_________________ bellmore ________________
HERALD Art show opens at Bellmore Memorial
Bellmore Civic is hard at work
Moving portrait gallery now open
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Vol. 26 No. 47
$1.00 $1.00
NoVEMBER 16 - 22, 2023
Finding unity in times of war
Spiritual activist Yiscah Smith addresses Congregation Beth Ohr gogue welcomed Smith earlier this year, and it was also planned that she would visit a Congregation Beth Ohr wel- second time. But during her comed speaker Yiscah Smith — visit earlier this month, the who is a thought leader and overarching meaning and messpiritual activist — to its shul sage behind her teachings felt on Nov. 5, leading congregants all the more powerful, comfortin readings and teachings that ing and important. hit close to home for many with Groner referred to Smith as the ongoing war in “a thought leader, a the Middle East. spiritual activist Last month, and an agent of Hamas, a terrorist change.” organization that “ Yi s c a h v i ew s occupies the Gaza Judaism as a spiriStrip, attacked Isratual practice and el, killing thourelies on Jewish sands and taking spiritual teachings hundreds captive. to inform,” Groner Israel retaliated, YISCAh SMITh said. “As a spiritual and in the weeks Thought leader, trailblazer, Yiscah since the fighting spiritual activist exemplifies what it began, many Amerm e a n s t o c a r ve ican Jews have had one’s own path, as a hard time watching a country she has g rappled with the they have such a strong connec- entanglement at the intersection to face the aftermaths of tion of spirituality, Jewish trathe initial attack. Across the dition and a passionate desire world, protests and demonstra- to live a life of authenticity.” tions, rooted in antisemitism, Smith’s discussion at Beth have been held, making many Ohr was titled “Honoring the Jews fear for their safety. Spirit in Times of War — Smith, who is originally Strengthening Am Yisrael.” from New York and now based Throughout her hour-long in Israel, met Beth Ohr’s rabbi, speech, Smith read excerpts Rishe Groner, when Groner from Rav Kalonymus Kalmish was studying abroad. The syna-
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
T
Paul Grassini/Herald
Champion Colts! Senior Max Jose was clutch down the stretch of fifth-seeded Calhoun’s wild five-set upset victory over No. 2 Jericho in the Nassau County Division II boys’ volleyball final Nov. 8 at SUNY-Old Westbury. Story, more photos, Page 6.
Sewage project construction along Sunrise nears an end this month By NIColE FoRMISANo nformisano@liherald.com
If your commute on Sunrise Highway has been interrupted by construction, there’s good news: It’s almost finished. Construction crews are in the final stages of installing over 10 miles of pipe systems along Sunrise to connect two water-treatment facilities. The project, called Bay Park Conveyance, began in the summer of 2021, with the goal of eliminating excessive nitrogen pollution in Nassau County’s Western Bays. The construction is now 77 percent completed, according to the Long Island Regional Planning Council.
“The construction crews have been working on that the last few weeks,” Andrew Fera, the project director from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said of the final phase of construction along Sunrise Highway. “We certainly hope that we can get this complete by the end of November.” For years, the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility, in East Rockaway — formerly known as the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant — has been pumping 50 million gallons of treated sewage per day into the Western Bays. The resulting nitrogen pollution causes an overgrowth of algae and an increase in harmful toxins and bacContinued on page 4
he trauma is incredible, and we’re in the middle of it.
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