Community Magazine October 2014

84 Community magazine Community Chest Magen David Yeshivah High School Preparing for its Annual Open House Magen David Yeshivah High School will be hosting its annual Open House on Tuesday evening, November 11, at 7:30pm. The event will focus on MDYHS’s exciting programs, including the Majors Program, the latest in its award-winning cutting-edge educational technology, the Scholars Program, skills-based education, college and career guidance, student E-Portfolios, the yeshiva’s warm environment that nurtures the neshamah of each student, and so much more. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with administration, faculty, and students. Anyone interested in securing the key to a successful future is invited to join Magen David at what promises to be a stimulating, memorable and informative evening. Invitations and further information will forthcoming. In the meantime, please mark your calendars. For more information, send an email to mdyfreshmen2015@mdyhs.net . NYPD Steps Up Security in Advance of Jewish Holidays TheNYPDbriefed Jewish leaders on stepped-up security during the fall holidays, reported NY 1. In the annual meeting at One Police Plaza, C o m m i s s i o n e r William Bratton spoke generally about the threat of terrorism in New York, and reported on the recent increase of anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city. He announced that the department would be deploying extra officers in Jewish communities celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to provide extra security and vigilance during the holidays. David Heskiel, NYPD Clergy Liaison and Sephardic Community Liaison to Councilman Chaim Deutch's office, was in attendance representing the Sephardic Community. “This meeting is designed to ensure and to guarantee the religious freedom of NewYork Jewry,” said NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Alvin Kass. “It represents the commitment of this department to make sure that all of us can go to our synagogues and pray on these high holy days without interference.” At the meeting, officials reassured the attendees that there are no known credible threats to New York. However, they emphasized that in this age of attacks like the Boston Marathon bombings, citizens must be constantly vigilant in noting any unfamiliar or suspicious persons or vehicles at or near our shuls or schools. They urged citizens to be alert, and called upon security personnel to call the police right away if they observe anything suspicious. Strangers in Sephardic synagogues might not be as readily discernible as they would inAshkenazi synagogues, so worshippers are asked to be on alert for suspicious people or conduct. The officials also urged anyone who has a responsibility for a shul or school to get to know the Captain of the precinct, so that he can be contacted directly when security concerns arise. Officials say that the recent rise in hate crimes is likely connected to the extensive news coverage of this past summer’s Israel-Gaza conflict. The hate crime incidents did not have any organization behind them, nor was any particular organization targeted. They seem to all have been rash, spur-of-the moment incidents. SAFE Foundation Holds Its 12 th Annual Dinner The SAFE Foundation held its 12 th Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner at the beach-front home of gracious hosts, Ester and Joey Jerome onAugust 26 th . The first award presented was The Sonny I. Gindi Merit Award for Outstanding Dedication to Helping Those in Need, an award that hasbeengranted to worthy recipients each year since the passing of SAFE’s good friend Sonny I. Gindi, a”h . This year, this esteemed honor went to Trina and Joe Cayre in recognition of their tremendous and constant support. Presenter of the award, Nancy Tebele, said, “The Cayre family is always there to step up to the plate for our community, not just for financial assistance, but for leadership, ideas and endorsement, as well; they always go the extra mile.” The next award, the EmployeeAppreciationAward, was given to the Director of the Project SAFE School Program, Shira Berkowitz, for her hard work and devotion. Shira was one of the pioneers of the program in 2003 and has since served as a beloved teacher. Shira shared how those at SAFE stood by her when she lost her first husband to cancer, and how her work at SAFE has been so much more than a job to her. The most gratifying feeling, she said, is when students tell her of the good decisions they’ve made because of what they learned in class. The memorable evening concluded with an address by Todd Whitmer the NY Regional President of Caron Treatment Centers, one of the oldest and largest drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers in the United States. Todd said that professionals in the field of addiction consider SAFE to be like a SwissArmy knife – amulti-purpose, one-stop shop for everything to do with addiction and its prevention. He explained how SAFE trained staff at Caron to be sensitive to the needs of Jewish Orthodox clients, from understanding kashrut to the laws of Shabbat. The SAFE Foundation is grateful to the hosts, Ester and Joey Jerome, to Bank Hapoalim for sponsoring the evening, and to all of the donors who allow SAFE to help those in our community in need. If you or someone you know needs help, please call our 24/7, toll-free confidential hotline: 1-866-569-7233. Have a question? Email: ask@thesafefoundation.org. (L-R) Joey Jerome, Todd Whitmer, and Ike Dweck. Photo by Bert Cohen (L-R) David Heskiel, Detective Adam Barish, and COJO chairman of the board, Larry Spivak.