~ Submitted by Rabbi Susan Abramson, Temple Shalom Emeth
As Chief Bongiorno ends his career here in Bedford, I feel compelled to share some thoughts about our unique and special friendship.
Chief Bongiorno and I first met over eight years ago at an emergency meeting of one of Bedford’s committees to address a number of antisemitic incidents in town. I will never forget that afternoon. Following the meeting, he introduced himself and asked if I would be willing to invite Bedford Jewish families to my house so he could listen to our concerns and reassure us of his support and his commitment to do everything in his power to help us feel safe. And he asked if I would mind if Middlesex DA Marian Ryan joined us as well.
I have to admit that I was flabbergasted. I had never spoken to a police chief before, let alone the DA. And all of a sudden I found myself hosting them both in my living room with about ten Jewish families. He, as well as the DA, could not have been more gracious, sincere, and caring.
The chief promised me that he would do everything in his power to get to the bottom of these incidents. As the weeks and months passed and more swastikas appeared, no one was more upset than he. We began communicating regularly.
It became clear that we shared the same wry sense of humor. It also became clear that any time I was feeling anxious or depressed for any reason, I could send him a snarky text and his response would always make me smile.
You may remember that he agreed to be my sous chef when we had a community-wide challah bread bake at First Congregational Church. Of course, he couldn’t just make a normal-looking challah. It had to be in the shape of an R for Rabbi Rocketpower, the name of my children’s book series.
In Yiddish, we would refer to the chief as a mensch, someone who is kind, caring, full of compassion and helps others whenever possible.
I will surely miss him at the helm of the Bedford Police Dept. But I know that we will always be friends.
On behalf of many Bedford residents who have been similarly enriched by your presence, but particularly the Jewish community, we thank you, chief, for all you have done for all of us.
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