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.

Adelegation of nearly 100 people from Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore and Congregation Brothers of Israel marched together in the Salute to Israel Parade. The group proudly represented the Jersey Shore community, holding signs that proclaimed in Hebrew and English “Living It Up At the Jersey Shore.”

Recently, the seniors of Magen David Yeshivah Celia Esses High School gathered for the 2nd Annual Internship Banquet. Over 90 seniors were placed in 24 areas of interest, in 48 different businesses. They were given the opportunity to intern while preparing for their futures. The jobs gave them valuable experience they will take with them as they move forward from high school, as well as a sense of responsibility.

“In the parashah we read about the counting of the people of Israel, tonight we count 90 interns and the tremendous job they have done,” said Richard Altabe, principal of Magen David Yeshivah Celia Esses High School.

After much anticipation, Congregation Shaare Shalom recently held an enjoyable Family Fun Day. With delicious food, excellent weather and a relaxing atmosphere, the day could not have been better.

After reserving the park in Manhattan Beach for the afternoon, plans were set in motion to create a fun, yet relaxing afternoon for all ages. From morning until late afternoon, the activities were plentiful, with over 400 people participating. Throughout the day, children of all ages were occupied with relay races, dodge ball, magic shows, carnival games, arts and crafts, and a scavenger hunt. Aaron Shasho ran a fun sports league. S.Y. Grill offered a full scale barbecue throughout the day as well. Later in the day the adult softball game proved to have competitive edge.

The Salute to Israel Parade is always an exciting event, and the Yeshivah of Flatbush takes great pride in displaying its support of Medinat Yisrael—now celebrating 62 years of independence. Showing support this year, by filling the streets as marchers and spectators, was particularly important to combat increased anti-Israel sentiment in the US and around the world. Happily, tens of thousands came out for the parade—taking a stand and enjoying a beautiful day.

Magen David Yeshivah, along with the Sephardic community, was privileged to honor Mickey Kairey and his late wife Pat A”H for their love and devotion to the community.

Hundreds of family and friends filled the MDY school auditorium to pay tribute to this wonderful couple, who selflessly spent many years giving of themselves to others. Everyone was happy to be there to give Mickey and Pat A”H the acclaim and praise they deserved.

One of Mickey’s greatest joys has been teaching the children of the community. “I think you’d understand when I say they were kind of like my own children. I have so many children, they would fill Yankee Stadium—and the cheering, instead of coming from the crowd, would come from me—their coach. You all make me so proud of you,” he said.

Ohel Leah Synagogue, the crown jewel of Asian Jewry, was built in 1902 and remains the center of Jewish religious activity in Hong Kong. They are an Orthodox congregation, with members from over 20 countries. They are a full-service community with a mikveh, Va’ad Hakashrut and Judaica store. They also offer educational and social programs for adults, teens and children, as well as daily and Shabbat services.

Ohel Leah Synagogue is a congregation with a cause. They strive to embody the core values of the Orthodox movement. First and foremost, they carefully guard their religious integrity.

For over 3,000 years, the sukkah symbolized vulnerability, in contrast to the house, which symbolized security. Then came the subprime mortgage disaster, and suddenly the house seemed frighteningly vulnerable. With the American financial system and world markets shaking like a sukkah in a hurricane, and institutions we thought were as impregnable as fortresses suddenly collapsing like flimsy huts, the sukkah may indeed prove to be the most invincible.

The holiday of Sukkot is about vulnerability and faith. The vulnerability part is clear: We move out of our solid homes into temporary structures, with organic roofs through which one can see the stars. We are exposed to heat, cold and rain. No matter how large or lavish the sukkah, dwelling in a sukkah drives home our vulnerability to life’s changes.