- Former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey, FBI Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) Joseph Demarest Devorah Halberstam and the Honorable Rudolph Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York. Photo credit: Matthew Coleman, FBI
By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
Devorah Halberstam, whose son was killed in a terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994, was honored last week with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. It honors individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence.
The New York FBI Office gave her the award.
In a press release, the FBI said:
“On March 1, 1994, Devorah’s son, Ari Halberstam, was murdered in a terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge. Following her son’s murder, Devorah committed herself to the fight against terrorism. She pounded the halls of Congress to change laws on immigration, terrorism and gun control. Working side by side with former Governor of New York George Pataki and other officials, she was instrumental in enacting the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, the first of its kind in New York State.
“Determined to close loopholes in gun control laws, Devorah pushed for legislative changes and regulation. This led to the inception of Ari’s Law, an interstate gun trafficking law that is part of a comprehensive gun control law passed in New York State through the efforts of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and signed by Governor Pataki.
“Because of this demonstrated tenacity in her fight against terrorism, Devorah was appointed by Governor Pataki to serve on the first New York State Commission on Terrorism.
“One of Devorah’s proudest accomplishments was the construction of the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn honoring her son’s legacy and embodying his enthusiasm for his heritage. This multi-media museum opened in 2004 and is dedicated to teaching tolerance to all children so that we may all grow to live in a peaceful society. On the outside of the museum is an inscription, which, translated into English reads, “Teach a child when they are young so that when they are old it will not leave them. ”
