To keep those in need warm

A local rabbi and a Queens priest collected coats for the poor on the eighth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, in honor of the victims of that day’s terrorist attacks.

“This is consistent in keeping with the philosophy of Judaism of honoring those who have died with tzedakah — acts of charity and righteousness,” said Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum of Temple Israel of Lawrence. “Therefore, we will perform this honored age-old mitzvah by collecting coats for the needy, and they will be distributed by the food pantry of our guest speaker, the Rev. Victor Hall of the Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens.”

After the attacks, Rosenbaum and Hall gathered leaders from different religions for an interfaith mourning service that evening. The pair, who met before Sept. 11, 2001, through a mutual friend, conducted a similar service last Friday night to “give a message of hope, healing and solidarity,” Rosenbaum said. The Calvary Baptist Church has a food pantry that distributes non-perishables to the community and a clothing closet that people can freely take from.

“It’s just one good thing we're doing to overcome evil,” said Hall, who invited his congregants to attend the service at Temple Israel. “The pantry was effective. People felt very thankful and blessed. For some in our community, bad economic times are all the time.”

Garrett Gray, current president of Temple Israel, said several congregants brought more than one coat, which will be donated immediately to people in need. “Knowing that it will be given to someone less fortunate is wonderful,” he said. “People donate to the temple all the time and as a result the temple is able to thrive and survive. Now more than ever, there are more people in need than ever before. Winter is coming soon, that’s why they need the coats. Let’s not wait until the last minute to donate.”

By the end of last Friday evening, Hall and Rosenbaum stood by a pile of coats that will be given to the poor.

“It’s the concept of trying to do something for the needy, according to the president [Obama], who said this would be a day of sacrifice and giving,” said David Land, a former president of Temple Israel who donated a coat. “It was the feeling at the temple that this would be a wonderful vehicle to do so. The act of giving, whether its a financial or material contribution, is very soul satisfying.”