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Chai Lifeline Families Celebrate Sukkos With a Day at Hershey Park

More than 1,100 Chai Lifeline children and families were treated to an exciting day at Hershey Park on Thursday, September 23, Chol Hamoed Sukkos. Participants from Chai Lifeline’s New York, New Jersey/ Pennsylvania, and Mid-Atlantic regions enjoyed rides, entertainment, and delicious snacks courtesy of Chai lifeline.

“Sukkos is a time of joy and Chai Lifeline is excited to be able to provide families with a chance to reconnect with one another in such a happy and fun environment,” said Faigie Yudkovsky, Director of Chai Lifeline Volunteer Services and coordinator of the event.

“Spending the day with my family at Hershey Park was incredible,” said a Chai Lifeline mother of three. “It gave me a chance to just relax with my kids and have a good time in a way that’s normally so difficult during the year.”

Chai Lifeline is an international children’s health support network providing social, emotional, and financial assistance to children with life-threatening or lifelong illnesses and their families. To learn more, visit www.chailifeline.org.

Around the Community

Sukkos at Aish Kodesh

The Hoshana Raba Dor l’dor Learning program led by Rav Weinberger and Rabbi Levin

Over Sukkos, Aish Kodesh in Woodmere held many exciting events for both its members and the community at large. From the annual Sukkah Hop, Sisterhood Tea, Dor l’Dor Learning, special shiurim and of course, spirited tefilos throughout Sukkos, Aish was a center of excitement and Yom Tov energy.

A highlight of Sukkos was the beautiful community-wide Simchas Bais HaShoeva hosted by Aish, partnering with Thank You HaShem and Kehillas Mevakshei Hashem. Rav Moshe Weinberger and Rav Yussi Zakutinsky shared inspiring divrei Torah, and Joey Newcomb led the large crowd in song and dance late into the night with thousands around the world watching the livestream online. Rav Weinberger expressed to the crowd that although the rain did not allow for the Simchas Bais to be in a physical sukkah, being together b’achdus and sharing divrei Torah created a sukkah over the heads of all those gathered.

A spirited Simchas Bais HaShoeva

Learning is Alive at IVDU LI

Academics are in full swing at IVDU LI, with our first full week of learning well underway. It’s amazing to see the students’ excitement as they walk into the building and join their friends in the classrooms. Every class in IVDU has a low teacher-to-student ratio run by qualified special education teachers to ensure each student reaches their potential through differentiChumash. In order to address every aspect of the child’s development, IVDU Long Island has an extensive social skills and life skills curriculum, including outings into the community to reinforce newly acquired skills. Under the guidance of the veteran curriculum coordinator, Dr. Rebekah Gutkind, students gain all the academic and functional skills necessary to succeed in today’s world.

Around the Community

BYAM girls received an exciting “Welcome Back” on the first day of school after the yomim tovim Rabbi Yaakov Bender giving a Shmuess at the beginning of new Zman at Yeshiva Kol Torah

Touro Launches Ed Tech Coaching Certificate Program

Technology has revolutionized education over the last few years, and the COVID 19 pandemic has heightened the need for all teachers to become skilled and schooled in using technology to reach students.

Many Jewish day schools recognize this need but lack the resources to hire a full-time employee to manage educational technology, and instead, end up leaning on a teacher with some skills to unofficially train the staff.

In an effort to professionalize this role and formally train those who are responsible for supporting teachers using educational technology, Touro College launched a certificate program in educational technology coaching for Jewish Day Schools last fall. The program, which is graduating its first class of 10, is run by Professor Jeffrey Lichtman and Rabbi Baruch Noy, MSEd CETL, Director of STEM and EdTech at Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway and a member of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools.

“This program is the first of its kind and is filling a void in our Jewish Day Schools. Our graduates will become leaders who will coach teachers within their schools on integrating educational technology into their classrooms,” said Noy.

The year-long certificate program is comprised of four courses – two that focus on computer hardware/networking and software and online platforms; and two that focus on educational technology pedagogy. The online program is open to full- and part-time teachers and administrators and is available to educators across the country. The first class consisted of students from Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida.

“Since some of our students have pedagogic training but no IT background and some have IT training but no teaching experience, we offer a breadth of knowledge in both areas,” said Dr. Lichtman. “Students learn which tech tools are appropriate to meet specific educational goals and help teachers reach their goals in the classroom using technology. We also train them on how to coach teachers effectively.”

Beyond the coursework, this program helped create a professional network of like-minded people who can share ideas and insight and gain feedback from each other as they work to improve and enhance the educational experience for Jewish day school students.

“I have gained so much from the program. By sharing the information I learned through our professional development, our teachers will have the knowledge of what is available in educational technology, as well as how to best use it to maximize student learning. I have also been working with our administrators to use what I learned to best coach our teachers in setting goals and coming up with a realistic plan to reach them. When teachers feel that they are growing, learning and supported, it gives them the energy and motivation to keep on generating more great ideas, which is what we all want for our students,” said Rabbi Yisroel Smith, Assistant Principal, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh.

To learn more about the program and available scholarships or to apply for the fall cohort, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman at jeff. lichtman@touro.edu.

Around the Community

The talmidos of the Ganger Early Childhood division of TAG were so excited to have an opportunity to meet many of the animals that went into the Teivah this week

National Blue Ribbon Award for Educational Excellence Awarded to Rambam Mesivta for the Second Time

There are approximately 27,000 high schools in the United States, and, of these, only a handful of schools were recognized for their consistent, exemplary education offered to their students. Rambam Mesivta was the only yeshiva in the country awarded this prestigious national honor. Rambam remains the ONLY independent all boys yeshiva high in the entire USA to ever have won the Blue Ribbon Award (even once), yet alone twice.

This is Rambam’s second Blue Ribbon Award, as only five years ago, Rambam stood out amongst thousands of other high schools and was the only yeshiva to be named a Blue Ribbon school by the United States Department of Education.

Below is an interview with Rambam Administration that sheds some light on this educational milestone.

Was this award a surprise?

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh Mesivta of Rambam: When we won five years ago the rules stated that we have to wait five years to reapply. Our scores have been consistently good, but we were told that since they were limited to how many schools they select, they probably would want to give another school a chance as opposed to giving us a second Blue Ribbon. Ironically, winning once makes it even harder to win a second time, and it speaks to the dedication of the faculty and the students that the Blue Ribbon Committee recognized us a second time.

Aside from the prestige of winning such a coveted award, is there a practical benefit to the students?

Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Principal of Rambam: There are definitely concrete benefits. Colleges and universities understand that graduating from a Blue Ribbon School is a big plus. It opens the doors even wider for admissions, honors programs, and merit-based academic scholarships. We have been fortunate to have a disproportionate amount of our graduates accepted to honors programs and receive merit-based scholarships.

a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Is there time for extracurricular activities or do the academics not allow for that?

Mr. Hillel Goldman, Associate Principal, Rambam: The goal of the school is to foster an environment that rewards and highlights all types of meaningful accomplishments; academics, of course, both on the Jewish Studies side as well as the academic, but also in the areas of STEM, Robotics, creative writing, debate, mock trial, all the sports and more. At last count, Rambam had over 40 teams and clubs (for a student body of around 180), and we ran over 100 “events/happenings” during the course of the year. The extracurriculars at Rambam reinforce the academic success of the students by allowing them to build success and hone their talents through after-school activities.

Rambam is the only yeshiva in the country to ever have qualified for this award. What is the “secret sauce”?

Rabbi Avi Herschman, Assistant Rosh Mesivta of Rambam: We have outstanding teachers who are also mentors to the students. Our students are bright and motivated, our parent body is supportive of a well-rounded rigorous and challenging education. They all get credit for this award. Rabbi Friedman: I would add that educational excellence is further cultivated by our morning learning program which, as a byproduct, teaches very important analytical skills and promotes the diligence of study and a desire to excel and master the material.

Are there any special plans to celebrate this remarkable achievement?

Rabbi Friedman: We haven’t had much time to absorb this news. The email was sent to us on Yom Tov so there was a two-day delay until we found out about it. We have already received a bunch of congratulatory calls from members of the community and local political representatives. Obviously, this is wonderful news, and we have to coordinate a time when parents and students can be joined with local community leaders to mark this accomplishment.

Around the Community

On Chol Hamoed Sukkos, hundreds of local children enjoyed pony rides, a petting zoo and police car rides on Reads Lane in Far Rockaway. This free community event was arranged by NYCDOT, JCCRP, RNSP, community partner Pesach Osina, StreetLab, and the 101 Police Precinct.

New Beginnings at Hadar Bet Yaakov

By Shoshanna Friedman

Hadar Bet Yaakov girls enjoyed a multi-faceted approach to teshuva this year that began at Student Orientation with a “New Beginnings” presentation on the overlap of the onset of school with Rosh Hashana and continued through Erev Yom Kippur via academic curricula as well as extra-curricular programming.

Student Orientation began with Mrs. Friedman’s “New Beginnings” program presenting Rosh Hashana as Hashem’s “new beginnings” gift to us that is also reflected in the myriad of possibilities inherent in our new school year. Incoming ninth graders teamed up with tenth graders in a round-robin “get-to-know-you” interview game followed by a comedic quiz at the end. Girls experienced their own new beginnings of friendships and meaningful connections.

Rabbi Bensoussan, Hadar Bet Yaakov halacha teacher, delineated the halachot of teshuva, and Rabbi Robenov, HBY Menahel, spoke to the girls erev Yom Kippur and explored realistic approaches to teshuva and what it means to take a kaballa upon oneself. Rabbi Robenov’s presentation culminated in a beautiful, contemplative writing activity where girls were given pen and paper to write their own letter to Hashem.

“You can write whatever you want in this letter,” Rabbi Robenov explained, “but you all have to begin this way: Dear Hashem, I know that you love me and that you think I’m awesome…” Girls separated into private corners of the room onto several tables as they brainstormed their own introspections and musings.

Mrs. Simes orchestrated a fascinating Yom Iyun themed with “raising the mundane” that joined conceptual exploration with art. Students first explored the relationship between the concrete and spiritual followed by their own reflective art projects. Girls created their own mosaics showing their understandings of raising every-day objects of their own choosing from the mundane to a level of kedusha.

The day peaked in a surprise “Big Sister – Little Sister Mystery Trip” where girls were told that they would have to join together b’achdut, as one, and realize that relationships can be far more than mundane connections and can really help “raise” us to a level of kedusha. Girls were instructed that they would have to raise the mundane and create meaningful connections with one another if they were to make their way out of where their surprise trip took them. Students ended up in a corn maze where they had to join cohesively b’achdut to make their way out.

Hadar Bet Yaakov utilizes an array of academic, arts-based, extra-curricular and creative programming activities to immerse students in experiential learning throughout the school year. Girls investigated the many dimensions of “new beginnings” from the onset of school until erev Yom Kippur’s corn maze. They’re primed for a year of exploration, academic rigor, and personal growth.

Around the Community

The children at HANC ECC in West Hempstead spent time learning about Parshas Noach this week

HANC’s Special Guest

As the students in HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead prepared for the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, they were delighted by the arrival of a special visitor from Israel. While the children and staff waited in their classrooms for the mystery guest, a familiar face suddenly appeared on their smart boards. Rabbi Michael Merrill, HANC’s former Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies, who made aliyah with his family this past summer, greeted everyone from his home in Ramat Shilo. After saying hello to his many friends at HANC, he explained that he was going to give the school an “insider’s view” of how Israelis prepare for the Tishrei Chagim. With the assistance of photographs and live video, the children were able to see how preparations in Israel compare with our own arrangements here in New York.

In the first photograph, Rabbi Merrill showed the children what the Mercaz (center of town) looked like on Erev Yom Kippur afternoon. While this area is usually bustling with people, that afternoon the Mercaz was empty because everyone was at home getting ready for Yom Kippur. The same was true for the many parks in the neighborhood, for even the children were at home at that time. He then showed the children pictures of the “Arbah Minim Shuk” where 39 booths were set up in the park after Yom Kippur so the residents could buy a lulav, etrog, sukkah decorations and other items that they would need to enhance their celebration of the holiday. He also shared photos of hardware stores that have stocked their shelves with everything one would need to build their sukkah, including decorations, tables and chairs, tablecloths, and wall hangings.

Rabbi Merrill then took the children on a tour of the neighborhood showing the various places where people can build their sukkah. Apartment buildings arrange their mirpasot (terraces) in such a way so no mirpeset is blocking someone else’s mirpeset, so that each family would be able to create a kosher sukkah. In some buildings, large areas on the ground are designated as a place to build a big communal sukkah for several families to share. In Rabbi Merrill’s new home, he is able to build his own sukkah on his backyard mirpeset. He even gave the students a live look of the view from inside his house, looking through the glass doors into his sukkah. He also explained that because it is so warm in Israel, many people even sleep in their sukkah at night!

Another special occurrence is that when neighbors have special fruit trees in their yards, like pomegranates or pomelos, they allow anyone to come and pick fruit from their trees so that they can also enjoy eating special fruits on Sukkot. In addition, the township also provides natural materials that were cut down from trees for residents to take and use for their walls and schach.

Rabbi Merrill also told the students that he was going to share this coming Shabbat with some HANC graduates who are spending their gap year in Israel. What a wonderful opportunity that will be for the students to share a Shabbat with their former teacher and assistant principal in his brand new home in Israel.

At the conclusion of the Zoom visit, as Rabbi Merrill prepared to say goodbye, he gave the children some excellent advice: “Pay attention in Hebrew class and listen – it will make your life a lot easier!”

Rabbi Dovid Yankelewitz, a first grade rebbi at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, welcomed his talmidim to his sukkah on chol hamoed

Around the Community Sukkot Fun at HALB Elementary and Lev Chana

Chagim at Margaret Tietz

Margaret Tietz held meaningful and full services throughout the Chagim thanks to the boys from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim who led the minyanim with enthusiasm. The residents reported that the company was special and that the boys were very helpful, very nice, and very respectful. The kiddushim were festive, and the food was great. There was quite a nice group of residents who attended all the services in the very large and beautiful, new synagogue as well as for Sukkos in their very spacious and beautifully decorated sukkah. The residents enjoyed Simchat Torah as they went around with the Torahs in their wheelchairs aided by the boys – a sight to be seen!

Tzvi Rosen, Mashgiach over the Yomim Tovim, reported that the davening was beautiful, and everyone enjoyed it. “It is so special to be with these seniors and provide a regular yom tov for them. The residents appreciated that we were able to provide the yom tov spirit, and they surely enjoyed the kiddush after the yom tov davening. All of us were very glad to be back at Margaret Tietz and are hopeful that the daily Minyan will resume again soon.”

Margaret Tietz Center was glad that once again after such a long time these special and important services could be held for their residents and wish each and every one a happy, healthy and very special new year.

Hindi’s Libraries Launching “Laces 4 Literacy” Shoe Drive

This fall, Hindi’s Libraries needs your help shipping children’s and young adult books to families in need. Hindi’s Libraries is partnering with international non-profit Funds2Orgs to collect new and gently worn shoes as part of their Laces 4 Literacy campaign. The organization aims to collect 2,500 pairs which will be donated to families and individuals in developing nations such as Haiti and Honduras. Upon the completion of the shoe drive, Funds2Orgs will donate a minimum of $1,000 toward funding Hindi’s Libraries book shipments.

From Friday, October 1 through November 15, donors can deliver their shoes to Hindi’s Libraries locations in Hewlett or Cedarhurst, New York. The locations for dropoffs are as follows: • 286 Willard Drive in Hewlett, NY • 38 Adele Road in Cedarhurst, NY

Please contact co-founder Leslie Gang at leslie@hindislibraries.com for information.

Funds2Orgs asks that all donations be: • Complete pairs of shoes • Wearable condition (would you be comfortable giving them to a friend or relative?) • All sizes and styles are appreciated (adults/kids, sneakers, sandals, boots, heels, etc.)

Hindi’s Libraries is thrilled to be doubling their impact through both shoe and book donations this holiday season. For more information as well as updates on Laces 4 Literacy, visit Hindi’s Libraries on Facebook.

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Gural JCC and Community Chest Host a Sukkos Fair Extravaganza That Exceeds All Expectations

Never before has the Cedarhurst Park seen so much action and been filled with so many smiling faces. It was hard to decide where to look first, where to run to fastest. The rides, the free face painting and petting zoo, the music, the scavenger hunt or arcade… The Succos Fair last week at Cedarhurst Park hosted by the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC and co-sponsored by Community Chest South Shore was a two-day whirlwind of fun, games, good food and good times. It was also a wonderful example of our community coming together to celebrate the fall festival of Sukkos, the beautiful weather and the missed camaraderie among neighbors, friends, local merchants and agency supporters.

In this second annual two-day Sukkos Fair, open to the entire community and beyond, we were thrilled to welcome over 5,000 visitors who enjoyed rides, carnival games, arts and crafts, free concerts by Uri Davidi and Nachas, food from The Wandering Que BBQ truck, David’s Famous Pizza, Rita’s Ice Water, a cholov Yisroel ice cream truck, popcorn, cotton candy and more – and a huge open sukkah to relax and eat in.

JCC free beach balls flew overhead, and children ran around searching for our scavenger hunt clues to claim their prizes. Others picked their seats set out on the plush grass and took in the live concerts – two each day. Kids had a blast at our petting zoo and tossing balls into our roving man on stilts’ basketball hoop. On both days they were also treated to a show and free karate demonstration by our friends at Warren Levi Martial Arts.

It was a sunny, peaceful, beautiful two days, and we want to recognize the Mayor and Village of Cedarhurst, the Town of Hempstead, and the Nassau County Police and Auxiliary Police Departments for their help in making this spectacular event so successful as well as the thirty sponsors who supported this effort. We couldn’t have done it without you all.

The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC has been serving the Five Towns, Far Rockaway and neighboring communities for over four decades. Over 10,000 individuals are directly impacted by our JCC via our social services and Early Childhood Center. Our S.H.O.P. serves over 900 families with monthly food, clothing and social work support and over 370 single parents have reached out and received assistance through our Kadima program. We serve the elderly Russian population and over 100 beloved Holocaust survivors and proudly engage hundreds of volunteers to help us serve the community. To participate, volunteer or donate to our agency call the Gural JCC at (516)569-6733 or visit our website www.guraljcc.org.

The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC is a proud non-profit partne of UJA Federation New York.

Around the Community

Parshas Noach Comes to Life

It was not feasible to bring a representative of every species housed in Noach’s Teivah, but the precocious students of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Harriet Keilson Early Childhood Center got to spend time with quite a few of them this week – and the weekly parasha came to life.

A delegation of farm animals visited the Yeshiva on Monday, including cows, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and a turkey. Each preschool class got a turn to pet, feed and be wowed by these friendly animals.

It was just the latest example of experiential, hands-on learning at Yeshiva Darchei Torah.

Kadima Families Move Forward This Fall to a Better Future

The start of the new school year, the rush of the yom tov season. For any parent, the annual post-summer period is filled with intensity and stress. Both children and parents experience a surge of anxiety as the new school year begins – unfamiliar teachers and classmates, larger workloads, additional fees and supplies, adjustments to revised schedules and new caregivers. Couple this with the tension of shopping, cooking, meal planning and organizing schedules for the seemingly endless run of holidays, and what should be an exciting and uplifting time in a household can become trying and exhausting.

We have all experienced the strain of this time and have felt the often insurmountable pressure of keeping our children, our homes and our lives organized. Now, imagine going through this challenge as a single parent and every one of these responsibilities is magnified.

The Kadima program for single Jewish parents was launched almost seven years ago at the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC with the aim of recognizing a population that is so often overlooked and identifying their many, unexpected needs. What started as a small program tapping into our own clients and circle of contacts has grown into an unmatched endeavor serving over 350 clients in the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, and neighboring communities.

Although we cannot tackle every difficult issue single parents face, the Kadima program was designed to guide and serve these clients as they move forward from the demanding circumstances they have come from on to a path of self-sufficiency and self-esteem.

While throughout the course of the year the Kadima program is in full swing, addressing the myriad needs of our clients, during this post-summer stressful season we have made sure to step up our services, our sensitivities and our support. One of our goals is also to find additional resources for our clients and partner, when appropriate, with others to offer as much assistance as possible.

At the beginning of the school year every child in our program who requested it received a grade appropriate backpack with school supplies – part of UJA’s Supplies for Success initiative. In addition, coats and accessories were distributed with the assistance of our friends at Island Harvest. Kadima support groups resumed after a summer hiatus to bring single parents together in camaraderie and to explore shared hopes and expectations. New clients from our area and beyond joined our program virtually and were able to access group and individual counseling, always at no cost. As the school year kicked in, we resumed our tutoring help for those Kadima kids lagging behind in their studies. Emergency cash funds were also distributed to clients facing unexpected and daunting expenses.

As the holidays approached the SHOP – our local food pantry – was in full motion and many clients received Rosh Hashana packages in addition to their monthly groceries. Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, of The Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, graciously visited our JCC in an intimate in-person meeting hosting a dialogue with single parents to hear about their experiences. Some shared their disappointments and dreams for the first time in decades. Together we spoke about a plan to do better and respond more openly and generously to those in similar situations.

As Succos neared, Rabbi Simcha and Rebbetzin Shani Lefkowitz and the Mark Ramer Chesed Center treated 14 excited Kadima families to a lulav and esrog set while are friends at JCCRP sponsored seven families to a Adventureland chol hamoed trip. Last Sunday/Monday, 30 Kadima kids were invited to the Succos Fair in Cedarhurst park to enjoy a day of fun, music and rides – just like their friends and classmates – thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor and the JCC. Next week Kadima moms will be able to shop at a special pop-up boutique sponsored by Kanfei Nesharim, while our fall kids’ support groups – separately for boys and girls – will begin to help ease the back to school transition anxiety. In addition, a very special music for youth venture will be put into motion for the first time at our JCC for Kadima kids.

As the holidays end and life resumes to some degree of normalcy, the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC will continue to welcome single parent families to our program while carefully tending to the hundreds of families already in our family. We will be alert to new and increased needs and will continue to guide our single parents and their families Kadima – forward to a better future.

If you or anyone you know can use our Kadima services, contact the Gural JCC at (516)569-6733 or email Rachayle Deutsch at rachayle.deutsch@ guraljcc.org.

The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC is a proud non-profit partner of UJA Federation New York.

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Kew Garden Hills Couple Commemorated by United Hatzalah of Israel

By Dr. Fred Naider

The already strong bonds between the Kew Gardens Hills Jewish Community and Israel were strengthened on the evening of Sunday September 19, 2021 at a special ceremony commemorating the lives of Sydell (Shaindy) and Israel (Zippy) Sipzner. The Sipzners, residents of Kew Gardens Hills for nearly 40 years and members of the Young Israel led by Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, passed away within months of each other in 2019. The evening took place in the United Hatzalah of Israel Center on Yermiyahu Street, Yerushalayim. It featured the dedication of a fully equipped ambucycle in the Sipzners’ names by their children Howie and Reize Sipzner, both of whom grew up in Queens and now divide their time between Israel, Florida, and Lido Beach.

The attendees, who included family members and friends of the Sipzners, were introduced to the workings of United Hatzalah. The mission of this organization is to provide a rapid response to medical emergencies thereby saving lives that would otherwise be lost. Yael Perlman, our United Hatzalah representative, explained how this organization cuts down the response time to 3 minutes or less with an ultimate goal of 90 seconds. This goal is achieved by using state-of-the art GPS technology to communicate with victims, locate them, identify nearby EMTs who have been extensively trained by United Hatzalah, and who respond immediately on foot, by bicycle or by ambucycle.

The ambucycle concept, invented by United Hatzalah Founder Eli Beer, is iconic of the organization, and is especially suited for aiding victims in crowded traffic clogged cities like Yerushalayim.

The factual presentation was followed by a memorial dedication by Howie Sipzner. He described his parents as caring, concerned and committed Modern Orthodox Jews who spared no effort or resource to give to their family and their community. Aunt Shaindy and Uncle Zippy were especially beloved because they were always there to help others celebrate a simcha or to provide support and consolation in times of need. They were generous and charitable and cheered their family and friends with stories and jokes. He described them as the perfect role models for their sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and with some emotion articulated the void that was felt by the entire family on their passing. He and Reize, who offered her own moving description of her in-laws later in the evening, felt that the dedication of the Israel and Sydell Ambucycle was especially appropriate and would provide a legacy of helping save lives for years to come.

A surprise appearance by Eli Beer, the founder of Hatzalah, capped the evening. Eli, who rushed back from Tel Aviv to participate in the dedication, held the audience spellbound with his description of his battle with COVID-19 and his brush with the Malach HaMavet when he had to be put on a ventilator with a 5% chance of survival. He expressed the depression he experienced when he finally awoke from an induced coma five weeks later to realize he had missed Pesach with his family. Wracked by guilt, weak and disoriented, he felt he couldn’t return to Israel.

After Mr. Beer’s words, the friends and family of Howie and Reize Sipzner were treated to a ribbon-cutting along with their son Benny who is now serving in the IDF. A Kinyan of the ambucycle was made passing its ownership to its permanent driver Nisan, a Kollel student who lives in the Jewish Quarter (Ha Rova HaYehudi) of the Old City. Thanks to the life lessons taught by Zippy and Shaindy Sipzner to their children, the Rova will now be a safer place for its residents, and I am sure my aunt and uncle’s neshamas are having an Aliyah.

Dr. Fred Naider is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the City University of New York who recently made Aliyah with his wife Anita. Israel and Sydell Sipzner were the author’s uncle and aunt.

National Faith in Blue

Please join us for National Faith in Blue on Sunday, October 10th from 10 a.m. -12 noon at Congregation Beth Sholom located 390 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559 sponsored by Nassau County Police Department. This event is a great opportunity to bridge the gap between the police department and the community. Nassau Commissioner of Police Patrick J. Ryder as well as County Executive Laura Curran will be in attendance, and there will be free entertainment for those who attend.

Come meet your Nassau County police officers and have fun learning about what they do for the community.

Date: Sunday, October 10

Time: 10 a.m. – 12noon

Place: Beth Sholom, 390 Broadway in Lawrence, NY

Around the Community

DRS Freshman Shabbaton

The excitement was palpable as freshmen at DRS Yeshiva High School eagerly boarded the buses on Friday morning, September 10, ready to head to the annual Freshman Shabbaton, held at Camp Kaylie.

“The goal of the Shabbaton is for everyone meet each other and create a sense of achdut within the grade in an enjoyable and fun way,” said DRS Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky to the freshman class.

After davening and breakfast in school, the students headed to camp, and upon arrival, students unpacked and chose to partake in either the annual Freshmen Flag Football Tournament or a hike and bonfire with some of the rabbeim. Throughout the afternoon, students enjoyed a tennis tournament, softball games, and the camp’s spacious facilities, and went go-carting, swimming and played sports before preparing for an amazing Shabbos to come.

All 100 members of this year’s freshmen class – the largest in the school’s history – headed into Shabbos unified as one with tremendous energy and unity. After davening and a festive seuda with zemirot and divrei Torah, the freshmen enjoyed a DRS-style tisch with Rabbi Kaminetsky and their rebbeim, as they sung, enjoyed cholent, kugel and candy and experienced the joy and ruach of Shabbos together as one class. The spirit continued the next morning, as a lively Shacharis, kiddush and intriguing shiurim highlighted the day. After a scrumptious Shabbos lunch with zemirot and singing, students continued forming unbreakable friendships with one another and learned together in the Beis Medrash. Following Mincha and Shalosh Seudos, students gathered for an inspirational and memorable kumzitz, joining together to usher the Shabbos out with song, achdut and ruach. Following a beautiful Maariv and Havdalah, students boarded the busses and left the Shabbaton with a dose of ruach and achdut for the year to come.

On Motzei Shabbos, students faced off in shiur-vs.-shiur wacky Olympics competition, competing in a variety of events, in which every student had a unique role. The night was far from over, as students enjoyed a late-night barbecue and basketball in the gym with their new friends.

OU’s Yachad Launches Resource And Referral Service For Individuals With Disabilites

Yachad, the Orthodox Union’s division for individuals with disabilities in the Jewish community, has announced the launch of REACH, a new Jewish communal resource and referral service for individuals with disabilities and their families. The program will initially serve the New York region, although the group plans to scale operations to accommodate families throughout the United States over time.

REACH aims to provide an organized and centralized referral service for individuals with learning, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in the Jewish community for services specific to their needs. These include various government funded programs, special education, therapies, social and recreational programs and legal services, among others. The referrals will be data driven and based on criteria and preferences provided by the party seeking the referral.

“Our community has long been in need of an extensive referral network for individuals with disabilities and their families. The efforts of the Yachad team will represent a significant and invaluable contribution in addressing that need,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.

“Yachad provides so many important services and programs to families in our community. This is yet another example of the cutting-edge leadership they are bringing to these families,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer.

“In the past, families of those with disabilities had to rely on reaching out to second- and third-degree connections only to learn that the referral wasn’t related to their immediate need. Our hope in creating one centralized system is to be able to give the most accurate referral based on the caller’s specific disabilities, needs, and circumstances – no matter whether that is a Yachad program or another one,” said Yachad International Director Avrohom Adler.

REACH operates as a centralized database for services and referrals that is accessed by phone. The phone lines are manned by a trained team of professionals at Yachad’s headquarters. A staffer will take the time to understand the caller’s needs, while inputting relevant data into the database which will then develop the most appropriate referrals. After the inquiry, the caller will receive an email with the suggestions including names, contact information and websites for further information. Those looking for assistance in finding the right types of services can access the service by calling 1-877-Reach-52 (732-2452). The database service is free to utilize.

Those providers interested in being added to the database can reach out to reach@ou.org.

Around the Community

Chabad of the

Five Towns offered many events to the community over Sukkos

Around the Community

Shaar Lev Opening Day at HALB

Shaar Lev at HALB has officially begun! On opening day, students made sukkah decorations for Sukkot and enjoyed singing in the HALB sukkah led by Rabbi Benji Renov. They were also joined by HALB’s Bnei Akiva shlichot, Shira and Ahuva.

Shaar Lev, in its fourth year, serves local children with unique learning needs who attend public school. Four days a week these students come to HALB after school to learn halacha, parsha, kriah and Chumash for the older grades. Rabbi Libman has created a new Middle School program where boys will learn Mishna, Gemara and hilchot tefillin.

This year Shaar Lev had record registration with thirty-four children from grades K through Eight. HALB has expanded their staff for the program. Welcome Rabbi Marciano, Rabbi Steinberg and Chaya Hyman who have joined Rabbi Libman, Rabbi Herzberg, Ms. Tamar Mosak and Ms. Batsheva Milworn. HALB and Shaar Lev would like to thank Superintendent Dr. Anne Pederson for all of her support, District 15 for providing busing, and to all those who have provided the financial support to make this program possible.

Can My Children Force Me Into a Nursing Home?

By Monet Binder, Esq.

Giving up independence and being forced into a nursing home is one of the biggest fears elderly people have. You may be somewhat relieved to know that as long as you have the ability to make your own medical decisions, no one can force you to go anywhere you don’t want to go. Your doctor or your nurse can’t force you. Even a person who you appointed as your agent in your power of attorney (POA) can’t force you. If your family is insisting that you go to a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, and you don’t want to, if you have the capacity to make the decision not to, no matter how poor that decision is, you have the right to remain home against everyone’s wishes.

However, if your mental capacity is diminished and you are unable to make your own medical decisions, you may be placed in a nursing home for your safety and wellbeing. If you haven’t done any planning, or proper planning in advance, a Guardian or Conservator could be appointed by the court to act on your behalf to make medical decisions for you and you may be placed there. This appointed person usually is a lawyer who knows nothing about you. Establishing a guardian is extremely unpleasant for everyone, and it’s also an expensive court process. It is not free.

In circumstances where there are no family members, and no POA, and the hospital has to establish a guardian for you, and that guardian recommends a nursing home (which they will if the hospital recommends it), then a hospital can force you to go to a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

Also, if you are unable to make your own medical decisions because you lack the capacity to do so, and you have appointed an agent in a power of attorney (POA), your agent can force you to go anywhere they want you to go, whether you agree to it or not. When considering who to appoint in your legal planning documents, it is so important to make sure you choose someone you trust who knows and will honor your wishes.

Who decides whether you have capacity or not to make your own

decisions?

You may be surprised to learn that any licensed physician can make that decision even though most physicians have never been formally trained in the process. Your family doctor could make that decision. Your surgeon could document your lack of capacity and render you incapable of making your own medical decisions. Even your dermatologist can get involved in your medical decision-making process.

If you are concerned about where you will end up if you are unable to make these important decisions for yourself, you need to have the proper legal documentation in place, prepared in advance. Downloading doit-yourself forms from the internet usually will not be enough to give you the protection you need. An experience counseling-based estate planning and elder law attorney can guide you in this way and provide you with the necessary documents to carry out your wishes.

Let us educate you and help you protect yourself and what you have for the people you love the most. Contact us at 718.514.7575 to learn more about how we can help you and your family.

Did you know? Corn used to be so valuable that early settlers in North America used it as currency and traded it for other products

Monet Binder, Esq., has a practice in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, dedicated to protecting families and their legacies and values. All halachic documents are approved by the Bais Havaad Halacha Center in Lakewood, under the direction of Rabbi Dovid Grossman and the guidance of Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky, shlita, as well as other leading halachic authorities.

Around the Community

Shulamith Early Childhood students enjoyed a petting zoo in honor of Parshat Noach

Ezra Academy Out and About

With the start of the school year, Ezra Academy has added many new aspects to what they are offering and providing to their students. One of these is an amazing new program called Operation Ezra. This is a chesed division, where the students look to help their communities by doing chesed where needed. This is not simply a one-time activity but rather an ongoing and continuously evolving division of their extracurricular department. Operation Ezra is comprised of students who understand the importance of helping other and are looking to make a difference. They are led by Mrs. Rena Solomon.

The first project of the year was building sukkahs within the community for those who were unable to do so for themselves. While many people in that situation hire people to build theirs, some, unfortunately, aren’t in the position to do that either. Operation Ezra reached out to community leaders who provided them with a list of people in need of their assistance. Mrs. Solomon led a team of faculty and students in building multiple sukkahs around Queens. Below is a letter received by Ezra Academy by one of the beneficiaries of the sukkah building:

“The mitzvah of Sukkah building for my aging parents has traditionally been my responsibility. Year after year, from the garage and around to the backyard and then up the 11 steps and onto the deck. And then the assembly began of nearly 20 panels followed by the rolling out of the schach and then the lighting and wiring. One can only imagine. It was this year that I noticed that I too am aging and simply could not get it done and hiring a crew to have it built was not an option unfortunately, or perhaps, actually fortunately?

“I didn’t know how to break the news to my parents as Sukkot has always been their favorite of all Jewish holidays. Outdoor dining and singing along with guests. “Mamash me’ayn olam haba” for them as far as I can remember when I was a child growing up in their home and until today. As I discussed the heartbreaking situation with my wife, she assured me that there must be a solution. And very soon after she notified me that she located a group of young men who will come and get the job done! I was so relieved but also shocked! Who did she find? Who does such a thing?

“On the afternoon of September 14, my mother calls me and excitedly asks me to stop by in order to direct these young men regarding the building details. I arrived to their home to a scene that I never imagined. Eight young men MERRILY carrying and connecting panels under the guidance of their JOYOUS rabbi. I understood immediately that this was a rare experience of observing a group of living physical malachim (angels) who were selflessly carrying out a task for the mere mitzvah aspect of it! The radiance and glow on their smiling faces was such that I have never witnessed before in my 47 years on Earth due to its genuineness and purity. I came to learn shortly that these malachim were Rabbi Fink and his talmidim from Ezra Academy. I realized swiftly what this institution nurtures in their students and exemplifies through their rabbanim. I would like to sincerely thank and simultaneously commend Ezra Academy for the attributes witnessed that day which gave our family hope and simcha. Simcha which they incorporated into their building of my parents’ sukkah and simcha which will be felt throughout Sukkot and that will endure for my parents and for them throughout the year B’Ezrat Hashem.

“Thanks to Ezra Academy, this year Sukkot will be a true ‘Zman Simchateinu’ for us all.”

Operation Ezra is more than happy to help in any and all chesed opportunities that might present themselves. Feel free to reach out to Ezra Academy if you would like to work with Operation Ezra or need their assistance.

Around the Community

SKA Celebrates Simchat Yom Tov

An impressive turnout of students, administrators, and faculty members of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls enjoyed a warm and leibedik Simchat Beit Hashoevah on Sunday evening, September 29, in the backyard of SKA Principal, Religious Studies, Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky.

After hearing words of yom tov inspiration from Mrs. Kaminetsky under the stars, girls from every grade sang together in a kumsitz to the musical accompaniment of Mrs. Sorah Shaffren and her guitar. The stirring atmosphere and camaraderie contributed to making Leil Hoshana Rabba and the last two days of the chag so meaningful. The delicious food that was served was an added bonus!

SKA seniors had an additional opportunity to continue the simcha when they joined their Grade Level Advisors, Mrs. Paghit Ralbag and Mrs. Kayla Bach, in Mrs. Ralbag’s sukkah for dessert after the kumsitz. Exceptional divrei Torah were shared by several 12th graders, ending the evening on a high spiritual note.

Simchas Sukkos at MTA

MTA celebrated Sukkos with exciting Simchas Beis Hashoeiva events in Bergen County, Brooklyn, Highland Park, Monsey, Queens, and West Hempstead. The signature MTA ruach filled each sukkah, as talmidim and rebbeim enjoyed singing, dancing, divrei Torah, and delicious food. Thanks to the Apfel, Friedman, Hochman, Laub, Rothberg, and Shmuel families for graciously opening their homes to host these incredible events.

The celebration continued on Simchas Torah with hakafos and a seudas yom tov at Congregation Zichron Mordechai in Teaneck, sponsored by Kenny and Meredith Yager. It was a truly inspiring and meaningful evening, rejoicing in the joy of Torah together as a yeshiva.

BYAM preschool girls learned all about animals from The Nature Show that came to school in honor of Parshas Noach this week

The kindergarten talmidos and moros

of the Ganger Early

Childhood Division of TAG joined together to celebrate the Alef-Bais.

With all the right letters

in place we can be assured these girls will be reading fluently by the end of the year.

Around the Community

More than 70 locals attended the BACH Jewish Center’s Simchas Beis Hashoeva in Long Beach on September 23. The event took place in the synagogue’s sukkah and its outdoor tent

Rabbi Benny Berlin with Noah Solomon A partial view of the crowd

The Last Lion

Seventy-seven years ago, while millions of Eastern European Jews were being mercilessly and barbarically butchered, their Jewish relatives were ensconced in the safe haven of America. While millions of Jews in Eastern Europe were being gassed in crematoria, millions of Jews in America were nonchalantly conducting business, eating ice cream and playing baseball. Most had no idea that their cousins in Europe were being obliterated. There were those that were aware who downplayed or ignored the terrifying truth; others valiantly did whatever they could to stop the seemingly invincible Nazis.

One great Gadol, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, did everything in his power to save fellow Jews. He spearheaded much of the Vaad Hatzalah movement to rescue people from the Holocaust. On several occasions, Rav Kalmanowitz had to openly be mechalel Shabbos in order to raise funds, travel in vehicles, and fill out documents to save lives. It is well known that the great Rosh Yeshiva would break down in tears and even fainted from emotion in the presence of government officials when pleading his cause. He successfully transferred the entire Mir Yeshiva from Lithuania to Shanghai and worked feverishly and tirelessly, without respite, to secure visas for the Yeshiva stranded in Shanghai to come to America.

When asked why he was so relentless and passionate to get the visas for the Yeshiva students, he explained:

“The Midrash Tanchuma says that the lion in Noach’s Ark injured Noach. I never understood why the lion would be so brazen and impetuous. Didn’t the lion appreciate Noach’s efforts? Couldn’t the lion wait patiently? It dawned upon me, said Rav Kalmanowitz, that the lion thought, ‘I am the last lion! If I don’t survive, there will never be another lion again. I am responsible for all future lions. There is no other lion in the entire civilization. All the lions, other than me, are extinct. I must be fed. I am the last lion.’”

Continued Rav Kalmanowitz, “The students who escaped the Nazis are the last lions. They must be saved. They must be cared for and protected. They are the last of their kind. There will never be others like them again. They are the last lions! They will be responsible for all future generations of Torah. We must do everything in our power to take care of them.”

Today, in America, baruch Hashem, Jews are no longer being sent to the ovens and sadistically killed but we are still being destroyed. We are self-destructing. Too many unaffiliated Jews are assimilating and disappearing, never to be seen or heard from again. How could this not affect us? How could we go on living our lives as our brothers and sisters are literally imploding? How dare we think that this isn’t our concern or responsibility! Even in the, frum, religious world, we have had too many sacrifices, lost lives, due to trauma, addiction and because people feel lonely and isolated. All last lions, never to be replaced.

Every Jew you encounter is a Last Lion. Make sure to respect your fellow Jew, no matter their background, and reach out to them with dignity and love. 77 years ago not enough Jews made a difference. They could have saved countless lives. Now, it is within our power to act and save our fellow Jews. Who will you invite to celebrate Shabbos? Which Last Lion will you reach out to and invite to attend a Torah class?

At BJX, every Jew is a Last Lion. Our mission is to never give up hope and to believe in the limitless potential of every Jew. This past Simchas Torah, a young man came to dance with the Torah. Our hearts swelled with joy and pride. Little did anyone know that four years ago this young man was once at his wits end, about to entirely give up his connection with Judaism. We will never forget having to arrange a ride for him home at 3a.m. due to the struggles and anguish this young man faced. Today, he is a dignified ben Torah, the pride of his yeshiva. Another young man who came on Simchas Torah is dating a non-Jewish girl. You should have seen the fervor he had as he sang with us the song, “Moshe emes v’Toroso emes.” His Neshama was aflame. We daven to Hashem that this experience will help him return to Hashem.

Please contact the BJX office to learn how you could be an ambassador of Torah and mitzvos to help bring your fellow Jew back to their heritage.

During these difficult and uncertain times, BJX urgently needs your help and partnership to bring back our fellow Jews. Please donate generously online at www.helpbjx.com. May Hashem bless you with protection from all harm due to your supporting the holy work of BJX.

Cedarhurst Car Show: All Your Favorite Classic Cars Come Together at One Place

Date: Sunday, October 10 from 9am – 3pm, Admission: Free

Do you love trucks, hot rods, classic, muscle cars, exotics and vintage cars? Then come on down to Andrew J. Parise Park in Cedarhurst to see some of the finest vehicles in all these classes for our 7th Annual Car Show on Sunday, October 10th starting at 9 am.

The show will feature more than 100 classic and collectible cars, street rods, and trucks; some lovingly original, or carefully restored to mint condition or modified for performance.

These magnificent cars displayed against the lush greenery of Andrew J. Parise Park are a great background for some spectacular photos.

There is no better way to spend your Sunday than with us. And best of all, admission is absolutely FREE.

Around the Community

Chabad of Oceanside visited the Valley Town House community on Sukkos to provide opportunities for residents to perform the mitzvah of lulav and esrog

Kaminsky Secures $150K License Plate Reader Grant for NCPD

Senator Todd Kaminsky, alongside County Executive Laura Curran and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, announced recently that he secured a $150,000 license plate readers (LPR) grant for the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct.

“Police need every tool at their disposal to solve crimes,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky. “I secured a $150,000 grant for the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct for license plate readers that will help cops protect our community. I am committed to doing everything I can to support law enforcement and help keep Nassau the safest county in America.”

This money will go toward purchasing fixed LPR cameras and portable LPR trailers for usage in Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Lawrence, and Hewlett. Portable LPR systems function 24/7 and are mounted on a traffic trailer, meaning law enforcement won’t have to stay in one place waiting for hits or sit beside a road for hours waiting for alerts.

Police can utilize the information gathered from license plate readers to find out where a plate has been in the past, assess whether a car was at the scene of a crime, identify travel trends, and even uncover vehicles that may be related to each other.