The Yeshivah of Flatbush High School Guidance Department, coordinated by Dr. Gila Sandler, recently spearheaded an exciting program to combat some of the dangers faced by teens. The First Annual Choices Awareness Day was organized by Eva Bernfeld, LCSW, Lillian Galapo, School Psychologist, the Guidance Staff and the Choices Commission.

Over 60 students, accompanied by faculty advisors from Magen David Yeshivah, the Ramaz Upper School, SAR Academy, Community High School and YOF took part in the program to learn about the YOF Choices Commission and to develop ideas and initiatives in their schools.

It all started with a vision. What would happen if all of the communitys children collected as many pennies as possible? People had done it with paper clips, so why not try it with pennies. Many look at pennies as having little or no value; its just worth one cent. But when you put a large amount together it can create a huge value and when a lot of people join together to do small acts of hesed, it can make a huge difference.

So we set a goal, and we planned a dream. The children would collect pennies and the money would go to help the children. Our motto became, Children Helping Children. Our goal was simply: to collect as many cents as possible. All proceeds would go to SBHs Dress A Child program, which helps needy families purchase clothing for their children.

Our Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts and Daughters

After many months of preparation, the 6th grade girls at Magen David Yeshivah were thrilled and excited to perform before their mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers and even their great-grandmothers as part of a special Night to Celebrate.

Bigger and Better Than Ever

We are proud to announce that Team SBHs TopGun is returning to Deal for its 20th year and it is still the premiere event of the summer! Only this year, on Sunday August 12th, things are going to be a little bit differentTopGun 2012 is going to be the best one yet!

Over the past couple of years, the SBH committee has worked tirelessly to roll out what has now become an epic hitTeam SBH. From now on, Team SBH will include all athletes who take part in any SBH event. That means we are now a team of over 2,000 community members who raise money through athleticism, making us true Champions for Charity.

Community Leaders Ask Forgiveness

On Tuesday, March 17, the Sephardic Home for the Aged, located on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, was the setting for a special celebration which brought together many distinguished guests. Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar and Chief Rabbi Saul Kassin led the delegation of Sephardic rabbis, community leaders and activists. Rabbi Herschel Kurzrock and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, from the Rabbininical Alliance-Igud Harrabbonim, gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of esteemed Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shaare Zion, Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht.

Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah by G-d to the entire Jewish people. This occurred on Mount Sinai over 3,300 years ago. This was a far-reaching spiritual event that touched the essence of all Jewish souls for all time. On Shavuot, the Jewish people agreed to adhere to the commandments of the Torah. Every year, Shavuot is the special time for us to strengthen our unique relationship with G-d.

What is the Torah? The Torah is comprised of two partsthe written law and the oral law. The written Torah contains the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings. The oral law explains and clarifies the written law. The Torah describes the creation of the world by G-d, and expounds on the 613 mitzvot.

Many American Jewish families are facing a difficult question, as deadlines for summer camp enrollment approach: Can they pay their bills and send their kids to Jewish sleepaway camp?

Its a difficult decision, said Shelly Zemelman, a school psychologist with four children. Her 16-year-old daughter, Batya, has spent four summers at Camp Stone, a modern Orthodox camp in Pennsylvania, that charges $3,500 for a four-week session. Other Jewish camps charge as much as $1,500 per week.

Its not a necessity like school its a luxury, Zemelman said. If we had to send all four kids, at the same time, I dont think we could do it.

She knows several families who are considering dropping camp. One family made it work by alternating the years their children attend camp.

About four years ago, at the age of 33, Miri Horwich-Fried completed her doctorate work on diabetes. Seeking a new direction, she heard about a lab researching cancer immunology, which had opened at Bar-Ilan University and was looking for researchers. This subject always interested her. Her father had died from the illness.

She got the job and felt that it was an area where she could make a breakthrough. She worked feverishly, trying to empathize with families who were facing death.

Three years after starting her  research, she began to experience sharp stomach pains. When she went for tests, the doctors thought the pain was connected to the fact that she was postpartum. All the tests came out normal.

Finally, they decided to send her for an ultra-sound, where they discovered a lump in her liver, which they blamed on a problem with her veins and told her to return for a check-up in six months.

The TEACH-NYS coalition (Educational Alliance for Children in New York State), representing New Yorks non-public school community, recently organized a leadership mission to Albany that met with 45 state legislators, including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Thirty-five leaders of yeshivahs and of national and regional organizations participated.

TEACH-NYS President Elliot Gibber said, The total outstanding debt owed to non-public schools is approximately $350 million for all mandated services.

Representatives from yeshivah day schools across New Jersey recently united behind the issue of state funding for non-public schools. The meeting was the first of its kind, organized by the newly formed Community Federation of New Jersey, in partnership with the Orthodox Union and its Institute for Public Affairs (IPA).

More than 70 New Jersey Jewish day school leaders, who combined were responsible for more than 20,000 Jewish school children across the state, attended.