Community Magazine July 2009

14 Community magazine YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE Your [June, 2009] cover article, “Has Mental Health Gone Mainstream?” expresses the hope that some day clinical depression will be treated by society as if it were a routine malady like the common cold. While we have certainly made much progress in this direction, we are still very far from achieving this lofty goal. What’s most important is that in the meantime, those who need help now don’t wait for society’s views on mental health to change. Every delay in seeking help for conditions such as anxiety disorder and depression means additional needless suffering or, Gd forbid, increased risk of tragic consequences. For now it is individuals – not society – who must pick up the gauntlet to help those who are suffering silently. J. Franco FMF – THE SEPHARDIC GENETIC DISORDER I applaud your publication for the informative article on Sephardic Genetic Disorders. Thankfully, most of these conditions are readily addressed with the proper medical attention, as I can attest to from personal experience with a family member. It behooves all parents to familiarize themselves with the symptoms described in your article, particularly with respect to FMF, which is frequently misdiagnosed as appendicitis, resulting in unnecessary surgical intervention. FMF itself is treated by the daily administration of the drug colchicines. There is also a genetic test available to help confirm an FMF diagnosis. The good news is that by following the colchicines regimen prescribed by the physician, nearly all FMF patients can lead symptom-free lives without other adverse long-term effects. Thanks again to Community Magazine for raising awareness of FMF and other Sephardic genetic disorders, and may Hashem help researchers find the proper gene therapies to cure these conditions soon. A.N. A SEPHARDIC DOR YESHARIM? I recently read Mr. Zafrani’s article, “Sephardic Genetics Exposed,” and was very impressed with its accuracy and the apparent desire to openly discuss this difficult and controversial subject – particularly in Sephardic communities. We are currently in discussions with another Sephardic community about using our program and would be very interested in starting discussions with the Syrian Sephardic community, as well. Allan Binder, Director of Development Dor Yeshorim/Kehila Cord Inc. ARMING FOR MASHIAH The article on Gog Umagog in the wonderful continuing series, “Mashiah Revealed” paints a frightening picture of the era immediately preceding Mashiah’s arrival. As the article suggests, our first and best hope to survive those violent and turbulent days is to fervently pray to Hashem and cling closely to Torah. But in addition to these primary measures, it would also seem reasonable to include in our hishtadlut [personal effort] some basic measures of personal protection. Becoming familiar with the use of firearms and participating in a militia are basic constitutional rights which, especially with the onset of the Obama administration, have become quite mainstream in America. While we pour our hearts to Hashem in prayer and redouble our Torah observance, we dare not neglect this vital element of hishtadlut. I firmly believe that everyone in our community who can obtain a gun legally should do so (this is far from an easy task in New York City, mind you). And I further believe that our community should, to the extent that it is legal, form its own militia – or at the very least participate in existing Jewish militias. With the news bringing reports of anti-Semitic attacks throughout the county – and in our own backyard – almost daily, such ideas are no longer extreme; they have become logical, and even necessary. J. Cohen SCARIER THAN SUMMER SUNBURNS Once again, Sito has exceeded expectations with some fantastic advice for “Skin Saver” who was seeking ways to convince a friend to use proper sunscreen on her children in the summer. Of course, aside from sunburns, the summer traditionally holds other dangers for our youth, most notably the risk of accidents from reckless or irresponsible driving. For the more mature among us, it is a song we hear (and sing) annually and perhaps by now it is not something we pay much attention to. But for the teen drivers who have been behind the wheel for only a short time, it is a message we cannot stress enough. Like Sito’s advice about sunscreen, it is probably futile to go on and on to our kids about driving responsibly. Instead, we need to present the case in different media. Have them talk to someone who has been in a serious accident, watch a safety video with them, teach by example, etc. Do it for your teen driver and do it for those he/she will share the road with. D. Shamah L E T T E R S WE'D LOVE TOHEAR FROMYOU! GOT A STORY ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY MAGAZINE HELPED YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS? PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US. Letters submitted become the property of Community Magazine and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Letters may be edited and revised for length, style and grammar before publication. All submissions are considered for publication unless otherwise requested. Preferential consideration is given to brief comments and insights that relate directly to published content. MAIL: COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 1616 OCEAN PKWY BROOKLYN, NY 11223 FAX: 718-504-4246 EMAIL: letters@community m .com