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Councilman Greenfield Endorses Congressman McMahon

Brooklyn, NY – Today, New York City Councilman David Greenfield endorsed Congressman Michael McMahon in his re-election bid for New York’s 13th Congressional District.  The endorsement took place in front of the Sephardic Multi Service Center in Gravesend, Brooklyn.

Roots of Sefarad

Consul General of Spain in NY Fernando Villalonga, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, Mr. Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, Mayor of MadridAs a culmination of their year-long series of programs called The Jews of Spain: Past and Present, the American Sephardi Federation joined with Congregation Edmond J. Safra of Manhattan and Ramaz School/Kehillath Jeshurun for a nine-day heritage tour of Spain called Roots of Sefarad. Led by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, the group of 51 Sephardim and Ashkenazim together explored the famous and infamous sites which exemplify the Jewish experience in Spain under Muslim and Christian rule.

Remembering Ze’ev Jabotinsky

Recently, several hundred people gathered at the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for a most befitting tribute to the life and legacy of famed Zionist leader and visionary Vladimir Ze’ev Jabotinsky on the occasion of his 70th yahrzeit. Due to the geo-political realities of the age of terrorism, security was tight at the venue as attendees went through airport style checks as they entered.

The Jews of Scotland

Scotland is perhaps the only country in Europe to have no history of Jewish persecution. Indeed, Jews in Scotland have a rare uninterrupted history, starting in 1290, when Jews were expelled from England under the Edict of Expulsion. There is some history of Jews existing in Scotland prior to the Edict, but no definite record of Jewish communities.

Finding Jews in Rural America

rural-americaThe New York metro area has 2 million Jews, more than everywhere else, except Tel Aviv. But it’s a big drop after that. LA has 650,000. Philly, DC, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco each have about a quarter million. A few more American cities have  between 50,000 and 100,000. But when you get down to the top 40 American cities, we’re talking less than 10,000 in a metro area.

Fall Fashion Trends

CARLOS FALCHI Metallic Leopard Print Medium shopper toteAs the season unfolds and progresses, new fall styles and trends will hit the stores. Some styles will be an instant hit, and some won’t pan out. In my fashion research, I discovered many different accessories that will accentuate and enhance many outfits, giving them a savvy and stylish feel. Here’s a sneak peak of what to expect in the stores this fall.

Ruth Salama Mosaics

Ruth Salama Mosaic art has become quite popular, especially with young girls. But what exactly is it? Mosaic is the art of creating patterns or pictures using an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It can be used as a technique for decorative art, or as an aspect of interior decoration.

SEAD’S Mother-Daughter Tennis Tournament

Suzy Erani and daughter, Melissa and Marilyn Tobias, Adele Horowitz and Marie Levy, Cookie and Pauline SettonClutching their tennis rackets, garbed in athletic gear, community mothers and daughters eagerly made their way to the Deal Casino courts. The tennis tournament for S.E.A.D., the Special Education Academy of Deal, was underway by 8 am. Women were excited to play with their families, as Frieda Gheriani confirmed, “Where else do you get to play with your grandmother and mother in a tournament? This is the only tournament where you are playing with family, not friends.”

Gem’s 3rd Annual Syrian Dance Extravaganza

Gem SuslovichImagine an unusually creative day where women forget about their to-do lists and focus on themselves through expressive artful dance on the beach. Well imagine no more because Gem Suslovich, a community yoga instructor and the Art and Film Salon host, created that very event! It was a day for women, by women, to envelope themselves in captivating dance.

Bike-A-Thon in Memory of Jesse Dweck A”H

Rain didn’t dare discourage our community members from heading out at 8:30 am recently for a Bike-A-Thon in support of the Jesse Dweck A”H City Learning Center. Jesse was an amazing biker who enjoyed riding with his father. Friends and relatives honored his memory by embarking on 10, 18, or 36 mile bike rides.

The 3rd Annual Hats Off to Life Fashion Show

The atmosphere was electric; familiar models were dressed beautifully. These gorgeous women gave their all for the 3rd Annual Hats Off To Life Fashion Show, a beneficial summer event. In the beautiful Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park, hundreds of women attended one of the most anticipated events of the summer. After many hours of hard work, the afternoon proved to be the event of the summer, with superb fashions, and, of course, divine hats.

Kites For a Cure

Hy, Raymond and Richie Chalme, Elliot’s sonsRecently, the Elliot’s Legacy/Uniting Against Lung Cancer family carnival worked to elevate awareness in the fight against lung cancer. This third annual event drew over 1,000 community members of all ages.

Sephardic Food Fund BBQ

SFF affiliates and event planners: David Sitt, Nathan Dweck, Jacky Schweky, and Sophia MizrahiIn Memory of Abe M. Cohen A”H and Jack N. Mizrahi A”H

Providing Food with Dignity to Our Community’s Families in Need

The Jews of Luxembourg

The Grande Synagogue de LuxembourgLuxembourg was founded in 963 CE by Count Siegfried. The first record of Jews living in the capital, the City of Luxembourg  was in 1276. In the early 14th century, small numbers of Jewish immigrants from the adjacent area founded more settlements.