In Memory of Abe M. Cohen A”H and Jack N. Mizrahi A”H
Providing Food with Dignity to Our Community’s Families in Need
It all began when Jacky Schweky approached Nathan Dweck in shul, asking him to help raise money for the Sephardic Food Fund (SFF) and to make a barbecue for the young adults in our community. Ricky and Jamie 
Cohen generously offered to open their home, and just like that, our community pitched in together and coordinated a wonderful night of live entertainment and barbecue to raise funds for a most worthy cause.
The night was bursting with young singles, couples, and children. A hypnotist, Ronnie Baras, called guests up to the stage and amazed the 
crowd with mind-tricks. Shortly after, the house band, RJ2 serenaded the crowd. The crowd sang and clapped along, as they mingled with friends. Attendee, Simon Hamadani felt that it was a great event because it brought our whole community together for the right cause.
Event planners and guests were mostly young singles, and this impressed Jeff Cohen, who said, “This valuable organization is reaching 
out to the next generation of supporters, and hopefully, some great leaders will come from this event to propel the organization forward.”
The caterer of the evening, David Abady, said he felt the same way and enjoyed working with young people who care for the community. As guests sat down to a delicious barbecue dinner, they were moved by the flyers on the tables, which had anonymous photocopied letters that the SFF received from their recipients.
A gorgeous Chinese Auction was set up by Sophia Mizrahi, with an I-pad, a digital camera, a gift certificate to Prime Cut, and much more. Frisbees with the SFF logo on it were given to supporters for free. Everyone left happy and fulfilled, knowing that they made a difference in the lives of their fellow community members.
Thank you to all who attended the event and donated to help feed our community. At the SFF, overhead is kept to an absolute minimum and virtually every dollar raised is used to feed the hungry. To request a charity box or make a donation, please contact the SFF by phone, at (866) SFF-FUND, or online at www.thesff.org.
The SFF is a community-supported effort, dedicated to discreetly identifying the needy in our midst and providing them food with dignity. Each case is handled with the utmost sensitivity to the particulars of that family and household. In this dire economy, there are numerous cases of successful families that have fallen on hard times, and need temporary assistance; the SFF helps these families get back on their feet.
David Sitt, Elliot Sutton, Jack Schweky and the entire SFF board would like to thank Ricky and Jamie Cohen for opening their home; Nathan Dweck and Sophia Mizrahi for planning the event; RJ2 members Richie Chalme, JoJo Ashkenazie, Sammy Chalme, Joe Gindi, and Abie Shamah for their musical performance; Ronnie Baras for his hypnotic entertainment; David Abady of A Catered Affair, for handling the food and BBQ; and Music Men Productions for the sound and lighting.
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Raquel Laniado is a graduate of Hunter College. She is a singer and performer, and a writer for IMAGE Magazine and Sephardic Bikur Holim.
