Sold outâthatâs what happens when so many people put their all into an event. When the recent Gesher Yehuda Yeshiva Annual Bake Sale and Chinese Auction wound down, the delicious breads, cakes, cookies and 75 gourmet lunches were wiped out. Even the ticket coupons were running in short supply! It is safe to say that this yearâs event, in honor of Susan and Ted Salame was a huge success drawing supporters from nearly every corner of the community.
Hosted by the Salamesâ children, Joyce and Saul Ashkenazi, the fundraiser brought awareness of the schoolâs importance to many new families. âIt was a true pleasure hosting the recent annual Gesher Yehuda Auction and Bake Sale in our home. The turnout was amazing and we thank the community members for attending,â said Saul. He and Joyce generously gathered sponsors and encouraged family and friends to participate. A huge crowd turned out for a couplesâ wine tasting event, where Ted spoke about the school.
What is significant about a day of prizes, food and fun is that people are pulling together for a cause that unifies the community. At the Bake Sale, Rabbi Sananes, always a supporter of the school, gave a Torah class and occupational therapist and creator of Know it all Moms, Michelle Cohen, showed how parents can be proactive with their toddlerâs development through everyday activities.
None of this would have been possible without the coordination of volunteers. Saul added, âWe also thank the Gesher committee for their efforts in setting up a beautiful bake sale and auction.â He praised Jack and Claude Setton and Susan and Ted Salame for their continued loyalty and support for the school.
The committee this year included, Grace Benun, Eliane Chattah, Rebecca Maleh, Susan Salame, Claude Setton, Marjorie Sitt, Elana Wahba and Pauline Wahba. In addition Annie Abadi, Sarina Setton, Shannon Wahba and many others assisted to make the day special.
âWe make a great team!â exclaimed Claude, one of the schoolâs founders. She, like many others, is clearly proud of what this dedicated group is able to accomplish. From shopping to soliciting donations, from setting up the tables to rolling up their sleeves to prepare foods, they each performed a task and did it all seamlessly. They appreciate and thank the community for its support.
The Khezrie Auditorium at the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School was filled to capacity on the eve of Yom HaShoah, as the community joined together for Witness Theater, (a production in which students told the stories of Holocaust survivors in a very special way).
At the beginning of the school year, YOF seniors were paired with Holocaust survivors, to learn their stories and prepare to portray them on stage. Students met with the survivors weekly, diligently taking notes, listening to and recording their harrowing stories of survival. Through the use of drama therapy, guided by Creative Arts Therapist and Director Sally Grazi-Shatzkes, students and survivors developed dramatic representations of the survivorsâ experiences during the war.
âDrama therapy is the perfect vehicle through which to facilitate this kind of deeply emotional group process, because it allows us to tell, hear, and respond to very difficult material without words. Through these creative therapeutic techniques the students and survivors could support each other with movement, human sculpture and story enactments,â explained Grazi- Shatzkes.
As the auditorium lights dimmed, the audience was reminded that while most of the survivors and students had never been on stage before, they were motivated by their dedication to making sure that their stories were never forgotten. JBHS Head of School Rabbi Raymond Harari opened the evening with a recitation of the apt passage from Sefer Yechezkel, 37: Prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones. The survivors ascended the stage, guided with care by the Witness Theater students, while the JBHS choir, directed by Musical Director Brian Gelfand, sang a beautiful rendition of the song, Katonti. Then began the production.
As each survivor narrated, the students reenacted the survivorâs story. The completely darkened auditorium, aside from stage lights, created an atmosphere that allowed the audience to forget all else, save for the drama on stage. The audience was drawn into the world the students and survivors created, experiencing the performersâ painful, sad and strong moments, and effectively becoming witnesses themselves to the stories being brought to life by the survivors and students.
Hearing tales of the survivorsâ most sorrowful memories, stories of the families they lost, and the difficult conditions they endured, was hard. But in Witness Theater, after each story was told, the student and survivor discussed the survivorâs life after the war.
âIt shouldnât have happened, but it did. Itâs a fact of life. Hitler wanted me dead and here I am, with grandkids and great-grandkids,â said Hy Abrams, who survived harsh conditions in many concentration camps.
Despite the difficult times the survivors lived through, they rebuilt lives for themselves. Survivor Editha Avishai was born in the ghetto in Hungary, where she lived with her mother and five siblings. After the war, she spent her childhood separated from her mother in an orphanage in Israel, feeling unwanted and unloved. âIt wasnât easy after all those years of suffering; it was very hard for me to love,â she said during the performance. However, Mrs. Avishai did marry and raise children and grandchildren.
It was clear, through the powerful and moving performances, that the survivors and students had developed strong bonds, as each story was reenacted with care and sensitivity. Grazi-Shatzkes said of the Witness Theater journey, âEach Wednesday night, the students and survivors deepened their relationships. As the survivors told and recreated their childhood memories and their losses during the Holocaust, the two generations acted as pillars of support for each other. The students and adults cried together and shared many moments of sadness and grief, but at the same time they looked to each other for laughter, love, hope, and faith. They became witnesses to each othersâ personal growth. Not only were the stories told and enacted and shared, but now there are these beautiful, unique friendships full of deep respect and understanding that will last forever.â The students plan to stay in touch with the survivors after the program, and often reinforce their relationship by calling before Shabbat. One student is hosting a survivor for Shabbat dinner.
Every student was affected by the Witness Theater project. Participant Edan Malca was so moved by her experience that she was inspired to write a song, âPresent and Past,â that she performed in tribute to the survivors along with the student choir. Mr. Gelfand set the lyrics to an original score. The participating survivors were Hy Abrams, Edith Avishai, Sol Goldberg, Sabina Green, Toby Levy, Rena Nudel, Edith Kozma and Trudy Tajerstein. The students included Eden Malca, Joy Feinberg, Michele Schewe, Lital Nainshtein, Lauren Levi, Celia Tawil, Nina Esses, Jacqueline Baum, Aliza Kantarowitz, Raizy Cohen, Chana Sitt, Sarah Cohen, Linda Gindi, Victor Dweck, Daniel Hoffstein and Ezra Idy.
Witness Theater is a joint venture between the Yeshivah of Flatbush and Selfhelp Community Services. This program was coordinated by Sally Grazi-Shatzkes, Project Assistant Joey Mandil, Selfhelp Administrative Director Adeena Horowitz and Selfhelp Social Worker Fran Tarshish.
During his inspiring first visit to the United States, Rishon LâSion Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzhak Yosef visited the Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School.
When the Rishon LâSion arrived, Rabbi David Shelby, a teacher at MDYES and a student of Rabbi Yosefâs father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztâl, introduced his class. The Rabbi blessed them with health and strength to continue to learn Torah.
Why were residents of the Jersey Shore in such a good mood despite the gloomy weather, recently? The anticipation in the air overcame the intense humidityâyoung and old alike awaited the arrival of the Rishon LâSion, Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef speaking at Hillel Yeshiva
That anticipation began several days earlier, as schools and community institutions feverishly prepared for the Rabbiâs arrival. His schedule would be packed, as he planned to visit each yeshivah in succession and end the day with a community-wide gathering at Congregation Magen David of West Deal.
He began the tour at Keter Torah, where Rabbi Dabbahâs students greeted him and stood in awe listening to his words of Torah and berachot.
Next was Bet Yaakov, where the Rabbi addressed the 200+ girls in the auditorium, with words of inspiration and wisdom. Rabbi Choueka eloquently translated the Rabbiâs speech.
Rabbi Yosef at Rabbi Diamondâs Kollel
The students and staff of Hillel Yeshiva welcomed the Rabbi outdoors, with the entire student body greeting him in song as his car pulled up to the large parking area. What a sight of blue and white! Outside, Rabbi Kassin introduced Middle School Student President, Michael Ancona, who presented the Rabbi with hand-written letters of comfort and consolation on the loss of his father, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ztâl. He also gave the Rabbi a picture of his fatherâs visit to Hillel Yeshiva years earlier. Hacham Yitzhak was escorted into the auditorium where his inspirational words were heard by hundreds of middle school and high school students, as Rabbi Ovadia Alouf translated. The program opened with a warm and powerful introduction by Rabbi Moshe Dweck and concluded with passionate words by Rabbi Howard Bald.
Next, the Rabbi was off to Maâor Yeshiva (Rabbi Semah), where he spoke to the boys about the importance of finishing their Torah studies. He advised them to progress one masechet (tractate) at a time until they finish the entire Shas (full Sephardim Shomrei Torah).
The Chief Rabbi at Magen David of West Deal
At Ilan High School, Hacham Yitzhak relayed to the girls how great his mother was; how she built a beautiful family. He instructed them on the proper way to create their future homes based on his motherâs example. Rabbi Diamond then translated the inspirational speech.
He finished the afternoon with a shiur over an hour long for Rabbi Diamondâs rabbinical students. The room was packed and everyone thirstily drank up the Rabbiâs words.
Community leaders met with Chief Rabbi Yosef at the home of Charles Saka
Later that evening, as promised, the Rabbi was led through a standing-room-only crowd into the sanctuary at Magen David Synagogue. President Elliot Braha welcomed the Rabbi, his assistants and the guests into the synagogue. Rabbi Saul J. Kassin then spoke about his experience with the Chief Rabbi during his years of semicha program in Jerusalem. Rabbi Isaac Farhi introduced the Rabbi, who spoke next, to an audience of nearly 800 people. Throughout his entire message, one could hear a pin drop. He closed with a beracha for the entire Jersey Shore communityâfor health, for prosperity, and most of all, for unity. Rabbi Shmuel Choueka then translated the Rabbiâs speech into English. Much of it focused on the greatness of his father, Hacham Ovadia ztâl.
The evening closed with a spiritually meaningful minyan for Arbit. It was a whirlwind day, but the effects will be felt for years to come!
The summer is upon us and during these months we enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, away from the formality of the city. This is the time to let our hair downâliterally.
During the summer most of us are outdoors a lot, swimming, golfing, and sitting on the beach. The weather, especially if you are at the shore or by the water, is usually misty and humid and wreaks havoc on even the best hair. Some of us get frizzy or too full to be tamed easily.
There are many hair products on the market. Some de-frizz hair, some are meant to tame it. There are gels that keep hair slick and there are a wide variety of mousses. There are even products to add shine. Sometimes it gets confusing. For my hair, anything I put in it takes away the shine and feels dirty after a day, however some people swear by their hair products. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between all these products? Hereâs a quick lesson.
Mousse, sometimes called styling foam, is a styling product that is packaged under pressure and expands when released. It is much lighter than other products, and some brands are created as a combination leave-in conditioner and styling product. Mousse works well for most hair types, but people who have dry hair should avoid products that contain alcohol. Those who require strong hold or who are looking to maintain a short, molded hairstyle might want to try gel instead.
Gel can be quite versatile, and itâs available as either a spray or direct application. Spray products are good for a quick, overall covering, but they generally provides less hold than direct application hair gel. The direct application type requires you to work it in evenly by hand, but it typically provides a stronger hold. Hair gel works well for scrunching curls and helping create sleek shapes. Again, people with dry hair should avoid hair gel containing alcohol.
Glossing or polishing drops, also sold as anti-frizz serum, are silicone-based hair styling products that are designed to smooth rough hair shafts, reducing or eliminating frizz. Most products are applied in small amounts and can be used on wet or dry hair. Users should be careful, however, because too much can make the hair look heavy and greasy.
Hair volumizers are used to temporarily add volume, body, and shine to thin or flat hair. They come in many forms like shampoos, conditioners, sprays, pomades and lotions. They contain humectants, which work by attracting moisture from the surrounding areas to the hair strand, thereby swelling the hair and making it look thicker. Various polymers present in the volumizer coat the hair strand, making it look thicker and shiny.
Shampoo and conditioner forms of the volumizers are used just like ordinary shampoo or conditioners.
The spray and lotion form of volumizers are used in damp hair, near the roots.
To use, flip your head downward and gradually blow dry your hair, with the air being blown along the shaft of the hair; once the hair is dry, you can flip your head up.
Exclusive Photos: Syriaâs Oldest Synagogue, Destroyed by Assad
The Jobar Synagogue was one of the holiest Jewish sites in Syria and contained priceless historical artifacts. Now itâs destroyedâand the opposition says Assad is to blame.
Syrian Arab Army forces flattened the Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue in the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus over the weekend. The attack not only wrecked a site thatâs at least 400 years old. It may have destroyed thousands of irreplaceable Jewish artifacts contained inside the synagogue, according to opposition leaders and photos obtained at the site.
The area where the synagogue once stood has been under bombardment by the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for months. The Syrian regime is laying siege to the town, one of the few rebel strongholds in the area. Itâs all part of what the opposition calls Assadâs âscorched earthâ policy, which includes random and violent attacks on civilian populations.
âI am deeply saddened to learn of the destruction of Jobar Synagogue, which was a treasure of Jewish and Syrian cultural heritage,â said Shlomo Bolts, an official at the Syrian American Council, an American charity connected to the Syrian opposition.
The Jobar Synagogue in Damascus laid in ruins Monday after being shelled by Syrian government forces. All photos provided exclusively to The Daily Beast by witnesses on the ground. ()
Bolts, a Jew of Syrian ancestry, said that the Syrian Jewish community is only the latest victim of Assadâs strategy to target religious and cultural institutions.
âYet this is hardly the only place of worship to be destroyed by the Assad regime. The Umm al-Zinar Church [a house of worship in Homs that locals say dates back to the first centuries of Christianity], the [1,400 year-old] Khalid Ibn Walid Mosque, and countless other irreplaceable cultural sites are now lost to history due to a dictatorâs manic desire to keep power at all costs,â he said.
The Syrian American Council is part of the Coalition for a Democratic Syria, an umbrella organization that claims to represent over 100,000 Syrian-Americans. The groupâs contacts inside Syria shot photos of the rubble where the Jobar Synagogue stood until days ago. Those photos were provided to The Daily Beast.
This weekâs attack, though the final blow, was not the first time the Syrian regime had bombarded the Jobar Synagogue. An Israeli news report from April 2013 noted that the synagogue had been âlooted and destroyed,â although later photos proved that the synagogue had taken only moderate damage from a mortar shell.
Activists estimate that at least 33 churches and hundreds of mosques have been destroyed by the Assad regime since the start of the Syrian civil war. Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Syria have been destroyed in Syria since the fighting began.
Last December, photos emerged in another Israeli news report showing that many of the synagogues most precious artifacts were intact. The report stated that the bulk of the synagogueâs artifact collection was being held safely in the hands of local leaders.
Before the conflict, the synagogue held thousands of religious and cultural treasures, including hundreds years old Torah scrolls, historical texts, precious dining ware, and ancient Judaica of all sorts. Some of the items were reportedly looted in the early days of the war. Some were reportedly placed in safekeeping. Many remained in the building until its destruction.
Opposition sources told The Daily Beast that the damage assessment following this weekâs devastating attack on the Jobar synagogue was ongoing but all of the Jewish heritage items that remained inside the synagogue are feared lost.
The Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue, built to honor the prophet Elijah, had existed at least since medieval times. The site has been a destination for Jewish pilgrimage for centuries. It was said to have been built atop the cave where Elijah hid from his persecutors. The Prophet Elisha, who allegedly built the synagogue, was said to have anointed King Hazael on its steps, now gone.
The town of Jobar was home to a significant Jewish population throughout the medieval period, although the community was eventually driven out of Syria and the synagogue was taken over in 19th Century by local Arab leaders. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, the synagogue was used as a school for displaced Palestinians.
Activists estimate that at least 33 churches and hundreds of mosques have been destroyed by the Assad regime since the start of the Syrian civil war. Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Syria have been destroyed in Syria since the fighting began.
As early as March 2012, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova was publicly warning about damage to precious sites and calling on both sides to protect Syriaâs cultural legacy.
âDamage to the heritage of the country is damage to the soul of its people and its identity,â she said.
Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.
In my early twenties, I managed one of my familyâs stores. On slow days, or when I had downtime, I would visit a fellow shopkeeper across the street to shoot the breeze. He was a community member, about 25 years my senior, from a different generation, yet we enjoyed each otherâs company and got along despite the differences. Our conversations would always start the same, âSo, howâs business?â
As we grew more comfortable with each other, we covered an array of subjects such as politics, religion, and life. The more we spoke, the more I admired him, both for his knowledge and his insightful wisdom.
One day, I walked into his store, and announced that I had become engaged the night before. After a congratulatory hug, I shared the exciting details, then asked, âJoseph, if you could give me only one piece of advice to take into my marriage, what would it be?â And without missing a beat, came the surprising answer, âEvery Friday, without fail, be sure to bring home an arrangement of flowers.â
It was a simple answer to a complex question and I suppose I looked puzzled. So, he continued, âDoing this will help you remember the value of three important things: Shabbat, Hashemâs beauty in nature and the love you feel for your wife.â
It wasnât the answer I expected, so I changed the subject. However, later on, I found myself following his advice, if only because buying flowers seemed like the right thing to do. It became part of my Friday afternoon routine. I would buy them from street corner vendors, or I would chose a convenient flower shop on the way home. I adopted the habit and it stuck. I didnât think much about why I was buying them, or my old friendâs advice, I just did it.
I am now approaching the age that my shopkeeper friend was when he planted this seed of advice in me, and I believe I finally see exactly what he meant. Over the last year, I find myself driving to the other side of town on Friday afternoons to pick up flowersâand itâs all starting to make sense.
I walk into the small flower shop and as the proprietorsâa lovely husband and wife teamâprepare my arrangement, we make small talk about how welcome this Shabbat will be after such a hectic work week. I am reminded of the tranquility and calm that the fast approaching Shabbat will bring, and I smile, realizing that my friend was right.
As the door closes behind me, Iâm struck by the fragrant botanical scents, brilliant variety of colors and characteristics of the lush collection of flowers before me. Once again, the man was on the mark, I am reminded of Hashemâs beauty in nature.
As I inhale and savor the scent of my selection, Iâm imagining the look on my wifeâs face when she sees this weekâs choice of flowersâand my friendâs advice becomes clear, for I remember again how much I love my wife.
It took nearly 25 years to understand, but now I knowâsometimes itâs the simple things in life that can be the most extraordinary.q
One hundred years ago two small local synagogues combined to form Or Ve Shalom (which means Light and Peace). Congregation Ahavath Shalom was founded in 1910 and Or Hachiam in 1912. The names were combined to form Or Ve Shalom. The congregation has decided to celebrate this significant anniversary with a year long series of spiritual, educational, fund raising and entertaining events.
Congregants are primarily from Rhodes and Turkey, but Jews, who can trace their roots to North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are also members.
The synagogue and its members have a rich history and tradition of serving the Jewish community and the city of Atlanta. Many of us are familiar with the family names Arogetti, Alhadeff, Benator, Capeluto, Franco, Habiff, Maslia, Shemaria and Tourial among many others. Those families are as committed to Jewish values today as in the past.
The kickoff event for this year of celebration was an address by Rabbi Marc Angel. He is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish/Portuguese Synagogue in New York City, whose origins date back to 1656.
Born in Seattleâs Sephardic community, his familyâs roots are from Turkey and Rhodes; he grew up in a Ladino speaking home. He received a BS, MS, PhD, Th.D
honors causa and a rabbinal semicha from Yeshevia University. As if those degrees were not impressive enough, he also earned an MA in English Literature.
Rabbi Angel was the spiritual leader of the congregation until 2007, when he established the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals; an organization focused on fostering an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox view of Judaism.
He has written more than 30 books and scores of enlightening and stimulating articles; his awards, honors and achievements are too numerous to list.
Rabbi Angelâs address to Or Ve Shalom was entitled Applauding the Past, Appreciating the Present, and Planning the Future.
In his address, he said many profound things, including: we have a unique rich history and culture and our lives resound with the voices and teachings of our ancestors.
Prior generations, while often not highly educated were wise, brave, bold people who loved life, lived with risk and were optimistic for their future. Our current generation, while highly educated, can learn much from reflecting on the lives of our ancestors.
Our roots have an impact on our lives today, far more than we realize. Judaism is flexible enough to withstand honest, sincere different points of view. Judaism welcomes a variety of viewpoints and encourages discussion.
We should not be judgmental toward other Jews and their religious practices, but seek to be understanding and inclusive.
Each Jew, with a sincere point of view, can make a contribution.
The challenge is to maintain a balance, adhering to old values while assimilating into the new culture. Over time, some old world practices and values are lost, but there is value in maintaining our links with the past.
Judaism is not meant to be a burden but a blessing. Its teachings and values are meant to enrich, guide and empower our lives.
Rules are offered to provide society with order and reduce chaos. Our lives are empowered and enhanced as we are more productive and we benefit society. We are taught how to appreciate the seemingly mundane parts of life and to recognize the miracle of our lives and all around us.
While a devout and committed Orthodox Jew, Rabbi Angel sees our Creator as a loving, kind, compassionate Father who, on occasion, needs to redirect our path.
He stressed that each Jew should strive to find a place in the Jewish community that is right for him. And from that point, he can begin to grow his Jewish values, education, and understanding. People should not feel intimidated by the synagogue process or its practices.
Two life lessons that Rabbi Kassorla of Or Ve Shalom learned while a student of Rabbi Angel were: Each time you teach, teach something new so that your efforts will impart enthusiasm and recognize and acknowledge the efforts of those who work on behalf of the community.
My own Jewish roots are similar to Rabbi Angel, my father, Sam Shams, was born in Beirut and my mother, Sylvia Levy, was born in Damascus. I was raised in a Syrian/Lebanese culture but attended an Ashkenazi synagogue in Pensacola, Florida.
We are looking forward to many more anniversary events.
There are action heroes, superheroes, and everyday heroes. Then there are those, like Eli Beer, founder and head of United Hatzalah of Israel, who seem to embody a little of all three.
Mr. Beer, 40, traveled from Israel recently to visit Bergen County as part of an ongoing crusade to promote the rapid-response EMS model that has allowed United Hatzalah to save thousands of lives throughout the Jewish state. It is the same model he has helped implement in Panama, Brazil and, soon, India, as well.
United Hatzalah is an independent, non-profit, fully volunteer-based team of emergency medical technicians who deliver fast, free first-response throughout the Jewish state. The volunteers work in what might be called a âpre-ambulanceâ capacit
Cooperation
While United Hatzalah serves the entire country of Israel, including all areas of Judea and Samaria, it is not always the only such emergency service called into action. Hatzalah Yehuda vâShomron, for example, is a small local unit which serves only that area and is not connected to the larger organization. Nevertheless, according to Juli Kristof, a United Hatzalah spokeswoman, when the situation arises, volunteers from both organizations meet in the field and work effectively together.
âBoth organizations provide critical lifesaving services to residents of the area,â said Ms. Kristof.
That cooperation frequently makes the difference between life nd death, especially after a terrorist attack, according to Yehudit Tayar, a volunteer with Hatzalah Yehuda vâShomron. In the disputed areas, volunteers frequently work alongside the IDF, Israel Air Forceâs Airborne Rescue, and security officers and personnel.
Ambucycle
In NJ, Mr. Beer met with Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan. He then toured the countyâs EMS Training Center in Paramus and addressed the future EMTs.
âYou can and will save lives,â Mr. Beer told the students. âYouâre young. Your whole lives are ahead of you. If your dream is like mineâ and that dream is to help peopleâthen chase it. Go out there, save lives, and do good.â
It is no wonder the students were impressed. Mr. Beer had motored to Bergen County from his Manhattan hotel on a United Hatzalah âambucycle,â a souped-up motor scooter used by United Hatzalah volunteers when they need to traverse Israelâs traffic-choked streets while rushing to victims. The organizationâs nearly 250 ambucycles are outfitted with trauma kits, defibrillators, and other emergency supplies.
Less Than 3 Minutes
In Israel, the ambucyclesâ average response time is less than three minutes. Most ambulances take more than three times as long.
âReceiving initial treatment within five minutes of an incident assures a higher chance of survival in critical situations and speedier recovery in many other injuries and sicknesses,â said Mr. Beer.
âIn fact, brain and heart death start to occur in four to six minutes after the onset of cardiac arrest, and a victimâs chances of survival are reduced by 7 to 10% with every minute that passes without defibrillation and advanced life support intervention,â he said.
Mike Taratino, director of the Bergen County EMS Training Center, called Mr. Beerâs visit an eye-opener and an honor.
âI hope it is the start of a relationship between us and him, a working relationship that I sincerely hope to build upon in the months ahead. Who knows where all of this will eventually lead?â he said.
Trauma-Inspired
As part of Mr. Beerâs visit, Ms. Donovan, Mr. Taratino, and the students learned about the founding of United Hatzalah.
On June 2, 1978, Mr. Beer was a five-year-old returning from school to his Jerusalem home on a Friday afternoon when the #12 bus exploded, its passengers victims of a terrorist suicide bomber. He has never forgotten the chaos of the incident, the wounded lying prone on the street, bloodied and begging for help, and the relative paucity of emergency rescue resources.
âI ran away that day out of fear, but I decided that, someday, I would make it my businessâmy dreamâto help the people I wasnât prepared to help on that day. I knew I would become an EMT,â he said.
True to his dream, at 14, still in school and working part-time in his familyâs book and real estate businesses, he joined Jerusalemâs EMT squad.
Unnecessary Death
He still remembers the emergency call he received concerning a young Jerusalem boy who was choking on a hotdog. Caught in a Jerusalem traffic jam, Mr. Beer arrived 20 minutes after the call came inâtoo late to save the boy. A doctor working in the house adjacent to the boyâs knew nothing about the emergency next door until he saw the lights on Mr. Beerâs ambulance.
âIf the doctor had known what was happening in the next-door home, he could have saved the boy, and he would be alive today,â said Mr. Beer.
Determined to establish a more flexible system to improve emergency response times, Mr. Beer, at the age of 17, began to organize a Hatzalah organization in Jerusalem based on the models he had seen in the US.
New Equipment
Mr. Beerâs new unit purchased its own communication gear, medical equipment, and supplies, and managed to get funding from the community.
Eventually, he forged a connection with NowForce, a Maryland-based high-tech company that was created to keep emergency response and security organizations connected, thereby minimizing response times and maximizing situational awareness.
NowForce created a GPS app which is loaded onto all United Hatzalah volunteersâ Smartphones. When an emergency call is fielded in Israel, this app locates the nearest five United Hatzalah volunteers, all of whom receive a âpingâ followed by instructions. The volunteers then hop onto their ambucycles to respond to the victimâs location.
âEvery town in the world should have this app,â Mr. Beer told Ms. Donovan. âImagine if every nurse, doctor, EMT in the county had this app and knew when an emergency was occurring and where. If they were close, they could respond. They could arrive before the regular EMTs. They could save more lives.â
On several occasions, Mr. Beer stressed that the United Hatzalah model is not intended to replace traditional ambulance squads. Its function is to assist and act in tandem with them.
âIt took a while in Israel because the EMT squads thought we were encroaching on their turf,â he told Ms. Donovan. âBut now we work like a hand in a glove with them.â
Goal Is 90 Seconds
Mr. Beer is well aware that there is more to be done if he is to meet his goal of reducing United Hatzalahâs response time to under 90 seconds. First, it will require doubling his current ambucycle fleet, and each unit costs $26,000.
Because the organization charges no fees and receives no compensation, it must rely wholly on grants and donations. While the Israeli government provides limited funding and local municipalities provide some project-related support, the majority of United Hatzalahâs budget is funded by individuals and foundations in Israel and abroad.
The organizationâs budget last year was $3.5 million, of which approximately 92.4% went directly to services, including training, vehicles, equipment, and volunteer activities. Approximately 7.6% was applied to management of the organization.
A detailed account of projects and ways to help can be found on the organizationâs website, www.IsraelRescue.org. In the US, Friends of United Hatzalah, a tax-exempt organization, can be reached at 646-833-7108.
âWe need help. Nothing worthwhile or important or even essential gets done by one person alone, or even 2,300 volunteers. There are lives at stake and people lost every day that we can save,â said Mr. Beer.
SUCCESS OF FELDERâS TRANSPORTATION LAW
As his after 4 pm school bus program entered its second year, Senator Simcha Felder attended a workshop for non-public schools to discuss how the stateâs education budget impacts the non-public school community. Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Assemblyman Dov Hikind joined him.
Approximately 70 schools were represented at the meeting, which was held at Ateres Chaya Hall in Borough Park.
Last March, the New York State Legislature passed Felderâs historic legislation, which made public, private and parochial schools, that hold academic classes from 9:30 am or earlier until 4 pm or later, eligible to receive pick-up and drop-off bus service within 600 feet of their studentsâ homes.
An initial allocation of $12 million had been earmarked for this initiative, but due to the programâs popularity, a total of $23 million in permanent funding has been made available.
âGetting this legislation passed was not only a matter of safety for me, but of equity,â Felder said. âFor far too long, the city and state had denied our children bus service. My legislation has resulted in direct savings to parents and yeshivot.â
Senator Felder also addressed the education tax credit bill he is championing. âYeshivot as a whole would have received $75 million in funding in the first year had it been implemented. That number would increase to $113 million and $150 million in the second and third years under the tax credit proposal,â he said.
âThereâs still a glimmer of hope that we may get the education tax credit bill passed before the end of session. I will continue to fight until it is signed into law, and tuition-paying families get some of the relief they deserve,â he concluded.
FATAL COLLISION
Two vehicles collided in Marine Park, resulting in the deaths of Philbert Martin Williams, 20, and his 18 year old passenger, Christina Wipper.
The accident happened at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U, shortly before 6:40 pm. Williamsâ car collided with an SUV that was making a turn. He was driving nearly 100 mph heading south on Flatbush Avenue and ran a red light at the intersection. The SUV was turning left onto Avenue U from Flatbush.
Williams passed away at Coney Island Hospital, Christina Wipper died at the scene of the accident. Two occupants of the SUV suffered minor injuries. They were taken to Kings County Hospital.
A horrific video, recorded by a security camera, provided a clear view of the intersection. Williamsâ car flashed into view for a split second before the terrible impact. Afterwards, the car spun out and hit a telephone pole. Firefighters had to use tools to cut into the roof of the mangled car. Shortly thereafter, the NYPD announced that police officers would be cracking down on speeding drivers, citywide.
ENDING GUN VIOLENCE IN CONEY ISLAND
Councilman Mark Treyger was joined, at the corner of West 31st Street and Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Kransy, Council Member Jumaane Williams, the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative and concerned residents. The gathering was to denounce the gun violence that continues to plague the community.
Two individuals had been shot in that very spot, the day before, in broad daylight. âThe fact that yet another shooting occurred in the middle of our communityâon a weekend afternoonâis another reminder of the need to make ending gun violence in Coney Island a major priority for our city. We have a crisis that needs to be addressed through better education, job opportunities, security initiatives, expanded community programs and other resources. I will continue to stand with my partners in Coney Island, as we work to provide all residents with alternatives to crime and violence. We must end this epidemic,â said Treyger.
He went on to highlight his wide-ranging initiatives and proposals to help greatly reduce gun violence in Coney Island. He is calling on a number of city agencies to come together and create a comprehensive, all-out campaign to reach this goal, including more police resources, additional Parks Enforcement Officers dedicated to Coney Islandâs boardwalk and amusement area, to relieve pressure from the 60th Precinct and allow its officers to focus on the residential areas.
Councilman Treyger is forming a neighborhood clergy council to bring together religious leaders from throughout Coney Island to develop programs and strategies to end the violence. The launch of this effort will be expedited in light of the recent shootings.
âWe need to stop the flood of guns onto our streets. I donât believe that this is a reflection on the community of Coney Island or Brooklyn. This rally shows that everyday citizens are coming together to say they donât accept what happened. This is a signal that Coney Island is not going to accept these acts of violence,â said Brooklyn Borough President Adams.
âWe need to show our kids that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have so many great organizations in Coney Island,â added Assemblyman Brook-Krasny.
THE 34TH BROOKLYN HALF MARATHON
More than 25,000 runners participated in the 34th Annual Brooklyn Half Marathon. The race began in Prospect Park; participants walked, jogged, and ran to Ocean Parkway, then continued to Coney Island.
There was tight security, and plenty of volunteers were on hand to help those overcome by exhaustion. All was going well, until an unidentified man collapsed at the finish line. On-site medical practitioners tended to him, then he was taken to Coney Island Hospital. Sadly, he passed away some time later. His name was not released and there is no word as to what caused his death.
IMPROVING TRAFFIC SAFETY
At the reopening of the rebuilt Hamilton Avenue asphalt plant in Brooklyn, alongside his commissioner of Design and Construction Feniosky Pena-Mora, Mayor de Blasio said he will repave 1,000 miles of streets and repair more than 400,000 potholes, to improve traffic safety in the city.
âThis is a major investment in infrastructure,â he said. The $25 million rebuilt plant will help increase the Department of Transportationâs asphalt production and recycling capacity.
De Blasio has allocated more than $226 million in capital funds to repave city streets, and $670 million to completely reconstruct streets in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Officials acknowledged that filling potholes serves as a temporary fix until the street is completely reconstructed, but, de Blasio added, âin many cases a pothole being filled is the right answer.â
Rachel Ament noticed that she and her friends often shared humorous anecdotes that were typically variations on a theme: overprotective, worrying Jewish moms who smothered them with love. That included Amentâs own mother. âMy mom is probably every Jewish stereotype scrunched into one,â the Washington, DC, resident said. âAt the root of all these stereotypical, worrying, overprotective moms, is love.â
Ament, a freelance writer, decided about three years ago that it would be fun to invite Jewish women writers she admiresâmostly bloggers, stand-up comics, and actorsâto contribute stories about their mothers for an anthology. The result, âThe Jewish Daughter Diaries: True Stories of Being Loved Too Much by Our Moms,â features 27 essays and is set for release just in time for Motherâs Day. The youngest contributor is writer Lauren Yapalater, 24; the oldest is stand-up comedian Wendy Liebman, 53.
In putting the collection together, Ament contacted about 40 writers including, actress Mayim Bialik, producer Jena Friedman, and playwright Deb Margolin, who were all happy to contribute.
Many of the essays focus on dating and a Jewish motherâs strong desire to see her daughter married. That includes Amentâs chapter, âSeth Cohen Is the One for You,â in which she states her certainty that all Jewish women carry a particular chromosome for match making.
Ament said, âI was in second grade when my mother would point out different boys in the carpool lane at my school insisting that they were meant for me.â No matter that at the time, Ament wasnât yet interested in boys.
Among Amentâs favorite essays is one by Lauren Greenberg. When Greenberg turned 30, her mother created a JDate profile for her. She didnât follow up with any of the men her mother had pre-screened, although she concedes that it is âsomething I now regret. My mother put a lot of effort into screening potential sons-in-law and all I did was roll my eyes at her.â
Greenberg, however, figures she might have a second chance. âMaybe this year, Iâll send a video to ABC, explaining why I should be the next Bachelorette,â she said with a smile.
Ament doesnât worry about perpetuating stereotypes with her book. âI donât think as a culture we should ever be scared to talk about ourselves, to talk about our identity, but I do think we should be careful about how we talk about it, and talk about it in a very full, multidimensional way.â
While Jewish mothers in the past were often ridiculed and demonized, Ament said the writers in her book portray their moms in a very loving, heartfelt, affectionate way.
Not all the essays focus on mothers. Sometimes itâs a grandmother, such as blogger Almie Roseâs 5-foot-1, feisty Oma, a Holocaust survivor and âslip of a thingâ who was âbawdy, blunt and sarcastic. But on the opposite side of that fire and sarcasm was a fierce love for her children and grandchildren,â Rose wrote in her essay. âOmaâs love was immense and unconditional.â
Then thereâs Kerry Cohen, a child of bitter divorce, who looks to her grandmother as a model for relationships. âMy grandmother could teach me things when it came to men,â Cohen wrote. âIt wasnât just because sheâd been married for 57 years to a man who adored her until the end. Itâs that her standards were so much higher than mine.”
âThe Jewish Daughter Diaries: True Stories of Being Loved Too Much by Our Moms,âis sure to put a smile on your face.
The peace process in Israel that had been reinvigorated for the last nine months has reached a new dead end now that Fatah and Hamas have made a unity agreement. A senior Palestinian official said recently that the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas does not signal an end to the peace process and that âany agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel will include the Gaza Strip.â The official is claiming that the agreement will be a positive step in the direction of a peace agreement with Israel. âThis provides an answer to all those in Israel who claimed you could not reach a peace agreement as long as the PA did not control Gaza,â the source said. Officials in the Israeli government initially stated that the reconciliation move by Abbas indicated the end of the peace process.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, the governmentâs chief negotiator, said the agreement was a âvery problematic development which harms peace talks. In light of the new situation, Israel must examine its implications, and consider its next steps accordingly.â But other officials in Jerusalem were not convinced that the reconciliation effort was sincere. âYou need to wait and see what happens now,â said one Israeli source. âWe have seen such moves in the past; it may all be a charade.â
Dore Gold, who is considered a close personal advisor of President Netanyahu called the agreement between Hamas and Fatah a game changer. He said, âHamas is recognized by the world as an international terrorist organization; by the European Union, by the United States, by Canada and many others. And PA head Mahmoud Abbas has been working very hard with Secretary of State John Kerry, as our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has worked hard, and all of a sudden, it seems that in the last month, Abbas just simply does not want a negotiated solution. He said ânoâ to President Obama. He said ânoâ to even discussing with Israel in the future the possibility of them recognizing Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish peopleâweâre asked to recognize a Palestinian stateâand now he turns to hug Hamas. He wants a deal with Hamas and doesnât want peace, and thatâs a tragic development.â
âWhile the PA can hire some suits to talk about making peace, Hamas is in the back room controlling things,â he explained.
Asked if the peace process is dead, Gold said it is still possible to revive the process, but only if Abbas pulls back from the deal with Hamas. âHe cannot embrace Hamas and say that heâs for peace with Israel. Itâs a contradiction in terms.â
It became clear though from comments by President Netanyahu, supported by officials in the US State Department, that peace talks were off for now. As part of the agreement signed in Gaza, Palestinian officials will begin consultations on forming an interim unity government this month. Elections for the presidency, the Palestinian Legislative Council, and the Palestinian National Council will take place six months after a government is formed. The Israeli government will not continue the peace process with a Palestinian organization that includes Hamas, and this unity agreement between Palestinian factions will be seen as the direct cause for the latest peace talksâ failure. President Netanyahu, speaking said âItâs a blow to Israel; itâs a blow to peace. I think itâs a terrible blow to the Palestinian people, because they must choose, too, whether they want to go forward or go backward. With the pact with Hamas, the Palestinian people took a huge step backward, away from peace, away from a good future for themselves.â
Yom YerushalayimâJerusalem Dayâis the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated one week before the eve of Shavuot. Although Jerusalem has been considered the capital city of the Jewish people since the time of King Davidâwho conquered it and built it as the seat of his monarchyâthere was never a special day in honor of the city until the Israeli army took over the ancient, eastern part of the city on the third day of the Six-Day War in June 1967.
Jerusalem was divided during the War of Independence and 19 years later was reunited as a result of the 6-Day War.
The battle of Jerusalem began on the morning of June 5, 1967 when the Jordanians opened fire along the entire cease-fire line. By that afternoon the Jordanians occupied the Governorâs Palace.
The Central Command of the Israeli Army tore through the enemy positions of âHar Adarâ and âAbdul Azizâ and conquered âNebi Samuelâ.
By the morning of June 6 this force reached the Jerusalem-Rammalah road and stormed âTel-Elâ and âGivat HaMivtar.â In addition, a paratroop brigade was moved up. Its instructions were to open the way to Mount Scopus and the Rockefeller Museum in order to position themselves to break through to the âOld Cityâ of Jerusalem on very short notice.
This force cut through the frontline of the town and soon the way to Mount Scopus was cleared and the northeast section of Jerusalem was liberated.
On June 7th the General Staff issued the order to liberate the âOld City.â The Central Command activated the paratroop brigade that had conquered the Mount of Olives and the Mount Scopus ridge. These troops broke through to the âOld Cityâ by way of the âLionsâ Gateâ and hoisted the Israeli flag over the Western Wall.
Following the 6-Day War victory, on June 27, 1967, the government presented the Knesset with three law proposals. These proposals determined the effective unification of Jerusalem and sanctioned the application of Israeli law in the entire area of the unified city. The municipal boundaries of the city were altered and its area was increased threefold. At the same time, a law was adopted that enabled free access to the holy places by the members of every religion. In 1980, the Basic Law: Jerusalem was adopted. This law determined that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the location of all state authorities.
On May 12, 1968, the government, decided to make the 28th of Iyar the symbolic holiday, Jerusalem Day, a day that symbolizes the continued historical connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem. Thirty years later, this holiday became anchored in the law: On March 23, 1998, the Knesset passed the second and third readings of the âJerusalem Day Law,â which determined that the date that Jerusalem was liberated during the 6-Day War was a national holiday.
After the 6-Day War the city and its environs underwent an intensive and unprecedented process of restoration and development. Institutions were built, entire new neighborhoods were established and an extensive system of roads and transportation infrastructure was constructed. Ten new neighborhoods were built. This development enabled a significant increase in Jerusalemâs population and the absorption of considerable numbers of new immigrants. Today, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Jerusalemâs population stands at about 681,000.
Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, has become a large and expansive city. It stands as an inspiration not only to residents of Israel and the Jewish people but also to the entire world. Jerusalem attracts tourists, from around the world, who come to see her beauty, to imbibe of her past and make pilgrimages to the holy sites, which serve as places for prayer.
Moshe Amirav, a paratrooper, was one of the first men to arrive at the Western Wall in 1967. He described his first minutes, âWe ran there, a group of panting soldiers, lost on the plaza of the Temple Mount, searching for a giant stone wall. Hurriedly, we pushed our way through the Magreb Gate and suddenly we stopped, thunderstruck. There it was before our eyes! Gray and massive, silent and restrained. Slowly, I began to approach the Wall in fear and trembling like a pious cantor going to the lectern to lead prayers. I approached it as the messenger of my father and my grandfather, of my great-grandfather and of all the generations in all the exiles who had never seen itâand so they had sent me to represent them. Somebody recited the festive blessing: âBlessed are You, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe who has kept us alive, and maintained us and brought us to this time.â But I could not answer Amen.â
âI put my hand on the stones and the tears that started to flow were not my tears. They were the tears of all Israel, tears of hope and prayer, tears of Jewish dances, tears which scorched and burned the heavy gray stone.â
Abraham Duvdevani, another soldier, described his first encounter with the Wall, âWe marched fast, to keep up with the beating of our hearts. We were almost running. We met a soldier from one of the forward units and asked him the way and hurried on. We went through a gate and down some steps. I looked to the right and stopped dead. There was the Wall, in all its grandeur and glory! I had never seen it before, but it was an old friend, impossible to mistake. Then I thought that I should not be there because the Wall belongs in the world of dreams and legends and I am real. Reality and legend, dream and deed, all unite there. I went down and approached the Wall and stretched out my hand towards the huge, hewn stones. But my hand was afraid to touch and returned to me. I closed my eyes, took a small, hesitant step forward, and brought my lips to the Wall. The touch of my lips opened the gates of my emotions and the tears burst forth. A Jewish soldier in the State of Israel is kissing historyâpast, present and future all in one kiss.â
This day is extremely special to us as a nation who yearned to have our holiest city back in the hands of the Jewish people. So, we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim with happiness and a feeling of wholeness knowing that we may visit the Kotel as we please. It is such a special blessing to know the city is ours. This year Yom Yerushalayim is celebrated on May 28th.
During his inspiring first visit to the United States, Rishon LâSion Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzhak Yosef visited the Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School.
New Equipment
Goal Is 90 Seconds
THE 34TH BROOKLYN HALF MARATHON