44 minute read
Community Happenings
Around the Community
In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the Gural
JCC Early Childhood
parking lot was hopping. Each class had their own sectioned area to sing, dance, march and wave their flags to celebrate Israel’s 73rd birthday. The balloons, music and festive atmosphere added excitement to this already special day! We were
so happy to celebrate
Eretz Yisrael’s birthday “together.” Yom huledet sameach!
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Happy 73rd Birthday to Medinat Yisroel
HALB Lev Chana’s second floor was transformed last week as our kindergarten children and Morot donned blue and white to prepare for Yom Ha’atzmaut. Imagination and creativity flourished as our children were completely engaged in designing and constructing five different places in Eretz Yisroel: Ben Gurion Airport, a kibbutz, Yerushalayim, Tzfat and Eilat. Our nursery and kindergarten tourists had their passports stamped in the airport as our classes started their tours of Eretz Yisroel at scheduled times. They milked a cow on the kibbutz while admiring the puzzle cows, cotton ball sheep and chicks, and delicious-looking produce. Onward to Yerushalayim where our children davened at the glowing 3-D Kotel and added their kvitlach, either written or drawn, to the magnificent wall. They admired the huge replica of the Menorah HaZahav behind “glass” and the shiny Hazorfim silver. All our children had the opportunity to hang their one-of-a-kind artistic creations on the walls of Tzfat as they walked through the cobblestone streets. Finally, in Eilat, our children fished for delicious sight word fish and wore colorful sunglasses against the glaring sun. Groups of children sang to the music of Gary Wallin in the SKA gym.
Our children also enjoyed a blue and white treat from our PTA. A celebratory time was had by all! Happy Birthday to Medinat Yisroel!
Kachol V’Lavan
Landmarks and municipal buildings coast to coast, from Los Angeles City Hall to Boston’s Zakim Bridge and Florida’s Guitar Hotel, were illuminated in blue and white – Israel’s national colors -- honoring the Jewish state’s 73rd Independence Day on April 14 as part of the Israeli-American Council (IAC) “Celebrate Israel” festival.
Among the landmarks and buildings were Boston’s City Hall and Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Cleveland’s Terminal Tower, Denver City Hall, the Charles Braga Memorial Bridge in Fall River, MA, the Guitar Hotel at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL, Houston City Hall, Las Vegas City Hall, Los Angeles City Hall, Lake Orlando in Orlando, FL, Rockville, MD City Hall, representing the Washington, DC region, and borough halls in New Jersey communities with sizable Israeli-American populations including Closter, Demarest, Fairlawn, Fort Lee, New Milford and Tenafly, as well as the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs.
Did you know?
Over 25 trillion Styrofoam coffee cups are thrown away each year – just by Americans.
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The children at HANC ECC West Hempstead celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut with singing and dancing and special blue and white cookies
MTA Celebrates Yom Ha’Atzmaut
MTA set the tone for Yom Ha’Atzmaut with post-davening divrei chizuk from Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes and Maggid Shiur Rabbi Avraham Shulman, who discussed the importance of appreciating kedushas Eretz Yisrael and the miracle of its existence as well as the significance of the State of Israel to each talmid and their celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The entire yeshiva was privileged to hear from special guest speaker Rabbi Ephy Greene, Aish Gesher Mashgiach, who spoke live from Israel about his life in Eretz Yisrael. Everyone enjoyed a delicious Israeli-style lunch from Golan and had a great time testing their knowledge of Israel and participating in the Israel Pursuit 2021 global Kahoot, hosted by Unpacked for Educators.
Did you know?
One drip every second for a year from a leaky faucet wastes 540 gallons of water. Israel: The Great Cultural Melting Pot
Yom Ha’Atzmaut was a full day of celebration at Shulamith High School! With the theme of “Israel: The Great Cultural Melting Pot,” students and faculty had an opportunity to celebrate Israel. With a special focus on the “melting pot” of Israel, a country with many different peoples, styles, ideas, mixed together – diverse but not divided.
Mrs. Munk opened the Yom Haatzmaut celebration in the morning beginning a day celebrating achdut. Following Mrs. Munk, SHS was treated to a special surprise, “A Bissel Shtisel,” where Yoav Rotman and Kobie Arielli, from the hit show “Shtisel” Zoomed in to speak with SHS. “Shtisel” is an Israeli TV series about a charedi family living in Geula. Students and faculty were enthralled as Mr. Rotman shared what it’s like portraying an Orthodox Jew in Israel. “What connects all of us is bigger than what separates us,” he said.
After, students headed toward faculty lead sessions that explored different elements of Israeli culture and life, such as “Sabbaba to be a Sabra!,” “Yalla Aliyah!,” “Beyond the Battlefield,” and “Am Echad, Lev Echad.” Faculty volunteers explored their own interests while students chose which parts of Israeli culture they wish to learn more about. The excitement of the day had barely begun – SHS was honored to hear from Hanoch Teller, dubbed the “globe-trotting modern-day maggid.” After his animated and moving speech, students were hoping he would share more. “It was my favorite part of the day,” one tenth grader stated when Yom Haatzmaut celebrations had concluded.
During “Rikud Israeli,” students had a chance to let loose and learn how to dance, Israeli style. More than dancing in different styles, it was a time of learning, bonding, and, for students and faculty with Israeli background, a time to teach others.
“I loved the shuk!,” a group of ninth grade students screamed in unison. Finally, a special highlight, was the SHS Shuk. Here, volunteer students showed off their talents painting henna tattoos, playing Israeli games, knitted kippot, baking, painting, even playing Israeli games! With fruit, spices, and laffa, the gym was completely transformed. Between the costumes, life-size cardboard camels, decor, and the smell of Middle Eastern spices wafting through the air, it was hard to believe you weren’t in the actual shuk!
The day concluded with an SHS tradition – kochav nolad performances! The talent show showcased everything from dancing to rapping. The crowd cheered and supported their classmates who took to the stage. The energy of the day was incredible!
SHS is so grateful to all who helped put together the meaningful and amazing Yom Ha’Atzmaut – especially SHS’s Israel Advocacy club led by Mrs. Naomi Munk. Their hard work and dedication to ensuring a successful day was definitely evident!
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Silence and Celebration
In honor of Yom Hazikaron, HALB students stood in silence for two minutes during the siren, just like in Israel. They heard from their morahs about their personal experiences in the IDF and living through war time in Israel. They honored the memory of Morah Shoshana Heyman, a HALB morah who was killed in the Sbarro bombing. And finally, every student in grades 1-8 received an Israeli flag with the name of someone who passed away which they placed in the field to create a giant Jewish star.
On Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the entire school gathered in the field for a beautiful Hallel and then had celebrations by grade filled with music, dancing and blue and white cookies. In Lev Chana, the children experienced a “trip to Israel.” They took an El Al flight and visited the Kotel, a kibbutz, Tzfat and Eilat!
From Darkness to Light: Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut at SKA
SKA students share their love for Eretz Yisroel SKA students working on the Broken Glass Project for Yom HaZikaron
Kangoo shoe dancing at SKA Chagiga
There was a sea of various shades of green in the halls of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls on Wednesday, April 14, in recognition of and solidarity with Yom HaZikaron. The observance of Israel’s Memorial Day at SKA was an inspiring way to acknowledge the contributions of the thousands of Israeli soldiers who gave their lives defending the State of Israel and mourn with the families of those who lost loved ones to war and terror.
The learning all day in the school was l’ilui nishmat Israel’s fallen, and each girl took an individual name to have in mind. In a moving assembly, SKA students and faculty were privileged to hear from former American IDF soldier Mr. Daniel Gottesman, whose grandfather was in the Haganah, and Ms. Sarri Singer, founder and director of Strength to Strength, an organization that brings together victims of terror from around the world and provides psychological and emotional support, and who is herself a victim of terror. The Broken Glass Project, developed by Art Academy Director Mrs. Suzy Libin, had girls putting names of the individual soldiers they were given to create a special memorial. Many interested students even stayed after regular school hours to watch a powerful Yom HaZikaron movie, Beneath the Helmet.
Then, in a “l’afaila l’orah” moment, the pain of remembrance turned into joyous celebration as the girls decorated the school building and hallways for the next day’s salute to Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
Blue and white were the colors of choice on Thursday, April 15, in honor of Israel’s Independence Day. To keep the focus on Medinat Yisroel, “Israel Across the Curriculum” was the theme of every classroom – even math and science – throughout the day, giving the faculty the opportunity to highlight many different aspects of Israel through the prism of varied disciplines. Topics ranged from “The Therapeutic Elements of the Dead Sea” to “Symmetry of the Israeli Flag” along with “Kedushat Eretz Yisroel” and “What Did Israel Look Like Before 1948?”
The Yom Ha’Atzmaut Kangoo Shoe Chagigah differed from the usual SKA chagigah due to social distancing but was very spirited nonetheless as girls danced in their spots to lively music. Student-produced video presentations shown after the morning communal davening focused on Eretz Yisroel, and the blue and white desserts were an especially significant treat! The ruach all day in the school was incredible; the students of SKA really expressed their love and yearning for the State of Israel.
We thank Mrs. Penina Bernstein, faculty advisor to SKA’s Israel Action Committee, for organizing these outstanding programs. As Mrs. Bernstein noted in her introduction, “We wouldn’t have Yom Ha’Atzmaut without Yom HaZikaron. Israel owes its existence to Hashem and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.”
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Remembering and Rejoicing at HANC
This year, Yom Hazikaron was incredibly moving at HANC Middle School. Although we were not all together in the Beit Medrash but rather in our separate classrooms, the content of the program was fantastic. Under the guidance of the Ivrit department chairperson, Morah Pnina Aronowitz, students in her eighth grade class gave moving tributes to the fallen soldiers.
The program began with an emotional reading, which centered on the idea, “my heart is in the east and I am in the west.” Our hearts are always connected to the Land of Israel. Next, the students watched a video about Max Steinberg, a”h. Max went on a Birthright trip in 2012 and decided to move to Israel and enlist in the army. He had to work hard to learn Hebrew. He trained to be a sharpshooter. Max was killed in the summer of 2014.
The students next learned about Dvir Imanuelov. He also gave his life while fighting for Israel. There was a video which showed how his mother was heartbroken, but she decided to go to a concert. At the concert, she heard someone call out the name Dvir. It turned out the little boy was named after the woman’s son. It was very emotional.
Two students sang very meaningful songs. A number of tefillot were recited including the Kel Maleh Rachamim and the prayer for the Medina. At one point, there was a siren and silence in all of the classrooms. In a most meaningful way, the program ended with the singing of Hatikva.
As it always is, the next day was a swing of emotions from HaZikaron (remembering the soldiers) to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, celebrating the Israel’s birthday. The high school students decorated the hallway with Israeli flags and blue and white streamers. When the students walked in, there was a festive mood. Although the rain cancelled outdoor activities, there was still a lot of fun inside. Morah Hakimian put together a fantastic Kahoot that the students loved. There were all kinds of questions including: Who was Israel’s first prime minister? Of what political party was David Ben-Gurion a member? How many representatives are in the Knesset? The Kahoot gave the students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge. The students also had the chance to play a virtual Escape Room. The game was created by Shlomo Blass in Eretz Yisroel. Mrs. Estee Lightstone (a former HANC Morah) let our school know about this fantastic opportunity. There were nine different locks that needed to get opened. The way to open them was by answering different questions based on prior knowledge or short videos. The students loved this activity, and they were able to learn some new facts about Israel. One of the coolest activities was matching the food with the country of origin.
Did you know? Aluminum cans can be recycled and put back onto the shelf at your local grocery store in just about 2 months.
Around the Community
Children at the JCC Lynbrook celebrated Israel’s birthday last week
Yom Ha’Atzmaut at HAFTR ECC
HAFTR Early Childhood spent the weeks leading up to Yom Ha’Atzmaut in preparation for a boisterous celebration. Crowns, flags, and projects galore were created. On Thursday, each class had their chance to celebrate with song and dance at an oneg with their fantastic music teacher, Morah Leah Goro. The morot kept the simcha going all day with Israeli themed snacks and lunches, mock trips to Eretz Yisrael, and visits to their Israeli museums.
Celebrating the Land of Israel at Shulamith
Although Yom Ha’Atzmaut was rainy and gray outside, inside Shulamith ECC, the children basked in the strong Israeli sunlight as they celebrated Israel’s 73rd birthday. They enjoyed their pretend visit to our very special country of Medinat Yisrael as they learned so much in all of the curriculum areas.
In the days leading up to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the children had a wonderful time exploring the Land of Israel using a multisensory approach. Throughout the year, in Parashat Hashavua, the banot have been learning about how Hashem gave us Eretz Yisrael, the Land of
Israel. Now they had the opportunity to learn about modern day Medinat Yisrael. They listened to books about Israel, sang Israeli songs, and prepared their favorite Israeli foods. The children were captivated as they viewed videos of various places in Israel. The Pre1A girls even took a virtual visit to a gan in Israel where they saw children just like them playing in school while speaking in Hebrew!
Once the children were familiar with some basic facts about Eretz Yisrael, they enjoyed comparing and contrasting things in Israel with their familiar surroundings in America. They thought about how far away Israel is and how people get there.
The girls excitedly designed a plane so they could take a pretend trip to Israel and see all of the things they had been learning about. They got their “passports” stamped at passport control and carried on a conversation with the passport agent in Hebrew! Suitcases in hand, the intrepid tourists visited various sights in Israel and did hands-on activities related to each one. Each activity was carefully designed to target important curriculum areas including literacy, math, and science, as well as critical thinking skills and creativity. The children wrote notes to Hashem to place in the Kotel, designed gorgeous Havdalah candles in Tzfat, and experimented with salt and water to figure out how things float in Yam Hamelech. They patterned Israeli necklaces and worked with various mediums in blue and white. They even
visited an Israeli restaurant and spoke to the waitresses in Hebrew!
Exhausted and clutching bags of Bissli, the travelers returned home to Shulamith ECC, ready to sing and dance and celebrate the fabulous gift that Hashem gave us: Medinat Yisrael.
Around the Community
A Virtual Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration
The week leading up to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, mysterious deliveries began arriving at select and widespread locations all around Israel. The orange packages, containing confetti-patterned gift boxes, were excitedly opened in Haifa, Efrat, Tel Aviv, Yerushalayim and many other neighborhoods in the Holy Land by surprised and delighted children and grandchildren of the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC’s OKAY moms’ group. The deliveries each contained a beautiful, personalized album from the JCC initiative entitled “What Our Children Living in Israel Means to Us.”
Made possible by the JCC Association of North America’s Israel Engagement Fund and
Days of Memory Yom Ha’Atzmaut program, twenty OKAY moms whose children live in Israel were able to create a meaningful and personalized album expressing their feelings about having children and grandchildren live so far away. Filled with photos, notes and memorabilia, the albums were a heartfelt expression of an emotional rollercoaster of feelings including love and pride, longing and sometimes frustration.
“This is the kind of book we’re going to read again and again, every Shabbos,” said one very happy recipient. Another OKAY member added: “My second couple just got their album and they’re blown away! The album went a long way in comfort.” And from another: “My children just got their book. What a beautiful way to reach them on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. What a wonderful way for us all to enhance our feelings from so far away!”
O.K.A.Y. – Our Kids Abroad in Yisrael – was founded over four years ago by Rachayle Deutsch at the Gural JCC whose daughter and family moved to Israel now almost a decade ago. “The feelings we have about our children moving to Israel are complicated. We brought them up with a love for Israel and the knowledge that Israel is our home where we all truly belong. But when they decide to move there, well, it’s hard – beautiful, inspiring, but hard.”
The OKAY group was created as a safe place for moms to come together to discuss not only their feelings, which only someone in the same situation can relate to, but also to exchange invaluable information about flights, insurance, sending packages, medical referrals and so much more. The group met once a month in person and also included an ongoing chat with timely information and support delivered on a daily basis.
As difficult as this pandemic year has been for everyone, it has been especially trying for those whose children live overseas. Most moms in the group have not seen their children and grandchildren in over a year and a half. Many have missed births, bar mitzvahs and even weddings, a scenario they could never have imagined prior to the pandemic. The OKAY group has been a source of much comfort and strength as the women kept each other’s spirits up on Zoom meetings and continued their WhatsApp chat and exchange of invaluable information nearly 24/7.
After an eighteen month of separation and Yom Ha’Atzmaut coming up, the ability to create and send meaningful messages to our children and grandchildren in Israel through a beautiful keepsake provided a welcome opportunity to connect with them in an original and different way. The Days of Memory program was proudly supported by the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC of North America Program Accelerator, made possible by the generosity of several committed donors.
If you or anyone you know would like to join the Gural JCC OKAY group for moms whose kids live in Israel, please contact Rachayle Deutsch at (516)569-6733 #222, rachayle.deutsch@guraljcc.org.
The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC is a UJA-Federation of New York proud non-profit partner.
Did you know?
The recycling symbol made of three arrows forming a triangle was designed by Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old student, in 1960s.
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Shulamith and Israel: Always in our Hearts and Minds
By: Gabi Moskowitz and Keli Faivish
On Yom HaZikaron, the seventh and eighth graders at Shulamith School for Girls had the honor of meeting former IDF soldier Itai Avraham via Zoom. Itai shared his story about how he got injured in battle and became a paramedic. The girls were very interested and asked him a lot of questions.
Eighth grader Liana Kollander said, “It was really meaningful hearing a soldier’s personal experience, and inspiring to know that even though he was injured, he still keeps on going to save other soldiers’ lives. Soldiers risk their lives every day for the independence of Israel. They are true heroes.”
Later that morning, each class learned about Yom HaZikaron and the fallen soldiers via a powerful video presentation. Students lit candles in their classrooms, recited the tefillot for the Medina and Tzahal, and said Tehillim.
The next day, on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the eighth graders hosted a festival, creating a mini- Israel. Students from grades 5-7 visited each location, learning facts about our Holy Land and participating in fun activities.
“The Yom Ha’Atzmaut festival was super-fun, even in the rain! All the kids and teachers had a ton of fun spray painting!” says eighth grader Daphna Flug, one of the heads of the booth where participants used paintfilled spray bottles to create artwork for an art gallery in Tzfat.
Visitors to Kibbutz Kineret enjoyed a game with water guns to represent the Kineret and a drum circle as an ode to Naomi Shemer, the fa-
Seventh graders enjoying some oranges at the shuk
mous Israeli composer of “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” who came from Kibbutz Kineret.
There was even a shuk where girls got candy, oranges, spices, and Israeli pickles.
The eighth graders had an amazing time and loved being in charge of booths and having fun with their friends.
A group of eighth grade girls worked for weeks to practice for a daglanut, an Israeli flag dance. The daglanut heads, Mia Kaplowitz and Atara Guttman, worked hard to choreograph a dance that the lower and middle divisions would love. They had a quarantine scare, but they ended up being able to practice online, and by the time Yom Ha’Atzmaut arrived, everyone was out of quarantine and they were able to put on an incredible performance.
Israel@73
The rain did not dampen the HAFTR spirit as we welcomed in Yom Ha’Atzmaut last week. The day began with special tefillot and a flag raising ceremony, and then students were off to celebrate Israel @ 73 through a variety of different activities. Walking down the halls, one could feel the energy and excitement of the day. Each grade sang along and danced as they were treated to a concert by Uri Davidi, sponsored by the HAFTR PTA.
Students participated in a scavenger hunt which tested both ancient and modern knowledge about Israel. They ran back and forth answering clues, collecting puzzle pieces, and placing their flags on the correct location on a giant Israel map. Additionally, they learned new dances and enjoyed creating and eating blue and white parfaits.
Second graders learned about archaeology and some important discoveries made in Israel, then created their own fossils of objects that could be found in Israel. Third graders learned about topographical maps and created their own topographical maps of Israel using sand, cardboard, paper and gravel to represent the desert, hills, land and water.
With passports in hand, HAFTR kindergarteners celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut by touring classrooms which were transformed into different locales in Israel including Tzfat, Caesarea, Shuk Machane Yehuda and a kibbutz.
In the holy city of Tzfat, students were introduced to both the history and the religious aspects of the mystical city. They learned about the color blue being a predominant color in the shuls in Tzfat, representing heaven and reminding us to direct our thoughts and tefillot to Hashem. The students learned the meaning of Lecha Dodi, which was composed in Tzfat, and created an art project to display at home. In Caesarea, they learned about the aqueducts and one of the most famous sites in Caesarea, the amphitheater, which is still in use today. They watched a video about a mosaic that was just found in Caesarea and then created their own.
Students learned that on a kibbutz everyone works together. They were surprised to hear that on many kibbutzim, people both live and work. Students made Israeli salad from fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and planted corn. They look forward to eating “the fruits of their labor.”
The visit to Shuk Machane Yehuda in Yerushalayim was definitely the highlight of the tour! The students learned that Israel’s currency is called shekalim and had an opportunity to use shekalim to “purchase” yummy snacks. In another part of the shuk, students used multiple senses to identify a variety of fresh spices including garlic powder, black peppercorns, foot-long cinnamon sticks, cumin, whole ginger, and Israeli parsley. Finally, kindergarteners learned that Shuk Machane Yehuda is also a popular place for graffiti artists to display their work. The children decorated their own names in personalized graffiti. They loved this unique experience and agreed that the real Shuk Machane Yehuda is a “must see” when visiting Israel in the future!
Around the Community
New York City Councilmember and
candidate for Brooklyn Borough
President Robert Cornegy visited the Agudah headquarters last week
MBA JV Champions – MAY Eagles!
This past Sunday night marked the ending of the Mesivta Basketball Association’s 2nd season. Mesivta Ateres Yaakov took on Yeshiva Darchei Torah in the Championship Game of the Junior Varsity Division. A competitive rivalry, in the end, Coach Zev Teitelbaum led his MAY Eagles to a victory, 37-30.
The League was hosted by Mesivta Ateres Yaakov in their state-of-the-art Shaulson Gymnasium and brought together talmidim from local yeshivos for clean, competitive basketball every Sunday evening.
“Boys from other teams sometimes come early or stay late to watch the other games being played that evening,” said Assistant Commissioner Mr. Zack Kessler. “That’s part of the novelty of this League. It’s like a community gathering at MAY on Sunday nights.”
Modeled after the successful Mesivta Football League (MFL), the League follows a Torahdik hashkafa and maintains guidelines that reflect those of b’nei Torah.
The League would like to thank all participating schools – players, coach and hanhala – for helping make this season so successful. The Varsity Division is already underway. Good luck to all!
For more information, email mesivtabasketball@gmail. com or check out their website mesivtabasketball.com.
OU Partnering with Shuls to Get Members Back to Synagogue
One of the most profound ways the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Jewish community over the past year was the initial closure of and the subsequent limitations on synagogues. Now, as more congregants have been vaccinated and individual state regulations on indoor public gatherings have eased, the Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, is launching a new $100,000 challenge grant. The grant is designed to support congregations who create innovative programs and services that will invigorate synagogues and stimulate congregants to re-embrace synagogue life.
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to the programs selected and will be administered through the OU’s Department of Synagogue Initiatives. Synagogues interested in applying for a grant can apply via https://www.ou.org/grant21/. Applications are due April 30th and awards will be announced on May 14th.
“With the pandemic keeping so many community members away from their synagogues, it is imperative that we think together as a community to re-imagine the synagogue experience in a way that excites and motivates members to return,” said OU President Moishe Bane. “It is important to focus on engaging all segments of our community, including youth, women and seniors who have had even fewer outlets over the course of the pandemic to re-engage in synagogue life.”
The OU hopes to partner with communities to remind community members of the many vital aspects of Jewish life that only happen in a synagogue community.
“We are looking to spur thoughtful conversations within synagogues as to how to restore and enhance their vibrancy and remind our communities’ members of the many spiritual, educational, communal, and social dimensions of our synagogues. The synagogue is the halachic and historic hub of Jewish life and this program is designed to highlight that,” said OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer.
“Beyond the awarding of grants itself, our goal with this program is to create a repository of ideas and share them as broadly as possible so that the broader Jewish community can benefit from the wisdom and creative ideas of others,” said OU Synagogue Initiatives Director Rabbi Adir Posy. “We are trying to spur innovation and make everyone the beneficiaries of these innovative ideas.”
Around the Community
Rav Kolodetsky, shlita, spoke to the Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah mesivta
and kollel
YOSS ECC Journeys to the Holy Land
After passing through security, Covid clearance and passport check in, our boys were ready to fly to Eretz Yisrael!
First stop: davening at the Kosel, then onto an exclusive tasting at the shuk: Israeli salad, Bissli, homemade pita bread and mitz mango.
After an exciting tour of the Biblical Zoo, we discovered how things float in Yam Hamelech and then enjoyed and archaeological dig!
Some of the boys began construction in Ramat Beit Shemesh to build their new homes – or was it a Yeshiva of South Shore in Eretz Yisrael?
Margaret Tietz to Host an Evening of Inspiration
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, zt”l, had a tremendous impact on bringing the Queens-based Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to the Orthodox Jewish market. Over his decades of influence, Rabbi Schonfeld was a vital leader and effective spokesperson for the entire Jewish community and led the charge of the facility becoming fully kosher. His vision, guidance, and constant support allowed Margaret Tietz to welcome the frum community with open arms.
Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld’s stewardship of this effort will be reflected on this upcoming Tuesday evening April 27 at 7 p.m. by his son, Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, mara d’asrah of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. The program’s momentum will be moderated by Rabbi Zavel Pearlman, the coordinator for Jewish affairs at Margaret Tietz.
“Serving Hashem with True Simcha” will be the impactful theme of Rabbi Eytan Feiner’s passionate address. Rabbi Feiner is a driving force in the Far Rockaway and Five Towns area as rav of Congregation Kneseth Israel, The White Shul.
The evening will also feature moving words of motivation from Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, renowned posek and rav of Khal Nachlas Yitzchok in Kew Gardens Hills. The rabbi will speak on the topic of “Recognizing the Blessing of Life.”
Viewers will also enjoy remarks by Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, executive vice president of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, who gives the certification for the center.
“We are extremely excited to bring together leading rabbonim who have made a tremendous impact on the Jewish world,” said Mrs. Linda Spiegel, director of public affairs for Margaret Tietz. “This presentation culminates many weeks of planning and brings our communities an unprecedented opportunity to gain inspiration and chizuk, at a time when we are beginning to emerge from a difficult period. The speakers are excited, our facility is encouraged, and it is our hope that we can stimulate you with these impactful words.
“Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld was larger than life in acts and deeds as he spread Yiddishkeit far and wide. We bring this program as a remembrance for his actions and as an effort to keep his values, love of family and love of community in our thoughts. Many are uncomfortable attending live lectures, and it is our pleasure to bring this event at no charge.”
The program will be streamed for the first time on events.margarettietz.org.
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Spring Has Sprung at Gan Chamesh
The children at Gan Chamesh are excited to observe the magical changes that the spring season brings to Hashem’s beautiful world. They are exploring nature and watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies in all the classrooms.
Bioengineering at HANC
By Leora Peyser
The HANC Middle School eighth grade classes dived into the curriculum this year with biomedical engineering and the technology and advancements in the engineering field that have helped to build prosthetics. Real prosthetics work by maneuvering the nerves in a hand to make the prosthetic move the way you want. This strategy of taking the nerves is the same one the students used to build their own cardboard hand but with strings. Our goal in the making of the hand was to be able to make the cardboard grasp around a bottle and hold it.
I decided to make the advanced model of the cardboard prosthetic hand. I’m very into creating new things and challenging myself. I followed a complex video with no measurements besides my intuition and started with building the joints. After hours of tracing, cutting, and gluing the pieces needed together, I made the palm and actual hand. I had to improvise a little, but it ended up exceeding my expectations. Lots of steps went into this project, but I think it was a great experience. I learned a lot about my own perseverance and how science works in the real world.
Rav Shlomo Pluchinsky, rosh yeshiva of Machon Bais Aryeh in Yerushalayim, spoke to the talmidim of the seventh and eighth grades of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island about helping and thinking about others. Rav Pluchinsky is a grandson of the famed tzaddik of Yerushalayim, Rav Aryeh Levin. The menahel, Rabbi Tzvi Krigsman, translated his message to the talmidim.
Chazaq CEO Rabbi Yaniv Meirov interviewed Holocaust survivor Dr. Moshe Katz last week
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The Mevakshei Hashem Rebbe from Bnei Brak spoke and gave brachos to the mesivta bochurim of Yeshiva Nishmas Hatorah
Yeshiva Darchei Torah talmid Shaya Trenk shows the first grade talmidim of Rav Menachem Engel a live turkey as part of their limud of the simanei kashrus and mesorah of birds
Team Shevach GOes for the GOld
Rosh Chodesh Iyar was celebrated in Shevach High School with an inspiring and enjoyable breakfast. The GO theme of the month, “Teamwork,” was addressed by Mrs. Chaviva Pfeiffer, teacher and mechaneches at Bais Yaakov of Queens. Mrs. Pfeiffer, daughter of Rabbi Paysach Krohn, has inspired audiences for many years both as a speaker and a writer. She creatively spoke of “team” and of “work” and tied both in with simcha and avodas Hashem. Her words were warmly received, and the girls left with much to think about and internalize into their daily lives.
The uplifting talk was then followed by two teachers’ panel discussions. A dozen staff members, consisting of Shevach principals, mechanchos, and teachers, addressed student questions relating to the GO theme. A core point brought up was the importance of friends in all stages of one’s life and the need to “reach across the aisle” in one’s relationship with others. Students enjoyed very much hearing and relating to the shared personal experiences from within the social fabric of their teacher’s lives and absorbed the insightful advice the Shevach staff members offered on this topic.
The delicious breakfast was organized by the Shevach GO heads: Elana Adler, Hadassah Gottesman, Miriam Romm, Chaya Shalva Boiangiu, and Chaya Praeger. To set the tone of the morning, the MPR was beautifully decorated, with the front wall emblazoned with the words “Team Shevach G.O.es for the Gold.” A big thank you to Shevach Principal, Rebbitzen Rochelle Hirtz, and Shevach Educational Administrator, Mrs. Devorah Kovitz, for coordinating this special event for the girls. As the school year winds down, and the summer approaches, the lessons brought home from this Rosh Chodesh event will long be remembered by the Shevach students.
The Orthodox Union’s (OU) Yachad, the leading organization for individuals with disabilities, has announced its April and May virtual speaker series dates to provide inspiration and chizuk to families of individuals with disabilities. The sessions are being held monthly and feature top Jewish speakers like Rabbi Judah Mischel, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, and Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner.
The first of the three sessions, took place late March and featured Rabbi Judah Mischel. Nearly 100 families joined the midday session.
The upcoming session in April features Rabbi Krohn who will speak about “Inspired Parenting.” It will take place on Tuesday, April 27 at 8:30 PM EDT. Through relevant and touching stories, Rabbi Krohn will touch upon values, attitudes, and perspectives that will guide parents through thick and thin. Those interested in joining can join the Zoom session at: www.yachad.org/speakerseries.
The third of the sessions will take place on Tuesday, May 25 at 8:30 PM EDT for a women’s only audience. It will be led by Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner who will present a shiur for women on “Growing from Challenge.” The rebbetzin, who also serves as an educator and inspirational speaker, will present on her own challenging life experiences as well as utilize a breadth of Torah sources and insights that speak to both mind and spirit. Her session can be joined through the same link.
“In pre-COVID times, after the holiday of Pesach, Yachad families would begin to look forward to our annual family shabbaton, an event full of growth and support for one another,” said Chani Herrmann, Yachad’s associate director. “While this year safety precautions will still inhibit our ability to spend a weekend connecting with and strengthening one-another at the family retreat, these trying times have made the chizuk the event provides all the more longed for. Our goal in the virtual series is to give our Yachad families multiple opportunities for inspiration and chizuk over the course of monthly sessions.”
ה”ב
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Rabbi Pfeiffer distributing prizes for the annual YKLI Hasmadah Program
Andrew Yang Visits Far Rockaway
Last week, mayoral candidate Andrew Yang visited the Torah Academy for Girls and Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway to meet with students and school leaders.
At the Torah Academy for Girls, Dean Rabbi Meyer Weitman invited Andrew to address students about current events in New York. Andrew also toured Yeshiva Darchei Torah, where he got a firsthand look at the school’s robust vocational training program and met with dozens of students. After the tours, Andrew sat down with Jewish community leaders to listen to their community’s concerns and share his positive vision for New York City.
Said Andrew Yang, “I was honored to get to know the Far Rockaway community and particularly enjoyed talking with young students who showed an incredible depth of knowledge on the issues that impact them the most. I look forward to continuing these conversations with young people and community leaders across the City so we can work together to help New York reach its fullest potential.”
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YOSS Mechina Reads to Succeed
Congratulations to class 6E, winners of Achieve 3000’s Read to Succeed Contest! The Abraham and Sara Silber Middle School of Yeshiva of South Shore began using the literacy program Achieve 3000 earlier this year, a program that focuses and ultimately raises their Lexile score on reading.
The worldwide program holds several school-wide contests throughout the year. Students are given time in school to read articles and complete online activities. However, most of the reading is done at home in their free time.
Our dedicated and determined boys spent much of their spare time competing. In fact, some students were so committed that they earned individual awards. Congratulations to the following boys for their outstanding accomplishments, as both daily and weekly top scorers for the state of NY: Yosef Baron, Hillel Friedman, Tani Glass, Shimi Klein, Aryeh Newman, and Yehuda Shilo. And special congratulations additionally go to Tani Glass, Shimi Klein, and Aryeh Newman for being WORLDWIDE daily top scorers! Congratulations to the entire sixth grade on a job well done! Special thanks to Mrs. Dalia Krinsky, Middle School ELA teacher, for helping implement this program and for encouraging her students to achieve.
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Last night, NYS Senator Todd Kaminsky, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato and former Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder met with Five Towns and West Hempstead rabbis and community leaders about how the American Rescue Plan will help the local community and its institutions, as well as the importance of supporting Israel
How To Help Your Parents Plan In Their Senior Years (Part 1)
By Monet Binder, Esq.
When you think of the word “child,” the visual that appears in your mind, normally, is a little child, probably under the age of 10. If your parents are alive, no matter how old they are, and regardless of how old you are, you will always be their child. As an older child of parents who are getting into their senior years, you might become the one responsible for their care if they are unable to care for themselves. The role reversal, that shifts from them being responsible for you during your younger years to you be responsible for them in their older years, can be much more difficult for you if your parents do not do their own proper planning in advance.
The number of calls I receive from children whose parents either have not done any estate planning or have plans that were done years ago, which need serious updating, are numerous.
So, as the adult child of aging parents, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, what do you need to do?
First, prepare yourself. There are some questions you should ask yourself: Do your parents have an estate plan? If they have a plan, is it up-todate? If you do not know whether they have estate planning in place that will help you best support them when they need you, find out and make sure your parents have done the proper planning.
Without a solid comprehensive estate plan for them, not only are they not protected and vulnerable, but also, you and your family may be negatively impacted by their failure to plan. When you are considering planning, their possible long-term-care needs must be addressed, along with the potential financial impact and cost of that care. This article is designed to help you gain clarity and provide you with some of the basic information you need to assist your parents with their own estate planning.
The Connection between Estate Planning and Long-Term-Care
Estate planning is necessary for anyone who wants to minimize the burden, hardship and stress their family will experience if there is a sudden medical crisis or loss of capacity. That planning can and should include a way for seniors to age as comfortably as possible, with the best services available, without requiring family members to personally take on the role of caregiver or cost of care. Providing for these possibilities are fundamental objectives that need to be achieved when we consider and plan for long-term-care and making it as easy as possible for those we love.
What drives this type of estate plan, which translates into the quality, type, and duration of long-termcare, is the value of the estate itself. So, without proper long-term-care planning, and by not doing the right estate planning, your parent’s estate can be easily and quickly depleted by the enormous expense of long-termcare.
If you think that estate planning is only for the ultra-wealthy, to protect their large estates from lawsuits, taxes and even business failure, I believe you may be misinformed. Estate planning is crucial to middle-class seniors, maybe your parents, who need to protect their life savings and homes from what could amount to over $160,000 in cost per year for care.
Each year, already high costs are only rising for long-term-care. And, government aid, to assist with coverage for long-term care, may not be available to those who did not take the initiative to plan early. The last thing most people want is to deplete their estate, so it is not available for them when they need it, or to pass on to their loved ones, due to lack of planning for the high cost of long-termcare.
Unfortunately, in my Estate Planning and Elder Law practice, I have seen too many people try to start their planning during a crisis. Calls are made from a child of someone, in the hospital, who is going to be discharged to a rehabilitation facility, asking what they can do to offset the huge expense of care their parents are facing. Their biggest fear is that if the care their parents receive goes on too long, everything their parents worked for over a lifetime could be wiped out. This is not the best time to start planning. There are some planning steps that can be taken in a crisis situation, but they are costly and not as effective as planning early and in advance. All of this could be easily avoided with thoughtful planning by seniors, especially with the support and assistance of their children.
So, What Should a Child of an Aging Parent Do?
In the next article, I will discuss what action steps you and your parents can take and introduce you to some of the documents that are used in planning to protect your parents and their estate, and to make the process easier for the families involved.
Even though planning early is so important, studies show that as many as 64% of Americans don’t even have a simple Will. If you and/or your parents are part of the 64 percentiles, and want to take the next step, we are here to help, assist and guide you. At Monet Binder Law, PC, you will get compassionate and professional assistance, in a personal and caring way. We don’t use one-size-fits all documents for all of our clients, with plans you can’t understand and that are not explained. Rather, we believe through educating you with the right information and planning options, you can make the best decisions for yourself and those you love. Contact us today to initiate the planning process for you or your parents, at 718-514-7575 or email us at monet@mbinderlaw.com. You’ll be glad you did.
Monet Binder, Esq., has her practice in Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island New York, dedicated to protecting families, their legacies and values. All halachic documents are approved by the Bais Havaad Halacha Center in Lakewood, under the direction of Rabbi Dovid Grossman and the guidance of Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky, shlita, as well as other leading halachic authorities.
The information in this article is intended solely for your information. It does not constitute legal advice, and it should not be relied on without a discussion of your specific situation with an attorney.
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New Boys Learning Program
An exciting new learning program has kicked off after Pesach at Aish Kodesh in Woodmere for 7-8 grade boys that has added a beautiful energy in the community. From 8:00-8:45, Monday-Thursday, the boys are led by the charismatic Rabbi Nafi Orlofsky on a journey through sugyas in the fifth perek of Maseches Berachos. On Monday nights, the boys are delighted with treats from Carlos & Gabby’s and they enjoy Thursday night chulent and potato kugel from Traditions. Nightly and weekly raffles lend an extra element of excitement to the night as the boys finish up with Maariv at 8:45.
All 7-8th grade boys are invited to join this beautiful new program at the new Beis Medrash in Aish Kodesh.
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