LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus upon the occa-
sion of his designation by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty as
the recipient of the Shimon Zweig Memorial Award at its 34th Annual
Legislative Breakfast on June 13, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that organizations and
individuals who devote their purposeful endeavors to improving the qual-
ity of life for others strengthen the fabric of the community of the
City and State of New York and merit the highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus upon the occasion of his designation by the Metro-
politan Council on Jewish Poverty as the recipient of the Shimon Zweig
Memorial Award at its 34th Annual Legislative Breakfast, to be held at
New York City's Roosevelt Hotel on Sunday, June 13, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, known throughout
New York City as the Met Council, is dedicated to the alleviation of
social, economic, housing and related problems of the Jewish poor, work-
ing poor, elderly and recent immigrants in the New York City area; and
WHEREAS, An affiliated agency of the UJA-Federation of New York, the
Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is a not-for-profit organization
representing and coordinating the efforts of grassroots Jewish Community
Councils citywide and national Jewish organizations; and
WHEREAS, As the Council's directors, officers, staff and supporters
gather at the agency's 34th Annual Legislative Breakfast on June 13,
2010 to renew their commitment to the timely and effective delivery of
needed services, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty will proudly
honor community leaders who have contributed significantly to the furth-
erance of its mission; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Executive Director of the Council of
Jewish Organizations (COJO) of Flatbush, and recipient of the Met Coun-
cil's 2010 Shimon Zweig Memorial Award, truly merits such recognition;
and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus has for the past 21 years been the
Executive Director of COJO, a non-sectarian, non-profit community-based
organization, providing multi-level social services, programs for
seniors, youths and immigrants; employment-related programs; and small
business initiatives to the localities of Central and Southern Brooklyn;
in the past year alone, more than 24,000 clients have received approxi-
mately 55,000 services from the Council of Flatbush; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his position with COJO, Rabbi Pikus served as Direc-
tor of the Shorefront and Coney Island Jewish Community Councils,
respectively, for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, He has been a valued member of various Advisory Boards,
including those of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services
(JBFCS), the Brooklyn Youth Council, OHEL Children's Home and Family
Services, the Hebrew Free Loan Society, Legal Services for New York
(LSNY) and the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Pikus was a founder of the Greater Southern Brooklyn
Health Coalition (GSBHC) and a Member of Community Board 14 for 19
years, and has, in addition, been very actively involved in a number of
other significant communal endeavors; and
WHEREAS, For almost four decades, Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus has dedicated
himself to working diligently for the welfare of the disadvantaged popu-
lations of Greater Flatbush and Midwood; he has been at the forefront of
initiating and establishing innovative programs for at-risk populations
and helped spearhead efforts to mobilize diverse community organizations

to provide programs to assist Russian refugees and immigrants acclimate
to their new American culture; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Pikus was instrumental, as well, in bringing Jewish
communal leaders and organizations together to establish social and
educational programs for disenfranchised youngsters; he also initiated
pre-employment skills and training programs which enabled many unem-
ployed and underemployed area men and women to find jobs commensurate
with their skills and capabilities; and
WHEREAS, After 9/11, he started programs for victims and their fami-
lies, funded by the Robin Hood Foundation, providing support and grief
counseling, job-related services and financial assistance and, since the
onset of the recent economic crisis, Rabbi Pikus has been involved in
establishing programs providing financial assistance to individuals and
their families who are unemployed and need to meet their daily suste-
nance expenses; and
WHEREAS, Prolific in his service to his community, Rabbi Pikus has
devoted his life to his faith and to improving the quality of life of
others; known for his dynamic idealism, he is strongly motivated by a
sense of urgency to meet the challenges entailed in raising the quality
of life of the local Jewish population and of the community-at-large;
and
WHEREAS, Whenever and wherever he sees a problem, Rabbi Pikus strives
to find a solution; his leadership and purposeful endeavor over the
course of many years have demonstrated extraordinary compassion and
caring concern; and
WHEREAS, Individuals, such as Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, who distinguish
themselves in their profession and in service to their community, work-
ing diligently to improve the quality of life of others, merit the
recognition and appreciation of this Legislative Body on behalf of those
who have benefited from their worthy endeavors and of all the people of
the City and State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus upon the occasion of his designation by
the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty as the recipient of the
Shimon Zweig Memorial Award at its 34th Annual Legislative Breakfast on
June 13, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus.