The coastal neighborhood of Seagate was hit h
The coastal neighborhood of Seagate was hit hIsrael news photo: Caryn Lubin

The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty has paid tribute to two leaders of the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) for their efforts on behalf of the community in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

NCYI Associate Vice President Hillel Adelman and Chief Operating Officer Chaim Leibtag were among those recognized by the Met Council, which is one of New York's largest human services agencies, at its "Hurricane Sandy Heroes Recognition Event".

The event acknowledges "everyday individuals" whose acts of heroism on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers affected by the storm stood out and made a major impact on the lives of the families and communities that were devastated by the storm.

Adelman, a former president of a local Young Israel chapter, established a relief center, arranged a soup kitchen, provided generators to communities, arranged for gasoline distribution, and set up a women's shelter so that women and their children would have a warm place to sleep.

He and Leibtag also worked around the clock to ensure that those individuals, synagogues, and communities that were impacted by the storm received the supplies and support they needed to persevere in the face of great adversity.

Leibtag worked closely with Congregation Knesseth Israel in Far Rockaway to ensure that people received the assistance they desperately needed.

"The National Council of Young Israel has been working diligently to assist all those whose lives have been turned upside down by this devastating storm," said NCYI President Farley Weiss.  "We are especially proud that the Met Council chose to recognize two important members of our Young Israel family, Hillel Adelman and Chaim Leibtag, for their extraordinary efforts in a time of darkness and despair for so many people. The great sacrifice they made to help others is remarkable and is a testament to their unwavering dedication to the Jewish community at large.”

"After witnessing firsthand the overwhelming response from communities across New York City, I knew that we had to do something specifically to honor the men and women who acted so selflessly during an uncertain and frightening time," said Met Council CEO William E. Rapfogel.  "It is important that we not only acknowledge those who went above and beyond to make sure that their neighbors, family and friends were safe and secure; but that we also let this serve as an example that together we can rebuild communities and face seemingly impossible challenges."