LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc.
upon the occasion of celebrating its 25th Anniversary, and paying trib-
ute to this year's honorees

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose
endeavors foster and celebrate ethnic pride and have a significant
impact on the lives of those they serve; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc. upon the occasion of celebrating
its 25th Anniversary, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees; and
WHEREAS, The Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc. (SHAI) celebrated a
quarter of a century of distinguished service to the Iranian-Jewish
community of New York with an Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, April 6,
2016, at Temple Israel, Great Neck, New York; this most auspicious event
featured a keynote address from Shmuley Boteach, Author, Public Speaker,
Rabbi and TV Host; and
WHEREAS, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, M.Ed., the Founder and Director of
Alliance for Rights of All Minorities received the Parviz Ohebshalom
Leadership Award; Sina Rabbany, Ph.D., Acting Dean, School of Engineer-
ing and Applied Sciences, Hofstra University was the recipient of the
Elyahoo Amiran Leadership Award; Danielle Ajodan, an Exceptional All-A-
round Student was presented with the Albert Massachi Award of Merit;
Simon Kashfi, an Exceptional All-Around Student was awarded with the Eli
Sassouni Memorial Scholarship; and Isabelle Sehati, the 2016 Valedicto-
rian of Great Neck North High School, received the Kian Adhami Distin-
guished Student Award; special recognition was given to Vahideh Morad,
Shahnaz Farzan-Kashani and Lili Kashani; and
WHEREAS, SHAI is a dynamic and multi-faceted organization, counting
approximately 1,000 families amongst its members; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1992, SHAI has organized diverse
events and programs geared towards keeping the family and the Iranian-
Jewish community together; and
WHEREAS, SHAI's avowed goal is to meet the evolving needs of the
Iranian-Jewish community across generational lines, while promoting
their conservative values, traditions, and Sephardic heritage; and
WHEREAS, SHAI has reached out and developed partnerships with local
schools, synagogues, Jewish organizations, and local governments; and
WHEREAS, The SHAI name is met with respect and recognition by both
Iranians and Americans as a non-profit group that has a strong and
influential voice; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to extend its
recognition and commendation to the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc.,
applauding its preeminent endeavors for the past 25 years; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc. upon the occasion of cele-
brating its 25th Anniversary, and to pay tribute to this year's hono-
rees; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc., and the aforementioned
honorees.