Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a news conference in Ankara, Aug. 8, 2019. Photo: Cem Ozdel / Turkish Foreign Ministry / Handout via Reuters.

Russia and Turkey have postponed ministerial-level talks which were expected to focus on Libya and Syria, where the two countries support opposing sides in long-standing conflicts.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The two countries deputy ministers will continue contacts and talks in the period ahead. Minister-level talks will be held at a later date, the ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had been set to visit Istanbul for the discussions. The Russian Foreign Ministry said discussion will be held on the date of the ministers meeting.

June 16, 2020 1:26 pm

The United Nations said this week that warring sides had begun new ceasefire talks in Libya, where Ankara supports an internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), whose forces have in recent weeks repelled an assault on Tripoli by the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Moscow, along with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, backs the LNA in the long-running Libyan conflict.

In Syria, Russia supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces, while Turkey backs opposition fighters.

Although a Turkish-Russian brokered deal three months ago produced a ceasefire that halted fighting in northwest Syrias Idlib, air strikes have once again hit the region in the last week.

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Turkey and Russia Put Off Talks Expected to Tackle Libya and Syria - Algemeiner

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

And in the quite likely event that such a child does look black? He or she will have no choice about dealing with being black in America. Youll have to prepare your child for the world that George Floyd encountered. Your child, in turn, will probably feel the need to connect with black history and culture, with a black identity not because that comes with the genes but because it comes with the features, genetically shaped, that people in our society respond to by labeling someone black. To be sure, Americans generally have lots of ancestral lines going back in lots of directions: Your kid, for example, will have Ashkenazi ancestors. People often have choices to make about which ones to follow up on and how much weight to give them. But it remains true in this country that if you look black, you wont have much choice as to whether to take that fact seriously, because it can have grave consequences.

I know that you are trying to work toward a different world. African-Americans talk sometimes of having the talk with their kids about how to deal with the police; and yes, to manage those conversations well, it may help to ask advice from black friends. If we make some progress in the coming years on the policing front lets hope the current moment means that we may the conversation with your black child could be different when the time comes. And if that happens, we will have changed significantly, and for the better, what it means to be black in America.

But racism isnt a reason not to have a child who is black, any more than anti-Semitism would be a reason not to have a child who is Jewish (as any child you bore, by traditional rabbinic law, would be). Nor should you worry about your childs being alienated from paternal heritage. President Barack Obama, a person of color raised by a white mother and grandparents, turned out OK. So, choose what you like or dont choose at all. Children are always a surprise. Theyre never exactly what you expected and that will be true whatever it says on the donor form about the racial identity of your childs father. My guess is that any child raised by you has a good chance of being on the right side of the struggle for racial justice no matter what his or her ancestry. Thank you for that.

Wheres the ethical line for calling a nonemergency police number on a person of color? Late one night, a group was parked outside my building playing music in their car. The music was loud enough to prevent my sleeping. I dont feel safe in my neighborhood at night, so I didnt approach them. I contemplated calling a nonemergency police number to report the disturbance, but opted not to because of recent instances of police brutality against people of color. Though I couldnt tell what race these people were, my neighborhood has a large proportion of people of color. Did I make the right choice? Im a 20-something white girl, and I just couldnt live with myself if something unthinkable happened because I was being a grouch. What are your thoughts? Ali Eckburg, Iowa City

It speaks to the deplorable record many police departments have in dealing with communities of color that reasonable people of all races worry, as you do, about what will happen if they call the cops. On this score, there are wide differences among police departments, and its often possible to find out more about your local police from local branches of the N.A.A.C.P. or the A.C.L.U. It may be significant that nobody else seems to have made the call.

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How Should I Think About Race When Considering a Sperm Donor? - The New York Times

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grli Radman on Monday talked over the phone with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

The two ministers underscored satisfaction with the upward trend in bilateral cooperation, including the areas of security and defence. They also discussed cooperation in tourism, which will depend on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming readiness to establish direct flight routes as soon as the epidemiological situation allows.

Ashkenazi expressed sympathy for the citizens of Zagreb in wake of the earthquake and underlined his friendship with Croatia, which he knows personally and will gladly visit again.

In addition, the two ministers talked about the Middle East Peace Process, stressing the importance of maintaining open diplomatic channels between the EU and Israel on that sensitive issue. Ashkenazi voiced satisfaction with Croatia's role and approach as the Council of the EU chair, highlighting the importance of EU-Israel relations in general.

Disclaimer

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Croatian Republic published this content on 15 June 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 15 June 2020 12:57:00 UTC

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrati : Minister Grli Radman talks with Israeli counterpart Ashkenazi - Marketscreener.com

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

Israel's new foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, has assured that his country's parliament will ratify the FTA (free-trade agreement - 112 International.) with Ukraine in the coming weeks. He stated this during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the press service of Ukraines MFA reports.

"The new Knesset of Israel intends to ratify the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel in the coming weeks," Ashkenazi promised in response to a request from Kuleba.

The ministers agreed to maintain friendly personal relations, develop trade between the two countries, maintain a high level of political dialogue and continue mutual support in international organizations.

Kuleba invited his Israeli counterpart, who has never been to Ukraine before, to visit it as soon as circumstances allow. Ashkenazi accepted the invitation.

As we reported earlier, the FTZ agreement was signed in January 2019 as part of the visit of President Petro Poroshenko to Israel.

In July 2019, the Verkhovna Rada ratified a free trade agreement. In August, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law ratifying a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Israel.

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Israels MFA expects FTA with Ukraine to be ratified in coming weeks - 112 International

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

While the United States was celebrating American Jewish Heritage Month in May, the global Jewish community was experiencing a further increase in anti-Semitic incidents, which cannot continue.

As the world reeled from the COVID-19 global pandemic in March, the Iranian Ministry of Health decided to hold a cartoon contest entitled We Defeat Coronavirus, garnering thousands of submissions. Coming from Iran a government that Elan Carr, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, called the worlds chief trafficker in anti-Semitism contestants unsurprisingly submitted grotesque anti-Semitic images.

One drawing was of three hook-nosed Israeli doctors holding a beaker of COVID-19, insinuating that Israel invented the novel coronavirus. Sticking to that absurd accusation, the state-aligned Press TV claimed that Zionist elements created the deadly disease to use against Iran. Indeed, Iran has a history of anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist propaganda, especially involving the Holocaust.

And Iran is not the only country disseminating this preposterous misinformation and spreading anti-Semitic messages. From the Middle East to Europe, from Australia to the Americas, Jews are blamed for starting the COVID-19 crisis and perpetuating its spread as a means of achieving a number of alleged goals.

Germanys top minister for combatting anti-Semitism says that Jews and Israel are the main targets for internet hate speech related to COVID-19. The Anti-Defamation Commission in Australia detailed the rise of conspiracy theories on Australian sites and social media pages. Public figures in Turkey have asserted that Jews engineered the novel coronavirus to acquire world domination. A Jordanian journalist said the virus is a consequence of Jews hatred for the entire world. A cartoon circulating on French social media shows Agnes Buzyn, Frances Jewish former health minister, pouring a vial of coronavirus in a well.

Anti-Semitism has steadily grown in severity over the past few years, and the ever-increasing challenge of confronting anti-Semitism is why our respective bodies the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism both work to move the issue of combatting anti-Semitism to the forefront of our countrys foreign policy.

USCIRFs 2020 Annual Report and January 2020 hearing document increases in anti-Semitic incidents throughout 2019, including discrimination, defamation, Holocaust denial, hate speech on the Internet, and vandalism of synagogues, cemeteries, and other community institutions. As highlighted in the Annual Report, these attacks are worldwide, not just isolated to nations that USCIRF recommends for Country of Particular Concern designation or placement on Special Watch List, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. Anti-Semitism is a growing trend that must be stopped in countries including Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.

The U.S. Senate Task Force is committed to engaging with stakeholders to educate and empower communities in the U.S. by calling out hate with one voice, supporting legislation that tackles the issue head-on and promoting Holocaust education. To advance the Commissions similar goals, USCIRF has provided recommendations on ways the U.S. government can work to combat anti-Semitism, including insisting that fighting anti-Semitism be a top priority of the International Religious Freedom Alliance; recommending the creation of positions similar to the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism in governments around the world and at the United Nations; and providing technical support to foreign law enforcement officials to update and standardize hate-crime reporting procedures.

Our bipartisan entities are committed to this issue because fighting hate is a non-partisan priority. Ideological differences do not preclude us from working together to fight for universal values and basic human dignity. When we see anti-Semitism or hate anywhere, everyone must call it out and do their part to combat the scourge of anti-Semitism.

As we paid tribute throughout the month of May to the generations of Jewish Americans who have made remarkable and invaluable contributions to American society, we must also turn to our diplomatic allies and other governments to actively improve the situation for their Jewish communities who live in fear for their own safety.

Gayle Manchin is the Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, appointed by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

Gary Bauer is a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, appointed by President Donald J. Trump.

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma is the Co-Chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward.

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Its time to work together to prevent an upsurge of anti-Semitism - Forward

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Posted By admin on June 16, 2020

Memory in the Face of Denial: Srebrenica 25 Years Later

Denial is the final stage of genocide. Denial by perpetrators, whether by words or by taking steps to cover their acts, or even refusing to recognize atrocities years later, impacts the memory of genocide.

Join Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center (BAGI), and Srebrenica Memorial Center for a thought-provoking discussion between eyewitnesses of the genocide in Srebrenica as they powerfully share their experiences during the genocide, and their fight to combat the state of denial 25 years later.

Registration: https://bit.ly/30pVxxz

Moderators:Ida Sefer - President of the Board of Directors, Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center

Dr. David Pettigrew - Professor of Philosophy and Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Southern CT State University; and Secretary of the Board of Directors, Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center

Panelists will include:

Ron Haviv - Emmy-nominated, award-winning photojournalist and co-founder of VII Photo Agency. His work in the Balkans was used as evidence to indict and convict war criminals at the international tribunal in The Hague. His first photography book, Blood and Honey: A Balkan War Journal, was named one of the best non-fiction books of the year, by The Los Angeles Times.

Roy Gutman - Associate Fellow at The Washington Institute, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, former foreign correspondent for Newsday and McClatchy, and author of A Witness to Genocide

Hasan Hasanovi - Survivor of the Srebrenica Genocide, author of "Surviving Srebrenica" (2016) and co-author of "Voices from Srebrenica" (2020), Srebrenica Memorial Center

Amra Begic - family member of Srebrenica genocide victims. Chief of Department, Srebrenica Memorial Center

Senada Pargan - Survivor of Srebrenica Genocide, President of Bosniaks Cultural Community Preporod of North America/Bzk Preporod SA, and author of "The Darkness of Silver Lights" (2015)

Presented in partnership with the Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center and Srebrenica Memorial Center.

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Virtual Event: Memory in the Face of Denial - Patch.com

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Posted By admin on June 15, 2020

I wrote the poem, My American Dream a few years ago as a way to address the callousness some individuals in our society have developed toward other people, however you might define other. I use this poem as part of leadership training for 45 Iredell County High School juniors each year. My goal is to teach this diverse group of children from West, North, and South Iredell, and Statesville High that true leadership success comes from inclusiveness.

After the shooting in the Synagogue in Pittsburgh, I sent the poem to a Jewish friend of mine as a way of trying to console her. She sent the poem to the leader of her Synagogue who decided to read the poem at the service in mourning for those who died. It was moving to hear my words read to give comfort to those who were grieving.

I am sharing this poem with you today in hope of maybe reaching an even wider audience to remind us that we are all in this life together.

How you pray, who you love, or the color of your hand,

Makes no sense to me as a way to measure a man,

Nor the place of your birth in whatever nation,

On the day of your life that you joined Gods creation.

We are all human beings is undoubtedly true,

And the best way to judge someone is how they treat you,

To fear people never met, from lands far away,

Is hate, run amok, fueled by Tweeters today.

My dad said, greet people and then shake their hand,

Talk with them a while and see where they stand,

If they believe in fairness, they could be your friend,

And be part of your life from now til its end.

But if hatred, or bigotry, or filth they bestow,

Its OK not to like them, now that you know,

That people like them have minds very small,

And their race or religion doesnt matter at all.

We are all human beings is undoubtedly true,

Heart, brain, and lungs, inside everyone, and you,

The pigmentation of each of our covering,

Is an incredibly odd way of discovering,

Stop getting upset by what someone said,

That someone else did, that someone else said,

Try instead, do the work, and then use your head,

Choose to Love the world, each morn, as you rise from your bed.

Preach the gospel of love, in your own special way,

Be part of the solution at the end of each day,

Be best you can be as woman and man,

Let the world know, thats where You stand.

Greet other people and then shake their hand,

Talk with them a while and see where they stand,

All men created equal, the founding words of our land,

Sounds good to me. I think thats where I stand.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Poem is reminder that we're all in this life together - Mooresville Tribune

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Posted By admin on June 15, 2020

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By YONAT SHIMRON

WASHINGTON (AP -RNS ) Each Sunday, Larry Little and his wife, Mary, get ready for church. They dress casually, fill two tumblers with water, climb into their golf cart and drive two miles to The Grove, a grassy field next to their church.

There they find a parking place, turn off the engine and settle in for a live service in front of a Jumbotron and a stage.

The Littles, who live in a retirement community called The Villages, about an hours drive northwest of Orlando, Florida, are among the lucky few.

Since mid-March, when state shutdowns forced churches, synagogues and mosques to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have had to mostly rely on online worship services.

ButLive Oaks Community Churchhas been able to offer continuous outdoor services one on Saturday and two on Sunday with dozens, sometimes hundreds, arriving via their golf carts.

The only negative is that you dont have much interaction with the rest of the congregation, said Larry Little, 77. Our golf carts are 6 feet apart and they dont want us outside the golf cart.

For many, if not most, older congregants living in colder climates or with no access to outdoor services, such options are a luxury.

Unable to find spiritual sustenance or the comforts of community, many are isolated and lonely. They may struggle with using the technology required for viewing online services or connecting virtually with family, friends and community members.

Its becoming more of a challenge to figure out how we minister to, and with, these older adults, saidMissy Buchanan, a writer and speaker from Rockwall, Texas, with a focus on older adults.

Some congregations are making phone calls and writing letters to older members. Others have bought them tablets and are teaching the least technologically savvy how to connect to online platforms.

Now, as states begin loosening lockdown restrictions and churches contemplate how to reopen safely, clergy and other religious leaders face difficult decisions when it comes to their senior members.

For older people, theres a cruel reality to those reopenings.

Mounting evidence suggests houses of worship are probably among the riskiest places for older people. Transmission is much more likely indoors where lots of people come into close contact and where droplets with viral particles might linger in the air for as long as eight minutes. Multiple coronavirus cases across the country have been linked to people attending church and synagogue services or events.

Older Americans are also among the most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Eight out of 10 coronavirus deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 years and older, according to theCenters for Disease Control.

Many older people like the Littles may not see the insides of a church or synagogue for a very long time.

When churches regather, older people may be the last to go back, saidAmy Hanson, an instructor in the gerontology department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has a consulting ministry to help churches engage older adults. Some will want to return. But it will be hard for those who do go back. Therell be no handshaking and hugging things older adults are missing. They wont feel all theyre hoping to feel.

Older American were nearly twice as likely as younger Americans to attend church, synagogue and mosque before the shutdowns. A recentPew Researchsurvey found that 61% of those born before 1945 (the so-called Silent Generation) attended religious services monthly or more, compared with 35% of millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).

In this in-between time, congregations should assess their older adult members, charting whether they live alone or have family nearby. Do they have hearing or vision impairments? Do they have access to chaplains at assisted living or nursing homes?

They would also do well to recognize that older Americans are not monolithic in their needs, said Buchanan, who writes devotionals for older adults. Buchanan has identified four basic groups of older adults: the go-gos, those who are still very active and independent; the slow-gos, those who may have some physical limitations; the no-gos, those who are homebound; and the not-gonna-make-me-go, young Boomers who dont attend religious services on a regular basis.

Many congregational ministries, Buchanan said, focus on only one or two of those groups.

Large churches, such asJohnson Ferry Baptist Churchin Marietta, Georgia, can do a lot more. In the days after the shutdown, the 7,000-member church prepared meals for many isolated church members and made daily phone calls to those living alone.

Now the emphasis has shifted to finding ways to engage older adults and allow them to contribute to the life of the church.

Theyre not here to take up space, said Peggy Fulghum, minister to older adults at Johnson Ferry. We want to keep them serving. I try to create ministries for them to be active and serve and give back to the community.

For example, after noticing that in-person high school graduations were canceled, Fulghum asked older members to write congratulatory cards to high school seniors, encouraging them on their journey to adulthood and sharing a bit of their wisdom.

The cards were mailed to the church and the church staff is now sending them to families with high school seniors.

The church has also started a Tuesday morning Zoom call for older members where they can greet each other, sing a song and pray as a group. They hope it encourages groups of older adults to start their own Zoom gatherings. And the church is retooling its GrandCamp ministry to allow grandparents and children to interact through online projects.

Live Oaks Community Church in Florida has recently announced it will resume indoor worship for up to 100 people with social distancing.

The Littles, however, have decided to continue worshipping outdoors at least for the time being.

We think the golf cart experience is unique and we enjoy it, Larry Little said. Its completely open and theres always a little breeze. You dont feel that sense of isolation. Isolation is worse than the virus for old folks.

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As they reopen, congregations grapple with including seniors - hays Post

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Posted By admin on June 15, 2020

Rep. David Trone (D-MD), the co-founder of Total Wine & More, has a long and noteworthy record when it comes to philanthropy.

He is believed to be the first sitting member of Congress who is an AIPAC minyan donor, which requires a minimum annual gift of $100,000 and is the highest membership level in the pro-Israel group. Trone has also donated millions to the American Civil Liberties Union, establishing the Trone Center for Justice and Equality.

But in recent years, Trone, who represents Marylands 6th congressional district, has had to choose between the two groups because of his vehement opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. While AIPAC supports legislation that bars companies from participating in boycotts targeting Israel, the ACLU opposes such efforts on free speech grounds.

Trone, who voted last year in favor of a House resolution condemning BDS, disagrees with the ACLU. Were categorically opposed to BDS, said the 64-year-old freshman congressman, who is a staunch supporter of the Jewish state and regards the movement as antisemitic. A company shouldnt be coerced into boycotting Israel.

For Trone, such statements are hardly theoretical. Total Wine, which operates more than 200 stores across 24 states, is the largest retailer of Israeli wine in the U.S., according to the congressman. Israel makes great wines, he told JI, praising the wineries in the Golan, a region he characterized as an up-and-coming wine destination akin to Austrias Wachau Valley.

The company has worked hard to have one of the best selections in the country of Israeli wines, Trone said. And not just kosher, but Israeli wines themselves, some of which are kosher. Despite his enthusiasm for Israeli wine, Trone was reluctant to name a favorite. Thats just fraught with problems, the freshman congressman said diplomatically after a brief pause.

Trone has long supported Jewish causes at least since he married his wife, June Trone, who is Jewish and insisted their four children be raised in the religion. The family attends two synagogues in Maryland: Temple Beth Ami, which is Reform, and Bnai Israel Congregation, a Conservative synagogue June attends regularly.

I told him, I want to raise my family Jewish, so if that was something that he wasnt interested in, we shouldnt pursue this, June recalled to JI in a rare interview, adding that there was never any discussion about her husband converting. He said that was fine with him, and of course hes been extremely supportive of my being Jewish, and the kids.

Ralph Grunewald, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Howard County, who worked as Trones liaison to the Jewish community during his last campaign, described the congressman, who was raised Lutheran, as an honorary Jew.

Ive told him that many times, said Grunewald, who took Trone on his second trip to Israel in February 2018 and solicited the congressmans donation to AIPAC. He just gets it in his kishkes.

Trone said he was intimately attuned to the recent uptick in antisemitic violence in the United States. He lived in Pittsburgh for 15 years, and his oldest daughter, Michelle, received her Hebrew name at the Tree of Life Congregation, the site of a 2018 shooting that killed 11 people.

We need to be there to support Israel, and thats something that we are happy to do both in our personal capacity and in our official capacity, said Trone, who serves as vice chair of the Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism subcommittee.

Andrew Friedson, a Montgomery County councilmember who sits on Trones Jewish community advisory group, backed up that assertion. David has been a very strong advocate for the U.S.-Israel relationship, he said.

Robert Stillman, a Maryland doctor who sits on the local board of the American Jewish Committee, agreed. Hes co-sponsored every piece of legislation in Congress since hes been there, that Im aware of, regarding the safety and security of the U.S.-Israel relationship, Stillman said. He hasnt just been a vote, Stillman added. Hes been a collector of votes, an influencer.

Trone is safely ensconced in Washington after handily winning his primary on June 2 and he is in good shape to defend his seat come November. But his path to Congress was by no means seamless.

A failed run for Congress four years ago cost him more than $13 million of his own money, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Last cycle, he poured approximately $18 million more into his successful campaign to represent Marylands 6th district, which includes the states northwestern portion. Trone is enlivened by his congressional service, he said, despite a tumultuous first term that has included a global pandemic as well as mass protests against police brutality.

I created a great, wonderful company, but I found I couldnt move the needle enough to help those that dont have a voice, said Trone.

During his time in Congress, Trone has been focused on addressing mental health issues as well as opioid addiction. In May, the congressman whose nephew died of a fentanyl overdose four years ago was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to a commission that will address the opioid crisis in the U.S.

Its really an opportunity to create legislation thats going to save tens and tens of thousands of lives in addiction, he said, so Im excited about that.

Trone who is aware that he is fortunate to have self-funded both of his campaigns also wants to help out other aspiring candidates during a year in which the Democrats are hoping to flip the Senate while maintaining their hold on the House.

Not that political donations are anything new for the wine mogul. But Trone said there was an added urgency to his mission as the coronavirus crisis has upended traditional campaigning.

Its very hard for them, in todays environment, to hold fundraisers and really get the money that it takes to run a campaign, he told JI. So if were able to step up because weve been fortunate financially, and help them out, thats certainly, I think, the right thing to do.

Trone is dispersing his money among more than 40 candidates, according to his wife, who is also making donations. Those candidates include Senate hopefuls Theresa Greenfield in Iowa, Sara Gideon in Maine, Mark Kelly in Arizona and John Hickenlooper in Colorado all of whom are running in battleground states.

Theyre the ones who will have the tougher elections, she told JI.

In late April, Trone gave his most sizable personal donation in 2020 nearly $250,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and he has funneled close to $350,000 to the group through his retail wine and spirits business. A month earlier, Trone donated $100,000 to the Senate Majority PAC, which supports Democrats.

He wants to now give back, said Grunewald, comparing the congressman to other wealthy politicians of generations past such as former Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH), who moved into public service later in life.

It is clear that Trone is hoping for a long tenure in politics as he tackles the issues that mean the most to him, while working to assist Democratic congressional and senatorial candidates in their effort to make it to Washington which he knows, from personal experience, can be a difficult task.

Its crucial to be there to help, he said.

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The wine magnate fighting BDS in Congress and in wine shops across the country - Jewish Insider

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Posted By admin on June 15, 2020

MINEOLA

Edward and Dorothy Cosenza Onorato have been blessed to have reached their 76th wedding anniversaryMay 7, 1944. They are residents of Mineolas Wellington Road for 62 years. Congratulations; what a milestone.

GARDEN CITY

Recently, the Garden City Board of Education appointed Janine Villez as the districts new director of pupil personnel services and Eamonn Flood as the districts new director of athletics, health and physical education.

Villez possesses more than 20 years of diverse experience and expertise in the field of special education, having served in a leadership role in a public school setting since 2010. For the last five years, Villez served as the director of elementary and preschool special education for the Longwood School District, supervising K-6 special education programs.

With more than 20 years of experience working in a public school athletics and physical education environment, Flood has served as the athletic director and physical education department chairperson at Great Neck North High School, where he supervised the high school interscholastic athletics program and physical education program for approximately 1,200 students. This included evaluating professional staff, hiring interscholastic athletic team coaches, developing schedules, planning and organizing awards ceremonies and many other duties associated with running the departments.

NEW HYDE PARK

For the last seven years, one would often see village resident Paul Sokol with his metal detector in Memorial Park.

Mike McBride, who is the owner of New Hyde Park Funeral Home, had lost his beloved Claddagh ring in 2013, during set up of the fourth annual Katies Run, which the McBride family holds in memory of their young daughter. In doing so, they raise money for the treatment of childhood cancer as well as Ronald McDonald House.

The ring was a gift from McBrides wife, Jeanne, when the couple was only 19 years old. McBride would continue wearing it as his wedding ring until it was sadly lost. Recently, Sokol would continue to search periodically and his tenacity paid off when he found what was thought lost forever. Sokol, along with his wife Cathy, was thrilled to present the ring to McBride this month, who was speechless.

PORT WASHINGTON

Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty, one of the nations leading realtors, has announced that Donna Rubertone has been appointed the sales manager of its Port Washington office. Chief Executive Officer Deirdre OConnell made the announcement.

Donna Rubertone is a dedicated and inspirational manager with a proven record of success during her time as the manager of our Bayside/Flushing and Astoria/LIC Offices, OConnell said. She will play an integral role in guiding and assisting the Port Washington sales team in their continued achievements. Her uncompromising integrity, along with her unparalleled interpersonal abilities, will continue to be a great asset to our team.

Donna has a diverse background in financial services and sales having worked with Disney Vacation Club dealing primarily with the sale of real estate timeshares. During her four years with Disney, Donna received specialized training in customer service and sales giving her invaluable experience. She was the top sales professional throughout her time there and brings that same level of excellence and impeccable professionalism to her sales team at Daniel Gale Sothebys.

GLEN COVE

Laughter Saves Lives Foundation is not letting COVID-19 stop them from making people laugh while raising money for first responders. Last month, they held a comedy ZOOMATHON that lasted for five hours featuring 18 comics, including their very own chef, Pat Marone.

The virtual event raised almost $12,000, which was used to purchase 4,000 much needed N95 masks. The masks were distributed to the Veterans Hospitals in St. Albans and Northport. The Regency Assisted Living was also a recipient of this wonderful donation.

Chef Pat is a comic that works with our organization for the last four years. We are very proud of the work that The Regency has been doing to help their residents by keeping them happy and healthy, John Larocchia, founder and president of Laughter Saves Lives Foundation, said.

The Regency sends a huge thank you to the Laughter Saves Lives Foundation for their generous donation. For more information, check their website at http://www.LaughterSavesLives.org.

SYOSSET

In a time of unprecedented challenges, North Shore Synagogue continues to find creative ways to connect with its congregation and community. The clergy, Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet and Cantor Mariel Ashkenazy, continue to reach out to the congregation via phone, email and text and send spiritual uplifting messages and songs out each week, providing pastoral care.

However, nothing can replace the in-person connection that we are missing in everyones daily lives right now. In addition to North Shore Synagogues continuing plethora of imaginative online programming and services, the synagogue reached deep into its heart and personally hand-delivered Shabbat bags to each of its more than 400 local member families.

Congregants were personally wished a Shabbat shalom by receiving a bag with a special note, Shabbat candles, Kedem grape juice provided by Royal Wine Corp, an individually wrapped and personalized challah provided by Zucker Bakers and a sheet with Shabbat blessings.

President Larry Henin said he received an overwhelmingly positive response as we brought the warmth of Shabbat into the homes of our congregation. He also pointed to dozens of favorable thank you posts from congregants on the synagogues Facebook page. He added, this is what being a part of a synagogue and community is about.

LEVITTOWN

Jonas E. Salk Middle School in the Levittown Public Schools was re-designated as a National School of Character by Character.org. This year, 84 schools and seven districts from 15 states earned the distinction. Jonas E. Salk Middle School is only one of three New York schools to be selected. This is the second time that the school earned the national title, the first being in 2016.

To receive the high honor, schools and school districts must meet Character.orgs 11 Principles. The principles were developed by school leaders and character development researchers to serve as a guide for schools throughout the country to plan, implement, assess and sustain their character development initiative. Building administrators and staff members from Jonas E. Salk Middle School applied for re-designation and the school received a site visit by a Character.org representative who pushed into classrooms, spoke with students, staff and parents.

Character education has played a significant role for years, starting with Jonas E. Salk Middle Schools R.I.S.E. program (respect and responsibility, integrity, safety and staying healthy and empathy). The program is committed to fostering each students social-emotional development and create opportunities for academic excellence, civic education and the development of moral character. This year, the school created R.I.S.E. Day, which is held once every quarter and focuses on one of the R.I.S.E. themes for the entire school day. Students participate in team building, problem solving and social-emotional activities.

The middle school also started a R.I.S.E. newsletter based on each quarters theme. Students who demonstrate the theme receive a R.I.S.E. Award and are highlighted in the newsletter. Outstanding students also receive a postcard in the mail from their teacher acknowledging them for their excellent character.

SEAFORD

Seaford High School Class of 2020 valedictorian Jason Linzer and salutatorian Matt Karounos attended a special, socially distant ceremony hosted by the Town of Hempstead in late May at the Merrick Road Park Golf Course. With the COVID-19 pandemic altering the usual pomp and circumstance of graduation, the event recognized the achievements of top graduates from high school throughout the town.

Supervisor Donald Clavin, joined by other elected officials, congratulated Jason and Matt on their accomplishments. Jason will attend Stony Brook University to study biochemistry and Matt is committed to the University of Notre Dame where he will major in applied and computational mathematics and statistics.

PLAINVIEW

Gregory Kies, a senior at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School (POBJFKHS), recently earned the opportunity of a lifetime. He has received offers from the United States Military Academy at West Point, as well as the United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Kies is a heavily involved student at POBJFKHS. He actively participates in many extracurricular activities such as holding the position of POBJFKHS class president, president of the band and public relations secretary for the National Spanish Honor Society. He is also an active member of the POBJFKHS track and cross country team, where he served as team captain. One of Kies most cherished accomplishments is being the founder and administrator of Supplies for Soldiers, an initiative that ships hundreds of supplies to soldiers that are stationed overseas. As the program grew steadily through the Plainview-Old Bethpage community, Kies was astonished by the large number of people willing to support the cause.

MASSAPEQUA

Community helpers was the focus of a recent digital lesson for English as a New Language (ENL) students at Fairfield Elementary School in the Massapequa School District. Working with ENL teachers Colleen Corrigan and Mary Gaynor, they learned vocabulary pertaining to important people who work in the community and discussed the different roles that each of them serves. Corrigan and Gaynor hosted virtual lessons over Google Hangouts for kindergartners and first graders. One of the chats included a guest speaker, Corrigans husband, who is a firefighter. Students were able to ask him questions about his job. ENL students also participated in the Buncee initiative, #Hugs4Heroes, in which they made digital thank-you cards for essential workers. Second and fourth grade students from Michele Ritchie and Jill Korwans classes were engaged in letter-writing lessons, incorporating the digital cards they made.

HICKSVILLE

The Hicksville High School Chamber Singers were recently named one of only eight national finalists in the high school division of The American Prize choral competition. Back in February, the 27-member Chamber Singers group and the schools concert choir were named semifinalists in the competition. Both groups are led by Hicksville High School choral director Michelle Shmuel. Winners of The American Prize awards are expected to be announced before the official end of the 2019-20 school year.

FARMINGDALE

The Eighth Squad reports the arrest of two individuals for a burglary that occurred on April 9, in Farmingdale. According to detectives, a 50-year-old male victim noticed that his business Woodys Goodys, located at 695 Main St., had been burglarized. Investigation discovered that two males entered the business through a skylight and stole assorted merchandise before exiting the establishment. After an extensive investigation, defendants Jonathan Diaz-Alfaro, 24, and Douglas Mejia-Gomez, 23, were arrested on May 17, for the above burglary. Both defendants are charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny. They were arraigned on Monday, May 18, in Mineola.

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ROSLYN

Sage Spiegelman, a Roslyn High School sophomore, wanted to show her appreciation to first responders battling the coronavirus pandemic.

I had been making pretzel pies as a hobby for my family and friends for several months prior to the pandemic, Spiegelman said. I thought it would be a great idea to create custom pies with inspirational sayings, such as strength, hero, and courage, and distribute the pies to first responders.

After posting several photos of the completed pies on her Instagram account, @Uofsweets, the requests came pouring in from others, asking if they could purchase them.

Since the pandemic shut down all parties and celebrations, people are finding other ways to make these events special for loved ones, Sages mother, Deborah Spiegelman, said.

Spiegelman, along with her older sister, Ariel, have been working to complete all the orders. They have already completed more than 100 requests and raised more than $1,000. Profits have been donated to several local charities including Long Island Cares, the CDC Foundation, the COVID-19 Fund and Food for the Frontline.

Submitted by Deborahand Gene Spiegelman

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