Rita grazi

THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE A DIFFICULT TIME FOR MANY SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WITH FAMILIES OFTEN TRAVELING OR LIVING FAR AWAY, WHAT SHOULD BE A JOYOUS TIME CAN FEEL LONELY AND ISOLATING.

This year, the SBH CONNECT program, located in the heart of our community at 1963 McDonald Avenue, provided a safe and welcoming place for seniors on Passover. The organization provided hot kosher for Passover lunches and daily programming filled with activities. This not only provided the seniors with a delicious meal, but also an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and socialize with others. SBH CONNECT truly understands the importance of providing a space where seniors can feel loved and cared for.

SBH CONNECT is not just there for the community during the holidays; we provide daily wonderful programming from Monday through Friday, that include art, dance, and physical fitness, all of which create intellectual stimulation. We are fully committed to meeting the mental and emotional needs of seniors in our community.

One of the most important aspects of SBH CONNECT is the sense of community that it provides. For seniors who may otherwise be isolated, we offer a place to make friends, learn a new skill or lean in to a beloved hobby, all while feeling a sense of belonging. The staff and volunteers are warm and welcoming, and they make sure that everyone who comes through the doors feels valued and appreciated!

If you or someone you know is a senior (60+ years old), a caregiver, or may benefit from SBH CONNECT’s programs, intellectual stimulation, socialization, and who just enjoy a good time, then come and see what it is all about! The organization is committed to supporting seniors in our community and providing a space where they can thrive.

Rita Grazi is the Program Manager for the SBH Senior Division.

ENROLLMENT HAS EXCEEDED OVER 200 STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST-TIME EVER. BEGINNING IN OCTOBER AND RUNNING THROUGH MARCH, IT CULMINATED IN A MUCH-ANTICIPATED RECITAL IN FRONT OF 800 PEOPLE.

The DSN Dance Academy has become a beloved community institution, known for healthy activity, inclusivity and most importantly, fun. The program is open to girls at any level, providing a healthy space for skill-building and confidence-boosting. Led by Dance Director Danielle Hanan, the program has grown significantly, with over 200 students enrolled. Danielle explained why she loves her work. “This program does so much for the girls of our community. It provides instruction and confidence-building. The recital provides a stage for the girls to showcase and spotlight all of the hard work they put in during the year. I cannot be more pleased and proud of this year’s major success!”

Assistant Dance Director Sari Abraham worked with Danielle to oversee the program’s development. Sari is passionate about the program. “DSN Dance Academy is the most fulfilling and special program that I’ve ever been a part of. I am so lucky I get to ‘work’ every day doing something I love so much, surrounded by people who have become like family. Dancing takes you to another world. It elevates expression, creativity, and joy. This year’s recital was magic. It will be hard to top it, but challenge accepted!”

The program offers a range of dance styles, including hip hop, tap, ballet, contemporary, and jazz funk, providing the opportunity for children to develop their skills in a variety of areas.

The program showcased a competitive dance team as well. It consisted of nine girls who won numerous awards at two competitions this season. They were also invited to nationals and received scholarships to compete. Paulette Ashkenazi and Danielle Hanan worked tirelessly to ensure the team’s success, and it was evident in their performances.

DSN’s Youth Director Frieda Shamah supported Danielle and Sari every step of the way, especially the day of the recital. “The dance recital is my favorite day of the year! I love the energy and I love seeing our girls grow. I am so proud of each one of them,” she said with a smile.

The recital itself was a professional affair held at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, with beautiful costumes, elaborate backdrops on the stage, and perfectly curated music. This year’s theme was “Broadway and Beyond,” with twenty-five dance numbers inspired by the music of Broadway with a twist, adding in some of today’s favorite songs. The show featured a charming slideshow of the dancers enjoying the program throughout the year. DSN held dress rehearsals to ensure that everything was perfect for the big night. Additionally, there were countless counselors available to support the children and ensure that everything ran smoothly.

Dance mom Grace Chehebar said, “This was our first season attending the DSN dance recital — what a show! This year’s theme was so perfect since we felt as though we arrived at Times Square from the minute we walked in! Count Basie was so beautiful and the costumes and performances took everything to the next level. Kudos to everyone at DSN for pulling it off! Can’t wait for next season!”

SARINA ROFFÉ

OFTEN, THE PASSION WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES IS AN OUTGROWTH OF A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT SETS US APART FROM OTHERS. SUCH WAS THE CASE FOR VICTORIA AND MEYER SAFDIEH, FOUNDERS IN 2013 OF C.A.R.E. FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.

When a family is faced with caring for and ensuring that the special needs child gets the services they need, it can be overwhelming. The parents go through stages of grief, expectations for their child that will not come to fruition, as they are faced with making a multitude of decisions, finding services, doctors and the right school placement. Beyond that, there are day-to-day challenges at home, such as the relationship with siblings, and managing expectations. The stress takes a toll on the entire family.

“What makes C.A.R.E. so unique is that it was created as a result of living with a need,” said Meyer. “When you have a child with special needs, you understand the struggle others are going through and the challenges they face.”

Few people understand what they are facing on a daily basis. Parents feel alone, because they have no one in their immediate family and friend circle who might understand what they are going through. The same is true of siblings who feel alone because they don’t know someone else who has a sibling with learning challenges.

“We had to figure it out ourselves because there was no one to help us,” said Victoria. “We felt very alone; it was daunting, but we were convinced that there must be many other community families that shared similar struggles.”

“Understanding the struggle and challenge of having children with special needs and the effect it had on our family prompted us to start something,” said Meyer. “The inspiration, and the beautiful part of the story, is that instead of letting our challenges break our spirits — we used them to fuel something good and to help others.”

C.A.R.E. was founded in 2013. It stands for Community, Advocacy, Resources and Encouragement — four of the many things the organization has come to stand for. There are also extras that no one thinks about that can be too much to handle, like paperwork, government demands for documentation, accessing benefits, figuring out which doctors to use, which school, choosing a therapist — each item has to be dealt with and managed.

He continued, “I believe that unlike what most people think, it’s precisely in the areas that challenge you most in your life that you will find your opportunity to do something special and make a difference.”

“We didn’t want people to have to reinvent the wheel and have to figure out everything themselves. When a family comes to C.A.R.E., we have an intake meeting to understand the entire situation so we can help them with whatever they need,” said Victoria. “And with the help of Hashem, C.A.R.E. has grown to be a support network for over 500 families!”

C.A.R.E. has in house social workers for children and parents, identifies appropriate school placement, helps apply for eligible benefits, makes appointments and completes paperwork. C.A.R.E. runs a host of programs for children with special needs as well as programs for siblings and parents, and features an extensive staff at its building on Coney Island Avenue, each with a unique set of skills needed to guide families. C.A.R.E. families have a unique but similar struggle and everyone feels better when they are connected with others who have gone through similar experiences. CARE has become the community’s center and base for special needs families.

“We hold their hand and encourage them throughout the process,” Meyer said. “We encourage parents by reminding them how unique they are and how special they have become as a result of their struggle, and how Hashem chose them for the important mission of raising a special child. While the challenge is real, these children always come along with a ‘silver lining’ and with time, the blessings will be apparent.”

Both Victoria and Meyer were raised with the critical family value to do hesed for others. Meyer’s father, Ronnie Safdieh, helped found Yeshiva Keter Torah in New Jersey. Victoria’s father Jimmy and grandfather, Ralph Hanan, were instrumental in starting community synagogues. Ralph was president of Congregation Har Lebanon and later Shaare Ezra Shul in Long Branch. Their mothers hosted meetings at their home, providing hospitality and warmth to help the organizations grow.

A genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017), Sarina holds a BA in Journalism, and MA in Jewish Studies and an MBA.

FROM EMPLOYEE TO ENTREPRENEUR

ELLEN ADES

ANNIE SIDAOUI WALKED INTO A SCHOOL RECENTLY AND ASKED, “WHAT IF WE TAKE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF RUNNING THE LUNCH PROGRAM OFF YOUR SHOULDERS, REDUCE YOUR COSTS, AND DELIVER THE ADDITIONAL PERK OF ACHIEVING A PRODUCTIVE BUT PAINLESS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN WHILE SUPPORTING YOUR CURRENT VENDORS?”

The most impressive thing about Annie is that, after she poses the question, if the school takes her up on the offer, she delivers.

ANNIE AND THREE PARTNERS CO-OWN FOODDAYS.
FoodDays is an innovation in the school lunch ordering system. It essentially takes the burden out of the administrative office by handling all aspects of the process from creating menus, sourcing local vendors, and delivering high quality meals to the school. Additionally, it can be used as a fundraising tool. It’s a premium service that costs the school nothing while providing much needed solutions.

Although Annie always wanted to be an entrepreneur, she took her time realizing her dream. After earning a degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business, she married her husband Isaac, and raised a family. It was not until sixteen years ago, when her children were already in high school, that Annie began working as a bookkeeper at a community yeshivah. She eventually graduated to office manager, then inherited the running of what was at the time a small lunch program. Her creativity kicked in and she ended up bringing in new options, a new platform, and a better distribution system. She developed a fundraising perk for the school too.

Annie stated, “When I spoke with PROPEL eighteen months ago, it gave me the chance to hash out my ideas. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I wasn’t ready.” That changed during the summer of 2022. She continued, “Although I always wanted to become a business owner, I didn’t know how to get started. PROPEL helped me take the leap from employee to entrepreneur by giving me confidence. When the opportunity presented itself, I was ready to take the plunge because I made a plan with my coach. I had more confidence because I knew I could always return to PROPEL, and they would continue to help me on my journey.”

It’s not where you start but where you finish. Annie said she prepared for the future by refining her idea over the years. Therefore, she was ready for the opportunity when it arrived.

There are so many talented women in our community. Even if you are not sure about what, when or how you will start a business, my advice is to prepare yourself. Become a lifelong learner. Continually challenge yourself. Hone your skills, and remember, a humble first job can lead to a very rewarding professional opportunity.

Annie’s mandate as the director of food management at FoodDays.com is to manage relationships between the school and vendors as well as manage customer service with the parents. Her education and experience working with schools prepared her to be a business owner today.

As an entrepreneur, Annie understands that she carries a bigger load on her shoulders in exchange for potentially greater rewards. She explained, “I feel an enormous responsibility to deliver top quality meals, for the children to enjoy, for parents to be pleased, and for the vendors to be prompt — and the list goes on.”

Annie inspired her grown daughters, Aimee and Natalie, who noted, “Our mother always had this fire within her and this drive to accomplish something great. She instilled in us a strong work ethic with the belief that we have to put one hundred percent into everything we do.”

Her husband, Isaac shared, “My advice for other spouses who want to support their wives is that ‘support’ means so many different things. Support is listening, gently guiding, understanding the day-to-day struggles, and always asking, ‘How was your day?’ PROPEL helped my wife gather courage to begin her journey, and I am very grateful to them for that. The support and encouragement is something that cannot be measured.”

One thing is certain — Anni Sidaoui is a force for good in this world and her business, FoodDays.com, is her delivery system.

If you want to discuss your business, please contact PROPEL:
Call: 646-494-0822
Email: info@thepropelnetwork.org or
DM on Instagram: @PropelNetwork

Ellen Ades is a career coach at PROPEL.

ARI BAUM, CFP®

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SPRING CLEANED YOUR HOUSE? MANY OF US DO SOME FORM OF SPRING CLEANING IN OUR HOMES REGULARLY. BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL “HOMES?”

It can be easy to forget about the clutter and red tape that builds up in our finances. When we do, we can end up with some serious clutter, and that can have very real consequences. In fact, it won’t just take up space, clutter can also waste our energy, time, and even money. So, how can we deal with the financial clutter, so it doesn’t get in our way?

SIX SIMPLE & PAINLESS FINANCIAL SPRING-CLEANING TIPS. TO ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE

#1 Purge The Paper

Go paperless for recurring bills and monthly financial statements. Also, go through the financial documents you have on hand and shred the old paperwork you don’t need any more. If there are papers you need to keep, make a digital version by scanning them. If you’re not sure what you need to keep, consult with your financial professional to make the decision.

Pro Tip: If you have a lot of paper, let technology help you out! Apps can help you digitize and organize your paper records. Also, visit optoutprescreen.com to stop getting irritating mail solicitations, like credit card applications and loan pre-approvals.

#2 Audit Your Subscriptions

Review all of your subscriptions and cancel any you no longer use or need, including subscriptions for streaming services, software, magazines, newspapers, gaming, and even product deliveries.

Pro Tip: Use your credit card and bank statements to figure out all of your subscriptions, so you don’t overlook any. Also, consider signing up for subscriptions using the same card, so it’s easier to audit them in the future.

#3 Consolidate Accounts

How many bank accounts, retirement accounts, and brokerage accounts do you have? Are they at different financial institutions? This type of account sprawl can get complicated fast. It can also mean paying lots of maintenance fees. Take a careful look at your accounts and try to consolidate them. Look at both reducing the number of accounts you have and consolidating your accounts at fewer institutions.

Pro Tip: Check out account fees and requirements as you decide which ones to keep and which to shut down. And don’t forget to look at transfer fees too, especially if you’re moving money around to streamline your accounts.

#4 Automate Savings

Set up regular transfers to a designated savings account. Choose a comfortable amount you can stick with. If you don’t know how much to set aside, start with a number you know you can commit to. And if you’re already doing this, check your automatic transfers and consider whether now’s a good time to adjust or increase them.

Pro Tip: If your savings account is already pretty healthy, reroute your automatic deposits into a retirement account, college fund, or investment account. Also, consider earmarking chunks of cash you get, like annual tax refunds, for savings too.

#5 Back It Up

Create backups of all of your important financial documents and account information. That means backing up digital files on another hard drive and backing up your backups by storing them in the cloud.

Pro Tip: Create a “master” file as a “key” to explain how your backups are organized and where to find that information. You can also organize financial access passwords with a secure password manager. This reorganization can help you out with your next financial spring cleaning. This can also give you a head start on estate planning, allowing an estate executor to access all of your digital assets and information.

#6 Check In With Your Bigger Financial Goals

How are you doing with your financial goals, big and small? What progress have you made and where are you falling short? Reviewing where you’re at, how far you’ve come, and where you want to be can help you figure out when and how to adjust course, so you stay on track.

Pro Tip: Turn this step into a conversation so you can get feedback and a fresh perspective. Talking about your bigger financial goals can motivate you to stick with them.

FINANCIAL LESSON
A little financial spring cleaning can bring major rewards.

The truth is, no matter how old you are or how much money you have, financial clutter can pile up pretty fast. Bills, account statements, tax records, policy documents, business agreements, and more — our financial lives come with quite a paper trail. That can overwhelm anyone.

In fact, it can stress us out and frustrate us almost constantly, especially if we’re wasting time trying to sort out the basics. If we ignore all that financial clutter, instead of managing it, we can easily slide into procrastination mode, which can make it harder to look past the clutter and focus on what’s really important.

So, how can you keep it all in check? Make “spring cleaning” a habit and keep yourself accountable.

Risk Disclosure: The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners, with over 25 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.

IMAGINE ACADEMY HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE SPECIAL EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IN BROOKLYN. IT’S A COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF COMMUNITY FAMILIES, ALL OF WHOM HAD CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE IDEA BEGAN WITH A CONVERSATION AFTER A SERIES OF INFORMAL SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS. EVERY COUPLE HAD THE SAME CONCERNS. THEY ALL WANTED TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH EXCELLENT EDUCATIONS, BUT THEIR CHILDREN WERE ATTENDING NON-COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, SOME IN OTHER STATES. THESE SCHOOLS DID NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN, DIDN’T CREATE ANY PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE FAMILIES, AND HAD NO AFFILIATION TO THE SEPHARDIC JEWISH COMMUNITY.

Imagine Academy opened its doors in 2005, in a private rented home. The bedrooms were converted to classrooms, the living room became the lunchroom, and the basement was the gym. With humble roots, big dreams and 12 students, the program was launched. The tremendous outreach to find the best staff, trained in the most current therapy techniques, paid off. Imagine was up and running and their students were flourishing. Their families felt safe and supported and the children made progress all within the close-knit community school.

The program was and still is one of only two schools in the entire nation that offers both ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and DIR (Developmental Individualized Relationship) therapy. Research has proven repeatedly that these specific therapies are the most effective for improving academic performance and social skills. Additionally, Imagine is known for its superior therapy departments including, occupational, physical, speech/language and creative arts therapies. These services, in addition to the core academic components, make up the foundation that all learning is built upon.

Over time Imagine grew and desperately needed a bigger building in order to keep up with the demand for placement. Our community came together and helped make this a reality. In 2008, they moved to their current location and since then, registration has continued to grow exponentially. Once again, they have found themselves in need of a new building. Their goal is to expand the school program and also hopefully create a post-21 program. The need for a community day hab program (a day program of scheduled activities, formalized training, and staff support to promote skill development) cannot be emphasized enough. Currently, there are no Sephardic day hab programs. When their students graduate, they leave to attend programs that might not reinforce all of the skills they learned during their time at Imagine Academy. More importantly, they leave the nest of our community and the families must rely on their relationships with Imagine’s staff for continued support. When the students are 20, 25, 30 and beyond, the school continues to champion them as they reach new milestones. They coach the families, including siblings and grandparents, providing a fully encompassing program and complete partnership.

Imagine is currently in the process of purchasing a new location that will house a state-of-the-art facility to educate the children. The new building will include larger classrooms, an amazing sensory gym, a formal lunchroom, complete with a teaching kitchen where students can socialize and connect, a rooftop outdoor playground and therapy suites to accommodate both day and after school therapy services. In order to continue their work providing reading, math, science, social skills groups, sensory/motor work and intensive therapy sessions, they must secure and build a new home for Imagine Academy. It is challenging to provide quality services in a hallway, make-shift classrooms or space that is overcrowded. They do their best to continue to renovate and shift rooms around to make the space work, but it is completely inadequate at this time.

The Imagine family caters to each child’s individual needs. Every student and every family is an integral part of the whole. If a student is not well and cannot attend school, they come to your home. Families, both current and past, remain dedicated to the mission of the program. To be an Imagine family means you are cared for, catered to, and supported at every step, all the time. When you become an Imagine family, you enter into a lifelong relationship and partnership with the loving, dedicated community staff that consider Imagine a part of their life, not just a job. These are components that families can only receive in Imagine’s special environment.

The school’s goals are to continue their mission of educating students and supporting families, to be the community gold standard for special education, to continue to work with community partner organizations to help students integrate seamlessly into the community. Their hope is to create a new building that can function to provide the learning their students deserve. With Hashem’s help and the support of our wonderful community, Imagine Academy hopes to achieve this goal. Community students are counting on them to succeed and make the new building a reality.

RETHINKING HOW WE EDUCATE OUR YOUTH FOR THE BUSINESS WORLD TODAY

SOPHIA FRANCO

CONGRATULATIONS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, YOU DID IT! THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST EXCITING TIME IN A TEENAGER’S LIFE, BUT THE WORK IS REALLY JUST BEGINNING. THIS IS ALSO A TIME WHERE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE FORCED TO JUMP HEAD FIRST INTO THE REAL WORLD.

All will agree that higher education is paramount, but this leaves many high school seniors perplexed and wondering, is college even worth the effort, or should I just go ahead and get a job so I can start my real life? If I start this journey, am I even going to finish? I’ve spent the last twelve years in yeshivah, do I really want to spend the next four years in a place where I am not even sure how to address my fellow classmates? What should I do?

For almost two decades, our children’s lives are planned to perfection. Now, for the first time, the decision is theirs: what will they do with the rest of their lives?

Today, the new Focus Program in collaboration with Touro University has given us compelling answers to these burning questions. Abraham Sultan, board member, explained, “Focus is presenting incoming students with an accelerated route to their Associate’s Degree in a protected and secure environment. Designed by the community for the community, the program minimizes the burden of superfluous core courses that are not directly beneficial to the chosen careers of our students, and brings these young adults to the end goal faster, and safely.” Community member Joe Mansour added, “The only area that our community never really attacked, until now, is the area of post high school secular education.”

Located in a brand new 30,000 square foot building on Ocean Avenue and Avenue J, Focus can accommodate up to 500 students, and is both convenient and safe. The class schedules are flexible, catering to any student’s schedule. This program is custom tailored to each individual student’s needs, allowing for a more time-efficient route. While, of course, it goes without saying that all courses and any form of education is useful, in today’s society, as the saying goes, “time is money.” This is an incredible opportunity for those looking to further their education and career prospects, with a concentrated strategy.

On April 24th, Focus hosted an open house info session on the campus at 2002 Avenue J. A testament to the great interest and high demand for this program, the place was literally buzzing. Many eager parents and students showed up to learn more, and ask questions, and forge a path that makes sense.

Board Members Michael Tawil and Abraham Sultan introduced the program, providing important details and introducing Dean Henry Abramson and Dean Esther Braun to the crowd. Together they fielded many thoughtful questions from attendees during a live Q&A session. They covered a lot of ground, and if this is any indication, it looks like there will be a full student body this September.

Q: What types of courses will Focus Education be offering, and how were these courses selected?
A: The current concentrations that Focus offers are numerous, covering ground in marketing, finance, accounting, management, digital multimedia, JAVA programming, cybersecurity and networking, sonography, real estate, para legal, and education; selected based on community needs and feedback.

Q: Can you explain the fast-track program and how students can complete an AS degree in 12 to 24 months?
A: In this program there are fewer liberal arts and required courses. The focus is on the field each student wants to major in. The standard completion is two years, but an industrious student can complete it sooner if they enter with previous credits, either from high school, summer school, or other college courses. Credits are easily transferable to and from this program.

Q: How does Focus Education differ from traditional universities in terms of its values and learning environment?
A: In general, Touro college is much more in line with our community’s values and beliefs. It is a more contained environment, and that will carry through to Focus.

Q: Will other concentration programs be added to Focus for students who are interested in pursuing careers out of those ten that you currently offer?
A: Yes, of course. Our goal is to serve the community’s needs. If we see that other tracks are in demand, we will surely add more courses. We are open to suggestion.

Q: What is the difference between Focus and a CUNY school?
A: Unlike in a CUNY, students will have the ability to choose much more focused courses toward their major, and take fewer “core” required ones. This not only saves time and money, but is a great asset to an ambitious student who wants to excel in his field.

Q: Will students be able to continue on at Focus to get their Bachelor’s degree?
A: Yes, and that will also go quickly. Most students will be able to complete their Bachelor’s in approximately three years.

Q: Will there be internships available and possible outplacing services to help students find jobs after graduating?
A: Yes, there will be. Touro University has plenty of intern and job placement resources already available, and entrepreneurial students of Focus will be able to take advantage of all of them.

Q: Will the teachers of Focus be community teachers?
A: No, they will be Touro accredited teachers, but there will also be opportunities to hear experienced and recognizable guest speakers from the community throughout the programs.

Q: How does the partnership with Touro University benefit students at Focus Education?
A: Touro University is a worldwide accredited program that has been established for over 50 years. Students of Focus will have the benefit of hundreds of personnel and tens of thousands of alumni, and all the resources, connections and networking that those relationships offer — while they are in school, and thereafter.

Q: Will there be any financial aid or scholarship options available for students at Focus Education?
A: Yes, where applicable.

Q: How will the community aspect of Focus Education help students with their career goals?
A: This is a community backed program, and it offers that camaraderie and business networking opportunity to all of our students. We want our students to succeed and will use Focus’ vast network of community members and Touro alumni to help place all students who work hard and dedicate themselves to their field of choice. We created it especially, to serve that goal. There are academic advisors available throughout the experience, and community members on the board that are willing to lend an ear or a hand whenever necessary.

Q: How does Focus Education ensure that its curriculum is up-to-date and relevant to the current job market?
A: We lean on Touro for that; Touro is an international school system on top of all academic standards and keeping up to date with everything.

Q: Will there be any opportunities for internships or hands-on experience in the industry as part of the program?
A: Absolutely, yes. We have job placement services available, and we offer a flexible schedule — with courses available mornings, afternoons and evenings — so, we’ll help you get a job, and we’ll give you the flexibility to do it. This also allows for other commitments, or employment, while still in school. Our goal is to do everything in our power to help a conscientious student reach their goal. We are here to help.

Ranked #1 in the nation in Money Magazine’s, 50 Colleges that add most value, a Touro education is one that is focused on its student’s career success. Focus is making it that much easier to succeed in the program. From the looks of this meeting, our community is walking into Focus with guns blazing, and an optimistic attitude. Michael Tawil said, “In twenty years we’ll look at this program and wonder how we ever lived without it.”

To apply, please visit www.FocusEducation.us or call 718-426-5040.

Sophia Franco is a mom and grandma, and a lover of the written word in all forms. She has been an author, lyricist and poet for our community for more years than she can count. Additional reporting for this article was done by Linda Berkovits.

ACROSS THE JERSEY SHORE

LORI SHAFRIR

ADAR IS KNOWN AS THE MONTH OF CELEBRATION AND HAPPINESS. THE TALMUD SAYS, “WHEN THE MONTH OF ADAR ARRIVES, WE INCREASE IN JOY” TO WELCOME A SEASON OF MIRACLES. AT THE SBH TAWIL FAMILY JERSEY BRANCH, WE TAKE THE MEANING OF THE MONTH ADAR — OR INCREASING JOY — VERY SERIOUSLY!

For starters, our seniors celebrated Purim throughout the month! The joint SBH and Hillel program “Better Together” kicked off the month of celebrations. Hillel’s 8th grade girls planned a wonderful Purim program, where they danced along with their senior partners, and painted beautiful ceramic clowns and masks together to fun, lively music. There were smiles galore!

And the joy only increased from there! SBH’s joint Purim party with DSN brought together nearly 100 seniors to celebrate with live music, dance, a delicious lunch and of course hamentashen aplenty. The afternoon was made even more special with the girls from both Ilan and Hillel High Schools in attendance. Their infectious energy and joyfulness left a lasting impression on our seniors.

Our homebound seniors were not left out of the celebrations, thanks to our community’s wonderful volunteers who are truly the lifeline of SBH! Homebound seniors delighted in listening to the megillah in the privacy of their own homes, fulfilling the mitzvah of hearing the words of the megillah. They reveled in being acknowledged and honored.

For our New Jersey families, SBH orchestrated an amazing Purim carnival spearheaded by lead volunteer Marsha Tobias and family. This fun-filled afternoon had close to 1,000 people enjoying the festivities, which included inflatable rides, carnival games and prizes. While children were enjoying themselves in their colorful costumes and everyone was celebrating, the needs of our community members were not forgotten. Hesed opportunities for the young and old were available, including hesed booths for making hamentashen and mishloach manot for the SBH Sarah Sutton A”H Food Pantry. What a special way to celebrate Purim and create fond memories for children, parents and grandparents!

As in the story of Esther, many things are hidden only to be unmasked to reveal good. The Client Services Division of SBH respects the confidentiality and the personal struggles that some of our community members contend with. Various people face food insecurity and financial struggles. In that light, honoring the mitzvah of matanot laevyonim, or giving money to the poor, generous donations from near and far were contributed to help the needy in our area. This Purim, SBH NJ spearheaded a beautiful initiative that raised over $200k that was directly distributed to close to 250 families in NY and NJ. In addition, our NJ client families were given a beautiful mishloach manot graciously donated by the Michael Kameo A”H foundation. Families with children were also provided with gift cards to purchase costumes.

Increasing the joy to those in need is not limited to the month of Adar but it is one of the essential pillars of the SBH mission: to imbue families and individuals with a sense of pride and dignity. We run beautiful programming throughout the year that serves both those seeking our help and those looking to give back. To learn more about the SBH Tawil Jersey Branch, follow @sbh_jersey on Instagram or email info@sbhonline.org to be added to the email list. We look forward to many more times of joy together.

Lori Shafrir is the Senior Division Coordinator of the SBH Tawil Family Jersey Branch.

SARINA ROFFÉ

GROWING UP IN THE BEDFORD AREA, TOBY SHACALO WATCHED AS HIS FATHER DAVID CARED DEEPLY ABOUT CONGREGATION KOL ISRAEL. TOBY SAW HIS FATHER’S COMMITMENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE AND ITS OPERATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN JUNE 1994 AND DAVID SHACALO A”H HAD THE ONLY KEY. RUNNING TO THE SYNAGOGUE, HE WOULDN’T LET THE FIREMEN START THEIR HOSES UNTIL ALL THE SEFER TORAHS HAD BEEN SAFELY REMOVED AND COUNTED.

Then, he took two months off from work as the synagogue was rebuilt to get it ready for the High Holidays. David’s commitment to safety and the community deeply impacted Toby, who has been a volunteer for Flatbush Shomrim for 19 years. He grew within the organization and has been a coordinator for the past six years, helping to manage some 90 volunteers, each of whom volunteers about four to eight hours a week.

How did he get involved? “As someone was breaking into my house, a bunch of guys stopped him. I asked who they were and that’s how I found out about Flatbush Shomrim,” said Toby. “I became the first Sephardic member; they all thought I was bananas.”

“Toby is very levelheaded and an asset to the organization. He is very connected to many of the police precincts and that is a huge help. He knows how to reach out to them,” said Executive Coordinator of Flatbush Shomrim Robert Moscovitz. The depth and breadth of the organization’s activities are staggering. They saved hundreds during Covid with their oxygen concentrators. They not only patrol the community and answer calls, but they also take on crime prevention, domestic violence, counter terrorism and a myriad of other tasks related to safety.

Flatbush Shomrim has between eight and 12 volunteers patrolling the community at any one time. Anyone out after midnight is watched carefully. As coordinator, Toby Shacalo said they field about 300 calls a week on their 24/7 hotline at 718.338.9797.

Using a radio communication system, those on and off duty stay in touch with each other. Flatbush Shomrim essentially covers the entire community, from McDonald Avenue to Marine Park and Manhattan Beach. At night, their response time to calls is one to three minutes. They are responsible for hundreds of arrests a year in the Flatbush area.

“We are in our own community; we know it better than anyone else. Our dedicated members will leave their place of business to answer a call. We know who belongs and who doesn’t belong,” he said.

Each volunteer is heavily vetted and must attend the Citizens Police Academy of the New York Police Department. The course is four hours a week for 16 weeks. The training includes things to know about the law, how to deal with and defuse situations, counterterrorism, tactical training and martial arts.

“In addition, Toby provides independent field training to new volunteers, teaching them important tactics and strategies to keep them and the community safe,” said Moskovitz.

Flatbush Shomrim is certified by the Department of Homeland Security and the New York City Office of Emergency Management. In cases of emergency, they also do search and rescue in coordination with local law enforcement.

Toby gave an example of an incident. “One time a guy from Hatzolah saw someone leaving a driveway and called us about a suspicious male. We couldn’t find him and then two minutes later, we heard a scream. The guy had broken into a house and assaulted the husband and wife. When he ran out of the house, we got him and arrested him in front of the location.”

He continued, “We often deal with house break-ins, missing persons — child or adult — and a lot of crazy stuff. There is an autistic child in the community who went missing more than once. We know he liked to ride the trains. So we had to shut down the entire subway system, a few times, to find him. Sometimes it’s an Alzheimer’s patient who wanders off, and we must find him/her. Maybe it is a house fire or a domestic violence case. With domestic violence, we get help for the victim. Right now, teenagers using drugs is a pandemic of sorts in the community. We have a well-trained team who know how to speak to the children and the parents. They have a good approach and advise them on facilities. Essentially when the community needs us, we are there.”

Toby went on, “We work closely with the commanding officers in the local precincts in the community. We have weekly meetings to discuss the high crime areas which we call the hot zones. One time there were about 30 burglaries in a short period of time. We had numerous confirmed break-ins in one night. The victims got in touch with us right away. We spotted the perpetrators and identified them to the police, who arrested them. We also follow up with our contacts in the District Attorney’s office to make sure they don’t get released back to the community and repeat their crimes.”

Security has always been front and center in Toby’s volunteer life. For 10 years he chaired the security committee at Shaare Shalom. With nine synagogues in the immediate area of his home, he has learned a lot about soft and easy targets. “I wanted to make sure people in the synagogue were safe, so we developed a team and started to train. I take the safety of the community personally.”

Hesed has been part of Toby’s life since childhood. He is deeply committed to helping the Special Children’s Center and Sephardic Bikur Holim, due to their amazing work. In addition to his father’s volunteer work at Kol Israel Congregation, he saw his mother Valerie volunteer at his school, Magen David Yeshivah and later Shaare Torah High School. The example was set by his parents and he followed it.

Community members are urged to call Flatbush Shomrim’s 24/7 hotline at 718.338.9797, as well as 911 if they see something suspicious.

A journalist, genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017), Sarina holds a BA in Journalism.

BY CORIE ADJMI

“WITH HUMOR, INSIGHT, AND GRACE, CORIE ADJMI EXAMINES THE PLIGHT OF A SPIT-FIRE TEENAGER WHO STRUGGLES TO FIND WHERE SHE FITS IN THE WORLD. AS CASEY COHEN JOURNEYS FROM WILD TEEN TO MARRIED WOMAN, SHE WILL WIN EVERY READER’S HEART WITH HER WITTY COMMENTARY, DOWN-TO-EARTH ATTITUDE, AND COURAGEOUS SPUNK. AN UNQUESTIONABLE JOYRIDE FROM START TO FINISH. THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ!” THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN ABOUT A BRAND NEW BOOK TITLED THE MARRIAGE BOX.

This entertaining book tells the story of Casey Cohen, a sixteen-year-old Middle Eastern Jew, in New Orleans in the 1970s. When she starts hanging out with the wrong crowd and gets in trouble, her parents turn her whole world upside down by deciding to return to their roots, the Orthodox Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn.

In this new and foreign world, families gather weekly for Shabbat dinner; parties are extravagant events at the Museum of Natural History; and the Marriage Box is a real place, a pool deck designated for teenage girls to put themselves on display for potential husbands. Casey is at first shocked by this unfamiliar culture, but after she meets Michael, she’s enticed by it. Looking for love and a place to belong, she marries him at eighteen, believing she can adjust to Syrian ways. But she begins to question her decision when she discovers that Michael doesn’t want her to go to college; he wants her to have a baby instead.

Can Casey integrate these two opposing worlds, or will she have to leave one behind in order to find her way?
It’s a coming of age story from an award-winning author brimming with Jewish family drama to fascinate and make readers laugh out loud. Audiences interested in a fresh behind-the-scenes look at Orthodox Jewish culture won’t be able to put this book down!

Readers will find relevant elements given society’s interest in Jewish culture, as well as timely themes close to Corie Adjmi’s heart, like female empowerment, identity, and the Syrian Jewish community.

“The Marriage Box Is a work of fiction but it’s based on my real life,” said Corie. “I grew up in New Orleans and moved to the Syrian community in Brooklyn when I was sixteen. To say I experienced culture shock is an understatement. Moving to New York was difficult and I had a lot to learn. Writing has been a way for me to process many events in my life and THE MARRIAGE BOX is part of that journey. Using satire, humor and good old-fashioned storytelling, I’ve created a narrative that makes me laugh. And I hope it will make readers laugh too.” The Marriage Box will be on sale May 2nd.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, WE DIDN’T PUT TOO MUCH THOUGHT INTO SPEAKING. WE JUST HAD THOUGHTS — AND THEN WORDS. TODAY, IT’S DIFFERENT. TECHNOLOGY HAS CREATED A GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO ONLY KNOW HOW TO PUT THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS INTO TEXT AND EMAIL — NOT INTO SPEECH. WE’VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO RETRAIN PEOPLE INTO SPEECH-FIRST BEINGS. LIKE MUSCLES THAT NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED, OUR SPEAKING SKILLS DO, TOO. AND LIKE MUSCLES, IF YOU DON’T KEEP YOUR TALKING SKILLS STRONG, THEY’LL WEAKEN TO THE POINT OF BEING INEFFECTIVE.

Radio Host and professional speaker Judi Franco has introduced a new and innovative program that goes beyond public speaking. It’s called Talk Theory: The theory being that “word wellness” is a thing.

Over the years, Judi Franco has coached students, business people and professionals, as well as people in the non-working world to communicate well and use words effectively — even with anxiety. Let her customize a coaching session for you.

To find out if Talk Theory coaching is right for you, ask yourself these questions: Are you or are your adult children ever hesitant to speak directly to people? Do you prefer text and email to direct conversations? Do you want to sound more fluid in conversation? Do you dread phone calls? Is it hard to look people in the eyes while speaking to them? Do you find yourself at a loss for words? Would you like to make your conversation more lively and interesting? Do you have a speech coming up and need help with writing and/or execution? Do you have an important meeting, presentation or job interview coming up? Do you want to sound more professional in your career? Is an uncomfortable conversation you need to have with someone looming over you? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, you need Talk Theory Coaching.

Talk Theory has the “hacks” to help you, the wrong and right words to choose — and trade secrets, too. Learn words that are often mispronounced, which ones make you sound smarter than you are, (and which do the opposite!) And, you’ll learn how general tone, pacing, cadence, and modulation affect how you communicate.

Like public speaking courses, Talk Theory Coaching addresses the anxiety of speaking to crowds, and prepares you for speeches. (They even have a speech writing service.)But unlike public speaking class, conversational skills are addressed, too, like those for social situations, business interactions, phone calls, customer service, interviews, difficult personal conversations and more.

Words matter. And using them well is essential. Let Judi Franco help you understand the mistakes you’re making in your verbal communication skills and how to fix them. She pinpoints and strengthens weaknesses you didn’t even know you had! (Oh, and learn the real secret to dealing with anxiety.)

Contact Talk Theory coaching for a free consult and tell Judi what your issues are. It’ll be a quick assessment — kind of a talk “check up.”She’ll customize an in-person or virtual coaching session for you, either one-on-one or with a group, where you’ll pinpoint and strengthen weaknesses you didn’t even know you had!

We’re all concerned with wellness today — physical, financial, spiritual and emotional. Considering that we humans are the only species who have the gift of communicating through talk, shouldn’t your word wellness be a priority too? Be the strong, confident speaker you want and need to be with Judi Franco’s Talk Theory. Email Talk Theory Coaching at judi@thetalktheory.com, text or call 848-844-5989.

FRANK MORGANO

ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WELCOMING WORLD-RENOWNED RECORDING ARTIST YAAKOV SHWEKEY TO ITS STAGE IN THE AUDITORIUM. SHWEKEY PERFORMED TO A CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS, PARENTS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND FANS.

The audience clapped and sang along to such well-known hits as Aish, Baruch Hashem It’s Shabbos, and I Can Be. The crowd was energized and engaged throughout the entire 90 minute performance, dancing in their seats and waving light-up glow sticks and sparkling batons. The band played behind him on a stage that was bathed in colorful lights.

Assistant Principal Rabbi Abe Cohen and 8th grader Jack Franco danced in the aisle as the band played on. MDY’s Elementary School Principal Rabbi Ezra Cohen-Saban, joined the band on stage and accompanied Shwekey on a rendition of Vehee Sheh’amdah and Im Eshkachech. Seventh grader Alan Cohen, a nephew of Yaakov Shwekey, was invited on stage and was treated to a personal performance of Cry No More Yerushalayim in honor of his recent bar mitzvah. Camille Sakkal remarked, “I really enjoyed this memorable, heartwarming night with friends and family.”

Shwekey has built a long and illustrious career spanning three decades. His first album, Shomati, was released in 2001 and immediately enjoyed international success. Four songs from the album charted in Israel and quickly became well-known hits, including Shomati and Shehechiyonu. In 2022 he collaborated with other Jewish recording artists on a new album titled Elevate, the 25th recorded album that features his voice. He has performed in many locations all over the world to countless adoring fans, including a fundraiser for former president Trump. He has been praised for his ability to work well with other musicians, spreading a positive message of joy.

We would like to thank our sponsors for the event, Oved and Oved Attorneys and Mr. Eli Cohen. We would also like to thank our PTA and its presidents, Lorraine Sherr, Linda Sutton, and Gloria Chabbott, for putting the concert together. Lastly, the night wouldn’t have been complete without all of the volunteers managing the concessions and admission. Thank you to everyone for creating a night that we will never forget.

Frank Morgano is a 6th & 8th grade ELA teacher and staff reporter for Magen David. He has been a teacher for over 23 years and enjoys reading, playing guitar, hockey and Korean sword fighting.