Thanks to the advocacy of several Jewish organizations including the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), thousands of yeshivah children are now eligible to receive free tutoring services. At the request of the Jewish groups, the Department of Education (DOE) has contracted with Catapult Learning, a leading education support service company, to provide free remedial services to thousands of yeshivah students.

ZDR Academy/Rambam Yeshiva recently announced it has hired Rabbi David Abramchik to assume the position of Rosh Yeshiva and Principal for the school.

On Mondays, the many talented artists of our community meet at Gem Suslovich’s home for a unique opportunity to create and support each other in all kinds of artistic endeavors.

In an open art salon, people of all ages, all talents and all types attend to enhance their creativity and allow it to flow. They work in oils, water colors and collage, and some in pastels or pen and ink.

Bingo

Laughing, smiling, playing and enjoying are what summer is all about for our children. Recently, Hillel Yeshiva PTA gave our children the perfect opportunity to do just that. Our second annual Kids Night Out, sponsored by Mollie and Marc Seruya in loving memory of their brother Jeffrey Cohen A”H, was held in the heart of Deal in the home of our gracious hosts, Shula and David Dayan— and what a success it was!

Upon entering their backyard everyone felt as though they had walked into a beautiful rainbow. The colorful tables, balloons, streamers and the magnificent Kid’s Auction were set up as a rainbow theme. A special thanks to Suzi Cohen and Arlette Cohen (Jeffrey’s cousins) for organizing the auction which was our main attraction. There were awesome bicycles, a Cadillac Escalade, a wood swing set, an LCD TV, and much more. Each and every prize was generously donated by different members of the Cohen and Jemal families. By the end of the evening, every box was overflowing with tickets, a sign that Kids Night Out was a true success!

Last year, Joe Danziger organized Lollapajewza, a concert modeled after Lollapalooza, featuring Jewish performers. It was held at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

Lollapajewza returned this year to rock the Jersey Shore with 13 bands, lots of solo and acoustic performers and more than 600 fans. There were also several artists and photographers displaying their work.

This time around, the committee—Joe Danziger, Julie Danziger, Sonja Cabasso, Sammy Chalme and Ames Sutton—decided to make the festival a block party on Mattison Avenue in Asbury Park with an outdoor stage and an indoor stage to accomodate all the performers who wanted to show off their talent.

Comedy Cures volunteers

Small acts of kindness can bring a smile to many. With that in mind, Magen David Yeshivah’s High School recently jumpstarted the new school year with an informative and interactive Summer Hesed Fair at the beautiful home of Rachelle and Joey Esses. The Hesed Fair was held in memory of Mrs. Peshy Brudny, A”H, a beloved Magen David teacher. The main goal of the afternoon was to encourage teens to engage in various hesed projects—that afternoon and for the future as well.

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.