Assemblyman Cymbrowitz hosted a “celebrate the end of summer” luncheon for 400 local seniors at Kingsborough Community College, recently. The seniors, most of whom came from local senior centers, were treated to lunch, greetings from the event’s keynote speaker, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, entertainment, gifts, and information  important to seniors. Beth Israel Medical Center’s Kings Highway Division sponsored the event.

“The room was filled with seniors from varied backgrounds coming together to enjoy the afternoon and each other. Not only did they eat and socialize, but they were up dancing to songs such as “YMCA” and “New York, New York,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz stated.  “Our community is fortunate to have so many vibrant senior centers, but they generally function individually.  My luncheon provided the opportunity for the members and staffs of these centers to interact in an afternoon of fun and food.”

The Jewish coming-of-age ceremony in which a child becomes a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and enters the world of adulthood is usually celebrated by the child’s family and friends, who offer guidance and support through that important transition. But for the Legacy children who have suffered the loss of family members killed while serving their country as IDF soldiers, this celebration is a bittersweet occasion, marked with the painful reminder of a constant void.

As part of the FIDF Legacy Bar/Bat Mitzvah program, which was created to help them celebrate in a unique and unforgettable way, 53 boys and girls from all over Israel traveled to the United States to enjoy 10 days of fun in both California and the New York Tri-State area. Thanks to the generous contributions of FIDF supporters in the different chapters, including many American Bar and Bat Mitzvah children who chose to donate their gifts to the Legacy program, this trip became possible.

The home for world Sephardic Jewry. The new home of the Shehebar Sephardic Center

On a beautiful night, recently, Marjorie and IG Gindi hosted an exciting fund raising event for The Shehebar Sephardic Center (SSC) in their spacious new home in Deal, New Jersey. A few exceptional community members were honored for their inspirational dedication and in appreciation of their invaluable work.

After a gourmet dinner, the program began with emcee Ricky Cohen introducing the host, IG Gindi, who thanked his wife Marjorie for hosting and preparing the magnificent event. He then thanked the Shehebar family and the honorees for their encouragement and support of the Shehebar Sephardic Center throughout the years.

I have often thought about the irony that for every job, from the most simple to the most dignified, there is an application process that leads to either approval or rejection. Yet the most auspicious role we will ever assume, involving enormous responsibilities whose effects transcend generations, requires no interviews, no qualifications and no formal training. This is the awesome role of motherhood.

Parenting begins from the time a child is born. The earliest years of life are especially important for receiving a strong foundation for future mental health. According to psychologist Erik Erikson, children develop after passing through various stages of psychosocial growth, each one exhibiting a unique combination of needs and vulnerabilities. When, for example, a child’s cries of distress are soothed and comforted, or when a child feels safe and protected from harm, human trust develops, affording the child the future capacity to love—and to invest emotionally in others. When a child is encouraged to master the skills appropriate to his age, he develops self-confidence. The experience of success in social relationships can determine how he will relate to his future world. It is during the formative years, when physical and emotional needs are met by attentive and loving parents, that vital human qualities such as trust and self-esteem develop.

The boys’ graduating class of 1975

On a beautiful night in August, a strange phenomenon occurred as 70 people gathered in a beautiful Elberon, NJ home—and not for a bake sale. It was like a dream; a blast from the past. People who hadn’t seen each other in 33 years gathered in the same place at the same time just to reminisce about the past. The 1975 graduating class of Magen David Elementary School was reuniting. Yearbooks, photos and reading glasses were passed around. And although most of us recognized each other immediately, the most significant difference was the hair! Gone were the afros with kippahs perched on top. Balder heads, blonder locks, and specks of gray were de rigueur.

The girls’ graduating class of 1975

How did this phenomenon come to be? Through sheer determination, combined efforts and divine intervention. The first line of attack, finding a venue for our meeting, became an easily solved challenge when Mozelle Kassin Mimran offered her home. Next the menu: desserts or a full meal, cooked by classmates or catered? After making a few calls, we uncovered a wealth of contributors within our class roster. Joey Zami, caterer par excellence was contacted. Morris Swed of Yudah’s Café, the spouse of one of our classmates contributed to our fare. Randi Rishty Gindi offered to supply paper goods from her brother and Esther Schweky Schnepp’s son-in-law Ilan offered Ouri’s fruit. Food: check.

Rain, hail and dark clouds could not stop the 16th Annual Top Gun Tournament from being the best that it could be. Hundreds of people participated in the basketball, soccer, surfing, volleyball, dodgeball and Guitar Hero tournaments. The fun took place on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Park Avenue, in Long Branch, NJ.

The day started out with a thousand people in attendance watching the tournaments and enjoying the delicious food. People came from all over the tri-state area. Upon arrival, guests were greeted by six friendly volunteers. As soon as their admission bracelets were on, everyone walked in and was overwhelmed by how many things were taking place at once. To the left, there was a beautiful tent with a delicious meat lunch and lots of tables to sit at to socialize with friends. It was a great place to meet new people. While the spectators were enjoying the day, the Sephardic Voter’s League was out in force, registering people to vote.

Bonnie Dabah, Lilly Shweky, Genie Kairey, Sara Matut, Janel Mizrahi, Renee Cohen, Rena Franco, Judy Gabbay, Sadie Harary, Helene Mizrahi, Eve Mamiye, Rena Calvo and Norma Antebi

At Sephardic Bikur Holim’s summer extravaganza, the day was buzzing from morning to evening. There were dynamic speakers, fabulous food and jewelry to drool over. All this, and a constant throng of people relaxing and enjoying the day, made this event a summer splash.

Gail and Joseph Chehebar were our gracious hosts. Their lovely home was the perfect place to breathe in the cool ocean air, recline on the spacious wrap-around porch, and catch up with old friends. Indoors, there was a cacophony of sounds, from the “oohs” and “aahs” and “I hope I win that showcase of jewelry,” to the chatter surrounding the mouth-watering catered buffet. Three thought-provoking speakers rounded out the day, and a good time was had by all.

Rina Stern stood at her kitchen stove and glanced up at the huge clock over the window. She shook her head grimly. It was Erev Rosh Hashanah and she still had about three days worth of Yom Tov preparations to cram into the final six hours before sundown.

“I’ll never get done. I’ll never, ever get done,” her mind repeated. “We’re gonna eat tuna on Yom Tov, because I’ll never be ready!”

With two children under the age of four running around the small apartment with reckless abandon, playing “you catch me and I’ll pretend you didn’t and then I’ll run to Mommy screaming and crying,” the house sounded like a zoo at feeding time and all Rina could think, while trying to decipher a recipe written on the back of a cereal box, was, “I’ll never get done…”

Rosh Hashanah, “The New Year” in Hebrew, is a deeply spiritual holiday. The New Year commemorates the creation of the world (Adam and Eve were created on Rosh Hashanah) and each year the world’s existence is extended for another year, created anew, as it were. Mankind is also included in this new creation every year.

The New Year is an obvious time for judgment (which is why Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom HaDin, literally “Judgment Day”). Every creation we make, whether it is in art, business or even cooking, is judged by us. At some point we will step back and evaluate our creation. Does it live up to expectations? Are we pleased with it? What are its faults? On this, the anniversary of our creation, G-d does the same with us. We are evaluated, hence the “Day of Judgment.”

–Honoree Bruce Ratner Draws Support for Met Council’s Affordable Housing Work–

August 18, 2008 (New York, NY) –Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) netted more than one million dollars this past week, during its annual Builder’s Luncheon honoring Bruce Ratner, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies.

The nearly 500 guests spanned the real estate, political and communal spectrum. Jerry Stiller warmed the audience with his humor, while City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Congressman Anthony Weiner, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Congresswoman Yvette Clark, and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli praised Mr. Ratner for his work in developing New York City. Numerous other elected and appointed officials were present as the keynote speaker, Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, presented Mr. Ratner with a beautifully decorated charity box.

Speaker Silver commented in his address, “Bruce is responsible for much of the development and growth that’s gone on in Brooklyn and in Manhattan. He is a major force in New York City for the good.” Speaker Silver also praised Met Council for its commitment to helping all New Yorkers lift themselves out of poverty through innovative programs and services.

As part of the event, a special grant of $200,000 was made in honor of Speaker Silver by Henry Orenstein, a long-time supporter of Met Council, to benefit Met Council’s crisis intervention services.

Drawing on its exceptional reputation as one of the largest and most trusted developers of supportive housing in New York City, Met Council’s Builder’s Luncheon rallies the top real estate leaders each year to raise money for its supportive housing projects throughout New York City. This year’s event was the most successful so far, with one million dollars raised.

The money will support Met Council’s extensive supportive housing projects, which shelter the low-income elderly, formerly homeless and mentally ill throughout New York City. Current projects in development include the Seaview Nurses’ Residence in Staten Island, with 104 units, and Council Towers V in the Bronx with 70-units, both for low-income seniors.

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About Met Council’s Housing Program
Met Council is both a leader and innovator in developing and operating supportive housing sites in New York City, providing more than 1,200 units of housing to underserved and sensitive populations like the formerly homeless, low-income elderly and mentally ill. With its outstanding network of social services agencies and Jewish Community Councils, Met Council additionally provides comprehensive social services to its housing residents, strengthening its reputation as a trusted and compassionate leader in supportive housing development.

About Met Council
The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) is one of the largest social services agencies in New York City, helping more than 100,000 New Yorkers gain short-term and long-term solutions to poverty each year. Met Council’s roster of services includes crisis intervention, counseling, kosher food distribution, career services, housing, home care, family violence prevention, access to health insurance and home safety and repair services. Met Council’s goal is to help people become financially secure and independent wherever possible, and to improve the quality of life for everyone in need.

High Holiday Memories – Eyal Bitton

Eyal Bitton, composer, lyricist and musical director, has recently released a new album entitled, High Holidays Memories: Timeless Moroccan & Sephardi classics.

Currently the Musical Director of Toronto’s Beth Tikvah Synagogue Choir, Bitton has numerous musical and theater credits as well: he wrote the book, music and lyrics for numerous well-received musicals, including King David, Moses: The Musical Saga and Miss Persia, and provided musical direction and vocal arrangements for theatrical plays as well.