Community Magazine November 2008

62 Community magazine 40 Families Dedicate Sefer Torah at Shaare Zion Some 15 years ago, Hacham Baruch Ben Haim zt”l met with Shaare Zion President Morris J Franco and Rabbi Raymond Beyda to launch the Shaare Zion Torah Center, and they began the pro- gram with a handful of classes attended by a small but dedicated group of students. Since then, the project has blossomed into a thriving center of learning, where classes attended by mainstream men, women and children from throughout Brooklyn are held 7 days a week, occupying every room in the building. Earlier this year, at a meeting held to organize the first Summer Event in support of the project, Steven Feldman recommended a Torah dedication, and the organizers agreed that this would be the most appropriate way to raise money for this program. The project was immediately launched under Feldman’s capable leadership. Shaare Zion committee members Marc J Faham and Joe Mansour worked diligently to keep things moving along, while Mousa Saad e-mailed frequent progress reports on the new supporters who con- tributed to the Torah Center. Victoria andMarshallAronowoffered their beautiful OceanAvenue home as the venue for the event, which Rebecca Harary coordinated with first class details. The Torah and its magnificent silver case was graciously donated by Viri and Meyer Kassab, Gladys and Albert Kassin, Merle and Jack Kassab and Susan and Joseph Zeitoune, in memory of their parents, Morris and Sophie Kassab A”H . The guests arrived at the Aronow home on a bright, sunny morn- ing in August and were treated to a white glove brunch to satisfy the most discerning palates. Each dedicating family was invited to fill in letters to complete the writing of the Sefer Torah. The audience erupted in spontaneous singing and dancing, led by Hazan Yair Hamra accompanied by Eyal Amram. Inscribed upon the Torah’s case were dedications for each family who supported the event Rabbi Raymond Beyda, who has served as the Torah Center’s director since its inception, said, “When we met 15 years ago, Hacham Baruch inspired us to start working on his dream. He said that he wanted Shaare Zion to revolve around Torah learning and prayer. He said, ‘The lifeblood of the Jew is Torah, and that will be the source of energy and success for our community. The Torah will unite us all and take us to greater heights.’ I know he is smiling in the heavens as our community has shown support for his vision and made it a reality.” Senators Volunteer at Masbia While most Jews spent the days before Rosh-Hashana preparing for the upcoming holi- days, one organi- zation was busy ensuring that even the neediest in Brooklyn – the capital of Jewish poverty – would enjoy a “sweet” NewYear. Among the volunteers at the Masbia soup kitchen was none other then NYS Senate Majority Leader (R) Dean G. Skelos, who was accompanied by Senators (D) Dainan Savino and (R) Marty Golden. Masbia feeds nearly 200 hungry men, women and children five days a week, serving approximately 50,000 meals a year. The kitch- en has been serving the needy population for more than three and a half years, operating with a yearly budget of over half $1million, which comes mainly from private donations. In 2007, only 10% of Masbia’s budget came from government funding. Unfortunately, the demand for Masbia’s services grows day by day as the economic crisis continues to tighten its grip. Masbia offers its services to people of all ages, races and ethnicities. Golden Gets Funding for Community Causes This year, when many institutions failed to find adequate fund- ing for their programs, New York State Senator Martin Golden delivered $2 million for important causes in our community, including $500,000 for Sephardic Bikur Holim, $20,000 for the Sephardic Center, and $10,000 for the Sephardic Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Senator Golden has also been at the forefront of other important legislation that directly helps our community. Among his important accomplishments is New York’s Kosher Law Protection Act, which provides information about people or organizations certifying foods as kosher, to safeguard against fraudulently packaged and misbranded kosher products. To help Jewish families struggling under astronomical tuition expenses, Senator Golden has sponsored the tuition tax credit bill which eventually became the Empire State Child Tax Credit Law. Senator Golden has also supported legislations that have pro- vided extra funding to private schools for teacher training, facility improvements and computers, in order to narrow the gap in govern- ment funding between public and private schools. Other organizations funded through Senator Golden’s efforts includeAgudath Israel ofAmerica, Chaveirim, JewishWar Veterans, and Magen David Yeshiva. Senator Golden also obtained $500,000 as part of this year’s bud- get for school safety and security funding. Schools in line for this funding include Yeshivat Ateret Torah, Mirrer Yeshiva, Ahi Ezer Yeshiva, and Yeshivat Shaare Torah Boys Elementary School. MOUSASAAD INHONOROF HISPARENTS SELLYAND DEEBSAAD INHONOROF HISWIFE JOYCESAAD INHONOR OF RABBIMEYER YEDID BYHIS TALMIDIM BARBARAAND HAIM DABAHAND CHILDREN INHONOROF MORRISAND IVETTE DABAH INHONOROF MAZIESHALOM BYHERCHILDREN GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN INHONOROF FREIDAAND CHIEFRABBI SHAUL KASSIN SARIAND JACOBKASSIN INLOVING MEMORYOF GLADYSANDELI TOBIASA"H INHONOR OF THEDAAND JACKD. COHEN BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN HONEYAND MOSHE ASSIS INLOVING MEMORYOF AVRAHAM BENGARAZ ASSIS A"H MARSHALLAND VICTORIA ARONOW INLOVING MEMORYOF THEIR GRANDPARENTS LOUISANDGRACE GOLDBERGA"H TANIAAND DAVIDSALEM IN LOVINGMEMORY OF ISAACSALEM A''H INHONOROF MARYSALEM ARLETTEAND VICTORTAWIL DEBORAHAND JOSEPHARONOW IN LOVING MEMORY OFTHEIR PARENTS HANNAAND YISROEL CHAIMARONOW A"H JODYANDZVI BENHAIM ANDFAMILY IN LOVING MEMORYOF MOLLIEAND JOSEPH BENHAIMA"H ESTHERAND JOSEPH JEROME INHONOROF RUTHAND JEROME LOUIS PAULETTEAND MORRISBAILEY YOSEFA.SAIEDA INHONOROF TINASAIEDA HISCHILDREN ABRAHAM,DAVID, SARAH,BELLA, MOSHEANDESTHER ALEXAND HARRY ADJMI IN LOVING MEMORYOF LILLIANAND AMIN ADJMI A”H JOEV.SAIDEH JACKGUIGUI IN LOVING MEMORYOF SOPHIABAT DOLLYA"H ALBERTBEN CAMILLEA"H AND FRIEDA AZRAK ADAM INHONOROF RABBIMOSHE LAGNADO DANIELLEAND SOLY HALABI CYNTHIAANDVICTOR HALABI INHONOROF THEIRPARENTS IVONANDELI HALABI INHONOR OF RABBIMEYER YEDID BY ABIEHANAN DAVIDHAZAN MOEYFALLAS MORRISESSES DANNYCOHEN INHONOROF AND PAT JOE BETESH BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN INHONOROF AND SHEFFI VICTOR SUTTON BYTHE FELDMAN FAMILY INLOVING MEMORYOF JEANETTEAND JACK FELDMANA"H BYTHEIRCHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ALBERT, ISAAC, JOSEPH JACK, GISELLE AND CHEHEBAR INLOVING MEMORYOF GABRIEL CHEHEBARA"H INHONOROF MARCELLE CHEHEBAR JEANETTEAND RALPH GINDI IN LOVING MEMORYOF RALPH I.GINDIA"H INHONOROF GINETTEGINDI IN LOVING MEMORYOF JOEYM. SUTTONA"H IN LOVING OF MEMORY ELIZABETHAND DAVID FRANCOA"H BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN INHONOROF LORRAINEAND ALBERT GAMMAL BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN INLOVING MEMORYOF AND RAE SAM CATTONA"H BY THECATTON FAMILY MARCAND ERICADJMI IN LOVING MEMORYOF JACKADJMI A"H ELIZABETHAND RISHTY EDDIE MORRISRISHTY INHONOROF CARENANDDAVID RISHTY IN LOVING MEMORYOF MORRISSHREMA”H INLOVING MEMORYOF KEKECOHENA"H INLOVING MEMORYOF BERACHARINA BATADELEA"H NISSIM E.GINDI INHONOROF SIMHA AND RABBI ELIAHUN . GINDI SHARONGINDI HISCHILDREN ELIAHUAND SIMHA SONNYROFFEE INHONOROF HISPARENTS LORAANDSOL ROFFEE INHONOROF HISWIFE REGINEROFFEE INHONOR OF RABBIRAYMOND HABER BYHIS TALMIDIM IN LOVING MEMORYOF GRANDPARENTS SELMABAT SARAHA"H AND MENACHEM BENSIMCHA A”H IN LOVING MEMORYOF MORRIS SULTAN A"H INHONOROF ROCHELLEAND ISAAC ASHKENAZI BYTHEIR CHILDREN IN LOVING MEMORYOF NORMA SUTTON A"H BYHER CHILDREN ISAAC ALBERTO AND ELLIOT INHONOROF RABBIRONNIE RAFUL BY JOEMANSOUR AND JOJOFAHAM INHONOROF SHIRLEYAND BERTDWECK BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN INHONOROF GRACEAND ELY ASHKENAZI BYTHEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN     Senator Martin Golden and Senator Skelos preparing food. Community Chest