Alien at Home
Syrian Immigrants in the early 1900s
The Final Installment of a 28-Part Personal History
Our Brooklyn community is about to celebrate the centennial anniversary of its first landing on the shores of the United States, the most powerful country, the most protective, the most welcoming refuge of the oppressed. There were never better hosts than the Americans for the Jews, not even Spain in its glorious periods of the 12th and 13th centuries, prior to their eventual expulsion. Almost all Jews in America are prospering.
In this context, the Syrian Jewish community’s development has been—and is—phenomenal. It will be recorded in history as unique.
Over 150 people ventured outside their homes on a cold, blustery winter morning. They came out in force to show their strong support for Brooklyn native David Greenfield’s candidacy for the New York City Council. 
In olden times, Sephardic Jews in the Balkan states and Turkey were married very young. The girl was 14 or younger, the husband 18 or 20. It was considered a great humiliation for the parents if their children were still unmarried after that age. 
People have asked, “What does the Social Services Department at the Sephardic Community Center (SCC) do?” The SCC Social Services Department is a doorway to services, especially for people who may be faced with difficult life challenges but would not consider walking into a social services agency or seeking help from a therapist. Many people know the Center as the place to exercise and swim, watch children play in sports, go to summer camp, attend a social function, hear a speaker, bring their little ones to early childhood programs, or participate in trips. While involved in these activities, they also find supportive staff who lend a hand, provide a sympathetic ear and an understanding heart.
The Sephardic National Alliance, compromised of community leaders working together for the benefit of our community, have had many notable meetings throughout the years. Here’s a look at some of them.
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.
The book we are about to describe will surely enhance the lives of all it touches. It will answer all your Judaic questions, offer insightful explanations to those answers, and guide this community as nothing ever has before. This is a book that every Jewish family will treasure, embrace and pass on from generation to generation. At long last, Mr. Jacob Kassin presents to you his Jewish guide- book, “Till Eternity” (Bechol Yom Avera-chicha).
During the mid-winter Intercession break of 2007, Yeshivat Keter Torah put together a phenomenal Golf Tournament to benefit the David Mizrahi A”H Scholarship Fund. The Tournament was held at the luxurious Diplomat Country Club in nearby Turnberry Florida. WE ARE BACK FOR A SECOUND ROUND THIS YEAR ON JANUARY 22 2008 again at the Diplomat. 
During a recent visit to Mexico, I spent three days in Mexico City, where I had a chance to visit the institutions of the Aleppan Jewish community. My host was Dr. Liz Hamui, a professor at the National University of Mexico, whom I met at the International Conference on Syrian Jewry held in May at Bar Ilan University.
Once upon a time we were full of hope. The future was bright before us and everything was possible.