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Trump flag spurs some outrage in E.R. of Schools.” “This banner was certainly not approved by me or the prinSeveral parents expressed cipal,” Richard Schaffer, Ruiz divided opinions about a student wrote, “nor was the principal who brought a “Trump 2024” aware that the banner was disbanner to East Rockaway High played and photographed until School’s Sports Night on March the event concluded.” 3 and posed for pictures with it Ruiz wrote that the student alongside other students. who brought the banner has The incident, been spoken to and which happened in that staff members the small gym at the were reminded of high school before the board’s policy. Sports Night, has The students who since been shared on posed were not idensocial media and tified. spurred plenty of Sports Night is debate. annually held as a On the district’s prelude to the diswebsite, Superintentrict’s storied Rock dent Lisa Ruiz wrote Rivalry festivities, that some people when grade levels took the picture as a compete in skits and sign that the district various competiwas showing suptions. port for a political LISA RUIZ Some residents candidate. She wrote Superintendent, who have objected to that it “couldn’t be East Rockaway the banner said it fur ther from the had no place in School District truth,” and that a schools, while others board policy specifivoiced support for cally prohibits school staff or students sharing their political students from “advertising or opinions. otherwise promoting on school A resident named Lauren, property any commercial, politi- who asked the Herald not to cal or non-school agency, indi- print her last name out of fear vidual or organization, except as of backlash, wrote in an email approved by the Superintendent CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
W
Courtesy Bill Marinaccio
Celebrating in style World War II veteran Louis Forte recently celebrated his 99th birthday at Sunrise Senior Living in Lynbrook. He was greeted with a car parade and visits from residents and elected officials. Story, more photos, Page 3.
New HERJC rabbi aims to connect with community By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
After finishing law school and passing the bar exam in Brazil, Michel Schlesinger decided that he would rather become a rabbi than pursue a career in law, and that there was just one person he had to persuade. “It wasn’t very easy for my mom because she wanted a lawyer, not a rabbi,” he said with a laugh. “I had to convince her.”
Schlesinger eventually was able to gain the approval of his mother, Jisela Kormes, and pursued his dream. Six months ago, he became the newest rabbi at the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre. Last Friday he hosted his first full in-person service. “I am very excited for tonight’s ceremony because it’s difficult to engage with people digitally when you do not know them,” he said on the morning before the service. “So I want to
be with real people, in person, and I’m looking forward to this moment. So far, it’s been a good experience, but because of the pandemic, I’m not living it in its full potential yet, and I think it’s going to happen now.” Schlesinger came to East Rockaway from São Paulo, Brazil. He said that he fell in love with rabbinical studies after he completed his bar mitzvah and CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
e regret that this year’s event — as joyful as it was — was tarnished by this incident.