Do you gain weight during the winter? If so, you’re not alone. Researchers have found that it’s extremely common to gain five to seven pounds during winter months. There are many reasons why the pounds sneak on when it’s cold outside. As a matter of fact—the cold—is a reason. Many people who exercise outdoors stop when the temperature drops.
Another reason—Hanukkah and Hanukkah parties. Hopefully you didn’t eat too many potato latkes and donuts. More reasons we gain weight: comfort foods, office treats, summer fruits are out of season, and big sweaters hide winter weight. Here’s what you can do about the lack of exercise, comfort foods, office treats, etc.
If you want to stay active, ask someone to exercise with you—even if you just go for a walk a few times each week. It’s hard to get motivated to get bundled up to walk, especially when there’s snow on the ground, but it’s not as difficult when you have a friend to walk with
When the temperature falls, we tend to say goodbye to light meals and hello to comfort foods like hardy stews and big bowls of pasta. You don’t have to give up these foods, if you prepare them with low calorie and low fat ingredients and control your portion size. If you add a bunch of vegetables to your stew, it will be a thick, chunky, and healthy meal.
Often, in the winter, associates and employers send cookies and candy to the office. These treats can be hard to resist, especially around three in the afternoon. One thing you can do to help you stay away from them is have a healthy snack around two, so when three o’clock rolls around, you won’t be thinking about food. If, however, you must eat something fattening, have a bite or two.
While summer fruits are delicious, there are many great winter fruits, too, like oranges, apples, and pears. You may be surprised by how much you like them. They make great snacks. If you follow these little tips, you won’t gain weight this winter. Of course, you can still wear big, cozy sweaters, and you’ll be happy that they’re not hiding extra pounds.
Portrait of smart schoolgirls and schoolboys looking at the laptop in classroom
Gesher Yehuda Yeshiva, a K-8 special education school, has implemented a range of cutting edge improvements designed to offer a state-of-the-art education to children with learning challenges. After careful review of new pedagogical and therapeutic research, the changes are designed to contribute to an exciting learning environment.
Changes include:
• A sensory gym that will meet student needs in innovative ways. It will feature a variety of swings, a crawl tunnel and a rock climbing wall.
• A cutting-edge NeuroNet program designed to build neural pathways, enhance critical math, reading, and handwriting skills and facilitate higher-levels of learning.
• ClassStars a computer-based program that allows teachers to record behavior in real time facilitating classroom management.
• A 3 Cs program that rewards children for good behavior and diligence as it contributes to a joyful school learning environment.
• A fully elaborated information technology platform including smart classrooms, a computer lab and universal WiFi. Now in its 26th year, Gesher Yehuda Yeshiva educates children with learning differences in a comprehensive program.
A dual curriculum of Judaic and General studies is tailored to provide students with appropriate instruction within a personalized and encouraging setting. Gesher Yehuda views each student as an individual whose interests and abilities motivate their desire to learn.
Through a flexible and comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, Gesher devises learn-ing strategies based on students’ strengths. Our professional staff provides clearly structured, multi-sensory experiences in all subject areas. Small class settings, tailored groups and innovative individual instruction provide opportunities in a challenging yet nurturing environment. For more information about our programs or to schedule a tour please contact Sury Fleischman at info@gesheryehuda.org or visit gesheryehuda.org.
What’s GIGG’L? GIGG’L is an acronym for Giving Inspiration Giving the Gift of Life. It is a Brooklyn-based organization, which specializes in Putting smiles and laughter on the faces of brave children, battling life-threatening illnesses!
How do they do this? By arranging stunning parties and events, complete with delicious food and magnificent entertainment, allowing the patients and their families to escape harsh reality for a precious few hours.
To whom do they cater? GIGG’L serves a plethora of families in the tristate area and beyond, with children who are battling dreaded diseases.
Who runs it? GIGG’L is run by its Founder and President, Menachem Tzvi Roseman, under the guidance of its board of directors and with close rabbinic consultation.
How did Menachem Tzvi Roseman come to be involved in a project of this nature? Menachem Tzvi began his career of cheering ill children when the daughter of a close friend, Rabbi Yisroel Landsman, took ill and battled a dreaded disease for several years. Throughout this long and arduous road, Menachem Tzvi continuously searched for ways and means to bring cheer and good spirits to Rabbi Landsman’s daughter, and her family, at large. Menachem Tzvi was there for them 24/7—liter-ally.Sadly, four years after Nechama was diagnosed, Rabbi Landsman was diagnosed, as well, with a dreaded disease and passed away only a few short months after his dear, beloved daughter.This experience, and his upbringing in a warm, caring home, where looking out for your friend, neighbor or acquaintance, and going the extra mile for them, was stan-dard protocol, provided Menachem Tzvi with the impetus to embark on this ambitious, arduous undertaking and create GIGG’L, which he founded in 2013.
Have you seen the organization in action? We were at one of GIGG’L’s parties and it was absolutely amazing! I’m not sure what the kids enjoyed most, the beautiful array of happy lights, the superb props, the fantastic, colorful costumes, the delicious, plentiful food, the lively music, the trained, dedicated and professional volunteers, the exciting games, the fun toys, or the generous gifts that they distributed.
What I enjoyed most was the giggles and the smiles on the faces of the children and their families! We were awestruck by the outpouring of love and care exuded by GIGG’L, and this feeling is clearly reflected on the children’s radiant faces! It’s absolutely an amazing, mind-blowing experience! GIGG’L utilizes many avenues to stretch each dollar spent to the maximum. For example, the organization is staffed entirely by volunteers, which cuts down significantly on the costs. Another example, Menachem has built many valuable relationships with vendors and venues over the years and can often get a very reduced rate on services, products and venues—again significantly cutting down costs. Finally, GIGG’L does not employ professional fundraisers, ensuring that every dollar raised is directly applied toward helping the children and their families.
And yet, GIGG’L is dependent on the public’s generosity to continue their blessed work. It is the broader community that it depends on to fund their activities and enable them to continue to bring smiles and relief to the ill children and their families. If you would like to donate to GIGG’L, or perhaps would consider sponsoring a party, or would like to assist in any other way, please contact them! You’ll be glad you did. GIGG’L is a 501c3 approved organization.
To learn more about GIGG’L, please visit their webpage: www.giggl.org, or follow them on Instagram at giggl_official, or email Menachem Tzvi Roseman, directly at menachem@giggl.org. Please make checks out to: GIGG’L. Their mailing address is 515 East 9th street, Brooklyn, New York 11218.
Have you ever felt very relaxed when listening to music? Have you listened to music that instantaneously brought up strong feelings, or brought you back to a special time in your life? Have you felt a sense of inner strength or spirituality when listening to music? Have you sung a lullaby to help comfort a crying baby, or the alphabet song to teach a young child? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s because you have experienced the power of music.
Music can evoke emotions, memories, spirituality, social connections, a sense of security, and comfort, as well as provide a means of expressing feelings. Music also provides a fun way for children to learn. Music has a powerful impact on people, and for those reasons music therapy has served as a healing method for physical illnesses for generations. Music has the ability to neutralize negative feelings and enhance the body’s natural stress tolerance level. People of all ages are candidates for music therapy.
Traditionally, music therapists work in institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools for children with special needs. Music therapy uses music as a vehicle to achieve non-musical goals. When a child has special needs, music may be one of the most powerful ways to reach him or her (we’ll use him from here on), and help him function at his full potential.
Music therapists work with individuals of all levels of abilities and challenges, including disorders such as autism spectrum, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental disorders, ADD and ADHD, to mention a few. Common music therapy goals include improving motor skills, communication, academic skills, social skills, attention span, improving behavior and mood, following directions, and eye contact. Music therapy can sometimes be covered through the I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan), Medicaid waiver reimbursements, and sometimes must be paid out of pocket.
Both sides of our brain experience the benefits of music, it bridges the gap between our brain’s right and left hemispheres, appealing to the whole mind. Music has the power to stimulate the senses, because when we experience music almost all our brain’s functions work at once. Children can more easily absorb information, and communicate better through music or song, and improve cognitive activity and self-awareness—which is a neurological dream come true, and which also helps explain music’s soothingly therapeutic benefits. While music has long been recognized as an effective form of therapy, parents, caregivers, and family members can use it to treat physical ailments, reduce stress, and to do a whole list of other things.
Listening to music helps develop the brain.Popular songs can be used to teach. You can take the song “BINGO” and change it to spell the child’s name. The tempo of a lullaby matches the tempo of a heartbeat. Lullabies can be used to comfort crying babies and help them feel secure. Incorporating lullabies into a bed-time ritual can help children make the difficult transition into sleep. Calm, quiet music can be used to reduce stress and enhance relaxation. Simply having relaxing music in the background can change the way you feel. Play relaxing music in the morning to reduce the stress of the morning routine. Even around dinner time, it can calm children, and help them unwind from school. This will help you relax as well.
Relaxing music can be used to reduce anxiety prior, during, or after surgery or in any medical situation where you or the child feels anxious. As children grow older and listen to more music, they will begin to have preferences. We all have favorite songs that we identify with. These songs may express an emotion that we feel, or talk about an experience we are coping with. Music is an expression of emotion and the words an expression of thought. Periodically, listen to your child’s favorite music with him.
This is a good way to communicate with your child. Asking why he enjoys a certain song can help you get a sense of things that you may not be aware of, or know about your child. Singing or playing music as a family can be a fun way to enjoy being together. Where words fail, music speaks. Music can change the world, because it can change people. It’s the one language we all speak.
These are the women of our community, here are their stories.
Meet Rachel, a psychotherapist in our community
Rachel’s story is relatable and inspiring to all women. She attended Columbia University. Although she was interested in pursuing a graduate degree in medicine, Rachel’s parents encouraged her to go the traditional route and marry upon graduation. For the next ten years, Rachel put her career on hold while raising four children and becoming immersed in communal life. She actively volunteered at her children’s schools and became very involved at Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH). When her youngest child turned two and was enrolled in a three-day preschool program, with the support of her husband, Rachel decided to refocus on her career. Inspired by her volunteer role at SBH, she decided to enroll in a social work program at New York University. Very mindful of her personal commitments to her husband and children, she attended school on a part-time basis, over a 3-year period.
After graduating with a master’s degree in social work, Rachel opened her own private practice in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. She obtains a lot of gratification helping clients work through life’s issues. Rachel describes the signing of her office lease as a pivotal moment in her professional life—it was momentous to see her name on the document. She was 35 years old. As Rachel’s children grew and were spending more time in school, she devoted more time to her practice and embarked on a four-year fellowship program in intensive psychotherapy and psychoanalysis
When asked if this choice has been a deterrent to family life, Rachel acknowledges that some days are difficult. However, she asserts that integrating a professional role and maintaining a family-life are definitely worth it. She emphasizes that she sees herself as a positive role model to her children, especially to her two daughters. Rachel points out that a working woman’s life is a balancing act. She confides that being a working mom will lead to some feelings of guilt, but the satisfaction of having a career and contributing to the household income far outweigh the drawbacks. “Women leading this integrated life are actually benefitting their children by teaching them to be responsible and independent, which will bode well for them when they embark on their own journeys into adulthood,” notes Rachel.
If you are interested in a career, please reach out to PROPEL and we can help you fulfill your professional goal. You can call 646-494-0822 or email info@thepropelnetwork.org.
In 2013, Governor Cuomo proposed a $2 billion bond titled The Smart School Bond Act. These general obligation bond funds, to be paid for by tax levy dollars, were earmarked for the construction of new schools and upgrading technology across the entire New York State school system. It was a major funding plan, usually reserved for new highways or dams. There was just one problem: non-public schools were excluded from the bond proposal even though the Bond Act would be funded by our tax dollars.
In November 2013, the Sephardic Community Federation leadership received a call from the Catholic Conference. The Conference and Agudath Israel were focused on passing a School Tax Credit bill. They decided that the tax credit would be the only request from the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo, on behalf of non-public schools. That strategy precluded them from advocating for the inclusion of non-public schools (and yeshivot) as part of the Smart School Bond Act. For this reason, the Catholic Conference reached out to their friends, The Sephardic Community Federation (SCF). They asked us to spearhead securing the inclusion of funding for non-public schools in the proposed Bond Act. It is well known that a request like this usually takes months of lobbying by all of the affected constituents and most often, the efforts are not successful.
In this true “David versus Goliath” challenge, the road to success began with jelly donuts. SCF President Sam Sutton along with Co-Chairman Ron Tawil, received an invitation through the good auspices of our Assemblyman, Steven Cymbrowitz. The invitation was to enjoy a Hannukah morning get-together with the then Speaker of The State Assembly who truly enjoyed sufganiyot (jelly donuts). The Speaker would allow us to discuss one pressing issue with him.
Sam and Ron routinely nurture strong relationships with dozens of elected officials to promote the benefit and welfare of our community. Essentially, they were being called upon to persuade the Speaker (the second most powerful man in New York State) to include an additional $75 million of funding to the Smart School Bond Act.
To their pleasant surprise, only four weeks later, the New York State Assembly proposed budget added $200 million to the Smart School Bond Act, and included non-public schools. The final version which was passed by the State Legislature in March 2014 (and approved by a public vote in November 2014) remained at $2 billion but was revised to include technology funding for all schools, including non-public schools.
From the date of that vote, it took four years to finalize the allocation details. The Sephardic Community Federation, along with Agudath Israel, were repeatedly called upon to ensure that our schools would not be excluded on any technicalities. The final result was that every school is eligible to apply for $196 per child for technology assistance from the state, in the same manner as they would receive aid for textbooks.
This is how two men, aided by the power of sufganiyot and working L’shem Shamayim, were successful in securing $28 million for yeshivot throughout the State of New York.
The SCF develops relationships with legislators, and advocates on behalf of policies that benefit our community. Through cultivating these relationships, the SCF succeeds in making great strides for our community.
Visitors traveling to Tel Aviv have found new levels of premium accommodation in The Setai, Tel Aviv and The Setai, Sea of Galilee. The two new five-star deluxe hotels mark Nakash Holdings’ first and second properties in Israel, and the third globally, with the ultra-modern Setai, Miami Beach.
“The Setai, Sea of Galilee was the first step in the Nakash brothers’ vision of bringing their prestigious hotel brand to Israel. After many years in which no new hotels were built in this region at all, the Nakash Group built an amazing hotel in a key area that links the Sea of Galilee, the Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights, and Mt. Hermon,” said Avi Hormaro, CEO of the Nakash Group in Israel
The Setai, Sea of Galilee is a 5-star deluxe resort located in the foothills of the Golan Heights, and provides an exceptional vacation experience among the very finest in Israel and around the world, together with unmatched views of the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee. Opened in May 2017, The Setai, Sea of Galilee offers 110 luxurious villas with private pools or outdoor hot tubs. One of the most remarkable features of this resort is its heated infinity pool, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee, and appears to flow into it.
Spread over 12 acres, The Setai, Sea of Galilee represents the coupling of modern luxury with ancient history. Surrounded by archeological ruins and stunning nature reserves, this luxury resort is recognized as the most romantic destination in northern Israel, with adjacencies to boutique wineries serving local wines reminiscent of Napa Valley, as well as the largest and most state-of-the-art spa facility in Israel. Visitors to The Setai, Sea of Galilee can relax with a massage or a dip in the indoor mineral pool; unwind in the Turkish Hamam (bath) or detoxify in the dry sauna. The surrounding Golan Heights area offers adventure-seeking travelers a picturesque destination for hiking, biking, ATVs, water sports and—in the winter season—skiing. Following an extremely high demand, 47 new villas with private pools are slated to open mid-2019.
The newest property, The Setai Tel Aviv, is nestled on a historic 13th century historic site known as the Kishle, and was originally constructed by the Turkish Empire to be a prison on the site of a Crusader fortress. The hotel joins The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd.’s prestigious collection of independent luxury hotels.
“We are thrilled with the successful opening of our third property, The Setai, Tel Aviv,” said Avi Hormaro. “The 13th century structure that is the foundation of this prestigious and sophisticated hotel is unlike any other, and we took meticulous care in preserving and infusing important historic elements into the transformation of the building.
The hotel’s exceptional design vision, led by the London office of Ara Design, is ‘old meets new,’ and blends Middle Eastern and Mediterranean elements with a contemporary style. To maintain this vision, Ara Design incorporated modern oak and leather furnishings into guest rooms that feature outer walls made of their original stone, balanced with antique Arabic patterns on walls and carpets.
Separated from the bedroom by an innovative electronic LED glass partition, the bathrooms can be privatized electronically at the guest’s demand. The lobby lounge includes a bar flanked by reclaimed timber from the building’s original roof.
Upon acquisition, the Nakash team commissioned comprehensive research to properly preserve the historic structure. Preservation efforts included extensive archeological digs, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which unearthed remains dating back to the Crusader Period through the Ottoman era. Feigin Architects, an Israel-based firm, led the architectural planning and execution of the hotel, transforming the historic site into a five-star luxury property. A large arch at the hotel’s entrance bears the seal of Abdul Hamid II, 34th sultan of the Turkish Empire. The original Kishle, including wooden ceilings and ironwork, has been preserved, while wooden doors and windows have been recreated to emulate the original. Former prison yards were meticulously restored and now serve as the hotel’s front and rear courtyards.
Accommodations at The Setai, Tel Aviv include 120 rooms and suites with premium options offering views of the Mediterranean Sea. Amenities include a restaurant with first-class Israel-centric flavors and Mediterranean cuisines, a spa offering a variety of treatments and massages, a Turkish bath and a swimming pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel also serves as an ideal venue for business conferences or private occasions, with nine spacious event and banquet halls designed to accommodate 15 to 150 people. Just steps away from The Setai, Tel Aviv, guests will find all of the lively, culture-rich surroundings of the city, including authentic restaurants, boutiques, flea markets and bustling ports.
For more information about The Setai, Tel Aviv, and The Setai, Sea of Galilee, visit www.thesetaihotel.co.il, email Israel@jordache.com, or call (646) 383-8264.
Bar Mitzvah ceremony of Into Shymshi in the “Burla” Synagogue in
prewar Salonika, 1936. Courtesy Yad Vashem Photo Archive
Moshe Porat remembers how one day in June 1944 his uncle woke him up in the middle of the night telling him “Moshele, do you realize that today is your Bar Mitzvah? Wake up quickly.” Through the sleeping bodies that were scattered on the floor, they trekked an hour or so to a hidden place where 10 men gathered with a Torah scroll and that is how he celebrated the special life cycle event in Jewish tradition, the day of becoming a man.
Moshe was born in 1931 in Hajdúnánás in southeastern Hungary to Jozsef
Levy and Gizella-Naomi – an observant Hasidic family of seven. In March 1944,
the Germans occupied Hungary. By the end of May, a ghetto was established
in the city. The men were sent to forced labor, and the community was left with
only women, children and the elderly.
On 17 June, the ghetto’s inhabitants were deported in cattle cars to
Debrecen, where they were concentrated in a brick factory. It was there that Moshe
observed his Bar Mitzvah on 21 June 1944: “I took my new set of tefillin (phylacteries),
which my father had given me during his last leave, out of my backpack. I
concealed them in my shirt and my uncle led me to a hidden nook where I read
from the Torah.”
Moshe
survived the Holocaust and later immigrated to Israel, where he had four
daughters, 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. But many Jewish children
from Europe and North Africa were not as fortunate. Of the
nearly 1.5 million Jewish children murdered during the Holocaust many never had
the opportunity to reach the age of Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Twinning Ceremony at Yad Vashem’s Hall of Names
A bar or bat mitzvah signifies the moment a child accepts his place as a
Jewish individual and takes his or her part in the fabric of the Jewish people.
In honor of this milestone, Yad Vashem offers a special
Twinning Program as a unique way to mark this special occasion. The
program connects a Bar/Bat Mitzvah boy or girl to their past by bonding them
with the memory of an individual child who was murdered during the Holocaust.
The boy or girl being remembered will share something with the child
celebrating – a birthday, a name or place of origin.
Recently,
Yad Vashem has expanded this project to include youth from all over the world
who are celebrating this special occasion in their hometown. Hallie Kopel, a
Bat Mitzvah girl who twinned with a Shoah victim as part of her Bat Mitzvah
Ceremony said, “it is important to know where you’re from, so that you
know where you are going.”
Twinning Ceremony in the Synagogue at Yad Vashem
Families
who have marked this occasion at Yad Vashem describe it as the “highlight
of their visit to Israel.” Following the twinning ceremony of her son
Caleb at Yad Vashem, Debra Rinn reflected: “It was very special for us to
have the opportunity to share our son’s Bar Mitzvah with the memory of a boy who
was murdered in the Holocaust.”
As
time passes, remembering those who were murdered in the Holocaust as individuals and not just a number
becomes
more important. We must
engage the next generation to continue carrying the memory forward. Yad Vashem’s
goal is to infuse a sense of pride in our shared heritage through a myriad of remembrance
and educational activities in order to strengthen Jewish continuity and to
create memory with meaning for future generation. The Twinning Program helps ensure
that youth today remain connected to our shared past and gives us an
opportunity to honor those murdered during the Holocaust.
Every parent prepares for the day their child leaves home. From the moment their child is born, time marches toward that day of separation. For most typically developing children, that separation begins when the child starts school, then college or yeshivah, and culminating in marriage when he/she (we will say he from here on) leaves to start his own independent life.
For children with special needs, the road to independence looks quite different. In most cases, total independence is never achieved. In some cases, the child remains completely dependent on caregivers, even when he becomes an adult. However, this does not mean that separation does not take place.
For a special young adult, leaving his home to move into a residential home can be looked at as a new stage in life, like a boy going to yeshivah out of town or marriage. For his parents, the separation carries with it the same bag of emotions that all parents go through—with some others that are thrown in, that are unique to parenting a child with special needs.
Raising a child with special needs takes a lot of energy, patience, and love. It is a job that takes over a parent’s life. There are many factors that can make parents decide that it’s the right time to put their child in a residential home. For some it’s the realization that the intensive physical care is beyond their capabilities anymore. For some, the decision is based on the social benefits for their typically developing children. And for others, there comes a point in a child’s life that he needs the expertise of professional staff and equipment to help him advance and develop in a way that he wouldn’t be able to if he stayed home. Often, the parents see that their children end up achieving a higher level of independence and a higher level of functions after leaving home. These children need a home where all their needs are met. We, as parents, have the job to give our children what they really need, even if it isn’t necessarily what we prefer.
Its not so easy to get placement. It can take years. The best advice I can give, even for the parents that aren’t ready to take this step, is to put their child’s name on a waiting list. If and when the time comes, and you are ready or desperate, you won’t have to wait years for placement. There are very strong emotions that come into play with this big decision. Your first thought is “never, no way!” “How could I?” “This is my child.” “What kind of parent sends his/her child to a home for someone else to take care of? These are all very normal reactions, thoughts, and feelings. Parents have an obligation to their entire family, including the special child, to evaluate the entire picture and do what’s best for everyone as a whole.
What’s best for the child? To be in your house, but not have the proper equipment, carryover from school, or care to have him reach his full potential? What’s truly best for this child?
While separation anxiety might be felt by the child, we all know that deep down, we as parents, are the ones that are going to truly feel it. So by keeping this child home, are we truly doing what’s best for the child and the family as a whole or it is just for your own “selfish” reasons, such as “I cant hug him every day. How can I give up my child. He needs me. No one will do what I do.”
Think about what’s best for your other children. Are there social issues, because they can’t have friends over, or don’t get your proper attention? They could physically be in danger of being hurt by their sibling with special needs. What makes it the right decision to keep this special child home and choose him over the rest of your family? What’s best for you and your spouse? Is it best that you should be physically exhausted or mentally tapped out? Is that fair to you, your spouse, or your other children? Are you are too physically or men tally tired to be a proper spouse or parent? You have an obligation to them, just as much as you do to the special child.
While there is no replacement of a mother or father, the level of professionalism and care can be unsurpassed when placed in the right residential home. You can be as involved as you would like, and make all the final decisions, and visit as often as you would like, and at any time. Your home will always be his home. You are not giving up your child—he is still your responsibility, and no one can take that away from you.
Everyone must do what’s best for them and their families. The statement, “If Hashem gave you this challenge, then he gave you the strength to deal with it,” implies that parents who send their child to a residential program have failed their challenge, is false! Guilt is a very powerful emotion, but doing what’s truly best for the child and your family is not failing.
At the end of the day, ensuring that your child lives up to his potential in the setting that is best tailored to his needs, is dealing with this unique challenge in the best way possible. You are actually passing the challenge with flying colors. Take it from me, I have struggled internally with this same issue, it takes great strength to make this very emotionally difficult decision, with an open mind.q
Presented by SBH Career Division & PROPEL, a panel of three inspiring mother-daughter duos spoke to a crowded audience of enthusiastic women about finding their path. Each of our panelists— Betty and Grace Esses, Claudia and Lottie Bildirici, Linda Benun and Esther Hidary—shared compelling, genuine and even humorous accounts of how they got to where they are today. Each panelist, as well as our brilliant and poised moderator, Sarita Bakst Salama, had priceless advice. Of the many valuable lessons they had to share, here are 10 that really stood out.
Even if you have no clue what you’re doing, roll with it as you go. Learning on the job is absolutely normal. You may not think you know what you’re doing, but as you roll with what tasks need to get done, you will certainly find your way.
Getting out of your comfort zone is incredibly rewarding! Our comfort zones often feel like good friends we don’t want to leave behind. Our panelists illuminated all the exciting opportunities they encountered only once they pushed beyond what they were used to.
Even if you’re scared, keep going. Starting something new can be frightening. Know that you are not alone in that fear. It’s okay to be afraid and to do it anyway. As you push forward, the fear subsides.
Working gives women a sense of confidence and direction. As women, we are balancing so many different aspects of our life. We are taking care of our families and playing active roles as community members. Having a career that is uniquely our own allows for self-confidence to develop.
It’s important to keep reinventing yourself. One of our panelists spoke about how important it is to know your limits and see when it’s time to move on. It’s never too late to try something new.
It’s invaluable to invest in your education. One of the reasons education really pays off is because it gives you a profound sense of mastery in your field.
We grow up all the time. Nothing in life is static, especially who we are as people. We are constantly developing, even if we don’t see it. There is no limit, age or otherwise, to our growth as individuals.
Choose a career path that is an expression of your personal mission and identity. Several panelists spoke about the value of creating a career around what is important to you, and what you are most passionate about.
Apply your vast skill set. In each stage of life, we acquire new skills. Whether it be as students, mothers, wives or in any other role we play, we are building a strong toolbox of skills. Organization, communication and interpersonal skills are some that are extremely applicable to nearly every profession.
We have a strong network of working women in the community who are so willing to help each other out. The event served as a testament to this robust and growing network of women who are giving their time, advice, and experience to help each other succeed professionally.
Lastly, but most importantly, we couldn’t be more impressed with the huge crowd of women who came ready to take on something new and develop a career they feel empowered by and proud of.
A very large thank you to Sarita Bakst Salama for sharing her journey and moderating the panel, as well as Frieda Schweky from @photos_by_Frieda for photographing, and the Sephardic Community Center for hosting the event.
Take the next step! Feeling excited or even intimidated by the prospect of new opportunities? Give PROPEL a call at 646-494-0822 or visit www.thepropelnetwork.org.
Are you ready to enter the workforce? Contact the SBH Albert J. Sutton & Sam N. Sasson Career Division to learn more about our free computer workshops, resume writing, interview prep, and job opportunities, at 718-787-1400, or visit www.sbhcareer.org.q
Certain projects make me happy. They feel close to home and close to my heart, and this is one of them. This fall, for the very first time, the doors opened at the new mikveh in Manhattan Beach. Almost ten years in the making, it is luxurious and cozy, delightfully zen, and spa-like at its core. It is homey, private and welcoming, and so beautifully convenient. This is truly a momentous occasion.
The community of Manhattan Beach has been through a lot. We are tight and close knit, brought together by proximity, dedication, the love of privacy and of nature, and of course, our beloved shul, Ohel David and Shlomo. A decade ago, Rabbi Greenwald A”H, and his lovely wife Judy dreamed of opening a community mikveh right here in the neighborhood. Since then, so many people have come on board to bring the project to fruition, but there were also many roadblocks—both financially, and logistically, and then of course, Hurricane Sandy.
Like everything in life, nothing worth having comes easy, but we are so proud and humbled that the hard work of so many has finally come to fruition. Tremendous thanks goes to Jackie and Moise Zaytoune, Steven and Renee Adelsberg, Gregory and Edmond Dweck, the Laboz family, Maureen and Solomon Cohen, Nathan and Aida Hasson, and Alan and Helene Shamah, among so many others. Many donors also came from the greater Sephardic community, in addition to different Jewish communities nearby, turning this mission into a sort of tapestry, making the finished product both unique and exquisite.
Located at 94 Amherst Street, right off of Hampton Avenue, the new mikveh is discreet, yet beautiful. Inside, the aromas are delicious and welcoming, as is the smile of the attendant at the desk. Offering privacy and tranquility, this establishment is respectful of all customs and preferences, and our guests are free to follow the halacha as they choose. Mrs. Coty Bitton and Rabbi Moshe Plutchok are both available by telephone to answer any questions or concerns that may pop up. There is also wheelchair accessibility, if necessary
The word mikveh brings up so much joy for me. In my mind the ritual symbolizes a chance to start anew. It’s a moment to think and to ponder, an opportunity to be alone, but to feel Hashem around you. It’s a reset button, for both husband and wife. It’s about reviving yourself, and it’s about today; not yesterday or tomorrow, but the present, and that above all, is a gift to ourselves
The new mikveh boasts seven different changing rooms, including a special one for kallot, our most sacred brides. Each room is brand new, lavish and luxurious, featuring top-of-the-line soaps and toiletries, lush towels and bathrobes, and immaculate marble interiors. Fresh combs, brushes, toothbrushes etc., are all ready and waiting for each guest to prepare herself for a new month and a new opportunity for luck in any way she can imagine.
In addition to the two ritual baths, there is also a keilim mikveh on the lower level for immersing dishes and home goods. As an added extravagance, this area is accessible through a separate door all day long, and is both functional and beautiful, making the process far easier for all. Every aspect of the building makes this newest jewel in the Manhattan Beach crown better and better.
The Manhattan Beach Mikveh is truly spectacular and we welcome all who would like to join us in our cozy little neighborhood bath. Here you’ll find the intimacy needed for this most intimate mitzvah. You’ll find privacy, the convenience of easy, free parking, fully equipped modern bathrooms, kind and respectful attendants and flexibility in hours and amenities. Follow us on Instagram @ManhattanBeachMikveh, visit our website MBmikveh.com, or call (718) 646-0560. A donation of $30 per visit is customary, or if you prefer, a yearly tax-deductible donation of $360 is also an option. Plaques are still available if you would like to honor a special woman in your life, or if you just want to help establish this important institution.
Please come visit anytime. No matter where you come from, or where you are going, Manhattan Beach’s doors are open to all, ready and willing to provide the most beautiful service for a most beautiful mitzvah.
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 person’s vision while intoxicated. Since most participants found these seemingly simple tasks quite difficult, the police felt they made their case and point: if you can’t 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!
