Page 26 THE JEWISH PRESS  Friday, July 15, 2011 Community Currents

Upcoming events… * * * rael. When people learn about the extent of our work, The Catskills Summer of Torah Daytime they will want to get involved,” Hirmes predicts. On Shabbos, July 15, the Hampton Synagogue will Brunch and Lecture series has begun. Shiurim will take host Rabbi Shmuly Boteach for its Afternoon Shiur Se- place on Tuesday 26 and August 2. Registration opens Fighting Hunger On The Fourth Of July ries. Rabbi Boteach will speak at 6:30 p.m. The shul is lo- at 10:15 a.m. and the program begins at 10:45 a.m. at cated at 154 Sunset Avenue in Westhampton Beach. For Regency Estates, 52 Silver Lake Road in Woodridge. This Fourth of July, as many New Yorkers fi red more information, visit www.thehamptonsynagogue.org. * * * up their grills and ate BBQ with family and friends, * * * Irgun Shiurai Torah is offering another season people gathered in Union Square to help feed those Do we really understand why so many Jewish of lectures for men and women every Monday, Tues- in New York who are hungry and in need. women became outspoken, left wing radicals during day and Wednesday at 9 p.m., all summer long. The Volunteers from the Masbia Soup Kitchen Net- the early twentieth century? In particular, what do program will be held in the Bostoner Bais Medrash work and City Harvest teamed up to collect close we know about diffi culties facing Martha Gruening, on the corner of Avenue J and East 29th Street in to 2,000 pounds of surplus fresh produce from local an owner of the Gomez Mill House from 1918 to 1926, Flatbush. But it can be enjoyed in many other lo- New York farmers. All the produce collected by the who tried to operate this Marloboro, N.Y. property cations by live-video hookup, courtesy of the Torah volunteers was prepared and served to hungry men, (now a house museum) as a school for all races and Conferencing Network. women, and children, offering them fresh and nutri- creeds? What about the forces that propelled her con- For more information about the program and sert- tious meals at all Masbia’s soup kitchens. temporary, Emma Goldman, known as “Red Emma,” ting up video hookups, call Irgun Shiurai Torah at Masbia has recently reported a 300 percent in- to become one of the era’s most feared radicals? 718-851-8651 or contact [email protected]. crease in this year’s meals distributed among the poor. A fuller exploration of these topics will be offered at Masbia is a network of four soup kitchens through- the Gomez Mill House on Sunday, July 17, at 1:00 In recent news… out the city, serving over 2,500 meals a week in a res- p.m, as part of a regular series called “Sundays at the taurant-like setting, as well as distributing several hun- Mill House.” The lecture, titled “Politics and Pettit- New President Of Emunah Of America dred take-home packages. City Harvest is the world’s coats,” will be given by Andrée Aelion Brooks, a jour- fi rst food rescue organization dedicated to feeding the nalist and author who has been studying these women. Fran Hirmes of Woodsburgh, NY, began her city’s hungry. For more information on the two organiza- For more information, visit www.gomez.org, call term as national president of Emunah of America tions, go to www.masbia.org and www.cityharvest.org. 845-236-3126 or e-mail [email protected]. on July 1. * * * “I feel extremely proud to have the opportunity to YU And Gift Of Life: The Perfect Match Emunah and The Center for Kosher Culi- make a difference, help in new ways, and move the or- nary Arts presents a special BBQ class for men in ganization forward. I want others to share in this oppor- As coordinator of student life at Yeshiva Univer- Woodmere with CKCA Senior Culinary Instructor tunity too,” Hirmes said. “People know a little, but don’t sity, assistant director of operations for YU’s new Chef Avram Wiseman. Participants will learn all really know the full scope of how Emunah infl uences the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and about marinades, dry rubs and grilling techniques. daily lives of so many Israelis. I want to help change that.” Western Thought, and assistant director of student The class will take place on Thursday, July 21, from She looks forward to initiating new directives events at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jew- 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm at the home of Dahlia and Tzvi which will help move the organization to new heights, ish Studies, Stuart Halpern carries many titles. Re- Saperstein, 616 Church Ave., Woodmere. All pro- reaching out to many new friends throughout the cently, Halpern added one more: lifesaver. ceeds will directly benefi t the children and families in country – an initiative set by her predecessor, Mindy On June 23, his essential donation of blood stem Israel helped by Emunah. For more information, vis- Stein. “Bringing Emunah’s mission to new communi- cells went toward saving the life of a 12-year-old girl it www.emunah.org or contact Matthew Herenstein ties is vital. Emunah accomplishes an extraordinary with leukemia. at 201-317-2000 or [email protected]. amount of social welfare and educational work in Is- The process began in 2006 when, as a student at Yeshivat HaKotel in Israel, Halpern registered with Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation – a bone mar- Over And Above To Down Under row, blood stem cell and umbilical cord blood donor registry. “It’s something I felt was natural for me to It was a story that could have ended in tragedy sary before they could make the fl ight. Ordinarily, ar- do,” said Halpern, “and it’s such a simple thing to – were it not for the intervention of special people ranging such a visa can take weeks, but here, where do to potentially save someone’s life.” who cared enough to do the impossible. every moment could mean the difference between life Halpern was called back twice for further stem M. M., the father of a large family, was a dy- and death, speed was of the utmost urgency. cell testing but, as he said, “third time’s a charm.” namic personality, who successfully ran a network Rabbi Chollak pulled Yaakov Litzman, deputy Halpern completed the fi ve-hour procedure, in of kindergartens and elementary schools. minister of Israel’s health ministry, into the picture. which IVs fi ltered out stem cells from his blood and After not feeling well for a few days, a visit to Litzman spoke to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, was able to return to work the next day. the doctor revealed a brain tumor. The doctors, in who promptly contacted Australian Ambassador to Is- “In a month, I get a report of how she’s doing,” said realistic pessimism, gave up and issued dire pre- rael, Andrea Faulkner, who issued instructions to her Halpern. “And there’s potential for me to even meet dictions, telling his family that it was a matter of people at the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv to expe- her personally in a year but my fi rst priority is to hear weeks. A second and third opinion echoed this view. dite the matter. The fl ight was given the status of an that she’s fully recovering. That’s my only concern.” Chananya Chollak, international chairman of emergency medical trip, which included medical staff Yeshiva University and Gift of Life have a long- Ezer Mizion, got wind of the situation. He refused for close supervision and maintenance of the patient. standing relationship. The university has facilitated to accept the bitter prognosis dictated by the doctors Unbelievably, within 24 hours, at the conclu- more bone marrow transplants – 31 to date – than and immediately rallied Rabbi Shimon Rogoway, di- sion of amazingly speedy arrangements with the any other institution through Gift of Life’s on-cam- rector of Ezer Mizion’s medical referral department, embassy, all the visas to Australia were ready. pus recruitment program. who rushed in to meet the challenge. Against all Once the stunned family members received the odds, Rabbi Rogoway searched the globe for a med- visas in hand, Rogoway and his staff charged full ical center that might have a solution for the patient. speed ahead to make it all happen: Plane tickets Third Yizkereim Now Available Following painstaking research and activation of and a special medical staff were arranged and the The third part of the Yizkereim: Remember Them his worldwide network of medical connections, Rabbi patient was rushed to the airport. documentary series, Pikuach Nefesh, is now avail- Rogoway reached a medical center in Australia. The It was with a sigh of relief and nervous antic- able to shuls and communities for the Three Weeks. medical center offered an option for an urgent treat- ipation that M. M. and his family fi nally took off Pikuach Nefesh presents the dramatic stories of two ment that promised to alter the patient’s condition to Australia, with a prayer of hope that the mis- great heroes, Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl of Nitra and and that was likely, with G-d’s help, to save his life. sion would be a success. Rav Shlomo Schonfeld of the Kindertransport, individ- From that moment on, it was a mad race against From the airport, the patient was rushed to the uals who through great personal sacrifi ce succeeded in the clock. A special “command post” was set up at medical center where he underwent a 24-hour op- saving thousands from the inferno of the Holocaust. Ezer Mizion headquarters to coordinate the mission. eration. Just weeks after he was given an unequiv- Yizkereim is jointly sponsored by Torah Umeso- The immediate problem was that neither the pa- ocal “no hope” prognosis, M. M.’s tumor was re- rah’s Zechor Yemos Olam and the Rabbi Leib Geli- tient nor his family and necessary medical escorts moved completely. He was released from the hos- ebter Memorial Foundation. had visas that would allow them to enter Australia. pital a week after surgery and was sent home, For more information, or to bring Yizkereim to A quick calculation showed that fi ve visas were neces- where he is slowly recovering! your community, e-mail [email protected] or call Leah Sugarman at 845-356-2961 x 4321. Friday, July 15, 2011 THE JEWISH PRESS  Page 27 Community Currents

The Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cho- lim held its 46th annual Spring Luncheon a few weeks ago, where a Special Recognition Award was given to Fran Laufer.

Rofeh Award presented to Dr. Leon Schwech- Sheila Zachter, the guest of honor. ter & Dona. Standing (L-R): Lorraine Nelson, Celia Rapp, Sara Teicher, and Fran Laufer. Sitting is Miriam Lubling.

A memorial tribute to Fred Cohen was presented to his wife, Chavie, and her daughters, Debbie, Shaindy and Helene. (L-R): Celia Rapp, Miriam Lubling, Fran Laufer, and Pearl Pinter.

Scenes from two recent events held on behalf of Shuvu USA.

Exactly one year ago, Solomon Obstfeld, z’l, benefactor of Chai Lifeline, passed away sud- denly. On the eve of his yahrzeit (28 Sivan), hun- dreds of Chai Lifeline children and their families celebrated the kindness, munifi cence and gener- osity of spirit that marked his life at a huge chil- dren’s party sponsored by LH Financial Services. The compa- ny Obstfeld headed un- til his death rented Vic- torian Gar- dens in Cen- tral Park for the after- noon to give children whose lives have been devastated by illness a unique op- portunity for fun. Page 28 THE JEWISH PRESS  Friday, July 15, 2011 Community Currents

The Jewish Press sponsored a BBQ fundraiser last week on behalf of Our Place.

(L-R) President of Flatbush Shomrim Chaim Deutsch, Councilman Michael Nelson, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Yoni Rhodes (who coordinated the (L-R) Assemblyman Alan Maisel, Assemblyman Ste- event), and Avi Fishof, director of Our Place. ven Cymbrowitz, and Avroham Kahn. Part of the crowd in the VIP section.

Radio personality Nachum Se- gal and Moishe Binik, found- Rabbi Yakov Horowitz of Proj- er of Our Place. Avi Fishof speaking. ect Yes.

In late June, the Holocaust Memorial Committee and Survivor Organization held its 26th annual Holocaust Memorial gathering at the Holocaust Memorial Park in Sheepshead Bay.

Rabbi Yaakov Klass, Torah editor of The Jewish Press.

Ichud Mosdod Bobov honored Councilmember Brad Lander at its annual dinner with a “Prass Ha- koras HaTov” award.

Ira Bilus, honorary chairman, and Elke Weiss, grand- daughter of Jack Mikulincer, a Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia, lighting a memorial candle.

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, son of Holo- caust survivors and sponsor of the Annual Stu- dent Holocaust Essay, Poetry & Art Contest.

Survivors at the candle lighting ceremony at Holocaust Memorial Park, where thousands of names of loved ones who perished in the Holo- (L-R) Ira Bilus, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Mar- caust have been engraved. kowitz, and Pauline Bilus, HMC founder and director.