Brooklyn Borough President’s Citation Highlights Rabbi Mikhail Salita’s Mission to Preserve Israel’s Rare Kanaani Cats
Brooklyn Borough President Honors Rabbi Behind the Royal House of Kanaani and Israel's Rare Cat Revival.
- New York, NY (1888PressRelease) November 02, 2026 - History is in the making in Brooklyn, where an extraordinary initiative is transforming the preservation of one of the world’s rarest domestic cat breeds into a broader mission of education, compassion, cultural heritage, and international understanding. Rabbi Mikhail Salita, an animal chaplain and advocate for the preservation of Israel’s rare Kanaani cats, received an official Citation from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in recognition of his service to the Brooklyn community. Presented in connection with National Cat Day on October 29, 2026, the recognition marks an important milestone in Salita’s expanding public mission.
But the story extends far beyond Brooklyn. A Rare Breed Born in the Holy City of Jerusalem
The Kanaani breed originated in Jerusalem in the 1990s through the pioneering work of Doris Pollatschek, a Holocaust survivor whose remarkable vision helped establish a distinctive Israeli cat breed. Today, the Royal House of Kanaani and The World Kanaani Organization (TWKO), operating under the nonprofit Salita Foundation, seek to preserve this extraordinary living heritage for future generations. The initiative also draws inspiration from an ancient Jewish literary tradition. The Targum Sheni to the Book of Esther describes a golden cat among the magnificent animal figures adorning the legendary throne of King Solomon. For Salita, this image provides a powerful symbolic connection between the ancient wisdom of Jerusalem and the modern mission to protect the Kanaani breed born in that same sacred city.
A Mission for Children, Families, and Future Generations
The Royal House of Kanaani is more than a breed-preservation initiative. It represents an opportunity to inspire children to develop kindness, responsibility, empathy, and respect for living creatures. Through proposed educational programs, school presentations, library events, and community activities, Salita hopes to introduce young audiences to the remarkable history of the Kanaani while encouraging responsible animal care and an appreciation of cultural diversity. The initiative also seeks to strengthen the Human-Animal Bond, highlighting the meaningful relationships between people and animals and their potential contributions to emotional well-being, social connection, and compassionate education. For Brooklyn, New York City, and the United States, the project offers an opportunity to become a center for international collaboration in animal welfare, humane education, and the preservation of endangered cultural traditions.
A Shared Message for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
At the heart of the initiative is a universal spiritual message. The Book of Genesis teaches that animals were created before humanity, establishing their place in the divine order of creation. This biblical narrative, respected across Jewish and Christian traditions and reflected in broader Islamic teachings about creation and responsibility toward animals, offers a foundation for dialogue among the three Abrahamic faiths.
The story of King Solomon, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, provides another meaningful bridge between religious communities. Salita believes that compassion toward animals can become common ground for people of different backgrounds, encouraging mutual respect, peaceful dialogue, and a shared sense of responsibility for the natural world.
From Brooklyn to International Recognition
The Kanaani preservation initiative has already attracted international attention. In August 2026, two Kanaani cats, Haifa and Haya, achieved leading positions in their respective categories in the World Cat Federation’s Best Cat rankings following their European exhibition debut in Finland. The preservation program has also received recognition from international record organizations, including the World Book of Records London, which recognized the documentation of seven purebred Kanaani cats. These milestones have helped bring visibility to a breed that remains exceptionally rare worldwide. Yet Salita emphasizes that the ultimate achievement will not be measured solely through titles, records, or awards, but through the number of children inspired, animals protected, and communities brought together.
A New Chapter for Brooklyn and the World
The Royal House of Kanaani envisions future educational partnerships with schools, universities, libraries, animal welfare organizations, and faith-based institutions in the United States and internationally. Its long-term goals include promoting humane education, strengthening the Human–Animal Bond, preserving the Kanaani breed, and using cultural history to challenge prejudice, antisemitism, and Holocaust denial. The story that began in Jerusalem now continues in Brooklyn, carrying a message that transcends national borders and religious differences. History is in the making - not simply because a rare breed is being preserved, but because its preservation may inspire a new generation to recognize the dignity of life, the importance of compassion, and humanity’s shared responsibility toward animals.
About The World Kanaani Organization
The World Kanaani Organization (TWKO) is an international breed-preservation and educational initiative operating under the Salita Foundation, a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Together with the Royal House of Kanaani, TWKO promotes the preservation of Israel’s rare Kanaani cat breed, animal welfare, humane education, cultural heritage, and the Human-Animal Bond. Website: www.twko.org.
Media Contact: Mikhail Salita
Organization: The World Kanaani Organization / Salita Foundation
Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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