Representative of Singapore to the United Nations Visits Williamsburg

By Idy Perl

The Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations, Burhan Gafoor, made a historic visit to Williamsburg today.

The ambassador was hosted by Moshe Klein and accompanied by Dov Bleich, who introduced him to local business owners and residents. 

They first made a stop at Gottlieb’s Restaurant, where the Ambassador got to taste some heimish cuisine and visited several nearby shops

The Ambassador was then given a tour of the Chaverim and Hatzolah headquarters, where he learned about their operations and how they assist the community during emergencies. He also met a local organization that organizes Shabbos packages every week that are distributed to struggling families. The Ambassador was deeply impressed and inspired by the culture of charity and goodwill within the Jewish community.

While meeting with community leader Rabbi Naftula Moshe Indig at the local JCC, the Ambassador asked what message he can give from the Jewish community to the citizens of Singapore. Rabbi Indig said that he should share that the Jewish community welcomes anyone who wants to come visit, and that by spending time together to build bridges between different communities we are able to better understand one another.

The visit concluded with the Ambassador expressing his gratitude for the warm reception and insightful experiences he had throughout the day. He emphasized the importance of building strong global connections and praised the Williamsburg community for its deep-rooted values of charity, unity, and hospitality.