JCRC-NY CEO and Staten Island Borough President Celebrate Chanukah with Sufganiyot Tasting on Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND, NY (12/15/2025) (readMedia)-- This morning, Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY, and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella celebrated the Jewish holiday of Chanukah by sampling a traditional holiday treat, sufganiyot, at Island Kosher and the JCC of Staten Island. Sufganiyot are deep-fried jelly doughnuts traditionally eaten on Chanukah to symbolize the Chanukah miracle, when one day of oil lasted for eight nights.

Treyger and Borough President Fossella were joined by board members of JCRC-NY, the JCC of Staten Island, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. The group sampled the doughnuts and chose their favorites while discussing the meaning of Chanukah.

VIEW PICTURES OF THE EVENT HERE.

The event uplifted the Jewish community on Staten Island, including small business owners and Jewish community leaders, and helped foster understanding of Jewish identity, tradition, and values. At a time when the predominant discussion about Jewish life in New York centers around antisemitism, the event gave participants the opportunity to share in moments of joy and hope.

"Today's sufganiyot crawl was a joyful, delicious way to celebrate Chanukah while supporting a Jewish small business and strengthening communal bonds on Staten Island," said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY. "Food is a powerful way to bridge divides across communities and a vehicle for deepening understanding of cultural traditions and values. It was also a reminder of the importance of supporting Jewish-owned businesses year-round, not only when moments of hate strike. This event helped us achieve just that. Thank you to Borough President Fossella and our Staten Island partners for sharing this meaningful day."

"Here on Staten Island, we place tremendous value in tradition and community. As a kickoff to the second day of Hanukkah, it was a pleasure to enjoy this sufganiyot tasting, and to highlight and support some of the local small businesses dedicated to serving the community during the holiday season. Thank you to the JCRC and the JCC for organizing this wonderful celebration of those traditions that bring us together. We wish those who joined us in this event and all those who celebrate a very happy Hanukkah," said Staten Island Borough President Fossella.

"As we prepare to celebrate Chanukah, our sufganiyot crawl underscores the shared joy and connection that brings our kehillah-our community-together. We are grateful to our friends at JCRC-NY and the Office of the Borough President of Staten Island for their continued support for Staten Island's Jewish community, not just during the holidays, but year-round," said Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island.

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About JCRC-NY: JCRC-NY, a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.