76
MARCH 17, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN
Bais Medresh Ateres Yisroel (Rabbi Blumenkrantz’s Shul) held their Gala Dinner on Sunday night at Machon Basya Rochel in Lawrence. It was an evening of achdus, celebration and commemoration. Rabbi Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz, Mara D’asra, made a siyum on the Gemara Makkos in commemoration of the ninth yahrzeit of his father, Harav Abraham Blumenkrantz zt”l. The guest speaker was Rabbi Yosef Eisen, Rabbinic Administrator of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway and Rav of Kollel Bnai Torah. Pictured here are Rabbi Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz, Rabbi Yosef Eisen and some of the Blumenkrantz brothers and brothers-in-law.
The Tammy Karmel Project By Chaia Frishman
T
he room held over 100 women, but the silence was palpable. Women sat mesmerized, fearful to miss even one word from the speaker on the screen in front of them. She spoke of emunah, simcha and our call to arms as the akeres habayis, words heard many times over in different venues through different organizations. But this afternoon, the woman who brought many of the Five Towns N’shei Chayil out in the pouring rain was not only speaking from another country, her deep message made those present feel like she was speaking from a different realm. The orator in question was none other than Mrs. Tammy Karmel. Tammy’s name is not new to the speaking circuit. For the past ten year, this British native, now living in Yerushalayim, has given shiurim throughout Eretz Yisroel on topics
such as emunah, parenting, shalom bayis, human relationships, and the yamim tovim. About 3 years ago, Tammy was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease. It’s a progressive neurological disease that causes the neurons that control voluntary muscles (motor neurons) to degenerate. Those who suffer from ALS eventually lose all use of their muscles which leads to their inability to even breathe on their own. There is no cure. As Tammy saw that her disease was progressing she had the foresight to have her shiurim video recorded. In this way she would be able to continue spreading her Torah even though she physically would no longer be able to do it. She also wanted the proceeds from her shiurim to be used to continue supporting her family, as she has done for so many years. Mrs. Baila Friedman introduced
Be included in our TJH Purim Photo Album. Email Editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com Subject: Purim Photos
Tammy’s story to the audience. She began by explaining that after her daughter introduced her to the shiurim, Baila pledged to do whatever was in her power to bring Tammy’s message to the public. “To this day,” Baila quips, “I describe myself as the ‘pre-Tammy woman versus the post-Tammy woman.’ Her shiurim have transformed my life in so little time.” With the help of Rebbetzin Shlomtzy Weisz, Mrs. Devoiry Paneth and a solid group of women, the Tammy Karmel Project (TKP) was born. 50 groups of women yielding over 1,000 participants meet each week to hear Tammy’s words by watching the videos she recorded. How did the Five Towns and Far Rockaway learn about this amazing program? Like all great results, March 14’s gathering began as an idea. Mrs. Miriam Taub learned about Tammy’s plight from her daughter’s teacher, Mrs. Nechie Simantov. Nechie’s father suffers from ALS. Her familiarity with the disease and her drive to help others suffering from it encouraged her to spread awareness about TKP. Miriam spearheaded an initial meeting to raise more awareness for the project. From there the idea to host a brunch was conceived. “The few short videos of Tammy are proof of what a pure neshama she is,” ponders Miriam. “She uplifts and inspires us to be better people. If someone with such physical con-
straints and suffering can be thankful for opportunities of growth, so can we, who B”H bli ayin hora do not.” Words lead to swift action and less than two weeks later over 20 women, coordinated by Mrs. Sarah Rosenberg and with donations from both Seasons and Central Perk, put together a beautiful brunch in the home of Mrs. Chani Scharf, Miriam Taub’s sister. Over 100 women came to learn more about the Tammy Project and commit to attending Tammy’s video shiurim. While Mrs. Devora Yitty Spiegel has thus far coordinated the TKP shiurim in our neighborhood, Mrs. Tova Fuchs (not surprisingly, Miriam and Chani’s sister) announced that she would host the first group in her home in Lawrence to begin Wednesday mornings, starting after Purim. Word of the event has spread and many are hoping to sign up. Different shiur options are available: Monday mornings at 10:30 at the home of Ciri Safran, 293 Roselle in Cedarhurst; Monday evenings at 8:45 and Wednesday evenings at 8:45 (specifically for high school girls) at the home of Devora Yitty Spiegel, 425 Cedarhurst Avenue; Sunday night at the home of Malky Nathan, 421 Rugby Road. To sign up for a class, or start your own class , or to donate to TKP, please contact Devora Yitty Spiegel at 516-569-1860 or 347-956-1022.