Community Magazine March 2019

30 Community Magazine all too happy to aid the girls in their fundraising to supplement the cost of their senior trip to Israel. But not ones to think small, they envisioned an event that would not only raise the funds, but would bring a spiritual boost to the Jersey Shore community. Mrs. Benhamu reasoned, “The summertime brings a flurry of exciting fundraisers when our Brooklyn cousins arrive. Why not have our own?” Knowing this was an event that would benefit all she relates, “I reached out to the mothers at Ilan High School, the mothers at Hillel Yeshiva, and the mothers at Yeshivat Keter Torah. I wanted the whole community to be involved, and Baruch Hashem , everyone was excited and joined us in our efforts.” Mrs. Channie Gordon, Principal of BYJS, opened the event thanking everyone for supporting the efforts of the senior class, who worked tirelessly alongside their moms focusing on every detail of the day. But why an Amen party? Mrs. Benhamu explained: “Every one of us has our challenges or knows someone who is dealing with a life challenge. We have mothers in our school who are battling illnesses and young women who need shidduchim . We have heard about the power of Amen and thought it was a good way to bring yeshuot .” T he First Annual Ladies Deal Community Amen Party, which took place at Ohel Simha Congregation (the Park Avenue Synagogue), was the result of a partnership of dedicated women of all ages. Spearheaded by Esther Benhamu and Ronit Nahum and their daughters, seniors at the Beit Yaakov of the Jersey Shore (BYJS), the event became a community unifying event that left all who attended feeling connected and excited. Overwhelmingly, participants came away with a refreshing feeling of connection, and as Chaya Jacobowitz, mechanechet at BYJS and liaison for the event, so eloquently put it, “We came together, from every section of the community, as sisters, to give hizuk to the holim and yeshuot for all who need it.” An Undertaking with Ahdut An event of this magnitude does not happen haphazardly. It takes foresight, innovation, dedication, and hard work. Enter Esther Benhamu and Ronit Nahum – fearless coordinators with a vision. As mothers of girls in their senior year at BYJS they were The Power of Combine the ahdut of over 240 community women gathered to garner yeshuot for those in need, the wisdom of two esteemed Rabbis, Rabbi Edmond Nahum and Rabbi Eli Mansour, the kedusha of Rosh Hodesh, and the power of Amen, and you will feel the magic that happened in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 5th. “Anytime you recite Amen with kavana, you are taking judgment and sweetening it with the attribute of mercy and that is the magic of how it dissipates.” – Rabbi Eli J. Mansour Mozelle Forman Amen