HAVING A BALL IN CANDY LAND

ON MARCH 3RD, MDY HOSTED A SUNDAY FUNDAY! THE THEME WAS CANDY LAND AND HOW SWEET IT WAS! FAMILIES CAME OUT TO ENJOY AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT WAS LARGER THAN LIFE. ROOMS WERE TRANSFORMED INTO LITTLE WORLDS OF FUN AND KIDS WERE IMMERSED IN ALL SORTS OF SENSORY EXPERIENCES.

The crowd rolled in at 10 with sweet tunes pumping! Parents were asked to scan a QR code for a digital map of the floor. A 10’ inflatable bubble with treats floating around definitely set the mood for this over the top event! Children and their parents walked the halls in awe of the decor. Giant board game pieces, and garlands made of colored playing cards draped the walkways.

Each classroom was remodeled to resemble a spot on Candy Land, the classic boardgame. One of the first rooms in the hall was Nana’s Nutt House. This room was our “cozy corner” filled with books, puzzles, and a 4’ custom built lite-brite. Up next for the more adventurous kids was Gumball Lake. Kids had the opportunity to take a dip in our jumbo ball pit.

A definite fan favorite was Licorice Lagoon. This room had 2 fun activities to choose from. First up, an oldie but a goodie — Fruit Loops and licorice necklaces. For children looking for a bit more action, our licorice car wash was up and running. Kids were able to drive a Cozy Coupe through tons of pool noodles resembling licorice hanging from the ceiling.

Right next door was another beauty — Peppermint Forest. The smell of mint hit you right when you walked in. Homemade cloud dough was set at the tables for kids to play with. Conditioner, corn starch and a glug of peppermint extract was the perfect recipe to make this room a success!

The setup in the gym had everyone peeking in. The left side of the gym was set up as King Kandy’s Castle. Three giant cardboard castles were awaiting. In addition, a custom built geoboard was used with colored rubber bands to make castles out of squares and triangles. The right side of the gym was a bit Frosty. Frosted Palace had children ice skating their way over to the pool filled with instant snow! This experience was really cool.

A special thank you to all of the dedicated MDY teachers and volunteers who worked this event! Their unwavering support and commitment made our Sunday Funday a truly enriching experience for our children.

SARINA ROFFÉ

THE LURE OF CHINA AND THE FAR EAST HAS ENTICED ME SINCE MY OLDER TWO CHILDREN TRAVELED THERE AFTER COLLEGE. I WAS LURED BY THE CULTURE, THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, THE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS, THE ELEPHANTS IN THAILAND AND THE BEACHES OF PHUKET. THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE, EXPERIENCE AND LEARN OF THIS WORLD I COULD NOT WAIT ANY LONGER.

I have traveled to many places – Europe, North and Central Africa, Israel, South America and all 50 U.S. states, but the Far East always seemed too far. My husband David doesn’t like trips longer than 10 to 12 days and going to the Far East for that short a time did not make sense due to the very long flights.

This being our 50th anniversary year, we took the plunge, a three-week trip to China and Thailand. It took a lot of planning and we had to be sure we had kosher food along the way. With help from Rabbi Sammy Kassin, dean of Sephardic Study Center (SSC) in Israel, and the rabbis he has in the Far East, we managed to get kosher meals every few days.

SSC Rabbi Natanel Meodod of Kowloon was of enormous help, as was Joey Habert. He gave me many tips that helped us be comfortable. For example, all the hotels have teapots to heat up water. So we brought our own coffee and creamer. This was a good tip for people like us who are particular about our morning coffee. Hard boiled eggs were readily available at breakfast. I can say that when you are kosher, a trip like this is not one where I would have high expectations of kosher gourmet food.

Somehow, we managed though. In Beijing, we picked up food from the Chabad, as we happened to meet Rabbi Freundlich on the plane. Rabbi Kassin sang his praises.

In Shanghai, we were provided with food from SSC Rabbi Effie Besalel. His lovely wife Faigy sent us a generous supply of food, making our Shabbat wonderful! They had a synagogue and restaurant and we knew we would trust the kashrut. In Pattaya, Thailand, we had a wonderful meal at the synagogue and kosher restaurant with Rabbi David Marciano, another SSC rabbi. The last days of our journey were in Phuket, where there is a local Chabad. We were well taken care of all along our trip.

BACK TO THE TRIP ITSELF. WHAT DID WE SEE? WHAT WAS JEWISH? WHAT DID WE LEARN?
There is nothing Jewish about Xi’an, where we saw the Terracotta Warriors, or Beijing, where we visited the Great Wall of China, as well as other historical sites in those cities. We learned so much it would take a book to share it, as I did on a daily blog posted on my Facebook page. Everywhere I travel, I always look for the Jewish presence. Did Jews live there? Is there a synagogue or cemetery?
Here is what I want to share.

SHANGHAI
Shanghai is a dynamic bustling and very large port city, the epicenter of economic activity in China. David and I took a Jewish tour of Shanghai and learned of the long history of the Jewish community there, as well as the city’s part in helping over 30,000 Jews escape the Nazis during World War II.

The first Jewish community in Shanghai was established by Sephardic Jews from Syria and Baghdad in the late 19th Century. Among the first families were the Sassoons and Kadoorie. The Baghdadi Jewish community of Shanghai published local news and big ideas in Israel’s Messenger (IM), an English-language newspaper that was edited for many years by N.E.B. Ezra, a religious Jew and energetic Zionist from a well-known and well-connected Baghdadi Jewish family. Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jewish community established the Shanghai Zionist Association in 1903, ten years before the first Zionist organization was set up in Iraq.

Ohel Moshe Synagogue was opened in 1927. For a long time, Shanghai was one of the few places in the world that unconditionally offered refuge for Jews escaping from the Nazis. In 1938, 31 out of 32 countries refused to take in Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht. The only way for Jews to escape from Nazism was to leave Europe. In order to leave, they had to provide proof of emigration, usually a visa from a foreign nation, or a valid boat ticket.

A Chinese diplomat — Ho Feng-Shan — started to issue transit visas to Shanghai, under Japanese occupation except for foreign concessions. Twelve hundred visas were issued by Ho in only the first three months of holding office as Consul-General. While you didn’t need a visa to enter Shanghai, the visa was necessary to leave Austria. By the end of October 1938, Ho had issued more than 1,900 visas.

After the Japanese occupied all of Shanghai in 1941, the Japanese army forced about 23,000 of the city’s Jewish refugees to be restricted or relocated to the Shanghai Ghetto from 1941 to 1945 by the Proclamation Concerning Restriction of Residence and Business of Stateless Refugees. It was one of the poorest and most crowded areas of the city.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum commemorates the Jewish refugees. It is located at the former Ohel Moshe or Moishe Synagogue, in the Tilanqiao Historic Area of Hongkou district, Shanghai, China.

The synagogue was in the Shanghai Ghetto, formally known as the Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees, an area of approximately one square mile (2.6 km2 in Japanese-occupied Shanghai and it formed part of the Shanghai International Settlement).

The Joint Distribution Committee and local Jewish families helped the refugees with food, shelter and clothing as well as a soup kitchen. These families lived in very crowded places, but they were thankful they were alive and knew that the Chinese had it worse than they did. The Japanese closed Shanghai to Jewish immigration in August 1941.

There is a garden where there were walls and walls with the names of Jews who lived in Shanghai during World War II. They only collected about 18,000 names but they know that at least 30,000 were accepted and had safe haven. Most of these people were devastated to learn they had lost their entire families in the Holocaust, and have fond memories of their time in Shanghai.

We also visited the Peace Hotel, which was built by the Sassoons, a castle built by David Moller, and other sites. The castle was built because his daughter always wanted to live in a castle, so he built it for her. The construction and material is very unique. Nothing like it exists anywhere else in Shanghai. Moller was a shipping magnate. There was a lovely pond and what was left of a horseback riding path. Moller’s daughter loved to ride. Across the street from the Music Conservatory was a very beautiful Jews only club. Shanghai has beautiful parks and the Jews could hang out in the parks, while the Chinese were not permitted to.

A SPECIAL MOMENT
The synagogue was a special moment for David. His father, Simon Roffé A”H, lived in Manila in the late 1930s and had been imprisoned by the Japanese in Los Banos, a prisoner of war camp, for the duration of the war. Many Syrian Jews had business in the Philippines, but unfortunately, Simon was caught preparing to leave. Thankfully he survived.

During Simon’s time in Manila, he traveled to several of the places we visited and some we had not, like Japan. We know he visited the Shanghai Synagogue before the war and David sat in the seats, noting it’s probably where his father sat during his visit in 1939.

MOVING ON
After Shanghai, our trip took us to Bangkok and Pattaya, where we had a lovely meal with SSC Rabbi David Marciano on Rosh Chodesh Adar. There were about 50 people in the synagogue, many of them lived there while others traveled through. We finished our 3-week trip in Phuket.

The SSC also has Jewish Centers in Manila and Guam. Hopefully we will get there one day. Right now, I am glad to be home.

A genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017). She is researching a new book: Syria – Paths to Freedom. Sarina holds a BA in Journalism, and MA in Jewish Studies and an MBA.

ON SUNDAY, MARCH 10TH, SBH HOSTED ITS ANNUAL FAMILY HESED DAY IN OUR KINGS HIGHWAY BUILDING. OVER 250 COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES CAME BY FOR AN EXCITING AFTERNOON FULL OF DIFFERENT VOLUNTEER STATIONS.

This included writing cards to soldiers, making fresh sambousak and bourekas for our food pantry, packing mishloah manot for our clients, and making planters for seniors. We even had a face painter and balloon artist on site to add some Purim sameach to the day, as well as a magic show for our volunteers to enjoy after all their hard work. It was a truly magnificent day, and we were so happy to see so many smiling faces giving back to our community.

For more information on volunteering with SBH, contact volunteer@sbhonline.org.

THE STAGE WAS SET AT THE ‘MECCA’ FOR JEWISH BASKETBALL, YESHIVAH UNIVERSITY’S MAX STERN ATHLETIC CENTER, FOR THE “GAME OF THE CENTURY” AND BOY DID IT NOT DISAPPOINT. FOR ANYONE FOLLOWING, THE YESHIVAH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH AND YESHIVAH OF FLATBUSH SEEMED LIKE AN INEVITABILITY EVER SINCE THE TWO TEAMS MET IN AN INSTANT CLASSIC IN THE MDY PRESEASON TOURNAMENT FINAL.

That game, which MDY eked out with a come from behind one-point victory, and which would be the first of a whopping five matchups between the two Brooklyn rivals, was a foreshadowing of things to come. The two teams have been on a collision course ever since.

Widely regarded as title favorites behind the impactful play of once in a generation big man Beni Keda, the dazzling scoring of Ronnie Chaaya, Isaac Cooper’s precision long distance shooting, and playing in their newly renovated gymnasium, The Flatbush Falcons thumped almost every opponent in their way. It seemed that every game Beni Keda gave the Jewish world a jaw-dropping highlight of him punishing the opposition with tenacious blocks and pulverizing tomahawk slam dunks, sometimes both in one play! Behind rookie Coach Matt Malc, The Falcons exhibited a high octane style of play that fed off pressure defense and fast paced offense en route to a 25 to 3 record that included a Cooper Invitational Tournament title. However, those (only) three losses came at the hands of MDY.

The Warriors, who share a name with a similarly successful NBA franchise whose logo they wear on their jerseys, also share a motto which has become synonymous with the Warrior name, “Strength in Numbers.” The MDY Warriors don’t beat you with one standout player, they have multiple, or one phenomenal legendary coach, whom they are lucky to have, or only their notable starters. They beat you with “numbers” combining as one unit on the back of hours and years of work that sometimes can be grueling, discouraging, redundantly mundane and mentally and physically exhausting. Their star players: Mark Sardar, Moses Smeke, Jack Haber, Josh Chabbott and Phil Sherr — all of whom can easily lead their own teams to tremendous success — have all bought into sacrificing individual accolades for the sake of coming together and achieving something special that would transcend anything they could accomplish on their own. Renowned and highly decorated Coach Spike always consults with Assistant Coaches Benny Mann and Morris Zarif for different perspectives, insights, and thoughts and empowers them with major roles that aid to the team’s success. And, as would be seen in the championship game, MDY always relies on a deep bench to come into the game in any pressure situation and contribute in a big way. As a result of this culture and unanimous buy-in by all members of the program, the team went on to a whopping 35 to 2 record highlighted by three tournament titles and their only losses coming without injured star big man Jack Haber.

As one would expect, coming into the championship game, nerves and tempers were high. Tickets were harder to come by than Game 7 of the NBA Finals! Mobs of fans could be seen outside the facility waiting to get in. You could feel the nervous energy of the crowd once everyone piled into the standing room only gym. The tension during the American and Israeli National Anthems was so palpable you could almost touch it in the air.

Off the opening tip, Mark Sardar stole the ball and flew down the court for a layup but was denied by an incredible come from behind block. Game on! It was an insane and fitting way to begin the affair. Moses Smeke and Ronnie Chaaya ended up trading three pointers early to get the scoring going on both sides. The first quarter ended up being quite uneventful with the exception of Jackie Haber picking up two quick fouls and having to be pulled from the game. In fact, Coach Spike had already subbed five different players into the game by the end of the quarter due to the foul trouble of multiple players. The quarter ended with Flatbush holding a 10 to 9 lead.

With most of MDY’s starting five remaining in foul trouble and Jack Haber out for the remainder of the half, the Falcons ended up dominating the second quarter. Displaying good discipline and shot making on offense and smothering the Warriors on defense, the Falcons’ lead ballooned to 9 during the quarter. However, junior starting point guard Phil Sherr was a calming and steady presence throughout the half carrying the shorthanded Warriors with some strong takes to the basket and drawing a few trips to the foul line. Sardar and Chabbott also each hit a timely three and despite Flatbush having all the momentum and pretty emphatically outplaying Magen David all half, their lead was only 6.

To start the second half, the Warriors brought way more intensity and energy. They were flying around the gym and scoring at a better pace. However, despite their increased level of play, the Falcons just kept on answering and maintaining their lead. Midway through the third quarter, Moses Smeke picked up his fourth foul on a Flatbush fast break which also put the Falcons on the line to go up by 8 points. Things were beginning to look bleak for the Warrior faithful, but after a beautiful backdoor pass from Jack Haber to Mark Sardar for a bucket, Coach Spike decided it was time to whip out his secret weapon — MDY’s patented “rat trap” press. The Warriors were able to force a loose ball and multiple bodies dove onto the hardwood in a skirmish. When Josh Chabbott finally came out of the scuffle with possession of the ball, he quickly got it to Sardar who flipped the ball to Haber for a layup. The MDY crowd went into a frenzy cheering so loud that it was literally deafening in the arena. This adjustment to trap, albeit only for three plays, totally changed the energy and momentum of the game in MDY’s favor. After hitting a buzzer beating layup to end the third quarter to cut the deficit to two followed by a Smeke putback layup to start the fourth to tie the game at 37 to 37, it seemed as if there would be no looking back for Magen David.

MDY actually took a 42 to 38 lead with three minutes left in the game after Mark Sardar went coast to coast for a beautiful layup and Josh Chabbott penetrated into the lane and made a perfect pass to Haber for a layup. Flatbush came down and missed a floater and it seemed as if the game would be over until Flatbush fought for their own rebound and Keda came in for an And one (for those not familiar with basketball terms, And one is a slang term used to refer to a situation in which a player makes a shot despite being fouled, in which case they get the points from the shot and one free throw. Making the free throw results in a three-point play or a four-point play, if the shot made during the foul was a three-pointer). The lead was down to one. Coach Malc decided to go into his own press which MDY broke to perfection. The usually automatic and reliable Mark Sardar had an uncontested breakaway layup to extend the lead but missed! Flatbush would go down and retake the lead! With under a minute left and down by a point MDY was searching for any space to get a good shot. After the ball was passed around, Sardar got the ball back with 40 seconds left, got to his spot for a step back pull up jumper and nailed it! He totally redeemed himself from his missed layup the play before to give MDY the lead. After making a stop with 12 seconds left, MDY had an opportunity to presumably get fouled and shoot foul shots to extend their lead, but this game wasn’t ready for its drama to end. On the ensuing inbound, Flatbush defensive specialist Jacob Haddad stole the ball and called a quick timeout. The dormant Flatbush crowd erupted! Then on the next inbound Flatbush got fouled and Ronnie Chaaya headed to the line to take the lead with just 9 seconds left in the game. He split the pair and of course, this game was headed to overtime!

OT began with Flatbush drawing first blood and hitting a foul shot to take a one point lead. Then, “Iceman” Moses Smeke continued his clutch ways with an incredible combination of moves followed by a pull up jumper that ripped through the net. After making a stop, MDY gained a loose ball and whipped the ball around the key to hit Josh Chabbott for a corner three… swish! MDY took a four point lead. From then, MDY coasted for the rest of overtime and accomplished a goal that they set out to achieve two years ago from spring practice of their sophomore years, bringing back a fourth championship to McDonald Avenue. The scene at YU was bedlam as students, teachers, rabbis, alumni, and family members were all jumping and cheering for joy together! The school spirit and unity had hit all-time highs.

Phil Sherr, a junior, received MVP honors for carrying his team early, maintaining a calming leadership presence throughout, and playing absolutely smothering defense all game long. Then, the Shabbat dinner debates begin on who of the four MDY championship teams was the best. It’s hard to beat 37 to 2!

A big Congratulations to the players, coaches, and all of Magen David Yeshivah for a tremendous accomplishment.

Kadima, a division of SCA Young Adults, had no problem jumping right into planning-mode as they returned from their trip to Israel. After so many people on the trip sparked a friendship with Mia Schem, they decided as a group that they needed to do something to support Mia and the other hostages’ families. Since Mia divulged her love of cooking to some people in the group, it seemed natural to create an event where she would be able to participate in a way that fostered a beloved hobby of hers, as well as provided much-needed entertainment and joy. It was incredible that Mia was coming to America on a tour to raise awareness about the current hostage situation, as it spurred the group to put together this event from beginning to end in less than two weeks! With community members so fervently donating their time, money and services to the event, they were able to raise the funds and awareness for Mia as well as many other hostage families.

The event, “Chopped,” paid homage to the popular competition show where contestants are given ingredients and prompted to make dishes to be reviewed by the appointed judges. The judges for this event were Ray Tawil, executive chef of the famed “Prept by Ray T,” Joyce Sitt Chabbott who is also known as @joyceishungry on Instagram, and the guest of honor Mia Schem with her family. There were six teams altogether, each a combination of young adult community members with ranging levels of cooking aptitude. Head chefs included Eileen Missry (@kardio_and_kale), Matthew Adjmi, Sarah Maleh (@besteats), Jayne Gindi (@gourmet.byjay), Alfonse Missry (@fonzfiredpizza), and Lauren Setton (@thinkoutsidetheplate). A special thank you also goes out to One Hospitality Group for their assistance with the set-up and the prepared food, without whom the event couldn’t have been.

Rabbi Richard Tobias, Rosh Yeshivah of Barkai Yeshivah High School, kicked off the night with words of Hizzuk, Tehillim and a prayer for the State of Israel. Then, the competition began! Playing off the Israeli theme, teams were prompted to create dishes with some semblance of Israeli fusion, as well as even choosing names that paid tribute as well. Intensity levels ran high throughout the night; teams only had a certain amount of time to complete each of the three courses. All of the attendees watching the event also had the opportunity to donate in order to “sabotage” a specific team — doing anything from forcing the head chef to wear blurry goggles for a few minutes, or even having the whole team speak in Hebrew for an extended period of time. With the hilarious commentary of the night’s MCs Lydia Cohen and Michael Harary, there was not a dull moment!

As the crowd gathered around the judge’s table after each round, the energy was tangible throughout the room. The excitement of the competition coupled with the immense hesed that was being done was awe-inspiring throughout the evening. Before the final round the young adults had the pleasure of hearing from Adela Cojab, member of SCA Advisory Board on Campus Antisemitism. Adela spoke about her experience as a student at NYU, and how her journey resulted in her being the standard for Jewish college students speaking up for their rights on campus. With this bolstering speech, the teams concluded the night with the final dessert round, with Norma Cohen of Norma Cohen Productions and SCA Board Member Bobby Dweck joining in as guest-judges! The competition was close and intense, but the “Hummus Hustlers,” with head chef Matthew Adjmi and chefs Jack E. Ashkenazi, Ray Chappan, Frances Oved and Sarina Shalom, pulled away with the win.

What began as a simple trip to Israel with young adults, quickly turned into something far greater. Kadima has done a superb job in bringing the mission back to America and continuing their strong efforts to support the State of Israel, but it doesn’t end here. We are pleased to announce that the next Kadima Mission to Israel will take place May 13th to 20th, 2024. Join us as we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut in unity with Am Yisrael and help strengthen our nation! For more information contact Cookie Cohen (917) 836-2907 or Richie Bailey (917) 969-8380.

The Kadima division will continue with the theme of moving forward with Am Yisrael in strength and in unity, and is just getting started!

Marlene Levy is a current graduate student at Adelphi University studying psychology, and a graduate of Yeshivah of Flatbush and Yeshiva University. She is committed to continuing her efforts in Israel advocacy at this time.

A NIGHT OF INSPIRATION & SUPPORT

ON JANUARY 31, DSN BEACH CLUB BECAME A HAVEN FOR CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE, AND SOLIDARITY AS THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE THE WORKS AND STORIES OF THREE REMARKABLE ISRAELI ARTISTS AND HUMANITARIANS. THE EVENT WAS A TESTAMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION’S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ISRAEL AND FOSTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

Among the distinguished guests were Dede Bandaid, Nitzan Mintz, and Tomer Peretz, whose artistic contributions have not only captivated audiences worldwide but also served as powerful vehicles for expressing the complexities of life amidst conflict.

Newlyweds Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz, renowned for their iconic hostage posters and the innovative milk carton project, shared their inspiring journey from their service in the IDF to gracing the prestigious galleries of Art Basel. Their art, which has graced the walls of exhibitions globally, is a testament to their unwavering spirit and commitment to amplifying the voices of the hostages taken on October 7.

Tomer Peretz, whose poignant live art “#whenthemusicstopped” resonated deeply with audiences at Art Basel, took the stage to share his experiences, from being a father of three to a volunteer for Zaka, to being an artist and conducting art therapy sessions with survivors of the Nova Festival tragedy.

Moderated by DSN Executive Board Member Steven Kassin, the artists engaged in a candid dialogue, offering insights into their creative processes and the personal struggles that have shaped their work. Against the backdrop of a massive screen showcasing their artwork, the artists’ stories came to life, leaving a lasting impact on all those in attendance.

For the attendees, the evening was emotional and intimate, as the artists bared their souls and shared the profound ways in which their art has intersected with the realities of war. Community member Cindi Gindi facilitated bringing these artists to DSN. She said, “Upon meeting Tomer, Dede and Nitzan I knew they would be a perfect fit for an event at the warm and magical DSN space. The event was impactful and the audience gained insight into what motivated these talented artists to become such advocates for Israel. This night of artists and advocacy was another level!” Indeed, the event was a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and foster awareness and empathy.

The evening began with Irving Kairey’s soulful rendition of Hatikvah and Israeli songs, setting the tone for an evening of inspiration and reflection. As a strong show of support, DSN offered community members the opportunity to purchase books and prints of the artists’ work, with proceeds going to support Zaka’s humanitarian efforts.

Community members were effusive in their praise for the event, with Debbie Ades describing it as “DSN’s most inspiring night” and Pauline Assa commending the meticulous planning and execution. Jaqueline Musry echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the artists on a personal level.

Executive Board Member Victoria Sutton expressed her gratitude stating, “To host one of these incredible artists would be special, BH to have all three come together in one exceptional evening made it an epic and unforgettable night. We look forward to Tomer, Dede & Nitzan returning to DSN soon.”

Tomer remarked “I’ve never felt so much love” and in a heartwarming gesture, announced his plans to return over Passover to continue his work with the community, underscoring the lasting impact of the event. As DSN reaffirms its commitment to supporting the State of Israel, its people and all of the Jewish Nation worldwide, the message is clear: Am Israel Chai!

VOTE MAY 14TH

As you stroll along the tree-lined, newly paved roads of Deal, the scent of freshly cut grass and crisp air fills your senses. It’s just another day in Deal. However, the true magic is happening behind the scenes, where Mayor Sam Cohen and his fellow commissioners work tirelessly to ensure both the operation and beauty of Deal are thriving simultaneously. With nearly five decades of residency, five years as a commissioner, and eight years as mayor, Sam has unique insight into the needs of the town and its community.

DEAL GETS GREENER AND CLEANER
Sam and his team have planted nearly 1,000 new trees, beautifying the town and enhancing the environment. He has also streamlined and increased trash pickups to four times a week, and improved sanitation equipment with, first in the country, silent all-electric jitneys.

KEEPING THE TOWN SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL
Sam has always maintained that the safety of the residents of Deal is of top priority. Deal has achieved the lowest crime rate in the county by equipping town entrances and police vehicles with License Plate Readers (ANPRs). Increased police presence as well as high-end security cameras are prominent and actively monitored. Numerous streets have been repaved annually and flooding areas are continually addressed. Newly designed street signs have been erected throughout the town, adding to the overall charm of Deal. Furthermore, Sam and his administration were instrumental in ensuring that the vision of the DSN Beach Club became a reality.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LOW TAXES
In matters of fiscal responsibility, Mayor Sam Cohen and his fellow commissioners have consistently demonstrated remarkable success. They have managed town operations ensuring seamless functionality, while concurrently enhancing property values. Remarkably, they have achieved all of this while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
With an eye to the future, the following projects are already currently underway:

1. Deal Casino Overhaul: A multi-million-dollar renovation of the Deal Casino will introduce exceptional beach amenities and services, as well as the addition of world-class new restaurants and facilities.
2. Security & Safety: Deal will continue to invest in its elite police force and be at the forefront of using technology to monitor the town and ensure its superior record on safety. Additionally, we are finalizing plans to build a new First Aid Headquarters and have ordered a much needed new fire truck.
3. Beautification: There will continue to be new plantings of trees, flowers, and shrubbery throughout the town, and the team is studying ideas for the beautification of storefronts along Norwood Avenue. Moreover, addressing persistent flooding areas is a top priority for the administration. Finally, the team is collaborating with JCP&L to introduce and install brighter, more efficient, and more elegant street lampposts throughout the borough.

To ensure Deal continues its journey of “Preserving the past, and building our future,” cast your vote to re-elect Sam Cohen, David Simhon, and Jack A. Kassin on May 14th. Your vote matters — make it count for the future of our community.

Paid for By Elect Cohen/Simhon/Kassin

ARI BAUM, CFP®

Taxpayers have plenty to be concerned about in 2024 — economic uncertainty, geopolitical risks, inflation, and interest rates. A contentious 2024 presidential election could inject even more uncertainty and market drama. On top of all that, many of the provisions in the 2017 tax cuts and jobs act are scheduled to expire next year unless lawmakers extend them.

WHAT COULD THAT MEAN FOR YOUR TAXES?

• If President Biden is re-elected, his budget could increase taxes on high-net-worth Americans.
• Capital gains tax rates could increase to ordinary income rates, rather than topping out at 20% as they do now.
• High-income taxpayers could face limits on their retirement contributions and lose the ability to convert after-tax money into a Roth in certain circumstances.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The current tax rates might be the lowest you’ll see for the rest of your life, and I want you to make the most of them. It’s more important than ever to make sure you’re taking advantage of every tax edge you possibly can this year. Acting now could be critical because you might not have the ability to seize these opportunities in future tax years. I want to emphasize that this is a limited opportunity to leverage current laws. The 2017 rules are scheduled to expire in 2025 (if they don’t disappear sooner under a new administration), and most taxpayers will see a tax hike. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use right now to make sure you don’t pay more than your fair share in taxes.

1) MAX OUT YOUR TAX-DEFERRED ACCOUNTS IN 2024
One of the tax-savviest moves you can make in 2024 is to optimize your contributions — especially before April 15, because it’s your last opportunity to make some last-minute retroactive contributions for 2023 that could immediately lower the taxes you pay. And the savvy tax moves can go way beyond your retirement plan.
Have you squeezed every ounce of juice from all your tax-deferral opportunities?

• HSA contributions if you have a high deductible healthcare plan.
• 529 contributions.
• After-tax contributions to your 401(k).
• Ensuring you have the right self-employment retirement accounts in place.

2) PREPARE YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR EXPIRING TAX CUTS
Have you checked for embedded capital gains in your investments? If so, you may want to consider taking action now, before the tax hammer gets even heavier. Harvesting them now under a favorable tax regime where the top rate is 20% could be beneficial if capital gains lose their favorable tax treatment in the near future. Taxes are just one part of your overall investment picture, but it could offer an opportunity to make tactical investment changes where prudent.

3) HARNESS A “MEGA-BACKDOOR” ROTH IN 2024
Have you maximized your opportunities to create tax-free income? Currently, savvy investors who have the ability to use a mega-backdoor Roth are doing so by adding after-tax contributions to their 401(k)s and then converting to Roth IRAs. This strategy could be eliminated forever under future administrations, so if a mega-backdoor Roth strategy sounds interesting, consider it before it’s too late.
With your 2023 tax and investment documents in hand, we can look for favorable Roth conversion opportunities under the current rules.
Not all 401(k) plans allow for this strategy. However, if you have pretax money that you put in any type of retirement account, you may still want to convert some of it to a Roth (in moderation). The entire amount of the conversion is taxable income to you, but it may still make sense in view of your overall tax strategy.

4) PLAN TO BUNDLE UP AND SAVE IN 2024
Under current tax laws, it’s harder to use itemized deductions to save on your taxes. The standard deduction for taxpayers who are married filing jointly is $29,200 and $14,600 for single filers in 2024. That puts the bar a little higher each year, but savvy taxpayers know how to combine deductions to make it past the standard deduction threshold. 2024 and 2025 may be critical years for this technique as we don’t know what will happen to deductions if current laws expire.
How can you use this opportunity in 2024? Now’s the perfect time to take a look at last year’s expenses and plan ahead for the following opportunities:

• Bundle up and make several years’ worth of charitable deductions this year.
• If possible, plan medical procedures for this year rather than wait until next year, to meet the 7.5% of AGI floor for medical expenses.
• Tax-savvy note: Items such as long-term care insurance premiums and home modifications for aging in place are medical expenses that may help you reach the 7.5% AGI.

FIND TAX-SAVING AVENUES IN 2024 BEFORE THEY VANISH
You’ve worked hard and deserve to pay no more than your fair share. And right now, with all the market and political uncertainties, it’s very hard to know what the future may hold. There are currently opportunities for tax savings –– but they could disappear at any time. Many are expected to expire in 2025, making tax strategies especially critical this year. Some of these maneuvers are a little more complex and require the help of knowledgeable professionals to make sure that you don’t end up on the wrong side of your current tax bracket — or the IRS.
You’ve already started to build a significant fund for your retirement years, and by consulting with competent specialists, you can keep more of it rather than handing it over to the IRS.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. Consult with a licensed professional regarding your specific situation.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners, with over 26 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He brings his in-depth experience to Conceive. Believe. Achieve. for his clients.
Securities and Advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Brokerage and Advisory accounts carried by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

THE JOURNEY OF THE SHORE AREA MIKVEH

IN THE HEART OF THE JERSEY SHORE’S VIBRANT DEAL COMMUNITY, THE SHORE AREA MIKVEH STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING SPIRIT, GROWTH, AND EVOLVING NEEDS OF THIS DYNAMIC ENCLAVE. FOUNDED IN THE EARLY 1970S AMIDST SKEPTICISM AND ZONING CHALLENGES, THE MIKVEH HAS GROWN FROM A MODEST FACILITY INTO A CORNERSTONE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, SERVING THE LOCAL DEAL SEPHARDIC COMMUNITY WITH DEDICATION AND CARE.

The journey began in 1973 when the Deal community consisted of about 65 families. Rabbi Isaac Dwek recognized the pressing need for a local community mikveh, and with the help of visionaries Ike Hidary, Manny Haber, and Sonny Laniado, they embarked on a mission to establish one. Their efforts were initially met with resistance but they persisted and ultimately were able to purchase the lot on Jerome Avenue. The $300,00 undertaking was eventually completed, and after the blessing of rainfall, the Mikveh, consisting of four preparation rooms and two pools, finally opened.

As the community grew, so did the Mikveh, which underwent renovations in the 1980s and again in 2009. Led by the original founders and supported by community leaders like Louie Massry, the Mikveh was expanded to include 16 preparation rooms and four pools, eliminating long waits and enhancing the experience for countless women.

The exponential growth of the Deal community continued over the next few years (the population increased from 7,500 people to an estimated 100,000 during the summer months), and outpaced these improvements. Additionally, privacy, ventilation, and structural integrity issues emerged, creating an urgent need for comprehensive renovations.

The present envisioned upgrades aim not just to address these challenges but to transform the Mikveh into a spa-like sanctuary, complete with a magnificent bridal suite, ensuring a welcoming and serene environment for all who visit.

At the heart of the Shore Area Mikveh’s enduring spirit and mission stands the illustrious legacy of Rabbanit Mazal Kassin. In the early 1930s, Rabbanit Mazal and her esteemed husband, Rabbi Yaakov Saul Kassin embarked on a mission to uplift the spiritual and communal life of their new home, the Brooklyn Syrian Community.

Rabbanit Mazal dutifully served as a conduit for blessings and guidance for countless couples, emphasizing the importance of Mikveh and family purity. Her enduring impact is honored through the Shore Area Mikveh’s Matriarch Wall, a tribute to her leadership and spiritual guidance, forever memorializing her dedication to the values of purity, family, and tradition.

Mrs. Molly Chappan Shiloach, remembered on the Eshet Chayil Wall, epitomized commitment to tradition and community. Her legacy, spanning from Maryland to New Jersey, and continuing on through her children, perfectly represents the Mikveh’s mission of purity and family values.

Reflecting on the past and looking toward the future, we pay tribute to Ike Hidary, Manny Haber, Sonny Laniado, and countless others who have contributed to the Mikveh’s enduring legacy. Their vision, sacrifice, and dedication have laid the foundation for a facility that transcends its physical boundaries, nurturing the spiritual well-being of our community. As we stand on the brink of a new chapter, it is with profound gratitude and resolve that we endeavor to uphold and enhance this sacred institution, ensuring it remains a source of purity, strength, and unity for all.

Guiding our spiritual journey, the Rabbinical Board, comprised of Rabbi Shmuel Choueka, Rabbi Shlomo Diamond, Rabbi Edmond Nahum, Rabbi Saul Kassin, and Rabbi Moshe Malka, brings a wealth of wisdom and dedication to our community.

We are extremely grateful to have designer Deborah Shiloach on our team. She has generously devoted her time and her talent to the current project since its inception. Additionally, we must acknowledge and thank Abe Jerome, for lending his invaluable expertise and guidance to this endeavor. Furthermore, we are fortunate and proud to have Maurice Zekaria and Ray Builders at the helm of construction, ensuring that the project not only meets but exceeds our community’s expectations.

The Executive Board, comprised of Eddie Mizrahi (President), Maurice Zekaria (Vice President), Edgar Cohen (Treasurer), Eli Cohen, Ray Haber, Soli Mizrahi, and Joey Setton, has worked tirelessly to ensure that our vision for the Mikveh’s future is realized.

In recognition of this collective achievement, and in support of the future of the Shore Area Mikveh, there will be a breakfast celebration on Memorial Day Weekend. We look forward to this unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our journey, and contribute to the very foundation of our community life.

Your participation is invaluable, as we strive to create a most welcoming, beautiful, and spiritually enriching Mikveh for the women of our community. Together, we will honor our rich heritage, celebrate our progress, and move forward with open hearts and a shared vision.

SARINA ROFFÉ

EMILIA ANCONA NEE SETTON HAD AN IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD GROWING UP ON THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA. THE SECOND CHILD OF DAVID AND ESTELLA SETTON (NEE ZAKAY), EMILIA REMEMBERS HER CHILDHOOD WITH FONDNESS.

Their chalet home, designed by Estella, sat on acres of land filled with avocado, mango, pineapple, lemon, and orange trees that backed to a forest. The family always had freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice available.

Most of the rooms of the house had sliding glass doors that opened onto magnificent gardens and terraces. They would leisurely eat watermelon and toss the seeds into the garden, which grew into watermelon plants. Cows grazed in the lot next to them.

“It was an innocent beautiful life,” said Emilia. “We had four bedrooms, a cat and dog. We didn’t have a washing machine and dryer. We had a wash woman who washed the clothes in a big tub with hot water. They dried the clothing outdoors on a clothesline. The clothes were always sparkling clean.

“We were not spoiled, even though we had servants to cook, wash clothing, and garden. We had a nanny to take care of us. Still my mother made us help in the kitchen and clean our rooms. She wanted to keep us busy so we wouldn’t socialize with non-Jews.”

FIRST JEWS IN JAMAICA
Christopher Columbus was known to protect conversos, those who secretly practiced Judaism, on the island of Jamaica. He had several on his ships the four times he sailed to the New World. And it has been proven that Conversos provided the funds for the voyages. The King and Queen had no funds as the royal treasury was emptied after fighting wars.

Columbus first reached Jamaica in 1494 and was shipwrecked there for a year from 1503 to 1504. The Spanish crown granted the island to the Columbus family, and he did not allow the Church to have a presence on the Caribbean Island. As a result, conversos began to migrate to the island.

In 1655 the British won the island from Spain and many Portuguese were reported as living in Jamaica. The Portuguese on the island were often persecuted by the Spanish and so many helped the English with their invasion. The Jews were allowed to remain after the conquest and began to practice their religion openly. Oliver Cromwell granted them British citizenship, which was confirmed in 1660 by King Charles II of England. For many Jews, Jamaica became a safe place they could live in without fear of persecution. Jews from Amsterdam, Bordeaux, and Bayonne moved to Jamaica, mostly residing in Port Royal. Port Royal even had what was called a Jew Street. In 1672 thirty-one Port Royal merchants petitioned the governor complaining of large numbers of Jewish retail merchants active on the island.

With the influx of Jews to Jamaica in the 17th century, multiple synagogues were constructed across the island in such cities as Montego Bay, Spanish Town, Port Royal, and Kingston. A synagogue built in Spanish Town, the Sephardic Kahal Kadosh Neveh Shalom (Habitation of Peace), was consecrated in 1704. Jews came from Spain and Portugal, having fled the Spanish Inquisition. To conceal their identity they referred to themselves as “Portuguese” or “Spanish” and practiced their religion secretly.

HOW DID THE SETTON FAMILY GET TO JAMAICA?
David Setton, son of Haim, was born in Aleppo in 1911. Economic conditions were poor in the Levant and people were emigrating. David’s uncle Saul Setton took David, along with his brother Joseph to live in Manchester. An eye infection forced Saul to leave Manchester. He decided to move to Jamaica, which was part of the United Kingdom.

While Saul did not stay in Jamaica, David settled there and worked as a peddler living among the small Jewish community. Eventually he opened his own textile business. By his 20s, he wanted to marry. So, he traveled to Panama, where there was a Syrian community. There he met Estella Zakay, who was 15 and one of eight children. Her father was Elias Zakay, a Baghdadi Jew, and her mother was Selma Guindi, of Izmir. David and Estrella married in 1941 and he took her back to Kingston, Jamaica.

The couple had five children — Victor, Emilia, Judy, Debbie and Eli, all born in Jamaica except for Debbie, who was born in Panama during the months the family lived there when a polio epidemic raged in Jamaica.

Emilia recalls the small Jewish community and the Shaare Shalom Synagogue on Duke Street in Kingston that has a sand floor, to remind persons of the time when Jews covered their floors with sand to muffle the sound of their prayers during the Spanish Inquisition.

Other Jewish families included the Silveras and Matalons. But there was lots of intermarriage and Estella was very protective of her children.

“We had no real kosher food, so my mother salted her food and ground her own beef herself. She cooked Middle Eastern food and learned to make Jamaican fish, apkee, plantain, kidney beans and rice. She also made Syrian food. They couldn’t buy phyllo dough, so my mother and aunt made their own so we could have baklava. They had it on the table and rolled it so thin and then cut it to make baklava. It was hard work to make the dough. We had all different types of food. She was an excellent cook,” said Emilia.

She and her siblings attended the all-girls Wolmers School. They wore uniforms and were members of clubs. Jewish children did not have to participate in prayers. The boys went to a boys Catholic school. David Setton drove the children to school each day and picked them up when school ended. They brought lunch to school, played tennis and went to the movies as leisure activities.

“My father traveled to Japan, China and New York to buy textiles. He sold piece goods and the materials were used to make our dresses. We had a Jamaican dressmaker who made all our clothes. My mother dressed all three girls alike, so the dresses were handed from me to my younger sisters. My mother loved to shop.

“When my brother Victor has his bar mitzvah in 1958, we had a lovely celebration at home. After my parents sent him to a Hasidic yeshivah in Williamsburg. When he came home to visit, we had to have real kosher food and it was brought from New York. Estella had sent Victor to New York because she worried about her children being exposed to non-Jewish influences.

“Our friends were international — Irish, Scots, and Israelis. There was a large Christian Arab and Druze population in Jamaica from Lebanon,” said Emilia.

Emilia blossomed in high school and when she did, her mother worried she would marry a non-Jew, so she sent her to Panama to live with Selma and Elias Zakay, her grandparents. Emilia finished high school in the Canal Zone High School in Panama but she did not like it there, so she returned to Jamaica in 1965.

Soon after, there was a family wedding in Mexico City for her uncle Moise Zakay, who was a mohel. The entire family went to Mexico for the wedding, but a death on the bride’s side of the family caused the wedding to be delayed.

“I wanted to go to Brooklyn, so I went and lived with my aunt and uncle. I began to socialize with my cousins and we went to socials at Shaare Zion. That’s where I met my husband, Saul Ancona. I was 19 and he was 28. We married at Shaare Zion in July 1966. My parents still lived in Jamaica so we went after we married and my mother gave us a lovely garden party. When I came to New York and married, I had no maid, but I knew what to do because my mother taught us.”

Emilia and Saul had three sons, Robert, David and Joey. And over the years, their family grew. When her children were in school Emilia returned to school and earned a degree in Jewish studies. She became an early childhood teacher.

Back in Jamaica, her father David dissolved his business in Jamaica a few years later and moved to New York. The Six Day War in Israel in 1967 brought out the anti-Semitism among the Christian Arabs in Jamaica. They boycotted his business.

Emilia lives in Brooklyn, is now retired and enjoys spending her winters in Florida. She enjoys her growing family and grandchildren.

A genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017). She is researching a new book: Syria – Paths to Freedom. Sarina holds a BA in Journalism, and MA in Jewish Studies and an MBA.

THE PREMIERE PROGRAM FOR ALL GRADUATING SENIORS, THE MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL NEXT SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, TRIED A NEW COURSE OF ACTION THIS YEAR. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, UPON RETURNING FROM PASSOVER BREAK, OUR SENIOR STUDENTS HAVE EMBARKED ON A MONTH-LONG, IN-PERSON INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE. THE CALENDAR THIS YEAR SEEMED TO DETERMINE AN ALTERNATIVE TIME THAT WOULD DELIVER THE BEST RESULTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH THE NEW YEAR, CAME NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND IN JANUARY, OUR MDY SENIORS EMBARKED ON THE ‘THEORY-IN-PRACTICE’ PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM.

Program Director Mrs. Beth Goldberg, and Assistant Coordinator Mrs. Helene Dwek, found that this new time period brought some hidden perks and were off and running with this new time frame. There are a lot of steps that happen consecutively to make sure each student is placed in the best internship, with the best mentor, for them. With the optimistic outlook that drives the NEXT Program, grounded in trust in Hashem, our amazing students, and our incredibly accommodating and welcoming mentors, the work began!

Resume Writing and Interviewing workshops were arranged, and over 114 meetings (with many follow-ups) were set. Every single student had at least one private meeting with Mrs. Goldberg and Mrs. Dwek to discuss future plans, areas of interest, experience, and everything else that goes into the NEXT stage of life for a graduating senior. Reaching out to mentors who we’ve worked with in the past, as well as making new connections could be daunting, but not when it comes to our community. We are blessed with group leaders that want to share, give back, and guide our students in all areas of business, from real estate, to interior design, to medicine, to wholesale, to education, to law, to sports management, to retail, to physical therapy, and the list goes on and on.

As the students embarked into new territory, leaving behind the familiar comfort of their warm embracing high school environment, we were amazed with the incredible results in such a small window of time. Waking up and attending prayers, taking the train to the city, finding parking, making arrangements for lunch and so on. What we knew, and the students would soon realize, was the greatness of this gift that MDYHS provides them. Everyone was able to see what “the real world” will be like. Each day provided another opportunity to gain more knowledge and actual experience in a prospective field of their choosing. The days may have passed very quickly but they were jam packed with incredible experiences and a solid foundation for their future. Yes, it is truly a gift! One that we are all so grateful for and will continue to provide for our students, no matter what time of year!