Community Happenings

Around the Community

Scenes from the Yeshiva Darchei Torah Middle School/Mechina Graduation

Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva

Rabbi Dovid Lan, menahel of the Mechina

Rabbi Moshe Leff, principal

Around the Community

The Mesivta Shaarei Chaim graduation was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nochum Aber

HANC H.S. Closing Ceremony

On Tuesday, June 16, HANC High School students filled the student activities Zoom for this year’s Closing Ceremony 2020/5780. The program opened with remarks from Principal Rabbi Shlomo Adelman, followed by award presenta tions.

T he first set of recognition was a series of honors that were given to students who stand out in areas that are valued at HANC. Rabbi Adelman introduced the awards with a special emphasis on the process of choosing recipients. Faculty members nominat ed candidates via a Google form for c onsideration and collectively selected the recipients. Each award went to one male and one female recipient and was presented by administrators.

The names of each recipient of the ten awards will be added to the plaques adorning the second floor hallway. The students who went above and beyond in their participation in chessed ac tivities were Emily Hamer and Justin

NOBODY DESERVES TO BE ABUSED

Shalom Task Force receives thousands of phone calls offering a confidential place to turn to for help, resources and support.

You’re not alone. We’re here to help.

CONFIDENTIAL ANONYMOUS HOTLINE: (No Caller ID) 888.883.2323 (TOLL FREE) 718.337.3700 (NYC AREA)

Anonymous hotline — no caller ID. You do not have to give your name. Trained staff of informed, sensitive and caring individuals. Referrals include counseling, legal advice or finding a safe place.

It hurts to call A domestic abuse hotline. It hurts more not to.

R app, who received the Rabbi Moshe Z”L & Rebbetzin Sandra Gottesman Chesed Award. The Golda Meir Com munity & School Spirit Award went to Rebecca Linder and the Natan Sharansky Community & School Spirit A ward went to Gabe Lovy, as students who exemplify “a strong commitment to the HANC community and [work] selflessly in order to foster inclusive ness and strengthen school spirit.”

S tudents were also recognized for their “academic achievement, true in tellectual curiosity, and a demonstrated commitment to increasing knowledge in various disciplines.” Jacob N ewman received the Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook Passion for Education Award and Nava Lippman received the Nechame Leibowitz Passion for Education Award. Students with out standing “determination and diligence and an unwavering commitment to advance academically” received The Rabbi Meyer & Rebbetzin Goldie A”H Fendel Determination and Persever ance Award; Jillian Moldovan and J acob DiGiacomo were the recipients. The Ateret Shem and Keter Shem Tov recognizes two students who demon strate distinguished character and a s trong commitment to leading a life of high ethical and moral standards con sistent with Torah ideals and values. The recipients were Liora Rahmani and Moshe Wieder.

HANC helps build character by en suring that students perform acts of c hessed. Although 15 hours per year are required by HANC, many students choose to continue their participation past their obligation.

Chessed honors were recognized at the ceremony. Silver awards went to students who completed more than 25 chessed hours, gold awards to stu dents who completed over 50 hours, a nd platinum awards were reserved for students who completed over 100 chessed hours.

A nostalgic year-in-review video presentation expertly prepared by Ms. Maddie Hamada was viewed and re flected upon a wonderful school year.

I n addition, a special recognition and heartfelt farewell was given to Mrs. Myra Cohen who is retiring after 30 years. Dr. Steven Levey, Ms. Emily Hubbard, and Dr. Lisa DiMarco also received heartfelt farewells as they will not be returning to HANC in the Fall.

A surprise presentation was pre sented by students and faculty alike e xpressing their Hakarat Hatov to Menahel/Principal Rabbi Shlomo Adelman for all that he has done for HANC over the past eight years.

Director of College Guidance Ms. Karen Sheff, presented a series of awards recognizing students’ ac complishments. These awards were: B ausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award - Aviva Friedman; The Fred erick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award - Nava Lippman; George Eastman Young Leaders Award - Gabe L ovy; Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology Mordechai Kupferstein; Rensselaer Polytech In stitute Medal Award- Sasha Isler; The B randeis Book Award - Justin Rapp; Nassau County District Attorney Shield Award- Eitan Wertman; and the Yeshiva University Torah U’Ma dah Book Award - Mosher Wieder and R ena Max.

The ceremony created a sense of achdut among the students as they cheered for their peers who received awards. The program concluded with a musical performance by music teacher Mr. Jacob Spadaro.

Around the Community

A Tree Grows in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway Be’er Miriam Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund

Yoni just proposed to Malkie, and with an unequivocal “yes!” They’re engaged. However, because of Covid-19, Malkie’s parents are out of work. Yoni’s family is at a financial standstill as well. Malkie only works part-time, and Yoni is still learning and earning a degree. How can either family afford a wedding? And how can the new chosson and kallah hope to set up a home under these circumstances? Malkie and Yoni desperately need our help.

After one phone call to the Be’er Miriam Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund, Yoni and Malkie’s wedding is in the works, even with Covid restrictions. From a gown to a shaitel, flowers to a photographer, beds and a dining set, and even new dresses to make the kallah feel special and dignified, the fund steps in to help make Yoni and Malkie’s dreams come true.

Fast forward two months and Boruch Hashem, Malkie and Yoni are now happily married and have established their first roots. It’s a beautiful beginning.

A tree is planted. A s it is delicately placed in the fertile earth, watered, and provided with sunlight, it grows strong branches and healthy leaves because of its ability to cultivate and reap the benefits of establishing a solid foundation.

Each new home is a branch of a warm, vibrant community; each new couple is its nurtured leaves. Malkie and Yoni serve as only one example of how a community’s actions can contribute significantly to its own growth, facilitating its ability to thrive. At Be’er Miriam Tziporah, our sole purpose is to contribute to our communal growth and to continue to meet its increasing needs. We are planters. But we need your support. We are one community, united for one cause: Hachnosas Kallah.

S ince its inception, the Be’er Miri

am Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund has helped over 1,000 families, assisting in over 200 weddings!

Dedicated in the loving memory of two remarkable “Miriams” – Miriam Tziporah Adams and Miriam Kayla Adler – the fund enables a chosson and kallah to assume their roles as husband and wife before and after the c huppah. Whether it’s helping defray the costs of a hall, catering, band, photographer, staff, gown, even hair and makeup, we continue to help a couple with their needs even beyond their wedding night. Sheva brachos, furniture, linens, pots and pans, and more, the fund serves as a means of establishing a home and the two people who are embarking on a lifelong journey rooted in a solid foundation.

In this unprecedented and unpredictable climate, our community needs to do more now than ever to support our budding homes and make them a blossoming force in our community. Together, as one, we must find a way to move forward in cultivating our newlyweds’ fresh beginnings.

We have many ticket packages specials for our auction. This week’s extra special deal to raise money for the Be’er Miriam Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund can be purchased at FAME through Sunday, July 7. If you purchase $150 in tickets, you’ll receive 10% off the package and a $25 gift card to either Gourmet Glatt or FAME. Additionally, all purchases made through July 27 will be entered into a raffle to win $500 cash! T ickets can also be purchased by phone, email, fax, online, or by mail up until August 5 via our website: rayze.it/beerauction or be email: tickets@beer-miriam.org or phone 616-242-3796.

Be a part of the Be’er Miriam Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund and watch our trees grow.

Around the Community

Camp Shira launches another summer to sing about

Klal Yisroel’s Youngest Members Benefit From STAR-K Kashrus

By Margie Pensak

The importance of pairing a Jewish nursemaid with a Jewish baby can be found in Parshas Shemos. After baby Moshe was s aved from the Nile River by his rescuer – ironically, Batya, the daughter o f Pharoah, who mandated that all Jewish newborn males be killed – he cried profusely, refusing to be nursed by her gentile Egyptian maids. Thanks to his sister, Miriam, who happened to witness this scene by the river’s edge, Moshe ended up serendipitously re ceiving the nursemaid services of his o wn mother, Yocheved.

The Gemara [Sotah 12b] notes that Baby Moshe refused to nurse from a gentile woman, asking, “Shall a mouth that will speak with the Divine Pres ence nurse impure milk?” The Rama [Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 81:7] rules that a child should always avoid nursing from a gentile woman when it is possible to nurse from a Jewish woman, quoting the Rashba’s rea soning that the nature of non-Jewish women will affect the child. The Rama goes further, citing an opinion that a Jewish woman who is forced to eat non-kosher foods should refrain from nursing. He concludes that one should follow the stricter opinion of both pos sibilities.

A ccordingly, Mrs. Chaya Millet of the Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim Milk De pot of Lakewood approached STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Shmuel Heinemann to ensure that Jewish ba bies in need of mother’s milk – who for whatever reason cannot get it from their mother – obtain it from a shomer Torah u’mitzvos donor.

Explains Mrs. Millet, “As a lacta tion consultant, I get calls occasionally from mothers looking for milk. When you have a preemie or very sick baby in the hospital who is in need of milk, it is dangerous for the baby to get formu la; they need mother’s milk. It’s really p ekuach nefesh for these very vulnerable babies. Therefore, if the mother cannot produce milk at that point – or for whatever reason the mother doesn’t have milk for her baby – in order for the baby to survive, milk is needed from the milk bank which has pasteurized mother’s milk.

“When a mother would call me to say her baby is in the hospital and asks if we have kosher milk – milk from a Jewish mother – the answer was, ‘We have milk but it’s not pasteurized, so the hospital won’t accept it,’” contin ues Mrs. Millet. “I felt very badly about it. I thought the Jewish community is big enough today, why can’t we have that? There is enough extra Yiddishe milk for us to process and get to the hospital.”

There was a lot of bureaucratic work behind the scenes to make this a reality in a highly regulated industry; milk bank guidelines were developed in consultation with the federal Cen ters for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

“ We approached the New York Milk Bank (NYMB), which was very accommodating and sensitive to our needs as a community,” explains Mrs. Millet. “In order to get it kosher certified, Rabbi Heinemann was so amazing. He gave us his time so will ingly and freely, guiding us in how to g et the pasteurization process kosher to STAR-K’s standards. It took more than a year from when we started, but boruch Hashem, we had our first run in June, which was very successful. Now, we finally have kosher pasteur ized mother’s milk. Kudos goes to Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, NYMB’s founder a nd executive director, and Roseanne Motti, the director of operations, who were so helpful with the logistics to get this off the ground. Also, to Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood which houses the drop off freezer that stores the donor milk until it is sent to NYMB.”

“Every production requires a mashgiach to ensure that they are only producing milk that has been proved to be kosher milk,” further explains Rabbi Heinemann, who traveled to NYMB, in Valhalla, New York, to over see the first kosher production. “We make sure that they are only processing kosher milk for that specific production; then, we seal it. We had to figure out a way to make sure from whom w e were getting the milk. The potential donor must fill out a questionnaire a nd submit it together with a letter from a rabbi who can vouch that she is actually shomer Torah u’mitzvos.”

The second prerequisite, after the donor mother is approved according to these STAR-K standards, is for the donor to be approved by NYMB’s fourstep screening process. This is based on the bloodwork and medical history of the donor and baby.

“Once they are approved, we send the donor special stickers which must be affixed to each individual bag of milk donated,” continues Rab bi Heinemann. “Prior to production, the mashgiach checks the individual frozen milk bags for the sticker which bears the Hebrew signature of the do nor, attesting that it is indeed from a sh omer Torah u’mitzvos source, and the pasteurizer is kashered. The mash giach watches the production through the pasteurization process until it is bottled and labeled. Each donor’s milk is produced separately; it is not mixed and bottled with that of other donors.”

The finished product is then sealed and frozen until it is distributed to hos pitals and parents who have prescriptions from their doctors. Recipients i nclude mothers of premature and sick babies; adoptive, foster, and surrogate parents; and, women with full-term, healthy babies who don’t produce suf ficient milk, themselves. Donor milk is a covered benefit through Medicaid for inpatients. NYMB is working tirelessly to ensure coverage for outpatients on a case-by-case basis.

Mrs. Millet says the next hurdle is getting the word out to mothers and hospitals who don’t yet know about the STAR-K-certified donor milk, for the babies who need it, since it is a new product and not every hospital is con tracted to NYMB.

“ STAR-K is not charging for overseeing kosher production of this milk,” n otes Rabbi Heinemann. “We are providing our hashgacha, gratis, as a service for the community. We’d like to thank Mrs. Millet who has spent so much time on this project and has not taken a penny for it – she is doing it all l’shem Shamayim. It is a total chessed.”

Concludes Mrs. Millet, “There were steps along the way where I felt Hash em’s hand guiding me, telling me that w e are doing the right thing…Even though there were hurdles and corona pushed us over, boruch Hashem, when we got that milk I came home and said, ‘Mazel Tov!’”

Around the Community

Honoring Our Educational Heroes at Gesher

The challenges of the corona lockdown and medical demand have shaped a new image of heroes. The lifesaving and overworked doctors and nurses were at the forefront of the pandemic. The demand on medical facilities highlighted the sacrifice and importance of everyone who plays a role, from delivery people bringing much needed supplies to the custodial engineers who keep the facilities clean and safe.

The term non-essential worker gave us a new appreciation of the often ignored, but highly essential – the clerk at the grocery or pharmacy and the person whose job it is to restock the shelves. They became overnight heroes as we suddenly had to contemplate what life would be like without their dedication.

Our children had the opportunity to gain a new level of connection and valuation for a group of people whom they may have otherwise viewed as sometimes incidental – their teachers.

While the world seemed eerily quiet with no entertainment, no peer socializing, and no recreation, the morahs, rebbeim, and teachers took their

Mental health professionals are often faced with issues that seem in conflict with Torah values. To help those preparing for careers in social work address burning questions, Touro College Graduate School of Social Work and NEFESH International recently hosted a Zoom Q&A session with world-renowned posek, Rav Dovid Cohen, shlita.

In an-hour long “Ask the Rav” responsibility to a new level.

They were tasked with making it as normal as possible. Preparing pre-recorded lessons as well as running their zoom classrooms, making sure to give the right amount of work, not too much for the overburdened, not too little for the others. And making sure that it was prepared and shared in a timely and seamless way. Overwhelming!

And many had their own children to support as well. It became normal, almost expected, for teachers to reach out to each other and to administrators at two o’clock in the morning.

At the Gesher Early Childhood Center, the term “above and beyond” has been in use since the school’s inception. It is the trademark, a product of dedicated and passionate educators who care to support the whole child on their path to success. Their goal during this period was to provide the child with the most social and educationally productive product possible and to make sure that the children were happy and engaged.

T he feedback from the parents was session, Rav Cohen discussed halachic and hashkafic ramifications of a variety of key issues. Treating clients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and its manifestation in overzealous religious observance, how therapists should view addicts and substance abusers, and issues surrounding marital counseling for intermarried couples were explored, among many other topics.

The session was moderated by consistently positive with many sending in pictures of smiling children learning, participating, and being encouraged to use their imaginations.

Because of Covid, Gesher’s three main campaigns were cancelled. Not only does that have a financial effect but it also limits Gesher’s exposure in the community and takes away the parents’ opportunity to express their gratitude to the staff. Gesher has initiTouro executive vice president Rabbi Moshe Krupka. “Touro was honored to offer the opportunity for our social work students and alumni to learn how they can infuse their professional practice with Torah values and halacha. As Mara D’Asra of Ohel and NEFESH International, Rav Dovid Cohen addresses these issues on a regular basis and is uniquely positioned to offer answers and assistance to those in the trenches.”

Rav Cohen offered practical strategies for therapists to uphold halacha while entering into a variety of client relationships. He also offered words of strength and encouragement.

“Don’t look at yourselves as ‘baalei parnasah,’” said Rav Cohen. “The term ‘making a living’ is not a Jewish concept. G-d gives us what we need to live on. We are Jews first, not therapists or doctors or lawyers. …As social workers, you are Jews who are gomlei chassadim every day. You can

ated an online Journal of Honor campaign, similar to a dinner journal, to help offset the losses and to provide the parents and grandparents a forum for displaying their appreciation.

The campaign committees encourage everyone to Honor Our Educational Heroes by participating in this vital campaign. Please visit www.

Touro and Nefesh Present “Ask the Rav” Zoom Session

Did you know?

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution creating America’s first official flag: “Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field…

gesher-ecc.org to place your ad. literally give life to your clients.”

Rav Cohen recounted the story of two chassidim boasting about the special powers of their respective rebbeim, “One said his rebbe is mechaye maisim, brings the dead back to life, and the other said his was mechaye chaim, brings the living back to life…. This is what you are as therapists. Your role is all about breathing new life into the living – encouraging, empowering and bringing people who feel depressed and in the depths of despair back to life.”

“As Orthodox mental health professionals, we need to nurture our souls and not only enhance our clinical skill set. Reb Dovid Cohen, shlita, offered us the chizuk and guidance needed to so,” said Miriam Turk, LCSW, Outreach Liaison & Recruitment Director, Jewish Community at the Touro Graduate School of Social Work and Executive Director of NEFESH International.

Around the Community Thank You for Uniting with Us 4Hashem

By Jen S. Zwiebel, JEP/Nageela

We have tremendous hakaras hatov to all who helped JEP/Nageela reach our goals of raising much-needed funds during our fifth annual matching campaign, 4Hashem. The 4X matching campaign is supported by generous matching donors in the community along with the Grinspoon Foundation’s g rant. Fans of the organization – mostly former Nageela campers and staff – came out of the woodwork to form teams and spread the word to their constituency as the “matchees.” This was a winning strategy as over 125 teams united as one to spread the word. The organization was able to raise 80 percent more than last year, even during these different times we’re living in. It just shows that when there’s a will, there’s a way for almost anything. We are very grateful to every person who contributed to the JEP/Nageela fundraiser with their hearts and their neshamas.

The 4Hashem fundraiser is orchestrated seemingly effortlessly by Ohavia Feldman, JEP/Nageela’s Executive Director. This year we had the z’chus of using the outdoor safe and comfortable “headquarters” of The Wohgelenter family in Inwood. We thank them for their hospitality. Rabbi Dovid Shenker and Rabbi Yitzchok Wurem worked tirelessly around the clock with Mr. Feldman, Chava Rina Stopler, Dovi Friedman, Shalvi Lantsman, Yoni Huppert and many more to pump everyone up, make calls, raise our aspirations, and make our success happen!

You can still make a difference as we gear up for Family Camp at Nageela in August. Visit campnageela.org for more information or jepli.org/donate to help support families who want to participate in our programs. Thank you for being a part of our JEP/Nageela family as we remain Joyfully Jewish together!

TAG DriveByeBye

Saying goodbye to our talmidos at the end of the school year is always bittersweet. This year, however, our saying goodbye including saying hello to each talmidah who was so missed during these past few months. As the cars drove by, some decorated with thank you notes, the girls had an opportunity to express their thanks personally to their principals, moros and teachers. Each girl received a special TAG cookie as well as a summer tote bag filled with new flavor of fine cheese slices, Hickory Smoked Edam, in addition to the existing, wellloved Edam and Muenster. And now, Tnuva’s cheese slices are under the strict supervision of NSK – New Square Kosher, in addition to the Badatz Vaadat Mehadrin.

Counting calories? Tnuva’s Edam and Muenster are both available in Light versions, so that you can enjoy the same great flavor with only a fraction of the fat.

Tnuva’s quality slices are the perfect way to satisfy your cheese

great prizes. Both the water bottle and Frisbee carried the important message of “I’m a Bas Melech and I’m Proud!” A special pen and summer homework pamphlets were also included for grades 1-4 to help them prepare for the coming school year.

Special thanks to Morah Levin, Mrs. Feldman, all the moros and teachers, secretaries and volunteers who organized the event and who worked so hard to give our talmidos

Say “Cheese Please!” with Tnuva’s New Hickory Smoked Edam Slices

By phone or private appointment

Gerber Bedding Sleep Like A Baby

 Mattresses  Bunk Beds  Box Springs  High Risers

Showroom located in Bayswater Call or text Dena 718-536-4978

Tnuva is proud to present its

a great send-off. cravings at any time of the day or night for a delicious, nutritious meal or snack. Delicious as part of an original sandwich creation, grilled cheese, or just straight out of the pack.

Tnuva USA President and CEO Yoram Behiri is enthusiastic about making Tnuva’s quality products available to a wider audience and said, “In these challenging times, we’re dedicated to continuing broadening our customer base and providing them with quality products that serve to strengthen the bonds of family and friendship!”

Around the Community

MTA’s Epic Graduation Ceremony

PHOTOS BY HEDVANDAN PHOTOGRAPHY

On Tuesday, June 23, MTA celebrated the class of 2020 at an epic drive in graduation ceremony. Held at Adventureland in Farmingdale, New York, the exciting event was the perfect tribute to the graduating class. Seniors were greeted upon arrival with live music, as their rebbeim and faculty cheered them on and celebrated the culmination of an incredible four years. The program focused on each and every graduate and included a video processional where seniors put their own twist on the traditional cap and gown walk, a video highlighting each graduate’s MTA experience, and a video that featured administrators describing the class of 2020. While attendees needed to remain in their cars for most of the ceremony due to current safety regulations, the signature energy and ruach that MTA is known for was palpable throughout the entire event. Talmidim, parents, rebbeim, and faculty honked their horns, cheered from their car windows, and danced in their seats

in celebration of an amazing group of seniors.

The program opened with a stellar rendition of the Star Spangled Banner recorded by seniors Gavi Recht, Yaakov Schwartz, Tzvi Simchon, and DJ Wartelsky. Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn addressed the crowd and shared mem

Did you know?

The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution to legally separate from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. The approved Declaration of Independence was first printed on July 4, 1776.

ories of the senior class as well as divrei Torah and bracha. Yeshiva University President Dr. Ari Berman (‘87) also welcomed the audience via a video message. Attendees heard meaningful and inspiring words from valedictorian Nesanel Dietz and salutatorian Eitan Friedman. Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes (‘76) also addressed the graduates and introduced Shua Pariser, who made a siyum on Maseches Chulin on behalf of the senior grade. Rabbi Avraham Shulman, 12th grade dean/mashgiach, led the Presentation of Candidates, where each graduate had the opportunity to receive their diploma on stage in a socially distanced manner. The program closed with a beautiful recording of Hatikvah by seniors Gavi Recht,

Yaakov Schwartz, Tzvi Simchon, and DJ Wartelsky.

“It was extremely important to us to provide the seniors with a special graduation to celebrate the unparalleled growth and accomplishments they have achieved over the past four years,” said Rabbi Kahn. “While this certainly was not the senior year that any of us expected, we are proud of our talmidim for the patience and perseverance they have shown throughout the pandemic. We were thrilled to host this unique event, which gave every talmid in the grade the opportunity to shine and enabled us to highlight this remarkable group of talmidim, who have truly enhanced our yeshiva with their achudus, enthusiasm, and leadership.”

Around the Community

At the Nikolsburger shul in Woodbourne, NY

Camp Funshine starts off another fun summer where every child shines!

Around the Community

Sen. Kaminsky, Empire Secure $5K Grant for Achiezer

Senator Todd Kaminsky and the Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Achiezer Community Resource Center to support their work helping the Five Towns recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were used to purchase personal protective equipment for donor plasma and antibody testing blood drive efforts.

“Achiezer is a pillar of the Five Towns, providing a myriad of crisis management and support services to the community,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky. “I was pleased to work in partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield to provide this grant to help fight the pandemic in our community. Day in and day out, Achiezer and Rabbi Bender have been on the front lines of the COVID-19, and I am confident these funds will further the organization’s incredible work.”

“Senator Kaminsky has shown us time and again his willingness to be there for the community in anticipating the needs and stepping up and assisting whenever necessary,” said Rabbi Boruch B. Bender, President of Achiezer. “We are truly grateful.”

“Meeting the health needs of the whole person is critical to fulfilling Empire’s mission of materially and measurably improving the health of all New Yorkers,” said Alan Murray, president of Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “That’s why it was important for us to support Achiezer, which provides a comprehensive set of services to meet the varying needs of individuals and families in times of crisis. We’re committed to the communities we serve and working with organizations like Achiezer as we improve the health of all New Yorkers.”

Founded more than a decade ago, Achiezer provides an array of services to the Five Towns community as its premier crisis management organization. From delivering meals to making hospital arrangements to providing financial counseling, Achiezer has been tackling the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, and will use the grant funding secured by Senator Kaminsky in partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield to bolster their work for the community at this difficult time.

Did you know?

Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe all died on July 4