Community Magazine Februafy 2009

14 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE THE OLD TIME HACHAM Hazak ubaruch for your cover story on Hacham Sion Levy z.t.l. Hacham Sion shied away from politics, wealth and honor. As a result, he was not widely known in our community and few people in America were exposed to the true greatness of this man. But thanks to your well put together article, our community was able to get a glimpse of what a hacham is supposed to be. The old time rabbis, like Hacham Baruch Ben Haim z.t.l. , Hacham Sion Maslataon z.t.l. , Hacham Ben-Sion Abba Shaul z.t.l. and Hacham Sion Levy have all but disappeared. It is only through the stories brought down about their character, integrity and refinement that future generations can aspire to greatness. Hacham Sion’s passing also reminds us not to take for granted the few old time rabbis we still have. These hachamim along with our own grandparents, can teach us volumes if we just observe their ways and listen. S. Beyda INTERSESSION EMBARRASSMENT Rabbi Mansour’s article last month focused on our opportunity to make a good impression on the outside world during our winter vacation. Keeping this in mind, on the very first day in a warm weather retreat, it occurred to me that the first place we should begin this effort is in the way our young girls are dressing. I was embarrassed to see 14- 15- and 16- year old girls walking around hotel lobbies dressed like [women of ill repute]. Even more appalling was how the bell boys, desk clerks and other hotel guests were gawking at our young innocent girls. Perhaps these young girls don’t know any better. But the fathers and mothers of girls in this age group, who allow their daughters to dress this way – in public and in front of strange men – should know better. Those parents who look the other way when their daughters walk out dressed like something cheap, should realize that unlike them, the men they would least want their daughters to have any association with, will certainly not be looking the other way. D. Haddad SITO’S STANDARD OF LIVING Wow! I must commend Sito on the fantastic advice she has been doling out in her short tenure solving problems. The advice she gave to the Seat Saver who wanted to reserve chairs at a buffet party was so sensible and clear, that it’s worth framing and posting at every community affair. But it was the question from the Broke Bride that really touched my heart. Thank Gd, even the poorest people in our community today are generally better off than half the world. The problem is that our community has created a minimum standard of living which is extremely difficult to afford. Sito’s sound advice of going with a cubic zirconium instead of a diamond engagement ring is the tip of the iceberg as there are many more substitutions we should be aiming for. The” standard” community wedding should be $8,000 – not $80,000. The “average” car lease does not need to be a $1,500 per month Range Rover, when a $300 per month Honda Pilot does the same job. Intersession vacations to exotic locations should be the exception and not the rule. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with enjoying the good life, but there is a problem when luxuries become perceived as standard necessities within a community where only a fraction of the people can afford such extravagance. Please keep sending us a reality check to remind everyone that the big spending ways of a tiny fraction of our community is not the norm and should not be the stick by which everyone else is measure. J. Mizrahi FASHION FLABBERGASTED I was… disappointed by the Fashion Flash: Boot Camp, in the December issue. Did anyone glance at the prices listed beneath those shoes displayed? While I am not one to criticize those who can spend more than others make in a week on a pair of shoes, I do sometimes question their sanity for falling for the “must-have” couture. Even if this country weren’t already deep in a recession, those prices are not something which should be portrayed as the norm. But my real gripe is how “budget friendly” shoes were marked with a big red check as if “hey, here’s the affordable choice.” Meanwhile, one of those pairs of shoes cost almost $400. You’ve just given me a reason to call my husband the biggest cheapskate out there: “Honey, even Community Magazine says these are affordable!” I hope you excuse my criticism, I really just expected better from a magazine I love.. S.S WE'D LOVE TOHEAR FROMYOU! GOT A STORY ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY MAGAZINE HELPED YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS? 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