Center of Attention - Shavous Edition

Center of Attention

Dear Team CBO,

As we prepare to celebrate the upcoming holiday of Shavous, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this special time. Shavous marks the giving of the Torah and the momentous occasion when the Jewish people received the divine message that has guided us for generations.

As you know, here at Centers we recognize the importance of guidance and principles in achieving success. We believe that by staying true to our values while embracing innovation and growth, we can continue to build a thriving business.

On this occasion, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Your valuable contributions are integral to our company's success, and I am deeply grateful for your commitment to our shared vision.

As we celebrate Shavous, let us all take a moment to reflect on the significance of receiving the Torah and the opportunities it presents for personal and professional growth. May this Yom Tov bring you and your loved ones joy, fulfillment, and renewed inspiration.

Have a great Yom Tov!

— Kenny Rozenberg

The Rabbi’s Reflections

As the Yom Tov of Pesach begins, we are immediately commanded to begin counting towards Shavous. The question is obvious. Why not let Pesach be Pesach and Shavous be Shavous? What message is there for us in this counting?

My Saba, Rabbi Shimon Murciano Shlita, explains this concept in the following manner. Personal freedom is only of value if it provides us with an opportunity for spiritual development. As Jews, never did we see freedom as abandonment of authority, but rather as freedom to develop and direct ourselves towards goals for which we were really intended. Attaining physical freedom from Egypt gave us the opportunity to work on our spiritual character. It’s not only about

counting the days, but it’s about making the days count. So, in fact, this counting is a unique directive with far greater significance than we normally associate with counting time periods. On one hand, the counting enables us to link Pesach and Shavous together. Pesach celebrates our beginning as a physical nation while Shavous commemorates our becoming the “Am Hashem” through accepting the Torah. This counting period also enables us to relive the anticipation and preparation for receiving the Torah, as counting symbolizes a yearning and longing towards a goal.

Here at CBO, a professional and high-level business office, we spend many hours every day operating and overseeing the many aspects

Inspiring Thoughts

Zev Weiss - Payroll Analyst

and happenings in tens of our facilities. At face value this would seem to be an absolute physical and materialistic experience. But the energy and fuel that feeds this tremendous and powerful engine is our daily commitment to learning the Torah and living and behaving according to its laws. Thanks to our wonderful management and their encouragement, our office has become a model to the American world of business and many have followed us as we continue to be a leading example of what it means to put Torah values before business or monetary concerns.

With best wishes for a Happy Yom Tov to every CBO family,

As

quoted by

Rabbi Breitowitz shlita: Rav Meir Simcha

of

Devinsk,

in his sefer Meshech Chochma, brings out a beautiful guiding principle for life. There is a Torah obligation to bless after we eat, and before we learn Torah (at least, according to the Ramban). The Meshech Chochma explains that it is easy to understand why there is a blessing both for food and for Torah - both are essential for life! But why is there specifically an obligation to say a blessing after food and before torah? The Meshech Chochma explains that the Torah is teaching us the value of gratitude. When it comes to food, a starving person instinctively begs for something to eat - thus, a person does not need anyone to tell him to call out to HaShem beforehand.

After a person eats, he feels satisfied and ready to move on with his day. Therefore, the Torah compels us to thank HaShem after we are finished eating. On the other hand, when it comes to Torah learning, a person is often presented with a challenge or even hesitation to start learning. He may feel that learning Torah is too difficult and that he will not have an ability to grasp the concepts. Yet, after someone finishes learning Torah, he feels immense gratitude and a deep sense of accomplishmentafter we learn, we do not need to say a blessing! Hence, the Torah only compels us to say a blessing before we learn Torah. A blessing is a lesson in gratitude for the things that we do not feel that we need, whether they be matters of spirituality or physicality.

For those of us who have the custom to stay up the entire night of Shavous, we should feel gratitude that we are engaging in an activity that draws us closer to the Torah. On Shavous night, success is not measured by the amount that we learn or the concepts that we retain. Rather it is about the drive and the passion that we feel to comprehend and understand the Torah. May it be HaShem's will that this Shavous, we feel a true gratitude for the Torah that we learn. We should all merit to experience the sweetness and depth that the Torah has to offer, enough that it continues throughout the entire year!

Gabi Stefansky Special Projects

Yehuda Bekritsky Assistant Controller

Harrison Kuritzky Cash Management

Rabbi Pinchos Novoseller

Mazal Tov!

Engagement

• Aharon Lantzitsky (Leadership)

– Upon the engagement of his son and upon the engagement of his daughter.

• Rafi Melcer (Talent Aquisition)

– Upon his engagement to Rebecca Aryeh

Wedding

• Dave Jehudaiov (Purchasing)

– Upon his wedding to Hodaya Itshakov

It's a Girl

• Mordechai Chaitovsky (Special Projects) – Upon the birth of his daughter.

• Elisha Loeb (Controllers)

– Upon the birth of his daughter.

It's a Boy

• Sammuel Rhine (Analytics)

– Upon the birth of his son.

• Shmuel Spitz (Pharmacy Review)

– Upon the birth of his son.

• Jay Sabo (Special Projects)

- Upon the birth of his twin sons.

• Solomon Swimer (AR/Billing)

- Upon the birth of his son.

Please email any additions or corrections to teamcbo@centershealthcare.org

Spotlight on Troy Center

Joining Centers Health Care in 2018, Troy Center features 78 beds with rehab in the South Unit and long-term care in the North Unit. The Center is located in a quiet old residential area near Hudson Valley Community College.

“We’re a family-oriented facility,” says Administrator Mendy Shepherd. “Families are very involved here.” Mendy was hired as an Assistant Admin in August 2020. He then moved over to the Albany Center Adult Home in November of 2021 and took his current position at Troy Center in August 2022. He received his LNHA in February 2023.

Take note: We have had several employees join the Rochester community (as featured in the Pesach edition) and are looking to grow our Albany presence, too. If you are interested in hearing more about the Albany area, feel free to reach out to teamcbo@centersbusiness.org

What's New at CBO

Let the games begin!

Here's to your health...

30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio activity at least five days per week (150 minutes per week) is recommended for heart health. Our onsite gym is just the place to get your minutes in:

Women’s hours: Mon & Wed 6am - 12pm

Tues, Thur & Fri 12:30pm - 9pm

Men’s hours: Mon & Wed 12:00pm - 9pm

Tues, Thur & Fri 6am - 12pm

Employee referral bonus program

CBO offers a $500 referral bonus for any successful new employee hire, referred by a current CBO employee. The $500 referral bonus is paid out for a successful hire for any CBO job and ALL CBO departments. A new hire is considered a successful hire if the new employee remains in good standing at CBO for 90 days. For full program details, see the CBO employee handbook.

Contact: resumes@centershealthcare.org

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The Interview

Avi Koslowsky Engineer Building Solutions Manager

Where are you from originally and where do you live now?

I was born and bred in Brooklyn and currently live in Fair Lawn, NJ.

How did end up in Fair Lawn?

I Went to Yeshiva University and was living in Washington Heights where my wife and I were looking for a growth-based Torah community outside of NYC. We have some family in Fair Lawn, and we liked what we heard and saw. We love it here - if anyone wants more info on the community, I’d be happy to share. Come join us!

How far is it from CBO? 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.

How many years have you been working at CBO?

This February was my 5-year anniversary.

How did you originally hear about CBO?

From a family friend.

What department do you work in and what is your role?

I work within the Contracts Department but I have a unique role which is Engineer Building Solutions Manager.

Tell us a little bit about what you do as an Engineer Building Solutions Manager.

I am constantly auditing our water and energy usage and looking for different conservation ideas, mostly via facility upgrades. In many cases we also are eligible for rebates and different incentives.

What would be an example of a project?

We are putting in new P-TACS units and new boilers over time in our facilities and have already installed some EV stations at Boro Park Center. The city is recognizing us for this and we even were a NYC Accelerator Award Recipient, which is an award for innovators in building efficiency services.

What are your hobbies? Travel, learning Torah, and sports.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? My kids screaming.

Where did you go to school?

Yeshiva of South Shore/MAY for high school, OJ (Ohr Yerushalayim) in Israel, and then YU.

What are you passionate about?

My family. I am very passionate about genealogy and family history. I want to make the world a better place and make a difference in my community.

What do people not know about you?

I’m a pretty open book.

If you were able to travel the world with one person live or dead (nonfamily or work related), who would it be?

Rabbi Yisrael Lau, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel. He is from Pitkowe, Poland which is where my grandparents were from.

What’s your favorite Centers perk? Remote Fridays.

What do you enjoy about CBO?

At the company I worked at before Centers, I was always given issues when I had to leave early for Shabbos. This is certainly not the case here! I love how the Torah and work values align and the company wants you to grow in your career, spiritually, and as a person. I very much feel that I’ve been a beneficiary of all 3. I started in an entry level job and have progressed in my career here and also feel that my values have benefited.

Shaul Jaspan Case Management Specialist

Where were you born?

Born and bred in Baltimore, Maryland.

Where do you live currently? Boro Park, Brooklyn.

How did you end up there?

I was learning in Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, went to Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn where I met my wife who is from Boro Park.

What department do you work in? Case Management, under Daniel Newman.

What do you do in that role?

A couple of different aspects.

I obtain HMO insurance authorizations and ensure the authorization is maintained throughout the Resident's stay at their facility. I also do home care referrals for nursing home residents being discharged.

How would you explain your job to a child?

I work at a desk and speak to insurance companies.

How long have you been working at CBO? Since September 2019, so about 3 ½ years.

How do you enjoy working at CBO? It’s special to be in such an amazing environment. That was honestly the reason I took the job here in the first place.

What advice would you give to someone starting out at Centers? Try not to take things personally. Making mistakes is part of the learning process.

How did you hear about CBO? Through Zvi Mermelstein from Billing. We Davened in the same Shul at the time, and still do.

Do you attend any Shiurim at CBO?

11:30 Kinyan Mesechta Chaburah, Mishna Berura and Daf Yomi when I can make it.

Which company benefits do you enjoy?

I love the new gym. I try to go there whenever I can.

What’s your favorite Rosh Chodesh lunch? The Milchig lunches.

What are your hobbies?

I give Mishnayos groups for kids, learn, read, and spend time with family.

Marketing Minutes: A Memorable Month

Did you know…?

The month of May is a time for Centers Health Care to recognize and honor many of its staff members.

National Nurses Week, National Skilled Nursing Week and International Nurses Day are all celebrated this month. Centers thanks them all!

Shiurim/Minyanim Schedule

Shachris - 8:00 AM

Mincha - 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 5:30PM

CBO Morning and Night Kollel (paid) - 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM and after 5:45 PM

Daily Shiurim

8:45am - (immediately following Shachris) Kinyan Hamasechta (Meseches Sukka)

11:30 AM – Kinyan Hamasechta (30 minutes)

12:00 PM -The department Shiur of the day! (15-20 minutes)

12:10 PM – DAF YOMI CHABURA (30 minutes)

1:00 PM – The Shiur of the day (15-20 minutes)

Monday - Chovos Halevavos

Tuesday - Weekly Tefilla Series

Wednesday - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

Thursday - Parsha Shiur

1:45 PM – Q & A round table discussion (10-15 minutes)

2:15 PM – Kinyan Hamasechta on Meseches Tannis

2:40 PM – Kinyan Hamasechta in Yiddish (Meseches Sukka)

3:15 PM - Mishna Berurah (20 minutes)

Free shuttle/van transportation from Five Towns, Monsey, Passaic, Queens and Washington Heights

Five towns Departs

Five Towns to CBO from Cedarhurst Park – 6:55AM

Returns

CBO to Five Towns - 5:00PM

Monday-Thursday (1:50PM Friday)

Monsey Departs

Monsey to CBO from Victoria Gardens/Jill Ln. – 7:55AM

Departs

Monsey to CBO from Eugene Levy Park & Ride (920 NY-45, New City, NY 10956) - 8:10AM

Returns CBO to Monsey – 5:00PM

Monday-Thursday (Friday TBA)

Queens Departs

Queens to CBO from corner of 14705 71st. Ave – 7:10AM

Returns CBO to Queens - 5:05PM

Monday-Thursday (Friday 2PM)

Brooklyn Carpool Reimbursement program

Passaic Departs

Passaic to CBO from 743 Passaic Avenue, Clifton, NJ - 8:15AM (Friday 8AM)

Returns CBO to Passaic - 5:15PM (Friday approx. 2PM)

Washington Heights Departs

Washington Heights to CBO, various locations - 8:25AM

Returns

CBO to Washington Heights - 5:00PM (Friday 1:50PM)

Email vans@centersbusiness.org with any questions.

A place for CBO employees’ kids to have fun, play games, and win prizes.

And the winner is:

Pesach Edition Crossword Puzzle Winner: Chaya Leah’la Sporn, age 9, daughter of Lipa Sporn, Cash Management

Drawing Contest

Top 3 drawings win a $25 Toys4U gift card. Bonus points for encompassing Shavous and/or CBO.

Deadline for submissions 6/15. Send your submissions to teamcbo@centersbusiness.org or drop it in the suggestion box at CBO headquarters. Make sure to include your full name and age.

Funny business

— Why did the car get a flat tire? Because there was a fork in the road!

— I stayed up all night and tried to figure out where the sun was. Then it dawned on me.

— Can a kangaroo jump higher than a house? Of course. A house doesn’t jump at all!

— Why did the scarecrow get promoted? Because he was out standing in his field!

— To the person who stole my copy of Microsoft Office, I will find you. You have my word.

Kids: Let's play trivia

Last months trivia contest winner: Yehuda Potesky, age 4, son of Yosef Potesky, Analytics

Trivia Question - winner receives a Centers Health Care Blanket. Deadline for submissions 6/15. Send your submissions to: teamcbo@centersbusiness.org or drop it in the suggestions box at CBO headquarters. Make sure to include full name, and age.

In May we celebrate:

a. National Nurses Week

b. National Skilled Nursing Week

c. International Nurses Day

d. Mother's Day

e. All of the above

Have a suggestion? Email suggestions@centershealthcare.org