ON MARCH 13TH, OVER 70 COMMUNITY YOUNG ADULTS STUDYING IN ISRAEL JOINED THE SCA “BRIDGE THE GAP” PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS THE BRAINCHILD OF SCA PRESIDENT JEFFREY BEYDA, A TRUE VISIONARY WHO IS ALWAYS FINDING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION.

The goals of the event were to bring our youth together — from the variety of seminaries and yeshivot in Israel — to reconnect, bond and to discuss issues that are important to them going into the next stage of adulthood. SCA board member Rabbi Joey Soffer said, “The SCA hit another grand slam, gathering our gap year Israel students together to discuss building on the growth they achieved this year, and ways to continue to build and give back to our community when they return. The future of our community looks bright as these young adults showed a deep desire to get involved.”

The day began with prayers and breakfast at the Inbal Hotel, followed by three remarkable sessions that were appreciated by all. SCA Young Adult Program Director Aaron Shasha held a workshop addressing students’ concerns about adjusting to life back at home after a year in Israel. Eli Esses, who is studying in Ortayta, said “we were given the opportunity to reflect on how much we’ve all grown this year, and strategize ways to maintain and augment the growth we’ve experienced once we get back home.”

Next, “For the Sake of Argument,” led an engaging discussion on tools and skills to use when talking to those you disagree with. Students were left with a new perspective on tough conversations they may encounter in college or beyond. Finally, Avi Posen from Jewish Unpacked, spoke about how to reconcile with difficult topics in Israel’s past. Of that final session, Eli Esses continued, “we learned about the complexity of the situations at hand, while still strengthening our Zionist pride.” Ruthy Derzie, who is studying in Midreshet Moriah, added “Knowing about these events gives you the ability to speak about them if you ever need to defend Israel back home.”

After a delicious lunch and a break for minha, the real fun began! Participants rode into the dessert where Rabbi David Zeit spoke about the relevance of their location in the Tanach. The students broke up into teams and played an exciting game of laser tag in the desert. There, they had to strategize and use their team building and leadership skills to secure a victory! It was a special opportunity for the young adults to connect and bond. Lynn Franco, who is attending Midreshet Torah Chessed, said “We had an amazing opportunity to have all the community members studying in Israel for the year in one room. It was a jam packed, fun and informative day! It was so nice to be with everyone and such a special experience.”

The Bridge the Gap program ended with a BBQ celebration in the desert! A sunset evening hike brought the young men and women to a surprise final destination where they prayed arbit, enjoyed incredible food and a lively party.

Aaron Shasha, who spearheaded this amazing event said, “The SCA’s Bridge the Gap program is an essential program for our community’s young adults. Listening to their questions and thoughts about life post Eres Yisrael, it’s clear that they have grown tremendously over the year and have a strong conviction to maintain that growth. It was an honor to spend the day with them and we are thrilled for the potential programs that will be created as a result of the day’s reflections. In my visits throughout the different yeshivot and seminaries, school personnel relayed to us how they have never seen any community receive such a special program and they have no doubt that this program is a helpful tool to fortify their growth and prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.”

Thank you to Issac Chabot, Sruli Jacobson, Betty Hidary, Aaron Shasha, Rabbi Joey Soffer, Sarah Weitzman and Rabbi David Zeit for ensuring the success of this unique program. SCA Bridge the Gap 2023 was generously sponsored by Ronny & Toby Hersh in honor of the Israel Gap Year students.

WITH AN INFLUX OF NEW FAMILIES TO THE JERSEY SHORE, DSN PUT TOGETHER A SPECIAL GET-TOGETHER EVENT THAT WAS EXCITING AND FUN FOR ALL 200 GUESTS.

On the evening of Saturday, March 4th, adults came together to celebrate at a special event “Morocco On Park Ave.” In honoring DSN’s core value of bringing the community together, this was surely one of the most successful nights of the year. It was resplendent in creativity, style and spirit — and perfect weather crowned the night.

With a special events committee planning the evening, the charming home of Morris and Stephanie Levy was selected as the host location. The Levys helped make the evening unforgettable. The aesthetics of their beautiful home was an extension of the event’s vision, allowing for a memorable Moroccan evening.

The theme of the event was an exciting and unique choice that helped set the tone for the evening. Attendees were encouraged to dress in Moroccan-inspired clothing, and the waitstaff wore traditional garb with kaftans, further immersing guests in the theme. The decorations, food, and entertainment were also carefully curated to create an authentic and memorable Moroccan experience.

The event featured a range of activities and experiences, including a fully catered dinner by Nicole’s Kitchen, a Candy Treat Truck, desserts, tea bar, and socializing.

The preparations were extensive, with DSN’s Adult Chairperson Sonia Cohen commenting on how much she loved it. “Every year seems to get better than the last! The attention to detail and hard work that went into the planning was evident throughout the night.”

Adult Program Director Caleigh Silvera noted “I was so happy to see everyone enthusiastic, eating, smiling, laughing, and socializing! That equates to success.“

Hostess Stephanie Levy was overjoyed. “It was truly a pleasure to host this event. Life on the Jersey Shore is made vibrant by this great organization. Caleigh and her team were tremendous from beginning to end, with every detail done to perfection. We were so honored to enjoy the night with everyone!”

Overall, the “Morocco On Park Ave” event was a big success for DSN. Everyone enjoyed the festivities, and the attention to detail, hard work, and execution helped create an unforgettable experience. The rave reviews from attendees, such as Zoe Benun, demonstrate how much of a positive impact events like this can have on the community. “It was beautiful seeing people together for a night of fun and excitement while also supporting a good cause.”

DSN’s President Lee Zekaria referred to the evening as “a grand-slam.” He continued, “There is nothing like getting people together for a special night like this in the middle of winter. I’m looking forward to many more, G-d willing!”

A DAY OF MAGIC AND MEMORIES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES

THE CHILDREN OF CARE ARE SOME OF THE BRAVEST AND COOLEST KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SHOWED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR SIBLINGS INCREDIBLE LOVE AND SUPPORT AT THE CARE PURIM CARNIVAL.

The carnival is one of the most memorable CARE events that provides a fun-filled day where hundreds of families leave their troubles behind and celebrate the holiday with true happiness!

“Being the mom of a special needs daughter, any time there’s an opportunity for her to try something new or attend a CARE event, I’m all in. These interactions positively change a child’s social skills,” said a CARE mom. “Standing and watching my daughter create a snow globe with her little hands while volunteers cheered her on is an amazing thing. It’s a reminder for my husband and I that she isn’t limited by her disability. As a parent, there is no greater blessing than watching your child be treated like a rock star.”

“It’s heartwarming to watch the community come out to support and celebrate the children with special needs in our community,” said Meyer and Victoria Safdieh, founders of CARE. “Not only is it special for the kids and their families but also every volunteer that is part of the day walks away with a new perspective on children with disabilities.”

Parents and their kids laughed while they made silly faces and took family selfies at the photo booth. They munched on fluffy cotton candy while playing carnival games and jumped in bounce houses. Whether it was snow globe making, creating their own canvas bag, receiving a twisted balloon from the clown, or tasting a sizzling slice of pizza there was endless fun and entertainment for the entire family! And just when they thought it was over, each family was handed a beautifully wrapped mishloach manot.

Many parents related that their other children understand that the only reason they’re able to participate in CARE events is because of their sibling with special needs. This creates an appreciation and love toward the special sibling.

The carnival brought so much positive energy and joy to hundreds of CARE families thanks to the CARE staff, dedicated volunteers and supporters. Many new friendships formed as the carnival created a warm and welcoming space for families to connect with others who understand the unique challenges they face.

CARE’s dedication to creating memorable events for families of children with special needs is truly inspiring and its impact on our community is immeasurable.

THE CARE DIFFERENCE
The CARE Purim Carnival stands as yet another example of CARE’s exceptional ability to create tremendously successful events for the special needs families in our community.

What is it that draws hundreds of parents to CARE? What makes CARE so unique? What differentiates it from other community organizations that cater in specific ways to children with special needs? What is the CARE difference? To understand the answer is to learn about the need.

Driven by parents who understand the challenges and impacts of a special child, CARE supports and provides programs for special children as well as guidance and support to the entire family as they navigate life with a special needs child. CARE for Special Children empowers parents as they cope with their struggle, and CARE advisors are by their side along their journey, so they never feel alone. Connecting them with vital services, therapies, schools and specialists, CARE has become a lifeline to the special needs community.

In addition, CARE organizes special events for parents and families so they can connect with others and feel understood as well as providing in house social workers and housing a therapy clinic to support parents and children. CARE combines compassion with advocacy, bridges love with services and provides hope because every child deserves a beautiful life. CARE has become the center of the special needs world in our community and the one place for them to turn for comprehensive, overall help and support.

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF SHARYN AND EZRA S. ASHKENAZI, PROPEL LAUNCHED A NEW DIVISION DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE DIVISION WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF PROPEL SUPPORTER MRS. CHELLA SAFRA, AND REBECCA HARARY, CO-FOUNDER OF PROPEL.

On February 1st, the new division hosted an impressive event at The Club showcasing remarkable working women who were all professionally successful and relatable to other community women aspiring to launch their own entrepreneurial dreams. The audience was filled, and included in the room were many PROPEL Ambassadors — there to support the next cohort of working women. Among them, Joyce Silverman of Joyce D. Silverman Interiors, Evet Balas of Light Lab, Julie Maleh of Jus by Julie, Joy Bijou of Hydrangeas & Co, Interior Designer Stacy Ayash, Barbara Kroub of Peace of Cake, Shelly Shmool of By Shelly, Nicole Cohen of Sketch Forty Two, Alexis Cohen, designer of custom cakes and desserts, Karen Sabbagh, CBC Counselor, Celia Naomi, an artist, and Celia Beyda of On Reserve Events.

PROPEL’s all women professional team, alongside its Board of Directors led by Dr. Gayle Krost, inaugurated PROPEL Entrepreneurs with an all-star panel that included Batya Cohen, founder of Floorplay, Julie Danziger, co-founder of Embark Travel, Jennifer Nisan, founder of Front Row Live, and Sonia Mosseri, founder of Still Here in New York.

The female talent that evening included our moderators, three of PROPEL’s Board Members, Gitta Kaplan, attorney for Mamiye Brothers, Elaine Parker, Director of Business Development and Marketing Solutions at Promoshop, and Heleyne Mishan Tamir, co-founder and executive at luxury makeup brand, Surratt Beauty, as well as the owner of Bloom Bar Flower Market.

The questions asked drew the audience into the personal stories of how each of these panelists came to originate and grow their businesses.

Julie’s honest, engaging and humorous style kicked off the panel where we learned of her professional story, and how she came to head up Embark Beyond, a luxury travel company which boasts several hundred employees. Julie generously offered an incredible opportunity to a woman interested in becoming a travel advisor and agent, as Embark has its own training program.

Sonia, always artistic and creative, shared her remarkable experiences as she built her fashion jean business and beyond. The audience was touched by the story of how her father came to this country from Egypt with not much, but had a pair of jeans which eventually became old and worn. These jeans became a symbol to Sonia, and eventually along with her husband, Sonia capitalized on this idea and has grown a business which sells to major retail stores, as well as opening their own storefront in downtown Manhattan.

Batya was confident from a young age that she wanted to study to become an architect. While attending Pratt Institute, she acquired the training and gained experience interning for several architectural firms. Batya began her business by consulting on furniture layouts, which quickly scaled to a one-stop-shop for Architectural & Interior Design services. She presented as incredibly professional and confident. She credited her husband with supporting her dream of building her own business, and today she heads up Floorplay, a growing business that employs a team of designers that work alongside Batya.

Jennifer, in describing her professional journey, revealed that she started with acquiring a degree in social work. She explained that she always, however, had a passion for fashion. Her business of sourcing and acquiring luxury goods for clients began when she noticed it was somewhat difficult to obtain designer items, and realized there was a market for consumers to pay her to find these items. Jennifer has grown an incredible business and has expanded her reach into this industry allowing her to be successful in her market.

Each panelist was incredibly honest about balancing home life and work commitments. Many thank-yous were given to husbands and mothers! Strategies in the kitchen to ensure Shabbat dinner and beyond were shared, and stories of being present at family functions while simultaneously attending work-related functions and meetings were acknowledged. The audience was in awe!

PROPEL has begun to receive many calls from burgeoning women entrepreneurs inspired that evening and hoping to build their own brands and businesses.

PROPEL: Call: 646-494-0822 | Email: info@thepropelnetwork.org | Instagram: @PropelNetwork

PLANT THE SEEDS FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE

ARI BAUM, CFP®

WHAT IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR CHILDREN A BRIGHTER FINANCIAL FUTURE WITHOUT SPENDING A SINGLE PENNY? WHAT IF IT ONLY TOOK THE RIGHT WORDS? BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT IS POSSIBLE. TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT MONEY NOW CAN PAY OFF IN A BIG WAY LATER.

That’s true for children of any age — from kiddos in elementary school to adult children who have kids of their own. Why? Because talking about money is a way of sharing what you know about it. These talks can help children understand how money works and what can come up when it’s time to spend money — or earn it, invest it, or save it.

Yet, those talks aren’t happening as often as they could be. That’s true despite the fact that most folks say parents should teach their kids about finance.

In fact, when it comes down to it, most parents rarely discuss money with their kids. Many folks say they never talk money with their children.

Maybe that’s why most millennials and Gen Z-ers turn to social media for advice about money. But they won’t find your money wisdom there.

It’s easy enough to start a meaningful conversation about finance and share what you know if you know where to begin.

So, here are some simple, thought-provoking conversation starters to use with anyone age eight and older. If you have these in your back pocket — ready to go — you can easily kickstart a talk about money the next time you have the chance. You could end up sharing some enlightening pearls of money wisdom in the process.

7 INSPIRED WAYS TO START TALKING ABOUT MONEY & KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING

#1 SAVING MONEY HAS ALLOWED ME TO…

What have you accomplished because you’ve been able to save money? What challenges did you face along the way and how did you overcome them?

Saving up for a life-changing purchase can be just one answer here, but it’s not the only one. Retiring early or being able to give more to charity are also wins that can come from successful saving. Sharing these accomplishments can inspire younger generations to stay on track with their own savings goals.

#2 WHEN I’M DECIDING WHETHER TO BUY SOMETHING OR SAVE THE MONEY, I…

What do you consider and weigh out when you’re not sure whether to buy or save? Who do you talk to and how much time do you give yourself to make the decision?

Everyone’s different, so explaining how you make these decisions can help others figure out new ways to handle them. That can be especially true when it comes to high-stakes purchases and challenging money choices.

#3 IF SOMEONE ASKS TO BORROW MONEY FROM ME, I…

What’s your go-to reaction when someone hits you up for a sizable loan? And what have you learned from lending out money in the past? What factors sway or dissuade you from lending your hard-earned money?

Whether it’s family, friends, or business, lending money can be tricky. And you may have more insights to share than you realize from your past experiences — good and bad.

#4 IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELF…

What piece of money advice do you wish you had 10, 20, or even 30+ years ago? How would that knowledge have changed your outlook, your choices, or your life?

As you dig into what you didn’t know, you can open up about money mistakes and how your views or behaviors have changed since then. That you can create a far more engaging dialogue and make a lasting impression.

#5 ONE THING I REGRET BUYING IS…

Which expenditures have stood out as mistakes and why? How has your regret for those purchases changed the way you buy things now?

Most of us end up with buyer’s remorse at some time in our lives. Shining some light on that may help your kids or grandkids take a thoughtful pause the next time they feel the urge to make a purchase they could regret.

#6 ONE THING I’M SAVING UP TO PURCHASE IS…

What big-ticket item or experience do you want to invest in next? Why?

Sharing these goals can dial the conversation out to the long term. That can be motivating, and it may even help younger generations stop and think before their next impulse buy. This opener can also touch on your values and show how you spend money to support those values.

#7 I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

What truly enriches your life? Which people, experiences, or tangible objects bring you joy? How do they make your life better?

Money is important, but so are a lot of other parts of your life. Taking time to think about what you’re grateful for — beyond finances — can be extremely grounding. It can also put things in better perspective, especially when life hands us bigger challenges.

FINANCIAL LESSON

Have you used any of these conversation starters yet? Which one will you try next (or first)?

The truth is that it doesn’t really matter whether you dive into a money talk using these openers or others. What matters much more is getting that discussion about finance started in the first place. After all, talking about money can be hard for any of us, even when we’re talking to the folks we care about the most — including our children.

Still, these discussions don’t have to be painful, and they don’t have to create anxiety for anyone involved. Even if they’re sensitive or challenging, remember, money talks can be incredibly valuable.

Talking about finance doesn’t just give you the chance to pass along hard-earned wisdom. It can also inspire children — young and older — to make more prudent choices and pick up better financial habits. In the big picture, these money talks can contribute to financial well-being and a much brighter future. But it probably won’t happen after just one talk with your kids.

The discussion about finance has to keep going to really make a difference. And one of the ways to keep that conversation going is with the help of someone you trust.

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.

SENATOR ANDREW GOUNARDES

AS I WRITE THIS IN EARLY MARCH, MY COLLEAGUES IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE AND I ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING THE STATE BUDGET — A DOCUMENT OUTLINING ROUGHLY $227 BILLION OF SPENDING PRIORITIES THAT REFLECT OUR VALUES. I’M FIGHTING HARD TO MAKE SURE THE BUDGET INCLUDES THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS ACROSS OUR STATE — IN EVERY SCHOOL SETTING — WITH FREE SCHOOL MEALS EACH DAY.

Hunger is a daily problem for nearly a million of New York’s students across the state — and we know that students experiencing hunger struggle to focus, have lower attendance rates than their peers, and are at significantly higher risk of developing mental and physical health problems. In New York City alone, statistics have shown that providing free school meals to all students improved math and reading test scores. Providing free universal school meals to all students at a school also decreases the stigma of receiving free school meals by equalizing the lunchroom dynamics. This can also decrease bullying, and improve students’ relationships and self-esteem: two crucial factors in childhood development.

And there are millions of families across New York State right now whose lives would be changed by knowing their children could eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch at school each day for free. I know — because I’ve spoken with them at length about how they’re feeling a pinch in their pockets each day as they work hard to make ends meet, and because there is clear evidence that more New York children are in unpaid lunch debt than ever before. Our proposal would save families, on average, $140 per school-aged child per month: that’s over $3,000 per school year for a family with two school-aged children. That’s a significant amount of money that could go towards healthcare, buying groceries, paying rent, refilling MetroCards, and more.

With just a tiny fraction of the state’s $227 billion budget, we could make a huge difference in working families’ lives this year. Just $280 million — 0.01% of the state budget — would fully fund free school meals for all students across New York State, regardless of their meal debt, their application status, or their family’s income.

Up in Albany, it’s one of a number of measures to ease families’ financial burdens that I’m fighting hard to include in the state budget. From our Healthy School Meals for All program to my NYS Working Families Tax Credit bill — which would give working families across the state up to $1,500 per child to help make ends meet — fighting to make life more affordable on an everyday basis is my top priority this year, and I’m committed to seeing it through.

I am committed to doing everything I can to fully fund the Healthy School Meals For All program in this year’s budget. It has the chance to change the daily realities and the future possibilities for children all across New York, because no matter how engaging the lesson or how experienced the teacher, students can’t learn if they’re starving. It’s as simple as that.

“State Senator Andrew Gounardes represents New York’s 26th State Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Vinegar Hill, and DUMBO. He was elected in November 2018.

ON JANUARY 29 OF THIS YEAR, SIMHA (SEPHARDIC INITIATIVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS) CELEBRATED THE GRADUATION OF ITS FIRST COHORT OF SEVEN RABBIS, ALL OF WHOM WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATIONS OF COMPLETION IN SIMHA’S INAUGURAL, SIX-MONTH RABBINICAL CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAM.

SIMHA, a mental health organization based in Brooklyn, provides white-glove, expert mental health services, including clinical assessments, expedited referrals, case management, crisis intervention, and support groups, to those within Sephardic communities who are struggling with any and all mental health matters. SIMHA’s founding support group — for mothers of adolescent and adult children struggling with mental illness — is run by group therapist Elisheva Parry, LCSW.

What further separates SIMHA from so many other organizations is its investment in, and focus on, prevention. Its Education and Awareness division, overseen by SIMHA’s founder/director, Rabbi David Sutton and Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. David Katzenstein, DSW, LCSW-R, have offered to those on the frontlines of the community at no cost, myriad seminars, courses, and professional development workshops, given by experts and specialists in the field.

“Our community educators, rabbis, shadchanim, and hattan/kallah teachers, are often the very first to encounter mental health-related concerns among those with whom they work closely, and it is vital that they be readily equipped with the know-how to address these concerns,” said Rabbi Sutton.

The Rabbinical Clinical Training Program evolved from a vision into reality after a series of ten workshops given by experts on a variety of mental health topics left many of the rabbis wanting and requesting more.

SIMHA’s co-founders and prominent community leaders, Mr. Mark Adjmi and Mr. Nathan Hoffman, together with Rabbi Sutton, tapped renowned psychologist and speaker/author, Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman, Psy.D, to spearhead, develop, and lead the program. Dr. Zimmerman is a leading authority within Jewish communities across the globe on the issues of sexual abuse, community education, and spirituality. SIMHA’s Director of Operations, Shlomo Brecher, LMHC, coordinated all the administrative and logistical components required to help the program run smoothly.

The seven community rabbis: Rabbi Alex Mizrahi of the Yad Yosef Congregation and Kesher organization, Rabbi David Mansour of Yeshivat Shaare Torah and Khal Kol Yaakov, Rabbi David Nakash of YDE and Shaare Zion, Rabbi David Nakash of Khal Bnei Aliyah, Rabbi Joey Dana of the West Deal Synagogue and Hillel Yeshiva, Rabbi Joseph Sultan of the Deal Synagogue and Rabbi Diamond’s Yeshiva, and Rabbi Mourad Sardar of Khal Darchei Noam, and Yeshivat Mekor Haim gathered each Tuesday in SIMHA’s conference room and participated in a weekly three-hour lecture that focused on their integral roles as pastoral counselors. More than providing an extensive course in mental health, Dr. Zimmerman expertly trained the rabbis on the therapeutic nuances of active listening, reflection, validation, empathy, and the many additional skills needed to deal with the multitude of issues that are often presented to them by their congregants.

The objective of the course was not to turn rabbis into clinicians, but rather to equip them with the requisite tools to provide knowledgeable and compassionate spiritual care and guidance. Rabbi Joseph Dana, Assistant Rosh Yeshiva at Hillel, strongly concurred that this objective has been well-realized. “The information and hands-on knowledge that we discuss have armed me with what is most crucial: the ability to help those in our community who need it most. As a participant in the cohort, I feel confident that I have the tools to properly discuss even the most sensitive issues with my congregants and students.”

Concurrent with the lectures, the rabbis received bi-monthly individual case supervision from Dr. Zimmerman on cases and issues with which they were actively dealing. Most of the course graduates are continuing their training with ongoing weekly supervision, meeting together in a group led by Dr. Katzenstein.

“The fact that these rabbis, with their hectic schedules and busy lives, have voluntarily enrolled in this program in order to improve their skills and knowledge within the complex world of mental health, speaks to their commitment and dedication to the people who need them most,” Dr. Katzenstein noted. “It is awe-inspiring.”

Thanks to the incredible success of the first cohort, another twelve community rabbis have signed on for the next six-month course, already underway. They are Rabbi Avi Shmueli of Rabbi Diamond’s Kollel, Rabbi David Beyda of Meor Yeshiva High School, Rabbi David Maslaton of Bet Yaakov Orot Sarah and Congregation Shaare Zion, Rabbi Joe Mizrahi of Yeshivat Magen David and Congregation Bnai Yitzchak, Rabbi Joe Srour of Congregation Shaare Zion, Rabbi Meir Barnathan of Yeshivat Magen David and Congregation Ahava V’Achva, Rabbi Mordechai Sultan, Rabbi Ralph Gindi of YDE, Rabbi Raymond Azrak of Congregation Ahi Ezer and YDE, Rabbi Raymond Shamah of YDE, Rabbi Shelomo Haber of Congregation Magen Abraham and Yeshivat Shaare Torah.

To meet the needs of the community’s women, SIMHA co-founder Nathan Hoffman understands that an investment in clinical training programs for women leaders fits perfectly within SIMHA’s mission. “Our goal is to help every single individual in our community,” he stated. “So many women and girls seek out help or guidance for mental health struggles, and it is important that the women they turn to be properly trained, just as the rabbis have been.”

Among the programming already offered were a six-week kallah teacher course given by Mrs. Shevi Samet, the associate director of CORE’s Kallah Conversations Community of Practice and a well-known specialist who coaches brides with mental health issues, as well as a multi-day workshop for shadchanim, presented by Dr. Avi Muschel, Psy.D, an expert on dating and premarital relationships. The most recent experiential workshop SIMHA offered for kallah teachers was led by Dr. Sarah Miller, PhD, both a clinical psychologist and rebbetzin, on knowing how to differentiate between typical bride angst and real clinical anxiety.

Though SIMHA has opened its doors only a mere twelve months ago, the need for its launch is increasingly evident by the sheer number of cases it has accepted since its inception. Over six hundred members of the community have walked through its doors to receive clinical services. Each client is assessed and subsequently receives a custom-tailored treatment plan that is followed closely by SIMHA’s clinical coordination team, who ensure that services are provided with evidenced-based care and as expediently as possible.

Due to the increasing number of ongoing cases needing clinical expertise and oversight, SIMHA has hired noted psychologist Dr. Eli Mandelbaum, PsyD, to serve as its Director of Clinical Coordination. Dr Mandelbaum, who maintains a private practice in Monsey, New York, serves as a consulting psychologist for well-known organizations ATime (for infertility) and Ray of Hope (for survivors of sexual abuse), will additionally direct the recently developed Psychology Training Program — the first of its kind within the Sephardic community.

SIMHA’s board of directors, among them Mr. Ike Tawil, is keenly aware that so much more work still needs to be done. “Our ultimate aim is to alleviate much of the pain and subsequent confusion surrounding mental illness within our community and eradicate any associated stigma,” he said.

SIMHA’s president, Mr. Adjmi, concluded, “Our community is known to be there for one another when times are challenging, and this is especially true when dealing with mental health matters.”

As Mr. Adjmi succinctly put it, “We are just getting started.”

FINDING YOUR FREEDOM

RABBI EZRA MAX

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU’RE LIVING IN BONDAGE — GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF LIFE, BUT FEELING UNFULFILLED AND PURPOSELESS? IT’S TIME TO BREAK FREE AND FIND TRUE FREEDOM IN CONNECTION AND SPIRITUALITY.

Many people spend their days working tirelessly, chasing after material possessions or simply passing the time without a sense of direction. Perhaps, there is a better way to live. Please ask yourself this question honestly and without judgment. Why are you working so hard? Is it to distract, stay busy, get more stuff, or is there a deeper purpose that inspires you?

Purposeless work can feel like slavery, but work with a clear purpose and mission can be empowering and fulfilling. As I learned while running an ambulance company, the volunteers donated their time because they believed in the mission and valued the culture within the organization. They found a sense of purpose, respect and belonging that they didn’t experience at their paid jobs. Hence, they were willing to do the same work for free.

Human beings have the freedom of choice. Yet, too many choices can be overwhelming. This is true in business and at home. Design constraints or boundaries, help speed up the creative process and lead to productivity. Embracing constraints helps us be our best selves and enhance our lives. Your family, community and mitzvot provide such constraints, allowing you to expand your individuality while grounding you in connection and belonging.

Despite our hyper-connected world, people are more miserable than ever, and suffering in a profound sense of loneliness. Social media and technology can’t replace genuine human connection with family, friends, and community. We must free ourselves from the slavery of social media, algorithms, and artificial intelligence by connecting authentically within ourselves and with other real people.

As Jews, we understand the power of constraints and boundaries. Hashem freed us from slavery in Mitzrayim, chose us as His nation, and we accepted the “yolk of Heaven.” We are eternally grateful and indebted to the Almighty. Leaning into this connection and living our lives within the confines of Torah true freedom, leads to a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. Without this connection, we are lost, figuratively and literally. This might very likely be why good people behave like addicts, without control or direction. Don’t let this be you.

This Passover, release the habits, actions, and beliefs that hold you back from realizing your potential. Declare your freedom to live your best lives, using your gifts, talents, and abilities to focus on your G-d given mission. Let us be unified as one nation, with one heart, dedicated to living our lives in service to and fulfillment of Torah ideals. This is true freedom from bondage into bonding — shifting yourself, from slavery of the spirit to the freedom of spirituality.

As you celebrate Passover, please remember the power of freedom in connection, and the importance of purpose and connection with yourself, your family, community and Hashem. Have a kosher and happy Passover.

Rabbi Ezra Max, PCC, MHMP, Xchange Guide & Creator of “The Max Method” assists businesses and professionals deal with stress and achieve success. Rabbi Max has witnessed 20 years of results helping executives, parents and teens overcome struggles, improve communication and thrive. He lives in New York with his wife and five children.

SBH NJ “BETTER TOGETHER” UNITES HILLEL’S 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH SENIORS

MEREDITH COHEN

“TELL ME AND I MAY FORGET, TEACH ME AND I MAY REMEMBER, BUT INVOLVE ME AND I WILL LEARN.” THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE BETTER TOGETHER PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM’S MISSION IS TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SENIORS.

This wonderful initiative was put together by the eighth-grade girls of Hillel Yeshiva and run by their assistant principal, Mrs. Rivky Edelman.

Every student is paired with a senior ‘partner.’ As the months go on, the students form a deep-rooted friendship. The students get to learn about their senior’s life, their family, and what they’ve accomplished throughout the years.

To make the program even more unique, each session is made up of a different theme and project, created by the students. For example, during our November session, the seniors got to enjoy a Thanksgiving play presented by the 4th grade students. Following the play, the 8th graders and their seniors discussed the importance of the holiday, how they used to celebrate when they were younger, and even made cranberry and apple pies together! For Purim, the students are planning a big celebration for the seniors, complete with costumes, music, and hamentaschen. Other programs planned by the students include a trip to Hillel’s Sephardic Heritage Fair, a Shavout-themed party and a year-end celebration.

By the end of the year, each senior will receive a book containing the interviews, photos and projects. The girls also make it their business to visit their seniors before Shabbat and holidays, securing their special relationships.

Throughout this program, the girls are learning so much about our community seniors while having fun. “We get to do hesed with the seniors, while benefiting ourselves by learning from them and having a good time,” said Hillel student Shelly Kassin.

Each month two students are picked to lead the program. This job and experience for them is so rewarding and fun they are all planning what they want to do for their month. “Last night my senior called just to tell me that she is excited for the next program,” said Sophia Goldschmidt. “It made me feel good to know that she thinks about me every day.”

As for the seniors, these moments have become exciting and something they really look forward to. It provides a sense of purpose and drive that is greatly beneficial to them. “Seeing the students every month brings me such joy, and to be able to talk to them and be a part of their lives is truly special,” said Pearl Mamiye.

Many seniors were so moved by the efforts of the students, that they independently composed letters expressing their heartfelt appreciation and words of advice to last a lifetime.

The stories and life journeys that are shared by the seniors will be etched in these students’ hearts forever and provide them with vital skills for life. They have all learned a new feeling of respect and love for our seniors.

Along with developing immense respect for elders, the girls have learned to be humble and kind.

May Hashem continue to shower our cherished seniors with blessings of health and love, and always continue to give our girls the feeling of growth and nourishment from this flourishing program.

To learn more about this program, contact Nina Safdieh at nhsafdieh@sbhonline.org.

Meredith Cohen is the Assistant Director of The Well in memory of the Sassoon children and a volunteer writer for SBH.

THE MDY WARRIORS JV TEAM TRAVELED TO CANADA ON THE WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 3RD TO REPRESENT MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL AT THE 26TH ANNUAL OREN GRUNBAUM – HEBREW ACADEMY OF MONTREAL INVITATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

MDY opened up Thursday afternoon against Toronto and quickly put the tournament on notice that they were there to compete with a 20 point victory.

Thursday night the Warriors played another yeshivah from Montreal in a tough battle that was close throughout before they pulled away thanks to Joshua Chabbott’s 37 points. Later that night, MDYHS and cross town rivals Hillel Heat put aside the fact that they would be competing against each other the next day and enjoyed a friendly dinner together!

Friday afternoon the Warriors battled the Hillel Heat. This game was over early as the Warriors defeated their friends from Deal 62-36 to finish the regular season 3-0 and get top seed.

Friday afternoon the Warriors battled the Hillel Heat. This game was over early as the Warriors defeated their friends from Deal 62-36 to finish the regular season 3-0 and get top seed.

Saturday night it was MDY vs the entire city of Montreal in an intense game vs the host team Hebrew Academy of Montreal. The game went back and forth and ended up in overtime. MDY was down by 3 points with 1 minute left when Meyer Sakkal made a huge steal for a layup to cut the lead to 1 and then Philip Sherr hit two free throws for the win.

Sunday morning was a finals match-up with fellow 10-0 Yeshivah League team TABC in a battle of the unbeaten. Philip Sherr started off with a bang scoring 11 points in the first quarter. Max Abed hit three 3 pointers and Alfonse Shiloach made timely hoops to keep MDY ahead all game. Solly Hara anchored the entire defense and came up clutch yet again in a tournament finals for the Warriors as they took home the championship with a 60-54 victory.

Joshua Chabbott was tournament MVP shooting 70% from the field, Philip Sherr was named tournament all star for controlling the games and scoring 19 points in the finals, Alfonse Shiloach was named all star for his amazing offensive contributions.

The entire roster represented MDY with class and respect across the border and for that we are all all stars and champions.

Thank you coaches Harold Sherr and Morris Dweck and chaperone “Uncle” Morris Chabbott!

THE BEGINNING OF CHAOS IN MY LIFE

CLEMENT SOFFER

TO COINCIDE WITH PASSOVER, WHEN THE JEWISH PEOPLE LEFT EGYPT, WE ASKED COMMUNITY MEMBER CLEMENT SOFFER TO WRITE ABOUT HIS FAMILY’S EXODUS FROM EGYPT. WE DID NOT EXPECT THE GRAND OPUS THAT HE SENT US, BUT WE WERE HAPPY TO RECEIVE IT. FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, WE’LL BE SHARING HIS HARROWING STORY WITH YOU.

Sunday, October 28,1956
Every Sunday I would hang out with my friends, a group of 30 to 40 teenage boys and girls who belonged to our local country club, the Heliopolis Sporting Club. We would meet at the country club very early, then divide into car pools and be driven by our chauffeurs to the Pyramids of Giza. The trip took 45 minutes, since there was no traffic that early on Sunday mornings. From there, we would rent Arabian horses, and ride into the desert to Sakkara, which is another pyramid located in an opulent area known only by the local people.

Once there, we would visit a wonderful restaurant and order a full Egyptian breakfast, which would consist of fried falafel, foul medames which is made of fava beans, hard-boiled eggs, tahini, green scallions, pickles, and herring, and for dessert we’d have, lokomadis, a Greek pastry, or mille feuille, a French pastry, and Italian pastries. There was also always rice pudding, white Jello with nuts and raisins, and various fruits. We’d drink juices like mango, coconut, sugar cane juice, or Coca Cola. Such a feast we enjoyed.

We would sit on the terrace while we ate this marvelous breakfast and gazed out at the pyramids in the tranquil Arabian Desert, and we would chat about whatever it is that teenagers talk about.

The ride back to the club took longer, because the drivers were no longer in a hurry. We relaxed and dreamt about jumping into the pool at the club.

On Sunday afternoons, from 5 to 9 P.M., the club provided a live music band, and we would dance to American tunes and French songs. This particular evening, we enjoyed our dancing and our friendship to the fullest.

And so, on this Sunday, October 28, 1956, when the music ended, we all hugged and kissed, and said goodbye to each other; and promised to meet again the following Sunday, as was our usual routine.

But that was not to be.

Monday, October 29, 1956 chaos occurs
The day began like every other October day, bright and sunny with a slight breeze, the temperature was 70 degrees. That morning I got onto the metro after saying my prayers at the synagogue. In the metro, as usual, I met a few of my comrades going to the College of the Holy Family secondary school called the Khoronfish, located in Daher, a suburb of Cairo. The trip took about 45 minutes by metro from my home. We were in class by 8:30 A.M. as usual. Then, at 10 the alarm bell started ringing, and several brothers came running through the classrooms dismissing everyone, and sending us out of the school in a tremendous hurry, with instructions to get home as fast as possible.

You can imagine the faces of all my friends, “Wow a day off, maybe we can play hooky, or shampa as we called it!” We thought we were getting a surprise holiday! Freedom for the day! We thought we might go to the gardens of Ezbakieh, a landscaped paradise of flowers by the Nile, or take a felucca on the Nile river. What a great day to play hooky from school.

I walked out of school with my friends Rayess, Victor, Ezzat, and Micho, all from Heliopolis. We decided to look for a taxi to go have some fun in the city, but there weren’t any to be found. Instead, there was an eerie silence on what were normally the bustling streets of Cairo.

Then, the sirens started ringing all over the city. I remembered hearing these same sirens before. First, when I was very young in 1943, and again in 1948 when the Egyptians declared war on Israel. I could not believe my ears. All of a sudden we heard bombs falling in the direction of our hometown and anti-aircraft guns were shooting in the sky towards the airplanes flying overhead, that we could not see, but could hear. We rushed to get to the metro, but it was shut down, as were the buses.

There was no car traffic in the streets, no taxis were running. We were left to fend for ourselves with no choice but to walk home to Heliopolis, towards the sound of the bombs, but then decided to walk back to our school hoping to take shelter there, but the large metal entry doors were bolted shut. Little did I know that this day was to mark the end of my formal education—at the age of 15, and from this day on, my survival would depend on my own resolve!

Bombs continued to fall everywhere. We dodged them and the shrapnel coming from the bombs, and the fallout from anti-aircraft guns that the Egyptians were using, trying to shoot down the airplanes that were dropping the bombs. It was a scene of madness not to be believed. We saw a lot of people hurt and bleeding around us, as we ran from building to building, looking for cover, while trying to reach our homes and the safety of our families. Never had I been so frightened.

We could see that the men shooting the anti-aircraft guns had no idea what they were doing, or where they were aiming. We could see the shrapnel fall from these guns, and we realized that we were in a very dangerous situation. There were no bomb shelters in Egypt, or if there had been, we had no idea where to find one.

In 1956 there were no telephones available in the streets, and most stores had their shutters down. A lot of people were scurrying to take shelter. We had no place to hide, so our goal was to get home the fastest way possible. We were walking, hearing and seeing bombs falling in the distance. As we got closer to Heliopolis, we could see the damage from the bombs. As we got closer to the city, the bombs were falling too close for comfort, yet we had to get home.

It took four and a half hours for us to get back to Heliopolis. We knew that Heliopolis had a military airport and a base, and a commercial airport which was named Almaza. It was easy to figure out that this was why the planes were bombing the area around Heliopolis. And even though it was almost 10 miles from our homes, in 1956, the accuracy of bombs being dropped was not very good, with many landing in the center of our town.

My biggest fear was arriving home and finding it destroyed. We had no bomb shelter, and as much as I feared for my own life, my greatest fear was that I would arrive home and find it destroyed, and my family hurt or worse!

As we finally got closer to our homes, I could see my poor mother on the balcony very agitated, making signs for me to hurry home. I am sure all the other mothers of my friends were doing the same.

Finally, I got home to the comfort of my walls. My mother burst into tears, hugging me and holding me in her arms. She explained that my younger sister and brother, who both went to a school nearer to our home, were safe with her, and my father, who worked in Cairo, was able to find refuge with a family member. I was the only one she could not get in touch with. She had called the school many times, but was told we were discharged and on our own. She and my dad were hoping that someone would pick us up, or that the metro or buses were running. She had no idea that all cars were forbidden to travel on the streets, and all of Cairo and its suburbs were on lockdown.

The Egyptian radio station was singing marching songs for the soldiers, and encouraging them to defend the country. They were claiming that the Egyptian army was on the perimeter of Tel Aviv, and the Israeli army was defeated and retreating towards Israel, and not to worry.

But we had a big Telefunken German radio at home that brought us radio stations from around the world. And we were hearing that the British and the French air forces were attacking Egypt, and had eliminated most of Egypt’s air force. The radio announcer said that the Israeli army had come through the Sinai and was occupying the Suez Canal, and that the Egyptian army was in disarray and running back to Egypt to hide.

That day was the end of my life as a carefree teenager in Heliopolis, the beautiful city of my birth, and the beginning of my very chaotic life to come.

After his family’s expulsion from Egypt when he was 16, Clement Soffer came to the US and went to Mirrer Yeshiva. He founded Ahava ve Ahva Congregation and Chabad of Port Washington. He helped rescue Syrian Jews and saved hundreds of Jewish cemeteries. He received a congressional award in 1993 and was honored by Yeshiva University. He founded Beit Edmond Safra Synagogue of Aventura and Chabad of West Boynton Beach.

SARINA ROFFÉ

ALLAN LEVY IMPRESSES OTHERS WITH HIS CHARM, OBJECTIVITY, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, AND HIS UNIQUE TALENT FOR UNITING PEOPLE. OVER THE YEARS, HE ORGANIZED PROJECTS, SERVED ON BOARDS, AND ADVISED AND MENTORED FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS. ALWAYS THE SOFT-SPOKEN VOICE OF REASON, ALLAN HAS VOLUNTEERED HIS SKILLS AT EXCEED NETWORK, YESHIVAH OF FLATBUSH, PROJECT EDUCATION AND UNITED JEWISH APPEAL. HIS COMMITMENT TO HESED (ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS) AND THE EXAMPLE HE SETS IS SO INSPIRING, IT RAISES THE BAR ON VOLUNTEERISM AND MOTIVATES OTHERS TO GET INVOLVED AND DO MORE.

Allan is even tempered, understated and avoids bringing attention to himself. He doesn’t need or want attention for helping others. He is the type of person you confide in, you trust, and look to for unbiased advice and wisdom. When he speaks, the room seems to stop, as those around him lean in to listen to his sage advice.

Allan believes that building trust is a critical element to success in work and volunteer relationships. “In nonprofit work, if you prove yourself competent and do the work, you can get further faster than in the business world where you need to prove your success. In life, things get done much easier and faster amongst people who trust each other.

“If you sit down at a nonprofit meeting and establish a sense of trust, there is a high likelihood you will find a benefit that is ultimately reflected in other parts of your life, such as your family or your business. A problem will be solved, or you may get a new client or business relationship—all because you established yourself as a person of trust.”

Allan’s drive to do hesed came because of a confluence of factors—his parents Sandy and Joseph Levy; experiences as a young adult, speeches he heard in synagogue, his wife Michele, and his work experience. For Allan and Michele, volunteering is simply part of their family’s lifestyle, and that they hope others will emulate.

As a child, Allan saw his mother, Sandy Levy, spend her time volunteering and found her example to be very inspirational. There were few community organizations she was not involved in. The organizations she was involved in included ORT, United Jewish Appeal, her synagogue and the PTA where her three sons attended yeshivah. She did all this while working full time in the family retail business in New Haven, Connecticut.

Allan’s even nature comes from working closely with his father Joseph Levy. “He didn’t just tell me what to do, he taught me to think,” said Allan. “He helped me work through the logic and come to my own conclusions. It enabled me to grow. I was able to go into organizations and help people by teaching them the same skill, giving them the tools to accomplish their goals.”

The Levys moved to Brooklyn in 1980, just after Allan finished high school. He joined CCY, the community youth group at that time, they produced plays, organized parties and social events. In a short time, he became part of the organization’s committees.

He attended Brooklyn College and worked in wholesale. “I was fortunate to be at a company that allowed me to thrive at a young age.” Because Allan was trusted, he was given responsibility, became a manager and thrived as a team player. At just 25 he was promoted to senior management and helped launch the brand internationally.

Speeches at his synagogue also influenced him. Many synagogues have financial appeals on the holidays. Allan listened to those speeches, often given by more established community members, but sometimes the speeches were given by his peers. He heard their messages and was inspired by how someone his age could be so effective in helping others. This was a major inspiration for him. “I was so impressed. My friends were giving their time to critical organizations. It stuck in my mind,” he said.

According to Allan “In 2000, a friend of mine, who knew I wanted to give back, suggested that I help the Sephardic Angel Fund.” This was a new organization started by Ikey Sutton. The Angel Fund’s mission was to help small community businesses with funding and advice.

“Allan is very humble,” said Ikey Sutton. “He doesn’t look for accolades and he genuinely wants to help. He is sensitive to people’s needs, an excellent listener and has a very charming way of speaking to people. He is also very talented. His business is in the technology space and he has a world of knowledge most people don’t have, which is very useful.”

Married to Michele, Allan saw her commitment to volunteering from the time their sons were in preschool. Michele, who was on the Yeshivah of Flatbush’s Ladies Auxiliary, became its president and then became involved in Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH). She was so driven that she went back to school and earned an MS in nonprofit management from Columbia University. At SBH, Michele became executive vice president.

Inspired by Michele, Allan became more involved, helping many small business owners get on their feet. He became president in 2006. At Exceed Network many companies needed mentoring to help their businesses grow. The organization focused on guiding business owners to help them succeed. Allan grew within the organization into a position of vetting new client cases. Each case was assigned to a three-person volunteer team by Allan. Sometimes the business ideas were not yet developed enough to put together a team of businessmen who were volunteering their time and had busy schedules,” he said. “I created a process to help them put together a business plan. This way, when they met with the team, the volunteers were able to really help them grow their business. This insured we maximized the volunteers’ time and kept them coming back to help more people.” The organization helped over 200 businesses each year.

Irwin Dayan, past Executive Director of Exceed Network worked with Allan for 16 years. “Allan helped launch and guide many companies. He knows how to follow trends and grow a company. He has an infinite network that he leveraged on behalf of our clients. Allan always added a new twist and value to what we were doing.”

“Allan was not just a board member; he was and still is a natural leader,” said Alan Jemal. “He comes to every meeting and is the first to volunteer to chair projects. He brings the projects to another level because he thinks outside the box. And he is very generous. At Exceed he worked one-on-one with many people, always advising them. He gave office space to a person starting a business. He is an incredible guy.”

An anecdote shared by Allan involved an entrepreneur who had started a business out of his mother’s garage, grew it to over $30 million in revenue and sold it. In another case, Exceed matched a heating repair company and an air conditioning repair company, and they merged. Now the combined companies have a huge HVAC company serving major office and apartment buildings with a fleet of trucks and a large team of employees. “The two companies took our collective advice and grew,” he said. “Working with Exceed Network was hands-on. We saw businesses flourish and watched them thrive,” said Allan.

In 2004, he was recruited to revamp the internal communication system at Yeshivah of Flatbush, where his children attended. Allan’s business is digital marketing, giving him the background needed to bring the school’s processes from analog to digital. Report cards, fundraising and all communication between parents and teachers were moved online.

Over the next 15 years, Allan volunteered on the Yeshivah of Flatbush board, the Board of Education, and was executive vice president. There were many projects he worked on. He led a team to negotiate salaries and build relationships. They rolled out iPads in the classroom, becoming one of the early high schools in the nation to leverage technology for the benefit of the students. They worked directly with Apple and Google.

According to Alan Shamah, fellow board member and treasurer at Yeshivah of Flatbush, “Allan was always willing to dive into projects and committees. He was always effective. If he took on a job, it got done quickly. Most importantly, he was dependable, reliable and trustworthy. Technology was his wheelhouse and it was something most of the board didn’t know enough about. Allan’s knowledge about technology and the opportunities available, his professionalism, and his experience were invaluable in making the yeshivah a leader in using technology.”

Allan currently serves on the Sephardic Leadership Committee at United Jewish Appeal. “There was initially an overlap with Exceed Network, this allowed us to get well known entrepreneurial figures to give talks that packed a room. Working with more than one organization allowed us to cross pollinate contacts and leverage them to the advantage of the community. “

Albert Laboz, co-chair of the Sephardic Leadership Committee with Ray Chalme, said “Allan is an unsung hero; He leads the fundraising effort for our annual synagogue appeal during the High Holidays. And he is amazing at it. He is thoughtful, smart and has great ideas and energy.”

Allan’s advice to young people? “Get involved at a young age and you will have a seat at the table with people who are much more experienced than you, yet share a common goal. As long as you present your findings in a respectful way and have data to support your position, you will be heard. You may have more expertise in a specific area than they do and they will respect that. You will quickly become part of the decision-making process and really make a difference in the life of others.”

He concluded, “I found volunteering to be so fulfilling. The return is so much greater than investment because the work you do is meaningful and can really improve someone’s life.”

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.

JOYCE BAILEY CHABBOTT

My daughter tells me: “It’s very easy to shop online, Ma. Just scroll through until you see something you want.” But I don’t want to spend my days scrolling through. I want to stroll through the aisles! So it’s scroll vs. stroll.

“Let’s go to Target on Erskin,” I say to my daughter, Sophia. Right away she takes out the computer. “What do you want?” She asks as she goes on the Target app. My reply, “I want to go to the store!” Eyes rolling, she shut down her computer and off we go to Erskin. I’m thrilled.

Trouble started when I parked in a space that said something like, parking for parent with child. “Ma, you can’t park there. It’s for mothers with babies.” “Yep, and you’re my child. Let’s go.” Again, her eyes roll.

So, there I was strolling through Target, happy as a lark! I needed some health and beauty aids, Dove Softsoap to be exact. I finally found it, but mysteriously, it was locked in a glass showcase. I stared at the glass trying to figure out how to open it. I tried to slide the glass to one side, nope. I tried to slide it up, nope. I looked for a handle, nothing. I was totally perplexed. Then my daughter came strolling into the aisle. “Ma, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out how to get the Softsoap out of this showcase.” Again with the eyes.

“Turn around. See that button the on wall? Press it,” she says. So I press the button.

The showcase didn’t open. “It didn’t open,” I tell her. “Ma, it’s not going to open. An employee will come with the key to open it up.” Sure enough a young man came with a key to open the showcase. OMG, and I thought the computer was confusing!

Next, we go to the checkout. It’s self checkout. Do you want a bag? It says on the screen. “Yes!” “That’s $1.00.” Thankfully Sophia was an expert and I just stood by looking like I came from another planet; from another time for sure—a time when you could stroll up and down the aisles filling up your shopping cart without pressing buttons, a time when you could unload your purchases on the conveyer and the cashier would helpfully bag your items, without asking if you needed a bag. Truth be told, I have so many bags, I could probably sell them! They’re always left in the trunk of my car until I realize, at checkout, that I forgot them there. There’s just too much to remember these days.

Do I have my cell? My keys? And now, do I have my bags? I think it’s a conspiracy to drive us crazy.

When did shopping become so confusing?
Buttons, keys, self check out, do you want a bag? Ugh!!
Scroll vs Stroll—I think I’ll go with scroll.

Joyce Chabbott is a creative writer who sees the world through a comedic lens. Her motto: you could either laugh or cry. It’s better to laugh.