It’s Wednesday night, June 30th at 11 pm and I just got in from the Pure Inspiration evening event. We had an amazing turn-out and a good time was had by all! Everyone got a sneak peek at our Chinese Auction and raved! The ticket boxes are filling up already:  the big hits so far are the David Rudy jewelry, the fitness package with the bicycles and elliptical, the iPad, the iMac computer and the Susan Menash portrait sitting. I had at least three guests ask me where they could put their tickets for the floral and crystal sculpture—our gorgeous centerpiece from Peter James Floral (maybe we should have auctioned it off—nah!)

Rabbi Meyer Yedid spoke beautifully, as did our own Rabbi Moshe Douek. We were introduced to the Mayor of Eatontown, Gerald Tarantolo, and could not have asked for two kinder or more gracious hosts than Allegra and Jacobo Cojab; their home looks especially lovely, thanks to all of our hardworking volunteers and we are so moved that they have allowed us to hold this special day in memory of Allegras’ mother, Arlette bat Olga A”H.

The big day is almost here; I’ll pray for sunshine!

The National Honor Society is the most prestigious organization for high school students across the United States. Membership is based upon four important qualities: leadership, character, scholarship and service.

This year, Hillel Yeshiva was proud to induct 31 sophomores, juniors and seniors into its Segula Chapter of the NHS. Not only do these students maintain a high grade point average, they also volunteer innumerable hours serving the community and school. Their volunteer efforts include working with Sephardic Bikur Holim, Deal Sephardic Network, Young Magen David, food kitchens, helping children with autism, serving children with special needs, visiting with soldiers of the IDF, helping with youth programming in local synagogues, tutoring children and reading Torah at various community minyanim.

The inductees to the NHS this year are: Michael Abady, Edward Benjamin, Ben Cain, Josh Calvo, Joyce Cohen, Naomi Cohen, Dena Edery, Paula Franco, Leetal Freiner, Rachel Gartenberg, Jared Gopin, Ovadia Harary, Saul Hedaya, Steven F. Jemal, Ariella Kashi, Marc Nardea, Mitchell Parker, Adele Rishty, Harris Sabbagh, Barbara Saka, Charles Saka, Sammy Saka, Irving Shabot, Maurice Shalam, Isaac Sasson, Al Sultan, Joseph Sultan, Morris Sutton, Nicole Vaknin, Rachel Vaknin and Ralph Zagha.

The serenity and peaceful nature of the summertime gives us all a chance to take a step back and relax for a few months. With that in mind, Magen David’s PTA coordinated two summer events that were uplifting, enjoyable and successful to kick off the summer.

One of the events—an invigorating morning featuring mother/daughter zumba—had mothers and daughters of all ages enjoying an energetic workout with Shirley Catton. Thanks go out to PTA committee members Serene Azar, Frieda Shama and Laura Tawil for organizing the event; to Shirley Catton for donating her time; and to Asher and Debbie Zamir for graciously hosting the event.

The elegant home of Fran and Charles Gammal of Deal, NJ was buzzing with activity on July 8th as over 1,000 NJ and Brooklyn residents participated in the annual event to benefit Ezer Mizion’s Lottie’s Kitchen. One area of the magnificent Gammal home was the scene of professional food demonstrations by Kessler Catering and Takahiro Hirai of Taka and by Kushner Cuisine. Another area housed the kitchen boutique featuring the latest in kitchen gadgetry. In a third, participants vied to purchase delectable delights available at the bakery.

Individual portrait sittings by Susan Menashe were a highlight for mothers who had waited all year to bring their offspring for Susan’s special touch. Many hurried to be on time for the floral arranging demonstration by New York Event Florists. And Bonnie Mansour added somespirituality to the event.

For the past year, an exciting program of study of Tur-Bet Yosef has been taking place daily in three different shuls in the community with the objective of reclaiming our centuries old tradition of intensive study of halacha. The scholars studying Tur-Bet Yosef delve deeply into the analysis of port Talmudic halachic development.

The holy sefer “Bet Yosef” is an encyclopedic work authored by Rav Yosef Caro zt”l, author of the Shulchan Aruch. Rav Caro, also known simply as Maran (our teacher), compiled this text after a deep analysis of the Sefer Arba Turim, authored by Rabbenu Yaakov the son of Rabbenu Asher (better known as The Rosh). In his analysis, Rav Caro used over 25 sources and a thorough, intense study of the Bet Yosef is considered essential to the basic knowledge of practical halacha for all Jewery.   

SBH’s 18th Annual Top Gun event took place on a beautiful day. The skies were clear, the sun was shining and everyone was excited to be there—players and spectators alike.

Upon arrival at the JCC, guests marveled at the amusement park rides and boardwalk games, which included Roll a Ball, Basket Hoops, and Target Water-Gun Shooting. Everyone was pleased to find a $10 coupon for the Chinese Auction with their entry ticket. Major prizes were given away, including a Samsung Plasma TV, exquisite jewelry by Shine Jewelers and William Barthman, an iMac computer, and a Wii Fit. However, as exciting as these prizes were, they paled a drop next to the shiny, brand new red Ferrari that Marquis Auto generously acutioned off. The winner had the choice of driving the fabulous Ferrari for three days or $3,000 towards their next car lease.

Since his recent passing, I speak to my brother Daniel A”H, more often than ever.  I wish him well, tell him that I love and miss him, tell him how sorry I am for what happened to him and let him know that all those he left behind are praying hard on his behalf.

Of course, I receive no response.  No “Hey brother.” No smile. No discussing our frustration with the Mets. No plans made to catch a movie.

Growing up, my brothers and I had a stereotypical brotherly love for one another. Invariably, one of us would get picked on by the other two. Punches, smacks and more were exchanged, however up until Daniel’s last days, when the three brothers got together it wasn’t long before we were all shaking with laughter.

Throngs of Baruch College students recently headed out of Baruch’s main building to attend the college’s annual Spring Fling. A different group of students headed in the other direction to a conference room at the top of Baruch’s Vertical Campus Building, to meet a panel of prominent Sephardic real estate executives gathered to share their personal experiences and insight into their industry.

The event was organized as part of an independent study project by Isaac Mograby, a graduating senior in the Baruch Honors Program and President of the Sephardic Students Club (SSC). It was cosponsored by the SCC and Hillel at Baruch. On the panel were Jack Cayre, Joe Jerome, Isaac Chera, and Albert Laboz. The event was attended by over 100 students.

Matthew Vogel, Executive Director of Hillel, opened the event with a few words, followed by a short introduction by Dr. Abe D. Tawil, Professor in Baruch College’s Management and Law Department and faculty advisor to Baruch’s Sephardic Students Club. Attendees then had the honor to hear from President of Baruch College Stan Altman who warmly welcomed the speakers.

Recently, the Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College held its annual commencement exercises at Congregation Beth Torah. The ceremony saluted the accomplishments of the largest graduating class to date: Frieda Cattan, Adele Chabot, Bava Cohen, Vicky Cohen, Ariella Falack, Marie Levy, and Rochelle (Rahmey) Salem. These women completed an extensive program of classes in Judaic Studies and methodology, taught by educational leaders from throughout the New York area.

Courses included Tanakh, Jewish History, Halakah, Jewish Philosophy, Hebrew language and grammar, as well as training in state-of-the art teaching methodologies. During the program, students were placed in community schools, where they trained one-on-one with mentors. Graduates of the program are currently teaching in Magen David Yeshivah, Barkai Yeshivah and Yeshivah of Flatbush. One of the earliest graduates has now moved on to a position as Principal of Judaic Studies in a local school, following her completion of the prestigious Lookstein Foundation fellowship administrative training program.

Gesher Yehuda celebrated its annual commencement at the beautiful Bnei Yitzhak Synagogue recently.

Rabbi Eli Mansour, brought his signature warmth and wit to the event as keynote speaker. The graduates proudly marched down the aisle as their families and friends looked on with great joy and nachat.

This year, there was an added highlight to the evening. One of Gesher’s long time staff members was awarded a special honor at the graduation.  

The curtains part, and *Steve appears on stage. Adjusting his cap, he faces the audience and begins to speak, his words clear and dramatic. I rummage for my sunglasses to hide the pools of tears filling my eyes.

Could this star performer really be my little Steve? That same little boy who’d struggled and cried, and never met anything short of despair and failure?

My mind drifts to Steven’s earliest school experiences. A flood of memories pour through my mind. Images of a bewildered little boy trying desperately to string sounds together, visions of Steve shredding his homework in despair,  and finally, the inevitable sobbing Steven refusing to return to school.

Boy, was that a tough year! His struggles with language and focusing sent him on a downward spiral, turning each day into a living nightmare. Learning became a bitter struggle, and disappointment was his constant companion.

The State of Israel lost a powerful voice of political reason and religious rationality on June 7, when former Chief Rabbi of Israel Mordehai Eliyahu, succumbed to advancing health problems.

Rabbi Eliyahu served as Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel from 1982 to 1993 and was a member of the Bet Din Harabani Hagadol (Supreme Rabbinical Court) in Jerusalem. He was considered one of the leading Zionist rabbis and certainly one of the most popular and charismatic rabbinical leaders in all of Israel.

Rabbi Eliyahu was born in the Old City of Jerusalem in British-occupied Palestine during the dark year of 1929 when Arabs attacked, killed and maimed over 100 Jews throughout Hebron, Jaffa, Safed and other towns. Rabbi Eliyahu’s upbringing was one imbued with a rigorous love of the Land of Israel which led him to become a staunch defender of the Holy Land. He was first inspired by his father, the Iraqi-born rabbi, Salman Eliyahu (1878-1940), who was not only a respected rabbi and mekubal (kabbalist) of Jerusalem, but had also been secularly educated in London. As a result of his Western education, he later served as the personal secretary of the British High Commissioner of the Palestine British Mandate, Lord Herbert L. Samuel, making him the first Jew to govern the Land of Israel in 2,000 years.

Hundreds of people recently attended the Seventh Annual Lena Cymbrowitz Community Health Fair.

Extending along Emmons Avenue from west of Sheepshead Bay Road to the Ocean Avenue footbridge, the fair included 45 tables providing health screenings, information and free giveaways. Parked along the curb were a functioning ambulance for children to explore and NYU’s Smiling Faces Dental Van, which provided free dental screenings. Also, dogs and cats were offered for adoption since studies show that owning a pet is good for your health.

The event was kept festive by a DJ, performances from local schools, a caricaturist, face painters, jugglers and clowns.

Jonathan Kessler, the Leadership Development Director of AIPAC recently visited the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School to address the teachers and students. He first spoke to the faculty, then the students. The event was part of a program to inspire a Zionist spirit in students and teach them to effectively advocate for Israel in the coming years.

YOF’s Israel advocacy commissions have been teaching students the importance of knowing the facts about Israel for years. This year in particular, the school emphasized the need to increase its support base, so it rekindled its relationship with AIPAC. In November, 10 YOF students, under the leadership of Rabbi Avner Taler, traveled to Washington DC for the AIPAC High School Summit. In March, the school sent eight students to the AIPAC Policy Conference, where they heard speeches by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Alan Dershowitz. After this event, those eight students understood that advocating for a strong American-Israeli relationship and supporting Israel is something their entire school needs to do. That urge to bring the school to action led to Kessler’s visit.