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Vol. 28 no. 2
OBITUARY
Remembering a trailblazer Longtime West Hempstead Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer dies at 74 Avenue on his way to services in December 2016, Kelemer suffered serious injuries when he was Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, spiri- struck by a hit-and-run driver. tual leader of the Young Israel of After an extended period of conWest Hempstead, died on Friday valescence and rehabilitation, he at the age of 74. resumed his duties, but his mediThe cause was cal condition had not disclosed. deteriorated in “He made us all recent weeks. feel better about ourKelemer studied selves after being at Mir Yerushalayim with him,” the synain Brooklyn in the gogue’s president, 1960s, and received Arthur Cooperberg, his semicha, or rabsaid during funeral binic ordination, services on Sunday. from Rabbi Chaim “His sweet nature Leib Shmuelevitz. and quick wit He began his rabbinendeared him to us ical career in Switall, but it was his HoWArD zerland and then sharp intellect that moved to Brookline, BrESSlEr guided us and gave Mass., to serve the us answers to our West Hempstead Yo u n g I s r a e l o f questions large and Brookline during small. He taught us the 1970s. He came to to treat every person with digni- West Hempstead in 1983. ty.” Many people have credited These themes were echoed by him for the growth of West other speakers at the service, Hempstead’s Orthodox Jewish held at Young Israel, on Hemp- community. “At his installation, stead Avenue, and livestreamed he alluded to the fact that part of around the world, and in tributes a rabbi’s job is to help grow a posted online. While crossing Hempstead Continued on page 5
By ED WEintroB
eweintrob@thejewishstar.com
i
Courtesy Malverne School District
Celebrating the new year virtually Katie Palowski’s first-grade virtual class at Maurice W. Downing Primary School in Malverne created their own party hats at home as they rang in 2021.
Improving learning opportunities W.H. schools board president featured on podcast By nAkEEm GrAnt ngrant@liherald.com
Karen Brohm, president of the West Hempstead School District Board of Education, was among the guest speakers on a podcast last month presented by Learning Revolution, a worldwide community exploring changes in education. The program, titled “The Power of Local School Boards,” examined those boards and the
importance of the decisions they make. Brohm was joined by the host, Howard Blumenthal, as well as David Snyder, former chairman of the National Council of American Indian/Alaska Native School Board Members, and Ar mando Rodriguez, a board trustee with the Canutillo Independent School District in Texas. “We’ve been doing this since May, and it was inspired by the pandemic,” Blumenthal said.
“We’re trying to understand what’s being done with schools not only at this moment, but also what’s being done for the future.” Among the topics of discussion was the importance of updating a school district’s curriculum over time. Brohm noted that after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May, the district consulted with parContinued on page 13
f you greeted him with kind words, he always oneupped you in compliment.