Community Magazine February 2019

A Community Center Plans to raise $500,000 to build the Magen David Community Center were announced on May 21, 1945 by Norman Jemal at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The Bulletin reports, “The dream we have long cherished is now approaching realization,” Mr. Jemal said. “We have long felt the need of a center for our youth, a place where children may learn the culture and religious heritage that is rightfully theirs, and where they may grow in body, in spirit, and in mind. At the same time, the community needs a communal meeting ground, to hold services and discussions. Each of us must participate in order to achieve this ultimate goal.” The Center was finally built on Avenue P and West 13th Street, six years after this original announcement. This would also be the first location of Magen David Yeshivah. Members of the committee serving with Mr. Jemal were Abdo Ades, Isaac Ash, Joseph Ashear, David Bibi, SamCatton, Ezra A. Cohen, Bert Dweck, Jack Ezon, Samuel Franco, Jack Gemal, Jack Hamway, Jacob Hidary, Elie Hedaya, Abe Kasaab, Joseph Kassin, Morris Levy, Isaac Matalon, Isaac Shalom, Abe Shamah, Morris Setton, Simon Sitt, Jack Stanbuli, Abe Sultan, Jack Sutton, and Joseph Tawil. Victory!!! On May 7, 1945 Private Joe Betesh writes, “Gosh, you should’ve seen this place on Friday night when the news of the German's unconditional surrender was announced! I was in bed with a terrific headache and a general feeling of the blues, but I decided to try to get some sleep. No sooner did I hit the pillow I heard a bunch of guys shouting and screaming as if they had just received their discharge papers. I somehow sensed that something spectacular was in the air. I got goose bumps all over, and tears came to my eyes. A few seconds later someone ran into our tent and told us that Germany had surrendered! My first vision was that I was with you all at home and by then I was actually crying like a two-year-old kid! Even now as I’m writing my eyes are filled with tears of joy! “After five minutes the whole city was alive with the news. Everyone was dancing and kissing each other like something you’d read about. I was up all night and was drunk with joy. I don’t think I ever experienced such a feeling in all of my life. The next night with news that we had accepted their surrender, the Navy, too, decided to celebrate. Every boat out in the harbor began to sound the horns, bells, guns, and everything else. The sky was filled with rocket flares and Gd’s beautiful stars. It was really a beautiful sight. We finally got to bed at 5:30am. Boy, what a night!” Welcome Home Victory Bulletin, September 1945: “The men who have served long, weary, and dangerous hours on the far-flung battlefields of the world are coming home. They are coming home with flags waving and people cheering for the peace and the victory they made possible.” In Brooklyn and Bradley Beach there were parties that never seemed to quiet. For the first time in many years, happiness filled the heart of every man, woman, and child who was old enough to think. The Victory Bulletin continued on after the war, eventually becoming the Community Bulletin. The stories told in the small four-page pamphlet each month are priceless. While it was a horrendous time in history, these bulletins are treasure troves of anger, fear, and also so much love. With so much thanks to the Sephardic Heritage Foundation, and especially Rabbi David Azar, for providing us with the Bulletins and all of the amazing details and pictures included here. Please visit the Beit Yosef Synagogue on Norwood Avenue in Deal where you can find more stories, artifacts, and photos of the amazing soldiers who risked their lives abroad to defend our freedom here at home. Sample Pages of the Victory Bulletin Morris Dweck edited the bulletins together with Nellie Ancona until he was inducted into the service in February 1943. Sally Shabot then became the co-editor together with Nellie, Stella, and Esther Sardell. The following writers also contributed to the bulletins – Julie Liniado, Miriam Zerah, Shirley Betesh, Evelyn Mishan, Linda Cohen, Adele Nahem, Violet Dabah, Giyuse Mishan, Joe Beyda, Meyer Safdieh, Sally Sulton, Ray Dushey, Norma Esses, and Alice Dalant. 36 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE