MARY ANNE COHEN LCSW, BCD

ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR HOPE? IF YOU HAVE BATTLED WITH BINGEING FOR A VERY LONG TIME, YOU MAY FEEL DESPAIR WONDERING IF YOU’LL EVER BE ABLE TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES—OR IF YOU CANNOT STOP THROWING UP AFTER YOU BINGE, YOU MAY BELIEVE YOU WILL NEVER GET BETTER. IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ARE CONVINCED YOU COULD NEVER LIKE YOUR BODY, YOU MIGHT FEEL DEEPLY DESPONDENT.

So, how do you inject hope into what feels like a hopeless situation? How do we move from hopeless to hope to healing to wholeness? Hope is when you look forward to something you desire and have reasonable confidence that you can achieve it. You have a strong belief that you can reach a cherished goal. Hope is different than optimism where people try to have a positive outlook and “whistle a happy tune whenever they feel afraid.” While optimism is a positive attitude, hope has a goal and a determined plan of action to help you achieve that goal.

When people feel hopeless about making progress in their eating or weight issues, they do one of two things.

They become paralyzed and stuck in their misery and do nothing. Since nothing changes, their despair deepens. Eating and weight issues become a chronic way of life with an increase in emotional and physical limitations. A lack of hope engenders passivity, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and then resignation sets in.

They make a sweeping overhaul to change themselves quickly and dramatically. People begin to follow restrictive or fad diets and punishing exercise regimes. But a quick fix is rarely sustainable because it takes so much energy and deprivation. So people wind up eventually reverting back to their old behaviors.

Neither choice provides much hope for long lasting change. So how can we stimulate hope when all our best efforts have failed? Jackie, age 24, gave me an unusual lesson in hope. In our first consultation after listening to Jackie’s story, I told her that she had a diagnosis of binge eating disorder. A slow, bright smile lit up her face. She seemed thrilled! I was so surprised at her happy reaction that I asked her why. “Because, up until now, I just thought I was crazy!” Jackie explained. “I have been so ashamed and guilty and felt so alone with my chaotic and sneaky eating. I’ve spent a ton of money on food and even hide food from my family. Now that I know I have a real diagnosis, you are giving me hope that there is something I can do about it. If there is a true rhyme and reason to what I do, then hopefully I can change it!”

To generate hope with your eating struggles, begin by doing just one thing differently. Since change is composed of a series of forward moving steps, taking even one step on your own behalf will provide a glimmer of hope. Hope begets hope, and you can continue to build strategies against your emotional eating with bite-size pieces.

OTHER STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE HOPE
• Lessening your perfectionism. The identity of many emotional eaters is based on performance, pleasing, and striving to be perfect; they are convinced this is what makes them lovable. However, evaluating your life and your eating behavior through the lens of “I must be perfect” will sign you up for a lifetime of frustration and self-doubt. The antidote to perfectionism is believing that, good enough is good enough.

• Speak with others who have the ability to just listen (and not necessarily give advice). Venting our stress rather than acting out with food is a robust tool to lighten our burden. “I love coming to therapy,” laughed Sherry, “because you have to totally listen to me and I don’t have to reciprocate by being polite and asking how you’re doing! Frankly, I don’t care how you are. I just want to talk about myself!”

• Changing what you can, accepting what you can’t. Accept a certain amount of powerlessness. Take all necessary steps to fix a problem, let go of the results. In the midst of a grueling divorce, Pearl recognized that all the cake in the world was not going to resolve her conflict. She continued her plan of action to solve her legal dilemma while working valiantly not to compound her own pain by overeating.

Everyone’s path to self-care and self-soothing is as unique as a fingerprint. Keep refining your unique path. The last chapter has not yet been written on your life. There is still room and time to cultivate a good, strong relationship with yourself where food is no longer a tool for emotional expression and release. Sink your teeth into life, not into your relationship with food!

If you are hungry for hope, reach out to MEND (Mindful Eating New Direction). MEND is a new community initiative to help people like you. You are not alone!
We will work with you to:
• Custom tailor an individual approach for your unique needs.
• Help you get control of your eating back inside yourself.
• Develop and maintain healthy eating patterns.
• Regain body confidence.
• Unlock what may be keeping you stuck in your eating problems.
Schedule an initial assessment with MEND, and we’ll help you determine if you can benefit from treatment. To start a confidential conversation about your eating, please contact us. All contact is absolutely confidential.

Please feel free to call (718)336-MEND. MEND is a division of The SAFE Foundation.

Mary Anne Cohen, LCSW, BCD has been Director of The New York Center for Eating Disorders since 1982. She is also author of French Toast for Breakfast: Declaring Peace with Emotional Eating and Lasagna for Lunch: Declaring Peace with Emotional Eating. Mary Anne has hosted her own radio show on eating disorders, appears frequently on national television, and is a professional book reviewer.

LAURA SHAMMAH MS, RDN

YOU MAY BE ADDICTED TO SUGAR AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT, BECAUSE THERE’S NATURAL SUGAR AND ADDED SUGAR IN SO MANY FOODS THAT YOU DON’T NECESSARILY THINK OF AS SUGARY. EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW THAT YOU’RE ADDICTED TO SUGAR, YOUR BODY WILL TRY TO TELL YOU. DO YOU CONSTANTLY CRAVE SUGAR OR DO YOU FEEL SLUGGISH THROUGHOUT THE DAY? IS YOUR SKIN BREAKING OUT? THESE ARE SIGNS OF CONSUMING TOO MUCH OF THE SWEET STUFF.

Other signs of eating too much sugar include moodiness, weight gain, cavities, a foggy feeling in your head, and the realization that nothing tastes very sweet anymore.

Do yo know that the more sugar you eat, the more you crave? When you eat sugar, it causes an initial high, which is followed by an inevitable crash and that feeling of moodiness.

The reason eating too much sugar makes you gain weight is it doesn’t have protein or fiber to fill you up, which causes you to eat more. It also triggers the release of insulin, a hormone that plays a big role in weight gain.

Even if you’re starting to think that you may be addicted to sugar, you don’t have to stop eating it completely, like everything else, it can be eaten in moderation. A treat once in a while is fine, but daily consumption can lead to serious health problems.

Studies show that drinking a 20 ounce soda on a daily basis is equivalent to 4.6 years of cell aging—the same as smoking cigarettes—and this cell aging has been linked to a shorter lifespan.

The immediate effect of sugar on the body is the release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Soda is the worst culprit. Sugars in beverages are absorbed very quickly, which results in a rapid increase in blood glucose and insulin. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance forces the pancreas to produce more insulin since tissues are not as sensitive to it. The pancreas can become tired by this surplus production and stop being able to secrete sufficient insulin. When this occurs, type 2 diabetes can develop.

In addition, consuming too much added sugar can cause obesity, high blood pressure and inflammation. High-sugar diets have been linked to an increased risk of dying from heart disease, and a high intake of fructose has been consistently linked to an increased risk of fatty liver. And that’s not all, the negatives and diseases just keep coming. Consuming too much sugar can lead to gout, memory loss and an increased risk of dementia.

The best thing you can do is lower your sugar intake, and the easiest way to do this is to focus on eating whole unprocessed foods. This automatically decreases the amount of sugar in your diet. Remember, you can still enjoy your favorite foods—in moderation.

HERE’S HOW TO REDUCE YOUR SUGAR INTAKE
• Avoid wasting your daily sugar quota on non-dessert foods like cereals, ketchup, and marina sauce.
• Set specific limits. Like, you can eat dessert on Shabbat or when you’re in a restaurant as a special treat.
• When you crave something sweet, eat a piece of fruit. Naturally occurring sugars in fruit don’t have the same negative effects on the body, because they’re paired with fiber, which helps slow absorption. Eating fruit is a good way to satisfy your sweet tooth, reach for berries, apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes or beets the next time you want something sweet.
• Drink unsweetened tea, water or flavored seltzer instead of soda, energy drinks, juice and sweet tea.
• If you enjoy sugar in your coffee, wean yourself off of it. Use less and less until you don’t need it at all.
• Consume whole fruits instead of sugar-sweetened fruit smoothies. Even if there’s no added sugar in the smoothie it will contain more than one piece of fruit.
• Replace candy with fruit, nuts, or a serving of dark chocolate chips.
• Use olive oil and vinegar in place of sweet salad dressings.
• Look for marinades, nut butters, ketchup and marinara sauce with zero added sugars.
• Look for cereals, granola and granola bars with under 5 grams of sugar per serving.
• Swap your morning cereal for a bowl of rolled oats topped with nut butter, or an omelet made with fresh greens.
• Instead of jelly, slice fresh bananas onto your peanut butter sandwich.
• Use natural nut butters in place of sweet spreads like Nutella.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages that are sweetened with soda, juice, honey, sugar or agave.
• Get a good night’s sleep. You may ask how this relates to cutting down of sugar. The answer: lack of sleep causes people to crave high-calorie, sweet and salty foods.

To see if a food has added sugar, check the list of ingredients. The closer to the beginning it is on the ingredients list, the greater percentage of sugar the product contains. Food companies also use more than 50 other names for added sugar, which makes it more difficult to spot. Here are some of the most common: high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, maltose, dextrose, rice syrup, molasses and caramel.

At first, cutting down on sugar can feel like an impossible task. Eventually, though, your taste buds will adjust and before you know it, your sugar habit will be a thing of the past.

NEVER GO FAKE
When you’re reducing your sugar intake, you may be tempted to switch to artificial sweeteners. Do your best not to reach for diet soda, sugar-free chocolate, or packets of fake sugar. These can confuse your taste for sweet. When you eat something sweet, your body expects calories and nutrition, but artificial sugars don’t give your body those things. That may be why fake sugars are associated with weight gain—not loss. Stay away from saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FRUIT
When people reduce their sugar intake, they often ask me if they should stop eating fruit because it’s full of sugar. As a dietitian, I can’t help but feel this new awareness of the need to cut back on sugar comes with some consequences, like an increase in the number of people who are also cutting back on their fruit intake.

If you compare an orange and soda per gram, they would have the same amount of calories and sugar, but while soda is empty calories, an orange is full of fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C. All the nutrients in fruit are vital for health and maintenance of your body. The potassium in fruit can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer and more. Potassium may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss as you age, and folic acid helps the body form red blood cells. Everyone should give up soda and no one should give up fruit.

Replacing high calorie less nutritious foods with fruit and vegetables is a good strategy for weight loss. Eat a variety of fruit!

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.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH JACK MIZRAHI FLATBUSH SHIMRA SUPERVISOR

WHAT IS FLATBUSH SHMIRA? FLATBUSH SHMIRA IS A PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, 24/7. SHMIRA IS A WORLDWIDE ORGANIZATION, WITH DIVISIONS FROM LOS ANGELES TO OVERSEAS. IN NEW YORK THERE ARE GROUPS IN BOROUGH PARK, STATEN ISLAND, QUEENS, FLATBUSH, CROWN HEIGHTS, MARINE PARK AND THE CATSKILLS.

We are also proud to announce that we will be taking our services to the Jersey Shore this summer. What makes us so unique is how quickly every division will jump to help another. We always have each other’s backs.

WHAT SERVICES DOES SHMIRA OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY?
We handle a variety of needs for the community: basement flooding, missing persons, search and rescue, security for events at shuls, Torah dedications, levayas, animal control, house lockouts, car lockouts, trees in the street, and all types of crime.

The primary way we keep the community safe is patrolling. We have volunteers patrolling in our marked cars and their own cars to help deter crime. We have many different types of vehicles and use each for different circumstances. We don’t let anything stop us from helping the community. We have ATVS, UTVS, rescue boats and pilots ready to take to the air for a search. We have mobile command centers, surveillance vans, and light tower trucks to help during dark hours. Depending on what the circumstances require, we have the vehicles, gear and professionals to help.

We have an ESU (Emergency Services Unit) truck which is stocked with almost anything you can think of. If the power goes out, we have generators ready to power up our community, so no one has to leave their homes. We bring shop vacs, water pumps, fans, air conditioning units and heaters to homes of those who need them.

Due to the recent events that have been hitting our community we have just introduced a brand new, 2022 Dodge Durango to our fleet, thanks to our sponsors. Having our Shmira vehicles patrolling our neighborhood helps deter crime in the area.

We also offer safety education to the community—from how to protect our synagogues all week and on Shabbat, to awareness for the children in local schools and yeshivahs, as well as how to protect your home.

WHAT IS SHABBAT PATROL?
Our Shabbat Patrol team is made up of retired police/corrections officers who go out when we are not able to. Criminals know that Jewish people are prohibited from doing certain things on Shabbat and holidays. When those times come, we roll out our Shabbat Patrol team. Their main objective is to keep an eye out, while we might not be able to. They are a huge asset to our organization and community, making us all feel safer, especially at times we might not have phones or electronic devices to call for help. The Shabbat Patrol is also able to assist our community with other services, whether it be administering medication, overseeing people who are walking from one location to another, or being flagged down for assistance. The members are there to help with any need possible, and at the same time to deter crime. No organization has this type of patrol, and we are proud to have them as part of our team helping ensure our community remains a safe place.

WHAT TYPES OF CALLS DO WE RECEIVE?
We receive a vast array of different types of calls, 24/7, including ones for burglaries and assaults. The calls vary. We request that all community members lock their homes and car doors to prevent crime. When we receive multiple calls from similar locations, we review hours of surveillance videos. When we recognize a pattern of crimes taking place at specific times in specific areas, we step up our patrolling in those areas at those times.

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEND TO THE COMMUNITY?
First things first, we would like the community to know that we are here for them, at any time of day or night. We have volunteers who are ready to drop everything they are doing at that moment to assist. Our volunteers are just like every other person with a family, job and other responsibilities, but they run out to be there when called upon. We do it solely for the hesed and to be able to help our community when they need us most. Its also important for people to call our hotline directly at 718.871.4444. Even if you are not 100% sure that you need us, call us and let us make that decision. There can be instances when you see someone who might not look familiar or who stands out, on your block. They might not do anything at that second, but if you call Shmira, they will have a unit or two keep a close eye on them.

One of the most famous lines in NYC is, “If you see something say something.” We agree. Call us right away, so we can be there for you. It is our pleasure to serve such a great community and we look forward to continuing to keep our streets safe for all of us.

We always welcome new recruits. If you are interested in helping us keep our community safe, feel free to fill out an application and we will schedule an interview to see if it you will be a good fit.

SARINA ROFFÉ

IT BEGAN YEARS AGO AS A SEARCH FOR A JEWISH SCHOOL FOR THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS TWINS. WITH NOWHERE TO TURN, AND NO VIABLE SCHOOL OPTIONS NEARBY, MORRIS AND SHARI SUTTON EMBARKED ON AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEAD, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ACADEMY OF DEAL.

Throughout its inception, Morris A. Sutton found himself at the forefront of this institution, not only as a parent but as the sole individual responsible for the school’s financial backing. Driven by his love and dedication to his boys, Morris spent weekend after weekend visiting various synagogues soliciting donations.

It wasn’t always easy getting up in front of large crowd and asking for money. Although Morris grew up watching his father Alfred Sutton A”H speak at Beth Torah in his role as president for many years, this was not his wheelhouse. But, growing up in a home where giving back was front and center, Morris knew he had to step up. Thanks to the guidance and support of his father, and community leaders such as Sonny Gindi A”H, Morris was able to successfully embrace this new role. It didn’t take long for him to feel comfortable. Not only did he begin to speak for SEAD, but he assisted Rabbi Sammy Kassin in securing funds for his yeshivah, as well. Today, Morris enjoys sharing his story in hopes of inspiring younger generations.

With each passing year, Morris became more heavily involved with SEAD, due to the increase in enrollment. “Morris never turned a child in need away,” said Linda Hakim, former speech language pathologist at SEAD and current Hillel grade advisor. “Even if the family had no way to support this type of specialized education, Morris welcomed them and gave them the chizuk (emotional or spiritual support) they were so desperately seeking.”

As the community grew and evolved, Morris began to notice that community children needed a therapy center where speech, occupational and physical therapy (OT/PT), and social, emotional, and behavioral services were provided. As the eldest SEAD students including his own children graduated or mainstreamed into community schools, Bridge Linx was born.

Morris once again took the reins on fundraising for this newest project, and it proved to be even more challenging, both mentally and physically. Mashy Gutterman, Director of Bridge Linx said, “Morris has no personal motive for Bridge Linx. He does it from his heart. He knows how important it is and what drives him is to help as many children as he can. In addition to the fundraising, when we didn’t have funds to pay a bill, Morris stepped in personally to help us through rough times. He stepped in and took on the burden by himself.”

Day in and day out, Morris is dedicated to making sure Bridge Linx succeeds. But this time, through the hand of Hashem, Steve Shalom came on board. Steve is a man of action and results. “When I was burning out about six years ago, Steve answered my call for help,” said Morris. “He implemented the Bridge Linx program and the incredible partnership with Hillel. He is a driving force in the therapy center and all the amazing growth we have had.”

Today, Bridge Linx works in close partnership with nearby early learning centers, Hillel Yeshiva, and other community schools by providing them with therapists to service children who can benefit from speech, OT, and PT. Bridge offers social and emotional support as well.

According to Mashy Gutterman, the therapy center is able to service more students using this model. Each of the schools they work with has a designated room where the therapists can work with students.

Currently, Bridge has its offices in Hillel while a new facility is being built. Approximately 100 children a year benefit from services provided by Bridge. These services are essential and allow the students to remain in their mainstream school while getting the support they need.

“Children with specific delays or weaknesses should be provided with therapy targeting their specific needs. Therapies should be provided as early as possible in order to achieve maximum results,” said Morris. “We offer therapy not just for those who can afford us, but for all who need us. We offer scholarships so families can get the therapy they need for their child.”

Helping SEAD and Bridge Linx succeed helped Morris grow personally. “When I look back at my life, and the challenges with which I was faced, I see how important it was for me to take on this role. It help shaped me as a husband, father, and human being,” said Morris. “We are a small organization, but we have a huge impact on the children and the families.”

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

RECENTLY, OHEL DAVID & SHLOMO HOSTED AN EVENING OF SOLIDARITY, PRAYER, AND SUPPORT FOR THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN UKRAINE. THE EVENT, ARRANGED BY HANA HASSON AND MICHELLE KOPYLOV, WAS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE SEPHARDIC AND UKRAINIAN COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER FOR THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE.

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov opened the event with her perspectives of the crisis and the many ongoing efforts she has been leading. Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg of Yeshivah of Flatbush then enlightened the community with a lecture on the history and significance of Ukrainian Jewry. An 11th grade Ramaz student, Emily Vayner, shared a moving speech she recently delivered in front of the Ukrainian Consulate. A special prayer for those in need was led by Rabbi Avrohom Winner of Chabad Lubavitch of Manhattan Beach. Finally, Edmond Dweck read letters to our community from Rabbi Wolf of Odessa and Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Azman of Kiev. This was followed by a fundraising appeal. There was a follow-up drive on Saturday morning in the synagogue. We raised close to $60,000, which will be forwarded to those working on the ground to rescue and support those fleeing the war zone. Countless lives will be saved thanks to the generosity and compassion of our community.

If you would like to donate to this important cause, please follow this link: tinyurl.com/OhelforUkraineed.

SARINA ROFFÉ

EVERY FAMILY HAS A GO-TO RECIPE (OR TWO OR THREE) THAT IS A TRADITION IN THEIR HOME. FOR MY FAMILY THE RECIPES ARE STRAWBERRY FLUFF, MY MOTHER RENEE’S NUT CAKE, AND MERINGUE COOKIES. THE STRAWBERRY FLUFF WAS MY SISTER-IN-LAW ESTHER MISSRY’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR FAMILY DESSERTS MANY YEARS AGO, AND I HAVE PASSED IT ON TO MANY FOLKS.

I love it because after the Seder and a heavy meal, you need something very light for dessert. The meringue cookies are easy to make and pack in lunches as a snack. They are versatile, in that you can substitute nuts for the grated chocolate.

My mother’s nut cake makes a large cake, so often I divide it into two or three smaller cakes. The foundation of the cakes is what’s important, as most Passover cakes follow the same principles. You need a high-speed mixer and the baking pan of your choice. All of these cakes involve separating eggs and folding—so getting the techniques mastered is essential for a good cake.

The first four ingredients stay the same—eggs, sugar, cake meal, and potato starch. Basically, you separate the eggs. Whip the whites, then slowly add the sugar until it is shiny and firm when you lift the beater. Pour this into a very large bowl. Then you whip up your yolks until thin and lemon colored. Add what the recipe calls for, sometimes a little more sugar, and pour this into the whites. Finally, you will then take your cake meal and potato starch and fold it all together.

Almost all Passover cakes follow these same steps with some variations—the number of eggs, and the additives, such as vanilla or other flavorings. Some add nuts to the cake mixture, some chocolate, some lemon and orange rind. The basic recipe can be made in a tube pan, a rectangular pan, or two round pans. Always line your pan with parchment paper and cooking spray for easy removal.

If using two round pans, you can be creative about a filling in between the two layers for a nice high cake. You can mix whipped cream with your favorite preserves for a refreshing layer cake.

If baking your cake in a tube or Bundt pan, you can also do layers. Pour half the batter in the pan, then put a layer of cut up apples, nuts, sugar and cinnamon mixture in the middle. Then top with the other half of the batter and a topping of nuts, sugar and cinnamon.

Meringue Cookies with Chocolate
My mantra is homemade is always better. It’s very easy to buy cakes and cookies, but they never taste as good as homemade. These cookies are great as a dessert, snack, and to put in lunches.

Ingredients
• 2 egg whites
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup grated chocolate
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Variation: Use ½ cup of chopped nuts instead of chocolate.

Directions
Beat egg whites with salt on high speed of electric mixer until stiff, not dry. Gradually beat in sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time. Continue beating until mixture holds shape when you lift a spoon. Fold in chocolate. Line tray with parchment paper. Shape dough with teaspoon into small puffs and place on tray. Bake at 300˚ for 25 minutes. Remove immediately. May be stored for up to 2 weeks in sealed container.

Renee’s Nut Cake
This cake gets all its flavor from the nuts. Like all Passover cakes, once you have the base, you can substitute other things. Try this recipe using grated semi-sweet chocolate instead of nuts, or layering it with a mixture of chopped walnuts mixed with cinnamon and sugar in the middle or on top.

Ingredients
• 1 dozen eggs, separated
• 14 oz. sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup cake meal
• Pinch of salt
• 1 lb. chopped walnuts

Directions
Beat yolks with ½ cup sugar until thick and lemon colored. Add oil and mix well. Beat egg whites until stiff. Add remaining sugar slowly and continue mixing until stiff. Set aside.

Fold yolks into egg whites. Add cake meal and chopped nuts. Pour into a greased 10×14” oblong pan or tube pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour.

Strawberry Fluff
This dish is very light and easy. It‘s great after a heavy meal.

Ingredients
• 2 egg whites
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup sugar, scant (don’t pack cup)
• 1 pint strawberries, washed

Directions
Using the large bowl of electric mixer, beat 2 egg whites and a pinch of salt until stiff. Gradually add 8 tablespoons of sugar, beating constantly.

Slice one pint fresh strawberries. Add to egg whites and continue beating for 10 minutes. Spoon into one large bowl or individual bowls. Place in freezer. Serve frozen.

Sarina Roffé is author of Backyard Kitchen – Mediterranean Salads, Backyard Kitchen – The Main Course and the creator of the Sarina’s Sephardic Cuisine cooking app.

DRINKING WINE, EATING MATZAH & READING THE HAGGADAH

RABBI EZRA MAX

FOLLOWING IS HOW YOUR SEDER CAN FREE YOU TO CREATE AN INCREDIBLE FUTURE BY FRAMING YOUR PAST AND ANCHORING IN THE PRESENT. WE BEGIN THE HAGGADAH WITH HA LACHMA ANIAH (THIS IS THE POOR MAN’S BREAD; COME AND JOIN US), NEXT YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE IN JERUSALEM.

2 Questions:
What do we mean by the “poor man’s bread, come join us?”
Why do we start the story of Exodus with the punchline “next year in Jerusalem?”

Answer:
This “Bread” means spiritual sustenance or fuel, and the “poor man’’ is someone hungry for the word of the Almighty and wants to get close to him. Come join us in the simple man’s fare is an encouragement to embrace simple faith and belief.

Because we believe that Hashem created and runs all of the creation. He alone is the one who did, does and will do. Even if a person doesn’t feel like they believe, know that deep inside belief exists. When we release ownership of the Chametz (leaven), we negate our ego and surrender to the Almighty.

We are blessed to live in the U.S.A. and have all types of freedoms.

We have our own private schools.
We are allowed to own businesses.
We are integrated into society at every level.
We are entitled to move about freely and travel nationwide.
We can wear whatever we want, whenever we want, wherever we want

All this can change in a moment.

V’hi She’amda – In every generation, nations have ganged up on the Jews, trying to kill us all, and wipe us off the face of the planet. Each person must see themselves as if they personally got out of slavery in Egypt.

We see, hear, and feel what’s happening in Ukraine. You have an opportunity to use this as a teaching moment as a lesson for your children.

It’s a tangible, practical example of what our parents, grandparents and great grandparents for generations lived through, most recently, the Holocaust in Europe and the expulsion from Middle Eastern countries over the last few hundred years. We are always conscious of this reality but the memory of these events are not always at the forefront of our minds.

On the Seder nights, you have the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the historical events of coming out of Egypt, going into the desert, and receiving the Torah at Har Sinai, along with your current existence and anticipation of the future.

The mitzvah of retelling the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim— Exodus from Egypt is to instill in yourself and your children a foundation of emuna (faith). When we tell the story out loud, we implant it in our hearts. Eating matzah is an opportunity to connect with the events of the past, present, and future. Even the Jews leaving Egypt, who experienced the splitting of the sea, worked on their beliefs. Faith and belief are infinite and actually begin at the end of our ability to comprehend logically or intellectually. The miracles they witnessed and experienced were tangible. From this, they believed even more in G-d’s might.

This year at the Seder table, when reading from the haggadah and singing songs praising the Almighty for rescuing us from the depths of despair and hopelessness, let the four cups of wine be a reminder of G-d’s might and the promise to rescue us from suffering and extinction. You can also acknowledge your deep relationship with the Almighty, appreciating the miracles of being saved from extinction time, after time, after time. We anticipate and embrace the ultimate redemption and the revelation of the glory of G-d Almighty and the end of oppression and darkness—envisioning a peaceful world, basking in the glow, and honoring the Almighty.

From the skies to the streets, the Almighty is running the show and making things happen for us everyday. At the Seder table we experience freedom and we can carry this feeling forward in our lives.

Everyone has multiple masters and many times, we feel like a slave to those masters. Our own self-limiting beliefs, lack of confidence, sadness, and pain, overwhelm and trap us in being less than whole. They block us from living fully. Many times we get lost, confused and overwhelmed, preventing us from living in abundance and having a beautiful, amazing, and fulfilling, spiritually-engaged life.

The Seder is an opportunity to embrace a most abundant, enlightened, and connected experience with family and friends and deepen our faith and relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Personal Story
Recently, I challenged myself to write and post daily on LinRecently, a business platform for networking. Among my many gifts, I am talented, creative, and really strategic. I’m great at helping people and coming up with solutions. Many are terrified of speaking (yes, I used to be too.) I overcame this and even get paid to speak. Yet, writing has been a mental struggle my entire life. Writing articles for IMAGE Magazine requires time, attention, and effort but it’s only once a month. Writing a post every single day for 30 days was an extremely challenging undertaking.

I got myself a coach to help me with my writing and I did it. I broke out of the prison in my own mind, and even enjoyed it. Yes, it was difficult, challenging, and stressful. But the good kind of stress, the kind of stress that makes you a better person, that drives you to perform—the kind of stress that brings something forward from inside of you and elevates you.

You too can break free and carry forward the abundance of the Seder. This year you have the opportunity to teach your family a practical and relatable example of what it’s like to be evicted from your homeland. They will see what it’s like to have everything they know destroyed and decimated and have to run away in the middle of the night with bombs falling around them. Tell them to imagine having just the shirt on their backs, escaping into a foreign country and not knowing if they’ll ever be able to come back again. Explain that when this happens, people worry if they’ll even make it out alive or if they’ll see their family members ever again. The Jews have survived by maintaining their faith and connection because this has happened everywhere we have settled. This is the story of being in Galut while we await Moshiach.

What challenge, struggle or overwhelming situation will you take on to conquer this year in the spirit of breaking free?

Chag Kasher V’Sameach

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

JACKIE ASHKENAZI

IT WAS A MAGICAL RUN FOR THE 2022 HILLEL HEAT 8TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. THEY COMPLETED A PERFECT SEASON WITH A 53-50 WIN OVER SAR TO WIN THE YMSSA CHAMPIONSHIP. HILLEL COACHES JACKIE ASHKENAZI AND ED ZUCKER BUILT A FOUNDATION ON SHARING THE BASKETBALL AND PLAYING HARD NOSE DEFENSE. LED BY CAPTAINS, BRUCE EPSTEIN, LEYAD TEREN AND ABRAHAM TOBIAS, THE TEAM EXECUTED THE GAME PLAN PERFECTLY.

Going into the playoffs, Hillel sharpshooters, Jason Zekaria and Max Rishty, were firing on all cylinders. With Sam Nasar and Maurice Chehebar filling in for key minutes, the team was ready for a playoff run.

First round, Hillel faced Kushner and were victorious with a 75-36 win at home. Leading scorers were Hillel’s Max Rishty, with 20 points and Kushner’s sharpshooter Smilow, with 17 points.

The second round brought a hungry group from RYNJ into Hillel. First quarter coach, Eli Wolk, had YNJ ready to play and take a 12-11 lead after the first quarter. Hillel adjusted defense and offense and went on an amazing run the next two quarters to dominate with a score of 52-17, and went on to win the game 65-39.

Leading Hillel scorers were Leyad Teren with 17 points, Bruce Epstein with 14 points, and Jason Zekaria with 13 points.

Hillel then had the big test of playing SAR, the early season favorite to win the championship. Led by dynamic duo point guard, Ari Halpert and big man Evan Goldberg, it was going to be a battle.

Hillel had an undefeated record up to this point but most of their games were won with a 20 point advantage and the league wondered if they could handle the pressure of a close game. The team and coaches knew this game would be different and anyone’s game to win.

Hillel and SAR both came out firing and at the end of the first quarter, it was SAR with a one point lead 15-14. The second quarter was the Ari Halpert and Evan Goldberg show, as they combined for all 13 points for SAR. They took a 28-24 lead into the half. Fortunately for Hillel, Abraham Tobias was all over the court on offense and defense. Multiple blocked shots on defense and 14 points, scored by Tobias at the half, kept Hillel in the game.

At halftime, Hillel had their backs to the wall. Their defense was not containing the dynamic duo and on offense, shots were not going in. All five Hillel starters got a little pep talk to boost their morale before they came back on the court.

Both teams scored 10 points back and forth in the third quarter leading to the score of 38-34 with SAR in the lead going into the final quarter. SAR struggled to have an answer for the triangle 2 that was placed on Halpert and Goldberg. Hillel just needed to start hitting shots.

THE FULL HILLEL HEAT ROSTER OF 2022 CHAMPIONS

Bruce Epstein Captain
Leyad Teren Captain
Abraham Tobias Captain
Shai Braun
Maurice Chehebar
Matty Hackman
David Hakim
Charlie Mamiye
Michael Mizrahi
Sam Nasar
Max Rishty
Momo Salomon
Alfonse Sutton
James Tawil
Jason Zekaria
Jackie Ashkenazi Coach
Ed Zucker Coach

With 3:36 left in the fourth quarter, Hillel called timeout with SAR leading 45-39. Hillel coaches tried to rally the troops and give them the vote of confidence to open up the outside shooting.

In the next three minutes, all five starters from Hillel went on a scoring spree. Max Rishty hit two three pointers down the stretch. Abraham Tobias and Leyad Teren took two plays in a row right to the basket for layups, giving Hillel their first lead since the beginning of the first quarter. The score was 48-47, with Hillel in the lead and Hillel fans erupted in cheers.

After holding SAR on the defensive end, Hillel slowed the game down by moving the ball around. Right when defense took a breather, Bruce Epstein passed to Abraham Tobias who kicked it out to Jason Zekaria for the biggest three pointer in Hillel history to make the score 51-47.

After an SAR Jonah Blechner layup and Ari Halpert free throw cut the score to 51-50, bringing SAR within one point to tie the game, Hillel leader, Bruce Epstein, calmly sank his final two free throws to increase the lead by three, and bring the score to 53-50. A long heave by SAR went wide left and Hillel fans stormed the TABC court in excitement. It was the first championship for Hillel Yeshiva 8th grade boys in the history of the school. They avenged the 33-32 finals loss to Moriah in 2013 with all Hillel player alumni in attendance.

Congratulations to coach Ken Gleason and the entire SAR team on a spectacular game and great season. For Hillel, it was a long awaited championship and a hard fought victory. High scorers were Evan Goldberg 22, Ari Halpert 20, and player of the game Abraham Tobias with 17 points. Bruce Epstein was the leader and the MVP for Hillel’s season.

Thanks to YMSSA and all the teams for a great season. Being a part of this team is about the friendships made, memories created, camaraderie, mentorship and teamwork. It is hard to win a championship but when you win, it is unforgettable.

This league should be about appreciating how lucky we are to play the game we love. We look forward to seeing this whole new crop of players dominate the High School league. GO HEAT!

Jackie Ashkenazi is a Hillel basketball coach.

BEYOND JUST INCREDIBLE

MERLE COHEN

THERE’S ONLY ONE QUESTION I’VE BEEN GETTING FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY (AND MY MOM’S FRIENDS WHO SEE ME IN THE SUPERMARKET) OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS: “HOW WAS THE SBH DISNEY MARATHON?” I LAUGH AND I TELL THEM, “IT WAS INCREDIBLE! IT WAS THE BEST WEEKEND EVER!”

And we’ll smile and nod at each other in that earnest way where there’s more to be said but the check-out line is moving and the ice cream in my cart is melting.

It seems like everyone is genuinely curious what the weekend is like, and my first thought was: you need to experience it for yourself, at least once. No amount of adjectives will come close to describing the magic that is the Team SBH Run for A Dream Weekend. But I’ll try. And you can keep count of the excited adjectives that I use throughout.

I’ve worked at SBH for a number of years and I’ve had a front row seat to the incredible work that we do on a daily basis—heart-warming stories that would keep your house toasty warm during the winter. But there’s something about the Disney Weekend that affirms both the vision and the work that SBH is committed to.

This year, SBH was joined by over 800 community members who partook in the hesed, the half-marathon, the fundraising and of course, the food. From the moment we stepped foot in the hotel, we were surrounded by the messages of hope, hesed and volunteerism with which SBH aims to inspire volunteers, young and old alike. We joked before the weekend, we wanted people to see the SBH logo in their dreams when they went home.

You might think the weekend is all about the marathon and the fundraising. And you wouldn’t be wrong, but these are simply vehicles that allow our volunteers to realize the true essence of the SBH Disney Weekend—that changing the world through hesed starts with the first step, whether that be to visit a senior, package boxes at the pantry or simple commit to delivering a meal once a week.

There were moments on this weekend, moments of depth, of realization, of inspiration. Moments in which I looked around at an awe-inspired audience listening and learning about how hesed changes lives and thought, every person here is now an ambassador of good. They’ve heard the stories, they’ve been encouraged to get involved, they’ve run a half-marathon—there’s nothing they can’t do, because taking your first step toward the finish line is no different than taking your first step toward hesed. You simply must do it.

Full disclosure, I’ve never actually run the half-marathon and there’s one main reason why I haven’t, unrelated to my lack of athleticism. It’s because there’s nothing like standing on the sidelines with the Team SBH Cheer Squad waiting for our teammates to run past us. It’s like a ripple runs through the group, “Jack is a quarter mile away!” “Get your camera, Stephanie is about to pass us!” I almost feel bad for the unassuming American guy waiting to see his wife who just happened to stand next to the most enthusiastic, sleep-deprived, lunatics on the whole course. We go wild! And it’s that split second when the runner’s face lights up as they see us cheering them on that makes it all worth it—the late nights, the brainstorming sessions, the hours I spent on hold with customer service because my banners were lost in the mail. It’s all worth it to see my community members encouraged and supported in the exact way that SBH taught us.

This is truly a weekend beyond words, even though I just spent the last 500 telling you about it. When all is said and done, and I get on the plane back to New York, I’m left with a re-affirmed sense of purpose and drive for hesed. I’m left inspired, motivated and challenged to take my own steps toward supporting both myself and those around me. Taking that first step, toward helping or being helped, is certainly a daunting one, but you have an entire network ready and excited to encourage you on the way.

Thank you to those who joined, ran, sponsored and cheered for us on this magical weekend! We look forward to taking many more steps toward hesed together.

After graduating from Brooklyn College in 2019 with a degree in Literature, Merle joined the SBH team and has been with them ever since. As the Director of Marketing, you’ve probably gotten her emails, seen her Instagram posts and possibly been coerced into attending an SBH event because “you have to come!” Merle is an active committee member of Sephardic Synagogue’s Hayil Minyan and despite what anyone else says, hasn’t gotten any taller since the last time you saw her.

PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE US. IT’S KNOWN TO REDUCE STRESS AND ENHANCE ONE’S WELL-BEING—AND PICKLEBALL AT DSN IS SEEING HUGE SUCCESS. AS SOON AS DSN OFFERED A PICKLEBALL CLINIC IN ITS GYMNASIUM, WORD QUICKLY SPREAD ABOUT THE HOTTEST SPORT COMING INTO THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

The four-week clinic was held from February 8 until March 1, on Tuesday mornings for 90 minutes. All spots were quickly filled! Pickleball, which looks like a small version of tennis, has an easy learning curve.

As is typical of DSN’s aim for perfection, Sharon Carlstrom, the fitness director, hired one of the best to teach the women—USA Pickleball Ambassador and Pro, Kim Smith. Kim’s six years of coaching experience includes certification from the International Pickleball Teachers Professional Association. She explained, “I’m enjoying working with all the ladies at DSN. They are improving so much. I’m happy to be part of bringing pickleball to DSN.” Rachel Franco, a pickleball participant, stated, “There’s no one better to have taught us pickleball, than Kim.”

Paulette Azar traveled from New York just to play pickleball. “I loved every minute of it,” she exclaimed. Nadine Hanan was just as thrilled. “I had a great time learning the rules and strategies with all the girls. Plus, I was able to meet people of all ages. I am so happy I had an opportunity to learn the game, especially with Kim and at DSN!”

The clinic was for all levels to help women learn and prepare them for eventual league play. What is making the game so popular is that it can be played by all ages, the physical court space needed is small and it is a social sport. The opportunity to meet other women with a similar interest is priceless. Alyza Einav, another player, explained “It’s a lot of fun and a great way to do something active. I’m a tennis player, so it was fun to do something different.”

Due to popular demand, DSN will be offering an upcoming 4 week league and then another league outdoors, as the weather continues to get nicer.

Sammy Sitt, DSN’s Executive Director, summarized. “Our community expects the best from us, including bringing the hottest trends into our building. This new pickleball clinic and league is a testament to the passion of our very own Sharon Carlstrom who organized the entire program. I can’t say it enough—we are blessed with the most passionate and professional staff.”

AJ GINDI

WHAT IS GOING ON? THIS IS A QUESTION I HEAR CONSTANTLY. “AJ, WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NEW CASES OF RENAL FAILURE COMING UP IN THE COMMUNITY?” THE ANSWER IS THE NEW CASES ARE COMING OUT DUE TO AWARENESS. IN THE PAST, PEOPLE THAT WERE SUFFERING FROM RENAL FAILURE SAW NO WAY OUT.

A life of dialysis was a fear that no one wanted to recognize. Everyone kept their situation discreet, not wanting the word to get out. Today that has all changed. People are taking active steps to give themselves a chance at life. They are openly discussing their situation and making events to help us find a donor. In addition, many new cases are coming in from South America due to the efforts of Rabbi Galimidi from the Safra Synagogue in Aventura. In Argentina, Panama, Mexico, and Brazil it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find a live altruistic donor so they reach out to Rabbi Galimidi to assist them in the process, and he in turn arranges a meeting with Renewal. In just over one month this year we had nine cases come through his channels.

The name Renewal and kidney transplant are one and the same.

THE STAGGERING FACTS FROM THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022
• 106,140 people are on the national kidney registry waiting list.
• 1 person is added every 20 minutes. .
• 2,500: the approximate amount of people added each month.
• 14 people die each day from kidney disease.
• 3,381 people died last year waiting for a kidney.
• 7-9 years is the average waiting time on the national waiting list
• 70% will not make it past year 5 on dialysis.

RENEWAL BY THE NUMBERS
• 345 people are on the current waiting list.
• 1 year is the average waiting time for a normal procedure without complications.
• 20% of all altruist kidney transplants in the US are through Renewal.
• 2 years old: the age of the youngest patient transplanted.
• 77 years old: the age of the oldest donor.
• 86 years old: the age of the oldest recipient from an altruistic donor (a record).
• 6 people were told last year by their doctor that they would never get a transplant. Renewal got them transplanted.

Years ago, if a community member needed a kidney transplant he would have to go on the national list and hope that one day his name would be called. Today, with Renewal at the forefront we B”H have eliminated that process.

Dialysis is a life changer. It means being strapped to a cleansing machine for 3 to 4 days a week, for 3 to 4 hours a day. For an adult, it means, no work, no free time, constantly tired, no life at home. It is virtually impossible to maintain a normal life. For a child it means no childhood.

If you would like more information on becoming a kidney donor, or if you know of someone in need of a transplant please contact AJ Gindi at 732.996.4040 or email ajgindi@Renewal.org.

AJ Gindi is the Renewal Community Advocate, stepping to the forefront in the assistance of both kidney donors and recipients through the process of kidney transplants. Transplants are both overwhelming and extremely delicate and difficult to navigate.

3 WAYS TO SURF THE WAVES & NOT DROWN

ARI BAUM CFP®

DOES THE THOUGHT OF A 10% STOCK MARKET DROP MAKE YOUR STOMACH DROP? MAYBE YOU RECALL THE JITTERS AND ANXIETY WHEN THE LAST CRASH CAME THROUGH, AND YOU WATCHED THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS FALL—AND FALL—AND KEEP FALLING. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN EXPECT SHARP DROPS IN THE STOCK MARKET AT ANY TIME—TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK. IT CAN HAPPEN SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING.

Even within recent memory, there was the dotcom boom-and-bust, and the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Those who fared the worst were the ones who sold their stocks as the market kept falling and realized their losses.

Watching the markets ebb and flow is like being a surfer watching the waves. Surfers don’t have the opportunity to do much when the water’s smooth or barely rippling. The fun doesn’t start until the monstrous waves start crashing. To a passerby, the waves look scary and dangerous, but all a surfer sees is opportunity.

Just like surfing, in the stock market opportunity comes with fluctuations in the underlying environment. Surfers know that a big wave can mean a tremendous and awe-inspiring ride, but it can also mean a big wipeout.

In the stock market, there are typically three reactions, as there are to any kind of potential bad news: fight, flight, or freeze. Sometimes doing nothing (or freezing) is the right thing to do. Of course, the trick is knowing which one is best for your personal situation! Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to take the wrong lessons from past recessions and market pullbacks, leaving you unprepared for the next big wave.

Knowing how to take those rides through rough and smooth will help you not only potentially build more wealth, but potentially lose less when the inevitable dips, recessions, and pullbacks occur. Just as waves are crucial for surfing, volatility is a feature of the market, not a bug.

Given that no one knows when the next drawdown could occur, are you confident that you’ll be able to ride it out without losing your money—or your mind?

This sensible strategy guide is designed for people who invest in the stock market and want to make smart decisions about their money, no matter what’s happening in the financial sector. It will help you master the waves of volatility so you can take advantage of the opportunities that come your way when the ride gets rough.

TECHNIQUE #1: RIDE THE ROLLERS
Know when to hang on so you don’t drown.
Sometimes the swells and dips are barely a ripple in the water, and there’s no advantage in trying to surf them. Just hold on and wait them out. Even when the fluctuations get bigger, you don’t necessarily need to change your course and adjust your portfolio. Staying invested and riding out the fluctuations is often the right way to handle volatility in the market.

Your investment losses are only on paper—unless you actually sell the investments. That’s a mistake many investors made in the Great Recession.

As you know, the key to building wealth is to buy low and sell high. When you allow the emotions you’re experiencing to get the better of you, you can end up buying high and selling low. Preventing your emotions from overriding your logical brain is a crucial component to holding on when you need to.

TECHNIQUE #2: RIDE THE ROLLERS
Know how to balance your risk tolerance.
Some investors are naturally aggressive and don’t mind taking on paper losses as long as they do well when the market does well. Others are more concerned with protecting themselves against too much loss when there’s a slump or worse.

Risk is the flip side of the coin from reward. By overprotecting your portfolio from volatility, you won’t have enough purchasing power later on in life. While Americans spent a few years not experiencing much inflation, 2021 brought a sudden uptick in prices—the highest spike in decades.

While cash provides protection against stock volatility, it actually loses ground to inflation: your purchasing power gradually ebbs as consumer prices trend higher. And when interest rates are low, bonds don’t help fight inflation much either.

ELLEN ADES

LAUREN TOBIAS WAS IN THE HANDMADE HAIR ACCESSORY BUSINESS. EVENTUALLY, SHE DECIDED TO EXPLORE HER CREATIVITY ON A LARGER SCALE AND KNEW A CHANGE WAS NEEDED. LAUREN TOOK A JOB WORKING AT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND LOVED INTERACTING WITH FAMILIAR CLIENTELE.

It was great for the mother of three youngsters, because it allowed her to be home when her children got off the bus each day. After several years, Lauren began to crave a challenge. She wanted to achieve but had no idea “what?” so she called PROPEL.

Lauren explained, “When I heard the words interior design I wanted to pursue it, but didn’t believe I could. I was intimidated. PROPEL changed my mind, gave me confidence and urged me forward.” Today, Lauren owns LT Designs (@laurentob_designs). She has two assistants and has just signed a lease for office space. When I asked how she feels about the way everything has turned out, she responded, “I like my life. I feel fulfilled. I love my work and feel proud of what I have accomplished so far.”

Many people ask, “How does PROPEL work?” Women who want to earn or begin careers contact PROPEL. Some women know what they want to do and some do not. All clients fill out preliminary paperwork before they are assigned a coach. The coach gets to know the client and is there to provide guidance as needed. Lauren’s husband, Abe Tobias said, “The most significant thing PROPEL did was give my wife the initiative to start something. She knew she had a partner when she began her business, which is the most difficult time.”

Some clients require training or education to enter a professional field. Some just need guidance. In every case, PROPEL is here to collaborate with each woman, providing her with the opportunity to be supported as needed. During Lauren’s journey, she was encouraged by her PROPEL coach to take an internship in interior design while still in school. Lauren said that was excellent advice because it gave her the opportunity to accelerate her learning. As she continued her education, someone contacted her to take on a design project. She discussed everything with her coach up until that point, and knew she could access additional guidance as each fork in the road appeared. This, together with the experience she was getting, built her confidence. Completion of her first project resulted in additional referrals and she felt it was time to leave the internship and start building her own design firm. Posting on Instagram and working to deliver value to her clientele drove business. Lauren believes if you do your job well, there are clients for everyone.

Anyone in business should remember that it’s a big world out there, and there are potential clients outside of our immediate community. Designers should keep this in mind, as Lauren does, if they want to build a broad clientele. She intimated that her ideal client is someone who communicates her likes and dislikes accurately, trusting LT Designs to deliver an inspired vision.

Lauren is surprised by how much more confident she feels now. She thinks of herself as a professional. “Getting certified, being supported by PROPEL and at home, and gaining experience made the difference,” Lauren said. She shared that every woman needs a support system at home. In Lauren’s case that is her husband. “He is my best friend, my main support and my best sounding board,” she said.

Lauren acknowledges that it is challenging to start a business. The stress of finding clients and trying to be home for the children can be taxing. “Everyday I try to be a better wife and mother because each day my business takes some of my focus away from my family. I have to prioritize what’s important. Thankfully, my husband is a ‘hands on’ Dad.” It’s difficult, but Lauren and Abe make it work.

Lauren said, other interior designers in the community have been very supportive. They offered advice when it was most needed. In that same spirit she added, “I intend to pay their generosity forward by trying to support other up-and-coming designers.”

If you are interested in a career or if you are in need of career guidance, please reach out to PROPEL to help you take the steps to fulfill your professional goals and dreams. Call PROPEL at 646-494-0822 or email info@thepropelnetwork.org. You can also find them at Instagram @PropelNetwork.

Ellen Ades is a career coach at PROPEL.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

CARE’S ANNUAL PURIM CARNIVAL WAS HELD SUNDAY MARCH 6TH AT MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH. FOR CARE FAMILIES, IT IS THE MOST ANTICIPATED, THE LARGEST, AND MOST JOYFUL EVENT OF THE YEAR. WITH GAMES, TREATS AND PRIZES, OUR SPECIAL CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS LOVE OUR ANNUAL CARNIVAL AND CAN’T WAIT TO COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

This year, over 600 people representing over 100 CARE families were in attendance. The festive vibe was felt immediately upon arrival. Smiling, happy faces were everywhere! The children with special needs and their siblings enjoyed inflatables, slime-making, face painting, carnival games, joyful music and pizza.

The CARE team was thrilled to welcome their generous donors as well as local community representatives. A wonderful time was had by all.