Friday, June 21, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 25
$1 30 Berry Hill
Rd.,Syosset
Offering free hom e market analysis & complimentary services.
Call for an ap pointmen MARA NAVA RETTA Broke t r / Owner
516-551-3347
Two local reform temples vote to merge
WALKING FOR A CAUSE
Village Elementary School students held a fundraising walkathon to benefit Sunrise Day Camp for children with Photo by Rena Damon Cancer and their siblings. See page 8.
Syosset alumni celebrate career experiences BY RIKKI MASSAND
Syosset students, area professionals and some notable Syosset High School alumni gathered before the end of the school year to speak about and applaud new learning experiences within the community that have proven beneficial to local teens before they even apply to college. The not-for-profit Align Us mentorship program celebrated career inspirations and successes of its
first semester on Saturday, June 15 at Tesoro restaurant in Westbury. Over 75 professionals, students and families gathered including business and education leaders from Syosset, Woodbury, Jericho and neighboring schools and communities. The president and founding board member of Align Us is 1997 Syosset High School graduate Dr. Uzma Syed, who last year opened her new office of South Shore Infectious Disease (SSID) at 60 Queens Street in her hometown
of Syosset. Dr. Syed’s husband and vice president of Align Us is Faisal Zakaria, chief application officer for NYU-Winthrop Hospital. Student mentees had opportunities this spring to learn from participating “government sector” mentors in the program. They include Syosset native and Nassau County Legislator, 2012 SHS graduate and former Syosset school board trustee Joshua Lafazan; Crystal Berger, assistant to Nassau County LegislaSee page 12
On June 25, the congregations of Temple Or Elohim (TOE) in Jericho and Community Reform Temple in Westbury (CRT) overwhelmingly voted to consolidate. The new temple will be called Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation, and will operate at the current TOE site at 18 Tobie Lane in the East Birchwood section of Jericho. The upcoming consolidation “provides the exciting opportunity to become the premiere address for Reform Judaism from Central Nassau through Western Suffolk Counties”, stated Rabbi Judith Cohen-Rosenberg, CRT’s beloved rabbi of 27 years, who will become the rabbi of the new temple. She added that “I am looking forward to working with TOE’s accomplished Cantor David Katz and Mrs. Deborah Tract, TOE’s marvelous Director of Education”. Cantor Katz, TOE’s cantor for the past 7 years, echoed the same sentiments: “Now that we have merged with such a wonderful group of families and a fabulous Rabbi, along with our brilliant Director of Education Deborah Tract, there is nothing we can’t do!” Mrs. Tract, TOE’s director of education for the past 6 years and the current president of LITE (Long Island Temple Educators), has worked for many years with Rabbi Cohen-Rosenberg at LITE and calls her a “Woman of Valor”, and is “so excited to welcome the CRT community”. The two temples have grand traditions in the local Reform Jewish Community which they will be able to continue. TOE was established in 1957, while Community Reform Temple (CRT) was established in 1960. The two temples are not only close geographically but share the same vision and approach to Reform Judaism. Merger negotiations started last summer when TOE, having an opening for its rabbi position, contacted CRT to see if there was any interest in coming to TOE with Rabbi Cohen-Rosenberg. When the response was positive, the two temples spent time getting familiar with each other. Indeed, over the last few months, as the congregations See page 14
Girl Scouts honor local residents PAGE 6 Syosset student scores at horse show PAGE 4