Community Magazine October 2009

Free Tutoring Expands for Yeshiva Students Left to Right - Mayor Mike Bloomberg; Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg; David G. Greenfield, Executive Vice President of SCF; Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Barkai Yeshiva’s Head of School; Councilman Simcha Felder New York City Council Member Simcha Felder (D-Boro Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst) was joined by Mayor Bloomberg at Barkai Yeshiva on September 15 th to announce a program that will give thousands of yeshiva students access to free tutoring services. The announcement follows a successful year-long pilot project in three Yeshivas. The expanded program provides free small group remedial instruction in reading, writing and math to over 14,000 students in 46 yeshivas. The program, with an estimated annual value of $24 million, comes at no cost to parents, yeshivas or the city, thanks to millions of dollars in federal funding through the No Child Left Behind Act. “With so much emphasis on updating classrooms with the newest technology and computers,” Felder said, “it is easy to forget that nothing can replace the value of sitting down with a student and walking them through difficult material.” Felder thanked Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Education for their cooperation with a coalition of major Jewish organizations that includes the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), UJO of Williamsburg and Agudath Israel. David G. Greenfield, Executive Vice President of the SCF, and UJO President Rabbi David Niederman were on hand for the announcement. Felder cited the pilot project’s success at Bais Yaakov of Boro Park, Yeshiva Toras Emes Kaminetz and Yeshivat Ohr Haim as reason for excitement over the new expanded program. Congregation Magen David Wants You The original community kinees that hosted community events, services and gatherings since 1928, while the majority of the community lived in the Bensohurst area, Congregation Magen David, needs men to help complete their daily shaharit minyan . Scheduled for 7:45 am, Sundays through Fridays, the minyan is considered by many to be symbolic of the synagogue’s continued service to the community. The kinees is located at 2028 66th Street between 20 th and 21 st Avenues. For more information, or to join the minyan , contact Mr. Joe Sultan at 917-825-2084. Sephardic Renaissance Launches Youth Hostel Rabbi David A. Cohen, Director of the non-profit Sephardic Renaissance, has announced the opening of a Youth Hostel and Culture Center. The hostel’s location at 825 East 15 th is close to synagogues, shopping areas, and public transportation, making it an ideal place for visitors. Group reservations of either all male or all female groups will be taken, for guest 18 years of age and older. The hostel can accommodate up to 30 people and is ideal for out-of- state youth groups looking for inexpensive lodgings in New York. Rabbi Cohen plans to convert the adjacent building into a Jewish Culture Center which will include a place for lectures, concerts, and a minyan . The first groups are expected at the hostel after the holidays. For more information about the hostel, or to make a reservation, please call Pnina Souid at 347-882-4270 or email pninasouid@ gmail.com . Brooklyn to Manhattan Torah Bus Gets Underway The commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan has become a much richer experience. Each weekday morning, a luxury coach dubbed the Syrian Torah Bus will leave at 8:00am from Ocean Pkwy and Avenue T, making subsequent stops on Avenues S, R, P, O and J to pick up passengers bound for the City. During the ride, Rabbi Danny Tawil will deliver a shiur (Torah lecture) on Gemara with practical halacha (Jewish law). The bus will drop off passengers in Manhattan on 6th Avenue and 34 th Street and on 40 th street. Limited spots for the one-way trip are being offered for $199 per month, just a couple dollars more per trip than the $5.50 fare charged by the MTA for public express bus service to Manhattan. Dedications for the Torah lectures are also available. For more information, contact Ezra at 917-365-2933 or email TBus@tmo. blackberry.net . Torah Texting for Women The sweet sounds of Torah can be heard reverberating from many homes, cars, computers and mp3 players. Now, women are invited to join hundreds of their counterparts who learn a tidbit of Torah through a daily text message. The new, free Torah Text Group features inspiring stories of rabbis, halacha, and meaningful Torah thoughts. For more information or to sign up, call 646-824-8858 or email hnjy@verizon.net . Community Chest 86 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE