Page 48 THE JEWISH PRESS  Friday, December 21, 2012 Community Currents

In recent news… en’s shelter so that women and their children would Carol Rhine, NCSY chief operating of- have a warm place to sleep. fi cer, emphasized that “perhaps even greater than Concert Attracts Like Adelman, Leibtag also worked around the setting this new record was the feeling of achdut Sellout Crowd clock to ensure that those individuals, synagogues, that enveloped the ballroom as the participants si- and communities that were impacted by the storm multaneously lit their menorahs. It was a magical Well over 2,000 people came to hear Lipa Schmelt- received the supplies and support they needed to per- and memorable moment, which demonstrated that zer, , and the New York Boy’s Choir severe in the face of great adversity. Leibtag worked the miracle of Chanukah is not an ancient one, but perform at Oorah’s Chanukah concert in Brooklyn closely with members of Congregation Kneseth Is- rather one that occurs and reveals itself in our gen- College last week. rael in Far Rockaway, which is commonly known as eration as well.” The children of Oorah’s Little Star Preschool in “The White Shul,” and its spiritual leader Ey- Staten Island also shone in the limelight, singing tan Feiner, to ensure that people received the assis- Professor Aumann Meets With Boys Chanukah classics like “I Have a Little Dreidel.” tance they desperately needed. Town Jerusalem Students Additionally, TheZone camp performed an origi- To contribute to the National Council of Young nal trivia game show, MadZone, in which members ’s Hurricane Relief Fund, go to www.youngis- When Boys Town Jerusalem students met Nobel of the audience participated. rael.org. Prize Laureate Professor Yisrael (Robert) Aumann, the game of life took on a new meaning for the high BJX Holds Event For Students Mass Menorah Lighting Sets Record school students. Awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Economics for his groundbreaking work on confl ict Brooklyn Jewish Xperience (BJX), a Brooklyn- New York NCSY and Atlantic Seaboard NCSY set and cooperation through “game theory” analysis, Pro- based kiruv organization, recently held an event for a new Guinness World Record this Chanukah when fessor Aumann shared insights with the young men students at the home of Pesachya and Baila Rosen- they united for the world’s largest menorah lighting on the Jewish ideals that shape his life. berg. Following dinner, the students heard from event in history. Held at the Stamford Hilton in CT, “I can’t forget being beaten as a Jew when I was Zecharia Fruchtandler on the subject of “Battles 1,000 menorahs were simultaneously lit on the fi rst only a second-grader in Frankfort, Germany,” Pro- and Free Will.” night of Chanukah. fessor Aumann told the students. “My parents’ wis- To become a mentor or sponsor/host a program, Members of the local Stamford Jewish commu- dom saved us, and we fl ed to America in 1938, just call 646-397-1544 or visit www.thinkandcare.org. nity joined teens and adults from the New York and three months before the Kristallnacht pogrom. Liv- Atlantic Seaboard regions. ing in , my parents had no money at Met Council Pays Tribute Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, regional director of New all, but they made every effort for my brother and To Hurricane Sandy Heroes York NCSY (based in Cedarhurst, Long Island), orig- me to receive a good Jewish education.” inated the idea to break the world record after re- The Aumanns moved to Israel in 1956, where The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty fl ecting that “just over a month ago, hundreds of our Professor Aumann joined the mathematics depart- paid tribute to two leaders of the National Council participants suffered greatly from Hurricane Sandy ment at Hebrew University. Since that time, he has of Young Israel (NCYI) for their efforts on behalf of and encountered a variety of challenges disrupting instructed students in mathematics and the game the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. their daily lives.” theory. NCYI Associate Vice President Hillel Adelman He felt strongly that “this year’s NCSY Winter Re- The Boys Town Jerusalem students took heart and NCYI Chief Operating Offi cer Chaim Leibtag gional menorah lighting must be more than just an as the Nobel Prize winner recalled his own school were among those recognized by the Met Council at ordinary menorah lighting. As the events of the last years. “I was not a very good student in elementa- its “Hurricane Sandy Heroes Recognition Event,” several weeks left so many in a state of both physi- ry school. By high school, the guidance counselor which took place on December 4. The purpose of cal and spiritual darkness, the holiday of Chanukah sat me down to review the results of my vocational the event was to acknowledge “everyday individu- -- also known as the Festival of Lights – fortuitously aptitude tests. He told me, ‘The good news is that als” whose acts of heroism on behalf of their fellow provided an opportunity to ‘turn the lights back on’ you can make an excellent carpenter or car mechan- New Yorkers affected by the storm stood out and for all the individuals and families affected by the ic. But the bad news is that you have no aptitude made a major impact on the lives of families and storm. Thus, teens from throughout the East Coast whatsoever for math or for teaching.’ It’s now close communities. came together for this moving act of persimui nisa.” to 60 years that I’ve been teaching mathematics at In the wake of the storm, Adelman, a former pres- According to Rabbi Jonah Lerner, regional di- the Hebrew University…. ident of the Young Israel of Wavecrest & Bayswa- rector of Baltimore-based Atlantic Seaboard NCSY, “Which brings me to my message to you,” Pro- ter, NY, and a board member of the Bayswater Civ- “There are no words to describe how meaningful and fessor Aumann told the young men. “Follow your ic Association, established a relief center, arranged inspiring it was to watch more than 600 high school curiosity. Do what interests you. Don’t let anyone a soup kitchen, provided generators to communities, teens light Chanukah candles together – many of stop you. And don’t run after a Nobel Prize – it will arranged for gasoline distribution, and set up a wom- them for their fi rst time.” come to you!”

What Would Have Been A Bar Mitzvah… learning in Levi’s memory. For Levi’s parents, the song provides some mea- Almost four years since the tragic passing of soon,” explained Jacobs. “What better memori- sure of consolation for a void in their lives that can nine-year-old Levi Yitzchak Wolowik, his parents, al can we provide for Levi Yitzchak than a song never be fi lled. Rabbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik, Chabad sh- that reminds us all about Moshiach, redemption, “We are taught that song reaches the great- iluchim in the Five Towns, marked what would and a time when we will all be reunited with our est depths of the neshama,” said Rabbi Wolowik. have been his bar mitzvah with a special siyum. loved ones?” “When Sholom Jacobs generously offered to have a In addition, Cedarhurst resident Sholom Jacobs Jacobs hopes that with its moving message and song composed in Levi’s memory, we were extreme- will release a musical tribute titled “Levi’s Lega- stirring music, “Levi’s Legacy” will inspire both ly moved, especially since the words of the song ex- cy.” A heartfelt song with vocals by Sholom Jacobs, children and adults to continue doing mitzvos and press the life that Levi lived.” Shmuel Jacobs and the Zem- iros Choir, “Levi’s Legacy” is a vivid reminder that despite the tender age of children, it is their innocence and purity that have the power to bring Moshiach and end all suffer- ing in this world. “Levi’s Leg- acy” was composed by Yossi Green, arranged by Ian Fre- itor, and features lyrics by Sandy Eller. “We are doing this to en- sure the everlasting memo- ry of an incredible boy tak- en from this world all too

Touro Professor Delivers Keynote Address At Kristallnacht Conference Dr. Natalia Aleksiun, associate professor of mod- In her talk, Dr. Aleksiun focused on the cam- and bystanders. ern Jewish history at the Touro College Graduate paign of mass murder under the Nazi occupa- Dr. Aleksiun, who has earned two doctorates, School of , was the keynote speak- tion. She addressed the importance of local stud- was the 2011-2012 recipient of the Pearl Resnick er at the recent Drew University Center for Holo- ies for the better understanding of such key is- Postdoctoral Fellowship at the U.S. Holocaust Me- caust/Genocide Study’s Annual Conference com- sues as the chronology of Nazi anti-Jewish pol- morial Museum, where she conducted research for memorating Kristallnacht, titled “The Holocaust icies, Jewish responses to persecution, and the her project on “Daily Survival: Social History of in Poland: A Terrible Yet Extraordinary History.” complex web of relations between Jewish victims in Family Bunkers in Eastern Galicia.” Friday, December 21, 2012 THE JEWISH PRESS  Page 49 Community Currents Celebrating Chanukah

Children at the Rambam Day School in Savannah creating Chanu- kah dreidels.

A party at the Queens College Chabad.

At the home of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with Rabbi Yitzchok Weinberg of Chabad Lubavitch of British Columbia.

Speaker Robert DeLeo, Rabbi Rachmiel Liberman of Congregation Lubavitch, Senate President Therese Murray, and Governor Deval Patrick at the lighting of the “Massachusetts Menorah” at the Massachusetts State House. (Photo Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

At Funtime America with the Chabad Center For Jewish Life. At the Chanukah mesibah at Torah Vodaath. Page 50 THE JEWISH PRESS  Friday, December 21, 2012 Community Currents

Hundreds gathered to witness the lighting of the public me- norah by the rav of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Rabbi Yo- sef Yitzchok Holtzman, on the fi fth night of Chanukah. The rab- bi was joined on the cherry picker by the dean of SUNY Medi- cal College, Dr Ian L. Taylor, who was given the honor of light- ing the shamash. Participants were treated to hot latkes and doughnuts, as well as a performance by singer Yoni Zigelboum.

Shalom Torah Centers creates and fosters community kollels throughout the , as well as , mikvas, and outreach efforts

Young Leadership committee visits Shalom school. (L-R) Shlomo Zeldes, Yirmi Rieder, Heshy Eissenberg, Leon Goldenberg, Yanky Zahler with Shalom stu- dents making Chanukah menorahs.

Board chairman Leon Goldenberg with a Shalom student

Mayor Bloomberg and Rabbi Shmuel But- man lit the world’s largest Chanukah menorah. “The Menorah stands as a symbol of free- dom and democracy, strength and inspira- tion delivering a timely and poignant mes- sage to each person on an individual ba- sis” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth Organization. The menorah, certifi ed by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest, was specially designed by re- nowned artist Yaacov Agam. Yaacov Agam’s design was inspired by a hand drawing by the Rambam

Picture by Shimon Roumani