The Next Step’s Response to the Crisis in Israel

DAVID FARHI

Since 2012, The Next Step has been a cornerstone of rehabilitation in Israel, offering critical prosthetic care and emotional support to both children and adults suffering from limb loss. This year, The Next Step’s annual fundraising event, The Next Ride, faced an unforeseen postponement due to the onset of the Israel-Hamas War. This war underscores the dire need for organizations like The Next Step, which is working to support Israelis who were brutally injured during the October 7th attack.

Since the commencement of the war, countless individuals have suffered life-altering injuries which have rendered them amputees. The number continues to rise as the war rages on and soldiers from the front lines face injury. In response to this heightened urgency created by the conflict, The Next Step acted quickly, arranging the Solidarity Ride, a fifty-mile cycling event, to demonstrate support for Israel, advocate for the release of Israeli hostages, and raise vital funds for Israel’s recent amputees, both civilian and soldier alike.

The organization’s representatives Elisheva Karol, Noam Cohen, and Tzachi Leibovitz traveled from Israel to participate in The Next Step’s Solidarity Ride in Englewood, New Jersey. Cyclists from the Sephardic community heeded the call, many flocking to take part in the ride. Following the event, Karol, Cohen, and Leibovitz dedicated time to visiting Sephardic Jewish community organizations, immersing themselves in the local community, and passionately sharing The Next Step’s mission. These crucial moments extended beyond mere discussions; they became pivotal opportunities to foster a deep understanding of the commitment required to support Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.

Across New York and New Jersey, these representatives engaged with Jewish leaders and students in institutions including Hillel Yeshiva, Barkai Yeshivah, the Yeshivah of Flatbush, Magen David Yeshivah, Sha’are Shalom Synagogue, the Larchwood Synagogue, and Congregation Ohel Yitzchok. In each of these places of education and enrichment, The Next Step’s mission transcended theoretical understanding: it was a call to action.

Engaging with the students at each yeshivah, the team fostered a deep understanding of their commitment to supporting Israel and its people. They expounded on The Next Step’s multifaceted efforts, including educational programming about limb loss, prosthetic fittings, and raising crucial awareness for recent amputees who have lost limbs due to the terror in Israel. They elaborated on the organization’s methods of resource gathering and supporting each amputee and their families. They emphasized the immediate need for support amidst the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Israel as they provide aid to those struggling with war-caused amputations.

The representatives shared poignant stories from their recent hospital visits, describing the daily flood of new amputees into the hospital as others are relocated out of harm’s way. They offered a glimpse into the life-changing impact of their work and the resilience of those affected by the recent conflict. They then opened the discussions to the students, allowing them to voice their opinions and explore their inquiries. Through open and candid dialogue, Karol, Cohen, and Tzachi Leibovitz helped students understand The Next Step’s significant mission and inspired them to grasp the significance of collective action, emphasizing the role of unity in ensuring Am Yisroel’s survival and prosperity.

Looking forward, The Next Step hopes to amplify their message and their mission to support Israeli victims of terror facing limb loss. The urgency of the mission cannot be overstated. The Next Step continues its crucial work supporting the Jewish people. The need is immediate — only through community effort and unity can we fortify and strengthen the Jewish nation.

David Farhi, son of Rabbi Isaac Farhi from Deal, has been involved in The Next Step/The Next Ride for the past 3 years. Through his and the community’s involvement, the organization has succeeded in empowering hundreds of Israeli amputees to lead active and fulfilling lives post limb loss.

SANDRA LAZAR

WE’RE COMING CLOSE TO THE END OF 2023. THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO GET THIS YEAR’S FINANCIALS IN ORDER. SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS TO FILE ITS TAX RETURN? HERE IS YOUR SIMPLE TO-DO LIST TO HELP YOU GET READY.

GET YOUR BOOKKEEPING IN ORDER.
This includes categorizing transactions, reconciling bank and credit card accounts and producing financial statements. Taking these steps will help to ensure that your financial reporting is accurate.

While categorizing your expenses, include start-up costs, materials needed to provide your goods or services (cost of goods sold), office supplies, rent, insurance, advertising, interest expenses, travel, salaries and employee benefits.

Make sure to list any assets you bought over the year — equipment, vehicles, computers and things of the sort. It is important to include any improvements you’ve made to your assets.

All outstanding loan obligations and any loans that have been forgiven over the calendar year such as PPP should be included in your reporting.

COMPILE A LIST OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHO NEED TO BE ISSUED A 1099
You will need to file tax forms showing a record of all independent contractors employed by your company. Make sure to have a completed W9 for each of them. You will need to file form 1099-NEC with the IRS for any independent contractor who you paid at least $600 during the calendar year.

Additionally, you will need to issue and file W2s with the IRS for each employee on your company payroll.

Make sure you have all the necessary information from your employees and contractors required to fill out and submit these forms.

SET ASIDE MONEY TO PAY YOUR TAXES
If you are not sure how much you will need to pay in taxes, a safe amount would be 30% of profits. It would be a great idea to keep this sum in a separate savings account so that you are prepared when it comes time to pay your tax bill.

FIND A TAX PREPARER
The longer you wait, the harder it will be to find a tax preparer with availability to sort out your financial records. Time delays can make it costly to complete your tax compliance in a timely manner.

Have your preparer explain the type of business taxes that your company will be subject to paying over the course of the year..

For example, your company may be subject to income taxes, self-employment taxes, employment taxes, sales and excise taxes. These are just a few of the top items on the list.

Preparing in advance for the upcoming tax season will make finalizing and filing your tax returns seamless and will allow you to forecast for 2024.

Sandra Lazar graduated Brooklyn college in 1995. She has served as a CFO in a variety of businesses for the past 25 years.

SOPHIA FRANCO

TODAY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH, I HAD INTENDED TO WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE ISRAELI RALLY IN WASHINGTON DC, BUT AS I SIT AT MY COMPUTER, I CAN’T KEEP MY EYES OFF THE TELEVISION. THIS MORNING, 13 ISRAELI HOSTAGES, 10 THAI HOSTAGES AND 1 FILIPINO HOSTAGE ARE CURRENTLY MAKING THEIR WAY FROM GAZA TO EGYPT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY TO ISRAEL.

After 47 days in captivity, this is a true miracle, so, I will start by thanking Hashem. He is great in every way. I know this, even in the face of so much suffering. I know this, even as we watched in horror, as Hamas threw all shame and decency out the window. Our sages say that suffering helps bring us closer to Hashem, virtually, “up the ladder,” but truly, I don’t think this was the suffering anyone had in mind.

For most of us, the last seven weeks have held fear, and not much else. Fear of hate, fear for the hostages, fear for the state of Israel and the soldiers who defend it — and mostly, the real fear that we are not safe here in America, or anywhere. There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world. If you are curious, alternatively there are 15.2 million Jews — approximately 6.8 million in Israel, and 6 million in the United States. With these numbers in mind, this particular fear has taken up most of our brain space.

It is a fact that thousands of Palestinian “civilians” helped perpetrate the October 7th attacks, and thousands of others cheered them on jubilantly, in Gaza, and globally. While so many Muslims are peaceful, non-jihadists, so many more have proven not to be, and with the pliable young minds of university students captured, groomed and mobilized for a fight, it’s truly hard to think of anything else. In the Jewish Journal, Gary Wexler reported that Palestinian campus activists have ensured this, spreading hateful lies and building the infrastructure for this alternative universe for a quarter of a century. Many organizations representing people seen as oppressed were inspired to identify with the Palestinians, swaying students of every variety.

I have personally watched so many ignorant, stubborn and angry humans tearing down the posters of the 240+ men, women and children being held hostage in the tunnels of Gaza. Why? When your puppy is lost, nobody tears down those signs. When I was a kid, I remember the missing children’s faces staring back at me from the milk carton, as I ate spoon after spoonful of cereal. Why would any civilized human want a child to celebrate his fourth birthday in the hands of monsters? If it were their grandmother, would they not want her home?

Often, over the last 49 days, I have thought about the time when 240 girls were kidnapped from Nigeria. Oh, how the world’s activists screamed! Oprah! Michelle Obama! Angelina Jolie! So many Hollywood stars, up in arms. Today, their silence (and so many others) is deafening. Where is the outrage as underage girls were savagely raped in front of their mothers by these sadistic monsters; when babies were torn from their mother’s wombs and burned alive inside kitchen ovens? Where are their souls? Where are their minds?

But alas, they accuse, “fake news!” They claim that video footage of the worst massacre in Jewish history since the Holocaust was staged. (I mean those are the rules pro-Palestinians play by, so I imagine they assume we do the same). Raw footage accumulated by Hamas’ own go-pros and cell phones should verify truth, but some of it is just too difficult to fathom. Maybe the naysayers should visit Israel, as so many Jewish sympathizers have over the last seven weeks. Maybe they should see the bloodshed for themselves.

Unfortunately, smart, educated university students have fallen prey to mass manipulation. They call Israel a genocidal, colonialist, apartheid state. Genocidal, really? How many Palestinians are in Gaza, and is that number growing, or shrinking? Gaza is ruled by Hamas. The fact that they use women and children as human shields and build their headquarters under hospitals and schools, this is not Israel’s doing. The only people denying basic necessities to the Palestinians, are their own leaders. So, as I watch the national news showing the hostages being released, I can’t help but sound smug, “Oh, there are hostages being held in Gaza; really?” It kind of feels good to prove the cynics wrong.

I’ll tell you what felt really good though. The rally. That felt like power. It felt like strength, and it felt like fighting back. In the parashah that week, it said, “Yaakov halach l’ beit Lavan,” And Yaakov went to the white house… When I woke up that crispy morning to a photo of hundreds of men in kippot and tefillin, praying at sunrise on the white house lawn, I was amazed. Once again, we see hints of the Torah playing out in real time this year, chapter by chapter. At the rally, holding our Israeli flags, standing in such an open space and being among so many Jews at once frightened us at first — we were surely a target for some Palestinian sicko with an automatic weapon, or worse — but someone handed me a paper with a beracha to be said whenever you are in a place with more than 600 Jews. Saying it, I felt safe, I felt invincible. I felt a solidarity as never before. Being there, I was making a difference.

We continued to push through to the front, looking for people we knew. What was funny though, was that everyone looked like someone we knew. But then there were others who didn’t look like us, and they, too, were holding signs. They, too, were singing Hatikvah along with Omer Adam. Whether they had pink hair and tattoos, white skin, brown skin or black skin — whether they wore kippot and tzitzit or a Madhappy sweatshirt, we were all at peace, together. The energy and camaraderie were incredible. Different people from all walks of life marching to the same beat of the same drum — Kumbaya at its finest.

As Mijal Biton cried out with incredible strength and honesty, I was so proud. Our rabbi’s daughter’s passion echoed within me. She spoke about the “iron curtain of hate” felt by all those who know oppression: “I stand here for all us who remember that in every generation they stand up against us, to destroy us, and for all of us, who thank G-d that America and Israel changed the world and became our safe haven. We stand here united, to fight against terror and antisemitism in our streets and in our universities. We stand here in support of our nation of Israel who have stood up like a nation of lions to liberate Israeli and Palestinian children from the nightmare of Hamas.” She begged us to breathe new life into the promise of hope and freedom; to use all that we have: our voices, our votes, our feet, and our prayers. Standing there, I nodded, “Yes, yes, I will. I am.”

And then there were the parents of the hostages; heartbreaking, honest, each forced to transform from mom to activist, public speaker, and the voice of hope during a time of despair. Listening intently, no one could look away. Thousands of placards in the crowd, large and small, created a force; innocent faces on posters, pins, and sweatshirts. Their eyes cried out to each of us, “save me!” And so, filled with love, we stood. We sang. We prayed. We are Jews, and that is who we are. We are challenged to rise, every day of our lives.

On this heroic day, almost 300,000 people showed up to march for Israel in our nation’s capital. In a fight between good and evil, love and hate, civilization and barbarism, we stood for the release of our people. We stood for peace and for unity, the way only we can, with derech eretz and decorum. Nobody beat anyone. Nobody defaced any property. Nobody cried for blood or murder, and nobody ruthlessly planned an inhuman massacre of people sleeping in their beds, or dancing happily at a party in the early hours of the morning. In fact, almost every speaker prayed for the release of all the victims of this hateful war — both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, because they are hostages of Hamas, too, aren’t they?

After the rally, there were hugs and high fives, and more singing to the heavens to let our people go! When a policeman was asked how he liked the day, he smiled and said he had received a career’s worth of thank yous in one afternoon. Baruch Hashem, there’s a difference between us and them, and I think that on this day, that was more than apparent.

This week in the parashah, Yaakov asks Lavan to give him back his women and children. Today, November 26th, as I watch the news 56 hostages, b”h, have been released so far. It has been 50 days since October 7th, and 188 are still in captivity by Hamas, as far as we know. I pray that by the time you read this, all of the hostages will have been released. I pray that all our soldiers will come home, safe and sound, and no more civilians will be hurt. I pray for peace in Israel and around the world. But as we release so many Hamas terrorists simultaneously, and give them this moment to regroup, I also pray that they do not go on to do this all over again. I cannot forget that more than 1,400 innocent people will never come home, and that the ugly head of hate has only been hiding all these years, and has now come out to play. So, mostly, I pray that good will always win over evil, and Mashiach will come soon. Am Yisrael Chai.

Thank you to Rabbi Shlomo Farhi for his always inspiring classes, to Rabbi Amram Sananes for his parashah teachings and to Rabbi Yotav Eliach who taught me Zionism a million years ago and still continues to educate me whenever I read his words.

Sophia Franco is a community writer. Among essays, songs and biographies she also composed I Can Be, We are a Miracle and I am Alive for Yaakov Shwekey.

“THE SIRENS WENT OFF, AGAIN, IN OFAKIM. HOW MANY TIMES IN A DAY CAN A PERSON RUN TO THE SAFE ROOM? AND THE KIDS, SCREAMING, IN FEAR AND TRAUMA. BUT I NEEDED TO GET FOOD. THE HOUSE WAS EMPTY. I HAD TO GO OUT AND BRAVE THE ROCKETS. WITH A PRAYER IN MY HEART, I WENT TO THE STORE. ANOTHER SIREN, 15 SECONDS TO GET TO A SAFE ROOM. HASHEM, PLEASE HELP ME. I CAN’T GO GET FOOD…”
SARA FROM OFAKIM

This story of a resident in Ofakim is typical of the thousands of requests for food that Yad Ezra V’Shulamit receives every day. Netivot, Kiryat Malchi, Ashkelon or Beer Sheva were not evacuated — and are in the direct line of fire daily.

Getting food has become an issue — for hundreds of thousands of residents of the south.

“The government evacuated anyone within 4 kilometers of Gaza. The state pays for them to be in a hotel where they get breakfast and dinner. But if someone is 4.5 kilometers away they have to stay put or find a friend in another city to take them in. They are stuck. Thousands of people call us for help with getting food.

Yad Ezra V’Shulamit gives out 12,000 food baskets every week to the poor with 14 trucks and 4 warehouses. “We have the infrastructure in place to get food to those under fire,” explained Eli Kafif, CEO of Yad Ezra V’Shulamit.

Over 40 trucks have already been sent to the south. Each truck contains enough food for 200 people for a week. “Our staff has been very brave. They go down even though sirens have gone off during several deliveries. With everything else people are going through during these difficult days, having food in the home shouldn’t be an issue,” stated Founder Aryeh Lurie.

Beyond getting food to families, many evacuees have lost their jobs (and their homes) and have no income. “We were getting so many calls from evacuees in Jerusalem, we purchased $1,000,000 worth of vouchers at local stores to distribute to displaced families,” Mr Kafif explained.

And then came the calls from the army for water and snacks. Why is the army calling a tzedaka organization for water? “We didn’t understand why the army needed water but the calls kept coming in from base after base. Many of our staff members have boys in Gaza and they knew where to call,” said Aryeh Lurie. “We found out that the water the army gets is in trucks or from water hydrants and doesn’t taste very good, so soldiers were not drinking enough. Commanders started to worry about dehydration so they called us.”

Yad Ezra V’Shulamit gave over 100,000 bottles of water to soldiers as well as snacks — and the requests keep coming.

“It is really beautiful to see how everyone is doing something to help people and the soldiers. You feel such an amazing sense of unity in Israel now. No one thinks or cares if someone is religious, not religious, secular, Sefardi or Ashkenazi. We are all Am Israel,” said Eli Kafif.

The people evacuated at hotels seem to have it better than those still in the south. However, living in a hotel in one room for weeks on end with no schooling or gans for children and nothing for them to do all day has presented its own challenges.

“We realized we had to do something to help the families in Jerusalem evacuated from their homes. Besides buying toys for 4,000 children, we sent puppet shows, activities and things to do in the evening for the teenagers. Although everyone is, thank G-d, physically safe, many are experiencing trauma, PTSD and need someone to talk to. We send our social workers and staff to the hotels everyday,” Aryeh Lurie said.

“This is a war not only against Israel. This is a war against every Jewish person worldwide and I ask every single person to help us get food to those who need it, and give a hand to your brothers in Israel who have lost so much. When Am Yisrael pulls together, nothing is too much for us and we can win this war. Not only the war against Hamas and bringing back the hostages. We can win the war against Hamas’ plan of breaking us — and our spirit. Please help us lend a hand and get food and basics to those in Israel,” requests Aryeh Lurie, founder of Yad Ezra V’Shulamit.

To donate go to www.yadezra.net/foodtrucks.

JERSEY SHORE COMMUNITY UNITES IN PRAYER & SONG FOR ISRAEL

ON TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10TH, THE JERSEY SHORE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER IN A POWERFUL DISPLAY OF UNITY. OVER 700 ATTENDEES OF ALL AGES GATHERED OUTDOORS AT THE DSN BEACH CLUB FOR AN EVENING OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION. THE SOLEMN EVENT WAS A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY BONDS AND A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING TOGETHER IN TIMES OF NEED.

As guests arrived, they were given beautifully printed booklets containing Tehillim prayers, setting the tone for the evening. DSN’s President Lee Zekaria began the event by welcoming the rabbis and community. “Six months ago our community gathered in DSN to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Today, we are gathering under much different circumstances.”

The evening continued with a powerful rendition of Hatikvah, filling the space with a sense of hope and determination. This was followed by a medley of songs, with former IDF members and rabbis on stage, and a moving performance of Ahenu by Joe Zekaria.

More than 15 esteemed community rabbis from shuls and schools across the community led prayers for the refuah shelamah of those injured in the war, the return of those in captivity, the safety of the soldiers and a blessing for the people and State of Israel. Their collective voices embodied strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The lighting of candles and a moment of silence further underscored the solemnity of the occasion. Prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Shlomo Diamond, Rabbi Shaul Kassin and Rabbi David Tawil, delivered words of inspiration and divrei Torah, offering spiritual guidance to all in attendance. Their wisdom and insight provided a source of comfort and motivation for the community.

DSN Boardmember and Event Chairperson Victoria Sutton was very satisfied. “It was very meaningful and spiritual. We are blessed to have the most incredible rabbis.” Jacqueline Musry, a DSN volunteer was emotional. “I have no words! It was beyond special having all of the rabbis there and seeing everyone together — hundreds upon hundreds of people. It was an unbelievable night, community and team!” Grace Chehebar felt strengthened. “What a night. May Hashem see our unity, hear our prayers, and protect and bless our soldiers and our land.”

Joe Benun, a former IDF soldier, and Ike Massry spoke shedding light on tangible ways the community has and can still come together, from donations to organizing flights out of Israel, all serving as a testament to the power of collective action.

The event was marked by a visual representation of unity with the wavering Israeli flag prominently displayed on a big screen, flanked by two more flags adorning the venue. Additionally, to ensure safety, in recognition of the realities of the current climate, a strong police and security presence was maintained throughout the evening.

Sweatshirts, necklaces, pins and hot chocolate were available for purchase, with all proceeds going towards organizations supporting the IDF and Israel. The overwhelming support through merchandise was obvious as demand for these items resulted in a complete sell-out, further demonstrating the community’s commitment to the cause.

For those unable to attend in person, the event was livestreamed via Instagram, reaching viewers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Florida, Israel and beyond. This ensured that the message of unity and support transcended physical boundaries, extending its impact to a global audience.

The night stood as a shining example of the strength and resilience of the community. Linda Massry, a DSN volunteer, said, “DSN was the only place anyone felt like being tonight. G-d Bless.”

DSN’s Executive Director Sammy Sitt summarized, “Tonight was very special. Having so many rabbis leading us in prayer and words of strength was desperately needed. The togetherness and feeling of community was palpable. Over the years, I have seen our team put together many meaningful events. This one is right there at the top. Thank you to our DSN volunteers and a passionate staff who tirelessly organized the perfectly-scripted event in less than 48 hours! We will continue to pray and do what we can for Israel. May Hashem accept our community’s prayers so that our brothers and sisters in Israel can see better days soon. Am Israel Chai!”

IT REALLY HAS BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE! THE BARKAI YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY BEGAN OVER 18 MONTHS AGO, THOUGH THE DREAM FAR PREDATES THAT. TO SEE IT ALL COME TOGETHER HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS — A PRODUCT OF TEAMWORK, PERSEVERANCE, PASSION AND A GIFT FROM HASHEM.

We opened our doors only two months ago and we can already see the vision taking shape. BYHS students are happy! They are getting personal attention, they are thinking outside the box and they are engaged in education in ways that are no longer just theoretical.

Faculty members are collaborating to create lessons that cross disciplines, both within General and Judaic, and across them. There is an energy in the air that is palpable, as students are eager to learn and perhaps more significantly, to be part of building something that is bigger than them. It is an honor to work with and for them, every day.

At BYHS, as is the case for the entire institution, we strive to educate the entire student. That idea informs not only our core curriculum but our programming, tefillah, activities, leadership courses and partnerships with other institutions. Our vision speaks to excellence in education as students will expect nothing less than brilliance from both themselves and their school.

We have begun that journey and we intend to make good on that vision. Our students deserve the best!

To register for our open house, scan the QR code on the ad adjacent to this article. For more information, visit our website at BarkaiYeshivah.org and our instagram account @BarkaiHS.

THE STANLEY I. CHERA SAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE WAS AN EVENING TO REMEMBER, WITH A PACKED HOUSE IN THE NEW, BEAUTIFUL MOISE SAFRA BUILDING. AS PARENTS WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, THEY WERE GREETED BY A WORLD MAP SYMBOLIZING SAM’S MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

Another table offered parents the opportunity to participate in voting for a team name for the upcoming middle school, which SAM plans to launch within the next 24 months. This engagement not only fostered a sense of belonging, but also emphasized SAM’s dedication to involving parents in the decision-making process. Visitors were also able to sample various learning styles, providing a hands-on look at SAM’s dedication to innovative and immersive education.

Upstairs, the SAM leadership team unveiled plans for a new 15,000 square foot second campus for the elementary and middle schools. The new facility, located on East 96th Street off of Fifth Avenue, is a historic former school, in move-in condition. It spans six floors, and will feature 16 classrooms, a cafeteria, a cutting-edge science laboratory, a beautiful library, and much more. This announcement reflected SAM’s determination to provide students with a premiere educational environment that nurtures growth and exploration.

A highlight of the event was Trustee Haim Chera’s generous offer to current elementary school families and the first 20 pioneering families to join the SAM Elementary school community for the upcoming school year. He announced a 50% reduction in tuition fees, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and reclaiming the narrative of education in Manhattan, ensuring that every child is seen, celebrated, and supported.

The SAM Elementary School leadership team, including Rabbinical Leader Rabbi Ariel Mizrahi, Co-Heads of School Dr. Rachel Harari and Mrs. Mary Peldman, and Executive Director Michelle Dayan, shared insights into SAM’s values and philosophy. Dr. Harari stressed the need to move away from the traditional competitive model and focus on fostering a love for learning and curiosity.

Mrs. Peldman spoke passionately about SAM’s unique approach to integrating subjects through experiential learning, breaking down the barriers between isolated subjects to create a holistic and immersive learning experience. Michelle Dayan shared her deep commitment to the school as both a parent and executive director.

Rabbi Ariel Mizrahi described SAM’s philosophy of teaching Torah, emphasizing the importance of imparting knowledge from a place of love and excitement, connecting the past with the future.

Before parents explored classrooms and spoke with teachers, Rabbi Shlomo Farhi of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Manhattan highlighted the urgency of SAM’s growth in Manhattan, invoking the shofar’s call to action. The SAM School’s expansion plans, which include a 2-year-old through 4th grade program in September 2024 and the launch of a middle school and high school within the coming years, underscore the school’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its community.

The SAM School’s vision and commitment are setting a new standard for education in Manhattan, with a vision that promises a bright future.

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For information about financial professional commission-based income and benefits, please visit https://www.newyorklife.com/careers/financial-professionals/income-and-benefits. New York Life is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

THIS YEAR, MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL IMPLEMENTED A NEW HONORS PROGRAM FOR ITS FRESHMAN STUDENTS, LED BY PROGRAM DIRECTOR MRS. KIMBERLY DJOUEJATI AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RABBI ELINATAN BITTON. THE THEME THAT THEY WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON THIS YEAR IS LEADERSHIP.

As they began to explore and identify their core values, the first step in discovering their leadership style, students had an overnight stay in Rhode Island and Boston, learning the history of leaders and trailblazers who helped pave our way.

In Newport, Rhode Island, along with Chaperone Ms. Katie Btesh, the group visited Touro Synagogue, the oldest Sephardic Orthodox Shul in the United States, praying Minha in this historic Shul before heading to the Newport mansions. Freshman student Stephen Zekaria reflected, “I thought that going to the Touro Synagogue was very historical and special. I think that it was so great to see such an important part of my Jewish history, as it is the first synagogue ever made in America. I felt very honored and very privileged to go see that shul, because it is the most historically significant Jewish building in the United States. It meant a lot to me to see it at my young age and to be able to pray Minha there with my friends. This made me feel like I am now a part of its history.”

The next day, after Selihot and Shaharit, students went on the famous Boston Duck Tour, where they learned about all the historical places that make Boston the symbol of American Freedom. They then toured Fenway Park to hear about the rich history, culture, and architecture of the amazing ballpark. Freshman Susie Jemal was especially moved by the courage legend Jackie Robinson had. She said, “Jackie Robinson was the first African American player to join the MLB in 1947. This event changed the MLB forever. The courage that Robinson put into his career has taught me that I can start something just by being myself which can change the world. Robinson put himself out into the world and did what he always wanted to do. He has inspired me to live up to my dreams and not to let people put me down. His optimism to achieve his goals encouraged me to be positive in whatever I want to accomplish in life.”

MDYHS anticipates the growth of its Honors Program due to the unprecedented amount of inquiries it has been receiving about it. You can learn more about it at the school’s Open House, Tuesday night November 14th, 7:30 P.M., at MDYHS, 7801 Bay Parkway.