By Tien-Shun Lee
“Manny's a great guy, the speaker knows him and thinks he'd be an asset to reach out to the people in Queens, in particular, and in other parts of the city as well,” said Fred Baldassaro, a spokesman for Miller. “We're looking forward to it.”
Baldassaro said Behar will join a team of about 10 people who organize events to connect with the community.
The Queens Jewish Community Council is currently looking for someone to replace Behar after he leaves to begin working at the City Council on March 29. The QJCC is an umbrella organization of about 90 Jewish groups in the borough, including synagogues, schools, social service agencies, community groups and local chapters of national organizations.
Behar emphasized that he will be dealing with all types of organizations, not just Jewish groups. Issues that he will work on include City Council funding for groups, zoning laws and the impact of legislation on community groups.
“I've dealt with the homeless, I've dealt with people with mental illness, with domestic violence, poverty, land use, food pantries. I have a wealth of experience on a lot of issues that the Council deals with,” said Behar. “The fact that I have experience in both government and non-profit gives me a unique perspective.”
Behar, 50, worked as a researcher and speech writer for former Borough President Clare Shulman in the 1980s and said he always thought in the back of his mind that he would work again for the city government if the opportunity arose.
“I think change is very good for individuals and organizations once in a while to bring in somebody with some new enthusiasm and new ideas,” said Behar. “I was in city government for 10 years, here for 11 years and probably 10 years from now I'll make another change.”
In addition to working for Shulman, Behar also worked in the community relations department of the city comptroller's office from 1990 to 1992.
While working for the QJCC, Behar had a lot of direct contact with the people his organization was trying to help. Working for city government was a more abstract way of helping people, but the work could reach a broader population, the rabbi said.
“To deal with individuals – they're hungry and you give them a food package – is very satisfying. But it's not solving the problem with poverty, it's helping an individual,” said Behar. “When you're in government, you have the opportunity to deal with issues on a much broader level.”
Behar was born and raised in Forest Hills, attended local Yeshiva schools and now lives across the street from the house where he grew up.
“My entire set of values is based on the Torah – everything about compassion for other human beings, for helping the poor, for helping the sick, the widowed, the orphaned, the needy,” said Behar.
“That's not to say that there aren't people from other backgrounds that don't have the same values, but to me those values are a very important part of my life and I've always done community service of one kind or another.”
Behar anticipated that his first City Council assignment would be to deal with helping groups get their share of next year's city budget.
Reach reporter Tien-Shun Lee by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
