It is usual for people to take for granted the things that are readily available to them. Sometimes the Syrian Jews in NY do not realize how revered their community is worldwide. They have developed all types of organizations which support all their community needs and help keep their beautiful traditions alive.
Recently, leaders from the Jewish Syrian community met with the Mashadi Jewish community of Great Neck to share their experiences and advise them about how to keep their traditions and values alive in future generations. The Mashadi community is similar to the Syrian community in many ways. Both are from Muslim Middle Eastern countries, both follow Sephardic traditions, both are a community of business people and professionals, and both are extremely generous in supporting the community with their hesed and tzedakah.
Jacob Kassin pointed out the three critical things that are necessary for success in any community: establishing your own yeshivot, adopting an edict against marriage to non-Jews and converts, and the importance of tzedaka. Each of these ideas in their own way help to steer a community into the future, and are instrumental in maintaining community values.
The men discussed the high cost of tuitions at yeshivot. The Mashadi community currently has only a pre-school of its own. It was strongly encouraged to establish schools for all higher grades, in order to teach the children according to the ways of the community.
One of our organizations that were represented included the Safra Synagogue. Rabbi Eli Abadie described how he faces the challenge of keeping the young members of the Syrian community who live in Manhattan active and involved in Jewish activities. Dr. Mayer Ballas, who represented the Bikur Holim, spoke about how this organization is involved in visiting the sick, helping the elderly, supporting people who are in need of food—this organization is involved in so many aspects of helping anyone who is in need. Joey Tawil spoke about the Sephardic Community Center, and how it has thrived. Ike Dweck spoke about S.A.F.E., an organization which teaches about all the dangers of abusive activities. Finally, Mr. Ronald Tawil, who is involved in many aspects of the community, discussed the generosity required by community members.
The meeting was closed with the words of Rabbi Yosef Bittona, of the Mashadi community, who praised the Syrian community for maintaining their Jewish values.
This unique and historic meeting was of great importance in helping the Mashadi Jewish community find the right ways to go forward and build a better community in which all of its members, starting from a young age, will embrace their Jewish values and Mashadi traditions, and then pass them on to many future generations.
