Shalom Across the Atlantic Ocean

New York AIDS crusader launches campaign to partner with Jews and others worldwide.

Queens, New York – With the support from JewishPrintingUSA.com, Victor Mooney, AIDS crusader, was able to receive the text Shalom and Never Forget in Hebrew, which was printed on vinyl letters to a 12 inch metal tube. This tube will symbolize the Peace that we all pray for in this world, but also to remind us Never Forgot our history.

Mr. Mooney will carry this tube during his five-thousand mile solo transatlantic row from Las Palmas, Canary Islands to Brooklyn beginning later this month. The AIDS crusader, who has lost one brother to AIDS and has another battling the disease, has dedicated this feat to Nelson Mandela, whom he met for a private meeting in South Africa nineteen years ago.

In the Jewish Forward recently, Warren Goldstein, South Africa’s chief rabbi, recounted Mandela’s long struggle for freedom, which was punctuated with friendships and professional relationships with Jews. He called the leader’s death a clarion call for all people to fulfill the Jewish imperative of tikkun olam [healing the world].

“Judaism teaches that the best way to pay tribute to those who have passed on is to do good deeds in their honor,” Goldstein said. “The greatest tribute we can pay is to live like Mandela, in accordance with the values he practiced and taught — values of human dignity, forgiveness, kindness, courage, tenacity, strength, honesty and integrity.”

The Shalom Across the Atlantic Ocean evolved by having an extra piece of metal tube from an installation on Mr. Mooney’s ocean rowboat, which was donated by Long Island based Fleisher Tubes, Inc. Mr. Mooney is soliciting small donations for the Shalom Across the Atlantic Ocean initiative and 25 people to donate $500. With this gift, your name will go on the long metal tubes on the Spirit of Malabo rowboat.

Mr. Mooney is no stranger in partnering with Jewish causes. When Israel was being unfairly discriminated against, Mr. Mooney supported the We Care, We’re Coming Project, which was lead by Mr. Haim Gutin, Israel Ministry of Tourism office in New York. Mr. Mooney promoted his trip to coincide with an audience with then Pope John Paul II in Rome on World AIDS Day.

“In the global fight against AIDS, Israel remains a solid partner. They continue to help revitalize medical programs in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Mr. Mooney added.

For those in the New York vicinity, you can also sign the Shalom Across the Atlantic Ocean billboard Mr. Mooney will have at the New York Boat Show, which runs from January 1 – 5 at the Jacob Javits Centre. For more information, visit http://www.goreechallenge.com.

Photo: Victor Mooney stops at the home of Fleisher Tubes, Inc. CEO on Long Island during the Spirit of Malabo sea-trials.