Community Magazine January 2017

co mm unity HIGHL IGHTS In October, 8-year-old Jacqueline Dana brought a Chai Lifeline pamphlet home from school. Students who sought out sponsorships and collected money for the organization could choose from a variety of prizes. Alas, the prize Jacquelinewanted cost $400 in charitymoney. Rather than telling her the amount was unfeasible, her parents encouraged Jacqueline to collect the money herself – to do something to earn that prize. One night, Jacqueline’s father came home with a tub of beads, and inspiration struck. What if she made bracelets and sold each for a dollar in order to raise the money she needed? Jacqueline began at once and her mother Vicky, of YoursTrulyByVicky , announced the project on her Instagram page. The feedback was incredible! Everyone loved Jacqueline’s bracelets! A project that initially only benefitted Chai Lifeline branched out to involve the Mitzvah Man, who distributed 200 of her bracelets to the children of Monmouth Medical Center. SBH became a beneficiary, too, when Jacqueline donated hundreds of her bracelets to an auction of theirs. This project has had a boomerang effect and through it all Jacqueline keeps on giving. Making the bracelets gives her a sense of purpose and she is so inspired by the motivation she gets from others. “She’s very creative,” Vicky Dana says of her daughter. “She’s a perfectionist, she’s artsy and she loves designing things with her hands. She’s really making all of these bracelets out of love.” Onlymonths later, Beads of Love has grown to such an extent that the “model” of it has changed. Now every $400 raised via these $1 bracelets will go to a different charitable organization. The number is apropos – remember, 400 was the dollar amount for the material prize that Jacqueline initially wanted. But since then she has discovered the real “prize” – how good it feels to make people happy and give back using her talents. Follow Jacqueline on Instagram at beads_of _love_ by_J or place an order for bracelets with her mother, Vicky Dana, at 917-916-9087. Beth Medrash Govoha-Shivti, a Lakewood yeshivah, would like the community to know about a two-day learning program they are hosting from January 14 th -16 in Princeton, NJ. This Yarchei Kallah covers the topic Work Responsibilities and Dispute Resolution: Hiring, Firing, Cancelling and Quitting. Participants will delve into when it is allowed and who is responsible during law suits. Under the cost of the program, learning materials, the hotel stay and food are provided for. The price is $425 for single room at the Hyatt Regency Princeton and $325 for a double room shared with a roommate. Those interested can visit w ww.shivtiyk.com to gather source material and more information. Peninim Sephardic Seminary’s open house amounted to a nonstop expression of gratitude from its students. Each of Peninim’s seminarians related what sustained growth they now enjoy in all areas of Jewish observance. Can students feel that seminary high without going to Israel? Indeed they can! Check out their website at Sephardicpeninim.org for a gallery of pictures and more information. The Bnai Yosef Synagogue, on the corner of Avenue P and Ocean Parkway, is one of the busiest synagogues in our community. Still, although there are nonstop minyanim during the day finding an Arbit minyan used to be difficult, as most congregants preferred to pray minha and arbit back to back in the late afternoon. In May of 2012 that all changed when Bnai Yosef instituted the Arbit Guarantee, ensuring evening minyanim every half hour between the hours of 8 and 10 PM with minimal wait time. Now, Bnai Yosef has extended the availability of these minyanim with their late arbit guarantee. “Find an arbit minyan at 10:30 and 11:00 PM Sunday-Thursday,” the guarantee reads, “or instantly receive a $10 gift certificate to Dougies!” The partnership with Dougies on Ave. J should prove an effective incentive. Congregants won’t arrive at the shul only to wait around for a minyan indefinitely; Bnai Yosef prides themselves on these minyanim routinely occurring. Now, night owls won’t have to despair over finding an after-hours minyan – they can turn to Bnai Yosef Synagogue as late as 11 PM! Mark Your Calendars! Beth Medrash Govoha-Shivti Yarchei Kallah – Jan 14 th -16 th 2017 Hearts Ignited, Minds Empowered: Peninim Sephardic Seminary Open House New Bnai Yosef Late Arbit Guarantee Beads of Love: The Charitable Project Of An MDY Third Grader TEVET 5777 JANUARY 2017 73