Westchester Jewish Council

Two Places at Once by Yoav Cohen, Westchester Shaliach

2014-08-13T09:46:00.000-04:00

Sunday, August 3, 2014 This last Friday I was on a bus with a group of American and Israeli teens on our way to New York. Along with our dedicated staff, we were about to complete Havaya 2014, an American- Israeli summer partnership program that travels around Israel and the USA to develop Jewish Peoplehood, leadership and tikkun olam (repairing the world). This year we had it all; sirens, Israel’s beautiful landscape and people, rockets, packing gifts for soldiers, Six Flags Great Adventures, the US Capitol, and running a summer camp for underprivileged kids in Savannah, Georgia. It was the experience of a lifetime.

But on Friday I did not want to be on the bus. Five thousand miles away I received my orders for an emergency military call up to reserve duty (tzav 8), but I was, and still am, not there. I should be there, dafka where everyone does not want to be. My heart was, and still is, there with my guys, who were gearing up and heading out to stop those who want to hurt the families of the teens on the bus with me.

I am a reserve duty officer and I am on shlichut, serving as an emissary, for the Jewish Agency for Israel. Here I am responsible for thirty teens on a summer leadership program. There I am a deputy company commander, responsible for ninety soldiers and the safety of many more Israelis.

You can try to understand the feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I am not sure you really can. It is a feeling of having to be in two places at once and knowing that you can only be in one. It is a feeling of concern for your family and friends, who you know are fine, but you need constant reassurance. It is feeling that you need to get on a flight and do your part there. It is a feeling of being far away from home while it is under attack.

It is a need to refresh three news websites and check the latest from the field every ten minutes. It is a need to read your text messages as soon as you get them, just in case. It is the need to reluctantly trust another officer to do your job properly. It is a need to protect your home when it is under attack.

But I did not get off the bus. I did not leave the group because I had another equally important part to play here. As we drove, our staff received messages from those who have been called up, information about friends who have been injured, and friends who have fallen. But we were here, and being here means doing exactly what Israeli soldiers are fighting for us to do- keep going.

We are here and we have the responsibility for our group; to ensure that dafka now, of all times in their lives, these teens have the most meaningful summer experience. As I sat on the bus I looked at them, talked to them, and shared my feelings with them. They asked about everything, and I answered honestly. We helped each other to keep going, to push on.

They are the best youth that Israel and America have- bright, inquisitive, mature and dedicated. In a few years the Israelis will be enlisting to the different units of the IDF to fight the battles on the ground. The Americans will be off to college and will likely find themselves fighting hostilities on campus. Soon they will be responsible for the next group on the bus and our trust will be in them to lead the those next down the line.

Through their travels the participants of Havaya 2014 experienced Israel at war, but at the same time they experienced the same Israel at its finest. They traveled the long roads of the USA to bring smiles to the faces of underprivileged children that they had never met before. They experienced Jewish peoplehood, practiced tikkun olam and honed their leadership skills at levels well beyond their years.

This summer thirty teenagers traveled to Israel for ‘another’ development program and returned as young adults with life altering lessons that could not be taught from any curriculum. They will carry with them a havaya (literally- an experience) that is more significant and powerful than any single siren or rocket. During these past weeks Israeli soldiers on the front lines have been fighting an enemy bent on terrorizing an entire country. As I sat on the bus I realized; Hamas picked a fight with Israel, but that they are dealing with a much larger, stronger force- the Jewish people and our future.

A Pre-Shabbat Message from Westchester Shaliach, Yoav Cohen

2014-07-14T14:49:00.002-04:00

Friday, July 11, 2014

Dear Friends,

I write to you from Israel, as we travel around with a group of teens from the New York area, including Westchester. First and most importantly, we are safe and fine. The current security situation has only made us vary our plans slightly, and our teens are enjoying and getting the most out of their visit to Eretz Yisrael.
This latest escalation in violence from the Gaza Strip comes again in the form of rockets being fired deliberately towards populated areas around Israel. While the Iron Dome system has had a success rate of over 90% in intercepting rockets, over 6 million people are currently affected directly. People may have between 15 seconds and a minute to find shelter.

With that, I see first hand how Israelis are handling the situation by staying strong, positive and supportive of our security forces. We are showing our strength by continuing to live - going to work, sitting in coffee shops, and shopping in preparation for Shabbat. We are vigilant and aware, and keep going with a smile.
I know that in times like these, when Israel and Israelis face the most challenging of threats in recent years, that the Westchester community has been and will continue to stand alongside Israel in every way possible. I am aware of different initiatives that have been organized in Westchester and I urge you to show your support in any way you can. Please check with the Westchester Jewish Council and any of the relevant affiliated agencies to see what you can do.

We all hope and pray that the current violence will subside as soon as possible and that quiet will return to the region. Until then, please keep the soldiers of the IDF, Israel's Magen David Adom medical teams, the Israeli police, security forces and volunteers in your thoughts and prayers.

Wishing us all a Shabbat Shalom,

Yoav Cohen, Westchester Community Shaliach

Guest Post: Maybe Next Year by Paul Warhit

2013-12-19T13:09:00.001-05:00

I spent last week with 5,000 Jews at the URJ biennial in San Diego, California and I came away with 2 observations. The first observation is that nobody in his right mind would return to New York in December after spending 4 days in sunny San Diego. Yet here I am back in New York.

The second observation is that while I am extremely comfortable being a Jew in Westchester in 2013, that comfort level reaches new heights when I am surrounded by thousands of other Jews all learning, singing, eating, and praying together. As vibrant as our Westchester Jewish community is, we are still a minority population. It is incredibly empowering when 5,000 Jews take over a convention center and become the majority for a few days. It's nice to know that wherever you look, you'll see YOUR people.

Of course, that euphoria quickly dissipated as soon as the cab dropped me off at the airport Sunday morning and I became part of a religious minority once again. It's not like I was discriminated against or anyone looked at me funny. It was just that I was no longer surrounded by MY people and that absolutely changed things for me. I had lost that confidence; that swagger that I had back in San Diego. Coincidentally, when I landed at JFK airport and left my gate, I passed a gate with a group of passengers on line to board a flight to Tel Aviv on El Al. I thought to myself, "My bags are already packed. I could be in Eretz Yisrael in a mere 12 hours. I could be surrounded by millions of MY people and soak in the feeling that I longed for." I actually stopped walking and thought about it for a moment. Then reality hit and I continued walking toward the exit.

I love living in Westchester with all our wonderful neighbors. I appreciate the ethnic and religious diversity our community offers. At the same time, I do enjoy being surrounded by MY people. Maybe one day. Maybe next year in Jerusalem.

Guest Post: Breaking Bread and Breaking Down Barriers by Paul Warhit

2013-11-22T07:08:00.000-05:00

I just returned home from the Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast at Manhattanville College, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Duchesne Center, and the Westchester Jewish Council in addition to an impressive list of community partners. They were the most enjoyable three hours I've spent in a long time. We started by enjoying a delicious breakfast while giving honor to 3 deserving recipients for their efforts in promoting diversity throughout Westchester County. That was followed by scintillating conversations with my tablemates discussing what each of us is doing to improve relations among different racial/ethnic/religious groups in our community and how we can collaborate to do even more. The best part of this discussion is that it took place with people I did not know who looked and prayed differently than I do. And that is a VERY GOOD thing.

The program's theme was "Building the Mosaic" and the event did just that. Benzinger Hall was filled with 300 people of all colors, religions, nationalities, and sizes with three objectives in mind.

#1- To greet each other and enjoy our company.
#2- To celebrate the level of success we've achieved in the area of diversity in Westchester County.
#3- To acknowledge that there is still much work to do and to discuss ways to cooperate to make sure no individual or group is left out of our welcoming community.

I left the Diversity Breakfast energized and thankful. I was energized by the level of mutual respect and commitment to improve on a community that cherishes our diversity. We acknowledge our differences and embrace the beauty that each of our communities brings to the larger table. And I was thankful that Ilissa and I are able to raise our three children in an environment where people of all backgrounds treat each other with respect and recognize that we are all created in God's image and are deserving of each other's appreciation.

The message shared by those in attendance was a simple one, but one that can never be repeated enough. Now it is time to return to the good work that we've begun.

Guest Post: Zero Tolerance by Paul Warhit

2013-11-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

We tell our children that they should neither bully others nor allow themselves to be bullied. We hold instructive classes teaching our children how bullying is a destructive practice that can only lead to bad things. In extreme instances, children and young adults end up taking their own lives after relentless bullying either in person or via the internet pushes them beyond the limits of rational thought.

The news of Miami Dolphins' offensive lineman, Richie Incognito, bullying teammate Jonathan Martin should come as no shock. While it is true that neither Richie nor Jonathan are in middle school or high school, serious bullying behavior was going on to the point that Martin had to distance himself from Incognito by leaving the team and missing last Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

I'm not surprised that this bullying went on between grown adults. I'd bet that to varying degrees, bullying behavior goes on in workplace environments more than we'd like to believe. What I'm surprised about is that Martin's teammates did nothing to stop the bullying. It is almost impossible to miss the signs of bullying in a close-knit environment like a team locker room. Whether Martin's teammates decided not to step in to defend him against Incognito or if they actively participated in the bullying, they must be held responsible for the torment Martin went through.

We teach our children to stand up to injustices and help those in need. We insist that the weak among us are protected against predators and that bullies are brought to justice. The Miami Dolphins organizations and Jonathan Martin's teammates let him down in an extremely profound manner. By not watching out for Jonathan Martin's back, they allowed Richie Incognito to prey on an emotionally weaker individual and failed to embrace their teammate and do the right thing. I am relieved that Jonathan decided to go public instead of dealing with his personal anguish privately and possibly hurting himself.

The Westchester Jewish Council is proud to take a "zero tolerance" position when it comes to bullying. Jewish tradition teaches us that it is our responsibility to care for the stranger among us and to protect the weak. This incident in the Miami Dolphins locker room should serve as an example of what not to do. We should take this opportunity to sit with our children and make sure they understand that there is no place for bullying in a civilized society and that we expect them to speak up when they witness this behavior among their peers. Our children should view Jonathan Martin as the victim and a hero for speaking up. They should view Richie Incognito as the bully and thug that he is. It should be Richie Incognito and the bullies like him who are ostracized from our society.

Responses to the Pew Report: A Portrait of American Jews

2013-10-08T14:35:00.000-04:00

To read the Pew Report "A Portrait of American Jews" click here.

Responses to the Pew Report are below. This list is not comprehensive nor in any particular author. The views expressed in each article are those of its author and do not represent the views of the Westchester Jewish Council.

From the New York Times: Poll Show Major Shift in Identity of U.S. Jews

From HaymHerring.com: Beware as the Spin Begins: Early Headlines on the Pew American Jewish Population Study

From Rabbis Without Borders via MyJewishLearning.com: A New Spiritual Comfort Zone: Reflecting on the Pew Study

From Ha'Aretz: Reengaging American Jews, Before They Drift Away

From Religion New Service: Winners and Losers in the Pew Research Poll on American Jews

From The Washington Post: 8 Fascinating Trends in How American Jews Think about Israel

From The Times of Israel: Rise of 'Jews of No Religion' Most Significant Find of Pew Study, Director Says

From The Forward: Jews Express Wide Criticism of Israel in Pew Survey but Leaders Dismiss Findings

From Commentary Magazine: American Jews: Laughing but Shrinking

2013 Day of Chesed

2013-09-17T08:55:00.002-04:00

Westchester Jewish Council Board Members and staff were among those in attendance at the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester on Sunday, September 15th, participating in the annual Day of Chesed.

WJC President Paul Warhit
with Board Member Harriet Zeller

Stuart Kolbert (pictured, below) remarked, "The Day of Chesed once again shows the Jewish community at work, helping and assisting the general community in anyway we can. The young participants are learning the importance of helping those less fortunate. As Jews we continue responding to world crisis. Why don't we get better press?"

WJC Board Member Stuart Kolbert
with Executive Director Elliot Forchheimer

Harriet (Gigi) Zeller (pictured, right) said, "An incredible day of Tikun Olam...it was heartwarming to see so many attendees of all ages working together for the benefit of so many here and abroad."

WJC Board Member Mark Reisman said, "I was moved to be in the presence of so many people of all ages
and backgrounds enthusiastically taking part in the Mid-Westchester JCC's Day of Chesed. Coming on the heels of Yom Kippur and springing from the ashes of a horrific national tragedy, the Day of Chesed helped me translate contemplation and sadness into inspiration and positive action. Yasher Koach to all who sponsored and participated in this terrific day!"

"Once again this year the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester became the center of our community's expression of volunteerism in commemoration of 9/11," added WJC Executive Director Elliot Forchheimer. "Thank you, JCC!"

Did You Know?

2013-09-12T12:16:00.001-04:00

This fascinating article from Tablet Magazine details the story behind NBC's historic 1943 Yom Kippur radio broadcast - and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at AJC's past.

Guest Post: Reflections on the Young Israel of Scarsdale’s Heritage Mission to Poland by Beverly Rosenbaum

2013-08-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

We began reading the fifth book of the Torah, Devarim, a few weeks ago and will be reading from it through the holidays that begin in just a few weeks. In Devarim, the people of Israel have just completed their 40 years of sojourning in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. They stand on the threshold of entering Israel, on the verge of achieving their dreams and beginning a bright future in the promised land. But Devarim begins with Moses painstakingly reviewing and retelling the people all the events of the last 40 years. This is a new generation of people who are entering Israel and in order for them to benefit the most from what their future there holds, they must understand the past.

As Jews, we all know and understand the importance of our past and the imperative of “zachor”- of remembering. I just returned from my synagogue’s, Young Israel of Scarsdale’s, Heritage Mission to Poland two weeks ago, and the imperative of remembering has never been as clear for me. I am still decompressing from this very difficult but incredibly important and meaningful experience.

Young Israel of Scarsdale Heritage Mission to Poland

Thirty-six of us (pictured, right) went on this mission led by our rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern, and a fabulous historian and scholar, David Bernstein, the Dean of Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, organized and coordinated by Michael Berl, the Director of Heritage Seminars based in Jerusalem. I was a co-chair of the mission with my friend and fellow synagogue member, Arlene Smith, and we had actually started planning the mission more than six years ago with Rabbi Morgenstern’s predecessor, the Young Israel of Scarsdale’s beloved rabbi, Rabbi Jacob Rubenstein, z”l, who had been born in a DP camp, and who died so tragically together with his wife Debbie in a house fire a week before Passover five years ago when his house was struck by lightning. We were planning to do this mission that summer but shelved it for obvious reasons and decided to do it this summer in honor of the Rabbi and Debbie’s fifth Yahrzeit. It was a very special trip for all of us.

For me, the trip was also very personal. My mother was a survivor of the Shoah who was in eight or more different concentration camps over a four year period and lost her entire family during the war. I had felt a need to do this trip for a very long time in order to honor the memory of my grandparents, and aunt and uncle whom I never knew.

Synagogue in Tykocin

Lupachowa

We spent a week in Poland, visiting both the sites of the rich and wonderful Jewish life that had flourished in Poland for more than 900 years, as well as the sites of the horrific brutalization and destruction of the Jews in the Shoah. As one example, we went one morning to the town of Tykocin, that had been a typical shtetl, located about two hours from Warsaw. We first visited the beautiful baroque style synagogue (pictured, left) that had been built there in 1642 and has many of our prayers painted on the walls since the synagogue was built before prayerbooks were being used. We walked from the synagogue to the town square just a couple of blocks away. On August 25, 1941, all 2,000 Jews of Tikocyn were assembled by the Nazis on the town square, women and children on one side, men on the other. The women and children were put on trucks and the men followed by foot, forced to sing the Hatikvah as they marched. They arrived at the Lupachowa forest to which we then drove, just a few miles away, where three pits had been dug and all two thousand Jews were shot to death and thrown into those pits (pictured, leftt). Hundreds of years of thriving Jewish life in this shtetl were destroyed in a matter of hours. And this is just one example of many. Today, 250 members of the IDF travel to Poland and visit Lupachowa each month - they sing the Hatikvah and say the memorial prayer there to ensure that these precious souls will always be remembered.

We, of course, went to concentration camps as well – to Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz. As much as you read, see on TV or in the movies, and for me – as much as I heard from my mother, nothing can prepare you to see firsthand the scope and enormity both of the richness of Jewish life that had been and of its destruction. Of the six million Jews killed in the Shoah, three million were Polish Jews. We learned the chilling statistic that at the beginning of 1942, 80% of Polish Jewry was still alive and 20% had perished – one year later, by the beginning of 1943, the reverse was true and 80% of Polish Jewry had been decimated.

Auschwitz

Davening at Auschwitz on Tisha B'Av

We spent the last day of our trip which was Tisha B’av at Auschwitz (pictured, right) and Birkenau and for as many times as I’ve seen pictures of the gate with the writing “Arbeit Macht Frei,” when I was actually standing there, walking through that gate, and standing on the rail tracks leading into Birkenau, I was beyond overwhelmed at the enormity of it. There are simply no words to adequately describe the vastness of this horrific place of evil. And we were there on a beautiful summer day when the sun was shining and we were walking on the green grass seeing the beautiful trees all around us and felt physically sickened by the contrast between nature’s beauty and this monstrous place of hell, thinking about what these trees must have witnessed.

I am back now for just two weeks and am still processing everything I saw and experienced. The trip had a profound impact on all of us and for me, I view it as one of the most important things I’ve ever done.

Thinking back, there were many difficult aspects of this trip but one of the most painful for me was to see the extent of the degradation and humiliation to which the Jews were subjected and their total helplessness and powerlessness. This is difficult for us to fathom since we are lucky enough to live in a time when we are not powerless, when we can be and are activists who have loud voices and can use our voices. And, thank G-d, we now have a state of Israel where no one will ever again be able to control our destiny. My husband and I were lucky enough to go to Israel after the mission and for as many times as we have gone there in the past, this tiny country never felt more precious. If Poland represents the incomprehensible pain of our past, Israel represents the beauty and richness of our future.

Making an Israel connection at Auschwitz

I began by speaking about the importance of looking back and understanding our past in order to have a more meaningful future. Just as Moses spoke about the past to the new generation as they were about to begin the next phase of their lives entering Israel, we are the new generation after the Shoah and are the legacy and continuation of the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah. It is up to us to ensure that they will never be forgotten as we move forward working to ensure the safety of Israel and of American and world Jewry.

We are just beginning the Hebrew month of Elul as we prepare to celebrate the New Year in just a few weeks. This is a time of promise and of hope for the year ahead, but it is also a time of reflection looking back at the past year. As I said when I began, we are a people who know and understand the importance of remembering and embracing our past in order to have a rich and meaningful present and future.

Shana Tova U’Metukah!

------------------------------------------
Originally presented by Westchester Jewish Council Board Member Beverly Rosenbaum at the 2013 summer board meeting.

Jewish Teens Go "Clubbing" in Westchester

2013-08-18T12:48:00.000-04:00

Interesting article from The Jewish Week about options for Jewish teens - and several of our member organizations are mentioned - along with the Westchester Jewish Teen Learning Initiative!

A New Crop of Yiddush Speakers

2013-08-11T14:54:00.001-04:00

Not far from Westchester County, in nearby Goshen, NY, yiddish is flourishing on the farm. Read more in this article from Gothamist.com.

More than Falafel...Israeli Chefs Make Their Presence Known in the United States

2013-08-08T10:40:00.003-04:00

Hungry? You will be after reading this article from Tablet Magazine about Israeli chefs influencing Middle Eastern cuisine in the United States!

Introducing Westchester Jewish Council's new Assistant Executive Director, Pam Goldstein!

2013-08-01T13:59:00.000-04:00

In April the Westchester Jewish Council made a smooth transition as we said a fond L'Hitra'ot (until we see you again) to Nancy Zaro and welcomed the newest member of our team, Pam Goldstein.

Pam, a Hartsdale resident since 1993, comes to the Council from Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, where she was the Co-President of the Parent-Teacher Organization from 2010 to 2012. With her husband, Eric, she is the parent to three children, Melissa (Schechter '11), Jordan (Schecther '15), and Julia (Schechter '19).

Since joining the Council this Spring, Pam has been busy getting to know professional and lay staff at our member organizations and our partners throughout the County. Most recently, she worked with WJC Board Member Gary Trachten and Musical Director Kenny Green to coordinate the Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival which, by all accounts, was a rousing success!

Pam is looking forward to fall as we begin our program year with the Jewish History & Heritage Month Celebration (hosted by the Westchester County Board of Legislators on Monday, September 23rd - mark your calendars!).

If you haven't had the chance to meet Pam yet, please feel free to drop her an email or give her a call at (914) 328-7001. She'd love to get to know you!

Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival

2013-07-28T19:38:00.003-04:00

Despite bad weather in surrounding towns, we had a beautiful afternoon at Kensico Dam Plaza for today's Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival!

Here are a few photos from today's festivities, courtesy of the Journal-News. More photos and a complete write up of the event will be available later this week.

School and Workplace Accommodations for the Jewish High Holidays

2013-07-25T19:49:00.002-04:00

Thanks to ADL for this timely resource detailing school and workplace accommodations for the Jewish High Holidays.

Who Loves You?

2013-01-08T10:37:00.000-05:00

We're planning a fabulous evening of fun! Here's a sneak peek at "Who Loves You?" - A Musical Tribute to Frankie Falli & The Four Seasons, our musical guests at the 37th Anniversary Gala honoring outgoing WJC President Ron Burton on Saturday, February 2nd.

Register now online!

A MESSAGE FROM THE WESTCHESTER BOARD OF RABBIS

2012-12-19T14:53:00.001-05:00

A MESSAGE FROM THE WESTCHESTER BOARD OF RABBIS

The Westchester Board of Rabbis is shocked and saddened by the tragic events of December 14, at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with the residents of Newtown, Connecticut. Our tradition teaches that every human life is sacred for we are all created in God’s image. We stand committed to this belief and will work toward insuring a better, safer world for all of God’s children.

We pray that the 20 children and 6 educators, who were so cruelly and senselessly killed, will be wrapped in God’s eternal embrace. We pray that their memories will be come to be blessings.

The Westchester Board of Rabbis

President: Rabbi Jaymee Alpert

Executive Committee: Rabbis Morris Barzilai, Sandy Bogin, Lester Bronstein,

Jonathan Morgenstern, Mara Nathan, Gordon Tucker

Immediate Past President: Rabbi Joshua Davidson

How Will You Light Your Chanukah Menorah This Year?

2012-12-06T13:38:00.001-05:00

Enjoy this video from these inventive Technion students....and if you have a better way to light the menorah this year, we'd like to hear about it!

Having trouble viewing this in your browser? Click here.

Random Roundup

2012-11-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

Here are some articles, videos, and websites we've found interesting this past week...take a look and let us know what you think!

First up, click here to read the latest statements from local elected officials supporting Operation Pillar of Defense. Our thanks to the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York for collecting them all in one place.

Take a moment to read this post from Robyn Faintich of JewishGPS who asks how we define - or how we SHOULD define - what it means to be part of the "organized Jewish community." She raises some important questions and kicks off a valuable conversation (through social media and in the comments on her blog).

Donniel Hartman says "Thank you, Prime Minister" in this blog post at The Times of Israel.

At Forbes we found this interesting article entitled "3 Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Jewish Experience."

Westchester Jewish Council board member Larry Frankel shared this link where you can view his photos from the JNF President's Society Mission to Israel.

For a little fun, enjoy this article where Jewcy identifies what they believe might be the best Jewish marriage proposal video of the year. Be sure to watch the video - which includes a visit to White Plains!

And, finally, just in time for Chanukah, this new musical mash-up from four members of the Maccabeats is sure to put a smile on your face.

Westchester Stands with Israel - A Night of Solidarity

2012-11-26T17:59:00.000-05:00

This Tuesday November 20, 2012

Temple Israel Center of White Plains, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains

Click HERE for event details and registration (requested, but not required).

Annual Westchester/Fairfield Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast 2012

2012-11-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

In partnership with AJC Westchester, the Duchesne Center at Manhattanville College, and many other area synagogues and organizations we were proud co-sponsors of this annual event, held Thursday, November 15, 2012.

Honored at this year's event were Reverend Sarah Henkel, Multi-Cultural Coordinator of the Hudson River Presbytery, Rabbi Rigoberto Emmanuel Viñas, Lincoln Park Synagogue, and Bishop Martin Nelson, Bezer Holiness Church.

Click the above links to view videos of interviews with each of the honorees. A slideshow of photos from the breakfast is available here.

In Reponse to the latest Middle East events...

2012-11-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

Below please find a small sample of some of the important information that has been created in response to the latest Middle East events. We thank the JCRC of NY, Dennis Monasebian of NOW Israel, Mona Abramson of the Westchester Jewish Council, the Jewish Federations of North America and the JCPA for their ongoing support and information sharing.

We also invite you to attend our long - scheduled Westchester County “Night of Music and Solidarity” this Saturday night, Nov 17, 7:30 PM at Temple Israel Center of White Plains, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains. The evening is produced by Kol Hazzanim (the Cantors of Westchester) and the Westchester Jewish Council with grant support from UJA-Federation of NY. You may register when you get there (doors open at 7:00 PM) and the cost is $25 per person payable to the Westchester Jewish Council. As of this email, we have 300 confirmed registrants. The evening will serve as a community builder as 21 Cantors inspire us with song as we join together in response to the challenges of “Hurricane Sandy” and the unsettling situation in the Middle East. If your schedule permits, we would love for you to join us.

Finally, we would be remiss not to mention the stalwart recovery efforts from “Hurricane Sandy” throughout the region. It is nothing short of inspirational to see so many of our member organizations and synagogues involved in the disaster recovery. UJA-Federation of NY continues to remain ready to assist you in your mobilization. Visit their website for the latest information on how UJA-Federation is responding to the community’s needs.

ISRAEL ACTION ITEMS

Here are words of support conveyed by President Obama to Prime Minister Netanyahu in their telephone call last evening (readout below), as well as the statement issued by the State Department yesterday.

We are also gratified that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) filed a resolution today expressing “unwavering” support for the State of Israel and reaffirming her right to “act in self-defense.” In addition to this resolution, New York’s elected officials have issued many statements of support, including those from Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congress Members Rangel, Engel, Ackerman, King, Lowey, Maloney, Meeks, Nadler, McCarthy, Clarke, Israel, Bishop, and Congresswoman Elect Meng. New York State leadership has also spoken out, including: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. New York City's leaders have issued statements as well, including: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, District Attorney Charles Hynes, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Councilmembers Garodnick and Halloran and former NYC Comptroller William Thompson. The list is growing each hour.

Please click here for a listing of these important statements.

RESOURCES:

Readout of the President’s Phone Calls with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President
Suggested messaging from the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs

Backgrounder and talking points from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Recording of yesterday's conference call briefing with Amb. Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York

FOLLOW UP ITEMS:

Stay up to date by visiting the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website as well as the Israeli Consulate in New York's Twitter and Facebook pages.
Please share this story from Tablet Magazine with your networks.
Musician Alanis Morissette is now under a lot of pressure to cancel her upcoming visit to Israel, please like this page and encourage her to go.
Two additional articles of interest:

· This op-ed by former URJ President Rabbi Eric Yoffie is recommended reading: “A call to U.S. progressive Jews: Support Israel's 'get tough' policy in Gaza”

· Gaza Cyber-battle Almost as Fierce as Missile War

Jewish and Israeli Relief Efforts Underway

2012-11-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a smattering of links (in no particular order) covering some of the many efforts by Jewish and/or Israeli organizations providing relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Israeli Volunteers Head to NY to Help in Sandy Relief Efforts

Israeli Aid Missions Providing Relief to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Jewish Groups Begin Sandy Relief Efforts

You Don't Walk Away You Just Help

In Wake of Hurricane Sandy Disaster, Jewish Volunteers Step Up

Resources and Information in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

2012-11-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

We're not reinventing the wheel, just doing what we do best: coordinating information to help our member organizations do their jobs effectively. Below are links to resources, information on volunteer opportunities, supply drives, etc.

Please let us know if you have additional information to add to this list.

NOTE: The link in our newsletter dated 11/8/12 was incorrect. Please click HERE to donate to UJA's Hurricane Relief Fund.

Volunteer opportunities through UJA-Federation of New York

Connect-to-Care has reopened and is available to help members of the Jewish community cope with economic and career distress. You may contact them at 914-470-5721 E-mail: connecttocare@wjcs.com

For small businesses: http://www.sba.gov/content/2012-hurricane-and-tropical-storm-recovery-assistance-information

From the Mamaroneck Community Action Program (C.A.P. Center): Our most urgent need is with our homework assitance program which is very important to give the kids a sense of normaly and help them catch up with their curriculum. Our program runs Monday thru Thursday 6-7:30PM and welcomes students from grades K-12. Regularly we see mostly elementary school children. If you have anyone that can donate some time to help up operate our program, we'd really appreciate it!

134 Center Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, Telephone: 914-393-0802, Fax: 914-698-6964

Guisela Marroquín, Area Director at gmarroquin@westcop.org or guiselamarroquin@yahoo.com

Dorot Westchester http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=westchester_d

Contact: Melanie Kane   914-674-9129 & dorotusa.org
DOROT Westchester was formed to reach the needs of the isolated homebound elderly in Westchester. Volunteer programs include: weekly friendly visiting, weekly telephone a friend, holiday package delivery with a short visit, and Shabbat package delivery with a visit. Please consider signing up for friendly visiting, Thanksgiving or Shabbat meal delivery. People will be in extra need due to Sandy

HOPE Community Services http://hopecommunityservices.org/
50 Washington Ave., New Rochelle  914-636-4010   info@hope-cs.org
Hurricane Sandy HELP!!
Hurricane Sandy caused historic devastation to Westchester and many of our neighbors who are still without power. Those who are hungry or at risk of hunger when
conditions are normal greatly need our help at times like these. Many have lost all their food.  We, too, at HOPE were forced to throw out ALL the food in our freezers and refrigerators.
What can you do to help? You can donate funds online www.hopecommunityservices.org or by calling (914) 636-4010 or mailing a check payable to:
HOPE Community Services, 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801
You can also donate food. Food drop-offs can made at:
HOPE, 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle HOURS: 10 am to 3 pm.
Most-needed food items (no glass containers, please):
Cold cuts
Shelf-stable milk (32-oz. or 8-oz. box)
Cereal
Granola bars
Peanut butter (plastic containers only, please)
Jelly (plastic squeeze bottles, please)
Tuna
Meal-In-A-Can: Spaghetti O's & Chef Boyardee
Cheese or Peanut Butter Filled Cracker Packs
Baby Formula (ready mixed)

Guiding Parents Through Services (GPS)

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, this is a particularly stressful time for children and families throughout the New York area, and the Westchester Jewish Community at large. GPS (Guiding Parents Through Services) is a free, confidential consultation service for Jewish families throughout the New York area, offering family resource specialists at licensed mental health agencies. In Westchester, WJCS GPS is designed to assist families who have questions or concerns about their children's social and emotional development, including very young children through college age. GPS can be considered as a primary resource for families to support and strengthen their children in the face of adversity and disaster relief. Families may be displaced, without power, food or other basic needs as well. It is important for families to be aware of signs that their children may not be adapting or recovering in a healthy way. These signs of may include changes in sleep and eating patterns, increased irritability, increase worry and anxiety, difficulty focusing in school or difficulty separating from parents or family.

GPS assists parents in connecting to appropriate services and resources, and provides guidance, support and follow-up for families throughout the process. GPS is also available as a resource for Jewish Community Professionals and clinical providers throughout Westchester.

For more information, please contact Brenda P.Haas, LMSW, Ed.M., WJCS GPS Program Coordinator, (914) 761-0600, ext. 318.

Kid's Kloset
WJCS' Kid's Kloset will assist hurricane relief efforts by accepting and distributing NEW or GENTLY USED warm winter clothing for children up to age 18. Diapers are also sought in all sizes. Program Director Stephanie Roth is also seeking volunteers to help sort clothes and pack them for distribution to social workers from human service agencies. Distribution is NOT open to the general public.
Volunteers are welcome and donations of children's clothing and/or diapers can be made during limited hours.

Please contact contact 914-338-8586 to make arrangements.
Kid's Kloset recently relocated to temporary space at 4 Gannett Drive, Suite 100 when a fire and flood damaged their building on East Post Road.

Volunteers can come to help sort and pack clothing during the following times from tomorrow on:

Wednesday, Nov. 14th - 1pm - 3pm

Wednesday, Nov. 14th evening hours - 7pm - 9pm

Thursday, Nov. 15th - 9:30am - 1pm

Sunday, Nov. 18th - 10am - 1pm

Tuesday, Nov. 20th - 10am - 11:30am

Tuesday, Nov. 27th 10am - 1:30pm

Wednesday, Nov. 28th - 1pm - 3pm

Wednesday, Nov. 28th - EVENING

Day School Affordability

2012-10-26T16:58:00.000-04:00

Rabbi Shmuly Yankolowitz writes in an article this week in The Jewish Journal about the affordability of day schools.

According to Yanklowitz, "Rising school costs along with a continuing recession have combined to create a crisis in the survival of Jewish day schools." In his opinion, "The day school system is potentially the most powerful way of educating, empowering, and activating our Jewish youth base to grow as global Jewish leaders, and is therefore crucial to the future of the Jewish community."

Read the full text of the article here, then join us on December 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester as they co-sponsor a community forum on day school affordability in conjunction with the New York State Catholic Conference, UJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Education Project, the Office of the Superintendant of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, and the Westchester Jewish Council.

RSVP for the event by emailing Deb Merola.