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Woodmere Club suit dismissed by court By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald file
WooDMERE CluB oWNERS Efrem Gerszberg and Robert Weiss continue to push for their proposed 284 single-family homes to be built on club property.
The future of the Woodmere Club land remains unclear after federal court on Dec. 1 dismissed two developers’ $200 million lawsuit against the villages of Lawrence and Woodsburgh and the Town of Hempstead. Greg Blower, a town spokesman, said in a statement: “The court granted the town’s motion to dismiss, and outside counsel is presently reviewing the judgment.” In 2020, developers Efrem Gerszberg and Robert Weiss filed the suit against the town and the villages because of the approval of a CoastContinued on page 6
Beginning the journey to prioritizing mental health daily By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
With mental health coming to the forefront of social issues propelled by the coronavirus pandemic, two Jewish organizations — the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC and Nafshenu Alenu — are partnering to present 13 prog rams to explore those issues with a focus on the Orthodox Jewish community. The Cedarhurst-based JCC has run issue-oriented programs for years, ranging from a Holocaust survivors group to bereavement. Nafshenu Alenu, founded by Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Septimus and Stuart Katz, is a
program that promotes mental well-being. Septimus is the senior rabbi at Young Israel of North Woodmere, and Katz, a mental health advocate, served as president of the synagogue twice. The Hebrew expression “nafshenu alenu” translates to “spirits united.” “There’s a lot of resources for physical illness, and people talk about mental illness, but they talk about it very hushhush quietly,” Katz said. “We are trying to chang e that through educational programs.” A s a vo l u n t e e r m e n t a l health first aid instructor, Katz is involved with global organi-
I
had to prioritize my mental health every single day.
ZAk WIllIAMS
son of Robin Williams zations as well as local groups and institutions such as the Five Towns Community Council, the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. Septimus has training in treating life challenges and
trauma. In collaboration with the Gural JCC, the pair launched the educational program on Nov. 29 at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. The programs will feature guest speakers and address topics including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, domestic abuse, suicide and substance abuse.
The second program, focusing on Self-Definition, was on Dec. 6 at Congregation Beth Sholom with Brian Cuban. “Recognizing mental health is for everyone, and not just for people who struggle with mental health diagnosis,” Septimus said. “This educational initiative is a great way of Continued on page 12