Recently, the second Semi-annual Weekend Walk took place on Kings Highway from McDonald Avenue to East 4th Street. The event was brought to the community by the Kings Highway Beautification Association, or KHBA for short, in partnership with the Department of Transportation or DOT.
KHBA is dedicated to assuring that the streets and buildings of Kings Highway, Avenue P, and Avenue U in Brooklyn, from McDonald Avenue to Ocean Parkway, are clean, presentable, and inviting. KHBA is to thank for the periodical removal of graffiti from buildings and storefront gates, for high end litter baskets that were purchased and placed on every corner to avoid littering, for the sweeping of sidewalks daily, and much more
KHBA works closely with several government agencies to accomplish all they have done thus far and continue to do for the district they represent. The DOT is one of these agencies, and they approached KHBA with the proposal to host a Weekend Walk. The idea was to have a day to close down traffic and give the streets to the neighbors and pedestrians. This is just what KHBA did
During the hours of the Weekend Walk, the streets were closed to cars, trucks, and busses, and open to the public to come enjoy the festivities. Holon Middle Eastern Grocery Store set up a large barbecue station at the heart of the event. There was a moon bounce, an inflatable obstacle course, and a giant slide, with free admission for all! Children enjoyed balloon art, which was handed out by clowns as well as face painting. There was also an arts and crafts station where children could make spin art with paints
The police department and fire department set up booths to interact with the public and to convey some safety knowledge to them. Firefighters, who were stationed alongside a fire truck, gave out replacement batteries for fire alarms, coloring books, and other fire-safety related goodies. The police officers set up an experiment for adults to participate in. This is how they conducted it: a police officer asked a participant to put on hazy smudgy goggles and attempt to walk down a straight line, pick something up off the floor, and then catch a ball. The idea was to replicate a personâs vision while intoxicated. Since most participants found these seemingly simple tasks quite difficult, the police felt they made their case and point: if you canât walk a straight line in dirty goggles, you definitely should not attempt to drive a vehicle when drunk.
An option of bright blue sunglasses or a flashlight was offered to the participants for being good sports as the policemen taught them this valuable lesson
It was truly a great day for the community to come together and enjoy some family fun. The city and neighbors were grateful to Kings Highway Beautification Association and the DOT for this wonderfully successful day!
To celebrate 110 years of building a more inclusive, healthy, and vibrant Israel, Bnai Zion Foundation recently hosted their Annual New York Gala. Over 250 guests came out to the Museum of Jewish Heritage to support the organizationâs work, raise funds, and honor four individuals who have truly embodied Bnai Zionâs ideals. The four esteemed honorees included Rabbi Elie Abadie, M.D., Founding Rabbi of Manhattan East Synagogue and Founder and Head of School of The Sephardic Academy of Manhattan; Kenneth Abramowitz, Managing General Partner and co-Founder of NGN Capital and Founder of SaveTheWest.com; Mark Langfan, Managing Partner of The Langfan Company, a Senior Fellow of the London Center, and the Arutz Sheva Correspondent to the UN; and William K. Langfan, a philanthropist and WWII veteran who received the French Legion of Honor Medal.
The gala, which started with a reception at noon, gave attendees a chance to mingle before settling into their seats for the upcoming speeches, while enjoying a buffet lunch. The four honorees each received an award, as well as standing ovations for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York, was in attendance, and gave a rousing speech about Israelâs solidarity with the Jews of the diaspora in the wake of rising anti-Semitism and the shooting in Pittsburgh.
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âI have never shared so many common values and beliefs than with the honorees at this particular event,â said Ambassador Dayan, before moving on to more somber sentiments. âIn a few weeks we will mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. We always say never again. I believe that never is now.â Stephen Savitsky, Board President, spoke beautifully about Bnai Zionâs ability to bring together people from across the religious and political spectrum. Acknowledging the stunning view of the Statue of Liberty from the museum, he said: âThatâs our mission. Give us your tired and your poor. Give us people in Israel who need our helpâbecause regardless of politics, regardless of religious belief, we come together to work for the children, for the people, and for the State of Israel. We are the answer to Jewish unity in the world, at a time when we need Jewish unity so badly.
Other speakers included Cheryl Bier, CEO, who spoke about our power to unite in the face of tragedy and rally around our common causeâour love of Israel; and George Schaeffer, Chairman, reminisced about Bnai Zionâs incredible work over his 53 years of involvement in the organization. The program ended with an intriguing performance from Mentalist Oz Pearlman, who captivated guests with his âmind-reading,â guessing everything from Master of Ceremonies Harry Adjmiâs favorite dessert, to what various guests were thinking about. Afterwards, the guests retired to the cocktail room for dessert, where Senior Vice President Rebecca Harary led the drawing of an exquisite auction with exciting prize packages, all donated in support of Bnai Zion Foundation.
âThis was our best event yet,â said Cheryl Bier. âI was so happy to have such movers and shakers in the room, including our amazing honorees and emcee Harry Adjmi. With everything going on, it was wonderful to have the chance to celebrate Israel.
Bnai Zion Foundation is an America-based nonprofit that identifies and funds capital projects in Israel in the areas of social inclusion, health, and culture. Over the past 110 years, Bnai Zion has completed over one hundred humanitarian projects in Israel that have contributed to the physical, mental, and social well-being of the people of Israel.q
In August, 2006, Martin Salama and 1,504 other people came to the Synagogue of West Deal, in New Jersey, with hope in their hearts. An appeal from the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry had gone out to try help save the life of 6 year old Stella Liniado AâH. Stella was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. In just a few days, more than 3,000 people where tested, but a match could not be found in time. Stellaâs legacy is carried on by her family and the Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundation, an organization that continues to support Gift of Life advocate for donors to join the registry, and sponsors the Steps for Life 5k of New York City every year, among other events. Martin remembers he understood the importance of being a donor. Twelve years later, in May 2018, his miracle call from Gift of Life finally came, âYou may be able to save a 44 year old man who is battling leukemia,â he was told
âI was over the moon to be called as a match,â said Martin. âI knew I would donate either bone marrow or stem cells, whatever was needed. All that mattered to me was a manâs life could be saved. It only takes a few hours, and you donât even need to have surgery or give up an organ, itâs an outpatient process.
With great excitement, Martin documented his journey on his Facebook page, encouraging others to join the registry as well. He also had great support from his family. One of his sisters, Nancy Sutton, started a medical referral service years ago that has now evolved into The Morris I. France Cancer Center in Brooklyn. The Center helps individuals through their medical journey as smoothly as possible, supporting them every step of the way
Martin was ready for his day of donation, arriving with a queue of videos on his laptop to binge-watch while his stem cells were being collected. A Gift of Life community engagement coordinator went with him to make sure he was taken care of. âIt was very relaxing,â he said. âI am so lucky! I donated to help someone and hope I can meet him someday.
Martin plans to write a letter to his recipient, which he can do anonymously for the first year. Donors receive updates about their recipient several times, and after a year they can apply to meet their recipient if both parties agree.
âI want people to know how simple this is,â said Martin. âPeople think you have to be a hero to donate stem cells, but itâs so simple. Thank G-d we have such technology to save so many lives. No one should pass up this amazing opportunity.
Albert Liniado, founder of âThe Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundation,â said, âSo far we have tested over 7,000 people from our community, and 27 of them have donated their marrow and saved lives. This tested-to-match ratio is extremely high compared to the national statistics, which say of every 10,000 Americans tested they will only get one match. Albert believes this is because of the close-knit aspect of our community. The Foundationâs goal is to test 25,000 people. We must keep fighting this dreadful disease.
Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry & SLRF believes every person battling blood cancer deserves a second chance at lifeâand they are determined to make it happen. They are passionate about engaging the public to help them get everyone involved, either as a donor, a volunteer, or a financial supporter. It all begins with one remarkable person, one life-changing swab, and one huge winâfinding a match and a cure.
Facts
âą Approximately every 3 minutes a person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
âą An estimated combined total of 174,250 people in the US are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2018.
âą New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are expected to account for 10% of the estimated 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed in the US in 2018.
Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundationâs Mission & Goals
âą Test & register over 25,000 people in our community ($100 each kit) to put a blanket of protection over all of us and our families.
âą Implement bone marrow testing within our yeshivah high schools for young adults reaching the age of 18, as part of their high school curriculum.
âą Educate about the simplicity of donating bone marrow and stem cells to help save a life.
Getting TestedâEasy as 1, 2, 3 and Free
Cotton swab of the inside of check is taken for the DNA.
Fill out name, date, email address and sign.
Respond to email questionnaire about your health, in the privacy of your own home.
30 days later you will be entered into the National Bone Marrow Registry for life.
Donors Must be between the ages of 18 and 50 and be in good health. You only need to be tested once.
SLRF will test up to 10 people at any location, in the NY and NJ areas.
For an appointment, contact Info@stellasrainbow.org.
Please help support our cause!
For dedications and/or sponsorship for the Stella Liniado Rainbow Sports Tournament in Deal, NJ every summer, or for the Guys Night Out event in Manhattan every summer, or for bone marrow testing kits, so donors can be tested for free at many of our bone marrow drives throughout the year, visit stellasrainbowfoundation.org/donate.html
To donate a car, call 855-500-RIDE.
A Message from Rabbi David Ashear : We should feel so fortunate that we have organizations like the Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundation. Not only are they saving lives, they are giving us the opportunity to take part in it. Imagine that we were told that there was a whole family in grave danger, and if we had to do was donate some of our bone marrow or stem cells to save all of their livesâwe would jump at the opportunity. What if we were told that an entire congregation of 500 people were at risk and our bone marrow could save all of them. We would be thrilled to help. What if we were told that an entire city was in need of bone marrow or stem cells and we alone could save them all. t would most probably be considered our greatest accomplishment in life. Our Talmud says if we save even one life it is not equivalent to saving just one family, or even a whole city, rather Hashem considers it as if we saved the entire world. Thatâs 7 billion people! With a few minutes of our time we can be tested and enroll ourselves in the real Power Ball lottery, a chance to save the world!
Stellaâs Story Written April 16th 2007 By Stellaâs Mommy Where do I begin? April 28, 2000 was the most special day of our lives. A beautiful perfect child by the name of Stella was brought into this world. We all knew with a name like that she could only turn out to be an extraordinary and loving person, just like the woman she was named after, her Grandmother (Sitto) Stella. This world for me had consisted of a house full of men. From the beginning, we knew that we had found our queen to our thrown. Just like that, a house filled with baseball hats and dirty sneakers was consumed by pink, pink, pink. From bows to gingham to polka-dots, we couldnât get enough of her. I finally had my own Barbie doll to dress up and play house with. Sometimes I would dress her up 6 times a day; I couldnât get enough. Stella was my best friend, she was a 30 year old in a little girlâs body. From beauty to brains and an abundance of love, she had it all. She ruled our house, but most of all she ruled our world. We shared secretes and promises and lived through each other. As Stella grew so did our world of pink
Stella would dress her brothers and she told them when to eat, when to sleep, and if their homework wasnât done she made sure I knew it. Boy, she ran a tight ship. Stella kept growing more and more beautiful, inside and out; she taught me about love and life. When she began school, the thought of letting her go out into the world frightened me. I wanted Stella with me all the time. My days became shorter always running home to make her bus and my morning routine changed. I would wake up extra early to workout and get home in time to dress her, do her hair, and put her on the bus. I had to be the last one to see her go and the first to see her come off the busâI never missed a day. We were so attached, that Stella would refuse to go on play dates and to birthday parties unless I tagged along. Even in kindergarten, she would play sick just to go to the nurseâs office so she could call me to hear my voice. Our love was like no other. I could go on and on, but she was so special, there are not enough words invented to explain her
When Stella got sick, no one would ever have known it. She was not in pain, and if you saw her you would never believe it. Stella never complained! Through days of chemo, we would play and our bond became unbreakable. Even at over nights in the hospital we ate Marino ices and Tootsie Rolls, sometimes until midnight. We had our own pajama parties. Stellaâs nights with Dad at the hospital created a bond between father and daughter like no other, She was his princess, and he, her king. They were a match made in heaven
From art projects to pottery and mosaics, we did it all. Now I realize that doing it all was never enough. All in all, life flies by. If I only had one more second, one more âI love you,â one more kiss, one more touch, one more, one more, one more. As Stella got better there was hopeâwe thought. Our visits to the hospital became fewer, but Hashem had different plans for Stella At the bone marrow drive last summer, Stella attracted 6,000 people in two days, to be tested to help save her life
Now there are 6,000 more people in the registry that will save other lives. All because of Stella, from people in our community to strangers who saw her picture and wanted to save her life. Well, Stella, they couldnât help save your life, but you my baby will be saving the world for the rest of time. Itâs funny, I didnât want her to save the world. As a mother, my only thoughts were of saving Stella. But this was her plan. When Stellaâs last days approached, we were in shock. Stella had a fever and an infection that made her doctors confused. Two days prior to that, she was being Stella, ruling the house, playing with the Wii, Playstation 3, and making cupcakes. Oh did I forget to mention I became a baker? Visitors would stop by to play games with her, which she would always win. Everyone who met my Stella would fall in love with her, from strangers in restaurants and elevators, she was always noticed and asked her name
That was Stella, yet she never cared what people thought. She had Mommy, her best friend. With me by her side, we took on the world. Stella knew her life was the best. She had three brothers who adored her, and a father who was her Superman and made all her dreams come true. Stella left us much too soon, but she never left me. I still have Stella. We all do, especially people who knew her, and the people who will learn that because of this little girl they have a second chance at life. Well Stella, I hope you are looking down at me. From the rainbows you sent us on our kitchen floor to all the love letters she wrote me when I would run on errands. What a gift I hadâlove letters from my daughter just because I left the house for 20 minutes.
Stella would also text message me, âI love youâ from her pink Razor phone, while we were next to one another in bed. I will never, ever, be able to tell you what I had
So this is a brief story about our beautiful Stella. We hope that somewhere over the rainbow Stella sees us and blows us kisses like snowflakes. So please come visit Stellaâs rainbow any time, and help us fight our biggest fight ever. Stella, we love you. You are our rainbow and our star that will shine forever in our hearts.q
Stellaâs Story Written April 16th 2007 By Stellaâs Mommy Where do I begin? April 28, 2000 was the most special day of our lives. A beautiful perfect child by the name of Stella was brought into this world. We all knew with a name like that she could only turn out to be an extraordinary and loving person, just like the woman she was named after, her Grandmother (Sitto) Stella. This world for me had consisted of a house full of men. From the beginning, we knew that we had found our queen to our thrown. Just like that, a house filled with baseball hats and dirty sneakers was consumed by pink, pink, pink. From bows to gingham to polka-dots, we couldnât get enough of her. I finally had my own Barbie doll to dress up and play house with. Sometimes I would dress her up 6 times a day; I couldnât get enough. Stella was my best friend, she was a 30 year old in a little girlâs body. From beauty to brains and an abundance of love, she had it all. She ruled our house, but most of all she ruled our world. We shared secretes and promises and lived through each other. As Stella grew so did our world of pink. Stella would dress her brothers and she told them when to eat, when to sleep, and if their homework wasnât done she made sure I knew it. Boy, she ran a tight ship. Stella kept growing more and more beautiful, inside and out; she taught me about love and life. When she began school, the thought of letting her go out into the world frightened me. I wanted Stella with me all the time. My days became shorter always running home to make her bus and my morning routine changed. I would wake up extra early to workout and get home in time to dress her, do her hair, and put her on the bus. I had to be the last one to see her go and the first to see her come off the busâI never missed a day. We were so attached, that Stella would refuse to go on play dates and to birthday parties unless I tagged along. Even in kindergarten, she would play sick just to go to the nurseâs office so she could call me to hear my voice. Our love was like no other. I could go on and on, but she was so special, there are not enough words invented to explain her. When Stella got sick, no one would ever have known it. She was not in pain, and if you saw her you would never believe it. Stella never complained! Through days of chemo, we would play and our bond became unbreakable. Even at over nights in the hospital we ate Marino ices and Tootsie Rolls, sometimes until midnight. We had our own pajama parties. Stellaâs nights with Dad at the hospital created a bond between father and daughter like no other, She was his princess, and he, her king. They were a match made in heaven! From art projects to pottery and mosaics, we did it all. Now I realize that doing it all was never enough. All in all, life flies by. If I only had one more second, one more âI love you,â one more kiss, one more touch, one more, one more, one more. As Stella got better there was hopeâwe thought. Our visits to the hospital became fewer, but Hashem had different plans for Stella At the bone marrow drive last summer, Stella attracted 6,000 people in two days, to be tested to help save her life. Now there are 6,000 more people in the registry that will save other lives. All because of Stella, from people in our community to strangers who saw her picture and wanted to save her life. Well, Stella, they couldnât help save your life, but you my baby will be saving the world for the rest of time. Itâs funny, I didnât want her to save the world. As a mother, my only thoughts were of saving Stella. But this was her plan. When Stellaâs last days approached, we were in shock. Stella had a fever and an infection that made her doctors confused. Two days prior to that, she was being Stella, ruling the house, playing with the Wii, Playstation 3, and making cupcakes. Oh did I forget to mention I became a baker? Visitors would stop by to play games with her, which she would always win. Everyone who met my Stella would fall in love with her, from strangers in restaurants and elevators, she was always noticed and asked her name. That was Stella, yet she never cared what people thought. She had Mommy, her best friend. With me by her side, we took on the world. Stella knew her life was the best. She had three brothers who adored her, and a father who was her Superman and made all her dreams come true. Stella left us much too soon, but she never left me. I still have Stella. We all do, especially people who knew her, and the people who will learn that because of this little girl they have a second chance at life. Well Stella, I hope you are looking down at me. From the rainbows you sent us on our kitchen floor to all the love letters she wrote me when I would run on errands. What a gift I hadâlove letters from my daughter just because I left the house for 20 minutes.
Stella would also text message me, âI love youâ from her pink Razor phone, while we were next to one another in bed. I will never, ever, be able to tell you what I had
So this is a brief story about our beautiful Stella. We hope that somewhere over the rainbow Stella sees us and blows us kisses like snowflakes. So please come visit Stellaâs rainbow any time, and help us fight our biggest fight ever. Stella, we love you. You are our rainbow and our star that will shine forever in our hearts.
A dream that began in 2007 became reality in September for Congregation Bnai Sephardim of Hollywood Florida when the Anidjar Mikveh had its grand opening. The momentous occasion was celebrated by close to 200 congregants on September 16, 2018 at the synagogue on Stirling Road with a catered dinner and much fanfare.
Nestled among 80 year old oak trees, Bânai Sephardim is Broward Countyâs oldest and largest Sephardic synagogue. Founded in 1970, it has grown to serve over 700 families in the community during the High Holidays. The Congregationsâ history and heritage are rich and varied, as its members are descendants of Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
Though English is the first language of most of its congregants, itâs not uncommon to hear Hebrew, Spanish, French, and Arabic being spoken, sometimes all within the same conversation. They have an active Sisterhood, Torah study groups, as well as social, educational, youth and singlesâ activities throughout the year.
Every Shabbat they provide a hot sit down luncheon and a youth program within a warm inviting environment and they can now boast the addition of a ladies/mens/utensil mikveh which was built under and adheres to strict Orthodox tradition.
A significant milestone in the development of Bnai Sephardimâs community occurred in 1985 when Rabbi Yehuda Benhamu joined as spiritual leader. He remained with the congregation for decades until his retirement a few years ago. The new spiritual leader, Rabbi Yaacov Laredo, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and is of Moroccan descent.
Rabbi Laredo is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew. His dedication and exuberance are clearly appreciated, and in a short time he has become an integral part of the congregation.
âBuilding the mikveh was a labor of love, and a huge time consuming project,â said Isaac Anidjar. âThe realization of this dream was made possible by many people. I would like to thank the womenâs committee, consisting of my wife Reina, Rabbi Laredoâs wife Sara, and Elayna Ifrah for their invaluable participation. I also extend my gratitude to everyone who worked on the project and to all the donors who made this addition to our congregation possible.â
As we had already departed New York, and were cruising somewhere in the Caribbean, I felt excluded from all the activity that was taking place throughout the world. I felt cut off from those Jews who were mourning the loss of their families and friends in Pittsburgh. Shul services were being arranged, and I wouldnât be able to attend them. I needed to do something on the cruise, to reclaim Shabbat in the name of love and to show solidarity with those Jews around the world who were all attending shul services on Friday night.
The Crystal Cruise that we were on, appeared to have just a handful of Jewish people onboard (only seven attended services the previous Friday night), but I was determined to do something. I spoke with the cruise director and told him I had an idea to hold an interdenominational service. He understood the importance of identifying with the cause, and immediately responded positively to my idea. At that point, I had a service in place, but nothing more. I had to structure the event; I had a two-part plan. The first part would be interdenominational, and the second part would be a standard Friday night service
For the first part, I needed to find someone to lead the service, I needed to attract people of all faiths, and I needed to get the shipâs chaplain involved. The cruise director and I approached the chaplain, who was only too happy to get involved. I told him what I expected from him, and he said he wanted to add a bit of piano musicâAmazing Grace. I suggestion Psalm 23, a Psalm of David, to complete that segment. We agreed, and I was happy that part was taken care of
The cruise director was a great help. He publicized and promoted the service, placing notices in the shipâs daily news bulletin for three days. I thought about my opening remarks, I wanted to say something of substance. So, I reached out to my rabbi, Rabbi Mendel Solomon, from Short Hills, New Jersey. I asked him to send me a copy of what he was going to say in his Chabad service that same night. Rabbi Solomon obliged. I had to modify what he sent to suit my time slot. I would read his beautiful abridged message, after my opening address
As fate would have it, at breakfast the next morning I met two sisters who were Holocaust survivors. I told them what I was preparing, and asked them to talk about Anti-Semitism, something they had encountered at a very early age; they agreed immediately
It was all starting to fit together. All I needed was someone to conduct the Shabbat service. If I couldnât find anyone, I would do it myself, but I preferred to find someone else, as I already had enough on my plate. The following day, I told two of the people who had attended the previous weekâs service about my plan, (remember, there were only seven). When I mentioned that I needed someone to conduct the service, they immediately offered their services, assuring me they would do everything
On Friday morning we printed out details for the Solidarity Sabbath Service. Not knowing how many people would show up, I thought 25 would be enough. The cruise director suggested that we print 75. At 5:15 that afternoon, when the service commenced, the theater (which holds 134 people) was full and even more people were standing in the aisles. Towards the end of the service, I asked the audience if anyone else would like to say a few words. A cardiologist from Miami came on to the stage. He gave a very powerful speech about his experiences of anti-Semitism, in Florida
After he spoke, I mentioned that everyone would be very welcome to stay for the Friday night service. About half stayed! To put this all into perspective, the ship had less than 700 passengers on board, and approximately 20% of them came to the service. I couldnât believe it
The evening ended after about 75 minutes, with kiddish, hamotzi, Gefilte fish, and everyone singing Hatikvah. It was a resounding success. My team did exceptionally well, and I was pleased to receive so many accolades
I was happy that we managed to do our bit, and put the Solidarity Sabbath evening togetherâon this very sad occasionâjoining with all the synagogues around the world in protest and defiance against the worst attack on Jews in Americaâs history.
Anti-Semitism reared its ugly head when a terrible man opened fire on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, on October 27. This senseless and horrific act took the lives of eleven people and wounded six others. After the shooting, Jews around the world showed their support by holding vigils and visiting the synagogue. Many community members, organizations, and students from Magen David Yeshivah went to Pennsylvania to comfort the families of those who were murdered, and to voice in person their support and love.
Magen David Yeshivah Brings Love & Support to Pittsburgh On Thursday, November 8, a group of (about 45) Magen David Yeshivah elementary and high school students, alumni, and faculty traveled for six hours to visit and show support for, and solidarity with, the people of Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania. When they arrived, the MDY family visited the Yeshiva Girls & Boys School, The Community Day School, The Pittsburgh Police Department Zone 4 Unit (which had four officers injured in the atrocity) and The Tree of Life Synagogue where they created their own memorial using 11 New York State Flags, each with the name of one of the victims.
At the schools, the MDY students tried to uplift the spirits of the Pittsburgh students, and left feeling inspired by the communityâs strength and warm hospitality. At the Police Station, MDY Chief of Security Al Nunez, a former NYPD officer, praised the heroism of all the police officers and offered his good wishes to those who were injured.
MDY Alumni Jack Mavorah presented the Commander of Pittsburgh Police Zone 4 with a menorah, and said, âToday, we celebrate the start of the Jewish month of Kislev. During this month we celebrate HanukkahâThe Festival of Lights. With this menorah, we offer our heartfelt prayers that this month and the many months and years ahead bring only light and joy to you, your families, and to the entire community of Squirrel Hill.â The day concluded with Minha and an emotional memorial service for the victims, where students spoke about the victims, and Rabbi Noah Leavitt, from Cleveland, joined the MDY group to show his solidarity and support for the community and to deliver moving divrei Torah. The service concluded with heartfelt renditions of Hatikvah and the US National Anthem
One Young Community Memberâs Experience
On Thursday, November 1, Jack Dweck, a student at the Yeshivah of Flatbush, joined community members from various organizations as they traveled to Pittsburgh. He said they were doing their duty as American citizens and as Jews, and added, âWhat started out as a journey to try to console others, evolved into an experience which provoked introspection into every aspect of my life.â The day they arrived, Jack and the others met police officers and the following day, they were introduced to the four officers who were injured in the attack. âNext, we visited the family.â of Joyce Fienberg. Right before we left, we prayed Minha at their home. Being able to hear firsthand, the Kaddish of a mourner, who suffered the loss of a loved one due to the massacre, was overwhelming.â
Their next stop was The Tree of Life Synagogue. âIt looked like any other shul in the country,â stated Jack. âPeople were praying, and community members were interacting. However, this wasnât just any shul, this congregation fell victim to the wrath of an anti-Semitic monsterâit could have happened to any of us.â He continued, âThe last home we visited had a sign which read,âPlease no visitors.â As we turned to leave, a friend of victim Richard Gottfriedâs wife asked why we were there. We told her that we were fellow Jews from the Sephardic community in Brooklyn, who felt the need to pay our respects in person. Upon hearing that we came from Brooklyn, she immediately ushered us into the home. The wife, siblings, and children of Mr. Gottfried were so overwhelmed and appreciative that we had come to visit them, they embraced us and cried in our arms.
âThe stories I heard about the people who perished were beautiful. They were special people. I am thankful for being chosen to represent my school. It changed my life.â Jackâs parents and YoF should be very proud. The empathy this young man showed, and the deep introspection about his life are remarkable for an adult, let alone a teen. t
Ezra Saffâs Experiences In Pittsburgh
Ezra Saff and other community members met Rabbi Azancot in Pittsburgh. The Rabbi had gone earlier to set up meetings with the community. Their first stop was police headquarters. Before they went in Rabbi Azancot reminded them that they were not there for publicity or fame, they were there to show gratitude to the police department, to comfort the mourners, and to show Pittsburgh that they stand by them.
Upon meeting the officers who had been taken down the shooter, Ezra said, âThese men are truly amazing, and dedicated to what they do,â Rabbi Azancot gave a few words of thanks for their heroic acts. To which they replied if they had to, they would do it all over again. The group then presented the police captain and all of the officers with plaques, showing the appreciation of the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. All of the policemen were amazing, but one stood out to Ezra. He was only 19 years old, he was the first on the scene, and the first person who went inside the Synagogue. When asked what he was thinking at the time, he responded, âI just didnât want to get shot, and then the adrenaline took over.â
During the meeting, the group learned that when rookies are trained, theyâre taught about the Holocaust and told that the police in Germany did nothing to help. Then theyâre told, âthatâs not the way this department does things.â After meeting with the police, they went to pay shiva calls. Then went to a funeral for one of the victims, but there were over 1,000 people there, and they didnât get in. Their next stop was The Tree of Life Synagogue. âItâs hard to put into words what it felt like being there,â said Ezra. They also went to a Chabad where they prayed Arbit with the daughter of another person who was murdered
âDuring the day, you could feel the sorrow of the people of Pittsburgh. While we stood on a street corner, people in cars would roll down heir windows, and express their condolences to us. These were people were from all different religions, and races,â stated Ezra. Ezra also wanted to point out, âWhen we were planning the trip, people told us not to go, to leave the people alone to mourn, and not to disrupt them. But, we went with our guts, and went anyway.â Heâs happy they did, because there was not one person, from the police to the families of the deceased, that wasnât glad to see them, to hear their condolences and to witness that the entire Jewish world is sharing their pain and suffering. âI would like to express our gratitude to Rabbi Azancot, for putting this special day together. Also, a special thanks to Adam Cohen who helped secure a meeting with the police department, as well as Alan Dweck who took care of our travel arrangements.â
Over the past few years, the DSN Community Center, servicing the New Jersey community, has been offering an array of exercise programs geared toward still active adultsâmothers, fathers, and grandparents. A popular class, Chair Yoga, meets three times a week within view of children, as they walk into the Centerâs entrance. Itâs an incredible lesson for them to see that as they get older, adults still exercise and enjoy it.
âThe days of segmenting groups of people by age is over,â said Sammy Sitt, DSNâs Executive Director. âWe believe in building community, and what better way than to bring all of the generations together under one roof, to participate in age-specific activities, as well as interact, learn and feed off of each other.â
DSN has expanded its offerings to active adult community members in an effort to create a community town square environment. The emphasis on multi-generational interaction has historically made our community unique. âWe learn from each other about life and all sorts of things when the generations are together,â said one DSN member. âI was raised by my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, as well as an entire block of neighbors of every age. I am glad to see that we are combining all of the generations together under one roof,â said another.
In addition to the specially focused fitness classes, some of the other programs being offered include group lunches, a knitting circle, cooking for the food pantry, and technology lessons. These expanded programs are designed to foster communication and participation, and to create purposeful socialization for all of our communityâs generations under one roof.
âTheyâve earned their right to be a part of Community Center programming,â said Sitt. âItâs great to see our communityâs most respected age group staying active, healthy and social, right in the middle of the community.â
PROPEL went on the road in October and visited the Holiday House on Manhattanâs Upper East Side. The Holiday House showcases a variety of interior designers who transform a brownstone into a true work of art. Proceeds from this event go to benefit breast cancer research and awareness.
Before proceeding to a lunch with writers from Architectural Digest, Natalie Kraiem, a talented designer who was born in Buenos Aires, gave PROPEL an opportunity to look at her contribution to Holiday House, and tell us her story. As we admired the beautiful master bedroom that was Natalieâs creation, we heard an incredible story of professional determination and success.
Design was not Natalieâs first career choice, despite admiring her motherâs work as a professional designer in Argentina. Natalie and her family first moved to Florida, where Natalie went to college. Always realizing her passion for the creative arts, Natalie also loved business and finance. Her professional journey included assisting an attorney and eventually after hard work and determination Natalie received an offer from UBS Bank and started a career in private banking in New York. No matter what career you decide to pursue, Natalie recommends âmastering the process.â She notes the importance of going on many interviews, building your resume, and keeping your eye on the goal.
Being newly married and wanting to start her own family, the desire for a more balanced lifestyle inspired Natalie to pursue her creative passion through interior design. She received a certification from Parsons School of Design while going to classes in the evening and continuing to work in private banking during the day. Her first âprojectâ was decorating her own apartment. Upon leaving her position at UBS Bank, Natalie partnered with her sister-in-law, Jennifer Ghatan, who later moved to London. Natalie then assumed the challenge of starting her own business in interior design and formed her own company, Natalie Kraiem Interiors. To date, she has completed projects in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Florida, and New Jersey. Her work has not only received recognition from her community clients, Natalie has been featured in decorating magazines and, as a result, she has built a tremendous network of resources and vendors.
Natalie is happy to share her career experience with others. âLook for opportunity and be confident in whatever you choose,â were her words of advice. Our next stop was to meet with Joyce Silverman, a talented, community interior designer who has been in the business for over 20 years. Known as a visual storyteller, Joyce designed the downstairs laundry room space in the Holiday House. Beautiful and laundry are generally not words placed in the same sentence. Not so in the case of Joyceâs incredible, creative design. Joyce selected this project âthe townhouse laundry roomâto demonstrate her unique ability to transform a typically mundane space into something absolutely fabulous.
Joyce acknowledged that her greatest talents were not fostered in high school. There was no outlet for her creative talents, and she found herself often disobeying the rules. This all changed when she moved to Sephardic High School and was encouraged by one of her teachers and her mother to take courses at the Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology. Joyce was accepted to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Parsons.
She began building her portfolio and started designing for her family. She realized that this talent was in her blood, as she fondly remembers her British grandmothersâ attention to design detail. Joyce began her formal training under designer Nicholas Calder. Under Calder, Joyce learned the business of design. She notes the great importance of building trustworthy, client relationships to become successful in the industry.
Joyceâs husband, and love-of-her-life since age 14, encouraged her to start her own design business. Joyce decorated her own home in the year 2000 and that led to an impressive career of both commercial and residential design work in Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, Miami and Panama. Her business now encompasses a staff of five. She and her company, Joyce D. Silverman Interiors, have been featured in several prestigious magazines, including Architectural Digest, Design New Jersey and Womanâs Wear Daily. In 2017, she was awarded the Best Interior Designer award for âInnovation in Designâ by NY Cottages and Garden magazine.
Joyce emphasized her motherâs and fatherâs tradition of giving back. She was inspired to pursue her charitable endeavor, The Nest Fund, a nonprofit organization that distributes gently used furniture to the less fortunate. In addition, she teaches continuing education courses in the community. Joyce gives sound advice to future generations of designers. She advises, âDonât give up and be confident, responsible, responsive, respectful and honest. Your reputation and name are extremely important.â At the Holiday House, we also met with Sarah, a PROPEL client, design student and apprentice.
After attending a PROPEL Vision Mapping event with Alice Chera this summer, Sarah contacted PROPEL and met with career coach Ellen Ades. A recent graduate from Binghamton University, Sarah always had a creative passion for design. At college, she studied graphic design, but found herself inclined to use her artistic talents toward decor.
Sarah had a rewarding meeting with Ellen, who quickly recommended a certificate in design from Parsons School of Design. Sarah is currently enrolled at Parsons where she is learning the techniques required to become a successful designer.
Sarah was introduced to community designer Natalie Kraiem by her mother and an instant relationship was formed. Natalie has empowered Sarah as her assistant and Sarah is currently learning and involved in various aspects of the trade, including ordering fabric, attending trade shows and photo shoots, and interacting with clients. Her involvement in the Holiday House project has been extremely exciting. Sarah exclaims, âDoing what she loves for a charitable cause is incredible!â
Sarah acknowledges that PROPEL gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams. She was a bit nervous making that initial call to PROPEL, but now she is procuring a career that she loves. Sarahâs message to other women thinking about contacting PROPEL, âDonât be afraid to get started and pursue what you really enjoy.â If you are interested in a career, please reach out to PROPEL and we can help you fulfill your professional goal. PROPEL 646-494-0822 | info@thepropelnetwork.org
Sephardic Bikur Holim officially opened the doors to the Karen Mizrahi Bridal Boutique, recently. The boutique, which is centrally located on Avenue U in Brooklyn offers brides and their mothers a beautiful location to rent the dresses of their dreams.
âHaving a place where the brides of the community can come together was important to my family,â said Marshall Mizrahi, whose family dedicated the Boutique in memory of his mother, Karen Mizrahi AâH. âMy mother was known for her elegance and fine qualities, and she would be proud to see many brides march down the aisle with the same beautiful stature she held herself.â
Over 100 people gathered to celebrate the launch and get a sneak peek at the collection of gowns. Dozens of dresses hung from the walls for attendees to admire, along with veils and tiaras. The space is meant to offer brides a luxurious and special experience while shopping for their wedding dress without the crazy price tag.
SBH President Jack A. Aini delivered opening remarks, followed by Rabbi Richard Tobias who eloquently showed how strongly the Torah values a bride on her wedding day. Karen Mizrahi Sutton, the namesake of the woman who inspired the boutique, spoke about her recent wedding and explained how her grandmother always added that extra special something into everything she did.
There are many new dresses to choose from, and more important there are gowns that have been donated by other community brides, which added another special layer to the boutique.
âHow special is it to share your gown with another bride in this community,â exclaimed Marshall Mizrahi. âEach time a gown is worn we will send a note to the original owner so they can know that the perpetuation of this amazing community can continue due to their generosityâ.
To learn more about borrowing or donating a wedding dress, contact kmbridal@sbhonline.org
On November 11th, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School (JBHS) had an open house for 8th graders and their parents. An abundance of families from Brooklyn and the entire metropolitan area were greeted by current high school student volunteers and given Flatbush materials emblazoned with the yeshivahâs logo.
The volunteers guided the prospective students and their parents on tours of the new state-of-the-art North building, which includes the Stein Student Commons, the Library, and the BenHaim Bet Midrash, as they happily shared their experiences and the many reasons why they love attending JBHS.
The guests enjoyed coffee and refreshments in the cafe area, while mingling with principals and faculty. The main program began in the Khezrie Auditorium, where the yeshivahâs administration addressed a standing-room-only crowd. Head of School Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari offered a dâvar Torah that explained how the Yeshivah of Flatbush follows the example of Yaakov Avinu, who was a spiritual student of Torah, as well as an active member of society. Rabbi Harari pointed out that YoF students, too, are deeply committed Jews who engage in high level secular studies.
Principal Rabbi Joseph Beyda reflected on the yeshivahâs mission to inspire, challenge, and support its students so each and every one of them will grow into an adult with Torah values, good character, compassion, scholarship, and commitment to Israel, the Jewish people, and people everywhere. He also discussed how YoF empowers its graduates to be world changers.
Dean of Students Rabbi Naftali Besser introduced an exciting video that gave everyone a glimpse into what makes the school unique. It opened with scenes of students enjoying the new building, illustrating how the space enhances the way students explore their passions and pursue educational goals. It also included testimony from students, parents, and faculty that emphasized how JBHS teaches students about careers and leads them to career opportunities, how it encourages them to continue their educations throughout their lives, and to contribute in every way they can.
Associate Principal Sari Bacon highlighted the distinctive energy of Flatbush academic and extracurricular programs and introduced alumnus Michael Franco (HS 2013), a current medical student. Michael recalled how he immediately felt at home at YoF, despite the fact that he came from another school. He also described how the school gave him the intellectual and academic tools to succeed in college, yeshivah in Israel, and medical school.
Assistant Principal and Director of Admissions Esther Hidary spoke about all the ways students participate in meaningful programs and projects. She noted that JBHS students are encouraged to become leaders. The open house continued in the classrooms; prospective students and their parents chose two mini-lessons from a range of subjects including general studies, Judaic studies, STEM, art and hesed.
Students then proceeded to the Laniado Auxiliary Gym where they explored the Student Activities Fair and athletic teams. High school commissioners of various extracurricular programs discussed their activities and answered questions. A video showcasing the schoolâs sports teams displayed what a Flatbush Falcon looks like in action. At the same time, parents learned about the Pathfinders Career Program, the high school guidance department, the SAFE program, as well as college guidance.
The open house concluded with a lavish, abundant and delicious meal, over which prospective students and parents talked with administrators, faculty, and YoF students to learn more about the diversity of Flatbush lifeâin and out of the classroom. They gained a greater understanding of why the schoolâs motto is âFour Years for the Rest of Your Life.â
Every year, towards the end of the summer, thereâs a trip that lots of people look forward to. It begins in Deal, where approximately 100 men and women board a busâbut they know, even before they get on the road that itâs not going to be a boring bus ride. They know there will be people telling jokes and lots of laughter. Then, before they know it, theyâll arrive in Atlantic City.
While going to AC is fun, thereâs a better reason for this trip than gambling. The participants do it to raise funds for ORT, an organization that began in Russia in 1880 to help lift Russiaâs five million Jews out of crushing poverty. They called it the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT). The trip to AC was through ORT America, the leading fundraising organization for World ORT.
Thanks to Joyce Dwek for coordinating the fun fund-raising trip with the assistance of Sally Shamah, Louise Zalayet, and bus helpers Norma Rezak and Florence Schneider.
Imagine: you spent more than 10 years saving for the down payment on a new home only to see it all disappear in an instant. This may seem unrealistic, but itâs happening as hackers target home buyers and their down payments.
FBI data shows a rise in wire fraud in the real estate industry. Title companies, attorneys, and real estate brokers have all been targeted through phishing email scams that allow hackers to use malware to monitor emails.
The hacker attempts to steal the down payment money by monitoring emails between the bank and the buyer about wiring money. Then he/she sends an email, posing as the bank and requesting that the down payment be wired to a specific account, which is then directed into an offshore account or multiple accounts making it very hard to trace.
This is just one of the many scams that home buyers fall for, and when they do, itâs so sad. They go from ready to buy a home to wondering how everything fell apart.
Protect Yourself from Potential Scams
The home buying process is already stressful enough, you shouldnât have to worry about becoming the victim of a scammer at the same time. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself.
Hire Experienced, Professional Help
Make sure you hire an experienced real estate agent to help guide you through the process. The right agent will not only save you time and money, but he/she will also know how to spot one of the many scams from a mile away and steer you clear.
Use a Reputable Lender
Some scams target you through a shady, dishonest lender. Make sure you choose a reputable lender with plenty of experience. Ethical lenders will never ask you to pay money up front or offer you an interest rate before theyâve checked your credit.
Always Purchase Title Insurance
While title fraud isnât the most common real estate scam, itâs still something to be aware of. Itâs when a scammer steals your identity and forges documents to either re-mortgage your home and walk away with the cash, or to sell your home right out from under you. Any reputable lender will require you to purchase title insurance, which protects against this situation.
Recognize Whatâs Too Good To Be True
If a deal on a home, a mortgage, or anything else having to do with purchasing a home seems too good to be true, it probably is. Donât fall for phone calls or emails offering low, low mortgage rates. If you receive an offer for an excellent deal, show it to your real estate agent before you accept. If itâs too good to be trueâitâs probably a scam.
Common Real Estate Scams Listing Scams
One of the most common ways scammers try to get your money is through a listing scam. First the scammer finds a home for sale online, then re-posts it with his contact information. When a potential buyer calls, he tries to charge an application fee. If the buyer pays it, the scammer then disappears never to be heard from again.
You can easily avoid listing scams by working with a reputable real estate agent. If youâre looking for a home without an agent, make sure all listings have business information and credentials of a real estate agent representing the home.
Unlicensed Realtor Scam
This scam includes an unlicensed realtor doing everything a regular realtor would do, but when the check is written for escrow, they deposit it into their own account.
So, always make sure your realtor is properly licensed and has a solid reputation.
Avoiding scams when buying a home requires your diligence. Develop relationships with everybody you will be working with throughout the process. Solid relationships with those handling your money and the purchase of a home, will ensure you donât get sucked into a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars.
