As each Passover season is commemorated, those of the Jewish faith mark the Annual Bread Burning or Biur Chometz, a tradition organized by the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations Security Committee.

And each year the annual holiday event coordinated by COJO-SI translates into a collaborative effort together with the city Police Department, Fire Department and Sanitation Department, Shomrim, a neighborhood watch group, and Hatzolah, a volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) organization

The COJO-SI Security Committee is in charge of overseeing the burning of the Chometz, and the garbage removal that follows.

Mendy Mirocznik, COJO President thanked NYPD Staten Island Borough Commander Chief Frank Vega, Deputy Inspector Bruce Ceparano, Commanding Officer, Pct. 121, FDNY Staten Island Borough Commander Chief Kevin Woods, FDNY Deputy Borough Chief Brian Gorman and Captain Michael Kozo, Fire Safety and DSNY Staten Island Deputy Borough Commander Matthew Weingartner for their support in coordinating with Ari Weiss, COJO Security Chairman, and Coordinator of Staten Island Shomrim the bread burning.

“It is thanks to the hard work and diligent commitment of the uniformed services to the public that the bread burning went as smoothly and joyfully as possible. The uniformed services were gracious, kind and understanding of the needs of the community and they paid special attention to detail in handling the community’s holiday needs.

“The Holiday of Passover is unique in that there is a Biblical prohibition in eating bread,” says emphasized Mirocznik.

The bread burning reminds us to be mindful and to remember that just as the Israelites left Egypt with unleavened Matzah, they left Egypt with what was essential to life only without luxury. So, to Passover is a holiday to remind us to focus on family and what is important. The focus is less on the material but more on the spiritual and what responsibility we have to the world. This message is so true this year as we are hopefully seeing an end to the darkness of the Pandemic. As the world begins a slow return to a normal world, we appreciate this important message of bread burning. This message is the fuel that gives us the ability to overcome the Pandemic and to return to a cured world. Hopefully, we will remember this teaching and we will focus on making this world a better place for all people”

COJO wishes everyone a Happy Pesach holiday

Names in Pictures

Picture (1) Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; reciting the prayer at the Bread Burning

Picture (2) Names Left to Right, Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Judah Mirocznik; FDNY Lt. Bill Irvine; Fire Fighter Thomas DeAngelo; Fire Fighter James Ford; FDNY Chief Timothy Helf, Division 8, Battalion 22

Picture (3) Names Left to Right, Police Officer Christian Perez; Ari Weiss, COJO security chairman and coordinator Staten Island Shomrim; Community Affairs Officer Sean Mondello; Community Affairs Officer John Sibal; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Police Officer Antonino Lopiccolo

Picture (4) Names Left to Right, Ari Weiss, COJO security chairman and coordinator Staten Island Shomrim; FDNY Chief Timothy Helf, Division 8, Battalion 22; FDNY Lt. Bill Irvine; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Fire Fighter Thomas DeAngelo; and  Fire Fighter James Ford

Picture (5) Names Left to Right, Ari Weiss, COJO security chairman and coordinator Staten Island Shomrim; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; and FDNY Lt. Bill Irvine; review and discuss the Bread Burning

Picture (6) Names Left to Right, Community Affairs Officer John Sibal; Judah Mirocznik; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Community Affairs Officer Sean Mondello

Picture (7) Names Left to Right, Ari Weiss, COJO security chairman; FDNY Lt. Bill Irvine; Judah Mirocznik; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Fire Fighter Thomas DeAngelo; and  Fire Fighter James Ford

Picture (8) Names Left to Right, FDNY Chief Timothy Helf, Division 8, Battalion 22; FDNY Lt. Bill Irvine; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; Judah Mirocznik; Fire Fighter Thomas DeAngelo; and  Fire Fighter James Ford

Picture (9) Sanitation Member Robert Caveola; and Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO

Picture (10) Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; and Chief Timothy Helf, Division 8, Battalion 22

Picture (11) Chief Timothy Helf, Division 8, Battalion 22; and Judah Mirocznik

Picture (12) Names Left to Right, Community Affairs Officer Sean Mondello; Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO; and Community Affairs Officer John Sibal