Community Magazine June 2014

108 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Community Chest Lag B’Omer at Bnai Yosef Over 500 people attended a large, festivecelebrationinhonorofLagB’Omer outside the Bnai Yosef Torah Center at 1616 Ocean Parkway on Saturday night, May 17. The event was organized by Rabbi Maoz Raful, and Rabbi Auziel Admoni. Security was handled by the NYPD Police Department, and community representative Rabbi Admoni expressed the community’s appreciation to the 61 PCT for their hard work. Special thanks to the community affairs unit and auxiliary unit, led by lieutenant Todaro and PO Christopher Mullan. The celebration included hot dogs, drinks and snacks sponsored by Abdo Hamra and Abi Farah, as well as lively music. The United Bilgorayer Benevolent & Aid Society Sends Packages to Poland When Rabbi M. Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, needed tallitot , matzah and other Passover supplies for Polish Jews, he turned to the United Bilgorayer Benevolent & Aid Society. During the next three days, the organization worked tirelessly and managed to collect 200 tallitot and purchase over 240 lbs of shmurah matzah. The Society found Jewish Groups going to Poland for the annual Heritage Tours and March of the Living program, and were able to send the packages with these groups. Students from the Yeshivah of Flatbush packed the tallitot and matzah in their suitcases, and when questioned about the materials upon entering the country, they explained that they needed the tallitot for prayer and the matzah was their kosher snacks. Chief Rabbi Schudrich of Poland warmly greeted the students and escorted them to the only remaining synagogue in Warsaw, where they unpacked and handed over this treasure with dignity and a sense of accomplishment over having assisted Jews in other countries in their time of need. As the demand for materials continued to grow, the United Bilgorayer Benevolent & Aid Society purchased more matzah, which was hand carried by another group arriving to Warsaw from Israel and brought to the synagogue. Students from the Ramaz School had their students pack kosher-for-Passover canned goods in their suitcases, carrying the heavy luggage to Berlin where they toured the Shoah Monuments before continuing to Warsaw. The Jews of Poland thank all those who were instrumental in helping them obtain the items they needed to celebrate the Pesach holiday: the United Bilgorayer Benevolent & Aid Society, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Magen David Yeshiva, Congregation Har Halebanon, Sephardic Lebanese Congregation, Shaare Zion Congregation, Beth Torah Congregation, BneiYitzhak Congregation, students of theMirrer Yeshiva, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush (COJO). Yeshivat Shaare Torah Graduation Trip to Israel Over the eight years they spent at Yeshivat Shaare Torah for Boys Elementary, the Class of 2014 developed an especially close and meaningful relationship with their rabbis, who always extended themselves endlessly for the sake of the students’ education and growth. And yet, as much as they thought they knew their rabbis, they were astonished by the turn of events that led them to Israel in honor of their graduation. The eighth graders were sitting in school on a regular day several months ago when Rabbi Moshe Cohen introduced them to his dream. “Boys,” he said, ”who would like to go on a trip to Israel for the eighth grade graduation trip?” Just two months later, the boys were on the plane embarking on an once-in-a-lifetime trip. From the moment they landed in Ben Gurion Airport, the excitement and fun were nonstop. The rabbis planned the trip in a way that would ensure to make it as spiritual, thrilling and meaningful as possible. Activities included visiting great rabbis, praying at the gravesites of famous sages, biking, boating in the Kineret, visits to Tzefat, Meron, the Bedouin camps and En-Gedi, praying at the top of Masada as the sun rose, visiting the Dead Sea, and of course praying at the Kotel. The boys lodged in a great apartment in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City. On Friday, they woke up early to pray at the Kotel at sunrise, and then they were off to Machane Yehuda and Geluah to shop for Shabbat. On Friday night, they were graciously hosted by Frieda and Yair Elnadav, who prepared a lavish and delicious meal suitable for royalty! After dinner they took a long but beautiful walk from the home in Har Nof back to their apartment in the Old City that gave them a view of Jerusalem that was unforgettable. The eighth graders thank the Elnadav family for their gracious hospitality. Sunday turned out to be a packed day, as the boys visited the City of David, enjoyed jeep rides through the desert, climbed through the water tunnel, prayed at Kever Rachel and then went out for dinner before finally returning to their apartment to spend their last night in Israel together. Magen David’s Class of 2014 expresses its profound gratitude to Rabbi Hillel Haber for allowing them to take this journey, and to Rabbi Kuessous, Rabbi Moshe Cohen and his sons for making their trip not only possible, but the best experience they could ever have imagined. Rabbi M. Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, receiving Pesach packages from the students of Flatbush Yeshiva.