The Yeshivah of Flatbush had memorable ceremonies for Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, which brought students and the community real stories from Holocaust survivors and IDF soldiers, choral and dramatic performances, and a joyous celebration of the 64th anniversary of the State of Israel.

Joel Braverman High School (JBHS) held two Yom HaShoah ceremonies, an evening community commemoration and a day program for students. Holocaust survivor Sylvia Weiss, author of Selected From Above, spoke about being yanked off the gas chamber line by the infamous Josef Mengele, to stay with the working prisoners at Auschwitz.

Last year, community seniors were invited to Ohel Yaacob Synagogue (The Lawrence Avenue Shul) in Deal, New Jersey, to see The Syrian Jewish Community: Our Journey Through History, Episode 2, Coming to America, which was the first documentary film tracing the history of our community.

While they watched, there was a palpable excitement in the air. They sat in rapt attention and remained transfixed as they enjoyed the poignant stories of their relatives, and other Syrian Jews, discussing their childhood experiences and those of their parents and grandparents.

When our grandfathers arrived in New York City in the early twentieth century, the first step they took towards setting down roots was opening a synagogue in lower Manhattan. Since then, it seems we have come full circle. With the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue on the Upper East Side growing by leaps and bounds, and Magen David of Union Square on 16th Street moving into a new and bigger location on Sullivan Street, our presence in NYC is about to grow even stronger.

David Duke Dweck explains, We started out downtown more than a decade ago with Shabbat services for kids and young couples dorming or living in the neighborhood. Today, we have minyanim seven days a week, 365 days a year. We have holiday services and meals; weekly Humash, Talmud and halacha classes; we have served over 10,000 young adults at Shabbat dinners that we call Sufeh in the City, brought together many singles, and even watched four marriages blossom from scratch. We are here, and have been hereand you are using us, even when you dont realize it.

For 30 Years of Wonderful Service

In 1982, the Israeli Defense Forces invaded Lebanon, the British Royal Navy sailed some 8,000 miles to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina and the worlds most notorious terrorist was Carlos the Jackal. That same year Epcot Center opened, the first issue of USA Today was published and the first CD player was sold in Japan. And Time Magazines Man of the Year was none other than The Computer.

In 1982 the Man of the Year in the community of West Deal, New Jersey, was Rabbi Ezra Labaton. In August of that year, Rabbi Labaton was invited to become the full-time spiritual leader of Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Thirty years later, Rabbi Labaton remains a beacon not only to his congregants, but to the entire Syrian-Sephardic community.

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chairman of the Assemblys Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, brought Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Services to Midwood to enable her to hear firsthand about the Jewish communitys alcoholism and drug abuse problems. Over 20 rabbis, doctors, psychologists, social workers and program directors, with experience treating local residents with alcohol and drug abuse issues, participated in the roundtable discussion held in the Young Israel of Midwood.

The discussion was sponsored in conjunction with the Orthodox Union.  Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, its Executive Vice President, Emeritus, has been deeply involved in issues of alcoholism and substance abuse in the Orthodox community and has been one of the most effective leaders in making it clear that such abuses do occur in the community and should not be ignored, denied or swept under the rug.

The cheesecakes are baked and in the freezerone plain, one peanut butter cup and one chocolate-filled that I put in a pan that was too small, causing it to spill all over the oven! The French onion soup (our once-a-year Shavuot treat) is ready for the final broiling and the salmon is cooling on the counter. The house is clean and covered with plants. All the physical preparations have been made. Yet I still dont feel ready.

How do you really prepare to receive the Torah? How do you begin to imagine that spectacular moment of revelation and commitment? How can I hope to create an experience that even comes close?

Yom YerushalayimJerusalem Dayis the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated one week before the eve of Shavuot. Although Jerusalem has been considered the capital city of the Jewish people since the time of King Davidwho conquered it and built it as the seat of his monarchythere was never a special day in honor of the city until the Israeli army took over the ancient, eastern part of the city on the third day of the Six-Day War in June 1967.

Jerusalem was divided during the War of Independence and 19 years later was reunited as a result of the 6-Day War.

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.