IT’S TIME TO SCREAM LOUDER

Sari Setton

Two years ago I wrote the article below, and it could not be more relevant today. Now more than ever, we are seeing the ramifications of not voting. Our quality of life, home values, and the critical organizations we depend on—are at stake.

“I have NO idea who my Councilman is, let alone my State Senator or State Assemblyman.”

“I think I voted once because I was home that day but I can’t remember what election it was for or who I even voted for.”

“Vote? No, I don’t vote. I’m a Republican and New York elects Democrats anyway, why should I bother?”

“I don’t get involved in politics.”

“I don’t know where to go, or even what to do, and I am embarrassed that at my age, I have never voted.”

Unfortunately, these are real responses I have gotten when simply asking “do you vote?”

Recently, while on a community-wide zoom townhall, a woman went through a list of complaints about radical Democrats while the elected official attempted to explain to her the importance of voting. When she finished, I messaged her privately and asked her “Do you vote?” I nearly fell off my chair when she typed back “Why bother? Nothing changes. My one vote is going to change anything?” I replied simply, “Your vote is your voice, and so by withholding your vote, you are silencing not only yourself, but the community as a whole. Mrs. X, it’s time to SCREAM!”

It is true that New York City is predominantly Democratic, but wherever one falls in their personal political views, if registered as a Republican, they are unable to vote in the Democratic primaries. This can have disastrous consequences. If we, as a community, want to shape the landscape of the leadership, we must be willing to shape it. It has never been more important to simply go out and VOTE.

In September of 2019, Jewish IMAGE published an article written by the SCF, informing the community that “Progressive Democrats, feeling empowered by a handful of high profile victories have thrown their weight behind any progressive trying to unseat moderate democratic incumbents.”

Virtually all of the competitive elections in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and recently, Queens, are, and have been, decided by Democratic Party primary elections that are held in June of each year. As of September 2022, The Governor, State Senate Majority, State Assembly Majority, Attorney General, Comptroller, Mayor, City Comptroller, every borough District Attorney, NYC Public Advocate, as well as four out of five Borough Presidents, and 46 of the 51 New York City Council members are Democrats.

As the city and state continues its leftward tilt, it is clear that our community must have the ability to vote in the Democratic primaries. This will have an influence on which Democrats run in the November elections. Strengthening our voting numbers in these primaries will greatly encourage candidates to support issues that are vital to our community. The stark choice these days is between a moderate Democrat and a progressive one.

Moreover, we must turn out for the general election vote each and every November. Politicians pay attention to how many people come out to vote—even if not for them. Our community must be seen as powerful to make our voices heard.

As Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said, “You Get What You Vote for.”

This is not to be taken lightly. Recent events have left our community fearful and vulnerable. We have been too silent. We must take this seriously and make our concerns known by using our influence as a voting block. Elected officials must see and know that we will go to the polls, we will support those who support us, and we will stand together to take action on the needs of our community.

Make the effort—VOTE in November, VOTE in future primaries, use your vote as your voice.

Sari Setton is the executive director of The Sephardic Community Federation.

Sam Sutton

Many people in our community believe you should only vote for a Republican. While I understand where they are coming from, I do believe that there are exceptions to every rule and when it comes to Steven Cymbrowitz in the State Assembly, an exception is called for.

On the federal level, which is the only one that actually has international influence, there are many politicians that are far too influenced by the scourge of woke thought and should never be supported. These people attack Zionism and it is often a cover for outright anti-Semitism. Of course, this usually doesn’t apply to any candidates in our area of Brooklyn, which is considered very “conservative” by national standards.

It is important to note that Steven Cymbrowitz’s Republican opponent is a six-time Bernie Sanders donor who became a Republican only a few short months ago.

This is not a candidate who reflects our community’s values. While there might be an inclination to vote Republican, an exception must be made for Steven Cymbrowitz. This is one of the many reasons why Steven deserves our vote.

The NY State Assembly has had an overwhelming Democratic majority since 1975. In fact, Democrats actually have a veto-proof super-majority. Having our Assemblyman who is a senior member with access to the leadership is the only way to influence policy and get things done that are in our best interest.

A Republican would have no voice and cannot influence the leadership. One thing is clear, no one has done more for our community more often nor better than Steven Cymbrowitz.

Steven has access to leadership. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Without Steven’s access to Assembly leadership, yeshivahs and other nonpublic schools would not have been included in the Smart Schools Bond Act. Steven arranged for a private meeting for Ronnie Tawil and me with the then Speaker of the Assembly, Shelly Silver. In an one hour meeting, we explained that the governor had proposed a school bond bill that excluded yeshivahs. That meeting convinced Speaker Silver to insist the bill include yeshivahs. Rabbi Lefkowitz of Agudah called me to say thank you. That change was worth $28,000,000 to Jewish schools in NY State.

Steven’s extraordinary relationship with leadership is how things get done. Without Steven’s type of leadership our community would not be able to get the vital resources it needs. A vote for Steven is a vote for the candidate who will continue to deliver for our community.

Steven has voted to secure over $326 million in spending and $58 million in STEM funding for yeshivahs and other nonpublic schools in this year’s budget. He proposed a bill in the Assembly to set up a $200,000,000 loan fund for parents in Special Ed schools, who often have to lay out hundreds of thousands of tuition dollars before they are reimbursed.

Steven was one of the first and most enthusiastic elected officials to support our efforts to launch Teach NYS. Teach NYS has achieved multiple and major successes in assisting our yeshivahs, and parents with millions of dollars in NY State funding earmarked towards yeshivah education.

He has funded the organizations we depend on. During his tenure he has secured major grants for SAFE, Sephardic Community Center, Sephardic Bikur Holim and the Cancer Center. Just last month he secured a $250,000 capital grant for the SCC, as well as a $250,000 capital grant for the Cancer Center. Each year he’s funded Met Council, the nation’s largest Jewish charity serving vulnerable people in need. This is in addition to funding for Holocaust survivors and for Holocaust programs.

Please don’t forget to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th and re-elect Steven Cymbrowitz to the State Assembly (45th AD). Or you can vote early—from October 29th through November 6th. Please go to findmypollsite.com for details.

Vote from the bottom up and cast your vote for Steven Cymbrowitz at the bottom of Column A or as the Independence Party candidate in Column F.

Sam A. Sutton is a community activist who volunteers his time in service of many community organizations.

MORRIS COHEN

STEVE LEVY WAS THE CLOSEST THING I HAD TO AN OLDER BROTHER. I HAVE LEARNED SINCE HIS PASSING THAT I AM DEFINITELY NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CLAIM SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. HIS IMPACT HAS BEEN FELT BY SO MANY PEOPLE.

Thirty five years ago, when I desperately needed a career change, Steve arranged an interview for me at the same apparel firm where he was working. The experience from that job forever changed the course of my life by providing the foundational skills I needed to navigate through the apparel industry, where I am still today. When I told people this, they had similar stories to tell me. Steve helped my cousin Cookie Grossman get her first job on Wall Street, and another friend of Steve’s related that Steve had taken him under his wing, teaching him valuable computer skills after his father had passed away. Such acts epitomize charity at its highest level. That’s just who Steve was.

To better understand him you really had to know his mother, Sarah Levy A”H. She was a true pillar of strength. Sarah, imbued her boys with our traditions, as well as other necessary survival skills, to brave through life’s ups and downs. Steve inherited her tenacity.

He exemplified resilience. I remember him in early adulthood, he was energetic and positive. He had a way of striding through life without any pretenses and always on his own terms. He had an upbeat and magnetic personality, drawing an ever wider circle of friends.

I’ve heard many refer to him as a Renaissance man. He was knowledgeable in a multitude of subjects, including cars, mechanics, gardening, how to roast a Thanksgiving turkey—you name it! He exuded a kind of a confidence that rubbed off on you.

When he met Ruthie they decided to start a new life together, and they never looked back. I remember his wedding very fondly, it was truly one of the most joyful and memorable weddings our family ever experienced together, and I was honored to be his best man.

He had a gift for making things sound so simple and logical. He knew how to boil things down to their very essence.

When I was dating Kara, Steve was the first member of my family who I introduced her to. His blessing was very important to me. Five years into our marriage, we decided to move out of the city. We somehow managed to find a home just two doors down from Steve and Ruthie, in West Deal. Although we had zero familiarity with the community, we knew that as long as Steve was nearby, he had our backs. He would remain our anchor and our guide. Eventually, our sons grew up together—like brothers—extending our bonds even further.

When Steve became ill, he would not allow such an inconvenient truth to paralyze him with fear or stop him from enjoying his life. He never lost that twinkle in his eye. During his last summer, he made sure to get to the beach every Sunday, to sit with family and friends. Even though he had his good days and bad days, any day spent at the beach meant it was a good day.

It is still unfathomable for us, to think of Steve in the past tense. I can still see him (with his Marlboro Man mustache and his sunglasses) driving his car with the top down, and walking his dog Lucy, up and down Dwight Drive. I can still hear him muttering an unfiltered comment about my choice of a tie or some other fashion attire. It goes without saying, he will be sorely missed. My life seems much emptier.

We are living in anxious and trying times—times of transition and uncertainty—times that demand faith and fortitude. Steve Levy A”H taught us the true meaning of faith. Faith is not certainty, it’s the courage to live with uncertainty. We just need to plod ahead, one day at a time, weather the storm and take the risks.

Steve was a self-made man, proud of the legacy he leaves behind: his loving children and grandchildren. I can already see in them his generosity of spirit, good humor, and his propensity for forming deep friendships.

May the memory of my dear cousin and mentor Steve Levy continue to be a blessing to Ruthie, Sarah, Rachel and Sammy, his brother Gabe, and the entire Levy family.

Morris Cohen was Steve’s best man, cousin and friend.

A BOOK CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF SANDY YEDID A”H

IN A NEW BOOK ENTITLED ONE OF A KINDNESS, COMMUNITY MEMBER ELI YEDID CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF HIS MOTHER, SANDY YEDID, BY REMEMBERING THE REMARKABLE WAY SHE TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES.

It’s a warm, affectionate and humourous look at a beloved woman in our community. Sandy Yedid lived happily, laughed heartily and loved unconditionally.

In the preface, Eli remembers his father telling him that Sandy was the love of his life. He continued, “I was blessed with the best wife a man can ever have. I was with her for 54 years—but not enough. It’s been five years without her, and not a day goes by without thinking about her.”

Perhaps the best review came from Eli’s sister Michele, who said, “I very much want to thank my brother Eli for creating such a lovely tribute to our larger than life mom. Sandy Yedid was a woman who lived every minute like it was her last, with gusto, with love, kindness, dignity and a laugh that you could hear from space. I haven’t been able to read more than the first chapter, because it is beautifully written and captures her so perfectly that all I did was sob uncontrollably, as I struggled not to laugh, and then I gave up because I couldn’t read through the tears. I love you Eli, I love the legacy you have left for our children and for generations to come. Everyone should know who she was and how she lived her life. She was truly one-of-a-kindness and so much more.”

Don’t worry, you won’t cry all the way through. As a matter of fact, you may laugh until you cry at some points. In chapter 4, Eli likens Sandy to Lucille Ball and tells about the time she and her friend went to a busy hair salon. Not wanting to wait, Sandy decides to wash her friend’s hair and winds up flooding the entire place. The comparison is perfect because it’s easy to picture Lucy shampooing Ethel’s hair.

He also tells about Sandy’s days working at Paramount Pictures and rubbing elbows with celebrities. There are stories about how she interacted with Tommy Smothers of the Smother’s Brothers and William Holden. When Tommy told her he was one of the Smother’s Brothers, she replied that she was one of the Laniado Sisters.

It’s a wonderful book that truly paints a picture of a lovely woman. Eli is a masterful writer. The book is available on Amazon for purchase.

THE VISIONARY

SARINA ROFFÉ

THE LEGACY OF DAVID E. COHEN A”H IS THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING OF CONGREGATION SHAARE ZION IN 1960. BUT DAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH MORE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I FEAR THE WORDS I WRITE WILL NOT DO HIM JUSTICE.

He was a giant among men, a visionary, a teacher and strategist committed to keeping the community united. He passed away in 2021 just before his 95th birthday.

David Eliahu Cohen was born in 1926 and grew up in Bensonhurst during the Great Depression. Like most children of the time period, he began working at age 11. By the time he got to high school he was earning $15 a week doing odd jobs before and after school. His high school guidance counselor told the students that if they graduated, they could earn $25 a week. He laughed and quit school at 16 knowing he could earn way more working full time.

He married Regina Shamula in 1947. They had four children—Eileen, Elliot, Aaron, and Shari—and were married for 74 years. They left a legacy of multiple grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren.

“My father was a visionary. From a very young age he noticed the uniqueness and importance of our community. As time went on, he became aware of the great value of our exceptional traditions which go back a thousand years,” said his son Elliot Cohen. “As he first got involved in the building of Shaare Zion and then went on to become its president, his love of our community only became greater. The goal of all his work was always to strengthen our community, keep us unified and preserve our ancient traditions of faith and tolerance. That was always what it was all about for him.”

With a sharp mind, inborn leadership, great people and political skills, Dave accomplished ambitious goals. Shaare Zion became a template for the community’s multiple synagogues. In 1983, it was Dave who crafted the synagogue’s constitution, revolutionized its election procedures and started the first Torah learning center in Shaare Zion.

He also had a behind the scenes hand in many other community organizations. According to his son Aaron, “He had a hidden hand in the Sephardic Community Center, Congregation Har Lebanon, Ahi Ezer housing, the Avenue S Mikveh, and Magen David Yeshivah High School.”

He was often called upon by builders of other community congregations for his advice on how to optimize space in their new buildings.

“Today the phenomenon of what the Jewish Syrian community has become is clear to all of us and is now recognized throughout the Jewish world. What my dad recognized in his early years is now obvious to all,” said Elliot.

Even though he dropped out of high school, Dave never stopped learning. He had high intelligence and read thousands of books that were often discussed at the dinner table. He quoted from Ralph Waldo Emerson, wise old Arabic sayings, Machiavelli, and Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations.

He was also blessed with tremendous verbal skills. He interacted with several chief rabbis, Israeli prime ministers, as well as governors, senators, congressmen, and mayors. Yet, he could just as easily speak with a young grandchild on their level.

He worked with Abe M. Cohen A”H to bring the long-stalled project at 2030 Ocean Parkway to fruition. Together, they built the community’s mother synagogue, a place where thousands of couples married and had many joyous events in the community’s first social hall. Determined to get the building completed, Dave and Abe became an inspiration to generations of community leaders that followed. Videos on YouTube tell his story.

His sons say he was their best teacher and that anyone who talked to or interacted with Dave was a student of the DCU (Dave Cohen University). Elliot was just seven years old when he often joined his father as they built Shaare Zion and then their home on East 5th Street, learning about construction. After Dave finished his term as Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn in the mid-1970s, he began a men’s apparel business on West 42nd Street in Manhattan with his sons. The business put his sons on a path to success. When they needed a bookkeeper, he brought in his daughter Shari, who knew nothing about bookkeeping. She soon became a graduate of ‘DCU.’

In the mid-1950s, Jews were emigrating from Egypt to New York. He not only hired many of them but gave them shares in his business which freed him up to put his energy into the Shaare Zion project.

Also in the mid-1950s, Dave did something revolutionary for the time. He enrolled his daughter Eileen in Yeshivah of Flatbush. He met with the great educator, Joel Braverman who was pleasantly surprised because Syrian girls were not yeshivah educated then. Though she was first entering in third grade, he made sure she caught up and she excelled there. Today, many of her children and grandchildren are talmidei hachamim.

“I remember him taking lessons to play the oud. We had Syrian music jam sessions in our backyard in Bradley Beach. He was teaching me that I can learn to play an instrument and jam,” said Elliot.

Dave loved the pizmonim of his childhood. Concerned that this important part of our heritage would be lost, he started the Pizmonim Project. In the 70s, he gathered most of the popular hazanim and musicians at that time. He had them arrange and rehearse 12 popular pizmonim. He called them the ‘greatest hits.’ Working with Joe Catton A”H, they took the group to a recording studio in Manhattan.

“They produced the recording and included a booklet so the listener could easily learn to sing along. Needless to say, it was a big hit!” said Elliot. “First the songs were released as 8-track tapes, then cassettes, CDs and now they are on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify where they have thousands and thousands of hits! Walk into a sebet and listen to all the singing. We never lost our pizmonim.”

He was generous to a fault. Once he had his own business, he employed his wife Regina’s three younger brothers who had grown up fatherless. He also helped his immigrant uncles get on their feet financially. Dave had first cousins he had never met living in Israel. He went there, sought them out and found one of them living in an apartment with virtually no furniture. He wept upon seeing this. He arranged to furnish their home. Many years later that same cousin was a victim of a suicide bomber where several family members were killed. Dave was right there raising funds for them.

“Dad’s mother was a DePicciotto,” said his son Aaron. “A family with a history of being ambassadors and diplomats going back to the 1700s. He was so proud to be part of that. He would reach out across the globe to connect with anyone named Picciotto. He found a distant cousin in Milan, Italy with whom he helped craft a family tree.”

In his memory, Shehebar Sephardic Center in Israel is forming the David E. Cohen Leadership Initiative. According to Rabbi Sam Kassin, Dean, “From the building of Congregation Shaare Zion and establishing its constitution to being its president for many years, it was David E. Cohen who handled it all with foresight and commitment. He brought rabbis and teachers to guide the community. Often people didn’t agree with him and caused a flurry, but he worked and found solutions we live with today. His love for Judaism and his people was nothing more than an extension of his family.”

David E. Cohen will be teaching for generations to come through videos captured on YouTube and Sephardic Heritage films.

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.

LAURA SHAMMAH MS, RDN

WHEN IT COMES TO BEING HEALTHY, IT TRULY IS WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. A PERSON WHO YOU MIGHT THINK IS HEALTHY BECAUSE THEY ARE THIN, MIGHT NOT BE. SOMETIMES EVEN THE SLIMMEST, HEALTHIEST LOOKING PEOPLE WE KNOW CAN HAVE AS MANY HEALTH ISSUES AS SOMEONE WHO IS OVERWEIGHT.

As crazy as this may seem, there is a health risk for people at a seemingly normal, healthy weight called “normal weight obesity.” This term is used when a person is at a healthy weight but can acquire the same health risks as someone who is overweight or obese. This happens if a person’s body fat is high enough—even if from the outside they look slim. In other words, how skinny fat you are boils down to your body composition. That is, how much of your weight is either fat or muscle.

Some of the risks of being normal weight obese or “skinny fat” include:
• High blood pressure
• Irregular cholesterol levels
• Diabetes
• Metabolic issues

High cholesterol does not discriminate against body type, and body weight does not determine if a person suffers from high cholesterol or high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

The American Heart Association Trusted Source recommends that you start getting cholesterol tests every four to six years, starting when you’re 20 (even if you’re thin!). If high cholesterol runs in your family, you should start even earlier and get tested more often.

Up to 10% of the population may be normal weight obese. People believe that if their BMI (body mass index) is in the normal range, they are healthy.

However, your BMI does not include your body fat, only your weight. It is important to remember that obesity is determined by body fat, not necessarily how much you weigh.

If you are concerned that you are “skinny fat,” just start to focus on you inner body health and not just the outside. To decrease these risks, begin:
• Weight lifting
• Cardio
• High-intensity interval training
• Eating clean

Doing all this will turn your skinny fat into lean and strong muscle. You should never judge a book by its cover, because sometimes that cover does not reflect what is going on inside.

Laura Shammah MS, RDN has a masters degree in health and nutrition and is a registered dietitian. She has been operating her own private practice in both New York and NJ for over 20 years. She is happily married and has four children.

ARI BAUM CFP®

THE NEW INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IS A BIG ENCHILADA OF GREEN ENERGY SPENDING, CORPORATE TAXES, AND SOME PRETTY MAJOR CHANGES TO MEDICARE. IS THIS DEAL A BIG DEAL? COULD BE. READ ON TO FIND OUT.

MEDICARE CHANGES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

MEDICARE WILL BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES (STARTING IN 2026).
For the first time, the Medicare program will have the power to negotiate the cost of (some) drugs. Before price negotiations kick off, new rules will also force manufacturers to pay “rebates” to the government if they increase covered drug prices higher than general inflation (starting in 2023) and limit Medicare Part D premium increases each year (starting in 2024).

Why does this matter? Drug price inflation is crazy high, outpacing general inflation for thousands of medications. The power to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers could end up lowering costs. For example, a budget study found that Medicare was paying 32% more for the same drugs as Medicaid (which already has the power to negotiate prices).

Lower prices could lead to overall program savings (and possibly lower Medicare premiums), plus save money for retirees who depend on those specific drugs.

OUT-OF-POCKET DRUG COSTS ON PART D WILL BE CAPPED AT $2,000/YEAR (STARTING IN 2025)
Under current laws, there’s no cap on how much people have to spend out-of-pocket for their medications, which can really add up under cost-sharing requirements.

Starting in 2024, folks who spend enough out-of-pocket on medications to surpass the “catastrophic threshold” will no longer have to pay coinsurance for their expensive drugs. And, starting in 2025, the maximum out-of-pocket medicine cost for folks on Part D will be a flat $2,000.

Why does this matter? Many drugs (especially new ones) can be devastatingly expensive. Capping annual drug costs will hopefully not only save folks money, but also lead to more predictability in their yearly health care costs.

OUT-OF-POCKET INSULIN COSTS WILL BE CAPPED AT $35/MONTH FOR MEDICARE PARTICIPANTS (STARTING IN 2023)
Starting in 2023, enrollees won’t have to spend more than $35 per month on their insulin copays. Folks on private health insurance won’t see a change.

Why does this matter? As anyone who needs insulin will tell you, it can get pricey, costing over $500 per year on average and much more if you need one of the more expensive versions.

Capping costs could help the millions who need this life-saving medication.

ALL VACCINES WILL BE FREE UNDER PART D (STARTING IN 2023)
While flu and COVID-19 shots might be covered for many, most vaccines are not. Starting in 2023, cost-sharing under Part D will end, making all covered adult vaccines free.

Why does this matter? Many adult vaccines can cost quite a few bucks. For example, the shingles vaccine can cost upwards of $150 a pop and other recommended vaccines can also be very pricey.

Making vaccines free could not only lower the financial impact of immunizations, but also increase their availability to lower-income folks.

WILL THESE NEW LAWS HELP RETIREES?
This is where the future gets hazy. Legal challenges or post-election changes could end up altering much of what’s in the Inflation Reduction Act. And much depends on the actual execution of the new rules.

The new rules could also mean premium changes as insurance companies figure out their models. Since health care is one of the biggest unknown costs in retirement, lowering drug costs and making spending more predictable for Medicare recipients could absolutely have a positive impact on millions of people.

WILL THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT HELP THE ECONOMY?
Whether the overall bill will live up to its name, lower inflation, and have a net positive impact on the economy also remains to be seen.

Some economists project that the bill will end up modestly reducing inflation and trimming the federal budget over the next decade. Others are concerned about the impact of the new corporate tax rules written into the legislation. As is usually the case, time will tell.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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.

JEFF SCHINDLER

THIS SUMMER STARTED OUT LIKE ANY OTHER. AFTER A LONG TIME IN BROOKLYN, IT WAS TIME TO PACK MY CAR AND BAGS AND PREPARE FOR A RELAXING SUMMER IN DEAL. AFTER THE PAST TWO YEARS OF HOME-SCHOOLING AND WORKING FROM HOME, I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I ESPECIALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO MY MORNING BIKE RIDES.

My biking partner Mindy and I would ride along Ocean Avenue, exploring Sandy Hook and pretty much the whole area. It has always been a relaxing way to exercise. On July 17th, I picked up my bike partner at 6 A.M. to start our Sunday morning 35-mile ride. We were both training for an upcoming charity bike ride from Jerusalem to Eilat.

We started in Ocean Grove and after about two miles, she noticed I was not wearing a helmet. In 30 years of riding, I had never before left my house to ride without a helmet, in fact, I had my helmet in my hand before I left, but must have put it down. I am an EMT and have seen the results of riding without one. A head injury is very serious. I should have known better, but I got lazy.

I thought, we had been riding this route for years and nothing would happen. I was wrong. I rode into Long Branch, where the boardwalk begins. There is a barrier that stops cars from getting onto the pathway. It is sometimes open and sometimes closed. I didn’t see it and I slammed into the barrier breaking my nose. It stopped me instantly. I fell backwards on my head. Here is where the miracles began, I lived to tell about it. G-d has reasons for everything.

Mindy was holding my head, which was bleeding heavily. She made sure I stayed conscious, while at the same time alerting 911 and contacting my wife Sophia, who came running and followed me to Jersey Shore Hospital. While I was in pre-op, I felt very lightheaded like I was going to faint. This was the 2nd miracle, my wife, who wasn’t even allowed to be with me was the only one who noticed me losing consciousness. She rushed to grab a doctor and I was rushed to surgery, where I was given blood and 40 stitches in my head. Three and a half hours later I was in ICU. My wife was by my side every second, making sure I was ok and seeing to every need.

Recovery was hard, but thanks to friends like Mandi and Morris Bildirici, and of course, my wife Sophia and bike partner Mindy I am back on a bike almost a month later.

No matter how experienced a rider you are or how confident you are, put that bike helmet on so you can return home to your wife, friends and family. This goes for motor scooters and motorcycles as well.

That was my miracle at the Jersey shore.

Jeff Schindler is a Brooklyn born member of our community. He has 2 children and 2 grandchildren and has been married for 38 years to Sophia Shalom Schindler (Morah Sophia).

SOPHIA FRANCO

FIGHTING A MEDICAL BATTLE IS FRIGHTENING, NO MATTER WHO OR WHERE YOU ARE, AND NO MATTER HOW MANY LOVED ONES SURROUND YOU. IMAGINE, AT A TIME LIKE THIS, HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR HOME TO TRAVEL TO A FOREIGN CITY FOR TREATMENT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

Imagine your life is being turned upside down by medical chaos, and having to worry about something as simple as a roof over your head. Imagine the physical, mental and financial strain that you might feel at this time. Now imagine that instead of being alone, in a cold hotel, or in a stranger’s basement, there was a beautiful place to stay, for free, for you, and your family. Imagine that it was a place with every amenity, where you could feel the comfort and stability of home.

Eva Shammah, Elliot Shelby, Natalie Ammar Shalom, Regine Shrem, and Lillian Srour have all been realtors in Brooklyn, New York for a while now. Often, they would receive calls asking if they knew of any short-term leases for people coming from foreign countries for medical treatments in NY. Each of them would stop what they were doing when these calls came in, and try their best, but this task was nothing short of impossible. Apartments like this did not exist in our area, and most people coming in could not afford to pay rent. There were hardly any landlords willing to do short term, and even if they would, the apartments were empty. Without furniture, linens, towels and sheets, how could anyone stay there?

About a year ago, the opportunity arose for this group of realtors to do something good. An older couple had put their home on the market. It was decrepit, and mold infested, and the owners were actually ill from the conditions they were living in. Elliot remembers, “We walked out crying. They couldn’t afford to move but we decided then and there to rent them an apartment immediately. We couldn’t leave them there to get sicker, and we knew the house would sell, eventually.” The realtors paid the rent for the couple and decided that when the house sold, they would use the commission to do something amazing. The day came, and together they rented their first “hesed” apartment. They thought long and hard, and called their new project, Habayit, Home away from Home.

Natalie explained, “The apartment was old, but we set it up and made it stunning. We got some community boys to paint, we changed the kitchen, and cleaned it up until it was sparkling.” Eva continued, “Our community is beyond! We called maybe a dozen people, and within hours we had everything donated; furniture, towels, sheets, washer/dryers, dishes, pots, silverware, games, toys, books, and even sefarim! We stocked the apartment with food and literally everything we could think of that people might need, down to a list of kosher restaurants that we taped to the fridge.”

The first call the team got was for the family of a baby born with a cleft palate. Excited, they filmed the apartment and sent the video to all the people who helped make it happen. Eva recalled, “One of the girls who had helped called me and said, ‘I can’t believe this—when I was a baby I had cleft palate. We lived in Syria at the time, and we came to NY to do the surgeries. We bounced from house to house every time I needed medical treatment, and I remember this as one of the most difficult times in our lives. Look how Hashem got me involved in this! I had no idea. G-d bless you all.”

As the calls kept coming in, the team realized that while one apartment was amazing, it would not be enough. They called on more realtors, and got more people involved. By May 2022 they had four apartments completed, and two more rented, but the calls kept coming in. They created an Instagram account and started a fundraiser online. Their goal was $360,000. With endorsements from Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi David Ozeri and community giant Harry Adjmi, they raised the funds in 48 hours.

Rabbi Ozeri explained, “These people are suffering already, with cancer, infertility, blood disorders, and so many unbearable situations, we should never know, and finding a place to stay is just another level of anxiety. To know they have a home to come to with every imaginable amenity is solving half their problems. These apartments are going to be used for life saving situations. We have so many organizations but something like this is long overdue.”

Eva recalled, “After the fundraiser my phone was ringing off the hook! ‘I have an apartment, I have furniture…’ People were stopping me everywhere, donating like wildfire, volunteering, dropping food off, sneakers—anything you can think of! Everyone was so enthusiastic, wanting to help and be a part of it. We have a chat with over 200 participants now; It’s just so beautiful to see how the community got together on this.” Habayit now has nine furnished apartments, and four more being renovated. They are all local, so that shuls are close by, and people can help out with cooking, driving, and anything else that might be needed.

Natalie continued, “These people are coming from all over. Some as far as Israel, Mexico, Panama, and Argentina, and others from Boston, Florida, and Colorado. All of them are our brothers and sisters, far from home, and scared. When they come through our doors we can actually see it— the sigh of relief. They are thinking, ‘I don’t have to worry, I have a roof over my head and a community that’s here to help me.’ For them, this is a five-star hotel. This work we are doing, this money that’s being donated, it isn’t just paying someone’s rent. It’s changing their lives.

The coincidences keep coming. One landlord, when asked if he would be interested, replied, “When I was young, my father had cancer for nine months and we stayed in a hesed apartment in Boston. I always said NY needs a place like this, and now you got me involved.”

Messages like this flood Eva’s inbox, “There are those that do hesed, and there are those that love hesed. You are definitely one of those who loves hesed. Every detail, every show of affection and that indescribable brotherhood, make the stay of those of us who arrived, something much more beautiful and easier to carry. Infinite thanks for everything!”

With fourteen Habayit apartments you would think some would stay empty, but that’s not the case; there is actually a waiting list at times. Imagine that this organization did not exist! Elliot said, “Our guests need to concentrate on one thing—getting better. We try to take the burden off, help, however we can. I equate the work we are doing with a type of a mishkan. It gives the patient and his family a home base, a refuge, and something to be thankful for. For most, that is all they need. May everyone who stays in these apartments have a speedy recovery, and refuah shelama!”

Thank you to the Habayit Home Away from Home team: Eva Shammah, Natalie Ammar, Elliot Shelby, Regine Shrem, Lillian Srour, Ruthie Srour, Paulie Shamah, Aaron Cohen, Renee Kassin, Batya Esses, Muriel Mizrahi, Evie Daniel. And to our donors, who took the mitzvah and ran with it: Mattresses for less, Appliance Palace, Addy and Company, Light Lab, Delta Children, Community Locksmith, The Modern Mezuza, Sam Salem and Son, Ikey Locksmith and Security, Blends Décor, Betsons Furniture, Khasky, Telco, American Linen, Inspired Home, Meridian, Faux Florals, Maven Interiors, Sweet Home Collection, Art and Cook and so many more! You know who you are!

Follow on Instagram: @Habayit_ny
Donate on our website: www.habayit.org
And to volunteer, contact Regine Shrem at:
(917) 405-2316
Tizku l’mitzvot! (May you merit to do more mitzvot)

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.

F. MORGANO

ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH WERE PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE A VISIT FROM THE ESTEEMED HACHAM, RABBI YAAKOV HILLEL, THE ROSH YESHIVAH OF AHAVAT SHALOM IN ISRAEL.

The rabbi was welcomed to our yeshivah by our kindergartners, first and second graders. The third and fourth graders lined the lobby as Rabbi Mustacchi’s MDY Boy’s Choir sang a warm and beautiful rendition of Yahid El Dagul. The hacham was then led by a procession of rabbis, faculty members, and Principal Rabbi Ezra Cohen-Saban to the stage in our auditorium to address the fifth through eighth graders. The rabbi’s message to the over 400 students and faculty was to remember, honor, and respect our heritage and not to forget where we came from and to let Torah into all aspects of our lives.

“The children of the community are the future of the community. Knowing where you came from will help lead you to where you are going,” were the words at the heart of Rabbi Hillel’s message. The visit was an inspiration to our students. “The Rabbi’s visit put everything into perspective for me,” commented Nate Ben-Zken, an 8th grade student. Aaron Cohen added, “From the moment the Rabbi walked into the room, our eyes lit up like diamonds!” His visit was truly impactful on our students; they will remember this day for years to come.

At the end of his address to the elementary school students, Rabbi Hillel was joined on stage by the entire rabbanim of our school to capture this memorable and historic moment. He left the building with a throng of students and teachers surrounding him, eagerly awaiting his greetings and blessings.

This special and memorable morning at MDY came on the heels of the hacham’s visit to Magen David Yeshivah High School the day before. Rabbinical Leader Rabbi Eli J. Mansour ushered Rabbi Hillel into the midrash where the young men of the yeshivah greeted him with song before hearing his inspirational words of having patience with Torah and letting it affect all aspects of who you are, not just intellectually, but spiritually as well.

Before leaving, Rabbi Hillel spent a little time with the young ladies of the yeshivah and gave them a ‘Blessing for Queens,’ expressing how important women are for the continuation of our beautiful community and heritage.

There are great things happening at Magen David!

Frank Morgano is a veteran English Language Arts teacher of middle school students in grades 6-8 at Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School. He has over 25 years experience teaching students of all ages and levels. He also contributes articles to local publications about the happenings in and around Magen David.

FREDDY ZALTA

THE ANTICIPATION WAS BUILDING. THE THIRD ANNUAL RUTH JEROME GARDEN & POOL TOUR WAS SCHEDULED FOR 11 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND BY 10:30 THERE WERE ALREADY 40 PEOPLE MINGLING AT THE MEETING SPOT, THE SIDE YARD OF KIM AND JON KUSHNER’S HOME. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, COMMUNITY MEMBER ABE JEROME HAS PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER SO OTHERS CAN SHARE HIS MOTHER’S LOVE OF GARDENS.

As I walked around speaking to the participants of the tour, most had experienced it in the past and had brought along friends to show them how beautiful the gardens are. Prissy Sutton was very curious to visit the homes in the area since she had spent most of her life in New Orleans. Raquel Dabbah wanted to learn more about gardening. “I try but the deer always end up eating up everything.”

Everyone was admiring the beautiful, landscaped backyard, the flowers, the pool, tennis court and the playground area for the younger kids.

“I have known Abe since 1995, he was one of our first clients.” Pam Hall from Capital Gardening Products said. “He is a wonderful, generous person and an incredibly talented artist.”

Mayor Sam Cohen of Deal said, “Abe wanted me to make the introduction, but he truly does not need one. I have known him for over 20 years and what you see is what you get. He is incredibly talented, generous with his time and never ceases to amaze with his creativity.”

Everyone paid attention when Abe began to speak. “Welcome to the Third Annual Ruth Jerome Garden and Pool Tour. I just want to give you some background on the tour you are about to experience. I used to travel with my parents and every trip involved visiting local beautiful gardens. My mother loved gardens and all kinds of outdoor spaces. So instead of a plaque or a bunch of books with her name, I wanted people to have an experience that was reminiscent of my mom and her love for the outdoors.”

As we traveled from one home to another, Abe would describe the beautiful landscapes to us. He would point out the garden design and the history of each site. He found a way to describe the details and to make it interesting and even invigorating.

He explained that “this tour has become a must, and has grown in popularity with each yearly event. The first year there were 80 participants wearing masks on a 98˚ day. This year we thought we would have 75 people, 100, at most, but we actually had 170 people show up and we had to turn people away.

Abe’s clients spoke about his talent and dedication.The mind of an artist is a mind that never rests. Gayle Krost remembers when he worked on the landscaping of her home. “When he works on a project, he lives and breathes it. One day he called me and said, ‘I was sleeping last night and I thought, you know where we’re putting that tile? I want to add some mirror in there, so that you see the reflection of the arborvitae.’”

The owners of the homes we visited were generous to allow a group of almost 200 people to walk around and learn about their homes. Thank you to Kim and Jon Kushner, Annie and Elliot Azrak, Lisa and Lee Cohen, Renee and Albert Laboz, Rachel and Jeff Sutton, Marilyn and Joey Harary, Shella and Toby Cohen.

At the conclusion of the tour each participant was given a denim bag provided by Tile Bar which was filled with a throw from the Turkish Towel Collection, and a natural spray from Mario Badescu. What people really wanted was to sign up for the next event for the summer!

Freddy Zalta is a biographer for hire.

NO ONE BRINGS THE ENERGY, THE CROWD, THE UNITY OR THE LOVE LIKE OUR OWN YAAKOV SHWEKEY

SOPHIA FRANCO

AS MANY OF US WERE PACKING UP, PREPARING FOR THE LAST WEEK OF SUMMER 2022, YAAKOV SHWEKEY AND THE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CENTER WERE PREPARING AS WELL—TO MAKE IT A SUMMER WE’D NEVER FORGET.

Years ago, as I sat in a doctor’s office striking up conversation with a frum assistant at the front desk, Yaakov’s name came up. Bragging, just a little, I said “I write lyrics for Yaakov Shwekey. You know, ‘We are a Miracle,’ and ‘I Can Be;’ I wrote those…” The woman proceeded to get up off her chair and wrap her arms around me in a hug I neither anticipated nor expected. She said, “When my mom was in the hospital, Yaakov’s music saved her. It really did. It gave her strength and happiness—it gave her the chizuk (emotional or spiritual support), and the push she needed to fight. G-d bless her, to this day, it brings a smile to her face like nothing else. Can you tell him I said thank you?”

To think about what goes into a night like this—the hundreds of staff members, the commitment of the Deal Police and Homeland Security, the helicopters flying above—this was not an easy feat to pull off! But as promised, on Wednesday, August 31st, Yaakov Shwekey delivered an evening of entertainment to a sold-out venue, second to none. The weather was perfection. The crowds arrived early, anticipation in the air and enthusiasm at their feet. The special children were ready and waiting, bright yellow t-shirts and smiles in tow. The counselors, each incredible one of them, were as fired up as the kids. With the lights and sounds in place, the guests arrived by car, bike and on foot to get up close and personal with a man, who is for many, their hero. Six thousand four hundred people came from near and far to reverberate that woman’s, “Thank You” to Yaakov Shwekey. And when he arrived on stage, the love for him and his music was palpable.

Every age, from tiny babies sporting giant headphones, to teenagers sporting glitter, to grandparents sporting energy they didn’t know they had, and everyone in between, filled the incredible space. This is what is beautiful about Yaakov’s music. He sings to you, and he sings to me. He sings to the mother of a special child, and he sings to a cancer patient struggling to push through one more day of misery to get to the other side. The music is the cure and the calm, and to hear it live—in person—is just an experience like no other.

When I arrived, I went straight to the kids. Olivia, Joyce, Emily, and Ruthie—all my old friends were jumping and swaying to the beats. And then, I met some new friends too! Tammy, Shana, Yehuda, Abby—so many new faces. Each of them beautiful, each of them special, and each of them alive with the electricity of the night. This is how I first met Yaakov, through these incredible kids. Jenine Shwekey and Chaya Bender welcomed me with open arms. “You’re here!” they said. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Once the concert started, we were in it—totally inside the music. Smoke poured out from the stage; lights flashed, and when Yaakov shouted out my name as the notes and “na na na’s” from “I Can Be” filled the air, the people around me exploded into cheers. The song is not new, but it sounded fresh and alive as the very first time at that moment. As I walked through the crowd, you could feel it- the camaraderie beaming—the energy and the vibration pumping. Everyone knows the words to every song—each person singing to the person next to them, “Fighter,” “It Could be You,” “Et Rikod,” and so many other hits. The sincerity of “A Mother’s Promise,” hit home, as Yaakov sat on a stool and quietly belted out the deep hearted ballad. Even the policemen and women perched throughout the arena were loving the night. “This is magnificent,” one officer told me. “They don’t even get these kinds of crowds when Bruce plays at the Stone Pony!” This chain of love, this music—it connected the crowd—huge as it was—creating a commonality—a harmony, to use a word perfectly suited to this night.

G-d bless Yaakov for sharing his gift of music with us. G-d bless him more for sharing it with the special children. As they mouth the lyrics, shake their hips and clap their hands I watch, with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. This is what it’s all about. Young and old, weak and strong, we are all one. And the music reminds us of that, always.

We could not have done this massive event without our amazing dream team: Harry Adjmi, Richie Dweck, Elliot Tawil, Elliot Aizer, David Hillel, Bella Levitan, and Yitzy Shoner!

Scan this QR code to see a video of the concert and feel like you were there.

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.

Photos by eitan berlin

ONCE AGAIN, THE DEAL COMMUNITY CAME OUT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN OF CHAI LIFELINE AS “CAMP SIMCHA WITHOUT BORDERS – SIMCHA AT THE SHORE” CAME TO TOWN. LAUNCHED IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CAMP SIMCHA WITHOUT BORDERS WAS DEVELOPED TO BRING THE MAGIC OF SIMCHA TO CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH DAY CAMPS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS IN CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

Jack Tabbush, director of Camp Simcha Without Borders, describes a particularly close bond between Chai Lifeline and the Deal community. “We are delighted to partner with the community here in Deal to bring simcha and joy to children who need it most,” he said. “Sephardic community members have been longtime supporters of Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha, and we look forward to strengthening that bond and doing more to help all children and families in need.”

The boys camp, hosted at the home of Shmuel and Victoria Kairy, was held on July 21 while the girls day took place later in the summer at the home of Ricky and Jamie Cohen.

Simcha at the Shore opened with a series of activity stations and carnival games ranging from caricature artists to cotton candy and cookie booths, exotic car rides, an art booth, laser tag and much more.

“Aside from giving these kids a great time at the Jersey Shore, Camp Simcha Without Borders helps showcase the impactful and critical programs of Chai Lifeline,” said Lee Cohen, a Chai Lifeline liaison to the Syrian community. “It’s important for our community to not only support this wonderful organization but to be aware of all they have to offer should any family require their professional services.”

After a fully catered lunch and concert featuring Uri Davidi and Nechemia Katz, the water activities came out, followed by a ventriloquist show and barbecue. Tables filled with gifts, toys and games donated by the community made sure that children didn’t leave empty-handed.

“Programs like Camp Simcha Without Borders and Deal Day exemplify Chai Lifeline’s community-based approach to care and services,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “We are able to accomplish all that we do for children and families impacted by illness and crisis because of the support of our community, and there has been no better friend to Chai Lifeline over the years than the Syrian community.”

Chai Lifeline is an international children’s health support network, providing social, emotional, and practical support to children, families and communities impacted by illness, crisis, and loss. To learn more about Chai Lifeline, visit www.chailifeline.org.