Their faces were beet red in 90-degree heat, but they kept going. Up and down the Allenhurst boardwalk in the early morning, 24 dedicated sixth grade girls walked laps to raise money in a walkathon held in memory of Reina Varon, A”H.
Reina was a fourth grade student at the Yeshivah of Flatbush in 2004 when she passed away. She was an extremely special girl with a warm and loving heart. Now it is the fond memory of her that inspires such devotion and such fund raising efforts by students at the Yeshivah.
Moved by the girls’ dedication and their apparent need for hydration, sixth grader Lauren Berkovits’s parents, Claudette and Howard, and Ellen Haddad’s mom, Monique, ran to get cold water. Finally, Sari Sitt, YOF mother and organizer of this and other events held in Reina’s memory, had to step in and convince these eager walkers that a nice amount of tzedakah had been raised and it was time to find some shade.
Eighth grade girls, who had been classmates of Reina’s, were asked if they wished to raise money for tzedakah in Reina’s honor as well. At a brainstorming meeting held at the home of Sari and Eli Sitt, ideas and enthusiasm abounded. Just a few weeks later, Bradley Lanes was filled with 83 eighth grade boys and girls in a swinging bowling tournament. In addition to each bowler’s entrance fee, there was a raffle for an iPod shuffle, donated by Reina’s aunt Miriam Levy. Some say that Reina must have been looking down on that night, smiling and pulling strings, for the winner of the shuffle was Jack Sasson, someone Reina had considered a good friend.
A third event in Deal that was held in Reina’s memory was a superbly-organized tennis tournament run by a group of ninth graders, with the help of YOF parents Claire Frastai and Barbara Rahmey. The main tournament was held on the tennis court of Sara and Mark Shalam, grandparents of ninth grader Sara Shalam. Sari Sitt remarked that Sara’s involvement in this tournament was tremendous and that Sara exhibited great organizational skills, as she worked with her classmates and the 40 participants. Apparently Sara also exhibited great tennis skills, as she, along with her partner Margaret Silvers (the only all girl team!), won the tournament.
Sari Sitt observed, “The kids were amazing. They love to do hesed. We just have to give them the opportunity to do so. The events that these students thought of and organized showed their dedication and ability to organize great events for a special cause.”
The Varon family has been very touched by this outpouring of care. “It is immensely meaningful to us that friends, classmates and even those who did not personally know Reina put forth such effort. We want them all to know how much we appreciate what they have accomplished,” expressed Reina’s mother Aura.
All these fundraisers and more on the horizon will culminate with a special school event also held in Reina’s memory. Due to the efforts of Reina’s aunt Miriam Levy, Barbara Rahmey and Sari Sitt, the annual Fourth Grade Business Fair will now carry the title, the Reina Varon Fourth Grade Business Fair. This event challenges fourth graders to develop original business ideas and sell their wares. This exciting learning experience annually reaps large profits from its student sales, and it is made even more special by the fact that the money all gets donated to worthy charities in our own community and in Israel. The children learn about each organization they contribute to, and participate in a moving ceremony each year to present their contributions. From now on, these donations will be proudly presented carrying on the good name of Reina Varon.
So many people helped to make the summer events succeed. Mothers who supervised the walkathon were Audrey Dweck, Amy Sasson, Sari Sitt and Eileen Terzi.
Bowling tournament prizes were donated by Betty and Morris Esses. The food and refreshments were generously provided by Rosie and Seymour Dayan, Paulette and Jack Dweck, Michelle and Ronnie Oved, Amy and Steven Sasson, and Sari and Eli Sitt. Bowling winners were Jamie Elbaz, Rosie Kubie, Richie Mishaan, Jack Sasson, Annie Sued and Mickey Tawil. Chaperones of the bowling tournament were Esther Chabot, Terry Kroub and Luna Zemmol.
Ninth graders who helped organize the tennis tournament were Milene Accad, Jacqueline Benun, Joyce Beyda, Stacie Cabasso, Abie Douek, Danielle Frastai, Sam Haddad, Linda Khezrie, Sally Mizrachi, Allen Shalam, Sara Shalam, Margaret Silvers and Frieda Torgueman. The event was chaperoned by Claire Frastai and Melanie Shalam. Tennis courts were provided by Cheryl and Victor Azrak, Renee and Eli Chabot, Sara and Mark Shalam, Betty and Joey Sitt, and Moselle and Neil Tobias. Tennis balls and catered boxed lunches from Maureen Esses’s catering company, Crisp, were donated by Barbara and Jack Rahmey. Water bottles were provided compliments of Melanie and Stephen Shalam.
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Renee Beyda is a YOF parent and its public relations assistant.
