Clarisse Cohen, Jacqueline Zeidenfeld and Daniel Massry

It was evident from the beginning of the year that Israel was to be a major theme of the 2008-2009 school year at Hillel Yeshiva. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, Hillel students participated in various programs and projects.

For the first time, Hillel Yeshiva hosted two women from the Sherut Leumi program in Israel. These young women work as full-time volunteers at Hillel in place of their obligation to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Our volunteers, Mor and Adi, help pre-school through 8th grade students learn more about Israeli history and culture. In addition to organizing fun activities for Rosh Hodesh, the girls are involved with students on a daily basis, whether it be in tefilla (prayer), learning the Hebrew language, or as assistants in the classroom. Their presence has certainly helped make our students more aware of the importance of Israel, and has instilled in them a love and affinity for our homeland.

“The best thing about studying at the SSC, besides the high level of dedication, was the development of a sense of purpose with young rabbis from around the world in teaching and promoting Judaism and Jewish values.”

During its quarter of a century of educating hundreds of students, the Shehebar Sephardic Center has produced over 150 rabbis and communal leaders who accepted positions throughout the world on practically every continent and in the most out-of-the-way cities from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, to France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Yugoslavia, to South America, South Africa, Zimbabwe and many others—too numerous to list.

The skies in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn were illuminated with the fire of Torah recently, as the Madison Torah Center hosted their first annual L’ag B’Omer celebration. As the sun set, a huge bonfire was built by the Rabbanim and local residents in the spacious schoolyard of the Yeshiva Mikdash Melech girl’s school, adjacent to the Madison Torah Center. Over 200 yeshivah boys and girls and their parents enjoyed the sounds of festive songs praising Hashem that were played over the professional sound system. The men and boys danced with unbridled joy around the magnificent bonfire.

Ariel Cohen, Linda Maleh, Yvonne Harari, Joey Harary, Danielle Zeitoune, Claire Rahmey and Morris Cohen at MDM Tea Lounge Night

Some people like large gatherings, others more intimate get-togethers, but one thing is for certain—there can never be enough opportunities for the singles of our community to meet and mingle. Kudos to all the organizations and institutions out there who, with their tireless committees, work diligently to keep our singles entertained, safe, and unified.

To help kick off an event-filled summer were three unique activities—two held at the Jersey Shore—a paintball excursion on Memorial Day weekend, a karaoke competition on the Saturday night of Shavuot weekend, and a Tea Lounge Night held in the beautiful lobby of Magen David Yeshivah.

Rabbi Shlomo Braun, Founder and Director of the Aleh Foundation, Judge Michael Feinberg, Stanley Chera, Jack Avital, Assemblyman Dov Hikind and Shlomo Berger, Administrator of the Aleh Foundation

Brooklyn’s Shaare Zion Synagogue recently held a cocktail reception to benefit the Aleh Foundation’s new special education school campus in Pardes Katz, 10 minutes from Tel-Aviv. This beautiful new complex will contain 24 classrooms, an olympic-sized therapeutic swimming pool, a rooftop playground and much more.

Aleh is Israel’s foremost provider of care, treatment and education of severely disabled infants, children and young adults. Aleh’s spacious, modern centers in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Gedera, Jerusalem and the Negev are home to more than 650 special Jewish children, with thousands more attending Aleh’s facilities each day for treatment and education.

Recently, at Bay Academy, across from Sheepshead Bay’s Holocaust Memorial Park, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz presented awards to the top prize winners of the Seventh Annual Holocaust Memorial Art, Essay and Poetry contest. The contest attracted entries from throughout Southern Brooklyn.

“One of the most important reasons for sponsoring this contest is to make sure that the lessons to be learned from the Holocaust are disseminated to everyone—not just Jewish people,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz explained.

At the beach

Recently, the students, faculty, parents, administration and supporters of Barkai Yeshivah continued a years-old tradition of gathering at Manhattan Beach to celebrate Lag La’Omer. Summer was in the air and the emphasis on the Barkai family was profound. Everyone came to enjoy the fun, including fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.

6th grade girls, PTA committee and Mrs. Ruchie Czermak, Director of the Early Learning Center

It was the event of all events, the celebration of all celebrations, when the Hillel PTA hosted an Israeli-themed end of year brunch. After all the success and excitement throughout the year, we decided to give back to the many volunteers who helped make it truly unforgettable!

The brunch was based around Israel’s 60th anniversary. It featured falafel, wraps, Israeli salad, Borekas, humus and more. The room, with the help of our beloved Sherut Leumi participants, was decorated with blue and white streamers throughout. The musical background added spirit and happiness to the morning.

Recently, at Congregation Ahi Ezer in Brooklyn, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser and Rabbi Yakov Horowitz gave wonderful and insightful lectures entitled “Raising Today’s Children for Tomorrow’s World,” and hundreds of community members showed up to listen.

The evening was sponsored by Acheinu, the renowned kiruv organization in Eretz Yisrael that develops unaffiliated Israeli youth into bnei Torah, under the auspices of Hagaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, who serves as nasi (president).

Margalit Dweck and Hadas Linder

Recently, Shaare Shalom, celebrating its 10th anniversary and held its seventh annual bake sale at the beautiful home of Rina and Jack Kamin, in memory of Margo and Morris Zarif, A”H. For the past nine years I have been living in the Madison area, and I have watched how much Shaare Shalom Congregation has flourished. With the weather warming up, everyone was greeted to a clear night and a sunshiny day for the bake sale.

I proudly attended Magen David Yeshivah’s Author’s Tea, recently. With one glance you could see the community united, as mothers, fathers and grandparents gathered to see these kindergartners move forward.

One usually asks, what is an Author’s Tea? Magen David holds an annual charming performance by the entire kindergarten, marking the end of the school year. The children are the authors of their performance and after they perform guests are invited to a “tea” in their classrooms.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

Washington was the place to be from June 2 through 4, when politicians gathered with 7,000 activists, students and scholars from all 50 states for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference. Among those present at this prestigious event were Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert and Presidential candidates McCain and Obama.

Also in attendance were IMAGE publisher Ben-Gurion Matsas from the East Coast Sephardic community and Dr. Jose Nessim from the West Coast Sephardic community. Both were there to show their support for AIPAC and to hear the politicians’ views.