NAVIGATING THROUGH LIFE ISN’T EASY THESE DAYS; ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE IS FROM AN EARLIER GENERATION. I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE—THE SMART PHONE HAS MADE ME STUPID. I USED TO REMEMBER MY KIDS’ TELEPHONE NUMBERS, NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PRESS “RECENT” OR “CONTACTS” AND THERE THEY ARE! IF I LOSE MY PHONE, I’M LOST!
Waze gets me to where I’m supposed to go and I get a little annoyed when it gives me my time of arrival. I’m always trying to prove Waze wrong, to no avail. It knows exactly to the minute when I will arrive. I don’t even want to talk about the television. There are a million channels with nothing to watch! That doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that it takes me an hour to figure out which remote will turn the thing on! And to make matters worse, my kids want me to put an app on my phone so I can control the house—lights, ovens, heat etc. Really! What’s left for me to do? I still know how to open and shut the lights!
Recently, my daughter put an app on my phone for the muni-meter. Granted, I like having it, so I don’t have to search for a quarter, but it seems everything I do is controlled by an app and my phone. Since the coronavirus arrived on our shores, I’ve learned how to Zoom. I have Zoomed to weddings, brits and bar mitzvahs in my pajamas. I haven’t worn lipstick since last March, because of the masks we’re required to wear. Now the government has placed a ban on plastic bags. My shopping list used to consist of lettuce, tomatoes, kirbys, milk, juice, etc. Now my list is: phone, keys, mask, reusable bags, plastic gloves and hand sanitizer. Too bad there isn’t an app for that!
I’m not complaining, there’s no use in that, I’m just explaining how life has become a little more complicated with all this new technology. It gets a little embarrassing when you have to ask your grandchildren to help you figure out how to forward an email, with attachments, or how to get on Netflix.
My grandson, Alan, had to explain to me not to answer every request I get from Facebook. “It’s not only sent to you, Grandma. Please do not respond!” I responded, I explained to him, because I didn’t want to seem rude. This made him throw up his hands and declare: “rude to who, Grandma? It’s computer generated!” How would I know that? I can remember the days of the Million Dollar Movie. It was on channel 9, and they showed the same movie for a week. And we watched it over and over again. I think I watched King Kong a hundred times. We were fine with that. My generation grew up with shows like Father Knows Best, Bewitched, The Munsters, The Beverly Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie, Leave it to Beaver, Hogan’s Heros, Mr. Ed, Lassie, I Love Lucy and My Three Sons. It was fun and entertaining. Now, everything is either political or nerve wracking.
I suppose we’ll all need to get used to this new world they have created for us. I’m just waiting for an app to help us get grape leaves out of the jar! That would be helpful!
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS SUCCUMBED TO CANCER ON NOVEMBER 7TH AT JUST 72 YEARS OLD. AND THE WORLD LOST A WAS WISE, INSIGHTFUL AND COMPASSIONATE MAN. RABBI SACKS ONCE SAID, “MORTALITY IS WRITTEN INTO THE HUMAN CONDITION, BUT SO TOO IS THE POSSIBILITY OF IMMORTALITY, IN THE GOOD WE DO THAT CONTINUES, LONG AFTER WE ARE HERE, TO BEGET FURTHER GOOD. THERE ARE LIVES THAT DEFEAT DEATH AND REDEEM EXISTENCE FROM TRAGEDY.” THERE’S NO DOUBT THE RABBI’S GOOD WILL CONTINUE FOR GENERATIONS. UPON HIS PASSING, PRIME MINISTERS, PRESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SINGING HIS PRAISES.
GILA SACKS
Rabbi Sack’s youngest daughter spoke at his funeral on behalf of her siblings Joshua and Dina
“He loved us so much and never, ever missed an opportunity in recent years to tell us that—to tell us how proud he was of everything each of us did, but mainly, of who we were. He would tell us how proud he was of each grandchild, and every new bit of joy they brought into his world. I felt his love overwhelmingly, because that is what he gave us above all. No child could have wished for more. I don’t know how I can begin to know how to say thank you to him. That will take time. We used to joke that if you bumped into my dad in the kitchen, he’d probably want you to work out how to solve global anti-Semitism while the kettle boiled. Everything he taught, he wrote, were mainly the things he chatted to us about while the kettle boiled. I had a moment of clarity about what my dad had given me: that single belief that nothing is inevitable, that no problems are too big for people to try and solve. That things could always be changed and people could always change them: that belief shaped everything else.”
THE ORTHODOX UNION
“The Orthodox Union joins the Jewish community and the world in mourning the loss of Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l. Rabbi Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom for 22 years, served as a profoundly eloquent teacher of Torah and spokesman for Torah values within the Jewish community and beyond. He was an intellectual giant whose unique blend of Torah scholarship, academic achievement, human sensitivity, and social awareness allowed him to speak to the issues of our times, to the broadest of audiences, and he did so with courage, clarity and optimism. Rabbi Sacks was a beacon of Kiddush Hashem, whose thoughtful teachings improved the world and invariably brought honor to the Torah and the Jewish people. Rabbi Sacks’ unique voice, novel and insightful ideas, exciting and elegant prose, unfailingly relevant messages, and outstanding leadership will all be sorely missed.”
THE RABBINICAL ALLIANCE OF AMERICA
“The Rabbinical Alliance of America—representing over 950 American Orthodox Rabbis—joins Klal Yisrael in mourning the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt’l, Emeritus Chief Rabbi of United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks was a master orator whose sermons and lectures enchanted audiences, challenging them to rise to greater heights in religious commitment. He was a fierce advocate for Orthodox Judaism in a time when it was under siege by secularizing and liberalizing forces. Through his efforts, thousands of people learn Torah and observe Shabbat in the British Commonwealth, Israel, and around the world. As the prolific author of an award-winning series of prayer books, numerous learned books and Torah commentaries, his scholarship and insights continue to educate and inspire students of Torah. His widely read weekly Torah commentaries, creative inspirational videos, highly lauded BBC radio series and many public talks and conversations have brought Torah lessons of faith and responsibility to millions of people around the world. May Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks serve as a heavenly advocate, a Meilitz Yosher, for his family, the Jewish community and the entire world. May his memory be a blessing.”
SEC DIRECTOR DANIEL BOUSKILA
“The Jewish people have lost a great leader, and the world has lost a prophet. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, left our world when we read Parashat Vayera, which features Judaism’s first leader and the world’s first prophet—Abraham. Regarding Abraham, Rabbi Sacks wrote: ‘Abraham was the role model of leadership as Judaism understands it. He acted, he did not wait for others to act. To Abraham, G-d says ‘Walk before me,’ meaning: be a leader. Walk ahead. Take personal responsibility. Take moral responsibility. Take collective responsibility.’” “Rabbi Sacks was writing about Abraham, but upon contemplating the life of this generation’s undisputed global spokesman for Judaism, Rabbi Sacks’ words were as applicable to him as they were to Abraham. Like Abraham, he spoke to his own people, and he also spoke to the world. Rest In Peace, dear Rabbi, you left us too soon, and you leave behind a gigantic legacy of leadership and wisdom.
ERIC S. GOLDSTEIN UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK CEO
“We are broken-hearted to learn of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. The world has lost one of the great Jewish leaders of our time—and a truly kind and gentle soul. At the core of his vast contributions to public life and discourse was his remarkable ability to create and communicate a compelling narrative, rooted in Torah and Jewish law, of tolerance, compassion and understanding.
WJC PRESIDENT RONALD S. LAUDER
“The World Jewish Congress and the entire Jewish world are profoundly saddened by the passing of former British Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. A theologian of extraordinary intellectual depth and moral conviction, Rabbi Sacks was a riveting orator and brilliant author who brought the timeless teachings of Jewish scripture to both Jews and non-Jews alike, fusing Jewish tradition with modern thought. His writings, including—and perhaps especially—his commentaries on the weekly Torah portion will be cherished by future generations. We extend our deepest condolences to Lord Sacks’ wife Elaine and their family. May they—and the whole house of Israel—be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may his memory be an everlasting blessing and source of inspiration.”
RABBI JOSEPH DWECK
“He drew from the wisdom of our hakhamim and showed us how they spoke directly to us and our circumstances and how there was no area of our lives to which our Torah did not have meaningful and penetrating lessons for us. The void that his absence leaves us is staggering. We will only come to know its depth and breadth as the days pass. We will seek his wisdom and insight, we will want his guidance, we will wish that he could speak for us, we will miss his encouragement, the light of his mind, and the security of his knowledge. We will feel vulnerable and as though we have lost our language, our way to express our feelings and thoughts to ourselves and the world. We will know that the Rav is missing from us and we will all feel it. We are, nonetheless, blessed that he gifted us with his thoughts and teachings in abundance during his life. We will go to his writings and recorded lessons, we will ask his students, family and friends, we will learn and speak his Torah in his name, and we will ask HKBH that his merit stand for us all.”
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU
“His insights on the heritage of the Jewish people and on anti-Semitism will live on, for our generation and future generations. May his memory be a blessing.”
ISRAELI PRESIDENT REUVEN RIVLIN
“I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks—a man of thought and a man of words, an original teacher and a man of creativity, a man of truth, whose generosity and compassion built bridges between people. Rabbi Sacks bravely faced difficult questions and always found the right words to illuminate the Torah and explain its paths. We will always remember his warnings against violence in the name of G-d, and his belief that we have the power to heal a fractured world.”
PRINCE CHARLES
“It was with the most profound personal sorrow that I heard of the death of Rabbi Lord Sacks. With his passing, the Jewish community, our nation, and the entire world have lost a leader whose wisdom, scholarship and humanity were without equal. His immense learning spanned the sacred and the secular, and his prophetic voice spoke to our greatest challenges with unfailing insight and boundless compassion. His wise counsel was sought and appreciated by those of all faiths, and he will be missed more than words can say. Although Rabbi Lord Sacks’ death is a cause of the greatest possible sadness, we give thanks for the immeasurable contribution which—in the tradition of the most revered teachers of the Jewish people—he made to all our lives.”
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. His leadership had a profound impact on our whole country and across the world. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and the Jewish community. May his memory be a blessing.”
FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
“I am deeply distressed and sad at the news. Jonathan was a wonderful friend, a beloved mentor, a philosopher of extraordinary insight and of course a religious leader, respected well beyond the Jewish community and well beyond the shores of Britain. His influence was vast and his reach immense. A brilliant speaker and thinker he had the rarest of gifts—expressing complex ideas in the simplest of terms. He was a man of huge intellectual stature but with the warmest human spirit. My heart goes out to Elaine (his wife), his children and wider family and the Jewish community. He will be deeply mourned.”
IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN AVENUE P LATELY, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY ALL IT HAS TO OFFER. THE PRISTINE STREETS ARE HOME TO AN ECLECTIC GROUP OF STORES, WHICH INCLUDE A SUPERMARKET, A COFFEE SHOP, A BANK, A GIFT SHOP, FLORIST AND SO MUCH MORE. HERE WE’RE HIGHLIGHTING TWO OF AVENUE P’S FINEST STORES: KITCHEN CABOODLES AND DEAR DRUGS.
KITCHEN CABOODLES
This is a home goods store with everything you need for cooking, baking and hosting a party. Located at 492 Avenue P, since 2004, you can read all about the store on Instagram at @kitchencaboodles, featuring Martha Stewart! Over the years, the store has doubled in size and the owners have opened another store in Allenhurst. They’ve also opened a mikveh on premises.
Like most other stores, Kitchen Caboodles went through a rough time when COVID hit, and have recently been shut down for a second time, due to the virus (for at least two weeks). “We have faith that we will get through this difficult time once again,” they said, adding, “If you’re a new bride who needs a bridal registry, we’ll help! If you’re the bride’s friends, we can handle the wishing well basket. If you’re moving into a new house, we will not only help you get what you need, we will tovel (dip) it for you and deliver it to your home. If you’re planning a party, dinner or get together, we’ve got you covered with the largest selection of gorgeous and unique disposable tableware available. We’re also super helpful when it comes to organizing kitchens, closets, basements, and even laundry rooms.”
“Don’t forget to visit our 20k plus Instagram account. There’s a link to our work in progress website! So check it out, double tap and enjoy. We hope to see all of our amazing, friendly-faced customers back in person sooner than later. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy and keep cooking!”
DEAR DRUGS
Dear Drugs pharmacy has been servicing the community for close to forty years. Throughout those years we have gotten to know multiple generations in a single family. We are proud to be considered a trusted resource and even part of our patient’s families, sharing in their simchot and times of mourning.
Abe Dear started Dear Drugs in 1985 across the street from our current location. Jeff Burbank came on soon afterward giving the pharmacy two full-time pharmacists to better serve the growing community. Continuing to the next generation, Dr. Mati Dear joined them in 2001.
With Covid still around, we are here to serve you and help you any way we can. We are fully stocked with medicine, vitamins, health needs and have a full line of PPE. To help keep you safe we offer delivery and curbside service.
HOW COULD ANYONE POSSIBLY DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN JEWISH EDUCATION NOW? THIS IS THE QUESTION I ASKED MYSELF AS WE HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH MANY SHIFTS, CHANGES, AND UNKNOWNS, AND I WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME IMAGINING A SCENARIO WHERE ANYONE WOULD LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND SAY THAT THEY SAW THEMSELVES INVESTING THEIR TIME TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A TEACHER OF TORAH.
I needed some encouragement, some drive, some spark. I needed to know that there were people out there who were still up for one of the most important jobs a person could ever do. And so I turned to those who I thought would be able to give me just that, through a campaign called #WhyITeach.
Melamedet’s #WhyITeach campaign is a series where we interview community Judaic Studies educators who are still in the field, working hard through some of the toughest challenges any teacher has ever faced. We interview them to understand why they still do what they do. We also hope to inspire and motivate our current Melamedet students, as well as others who may want to join the program to become Judaic Studies teachers themselves.
We asked community teachers about their paths to Jewish Education, what drives them, what inspires them, what they wish the world knew about their careers, and what message they had for the next generation of community educators in Jewish education. What they had to say left me with a newfound passion for Torah, an inspiring and insightful look into the hard work that our teachers do on a daily basis, and a tremendous sense of hope for the future of Jewish Education. You can watch the series on our Instagram page @melamedet_ or on our website Melamedet.org.
One of the foundational reasons for why we began Melamedet, an online learning platform with the goal of developing young community women into high level Judaic Studies educators and bringing them into our community schools, is the idea that community and relatability matter when it comes to creating lasting impact. We wanted specifically to help train community women to become Judaic Studies teachers, so that when their students walked out of their classrooms, they would see Torah not just as another subject in school, but as a way of life. The #WhyITeach campaign allowed us to gain insight and inspiration from fellow community teachers, helping to make the field of Jewish education relatable and attainable.
The courses at Melamedet range from In Depth Analysis and Pedagogy in Halakha and Tanakh, to Positive Psychology and Incorporating Technology in the Classroom, ensuring that we create teachers equipped not only with content and pedagogy, but social emotional skills as well.
Our staff includes top community rabbis and educators, who are there to guide and mentor each step of the way. Our students are young community women with strong leadership skills, who are looking to become role models and mentors, teaching, guiding, and setting a positive example for the next generation.
Our semesters are designed to be flexible and cater to everyone, from full time college students to working mothers, with the ability to take all courses online and receive full scholarship awards.
Currently, we have been blessed with an incredible cohort of students, and are now accepting applications for students who would like to join us beginning in January 2021 for the spring semester. You can apply today at Melamedet.org
Here Is What Some Of Our Students Have To Say About Melamedet:
“Joining the Melamedet program has opened the door for me to learn how to teach Judaic studies with the same, if not greater seriousness and depth, as a masters program. It has been a privilege to study closely with community rabbis and teachers, who encouraged and supported me even while working as a new mother. I look forward to, G-d willing, having the great privilege and opportunity to become a teacher of Torah” Sally Choueka
“I recently joined Melamedet and have been truly loving it! I enjoy learning how to teach Judiac Studies in ways that I wouldn’t get from a conventional college education. I can remain a full time college student while taking Melamedet courses online in a flexible way, with amazing teachers and mentors. I can’t wait to become a teacher of Jewish education and share my passion for Jewish values, as well as my admiration for all the incredible sources we have to learn from. I am grateful I joined this program!” Mary Jajati
“The individualized attention for each student guarantees her success. I look forward to continuing and passing forward the knowledge that Melamedet has taught and will continue to teach me.” Judy Sitt
If there’s anything that characterizes our community, it’s food—Freshly fried mazzas, buttery sambousak, lemony hamud. Close your eyes and imagine what the Shabbat table looks like, or the smell of your house on a Thursday evening (fried onion and mujedra). Cuisine is so engrained in our identity and culture that we don’t always register what a luxury it is. Yet, for hundreds in our community nightly dinner, let alone a holiday meal, is a source of incredible stress and anxiety.
Sixteen hundred meals was the number to hit. In only a few short weeks our goal was to cook, package and deliver both meat and dairy dishes to over 165 families for every meal of the High Holidays. From the berachot of the first night of Rosh Hashanah until the final lunch of Simchat Torah, the team was dedicated to ensuring that not one table in the community was empty.
During the initial strategy meetings, the team decided on the name Tizku Le’Mitzvot Holiday Meals Project, as an expression of gratitude, both for ourselves and volunteers. Summers are usually the busiest time of year for our volunteers, yet with health restrictions certain precautions were put in place limiting the number of opportunities. This new and ambitious project gave us the ability to both help those in need and engage our phenomenal volunteer base. Within a matter of days, volunteer coordinators, along with a few key volunteers went to work recruiting cooks, while on a development side the team began approaching donors to help move the project along. And by the first week of September, 250 cooks signed up to volunteer their culinary skills, while over 20 donors stepped up to help accomplish this incredible goal. It felt as if our volunteers had been holding their breath since the summer and were ready to jump into action the moment an opportunity presented itself.
One of the critical objectives of the Holiday Meals Project was to create a sense of warmth and familiarity with every dish. The menus included Friday night staples like roast, kibbeh, peas and mechsie, along with dairy dishes, like spanach, kusa jibin, calsones and more. The team wanted to ensure that every individual receiving meals was comforted not only because each dish was home-made, but because they were classic Syrian staples. From every mechshie filled to calsones stuffed, the cooks prepared each meal as if they were cooking for their own family.
The outpouring of support and volunteers were both heartwarming and overwhelming. Ultimately, our cooks prepared over 2,400 holiday meals, far surpassing our original goal, ensuring every mouth would be fed during the holidays. Throughout the month, we had volunteers organizing, boxing and delivering the thousands of meals in both Brooklyn and New Jersey. Ultimately, not only were we able to feed hundreds in the community, but we had the opportunity to empower our volunteers through acts of hesed and giving.
Once again, we must express our gratitude to every volunteer who opened their homes and hearts to reach our goal, to our community butchers who were beyond generous and every donor who helped this project come to fruition. If you want to get involved at the pantry contact food@sbhonline.org.
MANY PEOPLE DREAM OF THE DAY THEY CAN LEAVE WORK BEHIND AND START PURSUING THEIR LIFELONG DREAMS. BUT MOST PEOPLE WILL NEED TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE BEFORE THEY CAN LEAVE BEHIND THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOBS IN EXCHANGE FOR A MORE FULFILLING PATH. THIS IS WHERE THE INCREASINGLY POPULAR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE—RETIRE EARLY (FIRE) MOVEMENT COMES IN.
The basis of the FIRE movement is quite simple: Save and aggressively invest a large percentage of your income (somewhere from 50 and 75%) to gain financial independence and retire early. While saving this much may be extremely difficult (especially at this time), there are principles within the FIRE movement that can help everyone on the path to better financial health.
Have A Plan
Whether you want to retire at age 45 or age 70, you should have a good idea of how much you will need to save for you to live comfortably. Chat with a financial professional to figure out what your savings goal is according to your desired retirement age, current income, savings, and estimated monthly expenses after retirement. With a savings goal in mind, you can calculate how much you will need to save each month to retire at your desired age.
Cut Down Debt
One of the best ways to start saving money is by eliminating debt as quickly as possible. Whether you have student loans, credit cards or other debts, it is hard to save and invest when a portion of your income is going towards debt every month. Debt will only grow the longer you put it off, so focus your financial resources on eliminating your debts first and foremost.
It is also important to evaluate debts that you consider essential, like your mortgage or auto loan to see if there’s room to cut back. One option is to refinance to reduce monthly payments. If you are serious about saving, you may even choose to move to a more remote area with a lower cost of living overall.
Evaluate Your Expenses
One key component of the FIRE movement is cutting down drastically on spending. By eliminating unnecessary expenses, you will be in a better position to save and invest towards financial independence. Take a close look at your expenses over the past few months and evaluate where you may be able to trim your spending; from going out to eat less to cancelling a subscription service you never use.
FIRE movement followers are also careful to avoid lifestyle creep. Instead of spending more money when they get a raise, promotion, or bonus, they funnel the extra income into their savings. One way to avoid lifestyle creep is to simply set a budgetary goal of living within or below your means. You will ensure that any extra funds will be funneled into savings while also avoiding debt from overspending.
Start Investing
Passive income is key for followers of the FIRE movement. One of the best ways to have your money work for you is by investing it. You can do this through traditional retirement accounts, like a 401(k) or an IRA, but if early retirement is your goal you may want to look into other investment options to be sure that you can withdraw from your accounts without penalties. It is generally a good idea to diversify your investments, so you may want to consider putting your dollars in an exchange-traded fund or mutual fund.
You may also want to consider strategies to generate extra income to go into your investment accounts. This may involve monetizing a hobby such as crafting or blogging. If you have a website or other online platform, you can take advantage of that space to make a passive income with affiliate links, ads, or bespoke digital content. It is important to remember that the FIRE movement is not right for everyone. However, if you are interested and you don’t mind overhauling the way you budget and save, be sure to chat with a financial professional to set up the right plan for your needs and lifestyle.
THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER (SWC) HELD ITS FIFTH ANNUAL EVENT HONORING “HEROES FOR TOLERANCE” WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND SUCCESS. WHILE THIS EVENT IS USUALLY HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES AT YANKEE STADIUM, DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS THIS YEAR’S EVENT WAS RELOCATED TO A SITE THAT SWC WAS ABLE TO MAKE SAFE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.
SWC would like to thank all involved for helping ensure that this event produced the resources necessary to continue forwarding the institution’s critical programs and fulfilling the mission at a time that is both more challenging and critical than any time in recent memory,” said Michael Cohen, SWC’s Eastern Director. “The SWC family is truly humbled at the generosity of the Northeast region and are immensely grateful.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s distinguished honorees were Matthew Dikovics and Michael Pock of Nassau Consulting Group; David Heskiel, police chaplain, community advocate; and Hon. Joseph Lagana, New Jersey State Senator and partner at Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri and Jacobs.
Each of these individuals continues to be a tremendous leader during these most challenging of times in the fight against hate, anti-Semitism and discrimination, looking to make our world and our local communities a better place for our children, our families and our collective future.
“At a time when the mission, programs and advocacy of the Simon Wiesenthal Center are needed more than ever, we are humbled by the outpouring of support and generosity during these most challenging of times,” Cohen continued. “This important event exceeded all expectations and we will continue in our unwavering commitment to serving on the front lines in the battles against anti-Semitism and hate.”
Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff spoke at the event as well. “I would like to commend the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Director Michael Cohen for their Fifth Annual Heroes Tolerance Award Ceremony. It was a great program, highlighted by the honorees who advocate for programs that assist in eradicating anti-Semitism. I would also like to thank Director Michael Cohen for never-ending commitment to fighting for equality for all people.”
Rabbi Aaron Kotler, president of the Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), was thanked for supporting SWC and being a featured speaker. Rabbi Kotler told the story of Simon Wiesenthal himself, in how losing 89 members of his family during the Holocaust he did not give up, he did not walk away, but instead rose up to lead the world in the fight against injustice everywhere, giving us all a model to follow for all time.
Israel Nitzan, acting Israeli Consul General of Israel, also attended the event and spoke. He thanked SWC for its continued efforts in combating anti-Semitism while highlighting the continued work of the Center through the pandemic, both in having almost 30 local municipalities pass anti-BDS resolutions and in making sure the Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship Program continued this summer, training our next generation so they can one day lead their communities, while so many other programs had to unfortunately take a year hiatus.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center thanks the hosts of the event, Polly and Gabriel Bousbib, for graciously opening up their backyard. SWC also thanked the members of the event’s host committee for their tireless efforts: Dr. Paul Ackerman, Ann Arnold, Warren Cohn, Gil Cygler, Ira Goldstein, Victor Herlinsky, Hon. John Hogan, Shira Jacobs, Nina Nanasi, Jodi and Allen Rapaport, Lori and Dr. Marty Schlakman, Todd Sherer, Debra Tantleff and Bishop Mitchell Taylor.
An event dedicated to community women whose families were impacted by Covid-19 and a tribute to the founders, donors, ambassadors and clients of PROPEL.
Given the unprecedented pandemic, PROPEL’s calling to support our community women and families was never more prevalent. A quick response to aid while given the country’s new imposed restrictions was quickly needed. Over the last six months, PROPEL has reached more women than ever utilizing a virtual platform. Whether providing career coaching to PROPEL clients virtually, organizing Zoom get-togethers and training classes, hosting weekly IG Lives, showcasing incredible working women on Instagram, PROPEL has pivoted like no other organization.
Our annual fundraiser reflected that same ingenuity, and on a recent Monday evening, PROPELETHON, a virtual community-wide telethon was aired to hundreds of viewers. A generous donation made by Sharyn and Ezra S. Ashkenazi, cofounder and supporter of PROPEL, in honor of their mothers Mrs. Sally Ashkenazi and Mrs. Gladys Kassin A”H, allowed for this event to take place.
Under the direction of Co-presidents Haim Dabah and Jacqueline Harary, and Project Manager Vicky Amzalag, and with the hard work of the PROPEL leadership and professional staff, PROPELETHON celebrated the fantastic achievements of working women, and shared testimonials from community supporters and board members.
The evening was beautifully emceed by community spokesperson and philanthropist Harry Adjmi and Vice President Dr. Gayle Krost, each a longtime supporter of PROPEL. The evening included heart-warming stories from PROPEL clients and inspirational messages from many community rabbis, including Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Shlomo Farhi of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Manhattan, Rabbi Eli Mansour of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Brooklyn, Rabbi Shimon and Mrs. Alouf, Rabbi Saul Kassin of the West Deal Synagogue and Rabbi Haim Shaul and Rabbi Mendy Weitman of The Ohel Moshe Synagogue at the Moise Safra Center.
The audience was entertained by community comic David Levy in character as Solly, and extremely talented community singers Janet Chrem, Isaac Ashkenazi, Abraham Franco and Michael Tebele. One highlight of the evening was the entertaining and hilarious game show—the Not the Newlywed Game—hosted by Joyce Silverman—with four incredible couples, Norma and Michael Cohen, Raquel and Abie Feldman, Ginette and Isaac Gammal, and Marielle and David Dror. A special thank you to PROPEL board member and supporter, Marcy Feldman, and Caroll Dweck for all their hard work in making the game show a reality.
Some other exciting segments included a salute to our community healthcare heroes and a presentation of an award to Renee Steinberg Tawil, a nurse manager at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, on behalf of all community members who put their lives on the line and were first responders during the pandemic. Another segment included Gitta Kaplan, general counsel at Mamiye Brothers, which kicked off a “I’m Listed” tribute to all those women included in the PROPEL List. In addition, we are thankful to the presentation from the Founder Elliott Dweck featuring the inspirational story of Lynda Levy.
PROPELETHON helped to raise much needed funds for an organization that has tripled its volume since Covid-19. Now, more than ever, families are in need of additional income and PROPEL has responded by training women to become professionals and earners. PROPEL is proud to invoke the Rambam and reference his famous statement that teaching a person a trade is the highest form of charity.
Thank you to all who support PROPEL and understand the mission of the non-profit organization. PROPEL still needs help reaching its goal and appreciates that every donation in any amount counts. Please consider making a donation: Venmo @Propel-Network or visit www.thepropelnetwork.org/donate
In The First Decade Of The Last Century, A Group Of Women Banded Together To Form A Bikur Holim Known As The New Utrecht Aid Society. Their Goal Was To Provide The Needy With Access To Qualified Medical Care, And Educate The Poor Immigrant Communities Of Southern Brooklyn On Modern Health And Sanitary Guidelines.
Fast forward 109 years and the spirit of their endeavor is still vital. The small dispensary they founded long ago has grown into the borough’s largest, most advanced medical center, serving as the hub for the most critical emergency and medical needs. Recognized among the top ten health systems in the country, it continues to offer leading-edge clinical services to the people of our community. We know it today as Maimonides.
Maimonides has a long track record of innovative medical breakthroughs and technological advances, yet remains deeply rooted in the fundamental ethics of charity, compassion and commitment to the sanctity of life. It is the only hospital we know of that has in its board-approved mission statement an explicit reference to “serving the special health care needs of the Orthodox Jewish community, whose religious and cultural traditions help to guide the provision of our services.”
It was this set of core values that prompted Rabbi Heshy Augenbaum to sign on as the Hospital’s Chief Development Officer. For someone with a long and eminent career in the Torah institutional world, it seemed a rather abrupt change of pace, but from Heshy’s perspective, it was a logical next step. “In Ozar Hatorah, I was privileged to build an international network of day schools,” he reflected. “In Lakewood, I was privileged to build batei medrash. In Ahi Ezer, I was privileged to expand community services, and in numerous other projects over the years I devoted my time to hesed and nurturing the spiritual life of our people. But at Maimonides, I am blessed and humbled by a truly awesome opportunity—that of helping to literally save lives. I am excited to reach out daily and engage with leaders and influencers who can support the Hospital’s incredible work, and ensure its future for the sake of our community and all those it serves.”
When Heshy joined Maimonides in 2016, he was immediately handed the reigns of Pink Runway, an annual fundraiser for the award-winning Maimonides Breast Center—Brooklyn’s first fully accredited, full-service program to make breast cancer screenings, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and a full array of support services, all available under one roof. Until it opened back in 2006, women in Brooklyn coping with a breast cancer diagnosis were obliged to travel from provider to provider, with many leaving the borough for treatment.
Led by Maimonides Chair of Surgery, Dr. Patrick Borgen, and a team of exceptionally skilled and dedicated physicians and staff, the Breast Center saves lives every day with a level of care and empathy that has become legendary. Numerous patients of all backgrounds eloquently attest to this—it is their courage and resilience that is honored at Pink Runway, the fashion show where breast cancer survivors triumph. In the past four years, Heshy and his team have turned Pink Runway from a small gathering of patients with their doctors into a must-attend signature event for the greater Hospital community, hosted in a trendy club venue with corporate and philanthropic sponsors, celebrity guests and media star emcees.
“Each model who walks the Pink Runway is a patient of our Breast Center,” Heshy explained. “Their stories of survival are profound and powerful, they make us cry. But the reason they walk is to encourage others that there is hope. Every single step on the Pink Runway is a vibrant celebration of life that uplifts and inspires us all.” Maimonides President Ken Gibbs and Heshy Augenbaum with Real Housewives Dolores Catania (R) and Margaret Josephs (L) at the filming of Pink Runway.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no live event—instead, Pink Runway 2020 will be broadcast online. Filming took place in August at the iconic 1Oak, courtesy of owners Richie and Jackie Akiva; honorees accepted their awards at home; and sponsors will be recognized during the broadcast and in an online playbill. The broadcast will stream on Wednesday, October 21st at 8:00 pm on the event website, GoPinkRunway.org, and on the Maimonides Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube pages. Please mark your calendar and tune in for a spectacular experience.
“The fight against breast cancer is a cause that resonates with many in our community,” said Heshy, “particularly in our Sephardic community, because we are so close-knit. Whoever we are, we all know someone.” Among the Chairs raising funds and awareness for this year’s virtual event are Ike S. Sutton, Esther Hidary, Odette Rishty, and Alice Adjmi, who together with husband Harry is one of the event sponsors. They’re joining a special effort to get the word out to all women not to let fear of the pandemic keep them from going to the doctor and getting the routine mammograms and check-ups so crucial to life-saving early detection. While praying with all his heart that this New Year sees an end to the global health crisis, Heshy nevertheless looks to the future with faith and optimism.
In 2021, Maimonides will mark its 110th birthday and make history again with a Master Facilities Expansion to refresh, upgrade and increase the size of key clinical areas. Plans include modernizing and enlarging the Adult ER by an additional 47,000 SF of space; relocating the Pediatric ER to a separate building; modernizing and expanding the Neonatal ICU; renovating the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (Recovery Room); modernizing the Cardiac Catheterization laboratories; and completing a renovation of the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) spearheaded by a group of Orthodox business leaders.
By the end of this year, Maimonides will also proudly cut the ribbon on a new 150,000 sq. ft. multispecialty Doctors Pavilion, an outpatient center that will bring together more than twenty specialty practices under one roof—a project led by board member Jack A. Hidary, Chairman of the Facilities Committee. With on-site testing, an on-site blood lab, underground parking, and numerous other resources and amenities, this beautiful new facility will greatly enhance the patient experience and make physician specialists who are recognized among the best in New York more accessible than ever. “B’ezrat Hashem,” said Heshy, “Maimonides will continue to stand strong on Brooklyn’s front line and be there for our community with outstanding clinical excellence and the highest standard of care.”
TO SUPPORT PINK RUNWAY AND LEARN MORE, PLEASE VISIT GOPINKRUNWAY.ORG.
By now, many of you have heard of the organization that has made a powerful impact on the world of special needs children in the Sephardic community. “Caring for a Special needs child and dealing with the impact that the child has on the entire family is CARE’s mission statement,“ says Michael Wahba cofounder of CARE. CARE has programs and events run for the parents—featuring dinners, lectures, support groups and entertainment—bringing together parents and connecting those that would otherwise feel so alone. CARE also has events that are geared to siblings, and wonderful events for the special needs children, themselves. CARE provides overall support for the entire family who share in this difficult struggle.
Founded by parents of special needs children, CARE is sensitive and understanding to the overall, complex needs of the family,” says Sarah Horowitz Director of CARE. Unfortunately with the prevalence of special needs today, CARE has been a vital community resource. “The world of special needs can be a confusing maze and we are here to hold parents hands for every step of the way,” says Sarah. Since CARE’s inception, more than 300 community families have reached out and are now part of the “CARE family.”
“CARE is more than just an organization—it’s family,” is what CARE parents say over and over. The overall community impact of this relatively new organization has stunned many community members who proudly stand behind CARE.
“I don’t know where these community families would be without the shoulder of CARE to lean on,” says Harry Adjmi, CARE board member and advisor. Whether it’s guiding parents to the proper school for the child’s unique special need or helping families obtain state funded assistance and therapies at no cost to them, CARE has become the first phone call community parents make when faced with this daunting challenge.
THE REVOLUTIONIZED PERCEPTION OF SPECIAL NEEDS
Perhaps an unexpected impact that CARE has had on the community is how it has revolutionized the way special needs families are perceived by the community and how parents feel about themselves. No longer feeling alone and isolated, parents are now feeling emboldened and strengthened about their challenges and are more vocal about their struggles, coming forward and motivating others. CARE is breaking the so called stigma of having a child with special needs.
This was displayed during this past summer as parents began doing Instagram live shows hosted by Barbara Azrack, Lillian Monopola, and Ruth Hamway, opening up community members eyes to the challenges these families face and encouraging other families with similar challenges to come forward for help and join the “CARE family.”
“The experience of sharing our story not only helped inspire other families to reach out to CARE, but helped ourselves in the process, as well,” say Eli and Addy Yadid, CARE parents.
“For so long we kept our sons diagnosis a secret, which did nothing but stunt our spiritual growth. By speaking up, it allowed us to free ourselves from the shackles of fear and begin the process of acceptance,” adds Eli. “Doing the live show was scary because I did not know how people were going to respond, but to my surprise, I did not stop getting calls asking me questions. It was amazing to see the response!“ says Hannah Sutton, a CARE parent. With the recent pandemic and all the challenges people have been through lately, there has been an increased sensitivity to the plight of families that are struggling in dealing with these special children. CARE has been serving as a lifeline to these parents while helping bridge the gap, creating a strong awareness to the community at large.
If you would like to volunteer or get involved with CARE please contact them at 718.975.7171 or email info@careforspecial.org.
ON A RECENT FRIDAY MORNING IN DEAL, NJ, A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE AT OHEL YAACOB SYNAGOGUE, A TORAH DEDICATION IN MEMORY OF CHIEF RABBI SHAUL J. KASSIN A”H, AND IN HONOR OF HIS WIFE RAABANIT FRIEDA KASSIN, TWO LEGENDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
The Torah was the idea of Steven Sorscher, Rabbi Kassin’s grandson, who gave a moving speech, which brought many to tears. He related that whenever he and his grandfather would go to a Torah Dedication, Rabbi Kassin would lift the Torah. If it was unwieldy, he would say, ‘This Torah is too heavy.’ But if it was light, he loved it, because it was easy to carry. That’s why Steven wanted to create a one-of-a-kind, extra light Torah. He knew his grandfather would definitely approve.
The Torah was a gift from all of Rabbi Kassin’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the children of Eli and Rita Esses A”H—Victor, Adam and David.
Adam Esses gave a speech, in which he said, “Chacham Shaul always made me feel like one of his grandchildren. He taught us that as you grow older, you discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others. We learned to give our all, do good deeds, and soon it came naturally.”
It was a lovely event and some very special people helped make it a success. Abie Sorscher did a fabulous job as emcee. Chief Rabbi Shaul J. Kassin, Rabbi Shaul M. Kassin, Rabbi David Maslaton, Rabbi Eli Mansour, and Rabbi Joey Srour made emotional speeches, as did Jacob S. Kassin.
Many talented men were responsible for making the Torah. Rabbi Mordechai Shayo from Israel chose the parchment and wrote the Torah, Rabbi Arking our famous NJ soffer and Rabbi Teherani filled in the last letters, to complete it. Mr. Avi Luviton crafted the exquisite Torah case in Italy, assembled it in Israel and made sure that the front of the case resembled the robe that Chacham Shaul wore. Rabbi Joey Srour chose the passuk to write on the outside of the Torah, Rabbi Victor Harrari helped with communications in Israel and brought the Torah from Israel to Brooklyn. Abe Sorscher handled logistics with Susan Sorscher, Charles from Zami Caterers provided the delicious food that was served, and DJ Stan, Rabbi Kassin’s great-grandson, provided the music.
Steven Sorscher told the crowd that the Torah will reside in the midrash in Shaare Zion, were his grandfather loved to pray, and concluded the event with these beautiful words, “Finally, I’d like to thank our Nani, Raabanit Frieda Kassin for building this wonderful family, and keeping us strong and together. Our family would not be what it is today without all the hard work you and Papa did.
