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Community Currents Engine Company 282 and Ladder Company 148 marked its 100th year of service to the Boro Park community earlier this month. (Photo credit: Heshy Rubinstein/Dee Voch)
Golan Heights Winery’s Preschoolers chief winemaker, Victor in the Rambam Schoenfeld, displayed the winDay School of ery’s award-winning wines Savannah, Georto representatives gia learn about of the Jewish press New York at the the AlephinBais Inc their Lounge last week and and names. discussed the winery’s future plans, which includes increasing distribution across North America. (Photo credit: Hillel Engel)
On Sunday, October 13, the Yeshiva of Central Queens kicked off its Parent-Child Sunday Learning Program.
Earlier this month, the Rachel’s Children Reclamation Foundation held its annual commemoration of Rachel Imeinu’s yarzheit. A buffet dinner was held at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center on October 14. The keynote speaker was Rabbi Jonathan Rietti who gave a dramatic presentation on the relationship between Rachel Imeinu and the nal Geulah.
Keynote Speaker Rabbi Jonathan Rietti and Evelyn Haies, founder and president of RCRF.
Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Chaim Deutsch, and Evelyn Haies.
Malkah and Moshe Cohen, congregants of Congregation Etz Chaim of Kew Gardens Hills, were awarded the Ruth and Sam Bloom Humanitarian Award for teaching Jewish ethics courses, advising those in need of Jewish values, raising money for Jewish social agencies, and volunteering at Etz Chaim Synagogue.
More than 1,000 men, women and children packed the Young Israel Beth El to pay tribute to the heroes who helped save thousands of Jewish lives during the Holocaust. “Remembering the Past and Living for the Future” took place on Thursday, May 15, and was co-hosted by Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who also served as the Master of Ceremonies. Co-hosted by Nachas Health & Family Network of Brooklyn, the event honored the memories of Chiune Sugihara, a heroic Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the war, as well as Jan Zwartendijk, a Dutch diplomat in Lithuania who, together with Sugihara, issued transit visas allowHonorees pose behind the Jewish Mother’s Day cake donated by Pressers Bakery Avenue M. Jews (L-R) to escape the death ing More thanBreaking 300 people at Westport’s Inn atPikus, Longshore, Sunday, May Mark Langfan, the gathered Silence Award; Rabbi Yechezkel Rahel Imeinu Community Chessed camps. The memory of Oscar 18, in support of theFran 10thand anniversary celebration fundraiser gala Lamm, for Circle of Leadership Award; Evelyn Haies, Stephen Epstein Actualist Award; Esther Young Schindler was also honored. Award; and Mitchell Shapiro, esq., Rachel Imeinu Activist Award. Friends, which offers programs and support for children and young adults with special needs. The program involves more than 130 teens who volunteer with weekly play dates and visits to children with special needs.
On October 2, Zicharon, an organization that assists people on issues relating to dementia, hosted an informative evening in Menorah Hall featuring renowned dementia experts who provided the audience with much-needed advice and information on dealing with this disease. Among the speakers were Rabbi Eliezer Kaminetzky; Dr. Gary Kennedy, chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at Monteore Medical Center; and Matt Kudish, senior vice president of caregiver services of the NY Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association.
To submit pictures to the Community Currents section, e-mail Rebetzin Freida Hecht, director and founder of Circle of Friends, presents Laura Kassen of Westport, CT (daughter of Shelley and Michael Kassen, president of AIPAC) with the Circle of Friends Alumni Award. Standing next to her is Rabbi Matt Kudish Yehoshua S. Hecht, spiritual leader of Beth Israel Synagogue. (Photo credit: Zalman Umlas) Dr. Gary Kenneday
community@jewishpress.com.
Friday, May 30, 2014
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Community Currents Earlier this month, STAR-K Kosher Certification debuted its Kosher Class-
Preschoolers room, an initiative to develop curricular materials for elementary, middle, and in the Rambam high-school classrooms. For decades, STAR-K Kosher Certification has devoted Day School of itself to promoting kashrus through education; the distribution of nearly 100,000 Savannah, Georcopies of its quarterly newsletter, Kashrus Kurrents; its various year-round gia learn about Kashrus Training the Aleph Bais Seminars and practicums; the STAR-K Kashrus Hotline (410484-4110) which fields over 100,000 calls annually; its website; and its kashrus and their names.
Preparing for the 21st Annual Israel Day Concert/Rally in Central Park this On Sunday, October 13, the Yeshiva of Central coming Sunday, June 1, at Central Park’s SummerStage. This themes of this Queens kicked off its Parent-Child Sunday Learnyear’s concert are a united Jerusalem, not giving away any part of Eretz Yisrael, ing Program. stopping Iran and countering the BDS movement. Pictured are (L-R) Dr. Joseph Frager and Dr. Paul and Drora Brody, chairpersons.
videos on topics such as nikkur and bedikas tolaim.
Earlier this month, the Rachel’s Children Reclamation Foundation held its annual commemoration of Rachel Imeinu’s yarzheit. A buffet dinner was held at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center on October 14. The keynote speaker was Rabbi Jonathan Rietti who gave a dramatic presentation on the relationship between Rachel Imeinu and the nal Geulah.
In an evening for women, by women, and about women, the Kleinman Family Holocaust Education Center (KFHEC) celebrated the Bais Yaakov that was established in Shanghai in the 1940s for Jews fleeing the Holocaust, at Kol Yaakov Hall in Brooklyn. The event attracted 500 women and school-age girls. Keynote Speaker Rabbi Jonathan Rietti and Evelyn Haies, founder and president of RCRF.
Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Chaim Deutsch, Haies.
The 2014 Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prizes were awarded last week at an official ceremony in the Knesset, hosted by the Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstien. The recipients of the prizes were: Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of Leket Israel; Rabbanit Malke Bina, founder and chancellor of “Matan”; Yosef Abramowitz, CEO and co-founder of Energiya Global Capital and co-founder of the Arava Power Company; Professor Jeffrey Hausdorff of Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center; Yaakov Kirschen, creator of “Dry Bones”; and Lt. Nira and Evelyn Lee, head of Hasbara at the headquarters of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). Each of the winners was awarded a $10,000 prize. A special lifetime achievement prize was awarded to Professor Shimon Glick, professor and dean emeritus of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
Honorees pose behind the Jewish Mother’s Day cake donated by Pressers Bakery Avenue M. (L-R) Mark Langfan, Breaking the Silence Award; Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Rahel Imeinu Community Chessed Each month, employees from Investors Bank’s Award; Evelyn Haies, Fran and Stephen Epstein Actualist Award; Esther Lamm, Young Leadership Award; and Mitchell Shapiro, esq., Rachel Imeinu Activist Award. Avenue M branch in Midwood, Brooklyn visit
a nearby facility of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services. Recently, Investors volunteers On October 2, Zicharon, an organization that assists people on issues relating to demenparticipated in a baking class with a group from tia, hosted an informative evening in Menorah Hall featuring renowned dementia experts Ohel. Shown in the photo is Investors’s Avenue who audience withRochel much-needed advice and information on dealing M with this Manager Jonathan Grunfeld who is Branch The provided speakersthepanel: (L-R) Weinstein, disease. Among the speakers were Rabbi Eliezer Kaminetzky; Dr. Gary Kennedy, chief of Ge- Evelyn Tannenbaum as they blend inassisting Chevi Garfinkel, Rebbetzin Chaya Small, Rivriatric Psychiatry at Monteore Medical Center; and Matt Kudish, senior vice president of for a cream cheese cake. (Photo credit: gredients ka Malka Swartz, and Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein. caregiver services of the NY Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association. Arthur DeGaeta) Rebbetzin Chaya Bluma Hellman
To submit pictures
Lipa graduated from college last week with a dual major in liberal arts and performing arts.
Louis Krawiecz and Michael Poretsky from New York Community Hospital and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, respectively, were honored by the United Hospital Fund for their contributions as volunteer trustees of their hospitals.
Dr. Gary Kenneday
to the Community Currents section, e-mail To submit pictures of your organization’s activities to the Community Currents community@jewishpress.com. section, e-mail Matt Kudish
Community@JewishPress.com (Photo credit: Zalman Umlas)
Page 52 72 THE 30, 2014 THE JEWISH JEWISH PRESS PRESS Friday, Friday, May November 1, 2013
Community Currents In recent news… Preschoolers in the Rambam Day School of Third Annual Research Day Touro College Savannah, GeorMore than 80 posters were on display at the Touro gia learn about Research Day, an event that showCollege 3rd Annual the Aleph Bais cases original research by faculty and students while and their names.
ond place, respectively. Students from the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, also in Lawrence, and the Jewish Educational Center (JEC) from Elizabeth, New Jersey also participated. The innovative competition centered around “The Case of the Poisoned Sandwich,” a well-known but celebrating the contributions Touro’s researchers have unconfirmed story in which a bullied high school stumade in basic sciences, clinical practice, social work, dent put a poisonous substance in his lunch, knowing law, economics, mathematics, and public health. full-well that it would be stolen by his tormentor. “Our faculty and students conduct research in a At the start of the program, each team presented variety of fields and are involved in numerous cross arguments, either defending or condemning the acdisciplinary and cross cultural studies as well,” said tions of the bullied student, to three “judges” from Dr. Joseph Indelicato, chair of the Touro College Re- the Beis Medrash L’Talmud: Rabbi Chaim Kirschensearch Collaborative, a faculty group formed orig- baum, Rabbi Ephraim Tanenbaum, and Rabbi Sacks. inally from professors who conduct research in the To simulate the case, members of the teams played medical and health sciences fields at Touro College. the parts of the victim-turned-aggressor, who exEarlier this month, the Rachel’s Children Reclamation Foundation held its annual commemoration of RaThe free day-long event, held at Touro’s Harlem plained why he was permitted to poison the sandwich chel Imeinu’s yarzheit. A buffet dinner was held at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center on October 14. The campus,speaker which houses the Touro College of Osteopathunder Jewish law, andon the keynote was Rabbi Jonathan Rietti who gave a dramatic presentation thebully. relationship between Raic Medicine (TouroCOM) and Touro College of PharThe finalists were chosen based on the quality of chel Imeinu and the nal Geulah. macy, capped off a series of events held recently across the presentations and their mastery and utilization Touro’s New York campuses involving research. of different halachic opinions and Talmudic sources. All deans, faculty and students were invited to Over the course of the day Dr. Sokol spoke about submit posters of their research. Over 150 attendees the synthesis of halacha and everyday life, Rabbi from numerous Touro schools and programs partici- Sacks discussed Kiddush Hashem and its relation to pated in the event. the Jewish legal system, and David J. Kirschner, a professor of business at LCM and a practicing attorModel Beis Din Competition ney, talked about the distinctions between the JewThe Beis Medrash L’Talmud-Lander College for ish and secular approaches to law. Men (LCM) held its inaugural Model Beis Din com“Halacha addresses the most surprising corners petition for high school students in the tri-state area. of human life. These students rose to the challenge The cutting-edge tournament invited teams to the and applied their learning and ingenuity to a disturbKew Gardens Hills campus to match wits on the Jew- ing case study,” said Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of LCM. Keynote Speaker Rabbi Jonathan Rietti ish legal ramifications of a complex halachic quan“They and Chaim their rebbeim toEvelyn be congratulated.” Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Deutsch,are and and Evelyn Haies, founder and president Haies. of RCRF. dary. The teams representing the Torah Academy of Upcoming events… Bergen County (TABC) in Teaneck, New Jersey and Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence came in first and secGovernors Island, one of New York City’s new-
Women’s Writing Conference The Queens Jewish Women’s Writers’ Conference will take place on Sunday morning, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ohel Simcha, 141-41 72 Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The conference is for Jewish women writers of all levels – published authors, aspiring authors, and women who simply enjoy writing – and offers an opportunity to network, hone craft skills, and to be inspired by the energy of other writers in a creative atmosphere. The conference will include a presentation by Rabbi Paysach Krohn, who will share his writing
process and offer advice to writers, and another one by Mrs. Etka Gittel Schwartz, who will also present writing tips. Writing workshops will be led by Mrs. Chaviva Pfeiffer, celebrated author of the Maggid series for children and Mrs. Susie Garber, author of Denver Dreams, Befriend and other books. To register, e-mail garbersny@earthlink.net or call 917 696-2433. Acceptance to the conference is on a first-come first-serve basis. There are special discounts available for referrals, early bird (before June 10), and for students.
Honorees pose behind the Jewish Mother’s Day cake donated by Pressers Bakery Avenue M. (L-R) Mark Langfan, Breaking the Silence Award; Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, Rahel Imeinu Community Chessed Award; Evelyn Haies, Fran and Stephen Epstein Actualist Award; Esther Lamm, Young Leadership Award; and Mitchell Shapiro, esq., Rachel Imeinu Activist Award.
Shalom Task Force Brunch
A large crowd attended Shalom Task Force’s ers who was instrumental in creating the confidenhotline and educational Annual Brunch earlier thisan month at the Sephardic On October 2, Zicharon, organization that assiststial people on issues relating toprograms. demenSTF was launched over 20experts years ago to address Temple in Cedarhurst at which key leaders in the tia, hosted an informative evening in Menorah Hall featuring renowned dementia domestic abuse in the Jewish Since fight against domestic abuse in the Orthodox Jewwho provided the audience with much-needed advice and information on dealing with community. this then, more thanKennedy, 17,000 women have ish community were recognized. The large turnout disease. Among the speakers were Rabbi Eliezer Kaminetzky; Dr. Gary chief of Ge-taken the first stepsKudish, toward senior regaining dignity was attributed stark domestic riatric Psychiatry to at the Monte oreincrease Medicalin Center; and Matt vice their president of by gathering the courageAssociation. to call the STF hotline. abuse awareness with Alzheimer’s caregiver services ofin thethe NYcommunity, Chapter of coupled the American For more information, visit www.ShalomTaskthe strong feeling of responsibility towards keeping afloat the vast array of services that STF provides. Force.org. The importance of validating one’s spouse was a theme throughout the event. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, the keynote speaker of this year’s event, told the crowd, “Make sure your spouse, at all times, does not feel alone. This is a fundamental ingredient of a healthy relationship.” At the brunch, Judy Silverman was awarded Shalom Task Force’s Dedicated Service Awardee. Silverman has been involved in STF for 18 years and is a driving force behind its confidential hotline and workshop programs. Aviva and Yossi Hoch received this year’s Community Leadership Awardees. The organization also paid tribute to Rebbetzin Pess Epstein a”h, one of the organization’s foundMatt Kudish
On Sunday, Yeshiva of summer Central est public spaces, October will soon13, bethe open for the QueensInkicked Parent-Child Sunday season. order off to its serve all park-goers, theLearnTrust Program.Island is seeking kosher food vendors foring Governors to operate on site. Councilman David G. Greenfield urges kosher vendors to quickly apply so that kosher New Yorkers may enjoy the park to its fullest. More information on the Island’s food permits may be found at www.govisland.com/html/about/temp-foodpermit.shtml. Governors Island, located between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan, is a 172-acre island accessible by ferry from both boroughs. A former military base, the island is now open to the public and includes 30 new acres of park. It is also home to a school and other non-profit and community spaces. The island offers innovative play-spaces for families to explore as well as great open space for picnicking and enjoying time outdoors. The park is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. ***** On Thursday, June 12, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, founder and president of Hineni, will be a featured guest speaker at the 2nd annual Orthodox Jewish Nurses Conference at Touro College in Manhattan. The all-day conference will run from 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. at 50 West 23rd Street on the 7th floor. This year’s conference is entitled “At the Crossroads of Jewish Law (Halacha), Nursing, and Patient Care” and is being sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Phi Chapter, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, and The Graduate Center Doctoral Nursing Alumni Association of the City University of New York.
Students Receive Financial Education Students at the Jewish Educational Center of Elizabeth’s Yeshiva Elementary and Rav Teitz Mesivta Academy (RTMA) divisions were treated to Financial Literacy training by the renowned multinational financial organization PricewaterhouseCoopers. Twenty-five PwC professionals, ranging from first-year associates to senior managers, covered such topics as money management, budgeting, credit, trustworthiness as it pertains to lending money, and investing. Students were asked to submit one-minute videos depicting how they save money and plan their finances. There were over 30 submissions and all participating students received an array of prizes. “The level of interaction was appropriate for each age group,” said Rabbi Eliyahu Teitz, associate dean of the Jewish Educational Center. “We look forward to a continued partnership with Brian and PwC for many years to come.”
To submit pictures to the Community
Currents section, e-mail (L-R) Back row: Jake Goldberg, Moshe Heller,
JEC Board of Trustees member and PwC Partner Brian Ness, Yair Kimmel, Ephraim Ness, and Yair Cantor. Front row: JEC alumnus and PwC team member Sammy Rosenzweig, Aaron Heller, and Bill Staffieri of PwC.
community@jewishpress.com.
Dr. Gary Kenneday
(Photo credit: Zalman Umlas)