Community Magazine October 2019

90 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE co mm unity HIGHL IGHTS To commemorate the 18 th anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on September 11 th , Magen David Yeshivah High School students watched videos and heard stories from their teachers before discussing what it means to memorialize and the different ways to do so. They alsomade their ownmemorials of 9/11 out of clay and displayed them in the atrium. That same afternoon, Magen David High School students paid tribute to one of their own, alumnus Eli Chalouh, a”h , Class of '96, who perished in the attacks. Below are some of the hesed events that were held in Eli Chalouh’s honor. Raquel Haber, Jamie Waingort, and Marcy Franco led a group of students in cooking for the SBH Food Pantry. Albert Salama introduced them to Bonei Olam, where they committed to do a mitzvah and write notes to families struggling with infertility. Albert Nigri and Alan Nasar helped students make care packages to be distributed to Hatzalah volunteers. Morris Cattan helped students design sweatshirts for the orphans of Bet Elazraki in Israel, which he will deliver personally in the spring. Richie Chalme demonstrated the important role music plays in the process of healing, and Sally Smouha and Sally Franco led a few games of SBH's Bingo with the Seniors. A large prestigious group gathered at the Boro Park Center to honor Dr. Yashar Hirshaut upon the opening of his new office, affiliated with Maimonides Medical Center. Members of Chayim Aruchim, a Project of Agudath Israel of America, and local health care leaders were on hand for the luncheon, which focused on challenges facing providers and patients in the world of modern medicine, especially when the patient is seriously ill. Chayim Aruchim President Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz opened the gathering, welcoming participants and acknowledging Chayim Aruchim board member Rivie Schwebel. Rabbi Lefkowitz stressed the importance of addressing the issues in medical care in a culturally sensitive manner. He described Dr. Hirshaut as an outstanding expert and a brilliant oncologist, with unparalleled devotion and concern for each and every patient. Rabbi Lefkowitz also thanked Dr. Hirshaut for his guidance, for serving on the Chayim Aruchim Medical Advisory Board since its inception, and for always being available to the rabbanim.  Rabbi Lefkowitz then introduced Machon Chayim Aruchim’s coordinator, Rabbi Benzion Leser, who also serves as Maimonides Medical Center’s Director of Pastoral Care. In his remarks, Rabbi Leser thanked the administration of Maimonides Medical Center for doing everything in their power to respect the cultural sensitivity of our community, the elderly, and infirm, which is a rare commodity in today's medical climate. Because of that, he felt that Dr. Hirshaut’s relationship with Maimonides is “a match made in heaven.” The entire event was coordinated by Chayim Aruchim’s tireless patient coordinator, Mrs. Leah Horowitz, and Rabbi Berish Fried, Chayim Aruchim NYS Project Director, in conjunction with Boro Park Center’s David Greenberg, Nachman Feig, and Chaim Brull. “In times like these, with violent anti-Semitism on the rise, we can’t rely on others to secure our places of worship, so it’s imperative that we shore up our defenses,” said Dov Hikind. As everyone knows, violent anti-Semitic hate crimes have been skyrocketing across the United States. We’ve had two synagogue shootings this year, and as we approach the High Holidays, when synagogues are traditionally packed with more congregants, it’s all the more important to ensure that members are security-aware. No congregation should wait for tragedy to strike to take their own security seriously. Therefore, Americans Against Anti-Semitism has partnered with two security training organizations, SecurityIntel and Sons of Liberty, to offer totally FREE training to synagogues that includes security awareness, facility walk-through assessments that expose weaknesses and blindspots, active-shooter scenario response, and tactical/safety training. Several synagogues have already signed-up ahead of the holidays as there’s no time to lose. If your synagogue would like to schedule a free training, contact info@AmericansAA.org   to set it up today. Magen David Yeshivah High School Pays Tribute to Eli Chalouh, a”h, on 9/11 Chayim Aruchim and the Brooklyn Community Welcome Dr. Yashar Hirshaut to Maimonides Hospital Americans Against Anti-Semitism Launches “Synagogue Security Initiative” Dr. Yashar Hirshaut