Rabbi Lina Zerbarini has been appointed to the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission.
The Huntington Station resident is rabbi of of Kehillath Shalom Synagogue in Cold Spring Harbor.
She has been active in working with Black, Latino, LGBTQ, Muslim and other groups, as well as peace and anti-bigotry campaigns.
“Although Rabbi Lina came to our community only a short time ago, she has already made a huge impact. She has experience in bringing together diverse groups and deeply understands the value of forming partnerships to address shared concerns. With her passion for protecting those facing injustice, in tandem with her educational background and notable roles throughout her career, I know she will bring much perspective and dedication to the Human Rights Commission,” said Suffolk County Legislator William “Doc” Spencer.
Rabbi Lina attended the Sept. 2 Government Operations, Personnel, Housing, Information Technology, & Diversity Committee, where she spoke before legislators to introduce herself and express her interest in serving. “We are really all one family, We are all in the image of God and our work, our mission in this world, mine as a rabbi and my sense of all of ours is to recognize everybody’s basic humanity and extraordinary sacredness. I hope to have the opportunity to continue that mission through the Human Rights Commission,”
The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission was created in 1963 to work toward the elimination of bias and intolerance and enforce and investigate complaints of discrimination in Suffolk County. The 15-member volunteer board receives thousands of inquiries each year related to discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and places of public accommodation.