honored that the colors will be presented by the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 and the Israeli Scouts (Shevet Gefen), and that our Long Island Cantors will perform the national anthems.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Am Yisrael Chai! 🇮🇱💙🤍

06/11/2026

Happening this Sunday!

Grab your picnic blankets and lawn chairs and join us for an incredible community celebration. No tickets are required—just come and enjoy the festivities!

Security will be enhanced, so please plan to arrive early.

This year’s entertainment promises to be our best ever! We are also proud to recognize our outstanding honorees:
• Michelle Ahdoot
• Esther Alter
• Father Chris Ballard
• Dagan Cohen

We are honored that the colors will be presented by the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 and the Israeli Scouts (Shevet Gefen), and that our Long Island Cantors will perform the national anthems.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you. See you on Sunday!

Am Yisrael Chai! 🇮🇱💙🤍

06/08/2026

Join us for an unforgettable Israel American Night this Sunday, as we come together to dance, sing and shop.

06/04/2026

This is going to be an incredible evening!

In addition to three amazing performances, we will also be recognizing four truly outstanding individuals whose dedication and commitment have made a meaningful impact on our community.

A heartfelt thank you to Michelle Ahdoot, Esther Alter, Father Chris Ballard, and Dagan Cohen for your continued hard work, leadership, and service. We look forward to celebrating all that you do and sharing this special evening together!