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.

SBH AND ITS TEAM OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE ALWAYS RISEN TO THE CALL OF DUTY, MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW. MOST RECENTLY, ONE THAT HAS COME TO THE FOREFRONT IS THE NEED TO ADDRESS CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE, A SILENT CRISIS AFFECTING CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

It is this need that has led to the expansion of Courage to Heal (CTH), SBH’s comprehensive program focused on providing therapeutic intervention to support survivors and abuse prevention through education.

By seeking support from SBH, survivors will not only receive professional support, but also a comprehensive plan of care utilizing the many programs and services we offer to create a holistic plan of recovery. “We at SBH have done extensive research to build a team of best-in-class professionals with which to offer a full, 360-degree solution to deal with prevention, education, training and awareness, as well as offering therapeutic support from highly-trained clinicians along with highly-trained community volunteers,” said SBH President David J. Beyda, who has made the expansion of CTH one of the organization’s top priorities.

CTH offers support to survivors of sexual abuse through our counseling center, which is staffed by a cohort of trained trauma-informed clinicians under the supervision of Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Dr. Gavriel Fagin, an expert in the treatment of sexual abuse. “I feel privileged and honored to be part of a team that is helping to train and prepare the next generation of therapists to address sexual abuse in our community,” said Dr. Fagin, who serves as Clinical Consultant for Courage to Heal.

Our preventive approach offers extensive educational training to the community and its institutions. Through our partnership with Magen Yeladim, a program created by internationally-recognized trauma professional Debbie Fox, LCSW, CTH will educate teachers, school and camp administrators, parents, students, and rabbis on ways to prevent cases from occurring and how to empower survivors to ask for help. “Developing comprehensive prevention services, trauma-focused intervention for children, teens and adults, community awareness programs for camps, schools, shuls and rabbinic leadership are all facets of a comprehensive program that many have dreamed of for years,” continued Dr. Fagin. “And now, SBH is actualizing this dream.”

SBH is working with the support of SIMHA and SAFE to offer this level of education, guidance and resources to our community. “It was truly encouraging to see how SBH took the lead on this sensitive subject, enlisting the best people in this field, looking for the best practices and building on the experience of other communities that have been successful in this area,” said Rabbi David Sutton, Director and Co-Founder of SIMHA. Many of our community’s rabbinical leaders have endorsed the program, demonstrating their understanding of the sensitivity and urgency of this silent crisis. “The ability for them to galvanize many community rabbis around this cause was very heartening and I am sure with this communal force we will be able to alleviate some of the pain and prevent it from happening in the future,” said Rabbi Sutton.

In addition, Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman, clinical psychologist and Director of the Rabbinic Clinical Training Program for SIMHA, is consulting for the SBH CTH team to help implement the best preventative and clinical training for the community. “Research and experience clearly demonstrate that the most efficient way to enhance a community’s safety and prevent abuse is to unite all of the stakeholders in their mission to address these critical issues,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “It is incredibly heartening and inspiring to see the Syrian community mobilizing and uniting in this effort; Rabbinic, organizational professional, and lay leadership are working in tandem, with SBH at the helm, to bring the best prevention and intervention professionals and methods to aid the community.”

It is our hope that survivors will see our collaborative efforts as a unified front as encouragement to reach out for help, echoed SAFE founder and CEO Ike Dweck. “SAFE is proud to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative, working together to provide our community with much needed support for victims and preventative programs to protect our children,” he said. “Together we can destigmatize abuse and help community members rebuild their lives.”

With the support of our team of professionals, including Shlomo Lieberman, LCSW, director of the Mental Health Division, Dr. Susan Schmool, director of the Mental Health Resource, Dr. Ayla Sitt, CTH chair, and Cara M. R. London, LMSW, trauma therapist and CTH coordinator, SBH is fully-equipped to serve as a trusted resource to protect our community. “Courage to Heal is not the type of program we ever want to believe is necessary, but in the event that it is, SBH is ready to help,” said Beyda.

To get help for yourself or someone you know, or to schedule a training for your community institution, contact Courage to Heal at 718-787-0009 or cth@sbhonline.org. All calls and emails are kept strictly confidential.

DSN’S BIGGER-THAN-EVER INTERSESSION PROGRAMS ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMUNITY’S GROWTH AND, BY EXTENSION, DSN’S GROWTH—DISPELLING THE MYTH THAT EVERYONE GOES AWAY DURING WINTER BREAK. NOT ONLY WAS DSN OPEN, BUT IT OFFERED A FULL ARRAY OF TRIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT KEPT 150 CHILDREN LAUGHING AND SMILING.

Lily Ades, a DSN mother, sent her children David and Isaac, on DSN’s Trip to Slimeworld and they had so much fun. “I feel like I send my kids to every single DSN program offered. There is nothing more rewarding as a mom than having your kids able to play together in a safe and fun environment. I trust DSN entirely to give my kids a great time and keep them safe and happy. We love being a part of this wonderful organization.”

The intersession trips were designed to be wholesome and thrilling. Climbzone, for example, taught an important life lesson, that when you fall you get back up again. Skyzone had trampolines, a foam pit, climbing walls, and a playground center area to ensure a fantastic time. Slimeworld was a big hit, as children were allowed to make slime, pick their own colors and even bring it home. Plus, there was a slew of in-house programming for the younger grades, including the popular Lego Day.

Simcha Debbah sent her daughter Hannah to the programs. She was happy to report that “Hannah came home very happy. Slimeworld was particularly cool. I just recently had a baby, but wanted her to get out, have fun, be with other kids and experience new environments. It was a big deal to send my 4 year old on a trip, but I felt comfortable sending her because the DSN staff are always on top of everything,”

Intersession programs are a huge relief to parents, since school is closed. It was a lifesaver for so many of them. Nicole Schloss sent her son on the trip to Skyzone. “He had a great time and it was so nice for him to have this during intersession. It was necessary. I am so happy because I don’t know what I would have done otherwise!”

The program was run by the newest addition to the DSN dream team staff, DSN’s Assistant Youth Director Renee Tawil. She had already been a part of DSN for several years, working as a summer camp morah for 3 year olds. Her hard-working nature and kind demeanor was recognized as a perfect fit, culminating in a promotion to her current role. DSN’s Youth Program Director, Frieda Shamah, works very closely with her. “Renee has been a tremendous addition to our DSN family. She ran the intersession programs with perfect execution. We are fortunate to have her!”

Renee said she is enjoying her work with the community and specifically at DSN. “I truly love everything I do, working at DSN. I am learning so much. The intersession programs were very successful, thank G-d. I saw lots of friends coming together, as well as new friendships forming. They had a blast!”

DSN’s Executive Director Sammy Sitt summarized, “DSN is so fortunate to have the ability to entertain and educate our children. Intersession programs provided them with trips and programs without them having to leave the state. Now, with the addition of the amazing Renee Tawil to the Youth Department, DSN can offer superior and expanded programming to service our community the only way we know how—the best way. May Hashem continue to bless DSN and our wonderful dream team staff to do more and more for the best community in the world!”

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

ELLEN ADES

DEBORAH HADDAD SHICHAT IS AN IMPRESSIVE ENTREPRENEUR. SHE CREATED A UNIQUE BEAUTY SERVICE, CATERS TO A GLOBAL CLIENTELE AND ACHIEVES 100% CLIENT SATISFACTION. ALTHOUGH SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM NEW JERSEY, HER FAMILY MADE ALIYAH.

Deborah finished her education, married and is raising her two girls with her husband in Israel. Anyone who lives there knows it is not easy building a successful business in Israel.

Her achievement warranted a closer look. When I asked her how she came up with the idea and launched her skin care consultancy business, she explained that it started organically. ‘‘One day I looked in the mirror and didn’t like the way my skin appeared,” she said. After the great attention and money spent caring for her face it didn’t make sense. At the time she thought, “Either skin care products are a scam or I’ve been doing something wrong.”

That thought propelled her into extensive research, reading, following respected chemists, dermatologists as well as skin care product formulators. Then, using what she learned, she began putting together a different regimen for her own face which resulted in great looking skin. At that point, Deborah began to put together regimens for family and friends and they were amazed by the improvements. Buoyed by the consistent results achieved, she began putting together care programs for anyone who asked. She was not charging people for her service.
You might say Deborah doesn’t rush into anything. She is analytical and methodical. Therefore, she proceeded to enroll in a two year program at one of Israel’s finest academies to become a licensed paramedical esthetician. Then, after 628 hours of rigorous training, she received her license. GLO with Deb was born out of her desire to show all women everywhere how to use everyday products to maintain their skin so it looks great. Then, she began charging clients for her expertise.

In her first year, Deborah acquired over fifty clients. Most were women who noticed their skin wasn’t looking quite as good as it did previously. Women might not want to initiate surgical interventions especially when they are younger, but they do want to take care of their skin in the best way possible. Another but smaller category are women who have skin conditions that require them to seek out unique beauty regimens. Men also care about their skin and do seek skin care regimens as well.

Her business is virtual. She sells no products and does not earn a cent from any company or product line. She continually researches all the off-the-shelf formulations available in the client’s country, respects the client’s budget, and puts together a winning regimen every time.

Her clients are primarily located in Europe, the United States and Israel, but she has catered to clientele from countries outside of these areas as well.

People who engage Deborah see improvements. They tend to return after one year. Sometimes there are changes to a client’s environment, weather, diet or the products themselves. Any of these changes might affect the skin’s appearance. Sometimes a woman just wants to freshen up her regimen. The important thing is that they return because they got results the first time and want to keep their skin looking great.

Deborah said, “In business, a professional appearance is essential. The first thing people see is your face. If your skin looks great, you feel more confident, you make a better impression, you are more successful.” It was this thinking that moved her to expand her offerings. She caters to individuals but has recently introduced several corporate programs as well. When I asked what surprised her most, she said it was that women enthusiastically accepted a virtual skin care service.

Deborah’s biggest challenge was product availability. Some Asian products are not available in some countries, and sometimes there are shipping limits on certain brands and products. She has met these issues by identifying equally good products that are available in the client’s country. She related, “I remember having a client in Europe who needed to be able to find all her recommended products locally. I did the research and identified the items she needed that she could buy off-the-shelf in her local municipality.”

That’s why Deborah and her consultancy business are unique. There are so many products and companies out there vying to earn your dollars. Deborah studies her client’s skin and researches the products; by virtue of her training, experience and client input, she distills the information to deliver results, every time.

To learn more, you can visit @GLOwithdeb or GLOwithdeb.com.

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

Ellen Ades is a PROPEL career coach.

TO LOCK IN BEFORE YOU FILE

Ari Baum, CFP®

ARE YOU PAYING MORE THAN YOUR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES? MANY AMERICANS PAY TOO MUCH WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT. DESPITE THESE HEADWINDS AFFECTING YOUR MONEY, YOU KNOW YOU MUST PAY YOUR TAXES. THERE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT WEALTH-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES “HIDING” INSIDE YOUR TAXES. All YOU NEED TO KNOW IS WHERE TO START DIGGING.

3 ways you can profit from rising inflation
As the cost of everything from groceries to gas goes up, many Americans are feeling the pressure of rising inflation. But there’s good news. You may be able to profit from rising inflation.

1. Your Social Security Increase
   The Social Security Administration is increasing cost of living adjustment (COLA) payments by 8.7% in 2023 to move with current inflation.
2. Better Deductions For Everyone
   The IRS has increased the amount of the standard deduction and expanded the tax brackets. This means you could potentially pay the same tax rate even if you make more money this year. The income for exemption from Alternative Minimum Tax is higher and phases out at a higher income too.
3. Increased Contribution Room
   The IRS has also increased the amount you can contribute to your retirement plans, as well as the income phase-out for Roth IRAs.
   Are you ready to take advantage of these inflation-adjusted benefits?
   Act fast to tap into extra after-tax money (while you can). As a high-income earner, the tax deduction for your retirement contributions is extremely valuable in helping you lower your taxes every year. But this money is fully taxable on withdrawal, so what happens when you start taking it out after retirement?
   Given all the uncertainty, 2023 could be a great year for converting some of your pretax retirement money in a 401(k) or IRA into a Roth. Conversion makes sense when:
4. Your income drops during the year.
5. You believe taxes will be higher by the time you retire.
6. You want to “fill up” your expanded tax bracket because you think your taxes will be higher in the future.
   If your 401(k) or similar employer retirement plan allows, you could even be eligible for a “backdoor Roth” where you add after-tax money to your pretax plan and immediately convert it to a Roth. Between your salary deferrals, employer match, catch-up contributions, and after-tax money, you’re allowed to contribute up to $66,000.

DISCOVER BURIED TAX SAVINGS BY BUNDLING YOUR DEDUCTIONS
It’s tax season outside. Tax deductions that wealthy people have relied on for years such as state and local tax deductions, including mortgage interest and charitable deductions, were seriously cut back through the TCJA of 2017.
Depending on your financial and portfolio situation, it might make sense to accelerate your mortgage payments. You might even consider paying off more of your mortgage and retiring the debt now that the tax deduction for mortgage interest is capped.
Now that the standard deduction is higher for 2023 ($27,700 if you’re married and filing jointly), you’ll need to be thoughtful about deductions that you can bundle to be able to itemize, like:

1. Charitable deductions: Pack several years of donations together and make sure you get receipts.
2. Prepaid property taxes: As long as your local taxing authority bills your 2024 property taxes before December 31, 2023, and you pay them before the end of 2023, you can claim the deduction in 2023.
3. Unreimbursed medical expenses: Consider accelerating or grouping medical procedures to help get over the 7.5% AGI floor in the same tax year.
   Not only does this have to be done before you file, you need to take care of it before December 31st.
   Amplify your tax savings with strategic investment decisions
   Some types of assets perform better in one type of account over another. Investing your assets with purpose can potentially help you lower your tax bill.
   Here are some examples of what this tax-saving strategy can look like:
4. If you have an employer retirement plan: If your plan allows, why not max out after-tax contributions?
5. If you’re self-employed or own your own business, make sure you have the right retirement plan. 401(k)s, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs have different tax-deductible options.
6. 529 college savings plans: They’re not just for college kids, and you can be the beneficiary and the owner to capture tax-free withdrawals.
7. If you have a high deductible health care plan, you can leverage HSAs to cover medical expenses and invest for the future.
   It’s critical to extract as many tax deferral opportunities as possible from your investments before you file AND before lawmakers eliminate the tax advantages of each strategy.

CONSIDER THESE ADVANCED MOVES BEFORE YOU FILE
These tips are advanced and complex techniques that could help you wring every opportunity out of this tax year, but you need to be careful and coordinate your tax strategies in the context of your overall financial plan.
Here are some examples of what this tax-saving strategy can look like:

1. Take some of your capital gains off the table: If your portfolio strategy supports it, you may want to consider selling assets that have gained value to lock in your gains.
2. Realize capital losses: If you have assets in your portfolio that no longer fit your goals, selling them and realizing the losses will allow you to offset some or all of your gains. Details matter a lot here, so be sure to get advice on matching short– and long-term gains and losses.
3. Convert Traditional retirement money to Roth: Roth conversions reduce the amount of Traditional money that you’re forced to take RMDs on, plus the money comes out tax-free on withdrawal as long as you play by the rules.
4. Characterize income as capital gains: Take advantage of current low capital gains tax rates, especially with things like employer stock options.
   These hidden tax-saving opportunities can help you build wealth but be conscientious. You could create an explosive financial disaster if they aren’t carried out with awareness of the parameters and laws surrounding them. I strongly recommend you seek the help of a financial professional before jumping in.

The content aterial 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.

ROCHEL GROSZ

IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, THE TRUCKS START ROLLING IN. ONE TRUCK IS FROM SDEROT, ANOTHER FROM THE NORTH AND SEVERAL FROM COMPANIES IN JERUSALEM. THE WAREHOUSE BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH TONS OF PRODUCE, LITERALLY TONS. BASIC FOOD PRODUCTS PILED HIGH READY TO BE SORTED, SO BY WEDNESDAY THE SYMPHONY BEGINS.

It is a symphony of logistics, where hundreds of volunteers seamlessly gather, pack and distribute food for over 300,000 people. What could easily be a nightmare is genius organization in action.

How is this possible?

“I’ve been volunteering for Yad Ezra V’Shulamit for over 10 years now. I feel great helping people get the basic food they need. It’s the highlight of my week,” stated Avi Shalom.

Avi is one of hundreds of volunteers that come out every week to make a difference in the lives of the over 2,000,000 poor people in Israel. “We couldn’t get food to people for Pesach without our volunteers,” said CEO Eli Kafif.

He continued, “The army sends troops to pack, people volunteer to deliver food packages to those who can’t pick them up, seminary students, tourists and everyday people all go the extra nine yards and make this work.”

The organization usually delivers 12,000 food baskets weekly so the infrastructure is a well-oiled system. Still, getting all the baskets and vouchers into the right hands is a logistical feat. Scheduling deliveries and pickups and keeping track of recipients requires a cadre of helpers and equipment. All must work in perfectly-coordinated tandem to get food to needy people on time for the Passover Seder.

Today, with more than one-third of all Israeli children living under the poverty line, Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has their hands full. In fact, thousands of people are on a waiting list for additional food baskets.

The world views Israel as an affluent nation, but according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Israel is 36th out of 37 countries with the most hungry children, only ahead of Costa Rica. With high taxes due to high security needs, even middle-class families are barely making it—especially with the price hikes over the past year.

“We don’t make ends meet in a normal month. How on earth can we make Pesach, which requires so much more,” one recipient exclaimed, “Yad Ezra V’Shulamit gives us a basket every week, but the Pesach basket really saves the holiday.”

With prices skyrocketing, and the number of poor growing daily, it seems the judicial crisis and politics should pale in comparison to our children going hungry. And yet, those other news stories overshadow the real problems facing Israel’s poor.

“I want to be part of the solution. I remember when I didn’t have enough to eat and now that I’m better off, I want to help those who aren’t making it. I know what it is like. I feel like this is my way of paying back what people did for me,” said Joseph Sultan, a volunteer for decades.

POVERTY IS REAL IN ISRAEL
So what does poverty mean in real terms to poor families? It means children go to bed hungry. Kids go to school without lunch. They can’t learn properly. Many act out inappropriately because of their hunger.

Families under the poverty line are eating pasta and white bread as their meals. Sisters go to school on alternate days because they share a coat. Children wear sandals all year, or shoes that are torn, or too tight, because they can’t afford new ones.

Yael, a widow who cleans houses to support her children and is a recipient of a food basket, said, “If not for the weekly food box we receive from Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, I would not have anything to put on the table.”

This hurts all of us. Is this our responsibility? Yes. We need to step up to the plate and help get food to the poor in Israel—especially the children.

WHAT CAN WE DO?
Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, distributes more food baskets than any other organization in Israel. Take a look at their website and see where you can help. The government needs to do much more, but we also need to do more.

This is a call to every person who cares about Israel, and her future. Are these not our children? Do something to feed Israel’s hungry children—especially for Pesach.To help visit www.yadezra.net/food.

Rochel Grosz is a Los Angeles native who made Aliyah in 2021. She profiles non-profits who make a difference.

Rabbis from 25 countries on five continents attended the Annual Shehebar Sephardic Center (SSC) Rabbinical Conference, which focused on the life and teachings of the late Hakham Ovadia Yosef zt”l. Held in the SSC’s new building in the Old City, the current and past chief rabbis of Israel came to pay respect to the memory of Rabbi Yosef.

SARINA ROFÉE

I ALWAYS LOVE TO FIND NEW RECIPES, ESPECIALLY DESSERT RECIPES FOR PASSOVER. NEW TO ME ITEMS ON STORE SHELVES—LIKE ALMOND FLOUR AND ALMOND MILK, MAKE IT EASIER THAN EVER TO BAKE NEW DESSERTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE TRUTH IS ALMOND FLOUR CAN BE SUBSTITUTED FOR FLOUR IN ALMOST ANY RECIPE. THE ALMOND FLOUR GIVES COOKIES A CHEWY, YET SLIGHTLY CRUNCHY TEXTURE.

Even if you are away for the holidays, you will find these recipes easy to prepare. My Meringue Chocolate Cake is rich but not sweet and the marble look on top looks sophisticated. It doesn’t take a lot to achieve this masterpiece. Almond Flour Thumbprint cookies are made with just six simple ingredients. I like them because they don’t require a mixer, looks beautiful and the ingredients are simple. They’re festive and perfect for the holidays. The Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies are awesome with that after dinner mint tea or to take as a snack with a brown bag lunch. My Nut-Covered Cookies use more traditional Passover baking ingredients.

MERINGUE CHOCOLATE CAKE
Ingredients
10 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 TBS neutral oil like grapeseed or avocado
¼ C strong coffee
1 ½ tsp salt
5 large eggs separated, at room temperature
1 C sugar, divided
2 tsp vanilla extract
¾ almond flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush 9 inch springform with oil, cover with parchment paper, and
   brush parchment paper with oil.
2. In a heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water, add chocolate, oil coffee,
   and salt. The bowl should not touch the water. Use a rubber spatula to stir occasionally until the
   chocolate is melted and smooth.
3. Remove from heat and add egg yolks, vanilla and ¼ C sugar. Whisk to combine. Add almond
   flour and continue whisking. Add ¼ C water and whisk. Mixture should look smooth and glossy.
4. In mixer, whisk egg whites on low speed with a dash of salt until frothy. Increase speed to
   medium high for about 30 seconds until foamy and opaque looking. Gradually add in ¾ C sugar
   in slow stream. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat.
   Meringue should be glossy.
5. Reserve 1 C meringue and set aside. Fold the remaining meringue a little at a time into
   chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Take the remaining meringue and dollop spoonfuls
   on top of chocolate mixture. Use a knife or chopstick to swirl into batter and create the marble
   effect.
6. Bake 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Loosen sides if stuck. Let cool
   in pan.

ALMOND FLOUR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Ingredients
¾ C unsalted butter
¾ C brown sugar
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 Egg and 1 yolk
3 C blanched almond flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 ¼ C semisweet chocolate chips

1. Beat butter and sugar together using a mixer until soft and well blended.
2. Add vanilla, egg, yolk and combine with mixer.
3. Blend dry ingredients in a bowl and use a whisk to loosen. Mix into butter mixture and fold in
   chips. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
5. Place dough on cookie sheet in spoonful, separating by a few inches in rows.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes.

ALMOND FLOUR THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Ingredients
1 C finely ground almond flour
3 TBS softened butter
3 TBS maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
3 TBS jam, homemade or store-bought

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix almond flour, softened butter, maple syrup, vanilla and salt in a small bowl until a
   cohesive dough forms.
3. Roll a tablespoon of dough into balls. Place the dough on the baking sheet and use your
   thumb or finger to create a thumbprint in the middle of each cookie. Add 1/2-1 teaspoon of
   jam to the indentation.
4. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until they start to turn golden brown on the bottom.
   Remove from tray to cool.

NUT-COVERED COOKIES
Ingredients
2 eggs
2 TBS potato starch
1 C cake meal
½ C oil
¾ C sugar
½ C chopped nuts
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cocoa powder
Directions

1. Beat eggs and sugar.
2. Add oil, cake meal and potato starch
3. Let stand in refrigerator for about 2 hours.
4. Form into 1-inch balls; roll in chopped nuts
5. Add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and sugar to the chopped nuts.
6. Add 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder to the doughBake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 for 20 minutes until lightly brown. Remove from oven and cool.
   
   Sarina Roffé is author of Branching Out from Sepharad (NY, Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017); Backyard Kitchen: Mediterranean Salads (NY, Sephardic Heritage Project, 2016), and Backyard Kitchen: the Min Course (NY, Sephardic Heritage Project, 2020). Visit her website sarinassephardiccuisine.com.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO SOY SAUCE

LAURA SHAMMAH MS, RDN

ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE SOME HEALTHY CHANGING IN YOUR PANTRY BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO START? ONE QUICK SMALL CHANGE YOU CAN MAKE IS SWAPPING SOY SAUCE FOR COCONUT AMINOS. COCONUT AMINOS ARE A LIQUID MADE FROM THE AGED SAP OF COCONUT BLOSSOMS AND SALT. IT IS A LOW-GLYCEMIC, VEGAN, AND GLUTEN-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO SOY SAUCE, WITH 17 AMINO ACIDS.

REASONS TO SWITCH COCONUT AMINOS
• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
• Soy sauce is made from GM soy.
• Some people are allergic to soy.
• Most soy sauces contain gluten. Coconut aminos offers a gluten- free option
• Coconut aminos have 65% less sodium than regular soy sauce.
• Coconut aminos add a savory, salty flavor to meals and are naturally vegan.

Now I know everyone’s next question is going to be: Are Bragg Liquid Aminos healthy?

Compared to liquid aminos, the coconut version is a decidedly better choice. Although Bragg’s Liquid Aminos contains less sodium than soy sauce, aminos from coconut are a much more desirable choice.

MSG IN SOY SAUCE, LIQUID AMINOS AND COCONUT AMINOS
Both soy sauce and liquid aminos contain MSG or glutamate. Coconut aminos do too—if fermented. The difference is that traditional soy sauce and coconut aminos (from Coconut Secret) contain glutamate via a natural fermentation process. It appears that Bragg coconut aminos does not contain glutamate as it is not fermented and there are no added MSG or MSG containing ingredients.

In comparison, liquid aminos contain MSG derived from the highly industrialized process of hydrolyzing soy protein. Hence, the glutamate in fermented coconut aminos is safer and likely better tolerated than the manufactured MSG in liquid aminos. For those susceptible even to the small amounts of glutamate or histamines in fermented foods, the unfermented Bragg coconut liquid aminos is a better choice than Coconut Secret.

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.

A NEW MIKVAH IN BROOKLYN

FREDDY ZALTA

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LAWS IN JUDAISM IS THE WOMAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF FAMILY PURITY. ACCORDING TO THE TALMUD, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A MIKVAH RANKS EVEN HIGHER IN JEWISH LAW THAN THAT OF HAVING A SYNAGOGUE.

Each month, following a woman’s menstrual cycle, she has the mitzvah to submerge in a ritual bath in order to purify herself. Since it is required that a woman immerse after nightfall, it makes it a little more difficult for various reasons.

Parking can be a major issue especially after nightfall, so the The Mikvah in Crown Heights (TMICH) has an entrance level parking garage which leads directly into the building—all monitored by state-of-the-art security systems.

The Mikvah boasts 28 rooms and four separate mikvahs, covering over 23,000+ sq. ft. The facility offers the ambiance of a luxury spa, together with unique amenities designed to ensure a seamless and dignified experience.

TMICH has created a system where one can make a reservation, walk in and be greeted by the hostess, and go straight to her assigned room—from the front entrance or straight from the parking level.

The immersion into the mikvah is valid only when the waters of the mikvah cover each and every part of the body including each strand of hair. With this in mind, what the TMICH has done is create an oasis for the women. Prior to the immersion each woman is given her own room to prepare for the ritual. Once prepared she presses a button on a digital tablet which alerts her attendant that she is ready for the immersion. The attendant then leads her to the mikvah.

With its plush five star luxury accommodations, its state-of-the-art security and its emphasis on privacy it not only makes the law easy to follow, but it takes the beauty of the law and raises it to a higher level.

Each mikvah around the world has its unique charm. The TMICH prides itself on its attention to detail. Each of the four extra large immersion pools are in a room decorated with unique, ornate mosaic tiles, heated floors and steps leading into the gleaming clear water.

Cleanliness is not an option, it’s a requirement. Everything in the building is spotless—from the parking garage to the boiler room, from the waiting area to the preparation room. They all truly possess the feel of a luxury spa.

One woman who attends the Mikvah each month said, “For a mitzvah that I have constantly been on the brink of not following, TMICH has brought me back time and again. The friendliness of each staff member, the cleanliness, organization and the lack of judgment from others, truly has made me excited to attend each month. Thank you for giving me the chance to follow this beautiful law.”

Another woman stated, “A friend of mine and her daughter were feeling that Judaism was treating women like second class citizens. When I brought them to Crown Heights to visit, the last place they went to see was the Mikvah. She told me that seeing the care and love put into building the mikvah, for the luxury and comfort of the women, has taught her the beauty of the Taharat Hamishpacha (family purity). She now sees the important role Judaism places on women. This has sparked a newfound love of the Torah and the community.”

This is the main goal of the Mikvah in Crown Heights which was built in honor of the Rebbe and the Rebetzin, Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt’l and his wife Chaya Mushka A”H. The builders worked closely with women from the community to ensure a mikvah as close to perfection as possible, to make it an appealing destination for the women to participate in this beautiful mitzvah. Seeing their dream come to fruition, what they have built is a beautiful testament to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin in whose memory and honor this mikveh was built.

The Mikvah in Crown Heights is located at 1508 Carroll Street. Visit themikvah.info for more information or all (718) 301-7030.

Freddy Zalta is a community member, a biographer and an author for hire.

A TRADITION LESS TALKED ABOUT

SARINA ROFFÉ

THE THINGS WE DO AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, AND THE ACTIONS WE TAKE, ALL FORM US AS HUMAN BEINGS. IT COULD BE EATING ICE CREAM CAKE ON BIRTHDAYS, HAVING BARBECUES ON SUNDAYS, OR SPECIAL VISITS TO GRANDMA.

When I was little, my father, Abe Missry A”H, and all his siblings and their children, would visit his parents, Joseph A”H and Frieda Missry A”H, our Sito and Gido, at their apartment on Avenue P in Bensonhurst.

Gido would sit in the corner in a big wing chair, and the children would kiss his hand. Sito would be making sure there were fruit and nuts out for snacks. It was through these visits that the 33 grandchildren knew and bonded with each other, learned to respect and honor our elders and had relationships with our grandparents.

Traditions are patterns of thought or behaviors either religious or social, passed from one generation to the next through practice and repetition. A tradition can be baking certain foods at holidays or at certain times of the year; or practices, such as how we clean our homes before Passover. Such annual traditions are part of every family.

A very small but incredibly significant family tradition among the women in Syrian Jewish families is the ‘family shawl,’ handed down generation to generation among the women. I am a journalist and historian, known as an expert in Sephardic history, and I have never seen this particular tradition written about or even spoken of. It just is. I share it with IMAGE readers from my book L’Dor V’Dor; Tracing the Missry Family Heritage, which outlines the stories from my family and our genealogy.

The family shawl is not for prayer, nor is it a simple head covering. The family shawl is fancy, carefully sewn with pure gold thread, often made with lace. It may have other ornamentation, embroidery or adornment.

The family shawl in the Missry family has been handed down for at least 150 years. It was worn by my great-great grandmother when she carried my paternal grandfather Joseph Nissim Missry A”H, for his brit in late August 1891.

The shawl is worn only when the grandmother carries an eight-day-only newborn son for his brit milah, or in the case of a firstborn son, during the pidyon haben, when he is redeemed by the Cohen.

The shawl is a family heirloom. My husband’s family—the Sutton’s—had one, now lost as the family grew. As I’ve already stated, my mother’s family had one, worn by the women in our family for generations. Every time a son was born, my maternal grandmother, Estrina Cohen Salem A”H, would take it from its special place in her drawer, to be worn as he was carried for his brit. I feel sadness at the loss of this family heirloom, yet grateful it was worn by my mother Renee Salem Missry A”H at the brit of my two sons. I am hopeful it will be found and returned to our family.

The family shawl is special. As you wear it, you feel the magic and power from your female ancestors give strength to the moment of the brit milah. The mitzvah of carrying a child for his circumcision, his entry into the covenant of Abraham, is somehow magnified, as wearing the shawl draws on the generations before us in that magical moment.

The Missry family shawl has been fabric tested. The fabric and gold thread are dated to about 1850. One of my cousins keeps the shawl under lock and key. When a boy is born in our family, it is picked up for the brit, and returned within days, where it is secured for the next brit.

I had the honor of wearing our family shawl to the brit of my two grandsons. When I wear it, I feel the essence of my great grandmothers, my grandmothers, my mother, my aunts and female cousins and all the women who came before me who wore that same shawl. Their collective memory is somehow joined together in the seconds that I place the shawl on my head, its gold threads shining. As I carried each of my grandsons for their circumcisions, I thought of all the women in my family and the contributions they made to Am Yisrael.

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.