Community Magazine January 2014

Community Chest The Safe Foundation Sponsors Anti-Bullying Event at Magen David Yeshivah Six rows of 8th grade girls sat motionless, listening intently to the young woman standing in front of them. “I often try to figure out what makes people do what they did to me,” she said. “I wonder if they would have stopped had they known that what started as a joke would cause me to cry myself to sleep for a year, affect future relationships, taint how my peers viewed me in high school, and continue to affect me nearly 10 years later.” Debbie Nehmad, now 22, was severely bullied from ages 12 to 14 while attending a very small local yeshivah. The SAFE Foundation invited Debbie to Magen David Yeshivah on November 20th to share her story of how targeted bullying changed her life. With pain defining every crease on her face, she recounted, “I will never forget how I felt when I opened a textbook and saw horrible things written about me in my best friend’s handwriting. It got to a point that I had become so accustomed to being treated poorly, that I began to believe that I didn’t deserve to be treated well.” Debbie continued, “All too often, people fail to realize the difference between drama on TV and real life. They don’t realize that those are actors who walk off the stage once the scene ends. In real life, you can’t control the extent to which you hurt someone. In real life, we don’t get to walk off the set.” Debbie went on to develop talents and hobbies, graduate from high school with honors, and complete college. She stated that she was able to get through everything in part because of the guidance of her psychologist. She said, “I learned that there is nothing anyone can do to make you unworthy of love and respect.” She told the girls, “We need to know that we have really powerful effects on people – especially the people we see every day who expect us to maintain a safe environment for them. And we must know that it is unacceptable to use another person’s feelings for our own entertainment.” If you or someone you know needs help, call SAFE’s confidential 24/7 hotline 866-569-SAFE (7233). Written by The Safe Foundation Greenfield, Felder and Deutsch Call on NYPD to Increase Patrols to Combat Ongoing “Knockout” Assaults Following yet another “knockout” assault targeting an innocent pedestrian on Saturday, December 7, Councilman David G. Greenfield, Senator Simcha Felder and Councilman-elect Chaim Deutsch called on the NYPD to drastically increase its presence throughout the community, especially during Shabbat, which is when two of the most recent attacks targeting Jews have occurred. This request includes additional officers, temporary lighting at trouble locations and other measures to help prevent these attacks and catch the person responsible should another assault occur. In addition, the elected officials are reminding the public to be especially vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the NYPD. In the wake of the disturbing trend, the NYPD is reminding the public of the following safety tips to help avoid becoming a victim of this senseless pattern of street violence, which has occurred in neighborhoods around Brooklyn, including Boro Park and Midwood: • Always be alert while walking about, and be cautious of suspicious individuals or large groups. • Whenever possible, do not walk alone, and try to use well-lit and populated areas with a lot of foot traffic. • Always know your location in case you need to call for help, and do not hesitate to contact 911 if necessary. NYPD Menorah Lighting Ceremony In honor of Hanukah 5774, the NYPD held a Menorah Lighting Ceremony at 1 Police Plaza on Wednesday, December 4th, 2013. The ceremony was attended by local politicians and community members, including the family of Mr. Isaac Kadare, a”h , who was senselessly murdered in August 2012. NYPD Clergy Liaison David Heskiel with new Brooklyn South Chief Owen Monaghan David Heskiel with Chief of Dept Phillip Banks Mark Kadare, son of Isaac Kadare a”h 92 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE