Something for Everyone

Purim at DSN consisted of extraordinary celebrations that brought fun, laughter, and meaningful connections to community members of all ages. The holiday festivities spanned multiple events, each tailored to a different age group, ensuring that everyone had a chance to partake in the joyous spirit of Purim.

On Wednesday, March 12th, DSN, in collaboration with SBH, hosted an unforgettable Purim celebration for the seniors. This year’s theme was a vibrant Mexican fiesta, complete with an energetic Mariachi band and an authentic Mexican feast catered by PKS. The event was filled with warmth and happiness as seniors enjoyed lively music, delicious food, and heartfelt connections. To make the celebration even more special, each senior received a beautifully curated Mishloach Manot, generously provided by the DSN High School Hesed Program and SBH Youth.
DSN’s Senior Program Directors Vicky Schreiber and Stephanie Massry shared their enthusiasm for leading the Senior program year-round. “Days like this are heartwarming. It is our profound privilege to work alongside seniors, learning from their wisdom and experiences and supporting them as they age, thrive, and continue to make meaningful connections and contributions to our community.”
Purim’s festivities extended to DSN’s youngest participants through engaging and age-appropriate programs. At DSN’s Sunday program, nursery and kindergarten children were treated to a day of fun with face painting and creative crafts. Meanwhile, students in grades 1-4 participated in a special Hesed Day, engaging in acts of kindness including baking Hamantaschen for seniors, preparing Mishloach Manot, and crafting heartfelt cards for soldiers in Israel. The 5th grade girls enjoyed a beracha party with Ellen Sutton, where they organized Mishloah Manot packages for Seniors. These activities instilled a deep sense of compassion and connection within the younger generation.
On Sunday March, 9, over 1000 people attended the SBH Purim Carnival at DSN. There were inflatables, tables of hesed and a mad science show. Additionally, there was an unbelievable auction that raffled off many great things, one of them being a kitchen. The carnival and auction was put together by Marsha Tobias, who volunteers her time every year to make this dream a reality. DSN’s Youth Program Director Frieda Shamah was overwhelmed. “There’s nothing like the community coming together for an amazing event like the SBH Purim Carnival at DSN! The spirit of Purim comes alive as we see the kids dressed up and full of excitement, making it a truly special celebration.”
A delightful and heartwarming event, the Mother-Child Hamantaschen Decorating at the DSN Beach Club, was a highlight of the Purim celebrations. Jeli’s Cafe supplied fresh Hamantaschen, which children excitedly dipped and decorated with an assortment of sprinkles and toppings, all while enjoying lively music. The event fostered beautiful multi-generational bonding as mothers, grandmothers, and children came together to celebrate the holiday. DSN member and mother Gila Sutton was ecstatic. “This was our favorite DSN event!” Program Director Caleigh Silvera was overjoyed to see so many families enjoying the experience, emphasizing that the event was a resounding success.
Purim is a holiday filled with joy, fun, and the celebration of Queen Esther’s bravery and Mordechai’s steadfastness in saving the Jewish people, while Hashem guided the events through hidden miracles. DSN ensured that the Jersey Shore community had ample opportunities to celebrate, create lasting memories, and participate in elevated experiences that honored the true spirit of the holiday. Through music, food, creativity, and acts of kindness, this Purim was truly one to remember.
DSN’s Executive Director, Sammy Sitt, was thankful. “Our staff and volunteers did it again! They pulled off multiple events in the same week for Purim. It’s a credit to their passion and relentless efforts, which as they keep raising the bar on what DSN provides our community. May Hashem continue to bless DSN to keep growing and growing!”

The SCF is happy to report that after an almost 9-year lobbying campaign, meaningful sections of the recently enacted City of Yes rezoning program included many special considerations for new and remodeled houses in our neighborhoods.
As a founding member of the Flatbush Neighborhood Improvement Coalition (FNIC), the SCF worked together with the FJCC and others to bring this major accomplishment to fruition.
The new regulations provide (among others):
(In our neighborhoods only – Southern Brooklyn–not City-wide)

• Enhanced Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0
• Rear Yard depths reduced from 30 feet to 20 feet.
• Increases in Lot Coverage
• Reduction of certain Side Yard requirements
• Increase in the perimeter side wall height that allows for a 3-4 step-up front porch/entry level vs.
  the previous 1-2 step-up front porch/entry level.
  These enhancements were designed to eliminate the long paperwork delays of a year or more and expenditures of up to $100,000 for legal and filing fees for Special Permits and Variances.
  The SCF wishes to extend its deep gratitude to Mayor Eric Adams, his administration, and the Dept. of City Planning Commissioner, Dan Garodnik.
  Their combined efforts via more than a dozen meetings, whether they were at City Hall, at the Dept. of City Planning or on Zoom or by phone went way above and beyond our expectations.
  We are also grateful to Joey Shamie for his untiring efforts re: this initiative and for his involvement in so many other Community-wide initiatives.
  This historic accomplishment is but one of many successes that the SCF has achieved in its 15-plus years of advocating for the needs of our Community. q

Ari Baum, CFP®

IN A WORLD WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA FLAUNTS EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLES, FLASHY CARS, DESIGNER CLOTHES, AND OPULENT VACATIONS, IT’S EASY TO MISTAKE NOISE FOR SUBSTANCE. THE LOUDEST DISPLAYS OF WEALTH OFTEN DON’T BELONG TO THE TRULY WEALTHY BUT TO THOSE SEEKING VALIDATION. THE AGE-OLD SAYING, “MONEY TALKS, WEALTH WHISPERS,” HIGHLIGHTS A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH: REAL WEALTH IS QUIET, COMPOSED, AND INTENTIONAL.

Money and wealth are not the same. Money is a tool—liquid and transactional. It enables purchases, fuels lifestyles, and often dictates immediate decisions. Wealth, on the other hand, is the long-term accumulation of assets, investments, and financial security. It’s not just about having a high income but about sustaining and growing financial stability over time.
Those who are truly wealthy don’t feel the need to prove it. They understand that wealth is not measured by outward appearances but by financial independence, legacy building, and peace of mind. Instead of broadcasting their status, they quietly make moves that ensure long-term prosperity.

The Psychology of Money and Wealth
People who focus on showing off their money often operate with a scarcity mindset. They may feel an internal pressure to demonstrate success, fearing that without visible symbols of affluence, their status will be questioned. This mindset often leads to excessive spending, debt accumulation, and financial instability.
Conversely, those who embody true wealth operate with an abundance mindset. They recognize that financial security is not about temporary gratification but about sustainable financial health. They prioritize investments over expenses, focus on long-term goals, and make financial decisions that provide stability for generations.

How True Wealth Manifests
Wealthy individuals often lead modest, disciplined financial lives. Consider Warren Buffett, one of the world’s richest men, who still lives in the same house he purchased in 1958. Instead of indulging in extravagant displays of wealth, he prioritizes investments, philanthropy, and financial wisdom.
Here are some characteristics of true wealth:

1. Financial Independence – The ability to live life on one’s own terms without dependence on a paycheck.
2. Discipline in Spending – Living below one’s means and making thoughtful financial choices.
3. Strategic Investments – Allocating money into appreciating assets such as stocks, real estate, and businesses.
4. Minimal Debt – Avoiding unnecessary liabilities and maintaining strong financial health.
5. Generational Planning – Creating a legacy through estate planning, trusts, and financial education for future generations.
6. Philanthropy – Using wealth to give back and create meaningful impact rather than to seek validation.

Why Quiet Wealth Is Powerful
The quiet nature of true wealth provides freedom—freedom from financial stress, external validation, and unnecessary risks. Those who accumulate wealth understand that security and opportunity outweigh momentary indulgences.
Wealth whispers because it doesn’t need to shout. It’s found in the business owner who reinvests profits into long-term growth rather than splurging on luxuries. It’s in the investor who patiently builds a diversified portfolio instead of chasing short-term market trends. It’s in the financially independent individual who enjoys a comfortable lifestyle without concern for economic downturns.

How to Build Quiet Wealth
If you want to transition from making money to building wealth, consider these key principles:

1. Live Below Your Means – Avoid lifestyle inflation and keep your expenses in check.
2. Prioritize Investing – Allocate a portion of your income to investments that grow over time.
3. Create Multiple Income Streams – Diversify your income through stocks, real estate, businesses, and passive income sources.
4. Be Mindful of Debt – Only take on debt that serves a strategic purpose, such as buying property or funding education.
5. Stay Educated – Continuously learn about financial strategies, market trends, and wealth management.
6. Plan for the Future – Establish retirement accounts, insurance policies, and estate plans to secure long-term stability.

Final Thoughts
The true measure of financial success is not in how much you spend but in how much you keep and grow. Wealth doesn’t seek attention—it provides security, freedom, and peace of mind. In a world where money talks loudly, let your wealth whisper with quiet confidence, built on strong financial principles and a legacy that lasts. q

The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult with a financial professional regarding your specific situation.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners, with over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He brings his in-depth experience to Conceive. Believe. Achieve. for his clients. Securities and Advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Brokerage and Advisory accounts carried by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

With the start of a new legislative session, my colleagues in the New York State legislature and I have begun negotiating the annual state budget—a document outlining roughly $252 billion in spending priorities that reflect our values and needs. This year, we’ve scored an important win on behalf of children across the state: a commitment to universal free school meals in the Governor’s executive budget proposal. This commitment is for every student, in every school setting.

Hunger is a daily problem for nearly a million students across New York. We know students experiencing hunger struggle to focus, have lower attendance rates, and are at significantly higher risk of developing mental and physical health problems. In New York City alone, statistics have shown that providing free school meals to all students improved math and reading test scores. And by making free school meals universal, we remove the stigma of receiving them; that means less bullying, and an improvement in students’ relationships and self-esteem, both crucial factors in childhood development.
There are millions of families across New York whose lives would be changed by knowing their children can eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch at school each day for free. I know because I’ve spoken with them at length about how they feel the pinch in their pockets each day as they struggle to make ends meet. This is a big fight, and one that I am glad to be fighting alongside The Sephardic Community Federation, and community leaders like Sam Sutton.
More New York children are struggling with unpaid lunch debt than ever before. Our proposal would save families an average of $165 on groceries per child every month; that’s nearly $4,000 in savings per year for a family with two school-aged children. That’s game-changing money that could go towards essentials like school supplies, healthcare, rent, transportation, and clothing.
With just a tiny fraction of the state budget, we could transform the lives of millions of working families: $340 million—0.1% of the proposed state budget—would fully fund free school meals for all students across New York State. Many states have already taken similar steps, and it’s time for New York to follow their lead.
Up in Albany, it’s one of a number of measures to ease families’ financial burdens that I’m fighting hard to include in the state budget. From Healthy School Meals for All program to my Working Families Tax Credit— which would give families across the state up to $1,600 per child to help make ends meet—fighting to make life more affordable on an everyday basis is my top priority, and I’m committed to seeing it through.
I’m committed to doing everything I can to fully fund the Healthy School Meals For All program in this year’s budget. Together with SCF Leadership, we’ll change the daily reality for children across New York, because no matter how engaging the lesson or how experienced the teacher, students can’t learn if they’re hungry. It’s as simple as that.

Andrew Gounardes serves as the New York State Senator for Brooklyn’s 26th District. A lifelong Brooklynite, he is a strong advocate for transit safety, quality education, and supporting working families.

Discover CARE’s Expanding Impact on the Community

A family from the community discovered the vastness of CARE’s mission when their child was hospitalized for three months due to a severe medical condition. As the child was ready to come home, they were unprepared and felt utterly lost. They had no idea how to manage the transition, what equipment they needed, or that insurance could cover an at-home nurse. When the CARE team heard about their situation, they immediately sprang into action. Within a few hours they arrived at the hospital, assessed the family’s needs, warmly spoke to the parents and guided them from A-Z step by step on how to care for their child at home. A CARE advisor explained that they need a professional nurse to care for the child so the issue does not arise again. Thanks to CARE’s swift intervention, the family secured a skilled nurse and gained the confidence they needed to care for their child. The mother later shared, “I always thought CARE only helped children with disabilities. I never imagined they could help us too. What would we have done without CARE?” That is the CARE difference.
During a time of medical uncertainty, even the smallest gestures can provide immense comfort. Parents of a child with a medical challenge had to travel out of state for four weeks while their child underwent a serious surgery. Away from home, the mother worried about how her other children would be cared for. CARE stepped in and arranged for warm, nutritious meals to be delivered to the family back home, ensuring they had one less thing to worry about. The mother, deeply touched, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Knowing that my children had a proper meal each night brought me peace of mind during one of the hardest times of our lives.”

Another family faced an ongoing challenge with their child who required a G-tube for nutrition and round-the-clock care. The mother was frustrated by the constant turnover of nurses, making it difficult to establish a stable routine. She ultimately decided to forgo a nurse altogether unless she could find one who would commit to a full week of care. CARE’s dedicated advisors that are experienced in this area, stepped in and negotiated on the family’s behalf, spending countless hours advocating for consistent, quality care. Thanks to their persistence, the child now has a reliable, compassionate nurse who provides essential care every day giving the mother much-needed relief and confidence in her child’s well-being.
For another family, a groundbreaking medical trial offered a glimmer of hope for their one-year-old child’s rare condition. However, before they could participate, they needed to purchase an expensive machine—one they simply could not afford. Knowing what was at stake, CARE raised the necessary funds in record time. Today, months into the trial, the child is showing remarkable progress, giving her parents renewed hope for her future.
CARE believes no family should navigate a medical challenge alone. CARE has built an extensive network of connections with specialists, doctors, and hospitals, ensuring families receive the best possible medical referrals. Whether it’s finding the right doctor for a complex condition, navigating hospital systems, or helping a family understand their options, CARE has the connections and helps families access top-tier medical expertise. Additionally, we offer in-house genetic testing for families seeking answers about their child’s medical challenges or for couples looking to get tested before dating. By providing these vital services, CARE continues to empower families with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed and educated medical decisions that can shape a family’s future.
Stories like these highlight the extraordinary ways CARE goes beyond what many expect and opens doors for those with medical challenges. Yes, CARE continues to provide unwavering support for children with special needs and also stands ready to assist any child facing medical challenges. Whether it’s securing the right doctor, navigating hospital stays, advocating for services, or ensuring that no family walks alone during a medical crisis, CARE is there.
If you or someone you know can benefit from CARE’s services, please call us at 718.975.7171 and let us make a difference in your journey.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ZT”L

Genesis ends on an almost serene note. Jacob has found his long lost son. The family has been reunited. Joseph has forgiven his brothers. Under his protection and influence the family has settled in Goshen, one of the most prosperous regions of Egypt. They now have homes, property, food, the protection of Joseph and the favor of Pharaoh. It must have seemed one of the golden moments of Abraham’s family’s history.
Then, as has happened so often since, “There arose a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph.” There was a political climate change. The family fell out of favor. Pharaoh told his advisers: “Look, the Israelite people are becoming too numerous and strong for us”– the first time the word “people” is used in the Torah with reference to the children of Israel. “Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase.” And so the whole mechanism of oppression moves into operation: forced labor that turns into slavery that becomes attempted genocide.
The story is engraved in our memory. We tell it every year, and in summary-form in our prayers, every day. It is part of what it is to be a Jew. Yet there is one phrase that shines out from the narrative: “But the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.” That, no less than oppression itself, is part of what it means to be a Jew.
The worse things get, the stronger we become. Jews are the people who not only survive but thrive in adversity.
Jewish history is not merely a story of Jews enduring catastrophes that might have spelled the end to less tenacious groups. It is that after every disaster, Jews renewed themselves. They discovered some hitherto hidden reservoir of spirit that fueled new forms of collective self-expression as the carriers of G-d’s message to the world.
Every tragedy begat new creativity. After the division of the kingdom following the death of Solomon came the great literary prophets, Amos and Hosea, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Out of the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian exile came the renewal of Torah in the life of the nation, beginning with Ezekiel and culminating in the vast educational program brought back to Israel by Ezra and Nehemiah. From the destruction of the Second Temple came the immense literature of rabbinic Judaism, until then preserved mostly in the form of an oral tradition: Mishnah, Midrash and Gemarah.
From the Crusades came the Hassidei Ashkenaz, the North European school of piety and spirituality. Following the Spanish expulsion came the mystic circle of Tzefat: Lurianic Kabbalah and all it inspired by way of poetry and prayer. From East European persecution and poverty came the Hassidic movement and its revival of grass-roots Judaism through a seemingly endless flow of story and song. And from the worst tragedy of all in human terms, the Holocaust, came the rebirth of the state of Israel, the greatest collective Jewish affirmation of life in more than two thousand years.
It is well known that the Chinese ideogram for “crisis” also means “opportunity”. Any civilization that can see the blessing within the curse, the fragment of light within the heart of darkness, has within it the capacity to endure. Hebrew goes one better. The word for crisis, mashber, also means “a child-birth chair.” Written into the semantics of Jewish consciousness is the idea that the pain of hard times is a collective form of the contractions of a woman giving birth. Something new is being born. That is the mindset of a people of whom it can be said that “the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.”

Where did it come from, this Jewish ability to turn weakness into strength, adversity into advantage, darkness into light? It goes back to the moment in which our people received its name, Israel. It was then, as Jacob wrestled alone at night with an angel, that as dawn broke his adversary begged him to let him go. “I will not let you go until you bless me”, said Jacob. (Bereishit 32:27) That is the source of our peculiar, distinctive obstinacy. We may have fought all night. We may be tired and on the brink of exhaustion. We may find ourselves limping, as did Jacob. Yet we will not let our adversary go until we have extracted a blessing from the encounter. This turned out to be not a minor and temporary concession. It became the basis of his new name and our identity. Israel, the people who “wrestled with G-d and man and prevailed”, is the nation that grows stronger with each conflict and catastrophe.
I was reminded of this unusual national characteristic by an article that appeared in the British press in October 2015. Israel at the time was suffering from a wave of terrorist attacks that saw Palestinians murdering innocent civilians in streets and bus stations throughout the country. It began with these words: “Israel is an astonishing country, buzzing with energy and confidence, a magnet for talent and investment – a cauldron of innovation.” It spoke of its world-class excellence in aerospace, clean-tech, irrigation systems, software, cyber-security, pharmaceuticals and defense systems.
“All this”, the writer went on to say, “derives from brainpower, for Israel has no natural resources and is surrounded by hostile neighbors.” The country is living proof of “the power of technical education, immigration and the benefits of the right sort of military service.” Yet this cannot be all, since Jews have consistently overachieved, wherever they were and whenever they were given the chance. He goes through the various suggested explanations: the strength of Jewish families, their passion for education, a desire for self-employment, risk-taking as a way of life, and even ancient history. The Levant was home to the world’s first agricultural societies and earliest traders. Perhaps, then, the disposition to enterprise was written, thousands of years ago, into Jewish DNA. Ultimately, though, he concludes that it has to do with “culture and communities”.
A key element of that culture has to do with the Jewish response to crisis. To every adverse circumstance, those who have inherited Jacob’s sensibilities insist: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” (Bereishit 32:27) That is how Jews, encountering the Negev, found ways of making the desert bloom. Seeing a barren, neglected landscape elsewhere, they planted trees and forests. Faced with hostile armies on all their borders, they developed military technologies they then turned to peaceful use. War and terror forced them to develop medical expertise and world-leading skills in dealing with the aftermath of trauma. They found ways of turning every curse into a blessing. The historian Paul Johnson, as always, put it eloquently: “Over 4,000 years the Jews proved themselves not only great survivors but extraordinarily skillful in adapting to the societies among which fate had thrust them, and in gathering whatever human comforts they had to offer. No people has been more fertile in enriching poverty or humanizing wealth, or in turning misfortune to creative account.”
There is something profoundly spiritual as well as robustly practical about this ability to transform the bad moments of life into a spur to creativity. It is as if, deep within us were a voice saying, “You are in this situation, bad though it is, because there is a task to perform, a skill to acquire, a strength to develop, a lesson to learn, an evil to redeem, a shard of light to be rescued, a blessing to be uncovered, for I have chosen you to give testimony to humankind that out of suffering can come great blessings if you wrestle with it for long enough and with unshakeable faith.”
In an age in which people of violence are committing acts of brutality in the name of the G-d of compassion, the people of Israel are proving daily that this is not the way of the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of life and the sanctity of life. And whenever we who are a part of that people lose heart, and wonder when it will ever end, we should recall the words: “The more they were oppressed, the more they increased and the more they spread.” A people of whom that can be said can be injured, but can never be defeated. G-d’s way is the way of life.