Brooklyn Leaders Celebrate Chanukah With Sufganiyot Crawl

Mark Treyger, the chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, joined Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso on a sufganiyot crawl on Dec. 18, to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Chanukah and Brooklyn’s vibrant Jewish community.

Sufganiyot, the deep-fried jelly doughnuts traditionally eaten during Chanukah, symbolizes the holiday’s miracle, when one day’s worth of oil lasted for eight. The crawl featured visits to Strauss Bakery and Taam Eden Bakery in Borough Park and Sesame in Flatbush, according to a press release.

Treyger and Reynoso not only sampled the festive treats, they also rolled up their sleeves to help fill and decorate sufganiyot alongside bakery professionals.

New York Police Department Deputy Chief Richie Taylor and members of the Community Security Initiative also attended the event. Reynoso and Treyger encouraged Brooklynites of all backgrounds to come together through shared traditions and community connections.

“Brooklyn is home to the largest population of Jewish people in the United States, and as Borough President, it is a great honor to celebrate the indelible contributions that the Jewish community has made to the culture of our borough by uplifting our small businesses and enjoying this culinary tradition," said Reynoso. "I wish all of our Jewish neighbors a very happy Chanukah and encourage all Brooklynites to enjoy sufganiyot from a local Jewish bakery this holiday season!”

Treyger said the event helped him better understand Jewish identity, values and the Chanukah tradition.

“It was such a joy to go on this jam-packed sufganiyot crawl to highlight some of New York’s Jewish bakeries ahead of Chanukah – and eat some delicious jelly doughnuts. I believe that food is a powerful vehicle for bridging cultural divides," said Treyger.

After the crawl, Treyger delivered sufganiyot to a Coney Island Women In Need (WIN) shelter, sharing the holiday tradition with families experiencing homelessness. He also expressed gratitude to the WIN staff for their dedication to supporting vulnerable New Yorkers.