Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

New London Hello everyone, this is Mr. Booker. And Im really excited about the book were about to read today.

Its how longtime educator, motivational speaker and New London City Council member Kevin Booker Jr. begins each installment of his newest video series, "Read and Learn with Mr. Booker," on Facebook at bit.ly/MrBookerFB.

The series is part of Bookers one-man effort to make the lives of others just a bit easier during the coronavirus pandemic, when kids are out of school. Joined by a cast of stuffed animals, Booker said his goal during each book reading is simple: motivate students to continue their learning.

I believe its crucial to keep our students engaged and reading while they are at home. They get a little restless and we have to continue motivating them on the importance of education, of reading and writing, he said. I want everyone to have equal access to a high-quality education and way of life. Reading opens doors for children to be successful and productive members of our community.

Seated alongside Leo the sloth and Olivia the owl, Booker used a fireplace in the empty dining room of the Green Room Restaurant on Bank Street as a backdrop for a recent reading of I Am Enough by Grace Byers. For the older children, he has been reading chapters from the "Crunchy Life" series by Glen Mourning.

Green Room owner Jonai Phillips was impressed and said Booker was making the rounds downtown and had stopped in to ask about how the restaurant is faring and what he could do to help.

I think its great, Phillips said. I mean, no one knows how long the kids will be out of school. The kids are probably driving their parents crazy. Kids are always on the internet anyway and theres a lot of weird stuff out there. What hes doing sounds relatable. He has really good energy.

Bookers settings change daily and have included his car because, he tells viewers, you can read anywhere.

His introduction to each book typically starts with a hand washing and beat boxing, or vocal percussion, something he said hes been doing since age 6, a creative outlet to help him connect and engage with others.

Booker said along with the educational aspect of the readings, he is offering himself as a role model for community youth.

He grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Hartford in what he said was a loving, multigenerational home where parents, grandparents and members of his community served as his role models.

He said he sees New London in a similar way, a place filled with leaders invested in the community, and that helps motivate him. When asked about who in the community inspires him, he ticked off a list of more than a dozen people, from school board President Regina Mosley to former City Councilor Martin Olsen, calling them devoted, selfless and committed.

Booker has been an educator since 2002 and taught middle school and high school, is an adjunct professor at Asnuntuck Community College and volunteers at New London elementary, middle and high schools. Before schools canceled classes, he was regularly reading to third-graders, and performing morning announcements at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. Hes a guest lecturer, member of the Anti-Defamation League and board member of the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication. He is the founder of Booker Empowerment LLC, teaching public speaking and leading diversity and leadership workshops.

Booker has made himself known to the New London community through initiatives like Ride with Councilor Booker, meeting a group at the New London train station for a ride on a SEAT bus through the city to hear ideas and concerns.

He has performed a third-shift ride-along with police, donned turnout gear with firefighters and completed Disaster Institute Training with the local Red Cross chapter.

The social distancing part of the coronavirus scare is an especially cruel mandate for Booker, who under normal circumstances is as quick with a friendly embrace as he is with his smile.

I never thought in my lifetime I would experience anything like this. Its hard, he says with a laugh. Its just the world were living in.

Hes continued his outreach in the virtual world, releasing an ongoing series of videos spotlighting people during Womens History Month, such as Chien-Shiung Wu, known as the first lady of physics, and former University of Connecticut basketball superstar Diana Taurasi. Hes done similar videos for Black History Month.

He is planning a regular series highlighting small New London businesses and continues to post motivational videos that include rise and shine and positive bedtime prayers.

What else can he do? His most recent Facebook post asks Need Support Shopping? Hes asked anyone over the age of 65 in need of groceries or other household items to call him. Hell do the shopping.

There is a quote my uncle shared with me when I was younger that I live by, When you see a problem, that is why God created you.

g.smith@theday.com

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New London man motivating youth through online reading - theday.com

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

Called the Jackie Robinson of hockey, Willie Eldon ORee became the first black man to play in the National Hockey League. Attaining that honor cost ORee a lot, including several instances of racial slurs, threats, and fights. He would even lose his sight in his right eye.

He was a speedy skater who had played organized hockey since age five and had scored 22 goals with 12 assists in his first professional season with Quebec.

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, his big break came when the Bruins invited him to attend training camp before the start of the 1957-58 seasons. He did not make the final cut but his overall performance was impressive.

ORee had at the time lost 95 percent of the vision in his right eyeafter being hit with an errant puck two years earlier while playing in a junior league game in Guelph, Ontario.

ORee kept his injury to himself and stepped on the ice in the National Hockey League.

Ididnt tell anyone that I couldnt see. My sister, Betty, and my good friend,another black player named Stan Maxwell, were the only ones who knew that Icouldnt see. I didnt tell my mom and dad because I didnt want them to worry,ORee said.

The 22-year-old forward defied the odds by becoming the first black person to play in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on January 18, 1958.

He returned to the Bruins in 1960-61 and scored four goals and 10 assists in 43 games. His first NHL goal was in a game-winner against Montreal at the Boston Garden on New Years Day, 1961, making him the first black player to score an NHL goal. For his effort, ORee received a standing ovation.

Despite his memorable goal and outstanding efforts, African-Canadian ORee wasnt well-received at other NHL venues. At New York Citys venerable Madison Square Garden, fans hurled racial slurs at him.

In Chicago, he was targeted for abuse for bruising Blackhawks forward Eric Elbows Nesterenko who later called ORee the n-word and even took the butt-end of his stick, hitting ORees face with it. He ended up with a broken nose and two missing front teeth.

Hedid retaliate though; he took his stick and smashed Nesterenko over the headwith it. Every time I went on the ice I was faced with racial slurs because ofmy color, ORee told the Anti-Defamation League Youth Congress gathering heldin Boston in 2016.

I had black cats thrown on the ice and people told me to go back to the cotton fields and pick cotton. I didnt let it hurt me, ORee said. I let it go in one ear and out the other.

Reportedly, the Bruins traded ORee to the Canadiens who had no room for him on their roster. Devasted by the new development, he went on to play on a series of minor league clubs, including the Los Angeles Blades of the Western Hockey League, scoring a career-high 38 goals in 1964-65.

For 16 years, ORee was out of the game. He got hired in 1994 by McBride, the then NHLs VP business development, to be the leagues diversity ambassador.

Hewas inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1984; FrederictonSports Wall of Fame in 1992 and in 2003, he got the Lester Patrick Trophy forhis contributions to hockey in the U.S.

In2005, he received an Order of New Brunswick; he was inducted into the Black IceHockey and Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was honored by the NHL during the 2008NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta.

He also received an Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Cross-Cultural Understanding Award from San Diego State University in 2008 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

ORee is now 84, promoting the same sport that initially didnt embrace him but now recognizes him throughout the country.

A documentary film about his remarkable life as the National Hockey Leagues first black player was recently acquired by ESPN to mark Black History Month.

The film won multiple awards during its festival run, including Best Sports Documentary at the Downtown LA Film Festival, and was a top-five Audience Favorite at Hot Docs.

Given the impact Willie has made and continues to make on the game, were excited to bring his story to the forefront on our platforms, ESPN Executive Producer for Original Content, Brian Lockhart said ahead of the TV premiere. His journey is a great example of the meaningful and impactful stories we appreciate and love to tell.

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Blind in one eye, Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League - Face2Face Africa

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

The couple who shot up a kosher market in Jersey Metropolis final month and the suspect in the Hanukkah stabbings in upstate Monsey had connections to the Black Hebrew Israelites, a secretive sect with some members preaching hate towards Jews. David Anderson, one of the shooters killed in the Dec. 10 firefight which resulted in six lifeless, printed rabid anti-Semitic screeds on social media and was impressed by the group. Grafton Thomas, the accused stabber who injured 5 Hanukkah celebrants inside a rabbis house final week, had attended the sects home of worship in East Harlem. Months earlier than the two assaults, in early February, Submit reporter Princess Jones attended a service at the storefront temple. That is her story.

It was darkish after I approached the constructing on Madison Avenue, the world headquarters of the Black Hebrew Israelites. I stood for a number of minutes on the reverse facet of the avenue, summoning the braveness to knock on their door.

The gatekeeper of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ was dressed fully in black. He was easy however guarded as he peered at me via a crack in the door.

One of my relations is a follower of the group, however I knew little about them besides that their members view themselves as Gods chosen individuals, and imagine that African Individuals, Hispanics and Native Individuals are the actual descendants of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Final January, as I watched the viral video of the confrontation between a bunch of Catholic college college students and Black Hebrew Israelite avenue preachers throughout the March for Life at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, I immediately wished to know extra.

How did you hear about the church? requested the gatekeeper. Are you accustomed to the religion?

I informed him the fact {that a} member of the family attended their sermons in my hometown in North Carolina. However he appeared not to hear me, and saved asking extra questions earlier than he opened the door and allowed me in. Earlier than I might step throughout the threshold, the doorkeeper wished to know extra.

He requested me if I used to be on my interval.

I wasnt, however they should have observed my look of shock, and defined to me that ladies on their intervals are thought of unclean and barred from spiritual companies.

Earlier than they allowed me to cross, I used to be looked for medicine and weapons with a steel detector. They requested me to open my purse, and demanded that I hand over my cellphone. Once I requested why, they responded, for safety causes.

Lastly, I walked into the sanctuary, previous doorways emblazoned with the Star of David and two males in lengthy purple vests with gold piping and puffy white shirts who recognized themselves as excessive clergymen. On the wall behind them was a big plaque with their model of the 12 tribes of Israel: the Negroes belong to the tribe of Judah, the Cubans to Manasseh; West Indians to Benjamin; Native Individuals to Gad; the Haitians to Levi, and so forth.

Truthfully, I didnt know what to anticipate as I made my means to a chair and somebody handed me a Bible. Later, I used to be given a replica of the Apocrypha, a group of spiritual teachings central to the beliefs of the Black Hebrew Israelites.

My relative who was half of the group had as soon as described what was concerned of their spiritual conversions. Mainly, it amounted to this: All the pieces I had been taught in my Christian religion was a lie. Blacks have been the true kids of God. We have been the misplaced Israelite tribes. We might go to heaven if we adopted the Ten Commandments and stayed away from consuming pork and shellfish, amongst different beliefs. White individuals have been our oppressors, she mentioned. In accordance to my relative, as an African American lady, I used to be a true Jew regardless that the faith makes use of components from each Christianity and Judaism.

Jesus Christ loves Israel, mentioned one of the excessive clergymen. He spoke in a powerful, proud voice, addressing the congregation, which consisted of me and 5 different individuals. Our individuals are misplaced as a result of theyve been lied to by the European individuals.

The priest went on to say in a decided and matter-of-fact voice that the mission of the church was to inform individuals these truths. Someway, I anticipated him to be louder, to wave his arms round, perhaps even to stomp his ft. However there was none of that. As a substitute, there was a measured and calm assurance that what he was preaching was merely the fact.

There isnt a different church on the planet earth that can educate you the true phrase of God, he continued. Different church buildings are the Anti-Christ. You should be a component of the Israelite church to hear the fact.

I had heard a lot the similar from my relative in that very same measured tone of voice. I had as soon as made the mistake of introducing her to a classmate after my commencement from Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville. My buddy is white, and I had warned my relative to be good to her and steer clear of conversations about faith. Nevertheless it was not to be helped. Throughout a dialogue of the Bible, my relative declared that none of the others in the group would ever make it to heaven as a result of they werent the chosen ones.

At the Harlem temple, the excessive priest skipped from scripture to scripture to justify his model of the phrase of God. It was troublesome to perceive some of his conclusions.

In the event youre questioning why we skip via verses, thats as a result of its the way you get understanding of the phrase, mentioned the excessive priest, in all probability noticing the confusion on my face.

We had been informed that there could be a question-and-answer interval at the finish of the service that was now stretching past three hours. However as the clock ticked previous 9 p.m., the priest confirmed no signal of interrupting the sermon for questions.

The Black Hebrew Israelites are a secretive bunch. Once I talked about to my relative that I used to be going to write a narrative about them, and wished to interview her, she panicked, anxious that Id painting members of the group as evil. She mentioned she wanted to verify with the elders of the church earlier than she could be allowed to communicate to me.

Towards the finish of the Harlem service, one of the excessive clergymen emphasised that the church was there to assist with any emotional points. Perhaps he was anxious about the dangerous publicity related to the faith. The church is taken into account a hate group by the Southern Poverty Legislation Middle and the Anti-Defamation League.

Weve a counselor arrange for members of the congregation, he informed us. We all know what built-up feelings can do.

Leaving the church, I felt many alternative feelings. I appreciated the alternative to be half of the sermon and to attempt to perceive what the Black Hebrew Israelites are all about. However I additionally felt unhappy and damage to know that some of my individuals are so misplaced.

And for these brothers and sisters, all I can actually do is pray.

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Inside the secretive Black Hebrew Israelite sect of Harlem, linked to Monsey stabber - Gruntstuff

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

Johnstons Toyota dealership in New Hampton, New York, refused to service to a Hasidic Jewish man, with an employee telling him, Youre spreading the virus. Photo: Screenshot.

A New York car dealership that refused to honor a Hasidic Jewish mans appointment by claiming he was spreading the coronavirus is now being investigated by the local district attorney for alleged antisemitic discrimination.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Tuesday that his office was conducting an inquiry into the incident at Johnstons Toyota in New Hampton, New York, on Monday.

As The Algemeiner and other news outlets reported on Tuesday, the Hasidic man who filmed his encounter with a Johnstons employee on his cellphone was ordered to leave the premises after being told, Youre spreading the virus you gotta go.

As the Hasidic man protested, other customers were seen receiving service. His final question to the employee Why do I spread the virus more than other people? went unanswered.

March 28, 2020 1:26 pm

A statement from the Orange County District Attorneys office on Tuesday confirmed that Hoovler had spoken to the owner of the dealership.

The owner stated that the dealership had not instructed their employees to refuse service to members of the Orthodox Jewish community and has since taken remedial action against the employees who were involved in the incident, the statement noted. The dealership acknowledged their obligation to provide service without regard to a customers religion.

Citing New York State Civil Rights Law section 40, Hoovler said that no business can withhold service from any person on account of their race, creed, color or national origin, even during this time of emergency.

Hoovler continued: While there may be an understandable fear of contracting the coronavirus, there is never an excuse to violate peoples civil rights due to their race, gender or religion. Every business, essential or not, that does treat people equally is liable for prosecution under New Yorks Civil Rights Law. Now, more than ever, New Yorkers should treat each other equally and with respect and, most importantly, follow the law.

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New York Local DA Announces Discrimination Inquiry Into Car Dealership Where Hasidic Man Was Told, 'You're Spreading the Virus' - Algemeiner

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

A Hasidic man had an appointment on Monday to service his car at Toyota service center in Goshen, NY. However, instead of being serviced like the rest of the locations customers, he was told to leave because he was spreading the virus.

The man said that he called Johnstons Toyota to see if he can bring his vehicle in for maintenance. He was told over the phone that there was no problem, since they are open. He then made an appointment for 9:30AM.

The visibly Jewish man entered into the garage where he was met by an employee who told him to exit the premises claiming that they are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

As the man drove away, he noticed that one vehicle after the next was entering the service center. At that point, he began video-taping the vehicles entering.

He then called the Toyota dealership again saying I missed my appointment, is there any time slot still available for today?

To which Toyota replied: sure, come at 10:15 this morning. And although they told him to leave a second time, at least this time he caught the bigotry on camera.

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Hasidic Jew Turned Away from Toyota Dealer in NY: You're Spreading the Virus - Breaking Israel News

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

I have tears in my eyes, 24-year-old actress Shira Haas says, responding to the shocking results of a 2018 survey by the Claims Conference, an organization dedicated to preserving the memories of Holocaust victims. The study reports that 41 percent of millennials believe that 2 million or fewer Jews were killed in the genocide (compared to the 6 million Jewish people who lost their lives, and the roughly 11 million people total who perished), and 66 percent of millennials cannot say what Auschwitz was. The mere mention of the mass murder site, where 40 concentration and extermination camps were run by Nazi Germany during World War II, hits close to home for the Israeli actress. Her grandfather is an Auschwitz survivor.

The Holocaust, though not the focal point of the four-part limited series, is woven intricately into Unorthodox, the Netflix drama inspired by Deborah Feldmans autobiography by the same name, much like its woven into the stories of the millions of Jews alive today. Haas plays Esther Shapiro, an ultra-Orthodox woman from Brooklyn desperate for a new life; one in which she can play the piano, sing, and explore every aspect of her multifaceted personality without limits. But when she fails to find the freedom she craves within Williamsburgs tight-knit Hasidic community, she flees to Germany. Its a choice that her loved ones and, at times, Shapiro herself cannot quite understand, made all the more complicated when she discovers shes pregnant.

We cant avoid that the story is happening in Berlin, Haas tells MTV News. Germanys capital city, after all, was home to the largest percentage of the countrys Jewish population before the Nazis rose to power in 1933. It was also the backdrop of Kristallnacht, a November night in 1938 when most of the citys synagogues were torched and Jewish homes and businesses were vandalized. With such an extensive history of hate crimes against Jewish people, it might be difficult for viewers to understand why a Hasidic Jew, or a Jewish person of any denomination, might ever return. But through her tumultuous and emotional journey, Esther, who also goes by the nickname Esty, quickly learns that Berlin and the world beyond her religious sect is not as dark and dangerous as she was led to believe.

[Esther] learned a lot of things about the outside world; that its not that scary, Haas says. She learned this the way most of us learn anything: by taking baby steps. Slowly, she begins swapping out her long skirt for jeans; she tries wearing lipstick and explores Berlins nightlife with her new, secular friends. [Esther] was told that if she ate ham she would vomit or die, and that other people are going to hurt her, Haas adds. And she understood its not like that. Perhaps the most profound symbol of her path forward is when Esty removes her sheitel (a wig worn by married orthodox Jewish women) and leaves it to drown in Lake Wannsee, located next to the villa where the Nazis convened in 1942 to discuss the Final Solution to the Jewish Question. Esty struggles in this moment to relinquish the trappings of her former life but, ultimately, finds liberation in her transformation.

Still, there are aspects of contemporary society for which Estys sheltered, smartphone-free life in Brooklyn could not have prepared her. She shutters in disbelief when her new friends speak nonchalantly about the Holocaust and pass jokes about Hitlers bunker. Meanwhile, she grapples with her rigid faith when she sees queer couples openly kissing in clubs and on streetcorners; her mother, who left Williamsburgs Hasidic community and moved to Berlin before Esty, is in a relationship with another woman herself. You cant remove, so quickly, everything youve been taught, Haas says of Estys culture shock upon arrival to Berlin. She mightve left, but this was her home, her family, the people she loved, her teachers, the only thing she knew. Quickly, she learns that fleeing an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood for a progressive city requires a challenge to her entire core belief system.

She comes from a place where the past is the present, Haas explains, alluding to the communitys commitment to rebuilding the population after the Holocaust. And suddenly she has a conflict between the past and her community, and the present and moving on. The actress compares the experience to a choose-your-own-adventure game, with Esty having to decide between staying in Berlin, auditioning for the Chalhulm Conservatory of Music, and starting a new life, or going back to the only one shes ever known. The decision is a hard one, but her most difficult choice was leaving Williamsburg in the first place.

I talked to an ex-Hasidic woman before the show, and I remember asking her, Why did you want to leave? Haas recalls. She just looked at me and said, Shira, no one wants to leave. But Esty has no choice. She follows every rule in hopes of feeling accepted by her community and still comes up short. Her wedding to a boy named Yanky, whom she had met through a matchmaker and married upon approval from his mother, was something she considered a ticket to a new life. That is, until the struggle to conceive made her feel more like an outsider than ever before.

To understand this intense feeling of isolation means probing deeper into the importance of procreation to Hasidic communities and understanding that its directly correlated to a centuries-long history of the persecution of Jews. The Hasidic community was built from loss, Haas says. It was built as a close community to continue what people have tried to destroy. Were living the present to honor the dead. Esty confirms this herself when she goes in for an ultrasound and the doctor suggests discussing her options. Where I come from, children are the most important thing, Esty says, shutting down alternatives like abortion and adoption entirely. Were rebuilding the 6 million lost.

The series doesnt hold back when showing the physical pain and emotional distress Esty endures to get pregnant. In one scene, shes even given a dilator kit to help make the whole experience less painful. They hurt, she tells Yanky, to which he responds, We have to make a family whether it appeals to you or not. And while the expectation to procreate and the measures taken to build a family may seem extreme to the secular viewers, its not unique to orthodox doctrines. The first mitzvah, or good deed, in the central text of Judaism, the Torah, is to be fruitful and multiply, which can be interpreted differently depending on religious denomination. Being religious or orthodox doesnt necessarily mean one thing, Haas explains. There are so many different approaches to it and family dynamics.

Similarly, Haas says that her grandparents, though not orthodox themselves, felt a renewed sense of responsibility to help rebuild the Jewish population after the Holocaust. So did many other Jews, regardless of how religious they were. I come from a secular family, but my grandfather is an Auschwitz survivor. My grandmother is also a survivor from Hungary, Haas reveals. They met in Israel. When they met, it wasnt even about love almost. It was just about, Lets make a family. Now. Theyre trying to kill us. Lets rebuild what theyre trying to destroy. And if you look at it like that, then its not revenge. The answer is love, actually. Its family.

Its for this reason that the actress encourages viewers to be open-minded while watching the series and not to look at the Hasidic community in black and white. If someone sees the show, and sees these people that they dont know, [and] sees that they are human beings, they are people, they have desires, they have love, they have disappointments, and theyre complex characters, then we did it all, she says. And though Esty feels inclined to explore what else is out there, she never forgets where she comes from. In one particularly desperate moment, she calls her grandmother in Brooklyn; the call is rejected. That was the scene that killed me, Haas said. This is really the moment that shes completely alone.

Moving forward doesnt mean removing your roots, and I think thats part of Estys journey, Haas says. For her, its about going to the future. It doesnt mean to forget about your past. Its a signal for young people today to remember the Holocaust, to keep close to your heart the memory of those weve lost as well as the sheer power of human resilience. Its something that is part of my roots, Haas says. We need to remember always, but we need to keep on going. And with the Anti-Defamation Leagues reported 150 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents from 2013 to 2018 in the United States, remembering Jewish history, in particular, this message is perhaps more crucial now than ever before.

Nowadays, with all of the anti-Semitism, its even more important to tell these stories, Haas says. We wont have survivors forever. This is the last generation, so we have an important role in that. Unorthodox is Haass way of fulfilling that duty, reminding us all that we need to pay homage to our roots no matter how painful the memories, and keep going. Estys moment of power arrives during an audition that secures her future at the Chalhulm Conservatory. In a last minute switch, she decides to forgo the piano and sing a song from her past: An Die Musik by Franz Schubert, a favorite of her grandmothers. And so, shes not avoiding her past completely, Haas says. [Shes] understanding that its part of her, but nothing thats going to stop her.

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'Unorthodox' Remembers Atrocities Of The Past While Stepping Bravely Into The Future - MTV.com

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

The novel coronavirus has put life on hold for many around the world, but it didnt stop a family in Omaha from reaching a huge milestone Friday.

With help from an Omaha synagogue and a few friends, an Iraqi refugee family moved into a west Omaha apartment.

Ted, his wife and their two children landed in Omaha 20 days earlier to a heros welcome.

Their arrival took a massive effort that was organized in part by former Marine Ben Wormington of Omaha, who met Ted in 2008 while serving his third tour in Iraq. Ted was an interpreter assigned to Wormingtons reconnaissance unit. Hes referred to as Ted for the sake of his familys safety.

Wormingtons friends and family gathered to greet Ted at the airport with advocates from Lutheran Family Services, fellow veterans and Omahans who had heard Teds story. And Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El Synagogue, who pledged to help Teds family with furniture and anything else they may need.

The end-all be-all is that it warms our hearts, and its the least that we can do, Abraham said.

Ted said his family was excited and thankful to move into the apartment.

Today was an awesome day with all the support from my friends and even people I dont know, he said. Were very thankful.

He said that while the coronavirus has postponed his application for a drivers license and his children going to school, hes glad that he and his family are moved into their home.

Im praying that everyone stays safe, and Im very grateful, he said.

Oliver Henderson plays first base waiting for some action. Without a left hand Henderson is able to adapt to the world of baseball.

Libby DiBiase runs in a 14-pound vest during a workout at CrossFit Kinesis in Gretna. This Omaha police officer uses CrossFit to keep in shape for her unpredictable job.

Jeff Strufing enjoys being able to help people during group classes at Kosama. Despite his cancer diagnosis, Strufing hasnt let it change his lifestyle. The 46-year-old business owner, husband and father of two still works part-time as a paramedic and teaches weekly classes at three gyms. Hes done it all while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Margie Irfan practices bicep curls during her workout at Life Time Fitness. Iftan entered the world of bodybuilding when she was 46 years old. The Omaha woman has lost 10 percent of her body fat while maintaining the same weight and shes got the toned muscles to prove it.

Jack Mallett practices his tennis skills at Miracle Hill tennis courts. After deciding to quit drinking Mallett, 92, made tennis his addiction.

Michelle Graft runs on the Wabash Trace in Council Bluffs to train for her portion of the MS Run the US relay. Gaft who has MS uses running to keep the symptoms at bay.

Mary Manhart works out at the Downtown YMCA four times a week. She sees the people at the gym as her extended family.

Hadeel Haider started to exercise after being treated forHodgkin's lymphoma, andshe fell in love with Zumba. Haider now teaches Zumba class at the the Maple Street YMCA.

Nancy Nygren works out at least three times a week to help keep off more than 65 pounds that she lost a decade ago. Shes the perfect example of somebody who has lost a significant amount of weight and has done it the right way, said Jennifer Yee, who leads Nygrens boot camp class and is also an instructor in Creighton Universitys exercise science program.

Tom Carney does a workout during kickboxing class. Carney used to work out so he could eat whatever he wanted. Now he understands diet is just as important as exercise.

Rik Zortman runs the name of children who have died of cancer. He has ran the name of more than 250 children since his son's death in 2009.

Katie Chipman, a 12-year-old gymnast with juvenile arthritis, practices at Airborne Academy. Chipman works to hard to compete and only misses practices if her symptoms are too severe.

Joe Reisdorff and Dan Masters grew up in the same town, attending the same church were never close untilReisdorff needed a new kidney and Masters was a match.

Still recovering from a heart transplant, Rick Ganem wouldn't be able to make it to his daughter Sarah's wedding. So she brought the ceremony to his hospital room.

Since starting her weight-loss journey, Keasha Hawkins-Moore is closing in on dropping half of her starting weight 500 pounds. During that journey, she's battled cancer, lost loved ones and strengthened her faith.

Leota "Lee" Brown suffered a stroke and two days later, the 98-year-old was back to her spunky self at home in an assisted-living facility. She's required no therapy since the stroke.

Harley Swanek had been living with an undetected heart condition for the first seven months of her life. It caused her to become unresponsive for more than 30 minutes, leading to a brain injury. Harley's back home and relearning all of her milestones.

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Iraqi interpreter and his family move into new home furnished by Omaha synagogue - Omaha World-Herald

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

With only two independent Judaica stores remaining in the Bay Area, synagogue and JCC gift shops are filling a growing need not only for tangible items, but for community, too.

Yves Jewelry & Judaica in Berkeley closed earlier this year, citing lackluster sales, leaving Dayenu (located at the JCC of San Francisco) and Afikomen (Berkeley) as the only two remaining independent stores selling ritual and other Jewish objects.

Synagogue gift shops have been able to weather challenges like the proliferation of big-box stores and the convenience of internet shopping with the help of institutional support.

The coronavirus pandemic has temporarily shuttered stores, but most sisterhood-run shops inside synagogues and JCCs each staffed by volunteers and unburdened by expenses such as rent, utilities and insurance payments have been around for years, and plan to reopen once shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted.

Shop managers throughout the area view their purpose in the broadest sense.

Its a service to the community. It creates community, says Kim Drucker of Women of Isaiah Judaica Gift Shop in Lafayette. Located in the Temple Isaiah building but open to anyone, its a place where [synagogue] members get to know each other; people come in to talk, Drucker says.

Ronna Voorsanger, buyer for the Rodef Sholom Sisterhood gift shop, says people frequently tell her they love coming in. The shop is located on the bottom floor of the Osher Marin JCC, next door to Congregation Rodef Sholom.

Were here for the entire community, she said.

Fanny Stein, who has been involved with the shop for 20 years, says she and Voorsanger have become more than just retailers.

People come in, they ask us questions about the holidays, how do you cook things? she said. And I love it when people come and ask us to read from one of the books in Hebrew.

The shop is as big as a postage stamp, jokes Stein, but we manage.

Voorsanger, an 11-year volunteer, concedes that displays are definitely a challenge, but we get it done.

The two women remodeled the approximately 190-square-foot shop about five years ago in order to maximize display space. Jewelry, mezuzahs and other small items fill a case; walls are lined with Kiddush cups, decorative plates and ritual objects. There are framed art prints, tallit, kippot and much more.

[The shop] is as big as a postage stamp, but we manage.

With Passover just around the corner, the space was replete with seder plates, haggadahs and holiday cookbooks.

Unfortunately, with no warning before the JCC closure due to the coronavirus threat, we had no opportunity to even go in and get anything out for possible delivery, says Voorsanger. Usually our big push is the week before Passover, so we are crossing our fingers not just for the shop but for everyone that it will reopen.

At the Temple Isaiah store, Drucker likewise had high hopes for Passover, but now is facing challenges due to the pandemic. Were in trouble this year, she admits.

Typically, we have a healthy bank account with money for buying. The money we make goes to the Women of Isaiah Sisterhood, which in turn supports temple youth programs. In a normal year, we make about $8,000, says Drucker, who devotes about 20 hours a week to her duties. There are about 25 volunteers in all. This year, though its hard, she said.

Linda Baraz of the Bnai Israel Jewish Center gift shop in Petaluma co-managed its Judaica shop for 20 years. Six years later, she still does all the buying, cleaning, arranging and rearranging.

The shop, located in the entryway of the small Jewish center, is open weekdays during preschool hours. Baraz has recruited her daughter, Leslee Lauritzen, director of the Gan Israel Preschool, to help out.

Im determined to keep it going, Baraz says. Weve always had a presence in the temple.

About 15 miles to the north, the Shomrei Judaica Shop at Congregation Shomrei Torah sells Judaica during normal business hours, when office staff is available.

In the South Bay, the Congregation Shir Hadash gift shop in Los Gatos carries carefully displayed items for adults and children. Proceeds enable the sisterhood to support programs that benefit the synagogue and religious school, such as a camp scholarship program.

And at Starr-Stevens Judaica shop at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, proceeds from sales help the sisterhood fund youth programming, camp scholarships and community trips to Israel.

Other synagogues also carry Judaica, some with shopping by appointment only.

Like Dayenu and Afikomen, the Rodef Sholom shop overseen by a management team and core of over 20 volunteers usually is open six days a week. And despite the bite of online shopping, the store takes in $30,000 to $40,000 a year, representatives said, enabling the sisterhood to fund camperships, senior programming, bnai mitzvah and confirmation gifts and other worthy causes.

Stein attributes the shops success, in part, to our unique positioning in the JCC.

People come in to browse Sometimes they just sit and chat with us.

Bottom line, though: Were very fortunate, she says. If we were a regular retail business, wed never make it.

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Temple gift shops pick up where now-closed Judaica stores left off - The Jewish News of Northern California

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

It was sad but also a relief: This family hosted their sons bar mitzvah over Zoom

Batya Grundland, a family doctor, and her husband, Mark Rottmann, a high-school science and engineering teacher, live in Toronto with their children Mattan, 13, Benjamin, 10, and Amitai, five. The family had been planning Mattans bar mitzvah for over two years, and the two-day event was set for last weekend. When Covid-19 concerns forced them to cancel all in-person celebrations, they moved the bar mitzvah to a livestream.

Batya: I booked the event with the synagogue two and a half years ago. Our photographer was booked two years ago. I was looking forward to celebrating with our family and friends. Its a ceremonial milestone, so I wanted it to be meaningful, but so much of the joy comes from sharing it with the community and those close to us.

Mark: Batya loves the horah. It involves a bunch of people dancing and holding hands, which is basically the opposite of social distancing.

Batya: Our original plan was for Mattan to do the traditional Saturday morning service in front of the entire congregationat Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue in North York. After, we would sponsor a kiddush, a light lunch, for our guests as well as the congregation. On the Sunday, we had planned a luncheon party for 175 guests at the synagogues banquet hall with arcade games for the kids. We booked a singer for traditional dancing and the horah.

Mark: Seeing people take time out of their schedule and, in some cases, travel long distances to be there made us feel so supported. We had friends and family confirmed who were coming from New York, Washington state, Montreal, Milwaukee and California.

Batya: The decision to cancel came about on March 11. I had sent a note to out-of-town guests saying we totally understand if theyre not comfortable travelling. In the morning, I was worried that my parents, who had just come back from a trip to Florida, wouldnt be able to attend if they became symptomatic. When I was at work, I had a patient who met the criteria for a Covid-19 swab. I started freaking out to a colleague about potentially getting sick myself and having to miss my sons bar mitzvah. I was picking up my kids from school that afternoon, and a rabbi from a different synagogue told me that he predicted all synagogues would be closed in two weeks. When I realized what that might mean, I broke down in the hallway. We decided to cancel that evening. That was the same night the NBA shut down and Tom Hanks announced hed tested positive.

Mark: Family and friends were thankful for the decision. Theyd been reading what was happening in the news and holding their breath. They were committed to coming, but were starting to feel fearful, and didnt know how to tell us. We could tell there was a large sigh of relief and appreciation. At the time we sent out the email, the TDSB hadnt shut down yet. If wed waited another day, it would have been out of our hands.

Mattan: It was sad but also a relief, because of everything that was going on in the world.

Batya: Mattan was great about it. He was disappointed mostly because hed been studying material for 14 months. But by the next morning he accepted the situation. I went to the synagogue and told them wed need to postpone the event. The director and vendors were great. I hadnt paid balances, so everyone kept their deposits. The hope is we can host the party eventually, and pay them in full then. Our alternative plans kept changing as the situation evolved. First, we planned a private ceremony with just our immediate familywhich is like 50 people.

Mark: We were going to use a big room at the synagogue, and have people sit two metres apart.

Batya: That plan kept getting smaller and more limited. Then, the rules about self-isolating after travelling set in, which meant my parents wouldnt be able to attend. My 96-year-old grandmother, who lives in a retirement home, also wouldnt be able to attend. It got to the point where anything in person didnt make sense. I emailed one of my colleagues, who is a public health physician and an observant Jew, and asked him what he recommended. He said the safest thing would be to do it virtually.

Mark: On March 13, Batya and I were both given Zoom accounts through work, and we started using them for remote teaching and appointments. Around the same time, we read about a bar mitzvah in New York that had happened over Zoom. The next day was Mattans birthday, so we ordered an ice cream cake, which is a family tradition, and decided to invite our family to a Zoom meeting to sing Happy Birthday. We realized the Zoom experience was simple and smooth enough. It took some legwork to get our parents involved, but it was feasible.

Batya: We invited the guest list to a bar mitzvah over Zoom, on the original party date of Sunday, March 22. On the day, we had between 60 to 70 devices logged in, which amounted to over 200 people. My 96-year-old grandmother was able to Zoom in from her retirement home. Traditionally, in a synagogue, the bar mitzvah boy is called up to the Torah, and 10 people are invited to say a blessing before he reads his portion, which we couldnt do while livestreaming. The Torah reading is also usually only done on a Thursday or Saturday. We couldnt do it on Saturday, because there are a number of people in our family who are observant and couldnt use electronics. The main goal was for Mattan to demonstrate all hed practised over the last 14 months. Instead of having people called up to read blessings, we invited our parents and his aunts and uncles to give a word of advice via Zoom before he read his portion.

Mark: Zoom allows for you to chat with anyone in the meeting. To be safe, we muted everyone so background sounds wouldnt interfere with the readings. We all got dressed up. Others got dressed up, too: Batyas parents were in their kitchen in a tuxedo and full formal wear. The rabbi, on the other hand, is a massive Boston sports fan, and he showed up onscreen in a Red Sox sweatshirt. It was the most commented-on aspect of the event.

Batya: Our 10-year-old son, Benjamin, served as the master of ceremonies. Mattan read his portion from the dining room table and recited commentary he had written. When he finished, we invited our rabbi to lead us through some blessings. At one point, Mattans friends read a speech theyd prepared, and at the end, Mark and I both said a few words. Often, when the bar mitzvah boy is done doing his bit, the congregation throws candies at him. We had Mattans brothers throw candies at him instead. At the very end, we did an impromptu toast, where those who were left online got a little glass of something.

Mattan: It was nice but kind of sad, since I got to see everyone but I couldnt be there with them.

Mark: It was a bit lonely not being able to hear reactions. After we saved the video we saw a whole list of comments, which helped us relive the event.

Batya: This was obviously not what we planned, and one day we still hope to do something in person. But given the circumstances, it ended up being a beautiful, memorable and meaningful event. We were so grateful to be able to have our friends and family be a part of it, and they were grateful as welland not only because it gave them something to do on a Sunday morning stuck at home.

Mark: The net outcome is that it became more memorable than it would have been, which was totally unintentional. The technology also allowed for people to attend who werent originally going to be able to make it, so there was actually some benefit to having to do it this way.

Mattan: Im very excited to have the luncheon eventually, as there wont be much pressure and it will be this happy moment where Ill know Ive finally completed my bar mitzvah.

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"It was sad but also a relief": This family hosted their son's bar mitzvah over Zoom - Toronto Life

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Posted By admin on March 28, 2020

Jewish leaders are concerned that messages about the risks of Covid-19, and the need to isolate and keep social distance, are not reaching pockets of the ultra-Orthodox community who rarely engage with the media and have limited access to the internet.

Two members of Londons ultra-Orthodox community died of coronavirus at the weekend, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said. But in Stamford Hill, an area of north-east London with a large Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, population, some synagogues are still open.

The Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations circulated guidance at the end of last week saying women, children and elderly and weaker men with health disabilities should not go to synagogues, but it did not extend the advice to healthy men. Schools and places of religious education should shut, the guidance said.

Almost all synagogues have been closed for more than a week, with many livestreaming services and celebrations. Kosher shops have put social distancing policies in place, and synagogues and other Jewish organisations have stepped up efforts to provide assistance to elderly and vulnerable people.

Rabbi Avrohom Pinter, who lives in Stamford Hill, said most people were heeding the messages about physical distancing. The issue Im concerned about it is that the government is, to a certain degree, abdicating responsibility. People need to be told.

He conceded that some in the community were not following advice. But Im not quite sure why attention is falling on us, he said, pointing to the actions of young people in parks and other faith groups that are still meeting for worship.

However, Levi Schapiro of the Jewish community council (JCC) in Stamford Hill said some synagogues in the area were still open because the government advice was weak.

The JCC was working hard to get the message to stay at home out there. Were running adverts, were posting in Hebrew and Yiddish on social media, and there are four cars driving round the streets as were speaking, broadcasting messages through loudspeakers. Its a very big operation.

But the government message is nowhere near explicit enough. If you want us to shut down completely, tell us and well shut down.

In the north-east of England, home to the UKs fastest-growing Haredi population, the community has effectively gone into shutdown, said Jonathan Klajn of the Gateshead JCC.

Its very upsetting. The synagogues are at the heart of community life, but the rabbis, community leaders and doctors met, and with a single voice they said: Weve got to lock the doors.

Symptoms are defined by the NHS as either:

NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms shouldstay at home for at least 7 days.

If you live with other people,they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home.

After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start.Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days.

If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.

If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.

After 7 days, if you no longer have a high temperature you can return to your normal routine.

If you still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns to normal.

If you still have a cough after 7 days, but your temperature is normal, you do not need to continue staying at home. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.

Staying at home means you should:

You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, use theNHS 111 coronavirus serviceto find out what to do.

Source:NHS Englandon 23 March 2020

So far weve put three community bulletins through peoples doors, signed by rabbis and doctors, saying: Dont take chances.

The message is really being hammered home. No one is suffering from a lack of information. One person told me that he never normally listens to the radio, but hes tuning into the prime ministers press conference every day.

One person monitoring the response of the Haredi community said people had received the message but they havent yet internalised it. Going to the shul [synagogue] three times a day is so ingrained in the psyche that theres no frame of reference to behave otherwise.

A video circulating among ultra-Orthodox communities shows Yitzchok Kornbluh from Stamford Hill saying that, despite the risks, shuls were full, mikvaot [ritual baths] were full. Where is the seichel [common sense] of those who went to shul today?

Ephraim Mirvis, the UKs chief rabbi, ordered the closure of synagogues affiliated with United Synagogue, the largest network of Orthodox synagogues in the country, last week.

Almost all synagogues have since closed, with many switching to livestreaming services and celebrations. Kosher shops have put social distancing policies in place, and synagogues and other Jewish organisations have stepped up efforts to provide assistance to elderly and vulnerable people.

A letter signed by 20 Jewish doctors, which circulated in Stamford Hill last week, was prefaced: You are fully responsible for deaths that occur as a result of ignoring this advice. It ended: This is a case of pikuach nefesh [the Jewish command to save life] and we are all responsible.

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Jewish leaders fear ultra-Orthodox Jews have missed isolation message - The Guardian

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