Community Magazine October 2012

Community Chest Community Rallies Against Proposed Truancy Center A proposal to establish a Truancy Processing Center at 1780 Ocean Avenue, in the Avenue M business district, just two doors away from Yeshivat Shaare Torah Girls High School, has been met with strong opposition both from the community and from elected officials. Councilmen throughout the city are expressing outrage over the Department of Education’s failure to reach out to the community during the planning process. According to the proposal, school safety officers will take a truant directly to his or her school only if the school is nearby. Otherwise, the student will be taken to the Truancy Processing Center, and a parent will be called and asked to pick up the student by 2pm. If the parent does not pick up the child by this time, the student will be released from the Truancy Processing Center. As most parents will generally be at work or otherwise unavailable to pick up students by this time, most truants will be released into the neighborhood unsupervised where they could pose a significant risk to businesses, residents and other students in the area. Councilman Michael Nelson stated, “I understand the anxiety and concern of many parents about the location of the Truancy Center. A lot of hard work which has gone into creating a safe and protective environment for the many school children in the area will be jeopardized by the proposed location in Midwood of a Truancy Processing Center near Yeshiva Shaare Torah. I will continue working with other community leaders in order to resolve this issue, and guarantee the safety of the children of our community.” Councilman David G. Greenfield added, “This shortsighted decision is unfair to residents, schools and businesses in the area. Residents have enough to worry about without an influx of troublemakers in their neighborhood.” Assemblyman Dov Hikind said, “News of this Truancy Center made parents fearful and for good reason. We need to make sure that our community remains informed and protected. Towards that end we hope to resolve this issue at our upcoming meeting.” Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs said, “The safety of children in our community must be put first. I have heard the cries of neighborhood parents about the proposed location for the Truancy Processing Center, and I will join my colleagues in fighting this proposal before our youth are put at risk.” Ezer Mizion Hosts Dinner to Raise Awareness for Bone Marrow Donation A special dinner was held on September 10th under the title “Zochreinu L’Chaim” (Remember Us for Life) at the luxurious Venetian in Garfield NJ, to spread awareness of Ezer Mizion’s International Jewish Bone Marrow Registry, which has saved the lives of over 1000 Jews around the globe by matching donors with patients desperately waiting for a transplant. Speakers included Dr. Michael B. Harris of Hackensack Medical Center, who described his experiences as an oncologist who, too often, has to tell parents that the cure exists but so far no matching donor is available. Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Friedman, the evening’s emcee, spoke of the success of Ezer Mizion in saving the lives of Jewish patients around the world by finding a proper match. The guests joined Rabbi Friedman in wishing a speedy recovery to Marcos Katz of Mexico, a long-time friend of Ezer Mizion who was prevented from appearing as scheduled Guest of Honor by illness. The illustrious hazan Yitzchok Meir Helfgot enhanced the evening with his stirring rendition of the Zochreinu L’Chaim prayer and other inspiring pieces. The highlight of the evening, however, was the emotional address by Dr. Aaron Katz, an oncologist, who introduced his teenage son, Alex, who is a cancer survivor. Someday, he said, Alex will marry and raise a family, and his children will grow and raise their own families – all because of Ezer Mizion. Dr. Katz described how he trembles to think, what if there had been no Ezer Mizion? Alex and his parents had always wanted to meet the person who had donated the life-saving marrow. Unbeknownst to them, the donor was eagerly waiting in the wings that evening at the Venetian. Slowly he ascended the steps and strode toward the “brother” whom he had never met. In an emotional embrace, they demonstrated, as no words could, the work of Ezer Mizion. Ezer Mizion expressed its gratitude to those volunteers who devoted countless hours toward ensuring the evening’s success, including the Dinner Committee: Mr. & Mrs. Binyomin Barber, Mr. & Mrs. Dovid Bodner, Mr. & Mrs. Cheskel Brach, Mrs. Chana Perl Freund, Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Dovid Friedman, Mr. & Mrs. Moishe Geller, Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Herskovits, Mr. & Mrs. Yochi Herzog, Mr. & Mrs. Shaya Ilowitz, Mrs. Judith Lewy, Mr. & Mrs. Yaakov Marmurstein, Mr. &Mrs. Zev Marmurstein, Mr. &Dr. Paul Maroof, Mr. & Mrs. Yaakov Merdinger, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Rebenwurzel, Mr. & Mrs. David Scharf, Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Stern, and Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Dovid Zwiebel. Fo r mo r e information about the work of Ezer Mizion, call 718-853-8400. 84 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE