Community Magazine July 2009

Step Into the “Strike Zone” The second annual “Strike Zone” softball tournament is scheduled for August 9 th . Strike Zone provides high quality, clean and kosher fun for participants, and all proceeds are distributed to the needy by Maoz Laevyon, a charity fund run by Congregation Ohel Simha in Deal. The tournament is an all-day affair, from 9am to 7 pm, with breakfast and BBQ served for all the players and their families and friends. Winners of the event are presented with trophies, in closing ceremony capping off what is expected to be an exciting, fun-filled day. The cost of participating in the tournament is $100. For more information, contact Michael Fallas at mfallas@aol.com or call the Ohel Simha Synagogue at 732-571-2711. M&S Baseball League Expands to 8 Teams The M&S baseball league is expected to be an even bigger hit this summer, as it has expanded to eight teams. The growing league, run by Max and Sammy Sutton, was started six years ago to help kids fill the gap between camp and the start of the new school year. Right from the start enrollment was brisk and the league took off much faster than anticipated. Last summer, the league was transformed into an all-summer night league accommodating adult men. Max and Sammy planned to start it small, and with the help of David Dweck, director of Camp Allsport, they put together four teams and found state-of- the-art fields for the games. They ended the 2008 season with resounding success, prompting them to take it to the next level and expand the league to eight teams. A live draft for 2009 was held in two locations. The Brooklyn draft was hosted by league captain Ikey Mevorah, and the Deal draft took place at the home of M&S founder Max Sutton. An official league website was recently created, with the help of Ikey Mevorah, to help players and fans stay up to date with league events and members. The site’s features include player statistics, schedules, league related news, a guestbook and fan polls which enable visitors to share their opinions with other league enthusiasts. The website, at www.mandsbaseball.com , is currently available for corporate or personal sponsorship. Torah Donation to the Jewish Nation Thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on June 7th to participate in a magnificent hachnasat Sefer Torah donated by the Jewish Nation to the Jewish Nation. Hidabroot mobilized Jews worldwide to join in donating “one letter at a time” until the completion of an entire Torah. The project began three years ago at the start of the Second Lebanon War in order to bring merit to the entire Jewish nation. The organizers’motto was “ me’Am Yisrael, le’Am Yisrael lema’an Am Yisrael – from the Jewish Nation, to the Jewish Nation for the benefit of the Jewish Nation.” The ceremony began with the auctioning of the last few letters in the Torah, followed by inspiring addresses by Rav Nissim Lezari, head of Hidabroot America, and Rav Zamir Cohen, head of Hidabroot Israel. Then, amid exuberant singing, dancing, music, and drums, the crowd escorted the Torah down the steps from the Old City’s Jewish Quarter to the Kotel plaza. The path was illuminated with bright lights and flaming torches held by over 100 children walking before the Torah, and the intensity of the emotion and excitement was palpable. Upon reaching the Kotel plaza, the crowd continued dancing seven hakafot around the Torah. Hidabroot is a successful kiruv organization that uses media and technology to promote information that would inspire secular Israelis to explore their Judaism. Through the means of a television station in Jerusalem, an Internet website and magazine, the organization promotes inspirational speeches, hashkafa (philosophical) discussions, stories, news, halacha and more. The New Purse with a Purpose The financial crisis has affected nearly everyone, but perhaps none more so than rabbis and teachers who have endured loss of income or long delays in receiving salary payments. To help alleviate this strain, the Sephardic Women’s Charity Club (SWCC) has come up with a simple way for women of the community to help. To help make charitable giving easier and to help take advantage of those sudden urges many people feel to express thanks to Hashem in the form of sedaka (charity), the SWCC is distributing special pouches. Women are being asked to put away anywhere from one to twenty dollars per week which would be earmarked for the cause. At the end of each month, the money – which can be picked up or dropped off – will be transferred directly to a community institution in crisis. The allocation of funds will be carried out under the leadership and guidance of the rabbinical advisor of SWCC, Rabbi Eli Mansour. The success of this venture is measured not only in dollars, but also by the consistent, conscientious efforts made by a united group working to alleviate the financial burdens of our community’s institutions through charity, unity and kindness. The rabbis teach that, in the merit of the righteous women, our forefathers were redeemed. To join the effort and become a part of this missva , contact: Jane Choueka: 917-647-1620; Barbara Haber: 917-579-5560; Rebecca Kraiem: 212-464-7110; or Loraine Mishan: 646-752-2184. Community Chest L-R League founders Max and Sam Sutton 92 Community magazine